SwimExpert
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- Nov 26, 2013
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Serena Williams accomplishes Serena Slam (four consecutive, non calendar year Grand Slam championships) number two. She now prepares for the final big tournament of the year, the US Open in New York, where she will have the chance to complete the first calendar year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf did it, as well as to tie Graf's 22 all time leading total Grand Slam singles titles.
Some say Williams resurgent success in recent years has been due to a weak field of women's tennis players. Graf won her major titles against some of history's best, which was continually true throughout her career. Others say that arguing such a point makes you racist. Williams herself has been at the forefront of social equality issues in the sport for most of her career. She has played an instrumental role in equalizing the prize money between men's and women's titles. She, along with her sister, also engaged in a long standing boycott of Indian Wells, after her family experienced racially based harassment at the tournament early in their professional careers.
I think it is far too PC to claim any criticism, or reflection not concluding that Serena is the best player ever, is racist. Yes, she and Venus both entered onto the scene and had an attitude somewhat akin to spoiled brats. Yes, her hair beads created an unfair advantage. Yes, she was arrogant. Yes, her early years success was largely attributable to a one dimensional style that relied on simple raw power, particularly in the serve. Yes her latter years have benefited from a derth of truly great women's players at the top of the pro tour. Yes, Martina Hingis and Justine Henin were easily superior tennis players whose lives led into other directions.
But saying that does not mean that one rejects her praiseworthiness. Yes, Serena and her sister changed the game. Yes, Serena (much more than her sister) grew and matured into a complete and well rounded tennis player. Yes, Serena has faced some of the all time greats and had success against them. Yes, her longevity and high level of play at this point in her life is very laudable. Yes, she is one of the greats.
The danger of political correctness is that it inserts politics into every fold of life, where it really has no place. It inserts race relations into sports commentary, etc. It makes it so that everything becomes a manifestation of an agenda that is otherwise unrelated. If we cannot engage in sports commentary on Serena Williams' run for sports history without first aligning our commentary to race relations, then we no longer have a society that values open discourse or rational thinking.
Some say Williams resurgent success in recent years has been due to a weak field of women's tennis players. Graf won her major titles against some of history's best, which was continually true throughout her career. Others say that arguing such a point makes you racist. Williams herself has been at the forefront of social equality issues in the sport for most of her career. She has played an instrumental role in equalizing the prize money between men's and women's titles. She, along with her sister, also engaged in a long standing boycott of Indian Wells, after her family experienced racially based harassment at the tournament early in their professional careers.
I think it is far too PC to claim any criticism, or reflection not concluding that Serena is the best player ever, is racist. Yes, she and Venus both entered onto the scene and had an attitude somewhat akin to spoiled brats. Yes, her hair beads created an unfair advantage. Yes, she was arrogant. Yes, her early years success was largely attributable to a one dimensional style that relied on simple raw power, particularly in the serve. Yes her latter years have benefited from a derth of truly great women's players at the top of the pro tour. Yes, Martina Hingis and Justine Henin were easily superior tennis players whose lives led into other directions.
But saying that does not mean that one rejects her praiseworthiness. Yes, Serena and her sister changed the game. Yes, Serena (much more than her sister) grew and matured into a complete and well rounded tennis player. Yes, Serena has faced some of the all time greats and had success against them. Yes, her longevity and high level of play at this point in her life is very laudable. Yes, she is one of the greats.
The danger of political correctness is that it inserts politics into every fold of life, where it really has no place. It inserts race relations into sports commentary, etc. It makes it so that everything becomes a manifestation of an agenda that is otherwise unrelated. If we cannot engage in sports commentary on Serena Williams' run for sports history without first aligning our commentary to race relations, then we no longer have a society that values open discourse or rational thinking.