Bo Guthrie thinks that tennis star Serena Williams should learn how to share.
Serena Williams won her fifth Wimbledon title earlier this month, making her the most intimidating and terrifying woman to win her fifth Wimbledon title earlier this month. Seriously, I’m just impressed anyone survives matches with her. She’s leaner and meaner than a mountain lion.
Her physical prowess aside, I would like to address her equally predatory ambition. One Wimbledon title is respectable, two is impressive, but three is just getting greedy. After that, I think it’s pretty clear that she’s only in this for herself. It’s people like Serena Williams who are setting the example for future generations to keep going and going and going regardless of what other people want. This is inconsiderate and irresponsible. What if someone else wants a shot? Should she be scared that Serena will come whack a tennis ball at her hard enough to penetrate skin? Absolutely not. A Kevlar vest should not be needed to play tennis, Serena. Now, cool it.
I’ve worked very hard my whole life at staying right in the middle of the pack.
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This insatiable desire to do well isn’t limited to women’s tennis. Step over the gender line and you’ll see the exact same thing happening. Roger Federer has dominated men’s tennis since the beginning of tennis. This guy is unstoppable. He beat Andy Murray so hard at Wimbledon that he made the man cry. As a contributor to a progressive men’s issues website, I can say with complete conviction that crying is a normal and acceptable response for a man to have to an emotional situation. Even if you’re not actually there and you’re just watching the Youtube video, okay?
My point is that Serena and R. Fed need to step back and give someone else a chance. Let me draw a contrast using myself as an example of what I’m talking about. I’ve worked very hard my whole life at staying right in the middle of the pack. Sure, I’ve taken a few seconds in the limelight. I’ve had my moments of glory, but I’ve always settled back and let someone else have a go. No, it’s not because being good at something takes a lot of work. It’s not because I get tired putting in that much effort. Although both of those things are true, I do it out of respect for other people. We’ve all got to have a piece of the pie. I’m just being nice and sharing.
So put the pie down, Serena. Other people want a bite.
Photo–flickr/kabatology
I appreciate your modesty, Bo, and share your convictions. I would be ten times more awesome if I didn’t stop and think, “Hey, Justin, other people need a chance to be awesome, too.”
Serena Williams is a tremendous athlete. It’s such a pleasure to watch her at work.
If the purpose of this Open Letter is to point out that professional athletes win too many championships, I can think of a dozen other sports figures and franchises that would better serve your argument. Chief among them is Roger Federer, who you mention in passing, and who just won his seventh Wimbledon championship and 24th Grand Slam title along with it. Why isn’t Roger the focus of this Letter, especially when Serena was eliminated in the first round of the French Open earlier this year? She has her wins and losses like any other athlete. She’s also approaching the… Read more »
You’re correct. Roger would have been a much more appropriate target. I’ll take this as a lesson to better familiarize myself with a subject before I attempt farce.
You may have taken this piece a bit too seriously, my friend. Although, I do enjoy seeing someone trying to make sense out of absurdity.
Um, I think it’s called satire.