John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE CONVERSATION
“That racist caricature of Serena Williams makes me so angry”
I just do not agree with the author at all.
The cartoon is not racist by any reasonable reckoning.
Cartoonists always make a recognizable caricature of their subject. Always. She was not treated in any special fashion, so you cannot call the cartoon prejudiced or unfair.
When this angry woman unloaded on two officials with a lot of furious stuff about prejudice against women, she was so angry she forgot her opponent was also a woman, and a member of a minority.
It was a ridiculous display, well deserving of cartoon treatment. Just look at this photo, and there are others perhaps even uglier: http://chuckmangrotesques.blogspot.com/2018/09/john-chuckman-grotesques-williams.html
Why was she so angry? I think we all know - she really, really, really doesn't like losing and she has a terrible temper. We've seen her temper and accusation to officials before. There are no real issues here, beyond her ability to control herself, and, certainly, there are no larger principles, as of fairness or prejudice.
Yes, John McEnroe used to do this, and he's always stood as one of my most disliked players for just that reason. He was truly ugly at times, although, I'm not aware he ever gave us one of his explosions quite as furious and extended as this one by Williams.
I like to see some class in tennis, a la Roger Federer.
Umpires must do their job, they are necessary for the game, and they should be able to do their jobs without abuse or intimidation.
There really is no excuse for such performances. They demean the umpire. They demean the winning opponent. They demean the paying audience. And they demean the game.
And it seems to me, after doing this to so many, you have no right to be angry over a cartoon summing it up.
Because of her empty charges about prejudice, some of the press actually treated the matter as though it had some substance. Nonsense, and very unfair nonsense.
