Chris Evert, Pam Shriver, ESPN

You All Owe Serena Williams An Apology

by Ahmed Olayina Sule, C!A
One of the most important functions of a free press is to inform. It is for this reason that
millions of viewers tune to TV stations like ESPN to get information on sporting events taking
place across the world. Tennis lovers across the United States tune to ESPN to hear insightful
analsis from its commentators during the !im"ledon Tennis #hampionships. $nalsts such
as #hris Evert% &ar 'oe (ernande)% Patrick &cEnroe% 'ohn &cEnroe% Pam Shriver and *rad
+il"ert help viewers get a "etter appreciation of the sporting event. Since ESPN "roadcasts
the !im"ledon #hampionship to millions of viewers around the world% it is critical that ESPN
analsts refrain from "ias and unwarranted speculations that "order on slander.
!ell on the ,
st
of 'ul -.,/% Serena !illiams had to pull out of the !im"ledon ladies dou"les
competition due to a viral infection. To recap% Serena was on #ourt with her sister Venus
!illiams for a dou"les match and she started feeling di)) and had trou"le serving and
holding on to the "all. 0uring the warm up% her doctor attended to her and she told them that
she was feeling faint. 1owever% Serena decided to pla the match% "ut she struggled with her
serve and dou"le faulted four times. Eventuall% the game was called off.
$s Serena was struggling phsicall% Evert and Shriver who were commenting made a
num"er of comments% which appeared to 2uestion Serena3s illness. Shriver said% 4This is not
an illness, it's almost like she has taken something that makes her feel dizzy, disoriented, and
she cannot reach up and strike the ball.5 $ few seconds after Serena retired from the match
Evert retorted% 4It will be interesting. Is it a virus? Is it something unintentional or intentional in
her system that they may drug test for whatever reason something has affected her?5 In
response Shriver stated% 4Well they do have drug testing at all the maors and there will be a
lot of speculation about what in the world is wrong with !erena Williams and we will find out
as much as we can."
These comments are not onl speculative and distasteful% the are also disparaging% li"ellous%
pe6orative% malicious and slanderous. The referee3s office listed the reason for Serena3s
withdrawal as a 4viral illness5 and Venus later confirmed this. I sent a tweet to #hris Evert
e7pressing m displeasure at her comments and in response she wrote% 4#ever suggested
that$ !uggested a blood test % c if something was in her system such as a virus, to have that
reaction." If Evert claims that she 4never suggested that5% perhaps it would "e useful if Evert
clarified what she meant " 4Is it something unintentional or intentional in her system" $ virus
in her sstem fits with the unintentional narrative of &s. Evert3s comment% "ut the 4intentional5
narrative in Evert3s comment is damaging to Serena3s reputation and legac. $ccording to the
O7ford 0ictionar% the word 4intentional5 means 40one on purpose8 deli"erate.5 Shriver also
eliminates the possi"ilit of Serena "eing ill " stating emphaticall that% 4This is not an
illness, It's almost like she has taken something that makes her feel dizzy, disoriented."
These are serious allegations made " two of tennis most prominent analsts against one of
the greatest plaers ever to pla the game of tennis. $s a result of these comments% Evert
and Shriver have unintentionall given 4Serenapho"es5 and conscious and unconscious
racists the ammunition the need to downpla Serena3s legac% integrit and achievements.
Ever since the !illiams sisters have come onto the tennis scene% the have "een 6eered%
ridiculed% raciall a"used. Their father 9ichard !illiams in his recent "ook wrote% 4&eing black
in a traditionally white sport, we had often been met with criticism and condemnation'. We
had put a black tennis player on the podium of (lympic victory, but when she came down,
she was still ust another nigger.5 1owever the suggestion that Serena was on drugs ranks
high up in the ever:increasing attacks against her. To rephrase what !inston #hurchill once
said man ears ago% never in the histor of tennis has someone "een so much hated " so
man and loved " so few.
These comments have not onl offended the !illiams famil and the millions of Serena fans
around the world8 it has also offended the hundreds of millions of "lack people around the
world. Serena and Venus !illiams are shining lights to people in the "lack communit. Their
success is our success and their failures are our failures. !hen one suggests that Serena3s
disorientation on the court was not due to an illness "ut possi"l due to su"stance a"use% that
tells us that Serena is a liar and a cheat. !hen one suggests that there might "e something
intentional or unintentional in Serena3s sstem that needs to "e drug tested% it tells us that
Serena3s ,; +rand Slam single titles% / Olmpic +old medals and <. !T$ titles amount to
nothing. !hen one sas that the do a lot of drug testing at ma6or +rand Slam events and
that there will "e speculations a"out what happened to Serena% it tells people in m
communit that "lack people cannot attain an measure of success without resulting to illegal
shortcuts.
One would have e7pected Evert and Shriver as fellow $mericans and women to "e
smpathetic to Serena3s plight. $fter all% the are aware of how she has struggled with in6ur
and once stared death in the face. =et to make such comments a"out Serena can "e likened
to kicking a woman when she is down.
Since Serena3s reputation has "een damaged " these "aseless speculation and slanderous
allegations% which have "een proved wrong% it is now time for ESPN% #hris Evert and Pam
Shriver to issue an apolog to Serena 'ameka !illiams and other mem"ers of the !illiams
famil.
$hmed Olainka Sule% #($
suleaos>gmail.com
., 'ul -.,/
cc
#hris Evert
Pam Shriver
'ohn Skipper: ESPN
#hristine 0riessen : ESPN
'ohn $. !alsh : ESPN
!T$
$ll England ?awn Tennis #lu"
Serena !illiams
@9enas$rm