As we talked last week in class and groups, I started out thinking the Williams sisters should return to Indian Hills. I felt that they were hurting their world rankings and integrity as professional competitors. Somewhere between then and now my mind was changed and I feel that their participation would actually hurt their integrity. Venus and Serena spent countless hours in perfecting their trade and all along carried values that they felt were important to live by. When you become famous you will be presented with many situations and scenarios that may call your values into question. If you abandon the values and ethical guidelines that you have followed all along, what else do you have to work for?
By making the statement that they will not tolerate that sort of behavior, the sisters are setting a precedent for future athletes presented with this decision. This also is viewed by other tournaments and host events, showing them that if this sort of action is displayed, athletes will not respond well. By boycotting the tournament they are making so the best players in the world are not in attendance, hurting the credibility of the event. Also, it helps provide exposure to the issue since those who do not know will research why the best in the world are not attending the event. When these people are aware of the situation they are more likely to be exposed to the underlying issue of race and racism in American culture.
I fully support their decision with this event and after watching the women’s final this weekend, I feel the event could have benefited from the involvement of the Williams sisters.
-HH
Hunter,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you by saying that they shouldn't participate in the Indian Hills tournament. Not only because of what they went through when they were there but also because the tournament director has done anything to get them to come back to the tournament. If they tournament director made a effort to apologize to the Williams sisters than I think that they would consider going back to the tournament. With the Williams sister not at this tournament it is only hurting Indian Hills and not getting the best tennis players at their tournament.
Jeremy Shay
Hunter,
ReplyDeleteI think that after all this time the Williams sisters should stick to their guns and not return to the event. The reason being because they have made such a big deal about it, rightfully so, and it would be all for not if they returned. I think that if the situation happened over again to someone else that that particular person should forget about it and return to the event. The reason is because this type of stuff happens all of the time in sports at all levels. Fans everywhere are brutal towards certain athletes. I think this may be a bigger deal because tennis is an individual sport. Good post!
-Logan Walker
Not sure why I said Indian Hills, I meant Indian Wells. Sorry!
ReplyDelete-Hunter Haas
Hunter,
ReplyDeleteI kind of had the same feeling as you with first thinking that the Williams sisters should return to Indian Wells, but after being in class and reading some articles, my opinion changed. It would hurt their integrity as professionals if they returned to the tournament. They stated that they will never go back and they never should. Even though it hurts their national ranking, they are willing to sacrifice it for what they believe in. In my opinion, this is the definition of integrity. It is saying a lot, if someone is willing to give up rank and status in their sport to stand up for what they believe in.
^ Tad Margolies
ReplyDeleteHunter,
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought that the Williams sisters should return to the event but after we talked more about it in class I definitely don’t think they should go back. I say this because the tournament director of that time has never once came out and apologized to the sisters. I think what he did was completely wrong and that he should and still needs to apologize. I just really think the Williams sisters want an apology and if they received that apology they would go back to the tournament. Even though it hurts their rankings by not going to this tournament but I really applaud them for sticking to their words on not going back to the tournament.You really don't see a lot of athletes that will stick to their word like the Williams sisters have ever since this incident. They know that it will hurt their rankings when that tournament comes around but when the next tournament comes around they just know that they need to do a lot better to get their rankings back up. They are both really good athletes. Good post!
--Lindsey Landversicht
Hunter,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the Williams sisters should not go back to Indian Wells unless they were presented with an apology for what has happened to them in the past. Do I believe that is going to happen: no. I believe that the former director of the event wasted an opportunity to do this sooner and get the Williams sisters back in thier prime. But with him being retired I don't think the tournament will ever issue an apology. The only way that I think Indian Wells will apologize is if other players begin to back out in support of the Williams. The only way to hurt this group of people is to hurt them financially. If the players do this and drop Indian Wells to a lesser tournament, then they will issue an apology within hours.
-Tyler Kieffer
Hunter,
ReplyDeleteI like that you pointed out that they are staying true to there values. I think that is something that people can really look up to. I agree that they shouldn't return. The Indian Wells management is trying to ignore this problem and Venus and Serena are holding them responsible for their actions. Although they are hurting themselves, I think they are hurting the tournament even more. Regardless of whether or not Serena and Venus play at Indian Wells, people still think of Venus as the greatest women's tennis player. Indian Wells is losing money for their actions, and they will continue to lose money and credibility for it.
-Erin
Hunter,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that the Williams sisters should not return to Indian Wells. The main reason being, which Serena stated in her book, you cannot simply end racism by simply forgetting it exists. I think the Williams sisters are in a perfect position to actually make a statement about racism in the fact that it still exist. These two athletes are well known across the world by all different demographics, not just America. By standing up and saying they will not go back after 12 years, it is only right that they stick to the values that they were raised on and not tolerate that kind of behavior from anyone.
-Anthony Tacey
I believe that the sisters needed to stand up for themselves after such a unique event. The bad part was not the fans reaction, but the managements way of handling it. Indian Wells defended "their people" as if they could not do any wrong. This was seen as an insult by the sisters and the acts of racial slurs did not help the fans at all. The sisters decided to stand their ground and never return due to the poor management, but now that there is new management I believe that they should consider coming back and attending the event. This will allow them to gain points and keep their standings and rank within the world of tennis.
ReplyDeleteThis was done by Joshua Kovacs
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