Serena Williams vs Maria Sharapova; Sergio Garcia vs Tiger Woods, etc
Great Matchups?
You would think that any time I offer up Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova or Tiger Woods vs. Sergio Garcia, I would be going to look at tennis or at golf. I would think the same thing. However, in the past few weeks, these rivals have taken plenty of shots but not on the court, nor on the course. Instead, the shots have been “backhanded” or “driven” AT each other.
This past week, right before the start of Wimbledon, Serena and Maria exchanged backhands. And, much like a high school dust-up, the animosity centers, not around tennis, but on their respective “boyfriends”. Serena, in Rolling Stone magazine, did everything but name Maria when she said her rival was not cool, was boring, and was dating Serena’s former boyfriend, whom she described as having a “black heart.” Maria countered by returning serve when she accused Serena of dating her coach, who is married and has children. Maria, also, implied Serena’s coach was headed for divorce. Deuce!!
Sergio Garcia had some nasty remarks to say about Tiger Woods during The Players Championship. Tiger was later found not to have been at fault, but did respond to Sergio with a few trite comments of his own. Sergio made the matter even worse with a perceived racist comment about serving Tiger “fried chicken” at the US Open. Tiger said the comment was “wrong, hurtful, and clearly inappropriate.” The scores by the two appeared to be par for Tiger; double bogey or worse by Sergio.
What were Serena and Sergio thinking? We all have to vent from time to time, but not to Rolling Stone, not during a press conference. How did they think these statements would be perceived? Did they not think they would be open to disparaging remarks directed right back at them? Did they really want to take on two people whom so many fans support? Did Sergio really believe his response would not be considered racist (after all, Fuzzy Zeller got into serious public relations problems of his own with an almost identical comment)? Sponsors want athletes to be, for the most part, squeaky clean – certainly not tinged by marital scandal or racist innuendo. Talk tennis, talk golf, talk weather – then just shut up!!
When you are in the public eye, what you say becomes public! Just ask Paula Deen.
