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[Alyallen]

When did being a sore loser mean you are classless?

American media turn on "classless" Serena
By Simon Cambers
Wed Sep 5, 4:39 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The American media turned on Serena Williams on Wednesday, labeling the former world number one as "classless" and "graceless" after her sullen reaction to her U.S. Open exit at the hands of Justine Henin.

Top seed Henin beat the American 7-6 6-1 in the quarter-finals for the third consecutive grand-slam event on Tuesday but a despondent Williams gave the Belgian scant praise.

"I just think she made a lot of lucky shots and I made a lot of errors," Williams said at her news conference.

"I really don't feel like talking about it. It's like I don't want to get fined. That's the only reason I came. I can't afford to pay the fines because I keep losing."

Players who fail to appear for post-match news conferences face fines from tennis officials.

Williams's words and manner were greeted with widespread disdain.

"(Williams) met the media afterward like a rattlesnake meets a ground squirrel," wrote Bill Dwyre, in the Los Angeles Times.

"If anybody was expecting perspective afterward, or maybe a gracious nod to a better effort by an opponent, forget it. We had sullen Serena. Snippy Serena. Snarly Serena."

In the New York Times, under the headline, "Williams needs a lesson in etiquette," Selena Roberts wrote: "Who's classless now?

"The grumpy, borderline nasty disposition that Williams displayed after her loss was a little jarring considering she had her own lack of preparation to blame for giving in so easily to Henin.

"Serena was bitter, angry and upset. She directed some of that at Henin. Who could use charm school now?"

In an interview with USA Network, which hosts television coverage of the U.S. Open, John Wertheim, the senior writer for Sports Illustrated magazine, described Serena's reaction as "stunning."

"There's a lot to admire about Serena but this happens again and again where we just have these completely graceless post-match (news conferences). Lucky shots? I think she means winners."

Onthebaseline.com, which specializes in women's tennis news, said Williams should probably have skipped the news conference.

"Serena's public relations department would have done better to pay the fine themselves than to allow their charge to disgrace herself as she did last night," it said.

http://tinyurl.com/32gk5x

[Pligganease]

I read this this morning. Can you believe how childish she acted? She said some things that were indeed classless.

[genezorm]

[Dome Vans]

Classless, is a kind of a strong word which I don't think is relevant to her behaviour. You could probably say she's working class, with an attitude like that. You get a lot of upper class people who are terrible losers and cheats. It's a personality trait not linked with class.

Things are going well you're winning, smiling is easy. Losing and then you see what kind of person they are. The majority of sportspeople have dignity in defeat. This was not the case.

Just because you used to a champion sportsman or lady doesn't mean you're anymore of an adult. Not all sports people try to be role models.

Childish, juvenile, succinct, undignified. There plenty of more apt words.

[jinju]

[Alyallen]

[Pligganease]

It's classless because what she said translates to this...

"She was lucky she won. She might have beaten me but it was all because of luck. And, the only reason I'm even here talking to you is because if I don't come they'll fine me. I've been sucking so bad lately that I'm nearly broke, so I can't afford to pay the fine. Therefore, I really don't even want to talk to you douchebags, so leave me the hell alone."

[Rteacher]

"Succinct" does not aptly describe that type of behavior. I don't think that her "conciseness" bothered anybody ...

Synonyms moody, sulky; despondent, melancholy. Glum, morose, sullen, dour, surly all are adjectives describing a gloomy, unsociable attitude. Glum describes a depressed, spiritless condition or manner, usually temporary rather than habitual: a glum shrug of the shoulders; a glum, hopeless look in his eye. Morose, which adds to glum a sense of bitterness, implies a habitual and pervasive gloominess: a sour, morose manner; morose withdrawal from human contact. Sullen usually implies reluctance or refusal to speak accompanied by glowering looks expressing anger or a sense of injury: a sullen manner, silence, look. Dour refers to a stern and forbidding aspect, stony and unresponsive: dour rejection of friendly overtures. Surly implies gruffness of speech and manner, usually accompanied by an air of injury and ill temper: a surly reply.

I think that "sullen" best describes her behavior (with a little "dour" and "surly" thrown in for good measure...)

Her apparent self-centeredness suggests some immaturity.

Then again, it could be high levels of testosterone - Do they test tennis players for steroids at these big tournaments? ...

... Well, after seeing the full quote posted above I think that "sullen" doesn't convey enough nastiness. Maybe more "surly" ...

[Alyallen]

[Pligganease]

[jinju]

[cbclark4]

Finally tennis gets some personality.

I miss those John McEnroe moments.

The press and the tennis world need this kind of controversy.

[stevemcgarrett]

Alyallen, apologist for loudmouth Afro-Americans everywhere.

Reinforce that stereotype!

There's an old saying: "You can take the girl out of the ghetto, but can't take the ghetto..."

Classless behavior, of course, crosses the color line but these days in a certain growing segment of the black community it's worn as a badge of honor. Just ask the gangsta rappers.

[Alyallen]

[Ya-ta Boy]