Hey English people at Wimbledon today

[malaise]

Picture this - a stadium in the US full of African Americans behaving the way you did today against a white female tennis player. I can see the headlines.

That was jingoism on steroids today - your behaviour was atrocious. Serena beat Heather Watson fair and square although I do give thanks for the review system


It's just a fugging game you morons!!

Go Serena!! You are the greatest!!!

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. What behaviour are you talking about?

What happened for you to brand it 'moronic'?

And do you really need to bring putative 'race' into it?

[kwassa]

14. Jingoism, not race.

That is what the OP is about.

[malaise]

17. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Blue_Tires]

2. I'm guessing Watson is a local girl?

Because the British folks should be used to seeing Serena do well in that tournament by now...

[malaise]

3. Yep and she came back well in the second set and won it

She was leading 3-0 in the 3rd and Serena still beat her 7-5 to make the round of sixteen.
The booing was awful.
There are many links.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. There was booing once, when Williams complained about cheering during a rally

The crowd was so into it, they didn't want the umpire to tell them to be quiet.

Why are you trying to make it about race?

[Nye Bevan]

40. No different to the home crowd booing when the opposing pitcher plunks a hitter

in a baseball game.

[kwassa]

15. How is this relevent to the subject of the OP?

[WillowTree]

24. Pardon me! Didn't mean to offend.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

5. There is nothing wrong with fans being fans

If a crowd of AA fans were booing or whatever, I wouldn't care either. As long as you don't throw crap who cares?

Sorry that the New York Yankees, oops, I mean Serena had to have some terrier nip at her ankles for a bit. It must have been very, very troubling. She must have had a stomach bug or something like she always does when she gets behind.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. Is this Heather's mother?

Heather's proud mother Michelle wipes away a tear after watching her daughter compete in a Centre Court thriller



Here's Heather...





The race angle of your post is very confusing.

[Nye Bevan]

9. Whoopsies. OP self-delete coming? (nt)

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. Heather Watson, the girl from Guernsey.... via Papua New Guinea

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2166266/Wimbledon-2012-Heather-Watson-girl-Guernsey-Papua-New-Guinea.html

Whoopsie, indeed. Unless someone comes along and explains how it's just not the same...

[malaise]

12. I know Heather Watson

and her back ground. Nothing changes

[Nye Bevan]

8. i know, it's like when a predominantly white crowd at Yankee Stadium boos David Ortiz, right? (nt)

[kwassa]

13. I can predict threads where you will show up.

This is right up your alley.

[Nye Bevan]

16. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026781465#post69

[kwassa]

19. Indeed.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

30. Sweet! It's about time someone pointed that out. nt

[Stellar]

11. LOL! She won, end of story. Yessss!

[kwassa]

18. I disagree with your analysis a little. I thought the crowd was just enthusiastic.

They had no expectation that Heather Watson could, or would win, and Heather came very very close to beating Serena. England hasn't had a woman win Wimbledon in a very long time. Virginia Wade in 1977.

The match went three sets, by the way, not two, and Heather won the second set.

That third set was just amazing. Both players should be commended for outrageously good rallies. Heather had Serena on the ropes several times, and Serena dug very deep and pulled it out.

[malaise]

21. Serena won the first set easily

which is why I said Watson came back and won the second and was leading 3-0 in the third.
Serena admitted that she should not have won that game and that Watson played very good tennis. My comments are to the fans not the players. Their rudeness spoiled what was a great match.

[kwassa]

25. Serena did speak to the chair umpire, and he quieted the crowd.

It didn't bother me once they quieted down.

That third set was just riveting. Amazing.

I'm rooting for Serena to take Wimbledon.

[malaise]

27. I'm not sure I can watch the match against Venus on

Monday.

[kwassa]

28. Those matches are very unsatisfying.

I sometimes feel that Serena pulls her punches with Venus.

It must be terribly hard to play these matches.

[cwydro]

57. Then don't.

But you will.

No doubt you'll post about it too.

Who will the crowd root for? Who knows, but you'll not be able to play this silly canard in that match.

Oh, and I'm for Venus. My fave from way back. Plus from a tennis family and my younger sister always beat me.

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. I've been to 1 soccer match. It was at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; site of two Olympic Games.

I went with a Mexican friend I had grown up with. I don't know where he got the tickets but it was a last minute thing and the match was on a Friday night. One team was from the United States, and the other was from Mexico...

As is the custom, both National Anthems were played; the Mexican National Anthem first. The place rocked. When The Star Spangled Banner was played, the place rocked again, only this time with BOO's. I mean it ROCKED.

Suddenly, a friend whose family was from Mexico and I, both of whom had grown up in Southern California, felt TOTALLY out of place.

We left.

[malaise]

22. I know exactly what you mean

It is jingoism on steroids

[kiva]

23. Why is this about race for you?

Seriously, from the info posted about Heather Watson why do you think this is about race and not about fans wanting the hometown girl to win?

[kwassa]

26. Um, the OP says jingoism, not race.

Just to repeat the point.

[kiva]

29. Then why this sentence?

"Picture this - a stadium in the US full of African Americans behaving the way you did today against a white female tennis player. I can see the headlines."

Why not "Picture this - a stadium in the US full of Americans behaving the way you did today against a tennis player from the UK."?

[Nye Bevan]

31. Yep. Why bring up race (twice) in the very first paragraph

when it is not relevant?

[kwassa]

34. Oh, you can do better than this.

[kwassa]

33. This is about ethnicity, not race.

African-Americans are an ethnic group, specifically different from all the other black ethnicities. Serena Williams is African-American. The OP author was trying to flip the specifics, though it would be more accurate to say white English girl.

[muriel_volestrangler]

45. No, that that would not be accurate; Heather's mother is from Papua New Guinea

as the thread has already pointed out. Heather Watson is as 'white' as Barack Obama.

So, what we're left with is: an American was playing a Briton in Britain; the crowd was noisily supporting the Brit, and did a bit of cheering during a rally; the American complained to the umpire (which she does have the right to do), who told them to be quiet, and the crowd booed that. This would be completely unremarkable in most sports, and it's not that unusual in tennis, though rare in Wimbledon (perhaps because British crowds rarely get home players in important matches).

[WorseBeforeBetter]

32. No, the OP says this...

Picture this - a stadium in the US full of African Americans behaving the way you did today against a white female tennis player. I can see the headlines

.

It addresses jingoism AND race.

[kwassa]

35. African-Americans are not a race.

White female is a racial identification.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

36. Not buying the "ethnicity" explanation.

The OP is clearly about black v. white, along with jingoism.

[Nye Bevan]

39. Yep. First paragraph was all about race. Jingoism wasn't even mentioned until the second paragraph.

And this "African American is not a race" thing is a little weird, not least because it implies that someone who loudly proclaims "I hate African Americans" is not a racist.

[nilesobek]

37. I love this thread defending Serena

and watched part of the match on replay after work. I'd like to point out, with a certain pride, that it WASN'T a US crowd of AAs belittling, booing and jeering a white tennis player.

No, its the usual stuff. Its white people angry that Serena has created a dynasty. She did it through hard work and talent and, on occasion, you do get a lucky break or a match like this she could have lost. That's a perk for hard work her whole life. The match was not fixed, of course, and the British fans were atrocious.

The network was avoiding some of the fan reactions after what was crappening became apparent. Embarrassed, as they should be.

[Nye Bevan]

38. "The British fans were atrocious".

Because they were rooting for the home team? Have you ever been to a Yankees versus Red Sox game?

[nilesobek]

41. That scenario is way out of my social strata.

I was lucky to make it through NY in one piece. Not trying to demean your point at all which I think is valid. I know what I saw on the edited replay though and its bad sportsmanship.

I have a card in my wallet from a NY Yankee scout from 1978 named John H. Stevens Jr. who tried to recruit me for a Yankee farm team somewhere. I was wondering whatever happened to that guy. Are you from NY? Heard of that guy?

[U4ikLefty]

56. Bad sportsmanship? British fans were atrocious?

Does Serena ever display bad sportsmanship? Has her behavior ever been atrocious?

[truebrit71]

61. What a load of bollocks...

...

[Logical]

42. Oh FFS! nt

[underahedgerow]

43. I've watched hundreds of tennis matches and I have no idea what you think you were seeing...

I saw a crowd cheering fiercely for their hometown hero, nothing more. I saw no aggression or anger towards SW, but I saw a crowd who would have loved to see a mid level player take a long shot at beating the best tennis player ever in the history of the sport.

It was great theater, wonderful gladiators doing battle and playing very, very well. I loved that Watson gave SW a real run for her money and that she didn't cave under the pressure.

And, it was really, genuinely great tennis that gave everyone what they could ever hope for in a match, ups and downs, highs and lows, some great plays and surprises. Serena has set the standard and set the bar very high for any other female in the game, and gosh, I'm just always so proud of her!

I won't be happy to watch the sisters play though. I love both ladies. Venus continues to battle her auto-immune disease, yet in spite of this, she's playing -- wait for it -- the top champion AND her little sister! This is a tough spot for SW to be in right now. She's just 2 tournaments away from the world record, but it's also her big sister's probable last shot at any greatness.... not that SW would ever, EVER throw a match, but gosh, these factors are present psychologically, and it'll be a tough weekend as all these issues come into play emotionally. I'm glad their Momma is there, she'll keep everyone in line!

[truebrit71]

46. So you're chiding Brits rooting for a Brit at a British tournament.

Got it.

[cwydro]

52. I know, right?

I've been playing and watching tennis for over 50 years.

The Wimbledon crowd was rooting for their own.

You want rude crowds? Wait for the US Open.

[truebrit71]

58. Indeed....

...

[cwydro]

59. Well put.

[Are_grits_groceries]

47. It was atrocious.

I have nothing against people cheering their lungs out for their favorite.
However, when you boo another player and cheer her mistakes, then you are showing poor sportsmanship. As the match wore on, it was worse and worse.

As far as race, if you don't understand how Venus and Serena have been disrespected throughout their entire careers, then you don't know anything about what they have faced. Wimbledon has been especially bad. I have no idea how much of a factor that was in booing her, but it played a part.

I salute Heather Watson. She played spectacularly and deserved her cheers.

[Nye Bevan]

48. You've never seen the home crowd cheer an opposing pitcher's wild pitch at a baseball game?

Or cheer when an opposing outfielder dropped a fly ball?

Or boo when the visiting team issued an intentional walk?

And please, give it up with the race thing. If a British woman had the potential to win Wimbledon the home crowd really wouldn't give a shit if she was white, black, brown, or purple.

[Are_grits_groceries]

49. This was tennis at Wimbledon

and not the Atlanta Braves playing whoever with drunken fans everywhere.
I expected better of them and have not seen this over-the-top type of behavior.

As far as race is concerned, those who run Wimbledon have continully dissed the Williams sisters.

[Nye Bevan]

50. The Wimbledon crowds are nowhere near as genteel and upper-class as they used to be.

And given that a British woman has not won there in over 30 years, I would suggest you adjust your expectations of their reactions.

[cwydro]

60. Thank you.

[cwydro]

51. I watched the match.

I'm a longtime Serna fan, so not sure what I missed.

The crowd often cheers for an underdog or for a longer (more tennis!) match.

I saw nothing amiss.

[malaise]

54. We all understand cheering for the home player and the underdog

This was booing and it was rude and unnecessary.
there was none of that for home boy Ward today

[Nye Bevan]

55. Is it rude and unnecessary when a home crowd boos an intentional walk

in a baseball game?

Or are you holding the Wimbledon crowd to a higher standard?

[Tipperary]

53. Heather Watson is not white.

But she is British, and that is why the crowd was behind her. Holy hell, have you ever seen any match with Tim Henman at Wimbledon? Virginia Wade?

This is just silly.

Venus is my favorite, but I love Serena too, who I think is a great champion and probably the greatest athlete in the world. The English crowd was not cheering on basis of race, and it is just wrong to smear a great tournament with such ridiculous allegations.