May 28, 2010 at 7:45 PM

I disagree with your assertion of Venus' outfit. As a woman she has a right to choose whatever she feels comfortable with on the courts. The outfit worked for her. I applaud her sense of style, boldness and fierceness on the court. To each his own!

May 29, 2010 at 8:19 AM

She went absolutely too far. Not everything that we have a right to do is appropriate. She was at work in a conservative venue, not out on the town. Venus is extremely talented. She does not have to resort to gimmicks, she can stand flat footed and play. This type of activity does nothing to enhance her image as a player or fashion icon and it hurts those young ladies who look up to her. They don't always understand that they are not celebrities and should not try this stunt at home. In addition, it futhers the image of black women as overly concern about sexual matters. Play the game Venus, and save your fashion statements for off the court.

May 29, 2010 at 10:53 PM

Do it, Venus grrrl! EVERY other woman in the sports and show business public eye can make a statement with her wardrobe, but if a Black woman does it, suddenly it's anathema. No go! The Williams Sisters are fierce; mighty fierce. And they're in superb physical condition. They play tennis like no one else yet, YET ... they DON'T get the attention they deserve. Skinny, little white women with long blond hair who say ... SAY ... they play tennis and haven't won a single tournament get the major product endorsements, the magazine covers/interviews, the on-air guest spots, interviews, etc. etc. ALL the stuff that comes with being a superstar. But the Williams Sisters get a very small part of this. And they are the real tennis superstars. And they look good.
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SO ... the Williams Sisters are drumming up some attention. Serena poses nude, artistically posed, AND LOOKS DAMN GOOD DOING SO ... Venus wears a lacy "statement" outfit to win a tournament ... AND LOOKS DAMN GOOD DOING SO. And the main stream press (aka: white media) goes ballistic. Criticism totally misplaced and over the top.
BUT when that Kournakova broad posed for a fashion magazine with artistically placed sheets of fabric, the press couldn't get enough of how beautiful she is; how "unique" she is; what a great photo shoot it is! This is the Kournakova would-be tennis player who has NEVER won a single tournament but she's now the show business "go-to" darling for anything tennis. Bullsh*t!!!! It should be the Williams Sisters.
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An aside: the French lace business applauded Venus's outfit and supported her 100% because her attention to their lace gave much attention to their business. It was all over the French newspapers.

But the racist-dog-bast*rds in the U.S. press found something wrong with it. Haters!!!!

Go Serena!
Go Venus!

If you got it, FLAUNT it!
##

May 29, 2010 at 11:14 PM

Sorry, but Serena has way too much to flaunt. Baby go mucho back. And I'm a brotha.

May 29, 2010 at 11:52 PM

uh-huh! <b>Wiseguy</b> you seem to be why Ms. Serena has a white boy friend. "Brothas" can't seem to handle "all that."
Nothin' wrong with Ms. Serena, at all!!!

<a href="http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii277/Quippian/?action=view&current=serena_williams_espn_cover.jpg"; target="_blank"><img src="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii277/Quippian/serena_williams_espn_cover.jpg"; border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And keep in mind: our President chose a "Glamazon" for his wife, woman, helpmate, partner and mother of his children ... and she's a whole lotta' brainy, beautiful, brobdingnagian, Black woman.
##

May 30, 2010 at 6:33 AM

The "white boyfriend" comment made no sense at all. Since when have white guys liked thick women? Also, Michelle Obama does NOT have Serena's junk -- nor does she allow herself to be photographed like this (below). Don't get me wrong, I like the Williams sisters, but discretion is everything.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.datzhott.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/serena-williams-weekend-040609.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.datzhott.com/2009/04/07/hott-donk-serena-williams-on-beach/&usg=__EP193QyUMb5x_9WMB3Meg9pqSto=&h=345&w=385&sz=22&hl=en&start=10&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=nja-8q6-3LtTwM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dserena%2Bwilliams%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1

May 30, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Of course the "white guy" comment makes sense.
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Serena has a white boyfriend because too many "brothas" can't handle a Black woman in full glory. Our gloriously glamorous First Lady, couldn't get a regular "brotha" because they all thought she was too big and too brainy. They all went for the skinny, little blond broads or the "red bones with blow hair." Both types could be dumb as a box of hair, but the "brothas" loved'em anyway. Poor, big Ms. Michelle had to settle for a funny looking guy with a funny, foreign name, big ears and a big brain.
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Fortunately for us they found each other; supported each other and before you know it...BLAM! SHAZAAM ... HE'S the Leader of the Free World! SHE'S his partner, wife, woman and mother of his two adorable daughters. Together THEY ARE MUCH MORE THAN THEIR INDIVIDUAL PARTS.

Here's another little secret that most Black men and women don't know: when white men finally are able to "see" a Black woman in her full "Negro-ness," they fall apesh*t in love! Why do you think "Louie fell in love over night?" (from the 60's rocker classic, "Louie, Louie.") And why do you think Serena's white boy friend can't get enough of her???!!! His eyes are open. Wide-open and Serena is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen ... big, bold, beautiful, and body-perfect.
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One day, "brothas" will see Black women in their full "Negro-ness" and stop settling for skinny little white and light-skinned women with long hair ... and stop feeling embarrassed because a Black woman with "a traditional African ladies build" (from the series "The No. #1 Ladies Detective Agency,") chooses to show it off ... and do so magnificently!
##

May 30, 2010 at 2:21 PM

What world do you live in, Quippian? I think you're talking just to make noise. I work with and talk to white guys all the time, and they ain't going for big women -- white or black. I don't know why Serena has a white boyfriend, but it probably doesn't hurt that she's a multimillionaire. As for your comments about Barack and Michelle, where would I even begin...?

May 30, 2010 at 3:05 PM

There's much you obviously don't know yet, wiseguy.
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Live a little longer.
Look outside the shell/box you apparently live in.
Notice a little more.
Grow a little more.
Open your eyes and ears.
Close your mouth.
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What white guy is going to tell you he thinks your woman is sexy?
White guys only reflect back at you what they get from you.
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YOU seem to have the problem with big Black women (or is it just that you have a problem with Black woman, period.)
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You probably don't consider it an insult to suggest that the ONLY reason Serena has a white boyfriend is because she's wealthy.

That's such an insult, it almost makes me weep.
And this from a "self-described 'brotha'."

I'll bet you don't even think twice about calling your Mother a "strong, Black woman." Yet big strong Serena can only get a boyfriend because she's wealthy!?!?!?

Also, how do you define "big?"
Seems you're equating "big" with "unattractive."

And what did I say about the First Couple that somehow offends you?

Get specific, wiseguy.
Don't throw insults; throw ideas, facts, observations.
##

May 31, 2010 at 1:00 PM

Serena's boyfriend was Common until the last couple of weeks. What white guy are you talking about?

Jun 1, 2010 at 8:36 AM

I speak about this in my History of Mass Communication class with students. Artist have the right express themselves as they want to but the fact remains that when you are a "public figure" that happens to be from a marginalized community you do not enjoy the same rights of autonomy.

The truth is Madonna can pose with her "assets" out and only she gets implicated. If a Black celebrity does the same thing "all" Black women become implicated.

That is why I laugh when recording artist and athletes say they are not role models. You can't have it both ways. You can't expect young folks to buy your $200.00 tennis shoes and then say you no influence.

Pick a character.

Professor Locs

Jun 1, 2010 at 11:51 PM

Im assuming the "white guy" he is talking about is actually her hitting partner "Sasha". Serena is the long time and well known girl friend of rapper Common....VENUS has the white boyfriend...actually he is Italian.
Im a fan of both William sister. They are the only reason I became a fan of the sport. But IMO..Venus went to far..again. There is a thin line between Sex-y and Nast-y..she crossed that line 4 me. Save that for the fashion runway and leave the tennis court for playing tennis. What message is she sending to the little girls of the world. Isnt her family suppose to be devout Jehovah Witnesses? They/She cant bend the rules of her religion to vote for Obama but the rules are lax enuff for her to wear that in public? Im just saying.

But if you want to talk about what people are wearing, I found it more "inappropriate" that Rafa Nadal is wearing a half million dollar($500,000) watch on his wrist while playing tennis.

"How cold and cruel is the man that pays too much for what he's got" .MJB

Jan 19, 2011 at 2:25 AM

@Quippian "If you've got, flaunt it!"
WOW.... that's just the advice I'd give my young daughter???? People are right, in a way, about the product endorsements. The very talented Williams' sisters have been given the shaft on that. HOWEVER, the products/companies do have one reason to go with a less talented, white, blond tennis player. They need to be sure that their endorser represents their target audience in both views and morals. If the sisters would rather choose to wear lewd/vulgar tennis outfits than compete for the endorsements, that definetely is their choice.... but I think it's a shame. Somewhere along the line, someone forgot to teach them that true beauty comes from your countenance & talent, not from "if you've got it" hang it out there for the whole world to see.