Your View: 'Outburst by Tennis Star Inappropriate'

Editor, The Auburn Plainsman

Well, I must state that something like this does not surprise me.

After all, we have an undisciplined spoiled brat who is underworked and overpaid that probably never had to earn a living unless you consider hitting tennis balls all your life as some sort of labor.

I am not familiar with the rules of tennis (nor do I want to be), but it seems apparent that this sport has a rank order of judicial authority similar to other sports.

Evidently the line judge is subordinate to the chair umpire so it would seem that if one is not satisfied with the decision made by a line judge they would simply appeal to the chair umpire.

But when people are raised to believe that winning is the only thing and everything else is discounted one may draw the conclusion that what Ms. Williams did was perfectly acceptable and appropriate.

Let's see, "screaming at an official with a jabbed finger" and stating: "I'm going to shove this ball down your (expletive deleted) throat."

Even John McEnroe (another spoiled brat) was taken aback by her behavior.

If I were the line judge (whether or not I was familiar with America's culture or lack thereof), I would have felt sufficiently threatened to seek out the protection of law enforcement.

Williams should have forfeited the match, been arrested and banned from tennis.

Her ill-gotten gains then could be rightfully distributed to accomplish more important things than rewarding the tirades of a selfish materialistic ego.

The question that remains for all forms of organized sport is where does one draw the line between protest and a complete disregard for authority.

A public apology is simply not acceptable and the sponsors of Ms. Williams need to be made aware of this through direct contact up to and including the boycott of products.

As the old television commercial states "anything less would be uncivilized."

Joe Bialek

Cleveland, OH