Calling the 'Williams sisters' the 'Williams brothers' for a laugh

I think you might be wilfully missing the point here.

This guy is President of the Russian Tennis Federation, and a member of the IOC.

In such a position, he ought to choose his words more carefully, and this comment is clearly designed to demean the two girls, neither of whom incidentally is remotely mannish in their manner, in fact they are quite girly if anything. And even if they resembled a couple of Harlem trannies, there would still be no excuse for these comments.

Another thing you seem not to grasp - wilfully or otherwise - is that if either girl, or both, feels racially insulted by these comments then by definition they are racist comments. There can be little doubt that that was the chap's intention particularly given his audience, which would have been composed almost solely of Russians, who are not exactly known for their tolerance in these matters. He was playing up to the audience making cheap racial digs at two of the greatest sportswomen of our time, when he holds high position in two major Sporting Institutions. He deserves any censure which comes his way, and frankly to defend him is just as reprehensible.

in fact they are quite girly if anything

One may be, if you like girls to be stick thin and over 6 feet tall with a neck like a giraffe, and lope along like one. 

The other one definitely isn't girly.

Another thing you seem not to grasp - wilfully or otherwise - is that if either girl, or both, feels racially insulted by these comments then by definition they are racist comments.

How is anybody racially insulted by being called a member of the opposite sex?

Do black women feel that black men are so ugly that to call them 'men' is racist?

If somebody called me a girl, the first thing he needs is an appointment at SPECSAVERS.

I recall in my younger days my dad saying 'You look like your sister standing outside the front door.'

Our front door was georgian wire glass, and I had long hair.

Funny? - Yes.
Insulting? Not to me.


If the man in no. 28 had said it (he was Jamaican)
Funny? - Yes.
Insulting? Not to me.
Racist? How ffs?

Williams was stupid to say it was racist. Black people (and other minorities, and overly PC types) who accuse others of racism at every opportunity need to realise that crying wolf is ultimately counter-productive.

However, it was also a highly inappropriate comment for the president of the Russian Tennis Federation to make. Don't know how whether the punishment was appropriate, though.

Rich, a celebrity and black...one dare not crack a joke at their expense FFS!

Amazing how quickly the race card is played, it was a clear dig at their physique, also, Serena once threatened to shove a ball down a line judge's mouth and was also accused of threatening to kill another whilst telling an umpire she was ugly inside, I don't think she's very girly somehow

Venus on the other hand is far more womanly and less confrontational.

If they worked in a call centre and you spoke to them you would come away thinking they were definitely girly.

Competitive beasts they are on the court, physically intimidating to the members of the WTA. Power packed even Venus.

But to joke that they are brothers is below the belt, it`s like a kick in the stones.

scandanavian_haven

I don't think she's very girly somehow.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwrP1zHC5Eo

It was a clumsy joke, but surely an apology should have been enough

I miss boris yeltsin, that guy was real value

What is overlooked is the fact that the williams sort has inadvertently been the racist here not the russian guy.
Since the very point in saying its to do with race when he never mentioned race implies she is saying all black women look like men.

Compared to the Russian entrants to Women`s athletics in the 70/80`s Serena and Venus look like the Cheeky Girls.

We will all be in the news tomorrow accused of trolling of course

Not very girly here.

.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcUIj5JdYZs


or here

.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eon8oO8Q9vQ

"brothers" is a term used for black men

i doubt the russian bloke intended any racism though

cant see anything here, time to move along

I best not repeat what i've been calling Serena for years..

Another thing you seem not to grasp - wilfully or otherwise - is that if either girl, or both, feels racially insulted by these comments then by definition they are racist comments.

I just remembered a tale from my mostly mis-spent youth. It's been told on here before.

In my first job out of school there were a few Jamaicans working there, hardly any africans in Newham at the time.

Pretty hard to guess ages when you're 15, as everybody over 35 looks ancient, but Earl, who was about 5-7 and pretty stocky, I'd guess to be in his late 40s.

After tea break one morning he said to me 'I hear you do de boxing bwa.'

I nodded.

He stood up and said 'Punch me.'

'What for?' I asked

'Just do it.' he said, and stood in a boxing stance.

I was a lot taller, with a much longer reach, but at about 9 stones, a lot lighter, and whether I thought he was 'ancient' or not is immaterial, I never give anybody a free shot.

So I 'floated like a butterfly' (like my hero - I can't float any more than 30 seconds now)   and threw out a few fast but playful left jabs (I can still sting like a bee) he blocked the first one with his fists, and the second hit him on the shoulder.

He laughed and said 'Stand still for fox see-yak'

I laughed back 'Do I look that facking stupid?'  

Our foreman Alec walked by and said to me 'I'm warning you, if he hits you, you'll be going home, so can we get on with work?'

Earl laughed and dropped his hands, so did I.

As I went to walk past he put his hands on his head and said ' Gowan, quick, hit me in de ribs dem.'

I jabbed him in the ribs.

'For fox say-eek, hit me harder,' he said. 

I said 'Really?'

'Yeh bwa, gowan, do it.' he said.

I gave him a pretty big dig in the ribs, not my hardest punch, but hard enough to hurt anybody who couldn't take one.

He laughed out loud and said 'Ya hits like a girly.'

Funny? - Yes.
Insulting? Not to me.
Racist? - No chance.

It was the next day that somebody told me that Earl had only been in England a few years. Back home in the good ole U.S. of A, he used to be a sparring partner for Rocky Marciano.

No wonder my punch never hurt him

I don't get it either. Calling them the Williams brothers is not racist. Unless he called them some other things that I did not see. As for the sexist part. Well, she does look like a bloke in drag

nice story taxi

I really enjoyed that boxing anecdote from the Taxi lad, yet I could tell about half way down that he thinks he's CARLOS MONZON...and he's NOT...he's no Monzon.

You DREAM of Monzon!