Needs additional work on emotional skills?

[Redblade]

Thought it might be a good opener for discussion on emotional skill mastery. Excerpts from the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) – Serena Williams walked toward the line judge, screaming, cursing and shaking a ball in the official's direction, threatening to "shove it down" her throat.

On match point in the U.S. Open semifinals Saturday night, defending champion Williams was penalized a point for unsportsmanlike conduct — a bizarre, ugly finish that gave a 6-4, 7-5 upset victory to unseeded, unranked Kim Clijsters.

The match featured plenty of powerful groundstrokes and lengthy exchanges. No one will remember a single shot that was struck, though, because of the unusual, dramatic way it ended.

With Williams serving at 5-6, 15-30 in the second set, she faulted on her first serve. On the second serve, a line judge called a foot fault, making it a double-fault. ... That made the score 15-40, putting Clijsters one point from victory.

Instead of stepping to the baseline to serve again, Williams went over and shouted and cursed at the line judge, pointing at her and thrusting the ball toward her.

"If I could, I would take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat," Williams said.

Williams already had been give a code violation warning when she broke her racket after losing the first set. So the chair umpire now awarded a penalty point to Clijsters, ending the match.

When the ruling was announced, Williams walked around the net to the other end of the court to shake hands with a stunned Clijsters, who did not appear to understand what had happened.

"I used to have a real temper, and I've gotten a lot better," Williams said later. "So I know you don't believe me, but I used to be worse. Yes, yes, indeed." ...

"I mean, the timing is unfortunate, you know," Clijsters said. "To get a point penalty at the time, it's unfortunate. But there are rules, and you know, like I said, it's just unfortunate that it has to happen on a match point."

[oso97]

"I mean, the timing is unfortunate, you know," Clijsters said. "To get a point penalty at the time, it's unfortunate. But there are rules, and you know, like I said, it's just unfortunate that it has to happen on a match point."[/I]

The unfortunate thing is that Williams opened her mouth to abuse the referee, not that she (Williams) reaped the consequences of it.

[thereom4]

I would have been super pissed. If I were in the same situation, I'm not goint to lie, I probably would have asked the line judge if she was effing crazy. But I would not have threatened her. When McEnroe says your behavior is a bit much, you know you gotta dial it back a bit.

There is nothing wrong with counting to ten, balling up your fists and moving on.

I read an article once (I can't recall the magazine) about the 10-10-10 rule. The author (Suzy Welch) has this rule of reflection where she would ask herself, "Will this matter in 10 minutes, 10 months, or 10 years?"

[trazom]

That was also her second "unsportsmanlike" penalty in the match - first was for breaking her racket.

To think, in fencing - or even football - she'd have been gone before the 2nd (I think it was between 1 and 2) set.



*edit: just realized was thinking and writing two different things... dropping f bomb in football at ref, as I don't think you can break equipment.

[Mo]

She was losing.
She knew she was going to lose.
She tried to save face by having a temper tantrum that she knew would cost her.
She fell on her sword so to speak.... Now all that anyone will remember is that she acted like a total idiot.
Kind of self defeating in so many ways.

The Momster

[Purple Fencer]

That was also her second "unsportsmanlike" penalty in the match - first was for breaking her racket.

To think, in fencing - or even football - she'd have been gone before the 2nd (I think it was between 1 and 2) set.

Soooo...yellow card earlier....red card at la belle.....sucks to be her!

[Superscribe]

Wait, have there already been discussions on roid rage?

[milstdfarm]

Whew, this is only about tennis. When I read the title, I thought my wife was posting about me again.

[Redblade]

I can't imagine this ever happening in a fencing tournament. Just not possible.

[Dev]

Soooo...yellow card earlier....red card at la belle.....sucks to be her!

Actually, as Mo pointed out, this is more like a red card when down 10-14 against somebody you can't stop anyway.

[Lady Quindecim]

"I mean, the timing is unfortunate, you know," Clijsters said. "To get a point penalty at the time, it's unfortunate. But there are rules, and you know, like I said, it's just unfortunate that it has to happen on a match point."[/I]

unfortunate because she could not go on knowing she beat Williams. She will be wondering "what if..."

Unfortunate because Williams quit (effectively) without being defeated. The match will be remembered as "the one Williams lost because she was too emotional" not the won Clijsters one by defeating Williams.

Unfortunate because Williams tarnished the match.

That is worse than the tantrum itself.

Bummer.

[ysbadadden]

Quitting is being defeated.
Williams was losing, and quit.
Clijsters went on and won the tournament.
People will remember Serena's meltdown, but even more, Kim's ultimate victory.

[erooMynohtnA]

People will remember Serena's meltdown, but even more, Kim's ultimate victory.

Not at all.

[Empty Wallet]

I still remember watching when John McEnroe was thrown out of the Australian Open. Still remember the words that he said.

At the time there was talk of the change in warning rules and that his gamesmanship just got him caught out. The tournament director ensured everyone that with that language it would be an automatic "black card".

I do not remember who won the tournament.

[Philistine]

I still remember watching when John McEnroe was thrown out of the Australian Open. Still remember the words that he said.

At the time there was talk of the change in warning rules and that his gamesmanship just got him caught out. The tournament director ensured everyone that with that language it would be an automatic "black card".

I do not remember who won the tournament.

It was Lendl.

No one puts an asterisk by his win--or probably even remembers it was the same tournament McEnroe got booted from.

It's not like Clijsters was some nobody. She was clearing going to win the match (unlike Williams--she didn't drop a set during the entire Open).

--Philistine

[Redblade]

I don't think an opponent's anger detracts from your otherwise hard-won victory. If anything, it speaks to the frustration you've caused the other guy. If he loses it, emotionally, then you must have been playing a good game.

[ysbadadden]

If you can be remembered more for losing it than for winning it... then maybe we have a new sport here, but it's not fencing. Or tennis, for that matter.

[Grasshopper]

I can't believe she chose to say "shove this f__ing ball down your throat". Obviously she should have said "shove this f__ing racquet down your throat" to conjure up the right image of insane brutality.

[telkanuru]

You're right. If the line judge had been Lance Armstrong, it would have made more sense...

[snarsdale]

Wait, have there already been discussions on roid rage?

Preparation H can be helpful in this situation.....