Leave it to sports columnist Jason Whitlock to take a glorious moment of athletic achievement and pervert into an overly simplistic and degrading evaluation of appropriate female booty size. Just two days after Serena Williams triumphed in her third Wimbledon win, this time over her big sister Venus, Whitlock comes out with a column slamming her body and athletic accomplishments:
With a reduction in glut, a little less butt and a smidgen more guts, Serena Williams would easily be as big as Michael Jackson, dwarf Tiger Woods and take a run at Rosa Parks.
You can call me unfair. You can even scream that I'm sexist.
But there's an inescapable truth about Serena Williams: She's an underachiever. Source: Serena could be the best ever, but, Foxsports.com
Serena Williams Transformation
- Serena Williams Transformation
When Serena Williams came onto the tennis scene, she had a look of complete innocence. Being somewhat in the shadow of her older sister Venus, Serena wore the braids with beads that were both sisters' signature style. Serena would spend the next few years defining her own fashion identity. (Photo: HECTOR MATA, Getty Images)
- Serena Williams Transformation
By the early 2000s, Williams made a name for herself apart from her sister as a player and superstar. She first set herself apart with bold, playful blonde hair, here against a strong monochromatic outfit. New to make up, Serena began expressing a more womanly presentation. (Photo: Lawrence Lucier, Getty Images)
- Serena Williams Transformation
At the 2002 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards, Serena took her femininity further. Her long tuxedo jacket is lined with blazing hot pink, creating a backdrop for her athletic legs. God bless her, this is a look only for the young. (Photo: Jim Spellman, WireImage.com)
- Serena Williams Transformation
Serena's red carpet arrival at the 2003 ESPY Awards in a pink gown fit for Barbie showed the world that she could be aggressive on the tennis court and girly on the red carpet. While she wins no points for the cut, color or fit of this gown, Williams deserves kudos for her confidence in striking a pose. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire, WireImage.com)
- Serena Williams Transformation
Looking not so pretty in pink, Ms. Williams attended a 2004 fashion event hosted by superstar designer Robert Cavalli in a dress fit for a champion. Champion ice skater, that is. (Photo: Evan Agostini, Getty Images)
- Serena Williams Transformation
One place where Serena's fashion sense has never failed has been on the tennis court. Here we see her wearing one of her many famous "extreme" tennis outfits. Williams looks like a futuristic ninja. (Photo: AP)
- Serena Williams Transformation
Serena's red carpet fashion sense stunned the world, despite her high style on the courts. Her 2004 appearance at a VH1 event in a blue, bedazzled gown was one of many that left people wondering if she was really a drag queen. (Photo: Carlo Allegri, Getty Images)
- Serena Williams Transformation
Ever proud of her body, her accomplishments and who she was, a girl from Compton who made REAL good, Serena Williams was never ashamed to look exactly how she wanted to. She even wore bikinis with bravado. (Photo: Ron C. Angle, BEImages)
- Serena Williams Transformation
As her star rose, Serena became a fixture of Hollywood, taking her Barbie-manbot look there, pink puff and all. She was accepted with open arms, literally, dating famed director Brett Ratner in 2005. (Photo: Getty Images)
- Serena Williams Transformation
Despite being photographed constantly in designer gowns, Serena Williams was still a child at heart. Here she hangs out in a totally casual look at home with her dogs. (Photo: Animal Fair Media, Getty Images)
Whitlock's pronouncement is insulting and uninformed. Let's take the insult first. Whitlock attacks Serena's beautiful, very muscular body indicating that it is in some way less than efficient - he basically calls her fat.
But he has no way of knowing Serena's muscle to bodyfat ratio. Because Serena is muscular, even a relatively low percentage of body fat will make her appear many times bigger than a less muscular, European competitor. I may be an off season female bodybuilder carrying excess bodyfat right now, but even when I'm very lean, many people presume my size is mostly fat instead of rock hard muscle. Serena is solid, not a thing jiggles as she covers the court. That Whitlock has the gall to attack the size of her muscular derriere recalls historical subjugation of the black female body and he establishes no factual link between Serena's on court performance and her current weight. For instance, Serena may hit harder carrying a few pounds, and she certainly moves well. And if she was a little slow, maybe it was the hamstring injury she may have been dealing with?
God gave Serena everything, including drop-dead looks. She's chosen to smother some of it in an unsightly layer of thick, muscled blubber, a byproduct of her unwillingness to commit to a training regimen and diet that would have her at the top of her game year-round.
[and later]
(A stuffed onion is a booty so round and tight that it brings tears to your eyes).
I'm sorry. I digress. Source:Fox Sports on MSN
"Oozing pumpkin." If you do not know who Saartjie "Sarah" Baartman (1789 – 29 December 1815), aka "Hottentot Venus" was, then please click on the link and learn. There is a legacy of dissecting the black female body in this degrading and dehumanizing way.
Now about Whitlock being uninformed. As a muscular athlete, I can tell you conditioning is just one factor in achieving peak performance. At her level, only Serena and her trainers and doctors know where ability and performance intersect for her. Mental toughness, pain tolerance, genetic physical issues are all factors that affect performance. Booty size is really irrelevant in the scheme of things.
Comments: (994)
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By: obama girl on 7/09/2009 10:53PM
Joe Willie you must have overdosed on those Extenze pills you obviously have to take. And it is bothering the hell out of you that due to your unlucky genetic pool you could never dream of having a woman like the beautiful Serena. I know it has been hard watching the Williams sisters virtually take over women's tennis. She and her sister Venus not only won all the money from the Wimbledon singles championship but then turn around and win the Doubles championship and that prize money as well. Oh Darn! and Tiger won this past weekend too. Well if you like comparing talented, intelligent successful people to animals,I'd say with pride as I watch our (yours and mine) intelligent African American President on television these animals have highly evolved!
Do you really think your creepy 1960's Klu Klux Klan inspired insults hurt anyone? When I read your comments I visualized you sitting in your singlewide trailer spewing hate because you yourself are such a LOSER and hate your own pathetic life. Seriously, spearchucker! LOL. You probably meant to say ass-kickers. As we are
kicking ass in numerous arenas,politics,education, sports, you name it. Just FYI save the racist tirades for your next skinhead meeting, successful well educated African Americans like myself laugh when we read comments like yours. Seriously you sound so weak and ignorant....and small...
Go Serena and Venus!
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By: Rita Chan on 7/16/2009 7:06PM
He is jealous because he is not as fit. Eventhough she has but, she is healthy. Shame...Shame on you.
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By: monique on 7/07/2009 9:49PM
Has anyone seen Jason Whitlocks fat butt lately? He weighs about 300 pounds!
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By: garljnz on 7/09/2009 8:21PM
At a time when the country needs to here of great accomplishments, here is a trouble writer, who seems not to have anything to write about, so he writes about a sisters back side. I think he's trying to make a name for himself, someone needs to remind him, She's at the top of her game. Mr Whitakes must be at the bottom of his. Serena, continue to to make history, the world will know you by the history you make. Know one will remember Mr. Whitaker in History about his opinion.
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By: Robert on 7/09/2009 8:36PM
Whitlock's big fat head looks like "Junk in the trunk" or very large "oozing pumkin".
It is so very sad that he is yet another Black person who seems to think that they can achieve fame by slamming another Black person.
Black self hate is always such a sad sad thing.
If he would never every be able to raise in journalism to the level Ms. Williams has achieved in tennis, and it will not be because of the size of his oversized head, it will be because of what is in it, or not in it.
He is a sad case.
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By: harold on 7/09/2009 10:59PM
the fat boy has been programed and is not of his own mine
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By: jerry on 7/09/2009 11:11PM
I think that he should look at himself in the mirror. In looking at his picture, maybe he is the one that should walk away from the table. Congrats to both sisters on their accomplishments throughout the years.
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By: aapoet on 7/09/2009 11:53PM
Serena is a top athlete, competing ... and winning ... against the best in the world. Were she out of shape, she'd have no chance. You don't compete on that level by talent alone. You have to be fit and smart. Serena is not getting enough credit for either. Women are naturally different sizes. Serena is think and muscular. Jason Whitlock is a sell-out wannabe athlete who will stoop to anything to sell a story. I refuse to buy any paper or magazine that carries one of his articles. I don't even watch "pardon the interruption" when he is on. He's a sick sellout.
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By: Glo on 7/10/2009 12:14AM
Serena Williams is a national treasure. She is pure energy on the court, and has a lovely, feminine, and modest way of speaking in interviews. Physically, she's no twig, but she carries herself in dignity and regal beauty, and that's another thing I love about her. She is one of the few tennis players that I actually feel bad for if she loses.
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By: Cynthia Freeman aka Sweetness on 7/10/2009 12:29AM
See its men like that want to be her or just wants her. I was a gymnist, track, and played womens football all mylife I was an athlete and my body is the same as Serena but I am only 5'1. Some men like it or let me stop being modist most men like it and little do not. How much fat does this man have and what real man talks about a womens size anyway. We should be wondering if this man has a little bit of funny ways (gay) I even have a girl friend that is 6'0 same look yes God does make tall sexy muscle fit women in this world. Does he talk about the skinny women that play tennis hell no so just leave her alone let her keep beating eveyone. SHE IS AN ATHLETE AND SHE ALSO HAS THE LOOK TO GO WITH IT.
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