Too Ugly?
Banned from Centre Court
“Looks Are A Factor”
Sexism never quite goes out of style at SW19 does it? They’re still dragging their feet on equal prize money and now they’ve admitted to scheduling hot chicks for center court, regardless of whether they are any good. The Daily Mail reports:
And last night, the All England Club admitted that physical attractiveness is taken into consideration.
Spokesman Johnny Perkins said: ‘Good looks are a factor.’
After Federer finished on Friday, next match up was Victoria Azarenka against Sonora Cristea (who?) while Serena was relegated to Court No. 2. Notably, there were empty seats on Centre Court as tennis fans preferred to watch Serena (duh). The BBC denied forcing the club’s hand, but noted “our preference would always be for a Brit or a babe.”
Want more evidence? Thursday, Caroline Wozniaki played Marina Kirilenko on Centre, while world no. 1 Dinara Safina was shunted off to the hinterlands. Defending Champ Venus Williams and French Open Champion Sveta Kuznetzova were also sent to outer show courts. There are always scheduling complaints at all four slams… but at Wimbledon it’s driven by sexism and admittedly so:
Perkins said “it’s not a coincidence” that those playing on Centre Court are attractive. Well then, can we ban the ugliest male pros from Centre Court too? Can you imagine Rafael Nadal relegated to Court No. 2? Um no… because it would never happen.
I suspect racism here as well. White women are pretty, black women aren’t, isn’t that what they’re implying? Because no other tennis players are bigger ratings stars and worldwide celebrities than the Williams sisters. The crowds that surround them when they play court 2 are actually dangerous. The vitriol toward black women is always evident. One need only look at the continuing racial taunts that Michelle Obama looks like a monkey to see the racism, which everyone just ignores. (And these comments come directly from the Republican establishment, while these same folks assholes line up to support Sarah Palin in her various holy wars against comedians and bloggers, wasting precious media time we could use to shine a light on the ten million things more important than her brood)
But I digress. Seriously – in whose universe is a fit Serena not attractive? She looks fantastic at the moment. Venus cuts an elegant figure on the lawns. To see a five-time Wimbledon Champ not on Centre is a scandal. Would Roger Federer ever be scheduled to play on Court 2? Again, a BIG FAT NO.
Quick, Spot the Ugly…
(Sorry Andy)
Passing Shots 
Marie
June 30, 2009
Love the pictures. I agree with you about Sara Palin. Starving kids in Africa, homelessness in every country, even people helping each other out in everyday life should make the news more often. Anyone says Michelle Obama is a monkey within earshot of me will get some choice words from me.
andicat
June 30, 2009
It’s hard to believe that they would simply admit to sexism. With the popularity of the Williams sisters, there is no plausible explanation for putting them on the outer courts. Venus will go down in history with Roger Federer and the greatest grass court players. She got cheated again today. Thanks for the comment.