IS A WINNER A CHAMPION?

BY REV. DR. RACHELLE A. ZAZZU

It’s very hard not to like somebody these days.  The media makes a lot out of it and then there are apology tours and ridiculousness like that.  For instance, I don’t particularly like bell peppers, but if I announced it publically somewhere then the farm lobby would get mad and the next thing you know I’m standing in front of a high school auditorium somewhere in farmland apologizing for myself. Did I say peppers?  I meant peepers. I mean, really, who likes peepers....

Still, I’m a New Yorker and we tend towards the outspoken, the direct, and the well fed...but I digress.  This is not a story about growing up in New York City or my dislike of peppers. This is a story about Serena Williams winning the Sportswoman Of The Year award on the BET Awards Show a couple of days ago.

When I heard this my jaw dropped to the floor, my heart started racing and had to towel up the rivulets of sweat that poured down my body.

It is true that Serena has won many a tennis tournament.  I understand.  A sportswoman?  THE Sportswoman of the year? Yeah...not so much.

I don’t think telling a line woman’s that you are going to F***king shove the f***king ball down her throat is good sportsmanship.  I don’t think refusing to play at Indian Wells to punish people is good sportsmanship.  I don’t think.... I’ll think I’ll stop myself before I enter into an all out Dennis Miller rant.  And I could.  I could talk about the lack of graciousness she shows her opponents in press conferences, refusing to acknowledge their skills and abilities.

Now, to be sure, none of this makes her bad or wrong. Or in the same distasteful arena as peppers.  It just doesn’t make her Sportswoman of the year.   

Onto the next...

Andre Agassi is clearly a philanthropic man and his school has been a godsend for the youth it serves. I appreciate this with an ardor this is almost unspeakable.  This is what life is about.  If you can help, help, and I am proud that so many tennis players take this to heart. 

Andre has served the Las Vegas community with true generosity of spirit, with an open heart and an open purse and I am grateful.

But this year he is being inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.  Not the Philanthropy Hall of fame.  This man who took drugs while on the tour and lied about it.  Then when he decided to come clean and admit his shortcomings he decided he would throw a couple of other people (who hadn’t decided to make it public) under the bus.  I’m pretty sure his trainer hasn’t written a story called “When I fed Andre drugs” in this month’s tennis journals.  How about the Committee that let him off the hook? The way he shows his gratitude is by outing them. Announcing how much he hated tennis. Not inspirational.

Again...not a bad person, in many ways a stellar person.  And perhaps you can put aside his gross tennis infractions.  Not me. 

I’m not vindictive and I’m not even angry or outraged.  I’m confused.  Doesn’t Sportswoman of the Year imply somehow that during the past year you were a good sport?  Doesn’t the Hall of Fame imply that your career is something inspirational and to be admired for the rest of eternity.  For the longer conversation on this subject please feel free to reference Pete Rose.  Not in the Hall of Fame...

As for me, I continue to admire the Fedexpress and Rafa.  Two winners who are true champions in my eyes.  They are honest and humble and philanthropic to boot.  I’m proud to have them represent my sport.