As she defeated every player in her way, a number of sports writers seemingly saddened by that fact wrote disparaging columns describing her victories as complete and powerful, but inelegant and forceful. Always and without fail, as a way of detracting from her hard-fought and won victories, standard American media tries to detract from Serena's tennis brilliance.

Some of her defeated foes also assailed her, using racially charged code words and innuendoes. Having no ability to defeat her on the court, they have attempted, even as many columnists also did, to egg her to behavior that was unbecoming the champ she is. But she has steadfastly refused their immature traps and simply played the best female tennis there was on the court and generated excitement in her playing.

Now after several years of defeating foes on the court and foes off the court, and even after defeating her older sister, who held court before she did, Serena Williams is atop the game, and she is receiving recognition for her game and her sophistication. And she deserves it. She has had to endure more negative press than white winners: she has endured racially coded expressions from some of her peers and disparaging columns, not because of her play, but because of certain columnists' undying notions--notions of a supposed white hegemony.

Year ago, Serena's father said she was a better player than Venus. Clearly, Serena did not take that pronouncement as a done deal; she perfected her game in the gym and on the court. Her muscular physique demonstrates much gym work, and her defeat of Venus, her older sister demonstrates an attention to details.

Gibbs salutes Serena Williams for the hard work she placed into her sport. For it has been said, "They who strive for mastery must strive lawfully or they are not crowned." She is rightly crowned.

Serena Williams is crowned the best female tennis player, but many of her peers who are fair minded and not jealous or informed by America's malady (racism) have stated there is no one in sight who can defeat her. Right now, the Williams sisters so thoroughly dominate female tennis, they play only against themselves; they have energized female tennis and given it a popularity needed in that sport.

It is easy for one to sit back and declare natural genetics for her success. That is the lazy, unintelligent, and naive answer to many things. The real key to success is not very difficult to discover. It is training, attention to detail, more training, and always an eye toward perfection of one's game. This self-discipline is the road to all honest achievement, whether in sport or any other field of endeavor.

Of course, there are the cheaters in all fields, but one who strives for mastery should not be crowned unless she/he strives lawfully. Serena has been a model for during these fraudulent, corrupt, and deceptive times of sport, academia, corporate behavior, and in every endeavor in this nation.

Gibbs salutes Ms. Serena Williams for her tennis brilliant. She is simply the best the world has seen! []

Gibbs

                     

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