I like it when people speak simple truths in the face of vapid political correctness. John McEnroe did that last weekend, and is experiencing the predictable pushback from an aggrieved press.
In his book But Seriously, McEnroe describes Serena Williams as the best female player in the world. When asked about that in an interview on NPR, McEnroe amplified the comment, saying that Williams is the “best female player ever. No question.”
High praise — but not high enough for NPR interviewer Lulu Garcia-Navarro, who observed that some people would dispense with the qualifying word “female,” and simply claim that Williams is “the best player in the world.” She then challenged McEnroe, asking “Why qualify it?”
McEnroe, to his credit, responded appropriately. He suggested that, if Williams played the men’s circuit, “she’d be like 700th in the world.” He then went on to further praise Ms. Williams, without endorsing the nonsensical view that she would be an effective competitor in the world of men’s professional tennis.
We are too often asked to parrot absurdity in the name of political correctness. I applaud Mr. McEnroe for refusing to yield to demands that he apologize for what were both gracious and correct statements.
For what it’s worth, Serena Williams has herself said that men’s and women’s tennis are effectively different sports, and that she could never compete in men’s tennis. As she said a few years ago, “I only want to play girls, because I don’t want to be embarrassed.”
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That is the context that nightly news leaves out. They make it sound like he just went out of his way to throw out that comment.
Or is that 15 – Love, McEnroe?
Tennis scoring is so weird.
I saw the interview with some commentary. It compared all of Serena Williams’ titles with men who have not won as many. What got lost in the whole thing is that the men played other men and Serena always played women’s tennis. At no time, were any of Serena’s title won playing a man.
This is really a fabricated dispute. No serious person would argue that Serena Williams, as wonderfully talented as she is, is the best tennis player in the world when both male and female players are considered.
When asked to apologize, McEnroe should have asked “for what, exactly? For stating a number with which you disagree, or for having the audacity to voice it?”
Charles Murray could give exactly the same answer when challenged about his work.
It might be a legitimate and interesting question to ask, is Williams a larger outlier among women than the best player among men?
I mean, sure, it goes without saying she’s not better than most men, but that’s boring to even spend time acknowledging.
I’m not sure we want to spend too much time delving into the particulars of her performance advantages over other women players. I’m content to just observe that she’s an amazing player.
You can not be serious!
Exactly! And kudos to John McEnroe for not giving the politically correct answer Lulu insisted upon.
Williams said on an interview only a few years ago that men are much stronger, more aggressive and hit harder and that she would lose – it’s why she’d never play against a guy in a tournament because she would lose, so McEnroe was speaking the truth.
Today, apparently, it is unacceptable to believe that male athletes have some advantages over female athletes. (Same for marines, firemen, you name it…) They must be considered physically equal, and no evidence to the contrary is relevant. Progressives want it to be so, and it is triggering to point out that it isn’t.
Serena knows its true. She just also knows that you are not allowed to think it, and truth is no defense.
Reminds me of a President Reagan quote ….
I am waiting for that special, special day when a Federal judge decides that sex segregated sports violates Title IX and the 14th Amendment.
I really want to see Brittney Griner try to defend LeBron James for 48 minutes. I really want to see the former LPGA hit from the back tees. I really want to see Serena take on Andy Murray.
Before we shove women out onto the battlefield, let them prove their equality from the safety of the playing field.
That’s what has irked me about this exchange. They were speaking about men’s players and the interviewer then deliberately turned McEnroe’s attention to “female players.” Not that McEnroe needs any lessons in snark from me, but I think if I were in his seat and the interviewer asked why he would qualify it, I would respond, “Because YOU asked me about female players so I am answering your question.” The whole segment smacked of a set up. Good for McEnroe for not playing this silly game.
World track and field records for women.
https://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/records/30-records/278-womens-outdoor-world-records
High School track and field records for males for a small to medium population state (in this example, Wisconsin)
https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Track/State_Records/brecords.pdf
My comment #14 somehow got posted twice. Deleted the duplicate (I hope)
Exactly. It would be fun in sports, if only to poke a finger in the eye of the liberal orthodoxy that holds there is no difference at all between the “sexes” and that anyone can choose their own gender.
However, when it comes to firemen, police or the armed forces, and not merely sports, it is not fun and games. It is life and death.
Serena later Tweeted: “I’ve never played anyone ranked “there” nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I’m trying to have a baby. Good day sir”
Says the woman who just posed completely naked and pregnant on the cover of a magazine.
Respect her and her privacy.
I wasn’t aware there was a lot of “trying” involved once you’re already pregnant. As I understand the process (I have two kids), it pretty much takes care of itself.
If only we had a way to find out if Serena could beat top men’s players…
Say, what’s this? From the Wikipedia article on Serena Williams:
A 16-year-old Serena competed in a tennis “Battle of the Sexes”, along with her sister Venus Williams, against Karsten Braasch at the 1998 Australian Open. At the time Braasch was ranked 203rd. The Williams sisters had claimed they could beat any man outside the top 200, and he accepted the challenge. Not known for having an ideal training regimen, Braasch nonetheless beat both Williams sisters, playing a single set against each. The score vs Serena was 6–1 and vs Venus 6–2. Braasch said afterwards, “500 and above, no chance.” The girls later tweaked the number to beating men outside the top 350.
(Granted, this was in 1998, before Serena was at her best)
Morning Quikwit,
The only picture I have ever seen of Karsten is with him smoking, so your comment on his training is slightly understated. Thanks for reminding us of this earlier contest.
“Why qualify it?”
Because one must, if words mean anything.
One wouldn’t say that Manny Pacquiao is the greatest boxer of all time, because he is a welterweight who would get creamed by a heavyweight. In boxing, however, there are discussions of who was the best “P4P” (pound-for-pound). That’s what’s called a qualification.
What would be an analogous statement about Serena Williams? That she is the greatest based on time dominant in the sport? On number of titles? Those are all qualifications.
To say that someone is the greatest of all time, without qualification, when there are countless others who would have beaten her handily, is an absurdity.
That is what gets to me. All the news outlets are discussing how could McEnroe say this?!? He was answering a question for goodness sake. Did you really want him to say yes she is better than men?