Serena Williams is Not Alone
I know what you’re thinking: “Here comes another tennis blog that no one will care about.” I get it. Tennis doesn’t exactly get the blood pumping for most warm blooded Americans. But here’s the interesting part: it appears it doesn’t exactly get the blood pumping for one of its greatest champions either.
In a presser with the folks at the Brisbane International , Serena Williams, a 13-time grand slam singles champ (6th all-time), admitted she doesn’t really care that much for the sport she has dominated for over a decade. In fact, she doesn’t much care for sports…or anything physical:
And so it is confirmed…Serena Williams is certain to balloon well past Christina Aguilera (present) and into Kirstie Alley (past) territory once she officially hangs up the racquet.
What? She said it. She said she is excellent at sitting down. Her words, not mine.
Now back to the serious.
Ray Lewis isn’t the only…oh, sorry…Serena Williams…my mistake. She does kinda look like Ray, though...
Now back to the serious for real. Serena Williams isn’t the only athlete to get really, really fat after retirement. OK, OK, I swear that’s the last one.
Back to the serious for real for real: I’m surprised at how surprised everyone is about this revelation that really isn’t a revelation. The slow start to her career, the often poor play between grand slam victories, her injury history…it was no secret that Serena Williams wasn’t/isn’t crazy about the game at which she crazily excels. For Serena Williams, tennis is her paycheck…tennis is work.
Countless individuals in the working sector of our society, yes, even athletes, aren’t tripping over in love with the endeavors that pay their bills. That’s why it’s called work and not super happy fun time.
Athletes want to act, actors want to sing, singers want to design clothing – all of us want to be athletes.
The old saying goes, find something you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life. But there’s another saying, as well: if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.
Being good at something brings with it its own rewards – money, acclaim, the sheer high of competition, and the immeasurable euphoria of victory. Athletes like Serena Williams have been groomed since childhood at their respective craft. For many, it’s never been about love of the game. Shoot, they were never given the chance to love the game.
So while some have chosen to crucify Serena Williams for her seeming flippant disregard for her sport, I applaud her honesty and, more than that, stand in awe of an individual who has so greatly embraced the spirit of competition as to become one of the greatest at something she so deeply loathes.
