Serena & Venus Williams: Russian fined for 'brothers' jibe

Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev has been fined $25,000 (£15,500) for referring to Serena and Venus Williams as "the Williams brothers" on a TV chat show.

Tarpischev also received a one-year ban from involvement in the women's tour.
Women's Tennis Association chief executive Stacy Allaster said the comments were "insulting, demeaning and have absolutely no place in our sport".

Read More: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/tennis/29672340

-- BBC 2014-10-18

Stacy Ac/Dc. No wonder.

Geez...what happened to freedom of speech ..

..everyone knows that they are 'big girls'

...is it wrong to have a sense of humour.

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

Strong, challenging and very, very interesting women are clearly a threat to him.....................

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

What is racist in Williams brothers sentence?

In America, brother is a term used to refer to an African-American male. cf the original film The Longest Yard. 'do you know why you call each other brother? Cause half of you don't know who your daddy is, and you just might be brothers.'

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

Drop the PC race card for minute.

I reckon the jibe was more aimed at their muscular physiques.

In America, brother is a term used to refer to an African-American male. cf the original film The Longest Yard. 'do you know why you call each other brother? Cause half of you don't know who your daddy is, and you just might be brothers.'

So next time my sister calls me brother I'm gone sue the hell out of her.

In America, brother is a term used to refer to an African-American male. cf the original film The Longest Yard. 'do you know why you call each other brother? Cause half of you don't know who your daddy is, and you just might be brothers.'

So, Shamil Tarpischev once watched The Longest Yard and waited for the day he could use a term from it to describe two muscular women?

Well, Russians are not known for having a sense of humor. If a New Yorker said the same statement, there would be laughter everywhere. But imagine a Russian telling a knock knock who's there joke and it just isn't the same.

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

It's a comment (joke) on their body type, not their skin color. Geez, what world do you live in.

It was a rude comment, but the fine was over-the-top.

I like it.

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

It may indeed be a "slur" but it ain't racial.

Sorry not a joke, or a comment on their bodies, the remark made was in respect of their 'gender' and was perhaps to suggest that these ladies were more masculine than feminine.

It was an insulting remark whether made in jest or not.

And please before someone makes a remark about being too PC. I am the least PC person you could imagine and am aghast that these days you can get into trouble for telling an Englishman, Irishman & Scotsman joke, as well as now children not being able to sing the nursery rhyme 'Baa Baa Black sheep'

Before they start hammering this guy he makes a valid point. Anyone who thinks Serena is not on steroids is delusional. She is more jacked than an NFL linebacker and they need to test her and ban it from the sport. Either that or admit to it and let everyone do it so it is an even playing field. However, I don't believe Venus is and this is why she too has difficulty beating her brother... er I mean sister lol.

A picture paints a thousand words.

Does freedom of speech still exist?

I've always fancied Serena.

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

How is it a racial slur? Never mentioned anything about their race.

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

Do you know the difference between sexism and racism?

Sorry not a joke, or a comment on their bodies, the remark made was in respect of their 'gender' and was perhaps to suggest that these ladies were more masculine than feminine.

It was an insulting remark whether made in jest or not.

And please before someone makes a remark about being too PC. I am the least PC person you could imagine and am aghast that these days you can get into trouble for telling an Englishman, Irishman & Scotsman joke, as well as now children not being able to sing the nursery rhyme 'Baa Baa Black sheep'

Correct sir - on both counts.

I dare not let my kids wear the Robinson's jam gollywog badges these days. Remember collecting the little gollywog tokens? All because racists used that symbol in insulting ways.

Same that calling someone "a gay blade" was a compliment when gay wasn't a word now reserved exclusively for homosexuals.

In America, brother is a term used to refer to an African-American male. cf the original film The Longest Yard. 'do you know why you call each other brother? Cause half of you don't know who your daddy is, and you just might be brothers.'

Initially I thought this comment was a little humorous... However, after reading the above interpretation I can see how the comment was racially insulting, the fine and ban seems fair enough..

Sorry not a joke, or a comment on their bodies, the remark made was in respect of their 'gender' and was perhaps to suggest that these ladies were more masculine than feminine.

The only person who knows what aspect the remark was directed at is the person who made it. Everything else, including your (and my) opinion is just guesswork.

Also you contradict yourself.

You say it wasn't a comment on their bodies then say the comment was to suggest they were masculine.

Muscular physiques are an obvious sign of masculinity.

It's clear to anyone that the Williams 'sisters', especially Serena, has a muscular, masculine body.

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

you PC people ought to be drowned in a village pond by a big male negro wearing high heels and a rubber mini skirt

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

Do you know the difference between sexism and racism?

whatever, both are over hyped

I've always fancied Serena.

I used to have impure thoughts about the ladies on the old East German Womens Olympic teams. They were BUILT!

It's a racial slur. Punishment is well-deserved.

What is racist in Williams brothers sentence?

Exactly. "Racism" has become the catch-cry for ALL liberal leftists morons.

More accurately they are like heavyweight boxers taking on the lightweights;

perhaps tennis should have 'weight and strength' divisions...

I could definately see Robin Williams saying it, and everybody would have laughed for days.

When are 'white people' gonna stand up and start law suits over racial slurs from others (because we know it happens all the time)...?

I support the Russian, very funny...!

In America, brother is a term used to refer to an African-American male. cf the original film The Longest Yard. 'do you know why you call each other brother? Cause half of you don't know who your daddy is, and you just might be brothers.'

So next time my sister calls me brother I'm gone sue the hell out of her.

Troll (Internet)

In internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion

his comment had nothing to do with race, he was saying they looked like men not women, dudes not dudettes, he's not she's, brothers not sisters, :-)