[Roamsaffots]

I thinks that's Serena's answer to the decision

LINK REMOVED. You can find what you may be looking for at the website of The Sun newspaper

[koebforfrn]

I thinks that's Serena's answer to the decision


LINK REMOVED

They had to print that picture! Doesn't look like it bothered Serena at all

[gardenerextraordinaire]

ROFL! It was bound to happen sooner or later!

[pouslytut]

I thinks that's Serena's answer to the decision

LINK REMOVED

A little NSFW warning next time please!

As far as the "major offense" thing - I just hope it doesn't put a chilling effect on Serena giving umpires/linespeople "the look" when she's upset with a call!

TA

[bawayTeen]

PRESS RELEASE: SERENA WILLIAMS DECISION

30 November 2009
On 9 November 2009, the Grand Slam Committee Administrator determined that Ms.
Serena Williams had committed the Grand Slam Major Offence of Aggravated
Behaviour for her misconduct at the 2009 US Open.

The Decision and Penalties were as follows:
1. Ms. Williams is guilty of the Major Offense of Aggravated Behaviour (Article
V.A);

2. Ms. Williams is hereby fined $175,000 (including the $10,000 penalty already
paid) which will be reduced to $82,500 if no further Grand Slam Major Offence
conviction occurs through and including 2011;

3. Ms. Williams is hereby suspended from participation in either the 2010, 2011 or
2012 US Open, as the case may be, except that any such suspension will not be
imposed if no further Grand Slam Major Offence conviction occurs through and
including 2011;

4. If a further Grand Slam Major Offence is committed during the period, the full
penalties will be re-instated in addition to any other penalties imposed for the
subsequent Grand Slam Major Offence;

5. As always, all financial penalties arising from misconduct at Grand Slam
tournaments are donated by the Grand Slam tournaments to the Grand Slam
Development Fund.

On 28 November 2009, the Grand Slam Committee affirmed the Decision and
Penalties of the Administrator and Ms. Williams was so advised.

The Grand Slam Committee is the independent governing body responsible for,
among other duties and functions, the establishment and enforcement of the Grand
Slam Rules, Regulations and Code of Conduct.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

I really thought the fine would be a lot bigger.

Seems fair enough, I guess.

[b7RKli4l]

I like #5, which has absolutely nothing to do with Serena Williams or this incident. Seems more like Own Horn Tootage.

I don't know. The penalties seem about right.

[enurneAcourdy]

I originally said just fine her $250k and let this be over. I was pretty close, except she will end up paying only $82,500 since she had never done anything like this before, and I doubt she will ever do anything like this again.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

I originally said just fine her $250k and let this be over. I was pretty close, except she will end up paying only $82,500 since she had never done anything like this before, and I doubt she will ever do anything like this again.

I hope you're right, shtexas... But if they put Mariana Alvez in the chair for every other match Serena plays in a major, look out.

[cemDrymnVem]

I like #5, which has absolutely nothing to do with Serena Williams or this incident. Seems more like Own Horn Tootage.

I don't know. The penalties seem about right.

You're probably right about the Tootage, but in all honesty I've wondered where those penalties go. Now can someone enlighten me about those multli-million dollar fines levied on the corporations? In the federal budget, is there an income line for fines paid?

[sherrferris]

ROFL the penalty is ridiculous!

Let me explain less I'm read incorrectly. It is ok considering what she did and as Shtexas said and I agree she should have just received a $250k fine when it first happened and call it George. I said ridiculous in that it took them this long to come of with this.

Oh well!!! I sure hope she's learnt her lesson.

Foxy

[b7RKli4l]

You're probably right about the Tootage, but in all honesty I've wondered where those penalties go. Now can someone enlighten me about those multli-million dollar fines levied on the corporations? In the federal budget, is there an income line for fines paid?

Corporate fines go into a fund that's used to bail out corporations.

[SmuffNuSMaxqh]

ROFL the penalty is ridiculous!

Let me explain less I'm read incorrectly. It is ok considering what she did and as Shtexas said and I agree she should have just received a $250k fine when it first happened and call it George. I said ridiculous in that it took them this long to come of with this.

Oh well!!! I sure hope she's learnt her lesson.

Foxy

At least they mostly got it right. My experience of many years in financial corporations is that everything that requires the agreement of several people takes a lot longer than one would expect.

Besides having to get many opinions, I'm sure there was a lot of legal consulting ensuring what was decided would not be likely to be challenged etc.

I think the $ are about right and if she doesn't reoffend which we don't expect her to then that's the end of it. Fine. Suspended Sentence. Probation.

[SannyGlow]

I'm confident that there will be no more major Grand Slam offenses, whatever those may be.

[cemDrymnVem]

Corporate fines go into a fund that's used to bail out corporations.

[Karinochka]

At least she's not suspended and I'm sure since she's on a tight leash now she'll control herself better.

[SannyGlow]

Why did they spell "offense" with an "s" at the top, and then like a fussy British barrister throughout the rest of the statement?

[koebforfrn]

This reads a lot better than....Serena was fined 82,000 and some change! This is a just wording. It indicates the severity of the behavior while acknowledging that Serena's never committed such an offense before. It gives appropriate warning that another like offense during the said probationary period will result in more fines plus suspension....

Sounds good to me. So...it's not just 82,000 and some change. This comes with some heavy baggage. I doubt Serena ever behaves like this again.

[r5YOPDyk]

I hope you're right, shtexas... But if they put Mariana Alvez in the chair for every other match Serena plays in a major, look out.

Agreed. Put Alves and the line judge in another grand slam semi or final, we might see serena explode again.

[leacturavar]

3. Ms. Williams is hereby suspended from participation in either the 2010, 2011 or
2012 US Open, as the case may be, except that any such suspension will not be
imposed if no further Grand Slam Major Offence conviction occurs through and
including 2011;

If she's not suspended....what does this one mean?