[lalpphilalk]

Ruling on Serena tirade expected soonComment Email Print Share Associated Press

REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy -- A ruling on Serena Williams' U.S. Open tirade is expected in the next two weeks.

"It's in the hands of the Grand Slam administrator, who I believe has now completed his investigation and will be making a ruling within the next two weeks," United States Tennis Association President Lucy Garvin told The Associated Press on Friday. "That's what we have been told -- that Serena would hear, we would hear."

The Grand Slam administrator is Bill Babcock.


Williams was fined $10,000 after her profanity-laced outburst at a lineswoman during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters in September, and she could face a more severe penalty in the coming weeks.

"We really have not gone down that path of making a judgment as to what would be right or wrong at this point," Garvin said. "She was defaulted out of the singles and she has apologized sincerely. So we'll just have to see what the Grand Slam administrator comes to the Grand Slam committee chairs with. I think Serena is very anxious to hear."

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ten...ory?id=4628723

[Ruiceara]

1) These investigations always seem to take too long. What did they have to do? Interview everyone present in the stadium during the match? Find the Titanic's captain's hat?

2) Anything beyond a suspended sentence seems harsh to me - and I really think she **cked up with her outburst.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

1) These investigations always seem to take too long. What did they have to do? Interview everyone present in the stadium during the match? Find the Titanic's captain's hat?

2) Anything beyond a suspended sentence seems harsh to me - and I really think she **cked up with her outburst.

I don't know, Mr. Koffie. I think hanging is pretty harsh.

[mr.nemo]

By now, even us detractors have to figure that any further punishment is unfair. One central axiom of justice is that it has to be swift. Which in this case, was anything but.

[loikrso]

By now, even us detractors have to figure that any further punishment is unfair. One central axiom of justice is that it has to be swift. Which in this case, was anything but.

Exactly.

[attackDoold]

"We really have not gone down that path of making a judgment as to what would be right or wrong at this point," Garvin said. "She was defaulted out of the singles ...

Uh... lousy journalism thread? She was given a single point penalty. That's a pretty big difference.
...
Anyhoo, this is taken a ridiculous amount of time. It would be completely insane to try to ban her from the AO. She's already been reprimanded. She's already apologized. We're all bored.

[Peretool]

So in Wickmayer's case, the ruling was swift and we are all appalled, and in Serena's case, the ruling is taking a little longer and we are all equally appalled.

[attackDoold]

So in Wickmayer's case, the ruling was swift and we are all appalled, and in Serena's case, the ruling is taking a little longer and we are all equally appalled.

I think the focus with Wickmayer was on the punishment and not so much on the length of deliberation.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

The difference is that there are different governing bodies.

Kind of surprising... Giving how revoltingly incestuous the tennis business is. Either way, both are harsh indictments of the sport.

[SannyGlow]

So in Wickmayer's case, the ruling was swift and we are all appalled, and in Serena's case, the ruling is taking a little longer and we are all equally appalled.

In the Wickmayer case, I was not appalled by the swiftness, but the stupidity, of the judgment.

[lalpphilalk]

[ITF Head Francesco] Ricci Bitti also tipped the Grand Slam Committee’s hand on Serena’s US Open implosion, saying that a suspension is unlikely, but a large fine is probable. A decision will be announced next week.

As has been written in this space before, none of the Grand Slam nations want to lose the ticket and TV revenue that would surely arrive with a Williams suspension, but the fact of the matter is that Serena isn’t going to be taught a significant lesson if something of value isn’t taken away from her. If the fine doesn’t cross the $1 million mark, she’s not going to care, regardless of what she said. Serena will likely end the year with more than $15 million in total earnings, on court and off.

"I don't think [an Australian Open ban] would make much sense, because it would penalize the people handing out the punishment," Ricci Bitti said. "For the Grand Slam committee to exclude her from a Grand Slam doesn't seem likely. A significant financial penalty makes much more sense. But it has to be significant enough for the fans [to appreciate] it. Of course it may not be significant for Serena Williams, who earns tens of millions." http://www.tennisreporters.net/index.html

[enurneAcourdy]

If it's a fine, I see something like $250K. I cannot imagine they would cross $1M.

[Automobill]

Can they do like in Finland for some major misdemeanors - 10% of yearly after taxes income?

[gardenerextraordinaire]

If it's a fine, I see something like $250K. I cannot imagine they would cross $1M.

How about a mandatory $1 million donation to Indian Wells?

[payporanymn]

How about a mandatory $1 million donation to Indian Wells?

And why not to the Roger's Cup?

[yxn2dC07]

How about a mandatory $1 million donation to Indian Wells?

[gardenerextraordinaire]

And why not to the Roger's Cup?