Double Glammy Out of Wimbly/Off-Color Humor in the Courts

When Justine Henin retired barely a month ago, I was sad that I no longer have someone to follow in women’s tennis. Sharapova brings out both the fan and the hater in me, so I’m counting her out. Her little-known opponent in the second round apparently played the best tennis of her career to take out the 2004 champion because she doesn’t like Maria’s tuxedo-inspired outfit. Unless she does a Marion Bartoli (last year’s surprise finalist who was also beaten in  the 3rd round, incidentally), I don’t have to mention her name here yet (I’m too lazy to check; I can’t even pronounce it when I read it earlier).  

So Ana Ivanovic won Roland Garros and is the current world no. 1. She passed the first-round test with flying colors and the second round with tons of luck (the net cord saved her from her opponent’s matchpoint); third round, her luck, and gas, ran out. I felt a little worse for Ana so I guess I like her a little better than Sharpie. If one of the Williams will win this, let it be Venus. Let it be Venus, pretty please.

So long as we’re talking about women players, here’s something that not only raise gender issues but question common courtesies as well. Justin Gimelstob, a former player I never saw play, called Anna Kournikova "a bitch", among other things, and threatened to physically harm her when they play against each other in a doubles exhibition. As if that isn’t enough, he also launched a sexist tirade against current women players in an hour long radio show. Well, he did apologize publicly after. That doesn’t make his comments any more excusable.