Different standard?: pro sports penalties for cussing, unsportsman-like behaviour

[shootingstar]

Did I say that it was the same governing body? No, I'm not that clueless.

Or work the reverse, why a certain amount of pro hockey violence is accepted...still.
http://www.thestar.com/article/568448

[MartianDestiny]

Did I say that it was the same governing body? No, I'm not that clueless.

Or work the reverse, why a certain amount of pro hockey violence is accepted...still.
http://www.thestar.com/article/568448

IMO for it to be hypocritical it WOULD have to be the same governing body. That was my point.

Otherwise I'm really not sure what your argument is/what you are upset about. Hockey is a contact sport, always has been; tennis is not. Do hockey players take it too far, probably, but too far in hockey and too far in tennis are, and should be, vastly different things. I'd find it silly to expect the same behaviors in both.

Now if you'd noted that two tennis players misbehaved similarly and the women was fined while the man was not by the same governing body, then I'd say that was hypocritical, sexist, and wrong. No evidence of that has been brought up here though. The comparison was between apples and oranges.

[oxysback]

Now if you'd noted that two tennis players misbehaved similarly and the women was fined while the man was not by the same governing body, then I'd say that was hypocritical, sexist, and wrong. No evidence of that has been brought up here though. The comparison was between apples and oranges.

I haven't seen the behavior that Serena got fined for, but John McEnroe was another 'ungentlemanly' tennis player. I wonder if her behavior was worse than his, or if he ever got fined?

[shootingstar]

I haven't seen the behavior that Serena got fined for, but John McEnroe was another 'ungentlemanly' tennis player. I wonder if her behavior was worse than his, or if he ever got fined?

Good point, oxy. Serena deserved to be fined, I'm not arguing on this.

I still don't excuse hockey violence as an acceptable and natural part of the sport culture, though I agree it's a contact sport which makes it abit different. Players should be (and they are, though I haven't kept up on the degree of penalties, even jail sentence) but how much $$$.

Hockey on ice fighting wasn't always so much like that. Dearie gave up watching NHL hockey years ago when brawls on the ice became more regular.

Smilingcat...race can be divider....at sport cultural level. Every sport can be cliquish....even in cycling...it's how one develops friendships with other cyclists, develps rapport, understands the language of cycling, etc. Otherwise why are there studies now being done in Portland and Toronto on why cycling population is still quite white? Studies being done this year...in the 21st century. I'm just talking about non-competitive cycling. Stark reality is even more in competitive cycling in North America cycling circles.

For instance there are huge East Indian-Canadian population in Vancouver and Toronto. Haven't seen these folks cycling in droves and there's enough who are Westernized/assimilated enough to get out of the car-centric mentality. Or maybe not.

Sorry for digression. Carry on.

[wackyjacky1]

I haven't seen the behavior that Serena got fined for, but John McEnroe was another 'ungentlemanly' tennis player. I wonder if her behavior was worse than his, or if he ever got fined?

Oh, yeah, Johnny Mac got fined back in the day, LOL. If memory serves, he even had to forfeit a match once due to his behavior. Honestly I think what Serena did was worse -- she threatened physical violence against a linesperson. No defense for that.

[GLC1968]

Oh, yeah, Johnny Mac got fined back in the day, LOL. If memory serves, he even had to forfeit a match once due to his behavior. Honestly I think what Serena did was worse -- she threatened physical violence against a linesperson. No defense for that.

Yes - Serena was worse. Much worse. It didn't even come off as a crime of passion during the event and her commentary after it was over was pathetic. Honestly, it was like she was on drugs or something...totally out of character. Even John MacEnroe was stunned (he was a commentator). And Serena's outburst did actually cost her the match. She wasn't thrown out, but her second outburst in the same match cost her a point (by the rules) and that point happened to be match point.

I actually felt really bad for Kim Kleisters who was her opponent for that match. She had no idea what was going on (too far away to hear what was being said to the line judge) and she kind of had a stunned look on her face when they told her she'd won by default.

[lunacycles]

I actually heard that Serena is wanting to develop a Bad Girl image, and hence the lack of genuine apology or taking responsibility after this incident.

I LOVE tennis. I watch the majors in a frighteningly obsessive manner. I saw this match and was absolutely blown away she had the lack of presence to so blatantly go off on (and threaten) someone who was so obviously just doing her job. It was beyond out of character, it was weird. I also agree about racism being a huge problem in tennis, and golf, but if any player did anything remotely like what she did, they would definitely be expecting exactly what she received.

Does anyone remember when Serena was on the receiving end of some really, really bad calls? I think it was the U.S. Open, or the French Open semis or finals maybe five years ago, and she lost the match after having been given a few very, very bad calls--I think there was at least one incident when the umpire over ruled the line judge, and she was clearly wrong to do so. Serena was remarkably composed during that incident, and it also clearly cost her the title.

[GLC1968]

It was beyond out of character, it was weird.

Yes. It totally was odd. I mean, my husband and I (we also watch tons of tennis) just stood there with our jaws hanging down. It was a train wreck for sure...