Serena Williams

Way to go Mr. Trump!

Once again, going a bit against the grain and being right about it (not unlike your investment trategies). Although Sebrina acted a bit childish and unprofessional. Who hasn't?

Paul Fortier, Nashua N.H.

Trump: You and your fine family will continue hitting aces.

A moment can change your life. Serena is a whole lot of fine feline femininity. I’ve watched her and vivacious Venus since they came on the Tennis scene. They are two amazing, intelligent and caring champion ladies. Serena is very graceful, elegant and very passionate about her tennis and life. A stunning champion. I love those women. I agree with you Trump. And I have always been a fan of Kim Clijsters. She too is a stunning, strong, classy champion and now mother of a beautiful baby. To get to the Finals after about a 2 year lay off was an incredible show of steadfastness by Kim.

Federer’s lose was surprising. It was somewhat reminiscent of what he did to Pete Sampras. But I think that Federer will continue to win Majors for awhile. After all, he got up again and again after Nadal’s whippings. And Tiger’s win was melodic. Like a symphony orchestrated by a highly inspired virtuoso.

Trump, your Oreo cookie commercial is good and funny. Your Macy’s commercial with the beautiful and talented Jessica Simpson is also good. You are doing a great job keeping your Brand in front of the public.

Sincerely, your friend and "Revolutionary Entrepreneur"
Nimrod

Nimrod Erech M. Christ Nimrod, Ph.D.
Nimrodworldpeace@aol.com.

I have been listening to your advice for a long time and it's helped me tremendously. I will continue to do so because i have never really disagreed with you. But, this time you have made a terrible call and are way off base. Just because there is an incorrect line call doesn't give the player the right to threaten the lines person. It's one thing to argue calls or yak at the linesperson a bit; but threatening them and doing it with profanity is uncalled for. Two wrongs don't make a right. If you think I'm wrong, try threatening a cop the next time he pulls you over for something you think you didn't do. And Serena had no idea if she had committed that foot fault for certain or not. She just didn't like the timing of such a call. Lest we also not forget, which you seem to have done here, Serena had already been called for a conduct violation at the end of the first set for bashing her racquet. You can't just keep piling up the conduct violations and nothing happen. The rules are the rules in any sport and they are there to protect the sanctity of the sport. All players have the right to be upset but none have the right to threaten the lines people. You play on. It's part of the game. I also disagree with you that enough is enough. Yes she apologized but in any other sport she would have been suspended from playing. I agree with Mary Carillo on this one- she should have been suspended and a major fine imposed or else we send a terrible message attached to hers. But, that is tennis' fault for not having a more clear policy in place. Sorry Trump, but you've also made a terrible call on this one. I believe I have to challenge.

Robin Scott
Memphis, TN

I watched a clip of this, and I didn't see a foot fault or anything so terrible in her behavior. Did she say something horribly inappropriate? I think people have stronger reactions, when the behavior is out of character for the individual, and this isn't typically what anyone expects from Serena.

While the judge has an obligation to call correctly, Serena has a duty to control her own actions - even though it is understandably difficult when you have invested so much of heart in the game. If what she said was inappropriate, she should pay the price for that choice. Two wrongs don't make a right. Rising above the error and acting with grace is the better choice. But Serena is young, and she is human. She - like everbody - can make mistakes. Make it right and move on - it sounds like she did.

I have little experience with the official game. Is there an appeals process for poor calls? If not, there should be. With video, if a call is in question, I would think the refs would take a moment to review before moving on. If I were managing the games, I would certainly put that ref at the very bottom of the list for future games.

People are jealous of her sucess! We all have frustration and when a bad call happens against you all you want to do is fight it. Know your enemy! only fight if you have some power or you will be brought down to your knees! She lost it but is lucky that she managed to stop herself from doing her career too much damage. History teaches better than any coach. The judge should be man enough to admit he was wrong and apologize to her.

Here is a quote from P.G. Wodehouse about apologizing, which I like very much:

"It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them."


John,
http://www.canadabanks.net/Investing.aspx

Trump, How can you be so sure, it was not a foot fault...
She could have had a whisker of a foot over the line.. Do you even play tennis?
I'm a 3.5 NTRP and I wouldn't be so sure..

Get a grip of yourself!

Apologizing was the right thing to do. Serena made a mistake in the heat of the moment. We all have to some degree. The line judge should make peace with Serena, and then they should move on.

Amen!.. Mr. Trump.. Amen.
Dapo Oke

I've always wondered why you can't argue a call in any sport (called strike, blocking foul or foot fault). There is big money at stake and if a judge/Ump/official makes a bad call they should be told about it, because they are costing someone thousands of dollars. Besides, If you say nothing, the official will get a false sense of security and will not attempt to improve at their trade.

Just my 2 cents

Her response to the call was highly emotional which could easily be contributed to the competitive spirit which Serena undoubtedly has. To be fined for her inappropriate outbursts lets other players know that there are consequences for their actions and words, especially when it is being televised and seen by the public.
If Serena is a great champion ,as you say, then she should appreciate all the publicity she is getting and get on with practicing her game. How would it look if Tiger Woods swore at the officials (and Serena not only swore at the judge, but did it in front of a live audience) every time he missed an important putt? Not very mature or worthy of a great champion who values his professional image and controls his emotions in public.
If Serena continuously acts like a brat on the elementary playground, it demonstates her need for anger control.
This was only one outburst.. John McEnroe made angry outbursts his personal Trademark. Great publicity if you can handle it.

In our normal life there are also situations that can be compared with this, though the situations are very different. It is tru that we sometimes in a way sink deep in our desperation and misery, but it is the situation where our "enemies" like to see us. It is good to regret and feel sorry and apologize when you earn to do it, but that´s it and enough is enough as Mr Trump said.
Maybe there is the feeling inside you that you are not a good person if you say what you think in the moment when everything seems to disappear in a flash. Everything on behalf of you have struggled. We must remember that we are only human beings and feelings are part of our life.

Serena reminded me of Ed 209 from Robo Cop, only she lacked his personal charm and sense of humour.

I think there is a compact that is made when any athlete steps onto the field of play: you accept the rules of the game. The technology exists to make line calls without errors. The refs and umpires out there in the world of sports are there to make the final calls. The players have to accept that and if they don't like it, don't play. A bad ref and a bad call are just part of the game, just like bad weather or bad conditions or an unlucky break. I know the refs and umpires that keep games going are doing their best, some better than others. I've seen teens refereeing, getting paid nothing for doing it, being yelled at by parents who should know better, but they tough it out to get better because they love the game to.

I'd be guessing but I think Serena was apologizing because she loves the game of tennis and a bad call from the judge while upsetting is part of the game. If she was apologizing I would bet it is because she didn't like the way she acted, not because she felt she had to. She's a champ and probably was disappointed she didn't keep the control of herself she has practiced and expected from herself.

McEnroe on the other hand fed off of his emotions, though I think if I recall right, he lost to Borg more often than he won ... and Borg was the epitome of self possession and control.

I have to disagree with most of the comments posted so far. Unless someone has access to a different view (the linesperson's view) than the views shown on-air, it is impossible to say that there was no foot-fault. I would have to believe the lines-person clearly saw a foot-fault or she would not have called it. A foot-fault is an infraction of the rules and should always be called. Serena was gross to go off on the lines-person as she did. I agree with Mary Carillo that she should have been suspended for her behavior. The days of the bad boys we all knew and loved are past and Serena was out-of-line.

Thank you Mr. Trump is all I will say regarding this post! :-)