Grip on Sports: So what will we argue about next?
A GRIP ON SPORTS • This is the best links-based sports column in Spokane. But among other linked-based sports columns in the world, it’s probably ranked around 700. Then again, it’s a different game. Read on.
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• Talk about a tempest in a Mr. Coffee.
John McEnroe calls Serena Williams the best women’s tennis player in the world. Ever. Rightfully so.
But when pressed by an interviewer why he stops at women’s, and just doesn’t call Williams the “best,” McEnroe answers with what he feels is an honest reply.
Williams is the best female player, sure but if she played on the men’s tour, she would be, according to McEnroe, No. 700 or something.
And this is causing an uproar?
McEnroe didn’t go out of his way to cause a controversy. He even seems surprised by it. He just answered a question in an interview. A question designed, seemingly, to elicit the response the interviewer, Lulu Garcia-Navarro, received.
Is McEnroe wrong? Maybe his ranking is a bit low, in that Williams is one of the most mentally tough athletes playing tennis. But McEnroe knows the abilities of the men on the tennis tour a lot better than I do, so we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
But you know who really knows how good Williams is? Williams. David Letterman asked her few years ago if she would want to play Andy Murray in an exhibition match.
Williams scoffed.
“For me, men’s tennis and women’s tennis are completely, almost, two separate sports,” she said then, as quoted in today’s edition of the Los Angeles Times. “If I were to play Andy Murray, I would lose 6-0, 6-0 in five to six minutes, maybe 10 minutes.
“No, it’s true. It’s a completely different sport. The men are a lot faster and they serve harder, they hit harder, it’s just a different game. I love to play women’s tennis. I only want to play girls, because I don’t want to be embarrassed.”
That seems pretty definitive to me.
If you listen to – or read the transcript of – McEnroe’s NPR interview, he didn’t seem to set out to disparage Williams’ abilities. He called her the best female player ever. That’s high praise.
Then he answered a follow-up question.
And is getting boiled for his answer.
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WSU: It’s quiet in Pullman – always is this time of year – but we can pass along this piece on Luke Falk by a former scout. It’s illuminating. … The Times’ Stefanie Loh has some thoughts on the piece as well. … Would Klay Thompson return to Southern California? … Around the Pac-12, Washington is still looking for the same type of football recruits. … Arizona State is looking elsewhere for new recruits. … Utah needs to recruit a couple positions that have always been strong. … Oregon State has a battle at quarterback. … The Utes’ basketball program has released its nonconference schedule. … Money is always an issue with college athletic departments.
Indians: It may be a long summer in Spokane. The Indians have lost eight consecutive games, including last night’s 4-3 defeat to Tri-City. Johnathan Curley has the story. … An Indians player is under investigation. Greg Lee has the story. … Around the Northwest League, Vancouver rallied past Everett and Eugene overcame Hillsboro.
Chiefs: The 2017-18 schedule is out.
Preps: It’s construction season at our local high schools, including Gonzaga Prep. Greg has the information about Prep’s athletic remodeling. … Greg also has the youth notebook for the week. … West Central has a recreational basketball program that receives professional broadcasting.
Golf: There will be more money for this year’s Lilac Invitational champion. Jim Meehan has the story.
Outdoors: Rich Landers has been the best outdoors writer around for decades. And now he has an award to prove it.
Mariners: The Mariners Log on the 8-2 loss to Philadelphia had to hurt Dave Nichols to write. Because watching the game hurt. We added the links to Dave’s piece.
Seahawks: None of Seattle’s players are in the NFL’s top 20 best this year. … The offensive line certainly doesn’t have anyone on that level. … Michael Bennett has another cause. This one is really laudable.
Sounders: Seattle is set to add firepower during the transfer window.
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• Yes, it is a slow day. That’s pretty obvious. But you can only write about the Mariners so often. Until later …