Sports Notes - TENNIS' WILLIAMS ['We Are'] FAMILY

The Williams tennis experience is worthy of a movie. A story about a poor family that rose from the depths of the ghetto to go on to become celebrated by the world tennis community and Serena Williams serves - Nrbelex photo Venus Williams - Sascha Wenninger photo

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

When Venus 18, defeated sister Serena 17, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, at the Lipton Championships this past weekend, it was another notch up the ladder of success. You can't lose against each other when you're on the same team and the Williams Family exemplifies that

SAY WHAT!!!???

In August, 1998 I wrote about the Williams' tennis family [Richard the father/manager, Venus and Serena] being determined to win and become the best in women's tennis. Seven months later, the Williams family find themselves closer to their goal.

When Venus 18, defeated sister Serena 17, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, at the Lipton Championships this past weekend, it was another notch up the ladder of success. You can't lose against each other when you're on the same team and the Williams Family exemplifies that.

Serena expressed to USA Today that losing to her sister doesn't affect their relationship. To the Williams' family - FAMILY MATTERS.

"We really believe that family comes first, not a game that's going to last 10 years at the most. Why would I want that to come between someone who has always been around, always been a very special friend to me? I couldn't imagine that."

It was the third time the two have played against each other in tournaments. Venus has won all three encounters. This was the first time Venus lost a set to her younger sister.

In August, Serena competed in the Acura Tournament in Los Angeles, California. My column coverage from the event 'WTA's Teen Queens' ended depicting the Williams family singing "We Are Family." Now, in March the saga continues. During the warm-up session for the match, the Los Angeles Times reported THAT SONG was playing in the background.

The Williams tennis experience is worthy of a movie. A story about a poor family that rose from the depths of the ghetto to go on to become celebrated by the world tennis community. A family that was accepted after they endured a tremendous amount of negativity and adversity. A story that features guts, talent, work and beads. YES BEADS…

The Williams climb to success has not been easy. Richard, the son of a Louisiana sharecropper, saw the need to get his daughters into a productive secure environment. He moved his family from Compton, California in 1991.

Compton is a Los Angeles area community cluttered with homes that have bars on doors and windows to keep unwanted intruders OUT. He moved his brood away from the gangs, crime, drugs, drive-by shootings and negative distractions that infest the Compton area. Disneyland… IT ISN'T.

It was in Compton that Williams got his daughters involved in tennis 13 years ago despite having to play on inferior unkempt courts. His daughters learned a game that is not embraced by inner city youths. Tennis is not perceived as a macho sport and in the inner city, tennis facilities are scarce.

At the Lipton, Williams was overcome with emotion and left the game before the fifth game of the second set to watch the contest on television. With his daughters facing each other in a tournament final match for the first time…. What was he thinking?

"What was going through my mind was all of the problems we've had in tennis, bringing the girls up, how difficult it was, the gang members, all the people out there," the Times reported him saying.

"I was saying 'Look where you are today.' It was so difficult for me to believe it."

BELIEVE IT!!!! He made the right move at the right time. He moved away from an area that in my opinion is MORE DANGEROUS than CAMBODIA is today. He has guided them from the asphalt jungle to where they currently reside in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Often chastised by the media for the way he chose to manage his daughters, Williams never gave in to the criticism. Being labeled eccentric by the media didn't deter him. Williams isn't from the GO ALONG TO GET ALONG school, …he's from the school of HARD KNOCKS. With his background and what he knows about the REAL WORLD, he molded his principles. He stuck to what he believed in and he is now seeing the fruits of his labor.

Known for the direct way that he communicates in somewhat of a gruff manner, Williams revealed a humorous side of himself to the Times in further explaining why he departed from the stands at the Lipton.

"I'm too ugly to be seen crying," he said. Williams did return to see his offspring complete their contest.

When Serena heard of her father shedding tears she told USA Today, "He's worked so hard with Venus and I. He's done so much for us. Just to see us succeed like this, it must be a very emotional time for him and my mom. It's really amazing for him to see us grow and just grooming us into champions."

The match-up between the two sisters in the finals came, in part, from Williams masterful planning. He preferred that his daughters not compete in the same tournaments. If they did so, he insisted that they play in separate brackets.

With their wins through the brackets at the Lipton, that planning enabled the two to be the first sisters to face each other in a tournament final in 115 years. The last to do it was when Maude Watson defeated her older sister Lilian at Wimbedon in 1884.

In the seven months since the Acura Tournament, the girls have moved up in WTA rankings. Prior to the Lipton, Venus was ranked 6th, and Serena 11th. Yes, they haven't reached number one yet but they're only 17 and 18. Time and good health are on their side and the momentum is building.

Becoming number one in the rankings is attainable. The two sisters' strong suit is talent, and imposing physical strength. Their short suit is there are times they lack patience and discipline. They have a tendency to lose control of their temper when they make mistakes from being overly aggressive. Maturity and experience will temper that.

Inner strength is also on their side. The girls have taken from their father a tough attitude towards outsiders and they appreciate the value of strong family ties.

At a press conference at the Acura after a match with Martina Hingis, reporters asked Serena why her father did things the way he did. Her reply was for them to ask him, as she glanced to the back of the room. Some reporters were a bit startled when they realized HE was standing there like a fly on a wall.

That toughness and straightforwardness has helped the girls fight through criticism of their behavior and their trademark beads that they wear in their hair. During games, beads have come off dropping to the playing surface. That prompted the delaying of matches to pick them up and arousing complaints. There was talk of banning the girls from wearing their hair with the beads when they played matches. The beads remain and the girls keep winning.

The family victories at the Lipton added $397,000 to the kindred earnings kitty. In winning the tournament Venus earned $265,000. Serena, took home $132,000 for her second place finish. Serena's loss ended a streak in which she won 16 straight matches and two consecutive tournaments.

During their Lipton match, Richard held up a grease board sign to show his pride, with various messages including: Welcome to the Williams show. I told you so. It couldn't happen to a better family.

It's happening for a family filled with love, respect and wins. BUT NOW… for the next chapter… and THE REST OF THE STORY…..BECOMING NUMBER ONE.

Perhaps Richard Williams could add a song to the family music list….MY WAY…but somehow it doesn't fit Richard's personality with Frank Sinatra singing in the background. Sooooo….sing it Master Flash….