PARIS – It’s easy to dismiss Richard Williams. You can call Venus and Serena’s papa a rascal. You can say he’s a blowhard, or even dismiss the hard-talking, rear-kicking guy as a racist. No problem. But, along with his former wife Oracene Price, this imposing man (who supposedly knows nothing about this sport) did what no other person in all of sports has done – anywhere, anytime.
Not only did he produce an African-American champion in a still-quite-white, country club sport, he produced two. And he laughed all the way to the bank. Skeptics howled when he pulled his kids out of junior tennis. He left tennis know-it-alls shaking their collective heads when, amidst all the frenzy of Venus’ emergence, he claimed her then unknown younger sis – Sabrina, Safina or whatever her exotic name was – would also be a champ and, in fact, would be better than “V.”
Over the years, I’ve got a few words out of Sharapova’s dad, Yuri. And Sampras’ dad, Sam, as he did with all reporters, bristled when I approached him. Yet time and again – from Paris and London to Miami and Oakland – Richard Williams would talk with me. Sure, he became furious and gave me a vein-popping lecture when, last summer, I had the temerity to suggest that it might be time to turn the other cheek when it came to the (“still simmering after all these years”) ’02 Indian Wells brouhaha that remains an open wound. So after Serena’s (two-hour/twenty-five-minute, nine-match-point 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 first-round win over Czech Klara Zakoplova), when I encountered him (mini-cigar in place, new young wife by his side), I didn’t hesitate to say howdy. As usual, I began indirectly. “Hey Richard,” I started. “Have you seen that movie on “Tyson” that just came out?”
“No,” he replied. “I haven’t seen it. But Tyson is my favorite athlete of all time. Serena’s just like him. The people who stole his money, I’d like to kick…”
“Like Don King?” I asked.
“He wasn’t the only one.”
And soon I wasn’t the only one talking with Pa Williams. Two of the better reporters in our game – the L.A. Times’ Chuck Culpepper and the AP’s Howard Fendrich – then approached and I turned my tape recorder on.
RICHARD WILLIAMS: Serena found a way to win on a day she didn’t play good. You know, to be a champion you have to find a way to win. On a day when she don’t play good, I saw a very successful lady out there who wouldn’t give up. She was on a hurt knee and everything else.
CULPEPPER: Of all the times you’ve watched, was that an especially proud experience?
WILLIAMS: I’ve been proud of Serena from the day before her mom ever got pregnant.
SIMONS: What qualities did Serena show out there?
WILLIAMS: Serena’s knee was hurting. She showed more than the quality of a champion. She showed the qualities of a hero, a savior, a person who would not give up or give in. Serena showed what I learned a long time ago from my mom. If you want to be successful, you have to work for yourself. Only you can bring it. Serena is a champion, that’s what I say.
SIMONS: Your mother stood up to every possible obstacle?
WILLIAMS: My mother is my hero. My mom taught me. Everything you see in Venus and Serena was taught to them by my mom, because I taught it to them. So their training actually goes back to the ’40s and ’50s.
SIMONS: Your mom wouldn’t let anything stop her?
WILLIAMS: My mom wouldn’t let all the evils in hell stop her, under no circumstances. My mom was a winner. I didn’t have no dad in the house, but I had a mom. She was unbelievable.
SIMONS: So when the forces of Hell came by, she just…
WILLIAMS: The evil forces of Hell were afraid to come her way. They never came her way; they’d go the other way. Sometimes they’d come my way, but they wouldn’t come her way.
SIMONS: They’d just say, “No way, we’re not going to mess…”
WILLIAMS: My mom was a hero. My mom was a kick-ass person, no matter who it was or what it was. She didn’t believe in turning around or giving up or giving in. My mother reminds me of Serena. My Mom was unbelievable.
SIMONS: We were just talking about the boxer Mike Tyson. Did you see that quality in him?
WILLIAMS: Yes, I saw the same qualities in her and Tyson. He was a short man with short arms, short legs. He’s what we would call “ghetto tough.” That was the same thing I taught my kids. So, yes, I’d say I saw Mike’s qualities in Serena. I would say that Mike is my favorite hero after Venus and Serena.
SIMONS: Tyson’s mentor, Cus D’Amato, taught Tyson to be a real student of boxing. Do you think Serena is also a…
WILLIAMS: Serena’s more than a student. I’d say she’s a student and a teacher and it has nothing to do with me and my wife teaching her. It has everything to do with her.
SIMONS: So what does she teach?
WILLIAMS: How not to give up. Never give up. Even if their matches are over, Serena and John McEnroe are the only two players who, when they lose one, they have to blame someone else. It’s [the fault of] their racket or their shoes or the weather wasn’t right. Those two have never lost a match I don’t think – ever.
SIMONS: These days, Serena is basically saying “Screw the rankings. I’m the best in the world.”
WILLIAMS: Whatever Venus and Serena say. There isn’t anything they say that I don’t believe – nothing at all.
FENDRICH: Did Serena know her grandmother?
WILLIAMS: She had a good chance to know her. Before she died, Serena and I was over there on a Friday night and on Sunday she died at church. That’s the way I would love to die, too. I don’t want a lot of suffering and all that crazy stuff. I would just like to go and die.
SIMONS: So the congregation was singing and she just passed on?
WILLIAMS: She just had a big old heart attack and went on.
SIMONS: So what would your mother think of all the…
WILLIAMS: She’d say, “I’m glad they don’t have to work in those cotton fields like I had to.”
SIMONS: For some reason, I don’t think Serena would be happy doing that.
