Keep Mum!

Via The Australian comes news from the New York Times that would make Malcolm Knox lick his chops.

Serena William's mum, Oracene Price, is upset the Aussie crowd booed Serena in the semi-final against Kim Clijsters. She felt that as well as a desire to see the under-dog get up, "there was also a racial component at work".

She doesn't have any proof mind you. She just interpreted it that way. In much the same way I can interpret that she believes she knows what she's talking about just because she's black.

It doesn't bother her that with racism being a hot topic du jour she should be armed with some facts before playing the race card. Nope. In the sad tradition of sports parents she just shot from the lip. (I prefer the slap-stick routines of Damir Dokic)

Of course she didn't bother to acknowledge that Aussie tennis crowds are notoriously critical when it comes to gamesmanship. Crowds here ALWAYS boo players who take time-outs at crucial moments. Those funk soul brothers, John McEnroe & Jimmy Conners have both been booed here for not playing within the spirit of the game. Last time I looked; they were white. Although in this Age of Jackson that may have changed.

Nor did she concede that Clijsters may be a favourite here because she goes out with our very own, true blue Lil Lleyton Hewitt.

Strangely though, there there were no boos during the final. According to Oracene's thoroughly researched conclusions; with both Williams girls playing there should have been twice as many.