Serena Williams’ infamous outburst at the US Open last fall was a shocking and disappointing display for many of the tennis champ’s fans. Experts claimed she did damage to her reputation as a role model for young children, with some even claiming she may never recover.
The unsportsmanlike tirade Williams unleashed on a lines judge, where she threatened to shove a ball down her throat when she disagreed with the officials’ call, ended with Williams’ being slapped with a record $92,500 fine.
Williams, in a brilliant reputation saving move, has just announced her 92K Mission, a plan to raise the same amount for schools.
Of her decision to start her mission, Williams stated on her website, “This experience has educated me beyond belief, so I would also like to take the opportunity to educate women.”
While this may just seem like one more desperate PR stunt in a string of fallen sports role models’ cries for forgiveness, it’s hard to call Williams’ charity work transparent. Williams has been involved in many charities before her recent in-game tantrum, including work with UNICEF and opening a girl’s school in Matooni, Kenya, along with another school in Senegal currently in the works.
The good thing about charity is that no matter what the motivation behind the money raising event, the money still goes to a good cause, and in this case, that’s children’s education. Learned her lesson or not, Williams is making the best out of a bad situation and helping others in the process, to which I say bravo.
Photo via LA Progressive
Since Serena’s fans already know of her numberous charitable efforts, this article can only be viewed as another nefarious attempt to revisit the U.S. open incident. Try as you may, Serena’s reputation has and will remain, SOLID!
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