Because a woman (and a woman of colour at that) who had one of the best years in sports is not more deserving of this honour than a horse?
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Growing up, Williams had devoured every Harry Potter book, marveled at the business empires of Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart.
In addition, the commentary took a racist turn regarding the publication’s cover shoot, which showed Williams relaxing on the throne with a crown on her head.
It would have been easy for SI to have bailed on Serena, saying well she didn’t win the grand slam and instead give it to some horse, but they didn’t.
Serena Williams, Queen of tennis, has officially claimed her title as Sportsperson of the Year.
Last year San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner won the award.
“As I always say, it takes a village it’s not just one person“, she said. That’s what she’s done for 16 years now. Sports Illustrated said this was a first in the 40-year history of the WTA rankings. I just thought of women I admired and I didn’t let anyone in the studio from Pirelli.
But not everyone is as happy as we are about the amounts of slayage Serena has been displaying.
“This year was spectacular for me”, she wrote.
But those statistics mask a year that was “all internal discord and quelled revolts; Serena battled her body like never before”, Sports Illustrated said. I am beyond honored.
In a Facebook post in November, Williams made headlines when she described an incident where a man tried to steal her cellphone at a Chinese food restaurant – and she tracked him down to get it back, running through a restaurant to retrieve it. Eventually, once outside, he handed the phone over.
Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to Roberta Vinci of Italy during their 2015 US Open Women’s singles semifinals match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in NY.
The Times further reports that Sports Illustrated sportsperson of the year award goes to an athlete or team that embodies sportsmanship and achievement.
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Meanwhile, American Pharoah, the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown, was the victor from the magazine’s online poll, taking 47%.
