Serena Williams and The Code

Serena Williams is Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsperson of the Year.” At age 34 she dominated women’s tennis by winning the first three legs of the Grand Slam, finally losing in the US Open. She has been a force for women’s tennis for over 15 years and stands one victory short of the record number of Grand Slam wins. She is the first female black athlete to win the award. The title she has won also carries with it the assumption that the recipient has exhibited the highest standards of behavior both on and off the court. She has grown in many ways as a player and a person over her long career, and we believe that she is deserving of the honor. But, what does your team think? We suggest that team members read the story and then report to the others what they have learned about her, especially the story of her experience at Indian Wells, and her response to it. That story reveals a person deserving of this high honor. However, we were disappointed in the picture on the cover. What does that say about the way women are perceived, or about how they are valued? What do you think?