Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Indian Wells. ...
Indian Wells Tournament Director Raymond Moore became public enemy No. 1 on Sunday, overshadowing Serena Williams first finals appearance at the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since the controversial 2001 tournament, in which Serena, sister Venus and father Richard were booed during the finals.
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And another Williams boycott based on those comments would be perfectly justifiable.
Moore arguably may have lost his job when he conducted a pre-finals news conference and made one of the most horrible remarks of the year.
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"You know, in my next life when I come back, I want to be someone in the WTA, because they ride on the coattails of the men," Moore said. "They don't make any decisions and they are lucky ... If I was a lady player, I'd go down on my knees every night and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have."
When asked to comment on Moore's incoherent argument, Williams went off on the tournament director.
"Well, I don't understand why I always have to answer questions about controversy like this, she said. "Obviously I don't think any woman should be down on their knees thanking anybody like that.
"I think Venus, myself, a number of players have been -- if I could tell you every day how many people say they don't watch tennis unless they're watching myself or my sister, I couldn't even bring up that number. So I don't think that is a very accurate statement.
"I think there is a lot of women out there who are more -- are very exciting to watch. I think there are a lot of men who are exciting to watch. I think it definitely goes both ways. I think those remarks are very much mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate."
She then refused to provide an out for Moore on a question asking whether his words could be taken out of context.
"Well, if you read the transcript you can only interpret it one way. I speak very good English. I'm sure he does, too.
"You know, there's only one way to interpret that. Get on your knees, which is offensive enough, and thank a man, which is not --- we, as women, have come a long way. We shouldn't have to drop to our knees at any point."
Williams has to be tired of addressing the "isms" regarding Indian Wells. Sunday it was sexism; 14 years ago, it was racism.
Richard Williams contended racism was present that day as fans hurled racial insults to him and Venus. Serena boycotted the event for 14 years before returning Indian Wells last year and reaching the semifinals before withdrawing because of an injury.
Sister Venus returned to the event for the first time since then as well but was bounced in the first round.
An ESPN report several years after the 2001 Indian Wells incident said that people refuted Richard Williams' claims.
This year, there was no denying Moore's comments. He quickly apologized after the comments became a hot social media topic. Moore offered a written apology to The WTA, Williams and Victoria Azarenka, who defeated Serena in the Sunday's final.
Moore declined to clarify his comments in his apology.
Which begs the question of why Serena Williams would want to come back after two incidents of prejudice against the venues.
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