Serena Williams accidentally revealed that she is 20 weeks pregnant when she pressed the wrong button on Snapchat. I mean, can you IMAGINE? Social media is scary ya'll. After that oops moment, the news spread, articles started popping up, and Serena later confirmed that it was true. So, congrats go to she and hubby (Reddit Co-founder) Alex Ohanian on growing their family. After the announcement, it is the revelations, and reactions that came after which confirm three things that just are not debatable.
No.1 She's the greatest athlete in history.
If there was any question before about her being the greatest athlete in history, this should confirm it. Don't debate me. I don't care; I don't care, I don't care, it's just true.
Serena found out she was pregnant just two days before the Australian open...and she WON! Even if she had lost that would still be impressive. She competed in a tournament against other elite tennis players while cooking a BABY. I can barely get out of bed if I didn't get my nine hours of sleep. When she recalled her mindset before the Australian open it was like many women who just do what must be done from time to time.
Serena said, “I was nervous. I wasn’t quite sure what to think, but I knew that at that moment, it was really important for me to just focus.”
“You hear all these stories about people when they’re pregnant — they get sick, they get really tired, really stressed out. … I had to really take all that energy and put it in a paper bag, so to say, and throw it away.
“I really felt that I didn’t have time to deal with any extra emotions, any extra anything, because, pregnant or not, no one knew, and I was supposed to win that tournament as I am every tournament that I show up for. If I don’t win, it’s actually much bigger news.”
No. 2 Her sassiness upsets them.
Call me a pessimist, but right after I heard she was pregnant, I began to dread and predict the racial and sexist attacks on her. I thought "it's just a matter of time.." and sure enough, folks didn't disappoint. For example, former controversial tennis star and now tennis coach Ilie Nastase commented during a press conference "Let's see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?"
Frankly, the only thing more disappointing than the comment itself was Mr. Nastase's tired lack of creativity. Racists really need to start coming up with some new content to keep things fresh.
“Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?......
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
Instead of going for the jugular which Serena would be entirely justified in doing, she instead reminded Ile and his ilk what really upsets them about her. It is her greatness, and now the mere notion that she dare experience more of it in the form of starting her family. It's her sassiness that bothers them, and she beautifully reminded the naysayers by quoting an excerpt from the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou.
No. 3 She's here to stay.
Serena confirmed that she has more titles to win and she plans on doing so while baby Ohanian/Williams cheers... or likely just cries in the stands.