American tennis player Danielle Collins won her second round match, defeating Australian Destanee Aiavans 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2 yesterday. That was the good news for her, and she deserves credit for that.
The bad news?
She revealed herself to be extremely immature and, frankly, a bit of a spoiled brat in the process.
It had to occur to her that, playing an Australian woman at the Australian Open, she would not be the fan favorite during the match. There were people who I heard claiming that the audience was a little too partisan and slanted, and a bit too vocal, even cheering for things like double-faults. Now admittedly, I did not watch the match, so I cannot verify whether or not those claims of excessive bad behavior by the crowd are actually true. If it is, then the crowd itself showed a lack of class in the process.
However, Collins the antics which Collins displayed after the match - with a stupid smirk and mocking laughter to accompany it - showed that, in fact, the crowd apparently had every right to boo her, whether they knew it or not.
Once she had won the match, she kind of held her hands to her ears in a "let's hear it for me" gesture. Then, smiling the entire time, she blew sarcastic kisses at the crowd and, at one point, patted her butt in what could be interpreted as a "you can kiss my ass" gesture.
As if all of that was not enough, she was even worse during the interview moments after the match ended. It seemed at some point that she was going to talk about the match, and maybe credit her opponent, Destanee Aiavans, for playing tough. Instead, she interrupted this train of thought as the boos echoed down on her, and she said that at one point during the match, she thought of ways in which to spend the "big, fat paycheck" which she was going to earn. Then she followed up by explaining how she and fellow American tennis star Coco Gauff "love, we love a good five-star vacation." Later, during her press conference, she said something to the effect that the people that hate you (referring presumably to the Australian fans who had come out to watch the match) were paying her a ton of money.
Maybe she would not have come across so poorly if she had, say, mentioned that she would donate some of the winnings from her "big, fat paycheck" to the victims of the Los Angeles fire, or some other worthy cause. You know, to show the world that she s actually aware of a world out there beyond herself and her pampered world on the tennis courts. In fact, my own impressions of her - and I will admit to not having heard of her, or at least not remembering it if did - would not be so low. When I saw her actions and especially heard her words, I cringed, literally. Some people expressed support, making her out to be a victim of unfair treatment by an unnecessarily hostile crowd. But she is supposed to be a professional athlete, which means that on some level, a hostile crowd is a real possibility, especially if she is playing someone from the country she is playing in. I feel that this means she should also conduct herself as sa professional, even if deep down, she resents the hostility. You know, rise above it? In that, though, she fell pathetically short of the mark yesterday.
So in short, Danielle Collins went into a foreign country, to an event which it can fairly be said has an audience around the world, and seemed to act hurt and offended that the crowd would root against her while she played an Australian. Then, she showed incredible immaturity, a lack of sportsmanship and extreme disrespect towards the crowd and reinforced popular perceptions that too many Americans just love to wave their wealth and power and privilege in people's faces.
My guess - and really my sincere hope - is that this was tongue in cheek on her part. Still, it was not witty, and since she actually has made millions and lives a life of privilege - and always has - something about it just feels wrong. Also, she just does not seem all that witty, frankly. It felt like she was annoyed at the crowd and wanted to get them back at that moment. And I guess she did. But she did it in a way that reflects poorly on her fellow Americans, as well as elite and wealthy athletes. Not sure that Coco Gauff was thrilled to be name-dropped by Collins, although maybe she was. One way or the other, it just felt like this played out terribly, and cast Collins in a negative light. In fact, it may wind up being what her tennis career is most remembered for, to the extent that it is remembered.
Collins showed that not all dumb jocks with a false sense of entitlement have to be male. And at a time when we really could use fewer Ugly Americans, she showed herself to be exactly that, and to show that unflattering and, yes, unlikeable side to her proudly. To show that shallow, arrogant side with a big, ridiculous, mocking smile on her face on top of it.
Now, I personally hope that she gets bounced out of that tournament soon. Also, let's hope that the Ugly American never, ever wins a Grand Slam title, and is soon forgotten.
To my mind's eye, she deserves to be forgotten more than she deserves her "big, fat paycheck."
For my part, I will make a point of never watching a single one of her matches, so as not to be one of those which she mocks as paying her "big, fat paychecks." Sports, at it's best, can teach real life lessons about perseverance, overcoming adversity, mental toughness, believing in yourself, and overcoming great odds. At it's worst, however, it can reveal the uglier sides of otherwise impressive professional athletes. Collins showed the person she apparently is, and did it about as loudly and proudly as anyone could. But she embodies that other, less flattering side of sports, as somebody who seems to show bitterness when she is not happy about something, and who thinks that playing a game really entitles her to the extravagant lifestyle which she boasts about.
Let's rise above and move on from her sorry display yesterday.
OnOn-Court Interview: Danielle Collins thanks booing Australian Open crowd for 'big fat paycheck' 👀
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