While Tiger Woods opts to make a public spoken apology, Serena Williams has chosen to take a more “actions speak louder than words” approach at redemption.
Serena Williams’ infamous outburst at the US Open last fall, where she threatened to shove a ball down a line judge’s throat and kill her when she disagreed with a call, was a shocking and disturbing display. Just like so many before her, the loss of control and display of human emotion left many shocked and calling for her badge as role model.
For losing her temper and threatening harm, Williams’ was slapped with a record $92,500 fine. Williams issued a public apology and made many statements asking for forgiveness and acknowledging that her behavior was out of line and not to be copied. Technically, her PR clean up was complete. The tirade was all but forgotten and the public had moved on. Williams, however, was not finished making amends.
Williams has announced through her website her 92K Mission, where she challenged herself to raise $92,000 for schools, the same record breaking amount she was fined.
“This experience has educated me beyond belief,” Williams stated on her Web site, “so I would also like to take the opportunity to educate women.”
Many will scoff and claim that it’s all disingenuous damage control, especially since it seems everywhere we look, some fallen role model – be it sports star, politician or actor – is apologizing for some indiscretion. However, while many stop at giving a canned apology, written by their lawyers, to a room of TV cameras, Williams is using her punishment as a personal challenge to do more. Her history of charity work, including work with UNICEF, and opening a girls’ school in Matooni, Kenya with another one in Senegal on the horizon, lends credibility to the fact that Williams’ 92K Mission may be more about making things right to herself than trying to c0nvince the public to let her back into our good graces.
Either way, the important thing is there are children that will benefit from Williams’ efforts, and that’s never anything to criticize.
