Romanian tennis player Under Investigation for Controversial Serena Williams Comments

[Tennis]

Ilie Nastase is reportedly under investigation by the International Tennis Federation for a racist comment he made about Serena Williams after she announced she was pregnant earlier in the week.

According to the Press Association (via ESPN.com), the Romanian Fed Cup captain said the following of Williams' baby: "Let's see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?"

In December, Williams announced she was engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

"The ITF does not tolerate discriminatory and offensive language and behaviour of any kind," the organization said in a statement, per the PA. "We are aware of alleged comments made by Romanian captain Ilie Nastase and have begun an immediate investigation so that we have the full facts of the situation before taking further and appropriate action."

Nastase was also at the center of controversy on Saturday morning during a Fed Cup match between Romania and Great Britain.

According to the New York Times' Ben Rothenberg, the 70-year-old was thrown off the court after he engaged in a verbal altercation with the chair umpire.

Eleanor Crooks of the Press Association relayed video of Nastase being escorted to the locker rooms:

The Telegraph's Simon Briggs reported that the umpire had asked the crowd to quiet down and respect the players, at which point Nastase said, "It's not the opera, what's your f--king problem?"

Nastase also reportedly called Johanna Konta and captain Anne Keothavong "f--king b---hes," according to Briggs.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...aign=editorial

Wow. Aren't we supposed to be making progress on this stuff?

[GennGreymane]

But TEEENNNN! What shall we do!

[Deleted]

Who would actually expect anything meaningful or even remotely sane from the mouth of a former - wait for it - Tennisace?

[Kraenen]

I don't understand. What's the investigation supposed to be about? We already know her comments, that's a wrap.

anyone else find it ironic the source is called "bleacher report"?

[Deleted]

So what's big the deal here? Awful joke - they are not investigating this shit?

[shadowdasher]

But but, I thought the Europes didn't have racism.

[Tennis]

But TEEENNNN! What shall we do!

First step in an investigation then the WTA should determine the necessary level of punishment.

[Deleted]

I agree. This is simply abhorrent. How much do you need to suck in order to make those kinds of comments? When insulting people you need to try harder, make them feel it, not just throw around simple words. I'm sad to see that the level of insults has dropped so low in Romania. I will be doing my best to provide better quality insults so that no one will ever be faced with this kind of situation again.

[Kontinuum]

First step in an investigation then the WTA should determine the necessary level of punishment.

Hanged, drawn and quartered.

[Kraenen]

First step in an investigation then the WTA should determine the necessary level of punishment.

Seems like society can punish her with their opinions if they thought the comments were offensive

[Vexilius]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...aign=editorial

Wow. Aren't we supposed to be making progress on this stuff?

We should be progressing toward thickening our skin, or would that be regressing. I'm not sure but either way today's generation is full of thin skinned drama queens. Why is this even a news article? Oh, because people love being offended and announcing it. Who cares what some old dude said.

[Independent voter]

Let's hope Serena has the baby before she gives this Ilie Nastase a beat down.

[Kraenen]

We should be progressing toward thickening our skin, or would that be regressing. I'm not sure but either way today's generation is full of thin skinned drama queens. Why is this even a news article? Oh, because people love being offended and announcing it. Who cares what some old dude said.

Just because this comes up so often and is left with "get over it", what's the actual psychological mechanism of change involved in thickening your skin?

[Kalis]

They should ban Ilie Nastase from ever playing on the WTA circuit.

That'll show him.

[SupBrah]

... That's it? She said the baby would be "chocolate with milk"? Really??? So he's saying the baby will probably be brown? Y'all act like this romanian dude called her or her baby the "n word" or something... Yeesh.

Hell... I've dated a few black girls before and we always joked about shit like "being down with the swirl", "making some chocolate milk", etc etc etc.

Jeeze... You guys need to stop getting so damn offended over every little thing.

[satimy]

First step in an investigation then the WTA should determine the necessary level of punishment.

I'd love to see how you punish someone who retired 20 years ago

That being said, I don't see why what he said was offensive

[Tennis]

But but, I thought the Europes didn't have racism.

Actually it is quite prevalent. In Italy there have been many instances of soccer players wanting to walk off the pitch due to racist taunts/chants.

[Shinra1]

That old fool should be made an example of. You don't come for the Queen of tennis. He is obviously jealous of her success and good fortune. What a dithering fool.

[Xirrohon]

Progress? Lol. Go pretty much anywhere and look at comments to stories/vidoes where anyone but whites are involved. You will see sooooooo many racial comments.

[Puupi]

First step in an investigation then the WTA should determine the necessary level of punishment.

Capital punishment is appropriate here. Maybe gelding first, too.