Come on Meat

"Hmm, I could put a cup on that right there".

Thursday night and I should be getting set for my game but I flip on the TV and I'm confronted with the anatomically incorrect derriere that belongs to Serena Williams. Random thoughts about her familial genetics ensue while she hands out a “random” beating to her opponent.


"Which kind cameraman be this sef, nah NTA dem employ you come? Who wan see old papa when bakassi dey ground."


I'm not alone, me is watching the game too. The TV camera just panned away from the court to show Richard Williams in the stands making notes. The commentators make the requisite comment about coaching and parental support

Flashback three years, Serena and I are hanging …….


"Who dash you? Abeg no dey do April fool for here?"


Flashback three years and I'm sitting in the bowels of the Staples center in downtown LA watching Serena take on Kim Clijsters. Seemingly always pushing the boundaries of tennis fashion, she’s decked out in some white and yellow outfit that sometimes bears a resemblance to a tutu. Game on and something starts buzzing in my ear. Only this "mosquito" spoke English and picked moments of silence before the start of play to yell out encouragement.


"Come on meat"


Funny, someone has a sense of humor, me possibly? Inappropriate? The chattering classes in the surrounding seats wonder and debate.


"Come on meat", at yet another start of play.


A few glances in the direction of the sound revealed the same face on my screen, Richard Williams. Yep he was calling her meat, apt in an odd kind of way. Game ends, Serena wins, she comes over to acknowledge Dad, show's over, everyone heads home. Question remains, what's Venus' nickname? Bones? Potatoes?




Update: Serena won the final on Saturday as well, giving her a 100% record at her 2 events in 2007.