BBC commentator unleashes idiotic sexist comments at Marion Bartoli
Written by Ken Fang on 08 July 2013.
France’s Marion Bartoli had a career breakthrough on Saturday by winning the Wimbledon Ladies Championship, her first Grand Slam title. As she was celebrating her victory, the BBC had to apologize for commentator John Inverdale who made some disparaging remarks about Bartoli before her win against Sabine Lisicki.
On BBC Radio, Inverdale who has covered many major events for the network including Wimbledon and the Olympics came out with the following comments in describing Baroli:
“I just wonder if her dad, because he has obviously been the most influential person in her life, did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe, ‘listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker.'”
“‘You are never going to be somebody like a Sharapova, you’re never going to be 5ft 11, you’re never going to be somebody with long legs, so you have to compensate for that.”
Source: http://www.awfulannouncing.com
Unfortunately, women in chess have also faced sexism for a long time. I have heard countless comments much worse than this over the years. I simply ignored these people and continued to focus on my chess.
Bartoli should be praised for her hard work and determination to win Wimbledon. She did not deserve this.
No woman, save for Judit, has ever come close to playing elite-level chess. Women chessers are, simply, a class lower. You should take that as a challenge, or plain reality, and not as sexist observation.
Women do not belong in chess.
The two posters above should mind their manners. No need to hate. Susan Polgar and women athletes/chess players should be applauded for their effort and results. I see the posters did not have the guts to put their name on it, fitting.
the 2 approved comments are just dumb and sexist. how embarrassing. Women do belong in chess and more and more players like yifan, Muzychuk and Koneru are following the footstpes of the Polgars.
on topic though, i think John Inverdale was trying to compliment Bartoli. He did it in bad taste though. You left out the 3rd paragraph which I think is what the commentator wanted to emphasize.
“‘You are going to have to be the most dogged, determined fighter that anyone has ever seen on the tennis court if you are going to make it’, and she kind of is.”
he has since then apologized. he meant to praise her will and determination to beat the odds.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23226249
Susan was always “A Looker” to me. One of the sexiest women in Chess. Bartoli is hot too.
Someone said this about Bartoli?????? What is happening to mankind for heaven’s sake? How on earth can an adult male Homo Sapien say something this superficial about sexy and intelligent Bartoli?
Even more surprising for me because Bartoli is very beautiful. So what is his basis of beauty? Sharapova?
As for Susan Polgar, I have always deeply admired her effortless beauty, grace, and wit so I wouldn’t pay her detractors any attention. Tell me my perception of a beautiful woman is different from the next guy’s. But whose isn’t?