2009 Salute to Women in Sports

Other WomenTalkSports posts of “Best of ‘09″:

• From Because I Played Sports, Best of ‘09: Forming a community, WomenTalkSports.com

• From One Sport Voice, The “Best” of 2009 and the State of Girls & Women in Sports

• From WakeGirls.com, Best of ‘09 – A Year for Women in Wake

Show me the money: Serena Williams breaks WTA season prize mark

Serena Williams, finishing off her most lucrative year in women’s tennis with a win at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, is again ranked No. 1 in the world.

And with her latest win, Serena has set the record for single-season prize money in women’s tennis by topping $6.5 million in 2009.

Williams broke the WTA mark of slightly under $5.5 million, earned by Justine Henin in 2007.

The American won the season-ending tour championships Sunday, beating older sister Venus in the final, to regain the No. 1 ranking. The younger Williams also won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2009.

The Doha tournament, which featured the top eight women in the world, saw top-ranked Dinara Safina retire in her first match with a serious back injury, and No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki forced to quit in her semifinal against Serena Williams.

Earlier this year, $erena became the top earning female athlete ever,  and with these latest wins her  career prize money is now at a record $28.5 million.

Serena remembers earning her first check of $240 at Québec City in 1995 so that’s quite a pay raise!

Serena’s apology via Twitter

@serenajwilliams: I want to sincerely apologize FIRST to the lines woman, Kim Clijsters, USTA & mostly tennis fans everywhere. Thank you all for your support

Seeing double: Serena Williams

Sports icon and reigning US Open, Australian and Wimbledon champion Serena Williams joins the list of celebrities who have gotten a life-sized wax figure of themselves. Williams, 27, was smiling as her wax figure was unveiled last week in New York City at Madame Tussauds.

The athlete took part in participating in the design of her wax figure by getting with the Madame Tussauds studio artists who made their way to Paris at the French Open in order to meet the star during the process.

The wax figure is wearing a replica of the Nike outfit which Williams wore during the 2004 U.S. Open. The outfit – one of Williams’ favorites – consists of a cropped black sleeveless top and denim skirt, accessorized by silver hoop earrings, a sparkling silver ring and black socks, sneakers and headband.

Williams’ figure is part of the Tussaud’s new “Sports Zone” – an interactive area dedicated to the love of sports, which is also home to wax figures of sport icons Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Florence Griffith Joyner.

On the tennis court, Williams is a legend. She is the reigning U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon singles champion and has won 22 Grand Slam titles – more than any other active female player – as well as two Olympic gold medals. Outside of tennis, Williams is known for her successful endeavors in film, television, fashion and philanthropy.

Check out this video of the unveiling of the wax figure.

Win a copy of Serena Williams’ new book

Are you a Serena fan? If so, you don’t want to miss the chance to read her new memoir, “On The Line” out in stores on Sept. 1st. And for five lucky Women Talk Sports winners – the book is free!

One of the biggest stars in tennis, Serena Williams has succeeded on and off the court. She’s applied the same strength and determination that helped her to become a champion to successful pursuits in philanthropy, fashion, television and film.

Serena’s 2009 Australia Open championship earned her the #1 world ranking for the third time in her illustrious career – and marked only the latest exclamation point on a life lived well and purposefully.

Her accomplishments have not been without struggle: being derailed by injury, devastated by the tragic shooting of her older sister, and criticized for her unorthodox approach to tennis. Yet somehow, Serena always manages to prevail.

Learn more about this extraordinary athlete by winning a copy of her new book “On The Line.” To get your copy, you must…

• Follow @womentalksports on Twitter
• CLICK HERE to send the tweet that enters you in our contest.

Winners will be randomly drawn from the pool of entrants at midnight PST Monday, August 31st and contacted via Twitter direct message. Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win. Please no P.O. boxes.

Good Luck to all!

ESPY Award winners

The hottest stars in sports, including many 2008 Olympians, converged with Hollywood last night as ESPN hosted the 2009 ESPY Awards. The 17th annual award show celebrated the best athletes and performances of the past year. Actor Samuel L. Jackson hosted the glittering show which saw some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment come together under a single roof for the gala evening.

Unlike the Oscars or the Grammys, fans vote for the awards and 13 were handed out. FYI, ESPY is short for the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly.

SPOILER ALERT: While the 2009 ESPY Awards was taped last night (July 15) fans will have to wait until Sunday, July 19 at 9 p.m. to watch it on TV. So, if you don’t want to know the winners, stop reading now!

The hometown team, Los Angeles Lakers (who play across the street from the Nokia at the Staples Center), won the ESPY for Best Team edging the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Stevie Wonder made the presentation and Kobe Bryant, surrounded by several teammates, accepted the trophy.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson won the award for the Best Coach, his third such honor.  NBA’s Best Player was the Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James.  The L.A. crowd no doubt wanted Kobe to win the NBA’s Best Player award but Lebron deserved this one as he had a monster season.

One streak came to an end at the ESPY’s last night, the five year reign for Tiger Woods as the Best Male Athlete Award. Coming off a historic Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Games, Michael Phelps edged Tiger this year to win the prestigious award. Actress Demi Moore presented the trophy to Phelps. The Olympic swimmer who won eight gold medals in the pool also swam away with the ESPY for Best U.S. Olympian and the Best Championship Performance.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presented the award for best female athlete to Olympic all-around gold medalist Nastia Liukin, who was a bit little shocked to have beaten out Serena Williams. Swimmer Dara Torres won the ESPY for the Best Comeback.

The Best Female College Athlete was given to Connecticut basketball player Maya Moore who also led her team to a National Championship.

The ESPY for the Best WNBA Player went to Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks. Tiger Woods was not surprisingly voted the Best Male Golfer and Lorena Ochoa won the ESPY for the Best Female Golfer.

Serena Williams took the award for Best Female Tennis Player. This is the first ESPY Award that Williams has received since 2003, when she won the Best Female Athlete award.

At the ceremony the Williams sisters presented former South African president Nelson Mandela the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela and grandson Zondwa Mandela accepted the award, which is presented annually to individuals whose contributions transcend sports.

Erin Popovich emerged as a ray of hope for all humanity as she was named Best Athlete with a Disability while the Best Female Action Sports Athlete was awarded to big wave surfer Maya Gabeira.

Complete list of winners:
Special Awards
Arthur Ashe Courage Award: President Nelson Mandela
Jimmy V Award For Perseverance: Don Meyer, Northern State University coach
Best Comeback: Dara Torres, Olympic swimmer.

Best in Sport
Best Female Athlete: Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Best Male Athlete: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Moment: US Swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay
Best Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Best Coach/Manager: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game: Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Best Championship Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Play: Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Best Upset: US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Best Record Breaking Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Sports Movie: The Express: The Ernie Davis Story
Best Male College Athlete: Tim Tebow, Florida Football
Best Female College Athlete: Maya Moore, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Jason Lester, Ironman Triathlete
Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Erin Popovich, Swimming
Best International Male Athlete: Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Sprinter)
Best International Female Athlete: Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, Golf)

Individual Sports
Best Baseball Player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Best NBA Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Best NFL Player: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best MLS Player: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Shaun White, Skateboarding/Snowboarding
Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Maya Gabeira, Surfing
Best Bowler: Norm Duke
Best Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Best Fighter: Manny Pacquiao, Boxing
Best Male Golfer: Tiger Woods
Best Female Golfer: Lorena Ochoa
Best Jockey: Calvin Borel

Wimbledon – Williams sisters through to semis

It’s the USA against Russia in the Wimbledon women’s singles semi-finals on Thursday.

The world top four players have all won their quarter-final matches setting the stage for a possible all Williams final.

First, Venus Williams dismantled 20-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in 1 hour 8 minutes. Then there was a short break and then Serena Williams, on Centre Court, made it two sisters in the semifinals.

With Venus watching, number two seed Serena took out Victoria Azarenka, the 19-year-old from Belarus, 6-2, 6-3.

Serena will play Elena Dementieva after the Russian fourth seed came through 6-2, 6-2 against Francesca Schiavone of Italy.

Top seed Dinara Safina will face the defending champion Venus.

With Serena’s  10 Grand Slam victories to Venus’s 7, could it be another Venus vs. Serena final? It’s looking that way.

Happy Birthday, Venus Williams

Seventeen Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and a host of other championships  make Venus Williams one of the most recognizable figures in professional tennis.

The birthday girl’s resume off the court is nearly as impressive as her on court accomplishments. She’s launched her own line of clothing, founded an interior design company and has been named one of America’s most powerful women by Ladies Home Journal

Venus Williams was born June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, Calif., to Richard and Oracene Williams. Growing up in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, Venus and her younger sister Serena displayed talent as they “practiced with dead balls on cracked courts,” wrote Sports Illustrated.

By age 10, Venus was winning tournaments, and in 1991, the Williams clan relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where the young phenoms began training full-time. The sisters’ careers were carefully managed by Richard and Venus turned pro at age 14.

Venus played her first full season on the WTA Tour in 1997 and won her first pro tournament a year later.  The following year won two grand slams. She and Serena became two of the tour’s top players, and also formed one of the best doubles teams. In 2002, Venus became the No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world, the first African-American to achieve that status.

Williams has thus far won seven grand slam tournaments: two U.S. Open titles and five Wimbledon titles. At 29, she remains one of the best players on the women’s tour.

Off the court, Venus Williams studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. In November 2007, she launched a line of sporty clothing and accessories, including footwear, called EleVen.

She and Serena founded the Venus and Serena Williams Tutorial/Tennis Academy in Los Angeles, providing tennis lessons to inner-city children. The academy provides not only on-court instruction, but also tutoring and assistance in applying to colleges.

Venus, who is one of the best paid athletes in the world,  has one the fastest serve in the women’s game – 129 mph. She  also stars in Virtua Tennis, a popular video game.

Happy Birthday Venus!! Hope the day is as special as you are!!

Profile

Name :	Venus Williams
Profession :	Tennis Player
Date of Birth :	June 17, 1980
Place of Birth :	Lynwood, California, USA
Plays :	Right-handed
Career Titles :	25

WeMix.com Serena Williams launch “Serena’s Song” contest

Rapper Ludacris is teaming up with tennis star Serena Williams for an online contest aimed at finding a theme song for the superstar tennis champion.

The “Serena’s Song” contest is a nationwide songwriting competition inviting independent musicians, songwriters, producers, rappers and singers to submit original music inspired by and about Serena Williams. Serena  will select her personal favorite songs as Finalists, and the winner will be chosen by the online fan communities at WeMix.com and serenawilliams.com.

The musician with the winning song will be taken into the studio to professionally record what will become Serena’s official theme music. The winner will then go to the premiere of the song at the Bank of the West Classic, in Stanford, CA., in late July. The new theme song will be used at tennis matches, public appearances and a variety of other outlets by Serena.

The sports star can’t wait to hear the new tune that will help her dominate the court. “Sports and music have such a powerful connection,” says Williams. “I always see athletes including myself listening to music, while they’re getting ready for or decompressing after a match, or a race, or a game, whichever the sport.” 

WeMix was founded in 2008 by Grammy Award-winning artist Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and veteran media executive Matthew Apfel. Its corporate mission is to re-invent how popular music is sourced, filtered, produced, and marketed. The “Serena’s Song” contest is the latest example of how WeMix.com helps new artists break through, fast track their careers, and share in the profits.

Beginning March 3, 2009, artists interested in submitting an original Serena Williams theme song to the “Serena’s Song” contest can visit WeMix.com. Finalists will be chosen in early May. Complete contest rules and details can be found on www.wemix.com.

Do you have a fave song that pumps you up? What’s your personal theme song?

Dubai winner Venus Williams is Pretty Tough

Venus Williams defeated France’s Virginie Razzano 6-4, 6-2 at the Dubai Tennis Championships to win her first title of the season .

The victory gave Venus her 40th career singles title and was the seventh triumph in her last eight finals. Her last title came at the WTA Championships in Doha in November.

A day earlier, Venus upset sister Serena 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 to reach the final while the unseeded Razzano  put out 16th seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-1, 6-2 to move on to the title match.

Venus will return to the Top 5 from sixth for the first time since the week of August 25, 2003.

When questioned if she might also replace her younger sibling at the top of the rankings, Venus said “Well I would love to be the best in the world – and I am coming. So I am going to try.”

So how does Venus prep to become one of the best tennis players in the world? Well one thing she does is balance her intense training by getting in touch with her girly side. Check out this photo shoot she recently did with Marie Claire.  Maybe the underwater glamour tennis shots are a cross-training secret that will help put her on top.

Next Page »