| | Associated Press
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Serena Williams withdrew from
the Family Circle Cup on Wednesday, the biggest sports name to back
NAACP's boycott of South Carolina for flying the Confederate flag.
Williams, the sixth-ranked tennis player in the world, was the
first to commit in January to the yearly clay court tournament at
Sea Pines Racquet Club. But she rethought the decision last month
when told of the flag controversy.
"My decision to not play in South Carolina was based on a much
deeper issue and one that I feel strongly about," said Williams,
the 18-year-old star who last September became the first black
woman in more than 40 years to win a Grand Slam title when she won
the U.S. Open.
The NAACP is leading an economic boycott of South Carolina until
the flag is removed from the Statehouse. Since the boycott's Jan. 1
start, support from the sports world has grown steadily.
-- The New York Knicks pulled out of a pre-playoff draft camp in
Charleston.
-- USA Track and Field condemned the flag before the women's
Olympic marathon trials two months ago in Columbia and several
runners wore ribbons in support of the boycott.
-- Penn State's baseball team wore red armbands in support of the
NAACP's position during baseball games at Winthrop University in
Rock Hill.
-- The National Association of Basketball Coaches joined with the
Black Coaches Association in calling for the NCAA to remove its
men's basketball regional, scheduled for Greenville in 2002, if the
flag still flaps atop the capitol dome.
-- The Atlantic Coast Conference has asked its schools to stay in
North Carolina during next month's baseball championships in the
border city of Fort Mill.
Flag supporters say it honors Southern heritage; opponents say
it is a symbol of racism and slavery.
The state Senate began debate Wednesday on what to do with the
flag, which was first flown in 1962. It can be removed only by
state lawmakers.
Lisa Thomas, Family Cup tournament director, said she
understands the predicament Williams faced.
"The tournament completely supports Serena's decision and we
hope this issue is resolved soon," Thomas said.
This year would have marked Williams' Family Circle debut. She
withdrew from last year's tournament with tendinitis in her right
knee.
Bart McGuire, head of the Sanex WTA Tour, said he respects the
views of players who feel "that their presence at an event would
jeopardize their moral and ethical standards."
State tourism officials said this week they had to do some
last-minute convincing to keep the sponsors of the LPGA Tour's
Kathy Ireland greens.com event from withdrawing from the Murrells
Inlet tournament in June.
Just last week, the football and basketball coaches from South
Carolina -- Lou Holtz, Eddie Fogler, Tommy Bowden and Larry Shyatt --
took part in a march supporting the removal of the flag.
| |
ALSO SEE
Stevenson chooses to play at Hilton Head
 |
