Margaret Court hurls thunderbolts. They used to be tennis balls. Now, they’re words laced with fire and brimstone.
The same steely resolve she displayed to win her 1970 grand slam, battling blood clots, twisted ankles and torn ligaments, now drives her confrontational stance on same-sex marriage.
Whether it’s in her ability as a tennis player, or in the righteousness of her religious beliefs, Court is a fervent believer.
Even before the controversy surrounding her confrontational views on same-sex marriage, Margaret Court was one of those sporting champions that Australians never quite took to their hearts.
As the first Australian woman to win the French, Wimbledon and US titles, and one of only five players in history to sweep all four majors in a calendar year, she demanded our respect. And rightly so. Numbers don’t lie. Nobody has won more than Margaret Court, with 64 grand slam titles and 192 singles titles. These records are unlikely to be broken.
We showed our respect by naming a stadium after her, commemorating her on postage stamps, and inducting her into the sporting hall of fame. We’ll show our respect again at the 2020 Australian Open by acknowledging the 50-year milestone of her 1970 grand slam. Respect. But not our love.
(Wikimedia Commons/Tourism Victoria)
There are two types of champions. Those who work their way into our hearts. And those who keep us at arm’s length. Court fell into the latter category. She was all focus and ruthless efficiency on court, never allowing us to catch a moment of frailty, or a glimpse of her humanity.
There was no fanfare when she returned to Australia after completing her grand slam in 1970. Maybe it was because she won so much, and so consistently, that somewhere along the line we stopped appreciating her feats.
Then came Evonne Goolagong. And Margaret’s fate was sealed. She became trapped in a dichotomy that, through no fault of her own, cast her as the villain.
Evonne played with flair and risk, Margaret with efficiency and percentages. Evonne’s lithe frame floated across the court, Margaret was all gangly limbs and power. Evonne shone and disarmed us with her carefree attitude, Margaret battled inwardly over every point as if it meant life and death.
Aussies are a pretty tolerant bunch. State your case without offending anyone and you’re more likely than not to get a “fair enough” in response.
If only Margaret chose her words a little more carefully. If only she had flashed us a smile once in a while during the heat of battle.
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Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
It's called opinion piece Phil.
Phil
Guest
One day I hope The Roar has a “same sex marriage free day”. It is becoming very boring. How does this writer know that Margaret Court was unloved? I am old enough to have seen her grand slam matches live on TV and witnessed no such thing. A ridiculous article claiming unsubstantiated opInion as fact.
clipper
Roar Rookie
Yes, it was an extreme example, but along the same principle. As I noted above - what if the player was racist - would that also be OK as they were voicing an opinion and long held beliefs?
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Silly comparison, Glitter has committed illegal acts of an extremely disturbing nature and convicted, Margaret is only voicing her opinion and long held beliefs
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
She supported apartheid and publicly shares homophobic views. Why should this level of intolerance receive anything but ridicule from the public?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah just some minor controversy, espousing homophobia and supporting apartheid...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Ahh yes we should be tolerant of her intolerance. This is a woman who publicly stated she would boycott Qantas over their support of SSM. She has clearly shown intolerance towards LGBTI people.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Odd they named Margaret Court Arena after her if she was so unloved.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Margaret Court best tennis player ever. And like may bests not without controversy, Maradona, Ali, Tyson, Folau, Schumacher, Sam Burgess.....the list goes on, but they were ALL great for the SPORT, and SPORT is better off having these stars.
clipper
Roar Rookie
That's an interesting view, and I agree with Kobe - that was all glossed over as if it never happened. I did raise the same questions saying do people still listen to Garry Glitter or appreciate Jimmy Saville. I'm sure those individuals, along with OJ and Weinstein will never be in line for any tributes or awards, but where does the line get drawn. Woody Allen seems to have avoided the same fate, as have others like Jerry Lee Lewis (marrying a 13 year old) Elvis Presley (Prisilla was 14 and he was over 30). You can't take away the achievements of these people, like Margaret, but should they still be given awards etc which gives a chance for their views to get aired.
CJ
Guest
Sorry, I left Betty Cuthbert out. She is only athlete to win the 100, 200 (Melbourne) and 400 (Tokyo) in the Olympics.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Ive enjoyed Mike Tyson as a fighter and in the hangover post gaol Kobe dodged a bullet in his trial somehow and is being celebrated like the second coming. Oj the juice was a legend and still is of American football. Look at crime scene photos. And I’ll still rewatch Harvey Weinstein movies or Roman Polanski or woody Allen and enjoy them thoroughly. I disagree with Margaret court but I’m not without sin as the Martina, Serena and John Mac’s think they are.
clipper
Roar Rookie
It's quite simple - people do judge people on what they do 'off court', although I did use extreme examples. What would happen if a tennis player was racist - would they still be held in high regard?
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
She supported apartheid and was a vocal racist in the 70's (sure there were worse than her) and since she's been discriminating against same sex couples. But wow she was a great tennis player...
mushi
Roar Guru
Why should how well you hit a ball over a net automatically generate respect. Respect her as a tennis player but not sure why that means we should respect her in general. I'm sure Tomic would 6-0 6-0 6-0 Ghandi
Glenn
Guest
Great reminiscences Mick, Norm Provan's record was certainly breathtaking- he played in 10 of St George's 11 consecutive winning premiership sides, 5 of them as captain coach and man of the match in 3 of them. Even amongst the greats of the game there is no one I call recall who even comes close to that achievement. His brother Peter was a terrific player for Balmain- a ferocious tackler and very intelligent ball runner. O'Shea was picked to play for Queensland and Australia while playing for his home club in Ayr, Central Queensland-an extraordinary achievement by any standards and his combination with Provan at test level was lethal. Wests were very unlucky not to win the Premiership in '63 after they had beaten the highly favoured Saints twice during the season and then again in the major semi, only to be narrowly beaten in atrocious conditions in the GF. Peter Carroll had retired in 1958 (when I was 5) so I never saw him play, but he played 7 seasons and 100 games for Saints including the winning GFs of 1956 and 1957. Poppa Clay was a more than adequate replacement! Like you I spent quite a few Saturdays as a junior trying to see over the picket fence of the SCG, usually by standing precariously on a couple of empty cans of Resch's. Thanks, mate, for reviving some wonderful memories. I hope we both have quite a few more!
CJ
Guest
I think Court and her are on par. HM of course was undefeated for 17 years, played for Australia in Hockey and also won some raquet ball championships. Tennis though is probably a more competitive sport. Court even took off a couple of years on and off, including most of 67 when she would have been at her peak. But they are up there with sporting greats like Gould, Fraser and the Lithgow Flash. Shane Gould did it all while still in High School and came back and got five A levels. And there was another girl in her class who got a swimming gold as well! The only reception they both got was at their north shore high school! Actually, the press could get pretty nasty and Gould (when she got a bronze) and Fraser and Cawley/Goolagong copped pastings. All I know is that they are all champions and don't need anyone's approval.
Rugbyfan in East Perth
Guest
Well neither are Sports people and are Sex Criminals so can't understand the comparison.
IAP
Guest
That's not what I'm saying at all. Yes I'm fixed in my opinion, but I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that the media aren't our moral police who get to decide what opinion people are allowed to have. There's no open, objective debate in our country - just name-calling and attempts to destroy people who have dissenting opinions. It's been like that in the past, and it didn't end well.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Thank you for your gracious comments Glenn. I too admired Norm Provan, and his second row Kangaroo partner, Kel O'Shea. You may recall he was from Wests and Brisbane club league - I was young and only saw a little of him, all playing for Wests. Norm was special and brother Peter was not far behind. To successfully captain the talent in that St George side took exceptional qualities and Norm had that in spades. I was there in '63 when St George played Wests in the mud, with my arm over the side rail of the Sheridan Stand and my feet on the narrow over-run of the floorboards! A few years after that I was coached in juniors (C grade, I think) by Peter Carroll, Brian Clay's understudy for some years.