Daily Archives: June 28, 2017

Speaking to CBS in New York City on Tuesday, former tennis star John McEnroe refused to apologize for saying that Serena Williams would be ranked around 700th if she played on the male circuit.

Questioned by the CBS hosts, McEnroe was unrepentant. He had no intention of upsetting Serena Williams, he said, but nor did he regret his comments.

Still, what was more interesting in the interview was how the hosts embraced political correctness.

Under fire, McEnroe threw the contention back at Charlie Rose, asking him what rank he believed Serena would hold were she on the men's circuit. Rose is a tennis fan and knows the tour. But he couldn't bring himself to answer truthfully. Even when pushed, Rose stated, "She seemed pretty strong to me."

Next up, Gayle King challenged McEnroe. His comments, said Gayle, "belittle" female sporting accomplishments. Evidently angered by McEnroe's rebuttal, King asked McEnroe where he would rank on the men's tour. The 58-year-old responded, "about 1,200th in the world." It was a clever riposte. McEnroe suggested that Williams is a better player than him (she'd be 700th, he's 1,200th).

Regardless, the exchange was embarrassing. The CBS hosts clearly believed that they had a responsibility to slap down McEnroe's original comment. They were not there to question McEnroe, they were there to flay him. It didn't matter that McEnroe was right or wrong, but only that he be punished.

Of course, anyone who knows tennis knows that McEnroe is right. In the power of shots and endurance of the players, the male circuit is stronger than the women's. That's not a sexist comment. It's a fact of nature. As comparative serve speeds attest, facts are facts. It's as obvious as saying that a B-2 bomber carries more explosive power than a F-18 Super Hornet.

And it's not just the statistics of the court. Consider the relative daily attendance and TV viewing figures for major tennis tournaments. At Wimbledon, for example, figures for the gentlemen's semifinals or quarterfinals are greater than at the ladies' equivalent. The viewers know that the men's game is faster and stronger. And for that reason, many find it more compelling.

This doesn't take away from the accomplishment of the female players on the tour. From working at Wimbledon for seven years, I know firsthand the exceptional athleticism and skill that defines female tennis players. In the end, this is just a question of biology. And up against the male circuit, Serena Williams would not find the extraordinary success that she has attained. We should be able to admit that and be comfortable with it.

And we should be able to celebrate Serena Williams for being the best tennis player of her sex. She is a far better player on the women's tour than McEnroe ever was on the men's.

The rest is here:

John McEnroe, Serena Williams and political correctness - Washington Examiner

Millinocket hospital provides good care

Millinocket residents have recently been bombarded by mailings from an unknown author. The mailings speak of a malpractice lawsuit against the Millinocket Regional Hospital and how a pregnant woman was awarded $1.8 million from the suit.

While the story is true, Im not sure what the intent of these mailings are. They seem to imply that the residents of the Millinocket area should stop using Millinocket Regional Hospital as our health care provider. It seems this person is an advocate for closing down one of the only health resources we have left here in an area that has been devastated by an economic downturn.

To have this facility available in a town of 4,500 people is incredible. Is this person really asking us to drive 45 minutes to an hour for our health care? What about emergency care? Now these mailings have implied that the quality of health care is reduced because of the fact that Millinocket Regional Hospital uses physician assistants instead of real doctors. If Millinocket Regional Hospital has made a financial decision to use physician assistants instead of doctors for emergency room care, and that decision helps keep the hospital open, Im OK with that.

To imply that they are any less professional or knowledgeable is flat out wrong. Of the many occasions Ive visited the emergency room, both personally and with my business, Ive never had anything but the best of care, been seen promptly and dealt with true professionals.

Dean Rodrigue

Millinocket

Im certain Maine State Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors knows that because two things happen at the same time doesnt mean one caused the other. The reasons someone moves to one locale over another are varied and complicated and often have nothing to do with taxes.

People are supposedly abandoning Connecticut in droves because of a tax increase on high income earners. And he believes the same will happen in Maine if the Legislature recognizes the will of the people and leaves in place the 3 percent surtax on annual income above $200,000 to fund the states share of public education at the 55 percent level, as mandated by the voters many years ago.

Connors plays the economic development card in his June 26 BDN OpEd, hoping well believe we can have that as a state without adequate investments in education.

Fewer than 10 percent of small businesses will be impacted by the surtax. If I made $250,000 as a small-business owner, I will owe an additional $1,500.

The prosperity we experienced as a country in the 1900s was due in large part to the investments our parents and grandparents made in education, infrastructure, research and development.

Business owners should be applauded for their hard work and their willingness to take risks. And they need to acknowledge that their success is due, at least in part, to the collective investments weve all made in structures and systems that support our commerce and our democracy.

We get what we pay for. Just ask Kansas.

Mary Ann Larson

Portland

The similarity of Vladimir Putins and Donald Trumps personalities is remarkable and explains how each requires loyalty beyond anything else.

Putin surrounds himself with long-term, mostly business allies, and Trump, his family. Such is oligarchy. Within a constitutional democracy such as ours, Trump is a rat in the larder.

I have confidence that our system can right itself, and the first step is an exterminator such as Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The truth will come out, notwithstanding a parallel reality that is not real. Otherwise, two party representative democracy is on the pale.

Philip C. Groce

Union

Not using derogatory and offensive names for women, Jews, Roman Catholics, Irish, Native Americans, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Middle-Easterners isnt political correctness. Using respectful names is simply decent behavior.

But if thats what we call being PC, then I definitely take issue with William Duddys pronouncement in his June 24 BDN letter to the editor that multiculturalism and being PC are the worst things to have happened to the United States.

Being kinder and generous to different peoples is an excellent way for us all to be decent human beings to each other.

Joyce Cornwell

Lamoine

More:

Wednesday, June 28, 2017: Mueller will uncover the truth, 'political ... - Bangor Daily News