Page 33 - Florida Sentinel 12-18-15 Edition

Sports
Serena Williams Is Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson Of The Year
Serena Williams has been named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year and is the first female athlete to be honored on her own in over 30 years.
Williams’ tennis year in- cluded winning five titles, in- cluding wins at the Australian Open, French Open and Wim- bledon. With a 53-3 record at the end of 2015, Williams is ranked No. 1 in the Women’s Tennis Association.
“She was the most deserving person for the award. She had an amazing year. The way she won her events; the fact that she’s done this for so many years at such a high level,” Paul Fichtenbaum, editor of the Sports Illustrated
Serena’s cover shot for SI.
Group, said in a release. “She was a terrific candidate in a
year of terrific candidates.” Fichtenbaum also com- mented on the name change of the award. Up until this year, it was known as the Sports-
woman of the Year.
“We just felt this was a nat- ural evolution. ... We’re not making a huge deal out of it,” Fichtenbaum said. “It just feels like the right time to make the change.”
“Men’s sports has domi- nated until recently, when women’s sports has grown in popularity, and the competi- tion is better than ever,” Fichtenbaum said. “There’s more of a focus on women’s sports now. It’s grown consid- erably. Specifically why? I’m not sure.”
Rajon Rondo Suspended After Calling Ref A Gay Slur
On Dec. 3 Sacramento Kings point guard Rajon Rondo was ejected from game by referee Bill Kennedy. Rondo refused to leave the court immediately after being ejected and instead followed Kennedy to the far sideline where he reportedly called the 18-year veteran a homosexual slur.
Rondo was quoted as say- ing, "You're a mother------- fag--t. ... You're a f------ fag--t, Billy," according to fellow ref- eree, Ben Taylor, who was also working the game in which, the Kings lost to the Boston Celtics in Mexico City.
On last Friday, the NBA sus- pended Rondo for one game noting that he directed a
NBA Official Bill Kennedy officially announced that he is gay after the incident.
"derogatory and offensive term towards a game official and not leaving the court in a timely manner."
On Monday, Bill Kennedy, 49, announced that he is gay.
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