LITTLE ROCK — Outbursts! Interruptions! Tantrums!
It has been a good couple of weeks for bad manners.
And we've been keeping score. Who has been the worst at behaving their best? We rank the competition:
Contestant 1: Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina
Incident: The lawmaker shouted "You lie!" during President Barack Obama's recent health-care address, as if confusing a joint session of Congress with The Jerry Springer Show.
Apology: "This evening I let my emotions get the best of me," Wilson said in a statement. "While I disagree with the president'sstatement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."
Aftermath: House Democrats said they will discipline Wilson if he does not say he's sorry on theHouse floor - something Wilson indicated in a television interview last week that he has no plans to do: "I am not going to apologize again."
Contestant 2: Tennis player Serena Williams
Incident: Williams channeled her inner John McEnroe, cursing at a line judge after a foot-fault call during her U.S Open semifinal match with Kim Clijsters: "I swear to God, I'll f***ing take this ball and shove it down your f***ing throat." Earlier Williams smashed her racket in anger.
Apology: Via a statement, she acknowledged: "Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly."
Aftermath: She was fined $10,000 for the tirade and another $500 for the racket. She could face additional penalties.
Contestant 3: Singer Kanye West
Incident: During singer Taylor Swift's MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech, West jumped onstage and snatched the microphone from her to protest: "Taylor, I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time."
Apology: He pressed the caps lock button and proceeded to blog: "I'M SOOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM. I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD'VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED!"
Aftermath: West was asked to leave the show, and singers from Pink to Kelly Clarkson blasted him on Twitter and their Web sites.
We've taken all this crude conduct into consideration, and have come to a conclusion.
The winner is: Serena Williams!
After seeing her dented racket, we'd dare not declare her the loser of anything!
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Spin Cycle is a weekly smirk at pop culture.
Style, Pages 55, 57 on 09/20/2009