Film director's comments to Williams sisters reeks of the misogynoir 2 tennis greats have always endured

This is a column by Shireen Ahmed, who writes opinion for CBC Sports. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.

In sports, there will always be a winner. I appreciate the delight and gratitude of champions who revel in their moment. It is important to celebrate a victor's journey and I absolutely love the heroics of an underdog and those who faced insurmountable barriers and challenges.

It is formidable when a winner shows sportsmanship and extends kindness in that moment of glory. Conversely, it is despicable when a winner looks down on others from atop the podium. 

Tennis legend Billie Jean King, who I consider the patron saint of women's sports, famously said: "I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion."

Though it is only March, this year already has brought a lot of self-awareness from athletes and from sports.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine thrust sports to the political forefront. We have seen athletes be so public and sincere in their grief. And still many continue to navigate through systems of racism and sexism — systems that are also damaging and violent. 

Just this past weekend, four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka was heckled while competing at the prestigious BNP Paribas tournament in Indian Wells, Calif. Someone in the crowd yelled out, "Naomi, you suck." Osaka immediately went to the umpire, who dismissed the complaint and refused to eject the heckler. Osaka eventually lost the match.

WATCH | Naomi Osaka reacts to being heckled:

Afterward, she took the mic and addressed the crowd. She thanked them repeatedly through her tears (read: champion behaviour.) But she also specified that it wasn't the issue of being heckled — it