1996 was a monumental year for sports and pop culture. From box office hits like “Jerry Maguire” and “Space Jam” to legendary moments like Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic torch, sports captivated the world. Ken Griffey Jr.’s record-breaking contract, gold medal wins, and the debuts of icons like Kobe Bryant and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson all happened in this incredible year. It was also a time of new beginnings, with the launch of the WNBA and MLS, and the emergence of future stars like Tiger Woods and, of course, the Williams sisters. The rise of the Williams sisters, led by their father, King Richard, is a story their childhood coach, Rick Macci, still fondly remembers.

Alongside Richard, Macci was also an instrumental part of the Williams sisters’ childhood journey. Back in 1991, he first began training them with their father. During one session, the 7-time USTA National Coach of the Year was left highly impressed with the girls’ on-court skills, especially Venus. Being a seasoned professional, he had an eye for talent. Praising the elder sister, he simply told Richard, “Let me tell you something. You got the next female Michael Jordan on your hand.”

To Macci’s remarks, the father replied, “No brother, man. I got the next two.” Macci initially shared this fascinating tale nearly three years ago. It was during his interview with Tennis Channel in March 2022. On Friday, the Hall of Famer and legendary coach Rick Macci decided to go on a nostalgic ride, sharing a throwback moment from his time with Richard Williams.

On X, he shared a post and wrote, “Richard was So Confident I thought he was full of HOT AIR. After I saw the girls compete I said ‘YOU GOT THE NEXT MICHEAL JORDON ON YOUR HANDS.'” To this, Venus and Serena’s father told him, “‘NO BROTHER MAN I GOT THE NEXT TWO!’ I WAS CLOSE. HE WAS FULL OF RARE AIR!”

Apart from nurturing their tennis skills, however, Richard was also protective for them – just like any other father. But his challenges to pave the way for their tennis future were far from ordinary. He had to fight for their dreams. – quite literally!

When ‘King’ Richard took a beating for Venus and Serena Williams’ career

Nearly four decades ago, tennis was widely considered a white sport. During their childhood years, Venus and Serena Williams had to face endless criticism from people while going for training sessions. Wondering about the hate, they once asked Richard, “Daddy, why do people stare at us so badly?” Answering them, the father replied, “Because they are not used to seeing such beautiful people before.”

On different occasions, Richard even took a beating for them to protect them from gang members and bullies. Especially during the training sessions. Once, he was told to leave the court alongside Venus and Serena. When he refused, the bullies broke his nose, jaw, and some teeth too. Later, remembering this moment in his diary, he wrote, “After today, history will remember the ‘toothless’ man as a monument of courage.”

Then there was another instance where Richard’s protective nature was on full display. It was the time during Venus’ interview with ABC News when she was just 14. In front of her was journalist John McKenzie, who was very curious to know if she was able to defeat her opponent in an upcoming match. Responding to him, she simply said, “I know I can beat her.” But McKenzie couldn’t believe her and repeated, “You know you can beat her?” To this, Venus smiled and told him she was just confident of her victory.

Seeing McKenzie’s repeated antics, Richard intervened in the middle of the conversation. He didn’t wait long for the interview to get over. While explaining his reason to do so, he told the journalist, “You’ve got to understand that you’re dealing with an image of a 14-year-old child. And this child gonna be out there playing when your old ass and me are gonna be in the grave. When she says something, we done told you what’s happening. You’re dealing with a little Black kid — and let her be a kid. She answered it with a lot of confidence. Leave that alone.”

What are your thoughts on Richard Williams and his role in Venus and Serena’s successful careers? Isn’t he a perfect example of a loving and protecting father? Let us know in the comments below.