'King Richard' is a royal treat
Will Smith stars as Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, in the brilliant new film, ‘King Richard.’
So I saw “King Richard” at the theater.
Twice.
In two different states.
Yes, it’s that good. And I can’t recommend the film highly enough.
Though it chronicles the improbable rise of Venus and Serena Williams, it’s not a tennis movie. It’s not even a sports movie. Told through the eyes of their father, Richard, it’s a film that conveys the power of faith, family, focus, and fun. Yes, competing in high-level sports can actually be fun.
And in the midst of all the laughter, tears, and cheers, “King Richard” poses four big questions we all must consider:
What do I want? — The Williams family lived in the ghetto of Compton, Calif., surrounded by gun violence, drug abuse, and hopelessness. Yet Richard taught his girls to not look around and conform to their surroundings. Instead, he encouraged them to grow their inner being, no matter how disturbing and distracting the outside could be, and be transformed into something new — SOMEONE new.
The takeaway: It’s not about where you start. It’s ALL about the direction you want to go.
What do I value? — Richard Williams repurposed sports to teach his girls something that will last far beyond Wimbledon titles — humility, grace under fire, and a relentless work ethic. Tennis was huge in the family, for sure, but there was always a “before.” Church before tennis. School work before tennis. Character before tennis. Being kids before being professionals. Even if Venus and Serena did not become world-renowned tennis stars, there’s no doubt they would have been successful in any path they chose.
The takeaway: Excellence and mastery are not complicated. They result from creating a plan, learning the proper fundamentals, and following through on that plan — even if everyone around you thinks you’re crazy.
Is there a better way? — There’s a segment in the film when Venus begins to play on the Juniors circuit. All sports parents will find it both enlightening — and pretty disturbing. Some additional questions you’ll ponder: Does my child’s performance lead to my happiness or disappointment? If my child is showing an acumen for a sport at a young age, am I pushing them for their glory or for my own? Is it possible to achieve success if you choose to follow a different route?
The takeaway: Burnout rarely comes from what we do. It comes from how we do it.
Do I need help? — Will Smith delivers a stellar performance as Richard Williams and deserves all the Oscar hype he’s getting. But his wife in the film, Aunjanue Ellis, matches him volley for volley. Richard knows his girls couldn’t achieve such heights without her encouragement and guidance. And he realizes that Venus and Serena need a different coach in their lives besides their father, so he goes on a journey to find one who cares just as much about developing the whole person as he does about creating champions. In humility, Richard builds a team to walk alongside his young stars.
The takeaway: We’re all being formed by who we spend the most time with. Choose wisely.
And you would be wise to see “King Richard” with your entire family. Richard Williams and his girls certainly remind us to never forget where we came from.
But even more important, they show us that who we’re BECOMING during the pursuit of our dreams is what matters most.
(Tim Kolodziej is the author of this piece and founder of EnspireU.com. When he’s not behind a laptop, he can be found inside a gym helping young athletes create their own unique future — one rep at a time. Click here to connect with him by email.)