Oh, how easy it would have been. There were so many excuses available to Serena Williams, and we know this because there have been so many horror stories and so many of her fellow athletes have recited them in bailing from the competition at the 2016 Olympic Games: crap in the water, the long trip, no payday, street crime and, most commonly, the Zika virus. We have heard them all. She has heard them all.
Serena Williams will be in Rio de Janeiro. Serena Williams is a baller.
She may not attend the opening ceremonies Friday evening.