Sept. 18, 2002

Charles Berman, a Houston-area contractor, admits he has always been attracted to tennis star Serena Williams. And his attraction to her grew during this month’s U.S. Open, as Williams sported an extremely tight “catsuit” throughout the tournament.

But the 38-year old bachelor didn’t think anything of it until he realized his thoughts of Williams often tread dangerously close to homosexual fantasies.

“I sometimes think about her beautiful body and her curvaceous figure,” said Berman. “Her long hair … strong jaw … powerful thighs … rippling torso … manly biceps – ah! There I go again!”

Berman maintains he is not homosexual. “I’m not married, but I date fairly regularly,” he said. “I just haven’t found the right lady. I’ve never found men attractive, but this Serena thing is getting weird.”

Berman says he has found himself talking more to one of his employees, Al Clark – a muscular, young black man. “Put long hair and breasts on Al and he’s practically Serena! It’s creepy!”

There are other men like Berman out there, though. He regularly spends evenings on an Internet message board with other men who are extremely attracted to Serena Williams yet feel uncomfortable about it. “She’s a beautiful woman, there’s no doubt,” Berman said. “It’s just … you know … there’s a lot of man there, too! I’m very conflicted.”

While Berman and others find consolation in numbers, it doesn’t make their confusion any easier when they’re alone.

“I had a dream the other night that I was kissing Serena,” he said. “Only her name was ‘Sam’ and she didn’t have breasts. I woke up screaming.”