JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR
It's pronounced mer-lee-sa. Once you get it, you'll never forget it.
SERENA WILLIAMS: TENNIS CHAMPION, SPORTS LEGEND, AND CULTURAL ICON
More than a biography, Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend, and Cultural Heroine not only tells the story of her upbringing and remarkable career but also looks at Williams as a sports pioneer.
BLEACHER REPORT COLUMN:
The Problem with the Conversation Surrounding Serena Williams
AARP: Enduring bonds among members of Black Fraternities and Sororities
FEATURED WORK
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett is a journalist and author who writes about tennis, sports in society, small business, home and garden and general interests.
She is the author of the biography, Serena Williams: Tennis Champion, Sports Legend, and Cultural Icon. A former tennis columnist for Bleacher Report and reporter for Sports Illustrated, Merlisa also covered sports for the Pittsburgh Press, Staten Island Advance, Tampa Tribune and Tampa Bay Times.
She loves her name. Her dad wanted to name her Meryl and her mother wanted to call her Lisa. They combined the names to come up with Merlisa. People often mispronounce her name.
"Melissa," they say.
"It's mer-lee-sa," she responds.
"I'm sorry," they say.
"That's OK. Once you get it, you'll never forget it."