It's absolutely astounding that Male Chauvinism would be given a national television opportunity to prove it's day as recently as 1973, but that was what was at the heart of this spectacle. It was the last armed confrontation in the Battle of the Sexes.

Riggs had claimed that no woman at any level could beat a male tennis player. To prove the point at 55 years of age and decades past his prime (he was a contender in the 1940's) he challenged and defeated Australian Margret Court and then challenged world number one seeded player and outspoken feminist - Billie Jean King.

The event was hyped with the skill and audacity of an Ali title defence and jointly drew the largest ever live and television audiences in history for a tennis match, played in the state of the art Houston Astrodome. Rigg took every opportunity to play up his image as a Male Chauvinist Pig and was derided as an idiot by match commentator Rosi Cassals. Women's tennis was at a crossroads at that time drawing smaller audiences and prizes than the Men's Game and King in particular had been outspoken about that fact.

The weeks leading up to the match were filled with speculation as to what would be the fall out for either side as the result of the loss. The anticipation was higher than the interest in almost any other popular cultural event of the day.

We all know that on game day King wiped the court up with Riggs' tired saggy ass and that women's tennis grew in stature and popularity in the decade following. The two actually remained friends in the 25 years following the match and many commentators credit Riggs' act for improving the lot of Women's tennins and the sport in general. Turns out it was all just great Sports Theatre.

What a sham this was. The aged Bobby Riggs had to play by singles rules in a singles match, while Billie Jean Queen who wants to be King got to play the doubles lines.
Gimme a break.

People may have forgotten just what and outrageous and lovable character Bobby Riggs was and he was hard to root against. He did very well actually because at his age-against the best woman's player in the world, the very gifted Billie Jean King-he should have lost badly but, he didn't that bad.