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Remember the Battle of the Sexes? Billie Jean
King vs. Bobby Riggs. The libber vs. the lobber. The signs-of-the-times, now
embedded in our visual memories: the glasses - hers wire framed aviator style,
his nerdy and too thick; the hair - hers the layered shag, and his Austin Powers
cut looking a little teenile. What about the props: Billie Jean’s gift to Bobby,
a pig; his
gigantic replica of a Sugar Daddy package. And just what was that contraption
Billie Jean rode in on? What a spectacle. Was it necessary?
Absolutely. Selena Roberts tells us why in this entertaining book. She is a
superb sports writer and analyst. Her writing mimics that of her subject,
whether it’s the crack of a ball struck by a wooden bat, or the smack of a
volleyball driven straight over the net into the sand, she makes you feel the
action. She does her research, and gets to the essence of the game—or match. Her
authority is exceptional; no wonder she was named on of the top ten columnists
in the country by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In addition, she’s carved
out territory of her own as the only female sports columnist ever at the New
York Times.
In the end, she is able to contextualize the events that she writes about. Just
why was this match so important? Billie Jean King took on Bobby Riggs with one
objective: to prove that women can play and win. She also knew that a bigger
audience meant a bigger understanding. Losing was not an option. Still, not many
thought she would win.
From the childhoods of the two players, and other important tennis personalities
of the time, Selena Roberts provides the interesting back story leading up to
and following Billie’s defeat of Bobby and the effect the match had on the
status of women in sports.
Despite all the good she did for many, King’s personal struggles in her marriage
and personal life proved a financial drain. Not only did she lose endorsements
after a palimony suit filed by Marilyn Barnett, a spurned lover, she suffered
from the hurt this incident caused her family and husband.
Mostly, though, Billie Jean was a star, and she knew how to work the crowds,
opening the door for future women athletes. Because Billie Jean King beat Bobby
Riggs, Roberts contends that Serena & Venus Williams could say “no thank you” to
Jon McEnroe, who was backed and urged on by Donald Trump. They had plenty of
money and nothing to prove.
In 1999, the soccer match of the century was promoted with hype similar to the
1972 tennis match. David Letterman was the U.S. World Cup Soccer Team’s biggest
fan — mostly because they were so attractive. The team let themselves be
promoted as babes in order to accomplish what Billie Jean did: gain an audience,
and then enlighten. Robert’s notes: “They played along because he could draw the
masses — including members of that valuable male demographic — to women of
power, grit and skill who play their game with a pure passion. These women
understood that it sometimes took a spectacle to produce enlightenment. In 1973,
Billie had arrived for her match with Bobby Riggs dressed in sequins and riding
an Egyptian litter.”
After showing the current status and recent challenges to Title IX, Roberts
finishes the book with Billie Jean and Bobby. They are good friends, and when
Bobby is close to death, Billie Jean calls several times to share a laugh and
pour on the attention and adoration. Something they both knew the value of.
Selena Roberts has produced a real winner. Game, Set, Match!
Review by Sarah Bagby,
August 17, 2005
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