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The ‘Hustler’ vs. the Feminist Champion: Inside the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ The ‘Hustler’ vs. the Feminist Champion: Inside the ‘Battle of the Sexes’
(about 3 hours later)
Forty-four years ago this month, Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs faced off in what may be the most famous tennis match ever televised.Forty-four years ago this month, Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs faced off in what may be the most famous tennis match ever televised.
A movie version of the event, “Battle of the Sexes,” opened nationwide on Friday after a smaller showing in select theaters. Ms. King and Mr. Riggs are played by a bespectacled Emma Stone and a floppy-haired Steve Carell.A movie version of the event, “Battle of the Sexes,” opened nationwide on Friday after a smaller showing in select theaters. Ms. King and Mr. Riggs are played by a bespectacled Emma Stone and a floppy-haired Steve Carell.
But that match on Sept. 20, 1973, at the Astrodome in Houston — and all the ruckus leading up to it — didn’t need much in the way of Hollywood treatment. As coverage in The New York Times reflected, it was already full of drama and pomp. But that match on Sept. 20, 1973, at the Astrodome in Houston — and all the ruckus leading up to it — didn’t need much in the way of Hollywood treatment. As coverage at the time reflected, it was already full of drama and pomp.
On the day of the match, Ms. King was carried into the arena on a golden litter, Cleopatra-style, by male athletes. Mr. Riggs was on a golden-wheeled rickshaw, tugged along by models. He presented Ms. King with an oversize lollipop; she gave him a little brown pig. Spectators, many dressed to the nines, sipped champagne courtside. Tens of thousands of them were watching in person. Tens of millions tuned in on television.On the day of the match, Ms. King was carried into the arena on a golden litter, Cleopatra-style, by male athletes. Mr. Riggs was on a golden-wheeled rickshaw, tugged along by models. He presented Ms. King with an oversize lollipop; she gave him a little brown pig. Spectators, many dressed to the nines, sipped champagne courtside. Tens of thousands of them were watching in person. Tens of millions tuned in on television.
Sitting beside Ms. King courtside between sets was her secretary, Marilyn Barnett, “a 25-year-old pale, willowy blonde.” Ms. Barnett was having an affair with Ms. King and, years later, would out her as a lesbian.Sitting beside Ms. King courtside between sets was her secretary, Marilyn Barnett, “a 25-year-old pale, willowy blonde.” Ms. Barnett was having an affair with Ms. King and, years later, would out her as a lesbian.
Ms. King, then 29, made headlines with her victory at the Astrodome. But she was already a star. Her name made regular appearances on The Times’s sports pages for years before she was challenged by Mr. Riggs, and she was known as a champion of gender equality and equal pay.Ms. King, then 29, made headlines with her victory at the Astrodome. But she was already a star. Her name made regular appearances on The Times’s sports pages for years before she was challenged by Mr. Riggs, and she was known as a champion of gender equality and equal pay.
Mr. Riggs challenged her to a game because he was certain that female athletes were inferior — so much so that a young champion would not be able to beat a 55-year-old man “with one foot in the grave,” as he liked to put it.Mr. Riggs challenged her to a game because he was certain that female athletes were inferior — so much so that a young champion would not be able to beat a 55-year-old man “with one foot in the grave,” as he liked to put it.
Then as now, female athletes typically did not earn as much as their male counterparts. There was a lack of devoted trainers for professional female tennis players.Then as now, female athletes typically did not earn as much as their male counterparts. There was a lack of devoted trainers for professional female tennis players.
In a May 27, 1973, issue of The Times Magazine, an article headlined “Perfume in the Locker Room” delved deep into the experiences of female athletes.In a May 27, 1973, issue of The Times Magazine, an article headlined “Perfume in the Locker Room” delved deep into the experiences of female athletes.
Before the much-vaunted face-off between Ms. King and Mr. Riggs, there was another match. Mr. Riggs — having at first been declined by Ms. King — faced off instead against Margaret Court, another young tennis superstar. It was May 14, 1973: Mother’s Day. (Times coverage noted that Ms. Court’s son had thrown her tennis shoes in a toilet hours before the game.)Before the much-vaunted face-off between Ms. King and Mr. Riggs, there was another match. Mr. Riggs — having at first been declined by Ms. King — faced off instead against Margaret Court, another young tennis superstar. It was May 14, 1973: Mother’s Day. (Times coverage noted that Ms. Court’s son had thrown her tennis shoes in a toilet hours before the game.)
Mr. Riggs gave Ms. Court a bouquet of roses, and then the match began. He played smart, from backcourt, soft-balling, throwing the young tennis star off her rhythm. She seemed nervous. He won.Mr. Riggs gave Ms. Court a bouquet of roses, and then the match began. He played smart, from backcourt, soft-balling, throwing the young tennis star off her rhythm. She seemed nervous. He won.
It was, as The Times put it the next day, “an unholy trouncing.”It was, as The Times put it the next day, “an unholy trouncing.”
And then Mr. Riggs set his sights, again, on Ms. King. “I want her, she’s the Women’s Libber leader,” he said.And then Mr. Riggs set his sights, again, on Ms. King. “I want her, she’s the Women’s Libber leader,” he said.
The Times published several profiles of Mr. Riggs, including one story that sprawled across seven pages in the Aug. 5, 1973, issue of the Times Magazine. It was headlined: “Portrait of a beautiful hustler.”The Times published several profiles of Mr. Riggs, including one story that sprawled across seven pages in the Aug. 5, 1973, issue of the Times Magazine. It was headlined: “Portrait of a beautiful hustler.”
“Hustler” was one of a few words that came up over and over in descriptions of the aging tennis star. “Chauvinist” was another. “Skippy” came up once or twice, too, because Mr. Riggs was energetic and often funny — a self-aware, ebullient boor who knew how to turn provocation into profit.“Hustler” was one of a few words that came up over and over in descriptions of the aging tennis star. “Chauvinist” was another. “Skippy” came up once or twice, too, because Mr. Riggs was energetic and often funny — a self-aware, ebullient boor who knew how to turn provocation into profit.
And Ms. King was his perfect foil. She said she decided to play against Mr. Riggs after seeing Ms. Court so thoroughly defeated. “There was no point in this in the beginning, but now I think there is a chance since Margaret really got waxed,” she said, challenging him to a match for $10,000.And Ms. King was his perfect foil. She said she decided to play against Mr. Riggs after seeing Ms. Court so thoroughly defeated. “There was no point in this in the beginning, but now I think there is a chance since Margaret really got waxed,” she said, challenging him to a match for $10,000.
By the time the game was on, the winner-take-all prize was 10 times that amount.By the time the game was on, the winner-take-all prize was 10 times that amount.
When the two appeared together at a news conference at Manhattan’s Town Tennis Club in July 1973, one article described Mr. Riggs as an eccentric hustler with “hair colored from a bottle” who once “bet an opponent he could win while chained to a poodle.” It added:When the two appeared together at a news conference at Manhattan’s Town Tennis Club in July 1973, one article described Mr. Riggs as an eccentric hustler with “hair colored from a bottle” who once “bet an opponent he could win while chained to a poodle.” It added:
The Times got into the game, too, pitting a male and female journalist against one another, each predicting a different outcome. “She can run faster, hit harder, anticipate quicker than Riggs,” insisted Grace Lichtenstein in a column on Sept. 16, 1973. “Riggs is capable of raising his game to whatever competitive level he thinks it will take to beat Billie Jean,” wrote Neil Amdur in his reply.The Times got into the game, too, pitting a male and female journalist against one another, each predicting a different outcome. “She can run faster, hit harder, anticipate quicker than Riggs,” insisted Grace Lichtenstein in a column on Sept. 16, 1973. “Riggs is capable of raising his game to whatever competitive level he thinks it will take to beat Billie Jean,” wrote Neil Amdur in his reply.
But Mr. Amdur, like Mr. Riggs, was wrong.But Mr. Amdur, like Mr. Riggs, was wrong.