Billie Jean King Recognized @ Boston Lobsters

Before the match,  the Boston Lobsters recognized the 40th anniversary of Billie Jean King's match against Bobby Riggs.  There were many in attendance that were too young to know who Billie Jean King is.  They also didn’t know about her contributions to tennis and women’s sports.   We should not let the younger generations forget.

The media deemed Billie Jean’s match against Bobby Riggs the Battle of the Sexes II.  In reality, it was the Battle for Equality. 

The first Battle of the Sexes was Bobby Riggs vs Margaret Court.  Bobby was an overweight, 55-year-old, has-been tennis player named Bobby Riggs.  At the time, Margaret Court was the highest ranked women's professional tennis player.

Margaret Court did not take the match seriously although in 1973 it meant everything to American women. Title IX had just passed. There were very few women doctors, CEOs or financial advisors.  Women could not get a credit card without their husband’s approval. The country believed women could not handle professional pressure.

Margaret thought her match with Bobby was an exhibition. In reality it was all about women taking their place in the world and having an equal opportunity. Women are mothers, raise children and give birth. But the vast majority of people in the United States did not believe that women were equal to men as far as handling pressure!

At first, hardly anyone knew that Margaret Court was playing Bobby Riggs for $10,000.  When Margaret told Billie Jean King about the payout,  said Billie “That’s not enough” and “this is not about tennis.” Margaret did not understand what Billie meant. Billie said to her, “Margaret, I’m just going to ask one thing of you…you have to win this match. You have no idea how important this is.” Billie Jean King later pointed out that “Margaret didn’t see the big picture.”

Billie Jean King told the press days before the match, “Our reputation is at stake and I’m afraid Riggs will win. Here is an old jerk that dyes his hair, waddles like a duck and has trouble seeing. We have nothing to gain. Why did Margaret take this bet?”

A few days before the match, amid all the photographers, Riggs chimed in “Do you realize Margaret that this is the most important match ever played? Just think how many women are counting on you!”

On Mother’s Day 1973, the day of the match, Riggs handed Margaret a dozen roses and said “Happy Mother’s Day.”  She did not seem offended. Margaret curtsied in front of the cameras, blushing submissively.  

Margaret lost the match 6-2, 6-1. Women were ridiculed because of her loss. Margaret Court played this exhibition match for $10,000 and she was unprepared for the circus surrounding the match.  No one viewed this as a sports event, it was an exhibition about whether or not women could handle pressure.

After Margaret CHOKED on the Mother's Day massacre, Billie Jean King said “NOW we’ve got something to prove.” After the match with Margaret, Riggs said, “I’m a woman specialist now.”

On September 20, 1973 Billie Jean King played a match against Bobby Riggs. The entire world watched. It still remains the largest tennis match in history. It was viewed world-wide by 50 million people.

Today there are women doctors, CEOs, professionals AND Financial Advisors because of what was done by one woman with a tennis racket.

The lesson learned, never take anything for granted. Always come prepared. And realize that we all stand on the shoulders of others. That's why we got to where we are today.

I congratulate Billie Jean King for what she did for equality.  She made a wrong a right.

The Lobsters lost 23-18 to the Kastles.  Their next home match is Friday, July 19th against the Sacramento Capitals at 7pm.  See www.bostonlobsters.net for more information.

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