The Tennis Battle of the Sexes

Speaking of the famous "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973, Dave Winship writes at OnTheLine.org:

It could be argued that her victory was as significant for women's rights as Rosa Parks's bus protest was for the civil rights movement. But it was hardly a match of equals. Riggs was a 55-year-old ex-player at the time, while King was in her prime. Although the most-watched tennis match in history prompted a seismic shift in the perception of women's role in sport and society, it also served to confuse the issue. Equality, in this context, is not about sameness and uniformity. Biological differences render notions of sameness between the sexes nonsensical. Men and women are different but equally important. And it is this equality of importance that should determine issues like the distribution of prize money.

Exactly. Impeccable logic strikes again.

It was politically incorrect to know that back then. After Riggs' gamesmanship got Margaret Court to choke, Billie Jean King had no choice but to take up the challenge. But I never liked it. That rascal Riggs. There was no way to do anything but lose that match against a 55-year-old ex-player.

And yet, her victory proved him wrong.

The top women have no better chance against the top men than a 98-pound wrestler has against a 198-pounder. But that doesn't mean their class' competition is less important.

Winship goes on to argue that Wimbledon should recognize the equality of importance by equal prize money for women, and I agree.

Read the rest.