Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs on Sept. 20, 1973, to win the "Battle of the Sexes II" showdown. However, the former tennis player does not think it is a good idea at present to match the best female player in the world against a retired male tennis player.
King, who has won 39 Grand Slam titles in her career, took on Riggs in a nationally televised match that drew 37 million viewers in a clash that was billed as the "Battle of the Sexes II." King was 29 years old at that time while Riggs was 55, way past his prime and it showed on the court as King thrashed him in straight sets.
The 72-year-old thinks such a thing now would not be interesting and presents a no-win proposition for women overall.
"Everyone has been trying to get John McEnroe to play Serena [Williams] for probably 25 years. I think he wants to, I think she probably doesn't. She is not playing as well as she usually does," said King, as quoted from the New York Daily News.
"Some nights you have a bad day at the office. That's only one match, one day in your whole life and everyone is focusing on it. And that's it. That's the way people remember you for life.
"I don't know if it really helps women so much. So we beat an older guy. Whoopee."
Williams, who at 34 is 23 years younger than McEnroe, is not expected to agree to the clash anytime soon. The 21-time Grand Slam winner is focusing on defending her Wimbledon crown, which would tie her with Steffi Graf as the player with the most number of Grand Slam titles in the open era.
Volunteers
Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan said the NFL should study the potential benefits of cannabis on long-term health.
Wrote Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: "And 681 players immediately volunteered to take part in the case study."
Cheerleader
"Free agent" Peyton Manning, as he likes to call himself these days, has plenty of relationships remaining in the NFL, even with a Colts franchise that released the future Hall of Famer in 2012.
Even his first year of retirement, Manning plans to watch plenty of football, but for which teams and players will the 40-year-old cheer?
The obvious choice is for his brother Eli with the New York Giants and his former Denver Broncos teammates, but others are a bit of a surprise, including the Houston Texans and Manning's backup for more than three years, Brock Osweiler.
"I'm excited for his opportunity," Manning told reporters Friday at the annual Manning Passing Academy. "I know he's excited. Brock used these past four years to improve as a player. He's an extremely hard worker, and I know he's excited to be a full-time starter. He's certainly earned that opportunity."
Sports on 06/26/2016