The Riggs
Legacy on
Display
B
ig names come and go in
the world of tennis, but one
name will always be immediately
recognized among fans of the
sport—and that name is Bobby
Riggs.
Ranked #1 in the world for his
tennis skills for three years—once
as an amateur in 1939, and twice as
a professional in 1946 and 1947—
Riggs will forever be known for the
“Battle of the Sexes” match against
Billie Jean King.
Riding high off an earlier man
vs. woman match against Margaret
Court, Riggs finally got the reluctant
King to agree to the match. The
event drew an estimated 90 million
viewers worldwide. Riggs’ famous
loss to King dealt a blow to the male
ego nationwide, although some
people speculated that Riggs threw
the match to cash in on bets against
him—allegations that everyone
from his son to his closest friend
and executor of his estate said were
patently false. Riggs even took a
lie detector test to disprove the
allegations. Statements from those
who knew him indicate that Riggs
honestly expected to win and the
loss sent him into a months-long
depression.
All of this history and more can be
viewed at the Bobby Riggs Museum
inside the Bobby Riggs Tennis Club.
Owner Steve Dawson notes that
the museum is very well-known
to members because it’s in the
clubhouse.
Billy Jean King and Bobby Riggs at Bobby Riggs Tennis Muesum
“Everyone comes into the museum. Members and guests see it all the time
and some people make trips to see the memorabilia,” he said. “Trophies are on
display at all times. We open the cases and shine them up every once in a while,
but everything is on permanent display.”
In addition to trophies, the display has the outfits worn by Riggs and King
during the famous match, as well as awards, medals and special on-loan exhibits
from people like Hilary Marold, who beat Riggs in platform tennis in 1973. She
was featured on the cover of King’s Women’s Sports magazine, and some of her
collection is now featured in the museum.
“Hers is the latest exhibit,” Dawson said. “She gave me some photos and other
items to display — stuff that’s really interesting.”
Dawson said he never met Riggs and that the tennis club was founded by
Riggs’ best friend.
Riggs died in 1995 in Leucadia, California, after a seven-year battle with
prostate cancer. One of the last people known to have talked to him was Billie
Jean King, who told Riggs she loved him over the phone the night before he
died. In 1988, the year he was diagnosed, Riggs set up the Bobby Riggs Tennis
Museum Foundation for medical research into prostate cancer. •
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BOBBY RIGGS TENNIS CLUB AND MUSEUM, GO TO BOBBYRIGGS.NET.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2017 |
MAGAZINE
51