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Connors, Navratilova have a tough act to follow
NEW YORK. Aug 31: Sequels rarely work as well as originals. So. whl Ie there Is genuine curiosity
and Interest tn Jimmy Connors playing Martina Navratilova Sept. 25 at Caesars Palace, they will have to go some to match the hoopla Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs stirred up two decades ago reports AP.
Jimbo. 40 next week, and Martina. 35. are still capable of playing Grand Slam-level tennis. as evidenced a year ago when Connors Ht up the US Open, reaching the semifinals, and Navratilova played tn the finals against Monica Seles. Their match next month, then, could be serious business. beyond the undisclosed but certainly hefty appearance fees and the dlrs 500.00 winner-take all purse.
King vs. Riggs, on the other hand, was spectacle, a battle between the spokesman for women's rights — a controver
sial concept at the time — and the quintessential hustler, which carried a dlrs 100.000 payoff, not terribly pricy these days but big money then.
The players were toted into the Houston Astrodome on pedestals, sort of like Cleopatra and King Farouk. 'I liked the carnival, atmosphere.' King said. The pro moter. Jerry Perenchlo. didn't think 1 would. He asked if I'd let those hunks carry me out there. He thought I was tough and staid. I told him. "Sure. Hey. this Is showtime."
Nobody had to ask Riggs. He was all about showtime, popping vitamins by the fistful in the days before the epic showdown, the better to steel his 55 year-old body for the challenged.
It was to no avail. King won handily. 6 4. 6-3. 6-3 — the exclamation point of Hall of Fame career. Playing singles and doubles, she won 20 Wimbledon tittles and 13 US Open championships, yet she Is best remembered for the
exhibition showdown with the hustler
"People still say. Where were you when Billie Jean played RiMsZ" She said "It was one of those events that sticks in your memory. I turned on the television during the Republican Convention, saw the roof of the Astrodome and thought. 'Oh. wow! I found myself sliding back to it. I think people remember it more than those other wins. Eighty million people saw It.
"Riggs took care of the huckstering. He had beaten Margaret Court. 6-2, 6-1. — a victory he humbly called The Mothers Day Massacre." He was all mouth against King — until they played.
"I had some hesitation about the match." King said. There were some doubts. He had beaten Margaret in the spring. He was great champion. I didn't know what to expect, but neither did he. I just focused on playing my best. I worked for six to eight weeks to prepared. I was tn great condition, as ready as I could be."
Connors and Navratilova will be. too. both coming off the Open. and. more importantly to King. their second TeamTennls seasons. Navratilova plays for the Atlanta Thunder and Connors for the Los Angeles Strings In the league King founded 12 years ago.
"TeamTennis gets them ready, for the Open." She said. That's why they did so well last year."
For the spectacle fans, It will be the appetizer to Jimbo vs. Martina. Navratilova has a rules edge — the regulation two serves to just one for Connors and a wider court at which to alm her shots. C'mon. Billie Jean give us a scouting report on the sequel.
It's gonna be a blast." King said. The problem is the handicap. Jimmy geta one serve. Tnat's meaningless because return of serve is his strength. He has more court to cover. That could be a problem because you're used to boundaries In your head. That will I be the Interesting ■ part. Jimmy's hit into the same boundaries since he was a kid For Martina, it's more space. Its not a reflex for her."