Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Battle of the Sex's- Tyler Crellin
In 1973, women's sports changed forever. The battle of the sex's, Billy Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs. That match changed everything for women's sports, because Billy Jean King won. She showed that a women could best a man in a competitive sport, but what if she had not of won the match? Would women sports be as big as they are now without Billy Jean King's victory? Her victory over Riggs was what accelerated women's sports to take that next step and develop into what women sports are today. Although, her victory to me seems not complete. The reason I think this is because she beat an out of shape 55 year old man. Yes Bobby Riggs was the best tennis player to play the game, but why not have someone as young as Billy play her? If Billy faces a male the same age and rank as her at that time would she of won that match? It is hard to say if she would or would not have won the match. Is it stereotypical to think that a women of the same age and in the same shape as a male can not compete on the same level? I think that stereotype is not valid anymore, because look at some of the women athletes we have now. Serena Williams, and Hope Solo are two examples of great female athletes in their respective sports. Could Serena beat a male tennis player in the game today, that is debatable. I think should would have a chance, and again it would depend on who she would play. If another battle of the sex's happened and the outcome would be the male athlete won, would that change things for women sports? Billy Jean King changed the perception of women not being as competitive and good at sports. There are still people who do not think women can compete with men, or that there sports are even worth watching. I think they are worth watching, and believe that women sports are going to keep growing and keep getting more attention, and it is because of Billy Jean King that women sports have become how they are today.
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Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI think all the questions raised in your post are interesting because they are all the same questions I had when discussing the Battle of the Sexes. I think it is interesting to think about what would have happened had Billy Jean King lost, because I think that had she lost then women would have lost more of what little respect they had in the sport industry at the time. That is why I find her victory as impressive as I do because she was playing under immense pressure that would be very easy to get to someone. The fact that she was able to shake off that pressure is very impressive. Also, I like how you mentioned Serena Williams participating in a Battle of the Sexes today. I hadn’t given it much thought until you mentioned it, but I believe it would be a very interesting game today. In todays world though, I dont think gender would be as big of a deal in the game as it did for Billy Jean King. I think that it would be more of a friendly competition comparing the worlds best men and women in their sport, and more of an entertainment spectacle than a “man vs. woman to see who is the best” showdown.
-Travis Kash