Wednesday, September 20, 2006

"She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene..." - Michael Jackson... No this is not about that Billie Jean who not only caused a scene but accused Michael of fathering her child, a dubious charge at best. This Billie Jean was honored in August at the U.S. Open when the USTA National Tennis Center became the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The facility became the largest sports facility in the world to be named after a woman... Although she's considered to be one of the greatest female tennis players and female athletes in history with 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and 11 Grand Slam mixed double titles and has been an outspoken advocate against sexism in sports, Billie Jean Moffitt King is best remembered for her win over Bobby Riggs in 1973... On September 20th of that year, 30,492 spectators gathered in Houston's Astrodome, 50 million in 37 countries watched the television coverage of the "Battle of the Sexes". 30-year old Billie Jean was the top woman tennis player in the land. 55-year old Bobby Riggs was more than 20 years past his prime when he was the top men's tennis player. Ever the hustler, Riggs challenged Billie Jean to a winner-take-all tennis match with $100,000 going to the winner. Billie Jean played like the top woman tennis player, Riggs, like, oh, a 55-year old tennis player. Billie Jean won in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 and 6-3... Despite lots of rumors in the blogosphere in recent years that the rules of tennis were modified for the match to give Billie Jean an advantage, the match was played under the normal rules of tennis. King now 63, resides in both New York and Seattle. Riggs died of prostate cancer in October of 1995... Ten Timeline Memories... [1921] KDKA in Pittsburgh starts one of the 1st daily newscasts in the U.S... [1962] Black student James Meredith (a transfer student from Jackson State) is refused entrance to the University of Mississippi by Governor Ross R. Barnett (Meredith was later admitted by court order and graduated from 'Ole Miss in 1963)... [1964] The Beatles wrap up their 1st U.S. tour with a date at the New York Paramount in front of 3,682 Beatlemaniacs... [1969] Associated TV buys control of the Beatles' publishing company - Northern Songs for a couple of million dollars (what were the Beatles thinking ?)... [1971] Peter Frampton quits Humble Pie to pursue a solo career... [1972] What's that pungent odor ? Police find cannabis growing on the farm of Paul and Linda McCartney... [1976] Playboy releases the Jimmy Carter interview in which he's quoted as saying "I've looked at a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times" to which Rosalynn replies "I hope you enjoy sleeping in the garage tonight Jimmah"... [1982] NFL players begin a 57-day strike, the 1st in-season strike in NFL history (the season is reduced to a 9-game schedule rather than 16 and a special playoff tournament is used prior to the Super Bowl)... [1998] After playing in a record 2,632 consecutive games, over 16 seasons, Cal Ripken of the Orioles sits out a game (that weakling)... [2001] President Bush addresses a joint session of Congress regarding the 911 attacks and names Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to head up the new Office of Homeland Security (Ridge wears a dark orange tie to match his code Orange shirt)... "Happy Trails": 1947] Former New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia of pancreatic cancer at 64...1973] 30-year old Jim Croce is killed in a small plane crash in Louisiana, on his way to a concert in Sherman (TX)... Released on this date: 1975] "Born To Run" - Bruce Springsteen... Premiered on this date: 1952] "The Jackie Gleason Show" (runs for 18 years)...1953] "The Loretta Young Show" (Loretta spins with her flowing dress for 8 seasons)...1975] The Bay City Rollers debut in America with a live performance on the premiere of "Saturday Night Live" hosted by Howard Cosell (this was ABC-TV's version of "The Ed Sullivan Show" but it doesn't work, running for only 1 season)...1976] "The Captain & Tennille Show" premieres on ABC-TV in prime time (for only 1 season)...1984] "The Cosby Show" premieres (with top ratings for 8 seasons)... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]... Commentary... Son Robert was about 11 or 12 when we ran into Billie Jean King in Manhattan and she couldn't have been nicer, giving Rob her autograph but also spending a few minutes to talk to us. It's impossible to judge a person after meeting them for just a few minutes but when you see pictures of Billie Jean (recently seen with Elton John at the U.S. Open) she always looks like she's enjoying her life. Elton's hit "Philadelphia Freedom" was written in Billie Jean's honor and they remain close friends... Timeline Countdown: 13 days until the major league baseball playoffs begin, 31 days until the 1st game of the World Series and 102 days until 2007. ...