Stuff You Should Know — "The Battle of the Sexes"
Podcast: Stuff You Should Know
Hosts: Josh Clark & Chuck Bryant
Episode Date: February 26, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the cultural, historical, and sporting significance of the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the societal backdrop, media spectacle, personalities involved, and the lasting impact on gender equality in sports and beyond. The discussion highlights feminism’s gains in the early 1970s, the evolving world of professional tennis, and the personal stories that animated this pop culture phenomenon.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Setting the Stage: The Early 1970s and Gender Equality (10:10–13:51)
- Rise of the Women’s Movement:
- Early 1970s marked by significant momentum in women’s rights—e.g., Roe v. Wade (1973), Title IX (1972), and the Equal Rights Amendment debates.
- Equal pay and opportunity for women became central issues in sports, education, and the workplace.
“It was a big time for women... Roe v. Wade was decided in 73, the Equal Rights Amendment was all over the news...” –Chuck Bryant (10:10)
- History of Tennis’s Gender Disparity:
- Explosive growth of tennis; prize money disparities: men earning two to three times more than women.
- Billie Jean King’s early activism against wage inequality and her career as a preeminent player.
The Power Moves: Organizing Women’s Tennis (13:51–18:20)
- Birth of the Virginia Slims Tour:
- Billie Jean King, with Gladys Heldman, challenges the status quo by organizing an alternative women’s tournament after unequal prize offerings.
- The “Original Nine” women sign symbolic $1 contracts to start their own circuit.
- Virginia Slims tobacco sponsor brings media attention and funding.
“They were clearly doing this to make a statement and not to make a ton of money.” –Chuck Bryant (17:05)
- Formation of the WTA:
- After successes, players form the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 1973 and successfully demand equal US Open prize money.
“We're gonna form the WTA, the Women's Tennis Association. We're gonna have an actual union in place where we can do what unions do and stick up for ourselves.” –Chuck Bryant (22:38)
Enter the Villain: Bobby Riggs (24:22–29:36)
- Who is Bobby Riggs?
- Former world #1 men's player, gambler, hustler, and brash self-promoter.
- Known as a “pre-Internet troll,” Riggs courts controversy by spouting male chauvinist views—both as shtick and perhaps belief.
"He is entertaining, for sure.... It seemed like a bit of an act... to get attention." –Chuck Bryant (24:22) “If he can't play for small money, I won't get out of bed that day.” –Josh Clark quoting Riggs (25:57)
- Margaret Court’s Defeat and Billie Jean’s Motivation:
- Riggs defeats women’s world #1 Margaret Court in the infamous “Mother's Day Massacre,” employing junk shots and showmanship.
- Observing this, Billie Jean King resolves to play Riggs herself.
Media Circus: Hype and the Matchup (31:06–44:30)
- Spectacle and Showmanship:
- Media dubs it “The Libber vs The Lobber.”
- Riggs ramps up misogynist comedy and crude antics to build hype (e.g., appearing in nipple-exposing shirts, gifting a giant Sugar Daddy candy).
“He did not train nearly as much as he did for Margaret Court. Essentially he was out partying in the lead up to all of this.” –Josh Clark (32:46)
- Billie Jean King’s Strategy:
- King takes the challenge with utmost seriousness—both physically and as a statement for women’s rights.
- Insists on playing five-set “men’s rules,” maximizing the physical challenge for her older opponent.
The Main Event: The 1973 Astrodome Match (38:13–48:09)
- Stats & Spectacle:
- Held September 20, 1973, at Houston’s Astrodome.
- 30,000 in attendance; tens of millions (50-90 million) watching worldwide.
- King enters on a platform carried by men; Riggs on a carriage pulled by “Bobby’s bosom buddies.”
- Sugar Daddy sponsorship and a pig (named “Bobby Riggs”) exchanged as gifts for added theatricality.
“That says everything you need to know about Billie Jean King... She thought of everything.” –Chuck Bryant (43:10)
- On-Court Action:
- Riggs takes early lead; King adapts style, wears him out, and wins in three straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-3).
“She started drawing volleys out... She had this old man running back and forth, chasing down these balls to purposefully tire him out.” –Josh Clark (45:37)
- Cultural Response:
- Media response is gendered and patronizing, with headlines like “Women's libbers lit up more brightly than the rocket shooting Astrodome scoreboard.”
- King’s victory is a milestone, though media coverage sometimes diminishes its seriousness.
“...she was a champion, a woman and a little girl all at the same time.” –Chuck Bryant, quoting NYT (47:22)
Aftermath & Legacy (48:09–55:12)
- Riggs and King’s Post-Match Lives:
- Riggs gracious in defeat, despite rumors (unproven) he threw the match for gambling purposes.
- King continues her advocacy: founds Women’s Sports Foundation, comes out as gay after legal and media battles in the 1980s.
“She stood behind it. She didn't deny it. She didn't deny who she was. She said, yep, I'm gay.” –Josh Clark (53:52)
- The Fight Goes On:
- Full gender pay parity in Grand Slam tennis isn’t achieved until 2007; some tournaments still lag.
- King’s activism continues to inspire ongoing battles for equality in sports.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the stakes for Billie Jean King:
“If she beats him, everyone's like, well, of course she’d beat this old man. And if she loses, that's of course, like, looks terrible to be beaten by the old man.” –Chuck Bryant (28:06)
On Riggs’s tactics:
“He was playing like a punk.... And it threw [Margaret Court] off her game.” –Chuck Bryant (29:09)
On the show’s over-the-top presentation:
“Billie Jean King was like, no, we're going to play five sets, best of five, essentially.” –Josh Clark (41:16)
On victory, media and gender roles:
“All of a sudden, she was a champion, a woman and a little girl all at the same time.” –NYT, quoted by Chuck Bryant (47:22)
“He accepted the defeat with dignity and grace... He hopped right over the net and went up to her and he said, confidentially... that he underestimated her.” –Josh Clark (48:21)
On King’s legacy:
“[King] was outed in 1981... her choice to do so was removed, but she stood behind it... She didn't deny who she was.” –Josh Clark (53:52)
Final touching note:
“Before [Bobby Riggs] died in 1995... Billie Jean King visited Bobby Riggs to say goodbye.” –Josh Clark (55:06)
Timestamps: Key Segments
- 10:10–13:26 — Setting the 1970s cultural stage
- 13:51–18:20 — Formation of independent women’s tennis circuit
- 22:38–24:22 — Birth of the WTA and strategic advances
- 24:22–29:36 — Bobby Riggs’ persona and Margaret Court match
- 31:06–34:09 — The media build-up and character dynamics
- 38:13–44:30 — Match spectacle, rituals, and pageantry
- 45:03–46:49 — On-court action and King’s win
- 47:22–48:09 — Media aftermath
- 53:52–55:12 — Aftermath for King and Riggs; the ongoing struggle for equality
Tone & Style
- The conversation is energetic, occasionally irreverent, and grounded in historical storytelling with pop culture references and banter.
- Hosts blend admiration for King, mild ribbing of Riggs, and critical insight into the time’s gender politics.
Summary for New Listeners
This engaging episode covers the full story of the iconic Battle of the Sexes, including the social change fueling it, the personal drive and activism of Billie Jean King, and the media circus orchestrated by Bobby Riggs. The episode unpacks not only the match’s drama but also the significance for gender equality, women’s professional sports, and cultural representation—a story that still echoes in sports and society today.