[DogByte6RER]

[ClearCase_guy]

Nothing is true; everything is permitted.

Works for Islamic assassins, mafia bosses, and the US government.

[DogByte6RER]

Read the entire ESPN published story at:

“The Match Maker

Bobby Riggs, The Mafia and The Battle of the Sexes”

by Don Van Natta Jr.

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/9589625/the-match-maker

[Vaquero]

In other news Rene Richards played herself to win the He/she prize.

[stboz]

...Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club...

Lots of old Tampa money there. Doctors, lawyers, Indian chiefs.

[Uncle Chip]

I heard someone ask one of the old pros how many on the men’s tour Serena Williams could beat — and the response was NONE. Even the 100th player would beat her 0 and 0.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Gee, you mean this was a set up??? Who knew?? (serioiusly, I didn’t know the mafia angle, but as a young kid, I never did believe the result was legit)

[CrazyIvan]

“Riggs — who died of prostrate cancer at age 77”

Sad. He always said he wanted to die on his feet

[familyop]

Anyone who has lived in a Mob town has seen a whole lot of manly, man-hating women.

[iowamark]

Washed up athletes, gambling?

Hard to believe!

[RetiredTexasVet]

Sounds plausible. I remember the matches and the large amount of money that changed hands. On the other hand, I don’t pay much attention to college or professional sports much any more because of all the cheaters and that most of it is fixed.

[luvbach1]

To the author of the article, it’s prostate not prostrate.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Gambling!?

On a sporting event!?

Never happens.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Riggs — who died of prostrate cancer at age 77 on Oct. 25, 1995 ... But it was all a huge setup

Since 'prostrate' cancer would be cancer of lying down, that does seem to make sense.

[wintertime]

Riggs — who died of prostrate cancer
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\

Really? Prostrate cancer. Wow! That’s definitely a rare one!

It is prostate cancer.

[Seaplaner]

Riggs — who died of prostrate... <== I stopped reading at this point.

[SaxxonWoods]

If this is true, then it was just like all of today’s “reality shows” (I know a little, my daughter was in one.)

Very plausible story, though some details could go one way or another, like whether King was in on the scam.

For a great read on these kinds of shenanigans, read Lee Trevino’s “The Snake In The Sandtrap”. The stories about how Titanic Thompson could make three 60 foot putts in a row on a golf course putting green, and how he could throw 30 cards out of 52 into a hat placed in an adjacent room (with the door in between closed!) are worth the entire read.

[Nifster]

Good for him. ANy one who watched the spectacle would have said it was some kind of set up....

[hinckley buzzard]

I remember this well. The whole thing was sort of tongue in cheek promotion to begin with--no one took Riggs all that seriously. He made a big deal about "training" by taking handfuls of mega vitamins and such, and holding press opportunities whenever he could. King was at the top of her game and made short work of Riggs--as everyone with any sense knew she would. No need to use the Mob to explain the outcome. Riggs made a good paycheck win or lose.

[Ann Archy]

I ALWAYS thought the fix was in....just had no idea about the Mafia angle.

Really....who DIDN'T know it was all for show.....geesh...we are really gullible.