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Bobby Riggs

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Tennis Player

The Resume

    (February 25, 1918-October 25, 1995)
    Won Wimbledon (1939) and the US Open (1939,41)
    Ranked number one in the world as an amateur (1941) and professional (1946,47)
    Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (1967)
    Lost the 'Battle of the Sexes' to Billie Jean King (September 20, 1973)

Why he might be annoying:

    As an adult he was still called Bobby.
    After retiring from the pro tennis circuit, he became a hustler who would attract bets by playing with handicaps such as using a frying pan in place of a racquet.
    He declared himself the world's biggest male chauvinist pig and boasted, 'Even an old man like me with one foot in the grave could beat any woman player.'
    He tried to revive the Battle of the Sexes by teaming with Vitas Gerulaitis and playing the top women's double partnership, Martina Navratralova and Pam Shriver. Interest quickly faded when Riggs and Gerulaitis lost (1985).

Why he might not be annoying:

    Jack Kramer called him the 'most underrated of all the top players.'
    He was smaller than other leading players but made up for it with ball control and a mastery of court strategy.
    He won $105,000 by betting $500 on himself to win the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon.
    He beat the #1 ranked woman, Margaret Smith Court (May 13, 1973).
    The Battle of the Sexes attracted more attention to tennis - women's tennis in particular - than any previous event.
    Shortly before his death, he said to King, 'We really made a difference, didn't we?'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 16 Votes: 31.25% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 16 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 38 Votes: 84.21% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 31 Votes: 38.71% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 102 Votes: 36.27% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 23 Votes: 34.78% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 71 Votes: 56.34% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 41 Votes: 51.22% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 360 Votes: 74.44% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 121 Votes: 69.42% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 129 Votes: 70.54% Annoying