Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs once again. This time with a little help from a friend.
King and her partner Elton John beat Riggs and Martina Navratilova 3-2 in a 15-minute tennis match at the Forum Wednesday night to raise money for AIDS education and patient care.The score was tied 2-2 when Jimmy Connors came in to pinch hit for the 75-year-old Riggs.
"It's great to be on the court," Riggs said. "I had Martina Navratilova, one of the best players of all time as my partner. It was a good match. If we had played a complete set, I predict Riggs and Navratilova would have won. I'd bet a thousand dollars on it."
In a famous battle-of-the-sexes match twenty years ago, King, then 29, beat the 55-year-old Riggs, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
"It was so great to see Bobby and a really fun way to celebrate our 20-year reunion for such a great cause," King said.
The tennis match was part of a two-day event to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. On Thursday night, John will give a benefit concert at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
"I'm more in awe of sports people then I am of royalty," John said. "The fact that this many of them are here tonight for the first time for me and my foundation is awesome."