Bobby owed money to a rough group of folks...looks like he tanked to save his arms from being broken.
I do not begrudge him that.
A theme exists here: the little group who claim Riggs did not tank *did not watch the match* in real time. They also seem very fond of the "cunspiracy theoriss!" thought-stopper.
We all know- of course!- that never in the History of the World has any group *ever* conspired (dare I use the word?) toward a certain, favored, self-benefitting outcome; that has never, ever, happened.
Why, it would be illegal- and wrong!
Of course Riggs tanked, children.. naysayers need to go read one or two of those old-fashioned book-thingies, in which they would find plenty of helpful material on three-time Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs, and his later career.
[mostly] Jack Kramer, on Riggs:
> Small in stature, he lacked the overall power of his larger competitors such as Budge and Kramer, but made up for it with brains, ball control, and speed. A master court strategist and tactician, he worked his opponent out of position and scored points with the game's best drop shot and lob as well as punishing ground strokes that let him come to the net for put-away shots. Kramer, one of the very few players who were undeniably better than Riggs, writes that there is a major "misconception" about Riggs. "He didn't play some rinky-dink
Harold Solomon style, pitty-pattying the ball around on dirt. He didn't have the big serve, but he made up for it with some sneaky first serves and as fine a second serve as I had seen at that time. When you talk about depth and accuracy both, Riggs's second serve ranks with the other three best that I ever saw:
von Cramm's,
Gonzales's, and
Newcombe's." In his autobiography, Riggs wrote, "In the 1946 match with Budge [for the
United States Pro Championship], I charged the net at every opportunity. Employing what I called my secret weapon, a hard first serve, I attacked constantly during my 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 victory."
"Riggs", said Kramer, "was a great champion. He beat Segura. He beat Budge when Don was just a little bit past his peak. On a long tour, as up and down as
Vines was, I'm not so sure that Riggs wouldn't have played Elly very close. I'm sure he would have beaten Gonzales — Bobby was too quick, he had too much control for Pancho — and
Laver and
Rosewall and
Hoad."
Kramer went on to say that Riggs "could keep the ball in play, and he could find ways to control the bigger, more powerful opponent. He could pin you back by hitting long, down the lines, and then he'd run you ragged with chips and drop shots. He was outstanding with a volley from either side, and he could lob as well as any man ... he could also lob on the run. He could disguise it, and he could hit winning overheads. They weren't powerful, but they were always on target." <
Yeah, the ultra-powerful BJK was just too good for Don Budge-beating Riggs in '73.. pushing him around at will.
Jamokes..
