In 1973, retired mens singles player and full-time self-promoter Bobby Riggs was so assured of the inferiority of womens tennis, he issued a challenge to 29-year-old reigning womens Wimbledon champ Billie Jean King: I can beat you. King accepted the challenge, and over 50 million people around the world watched King demolish the 55-year old Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. King not only walked away with the winner-take-all $100,000 prize pot, she also earned a lifelong reputation as a barrier-breaking pioneer for equal rights. Pay homage.