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Female athletes in pursuit of greatness

© Roy Pickering

Annika Sorenstam's attempt to compete with the boys at golf was an interesting sociological event. Not that much was really at stake. Annika had much to gain and very little to lose. If she did not fare well (which is what happened at the Colonial Country Club after a fairly promising start that faded into a disappointing finish), her reputation as a great female golfer would remain intact. She wasn't supposed to be there in the first place, a fact that Vijay Singh was quick to remind us of and even quicker to be scolded for, so our expectations were at a minimum. Any evidence that she was not in way over her head would be considered a bonus, proof that the will of a champion of any gender can triumph over all adversity, even that ordained and predisposed by nature. And if Annika did hang in there with the guys and gave the leaders a run for their money, she would be exalted as a national hero, the second coming of Billie Jean King after her own triumph in a battle of the sexes.

It was a win-win situation for women, for golf, for the network broadcasting the tournament, for the broadcasters and journalists covering it, and most of all, for Annika. Unless she accidentally knocked herself unconscious with her own club, she was sure to gain lucrative endorsements thanks to the great deal of attention she gained. Cameras followed Annika's every move throughout her two days on the course. The rest of the field ceased to exist. Who would win? Nobody cared. This was Annika-TV, high drama at its finest, complete with heart wrenching tears in the press conference following her early exit. Apparently Tiger Woods isn't the only one capable of giving the sport of golf a ratings boost. Annika played the part of Rocky Balboa, everyone else participating in the tournament (and especially the course itself) played the part of Apollo Creed, and most of us instinctively knew who to root for in this tailor made underdog story.

I found myself thinking back to Annika Sorenstam's shot at destiny during a match at the French Open. Serena Williams, the defending champion and winner of the previous four Grand Slams in tennis, was having a tough time against Justine Henin-Hardenne. Serena is as dominant a female tennis player as Annika is a female golfer. Physically, the younger of the two Williams sisters is as intimidating a sight on the court as they come. Tennis players, regardless of gender, are typically not known for their bulging biceps and impressively broad shoulders. So it has been suggested to Serena that she give it a go against a man to see how she would do. To date, Serena has been resistant to this idea. Even if Annika had gone on to win the Colonial, Serena's mind probably would not have changed. There is after all a big difference between tennis and golf. Strength, quickness, agility and reflexes play infinitely higher roles in tennis. And since these are all categories in which men are naturally superior to women, it stands to reason that a top male player would dominate head to head competition against a top female player, even one as uniquely constructed as Serena Williams. Billie Jean King may have defeated Bobby Riggs back in 1973, but the truth is that Riggs was never close to the top in men's tennis.

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