May 21, 2003
THE PRESS is going nuts
THE PRESS is going nuts about this Annika Sorenstam golf thing in New York:
When Annika Sorenstam hits off the first tee at the Colonial Golf Club tomorrow, it will signal the start of the biggest sporting battle of the sexes since Billie Jean King whipped Bobby Riggs on the tennis court 30 years ago.
So enormous is interest in the event that 568 journalists and photographers have been accredited and extra work space and car parks established to accommodate them.
This is more than twice the number who normally cover the longest running tournament on the tour.
Big deal. In 1974 Lella Lombardi arrived in Australia from Italy to compete in a couple of rounds of the Australian National Formula One championship. Driving an old, formerly uncompetitive racer, the tiny Lombardi tore the local guys to bits. Nine-year-old me saw her at Sandown Park - a terrifying track - carving past Kevin Bartlett for second place. Lombardi went on to become the only female driver to score points in a world championship Formula One event. Tougher than golf. And the press remain largely unaware that it ever happened ...
Posted by Tim Blair at May 21, 2003 03:47 AM
