Home / Series / Man Alive / Aired Order / Season 1972 / Episode 28

Billie Jean: 'I Hate to Lose'

The Wimbledon crowds used to call Billie-Jean King 'Little Miss Moffitt.' They laughed both with her and at her as she snapped and snarled around the Centre Court. But later the crowds turned sour. They thought the game was the thing and what they saw as 'gamesmanship' was bad sportsmanship. They objected loudly to her behaviour and tactics and suddenly they liked - and even wanted - to see her beaten. We all know what happened at Wimbledon this year, but 1969 was a decisive year for Billie-Jean. Man Alive looked behind the scenes then at the girl who hates to lose and goes to such extraordinary lengths to win.

English
  • Originally Aired July 19, 1972
  • Network BBC Two
  • Created June 6, 2022 by
    AddingStuffIsFun
  • Modified November 1, 2024 by
    mosipd