Passing Shot meets... author Steven Blush on World Team Tennis - Gender Equality Pioneer; Taking on Tennis Elite; Billie Jean King's influence; Elton John's Philly Freedoms; WTT cultural legacy
In the latest episode of The Passing Shot, Joel and Kim are joined by writer Steven Blush to discuss his latest book “Bustin' Balls: World Team Tennis 1974-1978, Pro Sports, Pop Culture and Progressive Politics”They discuss World Team Tennis in the 1970s, and how it tried to start a cultural revolution through sport; bringing team tennis with gender parity to new audiences across the United States and thereby trying to shake up the sport as it was known.They discuss the backlash from the traditional tennis elite, the struggles that World Team Tennis faced and ultimately, despite its initial commercial failure, what has been its legacy to the sport and a wider outsider subculture within tennis and beyond.Along the way, Steven also shares some of his favourite stories from World Team Tennis of the 70s, offering insight and perception into a world of radical vision and subversive spirit. Buy Bustin' Balls: World Team Tennis 1974-1978, Pro Sports, Pop Culture and Progressive Politics - Amazon _______Share your fan thoughts on the week with the #passingshotpod on social media.Twitter: @passingshotpodInstagram: @passingshotpodOr drop us an Email: passingshotpod@gmail.comWritten, presented and produced by Joel Girling and Kim MackenzieCrowdfunded by our listeners.*Recorded on 21 January 2021*