Cosell was so sure of himself he could share his stage with his equal as a narcissistic prima donna, The Greatest. If the Louisville Lip had really thought he was The Greatest, he would be on our lunatics list. He was merely the greatest self-publicist, provocateur and prince of principle in sports. That's why Ali is sui generis. Even now, shuffling, the face a Parkinson mask, the voice a whisper, he is still the primo prima donna.
Revenge is a prima donna motivator.
Billie Jean became the muscle of feminism, the catalyst for professionalism and the only great champion in any sport who could be both entrepreneur and stand-up guy. As a national coach, she is engaging in that prima donna turn, the master class. Using guile, relentless determination, shameless hucksterism, confidence and steroids, even while speaking what sounded like Olde English, this prima donna completed a cycle by becoming the celluloid Beowulf. The lesson he seems to be teaching, that anyone who tries hard enough can be a prima donna, is bogus. Without talent, luck and a freak gene or two, forget about being a test pilot, opera singer, surgeon or big-league athlete.