This pair of 60-something dynamos, Elton John and Billie Jean King, presided over another year of the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event and raised over $400,000 for AIDS charities including the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The event was in Philadelphia this year but hopefully will return to the West Coast next year. I was courtside for the 2006 event and will never forget that night.
In addition to Elton and Billie Jean, close friends for more than 30 years (he wrote "Philadelphia Freedom" in hewr honor), others participating were tennis stud Andy Roddick who shows up every year, new American star John Isner, former world number one Lindsay Davenport who gave birth to a baby this summer, and Anna Kournikova who used to play on the tour.
“The quality of the tennis was fabulous and we raised a lot of money for charity,” King said. “It was a really great night.”
At a pre-match reception, more than $248,500 of the evening’s total was raised as King, John and the players participated in a live auction. Anna Kournikova kicked off the auction by buying a package that included tickets to Elton John’s Red Piano show in Las Vegas, along with dinner in his VIP suite for $35,000. Other auction Highlights: Tennis Instruction & Lunch w/ Elton John & Billie Jean King at John’s private court in London: $55,000 Sir Elton John Red Piano Concert & Dinner in Elton’s suite: $35,000 (bought by Anna Kournikova) 2008 Super Bowl Ticket Package: $20,000 Piano Bench Signed by Sir Elton John: $14,000 2008 Smash Hits Hitting Session w/ Andy Roddick: $19,000.
That last item seems like a steal!
There's a good reason why Andy is so loyal to Billie Jean: "Whenever I've played a tough match or have a good result, the first person who I get a text message from is Billie Jean.She's been so good to me throughout my career."