During an interview with Billie Jean King last month for a magazine profile, we were talking about the HBO special on her life that has been airing this summer. I asked if she felt like people wre finally recognizing all she had done for not only tennis, but for society. She just said, "Hardly anybody gets HBO." This was before she knew that the United States Tennis Association was going to name the National Tennis Center in Flushing N.Y., after her. On Monday, the first day of the U.S. Open, Billie Jean really got her due as former number one players past U.S. Open champions Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Venus Williams (16 Open singles trophies between them) took the court before BJK to honor the living legend who won the U.S. Open four times in singles.

Here are some of the highlights from each of their terrific tributes:
Connors called BJK "the first lady of tennis, the first lady of sport in my opinion. She's the one who made it all possible. It's her attitude and her heart that really sucked me in. No one gave it more than Billie Jean King...she took the hard knocks. She's loyal, she's fun, and she knows what she wants."

Chrissie, looking amazing at 51, said of her close friend: "She's been the single-biggest influence on me outside my family. She's my mentor. She even gave me advice on my love life when i broke up with Jimmy Connors (huge laugh, camera cuts to a grinning Connors, Evert's one-time fiancee). (Billie Jean) sees beyond the box and I was very lucky to come in right behind her. She is the greatest ambassador that American tennis has."

McEnroe: I was a 14-year-old chauvenist little kid hoping Bobby Riggs would kick Billie Jean's ass. But now that I am a father of four little girls, I have to say for the record I'm glad Billie Jean King won (the famous 1973 Battle of the Sexes match). I loved her (designer) Teddy Tinling dress that she wore over the years and she had more hairstyles than Andre Agassi and myself combined."
More seriously, he added: "She's the single most important person in the history of women's sports and I'm proud to be out here as her friend."

VenusWilliams, who pulled out of the tournament due to a wrist injury, made the trip anyway to be there for her former Fed Cup and Olympics coach: "I don't think anyone loves tennis as much as Billie Jean King. Her enthusiasm and love for the game and for life is so infectious. I would not be playing on the (women's tennis) tour without her."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

God I love tennis, especially on nights like tonight when it pays well-deserved attention to its rich history and to its true heroes. The United States Tennis Association dedicated the National Tennis Center in New York to tennis legend and equal rights trailblazer Billie Jean King.
"So rarely are women thought of this way, to get something named after them in sports," King, 62, said. "For that I'm so thrilled. You have no idea because this is for all the world. Women, people of color, people with disabilities. I hope it will have an echoing effect. It's tangible, there's a focus, a beacon of hope, a new beginning. I hope people see this and dream big and truly go for it."

The openly-gay Billie Jean paid tribute to her life partner, former tennis pro Ilana Kloss, with whom she has shared her life for more than 20 years. She called Kloss "the wind beneath my wings." Note to USA Network: It was CRIMINAL to not cut to a shot of Kloss at this moment, CRIMINAL. She was featured prominently in the HBO special and I could only imagine how many times a straight, male athlete's wife would have been cut to on an ocassion like this. I want to find out what the heck this was all about.

Anyway, that aside, it really was lovely, especially the shots of Billie Jean's tearful 84-year-old mother, Betty Moffit, whose daughter turned to in the car on the way home from her first tennis lesson about 50 years ago and said: "I'm going to be the number one tennis player in the world!" BJK's dad, Bill Moffit, died less than two weeks ago and she paid tribute to the man she who said "was such a great daddy" who'd play catch "hourly" with her and brother, former Major League pitcher Randy Moffitt

A nice film highlighting King's amazing life summed it all up nicely and that is no easy task: the 20 Wimbledon titles; founding the women's pro tour; establishing a women's tennis union; fighting a battle for equal prize money at the major tournaments where the men are playing too; creating World Team Tennis and the Women's Tennis Association. And oh yeah, there was that Bobby Riggs match. .

My whole life has been about equal opportunities for girls and boys," Billie Jean said. "That's what it's been about."

At times giddy, BJK said, "It's going to be the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis National Center. I still cannot believe it!" But, as a kid from Long Beach, CA., who grew up playing in the public parks instead of country clubs, King reminded the capacity crowd that the tennis center is only for the pros during the two weeks of the US Open. The rest of the time, it is open to the public. "Mi Casa es Su Casa! This is your house!"

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This news absolutely makes my day: Billie Jean King's name will be added to the National Tennis Center during an opening-night ceremony at the U.S. Open. King is a four-time winner of the tournament and won a record 20 Wimbledon titles in singles and doubles.

But BJK (pictured Thursday at a press conference) was an even bigger force off the court where she fought for equal prize money for women athletes, was instrumental in launching the women's professional tennis tour (when the men tried to exclude the female players), and led the fight for equal funding for female sport programs in schools (Title IX). She also founded the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973 and the Women’s Sports Foundation in 1974 in addition to being the co-founder of World TeamTennis. For her many achievements, King was named by Life magazine one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century,‿ and placed No. 5 on Sports Illustrated’s “Top 40 Athletes.‿

“This obviously is a great honor for me," said King, who came out as a lesbian in the 1980s. "This outstanding facility is a public park, a place where everyone can come and enjoy our wonderful sport. It is truly humbling that this will link me with Arthur Ashe with whom I celebrated many experiences and shared dreams of the future for this great sport. I know this will continue to be a place where present and future generations of players come out, pick up a racquet, learn a sport and dare to dream big and go for it."

Franklin Johnson, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA said Thursday: “Billie Jean King is one of tennis’ greatest heroes. Much like Arthur Ashe, for whom our showcase stadium is named, Billie Jean is a champion not only of sport, but a champion of those causes in which she so strongly believes. Her accomplishments have benefited all women in sports, as well as countless women in any number of career fields."

The name change which will take effect Aug. 28, the start of the U.S. Open. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, on hand for the announcement Thursday, said: “Billie Jean King is a legend among legends and we honor her groundbreaking achievements by renaming the USTA National Tennis Center in her honor. She set an exceptionally high standard not only for athletic achievement, but for dignity and perseverance in the pursuit of justice. Billie Jean King is an inspiration to all budding tennis players and all Americans. And as a New Yorker of 30 years, she is the perfect person to receive this well-deserved honor.‿

For more about BJK, check out my interview with the tennis legend last month to discuss the current HBO special about her epic life.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)