6 Questions for Billie Jean King
Reader's Digest
As the finals of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships approach at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York, we ask six questions of Billie Jean King. One of the world's winningest tennis players, she is the founder of World Team Tennis, the Women's Tennis Association, and the Women's Sports Foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. It's raised millions of dollars to promote physical activity for women and girls.
Q: Finish this sentence: "When I'm stopped on the street, people most want to tell me—"
A: That they've never forgotten my match against Bobby Riggs in 1973 [the so-called Battle of the Sexes, seen around the world by millions and one of the biggest sports events of its day]. Every single day of my life, people come up to me and say, "I remember watching you play that match, and win." Men, especially, will tell me this. It's amazing. They say, "I have a daughter now, and she's ten years old. I'm raising my daughter differently because of seeing you play that match." Guys are who are in their 40s and 50s are the first generation of men from the women's movement. Their attitude is, "Don't mess with my daughter. She'll have as much as my son!" They really insist that their daughters and sons have equal opportunities. It's been a huge shift. These men are so different from their fathers and grandfathers.
Q: Former Olympic soccer star Julie Foudy told Reader's Digest that you were the biggest inspiration in her life. Her words: "Billie Jean King's willingness to take on the issues that aren't always popular and to keep them from being swept under the rug is what inspires me. She taught me that if you want to make a difference in life, you have to put yourself out there." Your thoughts?
A: Julie Foudy walks into a room and just lights it up. She and I see each other every October at the Women's Sports Foundation dinner in New York, which brings together athletes from over 130 sports. She's energetic, bright, and possesses all of the qualities that go into leadership, which sports is a great venue for. Sometimes she'll just call me and say, "King, help!" We should all ask for help when we need it, particularly when we're young—and you know when you need help. It takes courage to ask for it. With her energy and her leadership qualities, Julie can do just about anything. I admire her.
Q: Who's been the biggest inspiration in your life?
A: Not just one person—two. My parents. They worked three jobs so that my brother, Randy [Moffitt, who played professional baseball] and I could pursue our athletic dreams as kids. They taught us great lessons, which are particularly relevant today, with the economy the way it is. My parents always said, "If you don't have it, don't spend it." When I was eleven and wanted to buy my first tennis racket, they wouldn't buy it for me. I had to work odd jobs to earn it. Their attitude was, "Let's see if you're really interested. Let's see if you have the focus." I guess I solved that one!
Q: Name a favorite book.
A: Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty by Muhammad Yunus, the economist who won the Nobel Prize in 2006. It's great. He explains how he developed the Grameen Bank and how, through the concept of micro-financing, he was able to change a lot of people's lives. As soon as he gave out a small loan to different people, he began to visualize what that could lead to. He saw the potential. He is one of my heroes. That's what I try to do for tennis and other things.
Q: Share one misconception people have about the life of a pro athlete.
A: That success is easy. Athletes must have a daily discipline of mind, body, and soul. They have to do it all. There's something about physical exertion versus sitting that teaches tenacity and will power. You cannot just be "from the neck up." It is also a way of looking at the world. Life is difficult sometimes. But every time I see a ball bounce, I think about bouncing back myself. It's a philosophy.
Q: Your greatest legacy will be—what?
A: I don't really think about winning tennis matches. I think about what I've done off the court. Everything I've done is trying to push the envelope, whether it's on or off the court, to create a more level playing field for others and to help people have a better quality of life. That's what I care about.
Billie Jean King is the author of Pressure Is A Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes (LifeTime Media, 2008). Born in Long Beach, California, in 1943, she won 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles, and mixed doubles tennis titles, including a record 20 titles at Wimbledon. Learn more about her and her work at www.billiejeanking.com.
