Amy Hart

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King has achieved legendary status for her efforts in promoting gender equality in sports. She has been called optimistic, opinionated, and outrageous yet her devotion to women's equality in sports, charities and other worthy causes keeps her a step ahead of her critics.

Billie Jean Moffit, born into a middle-class family on November 22, 1943, realized her calling to do something great at the age of five. Growing up in Long Beach, California, Billie Jean Moffit didn't quite fit the mold. Her parents' Father Knows Best mentality; that was typical of the time; was not good enough for Billie Jean. She told her mother while drying dishes that she wanted to do something great. It was in the 5^th grade, when a schoolmate took Billie Jean to the Virginia Country Club, that she realized that tennis is where she would make her mark. She knew that women didn't have certain rights and she was determined to change the elitist face of tennis forever. She was hooked. At 12 years old, she was not permitted to be in the Los Angeles Country Club photo because she was wearing the shorts her mother had sewn for her, not a dress like all the other girls. This put a fury in Billie Jean that marked the beginning of what would be a lifelong endeavor.

Her accomplishments in tennis include; youngest doubles team to ever win at Wimbledon at the age of 17; 20 Wimbledon titles; 13 U.S. Open titles, singles and doubles; 6 other Grand Slam titles. Her outspoken personality demanded bigger purses for women's competition, and her leadership in the boycott of the 1970 Southwest Tournament in LA set the stage for her biggest dream, The Women's Tennis Association. She was the instrumental women's voice in the movement towards a professional tennis tour for women, and with the support of her husband Larry King, she propelled the sport of women's tennis into what we now know today. Billie Jean King also made another great contribution to tennis by defeating tennis hustler and former Wimbledon champion, Bobby Riggs. On September 20, 1973 Billie Jean won the "battle of the sexes" match against Bobby Riggs in front of 30, 472 fans. That match only added fuel to fire for the women's movement, which at that time was swinging into high gear. That day serves still today as a reminder of who women were, and what they would fight to become. Many can remember the time and place where they were, as they watched Billie Jean not only defeat Bobby Riggs, but defeat a stereotype of athletic women as well.

There are so many accomplishments, yet it is difficult to overlook the personal struggles and outside criticism. Her affair with Marilyn Bennett that reached the public's attention in 1981 put Billie Jean in the spotlight, only not how she had hoped. Everything she had worked so hard to achieve had come to a crashing halt. With the support of Larry, and her own morals to uphold, she admitted the truth in a press conference that left little room for interpretation. Her honesty shocked the story hungry press and left her to deal with the plight of picking up the pieces. She also concealed an eating disorder that developed at the age of fifteen. She has had 6 knee surgeries, 3 on each knee; has heart arrhythmia, and is plagued with a skin disorder called Vitiligo. Her marriage ended after 22 years with Larry King although they still remain close friends today. She is the godmother to his child and she is grateful to him for pushing her into pursuing her goals. She supports such charities as the United Negro College Fund; Elton John's AIDS Foundation, and many others. Also with the help of her husband, she founded Women's Sports magazine which still runs strong today, and the Women's Sports Foundation which promotes gender equity in sports. She also believes strongly in the development of team tennis and team sports. She has a bit of sadness concerning the current status of certain professional women tennis players because there are an ungrateful few who don't realize that their golden opportunity is due to her struggles and persistence. When she and a few other women were only scratching the surface of a professional career, she recalls the times shared with camaraderie. It is no longer that way today as young girls fail to develop close friendships due to the fierce competition. She resides in Chicago today, and is still passionate about tennis.

Billie Jean King overcame many obstacles personally and socially to promote and direct a new future for women in sports. She is responsible not only for the opportunities in women's tennis today, but also for an entire revolution in female participation and acceptance in athletics.