I think younger players probably just think they are who they are-they don’t think about coming out. Unless you’re number one in the world, nobody cares, usually.
BILLIE JEAN KINGI knew after my first lesson what I wanted to do with my life.
More Billie Jean King Quotes
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Sports are a microcosm of society. It just shows how much more competition there is in the world.
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I didn’t really care if I had a coach that much, me personally, because I was brought up to think for myself.
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I would just never out anybody. I think everyone has to find it in their own way and their own time.
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Ever since that day when I was 11 years old, and I wasn’t allowed in a photo because I wasn’t wearing a tennis skirt, I knew that I wanted to change the sport.
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Ladies, here’s a hint. If you’re up against a girl with big boobs, bring her to the net and make her hit backhand volleys. That’s the hardest shot for the well-endowed.
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There’s no promises in any entrepreneurial business. You have to really work hard every year and also try to envision where you want to go in the future at the same time.
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Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life.
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Men still get a lot more opportunity. It is still a big part of the old boy network… They have more companies they can get money from.
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I always liked co-ed events best so we have two men and two women on each team.
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I feel that tennis is an art form that is capable of moving the players and the audience – at least a knowledgeable audience-in almost sensual ways.
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I always think it’s best to pretend you’re in a tenuous position. Just as a player, you always want to stay in the now and work hard but also have goals for the future.
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Champions keep playing until they get it right.
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At 62 you want to keep moving; that’s important.
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Every generation I think gets better usually [in tennis].
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When you oppress people either by gender, by race, by sexual orientation, when you do that and the doors become ajar, they will fly open and they will come and they have.
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If you have one gay experience, does that mean you’re gay? If you have one heterosexual experience, does that mean you’re straight? Life doesn’t work quite so cut and dried.
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I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis has been great to me.
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The main thing is not a matter of wanting to win; the main thing is being scared to lose.
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Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity.
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Pressure is a privilege – it only comes to those who earn it.
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I think one of the concerns, anytime you’re in the human business, like sports, it’s a very high – risk endeavor.
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Some people do have softer boundaries.
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It’s important to try to get people to think about women’s wellness.
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People say, “Do you know how much a million dollars is?” I don’t have a clue. How many Big Macs will it buy me?
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Bobby Riggs was one of my heroes. I admired him. That’s one of the reasons I beat him – because I respected him.
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Trust and respect is something you earn, not something that is given.
BILLIE JEAN KING