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Being Number One isn’t everything to me, but for those few hours on the court it’s way ahead of whatever’s in second place.

Billie Jean King

When I was playing, we didn’t have to compete against everybody in the world. Now it’s a truly global sport, so the competition’s much greater, just like it is for our children in every other area, whether it be in science or technology or whatever you talk about.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Children Sports Technology
It’s really impossible for athletes to grow up. On the one hand, you’re still a child, still playing a game. But on the other hand, you’re a superhuman hero that everyone dreams of being. No wonder we have such a hard time understanding who we are.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Athletes Dreams Sports Success
It’s about learning your craft. That’s a wonderful thing–especially with today’s consumerism and instant gratification.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Choices Craft Gratification Player Thinking
I must keep my sights on the final goal, to win, win, win-and with more love and passion than the world has ever witnessed in any performance.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Performance Witnessed Sight Win
I think one of the concerns, anytime you’re in the human business, like sports, it’s a very high – risk endeavor.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Player Sports Thinking
Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee they know somebody.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Bisexual Everyone Gay Inspirational
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.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Since Sports Tennis Years
I always listen, I ask children, I even ask adults in tennis, “What are your children playing?” And most of the time it’s not tennis. It’s pathetic.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Adults Children Pathetic Playing Tennis
Any therapist will tell you that when you’re ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren’t ready.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Mean Ready Therapists
I like entrepreneurial people; I like people who take risks.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Entrepreneur People Risk Sports
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.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Doors People Race
We have, or have had women presidents or prime ministers in Liberia, Chile, Germany, Great Britain…and yet the US of A still hasn’t had a women president. It’s just beyond my thinking. Look at Congress.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Country President Thinking
In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and business, we are at 68 cents on the dollar.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Dollars Finance Sports
Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Perfect Sports Tennis
Bobby Riggs was one of my heroes. I admired him. That’s one of the reasons I beat him – because I respected him.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Beats Hero Reason Respected
Men can have a huge turnover of sponsorship and still survive a lot better than the women. But the women’s ratings are better, at least at home in the United States than in the men’s tennis.
BILLIE JEAN KING

Home Men Soccer Survive Tennis

Being Number One isn’t everything to me, but for those few hours on the court it’s way ahead of whatever’s in second place.

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Being Number One isn’t everything to me, but for those few hours on the court it’s way ahead of whatever’s in second place.

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