You have got to want to be the best before you can even begin to reach for that goal, and you have got to be prepared to sacrifice a lot to get there.
BILLIE JEAN KINGSports 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.
More Billie Jean King Quotes
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Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It’s dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.
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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.
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I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.
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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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When people tell you not to believe in your dreams, and they say “Why?”, say “Why not?
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You’ve got to win in sports – that’s talent – but you’ve also got to learn how to remind everybody how you did win, and how often. That comes with experience.
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Champions take responsibility.
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In 1973, a woman could not get a credit card without her husband or father or a male signing off on it.
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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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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.
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When I’m performing at my absolute best, I think that some of the euphoria I feel must be transmitted to the audience.
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When I was outed, it was like, That’s done.
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Women’s sports is still in its infancy. The beginning of women’s sports in the United States started in 1972, with the passage of Title 9 for girls to finally get athletic scholarships.
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Champions adjust and pressure is a privilege.
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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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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.
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It’s about learning your craft. That’s a wonderful thing–especially with today’s consumerism and instant gratification.
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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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Hope it works out really well, and you hope that builds a stronger connection over time. You can’t be friends with everybody.
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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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You do have to get players every year. You have to deal with calendar. You have to deal with all kinds of things in our sport, like every sport does.
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That’s why my place in the all-time rankings means so very little to me, because I know I won’t be anybody’s number one, and it’s that same old thing: if you’re not number one, then what does it really matter?
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At 62 you want to keep moving; that’s important.
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Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever.
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I have a lot to say, and if I’m not No. 1, I can’t say it.
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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