A biography for Billie Jean Kinghasn’t been written yet.
“Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever.”
“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.”
“Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity.”
“I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis has been great to me.”
“In 1973, a woman could not get a credit card without her husband or father or a male signing off on it.”
“When we reach the point where the women athletes are getting their pick of dates just as easily as the men athletes, then we've really and truly arrived. Parity at last!”
“The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing.”
“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.”
“It's just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let's start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.”
“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.”
“Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.”
“Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball.”
“The old boy network is still very strong and very true. Just look at the stock exchange and how many men and women are there. It is still very much run by men.”
“I was always in the tennis business-from 1968. I was in tournaments and also on World Team Tennis teams as well.”
“I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.”
“Sports are a microcosm of society.”
“I will tell you King's First Law of Recognition: You never get it when you want it, and then when it comes, you get too much.”
“Any therapist will tell you that when you're ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren't ready.”
“I think it's impossible to judge whether another person should come out. You just hope they will on their own time and their own terms.”
“Champions keep playing until they get it right.”