Honoring--and dishonoring--Billie Jean King
Last night's hour-long ceremony renaming the USTA National Tennis Center the "USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center," despite being cheesy at times, was very much worth watching. The best part, other than King's wonderful speech, was the very moving tribute given by Jimmy Connors. An argument can be made that the worst part was Diana Ross's singing "God Bless America," and that is a worthy nomination. But for me, the worst part was hearing Chris Evert make a reference to bra-burning. Hey Chris--it never happened. Isn't it time you learned that?
In her speech, King thanked everyone she could think of who had helped her achieve her goals, and she told some great anecdotes. What impressed me the most, though, is that she wasn't just touched and grateful; she was also openly stunned that a major world facility would be named for a woman. Even in the moment of her greatest glory, she was sending a message that things are not right. King said she considered this event in her life as a message of hope to women, people of color, gay people, and disabled people. That she has always transcended identity politics is a sign of her greatness.
But, oh--the reaction from members of a major women's tennis message board. Many women were angry that tennis was delayed in order to conduct the ceremony. Many wanted to bash the Virginia Slims circuit because it was sponsored by a tobacco company (no one else would go near it). And then there were the young women who didn't understand why such a fuss was being made when everyone knows it was --wait for it--Anna Kournikova who brought tennis to so many women and made the tour what it is today.
I'm not making that up, though I wish I were. And nothing against Kournikova--I am one of her defenders. But the knowledge that young women think that there would be a WTA without Billie Jean King is scary. I cannot imagine anyone in this post-Second Wave world having the courage to do what King did. She risked everything--her career, her friendships (many of which she lost, at least for a while), her professional status, her income, her ability to enter tournaments--so that women could earn money playing tennis, just like men.
Several years ago, an interviewer asked Jennifer Capriati how Title IX had affected her life. Capriati's reply: "What's Title XIX?"
The WTA probably doesn't deserve Billie Jean King, but she will be there for female tennis players as long as she can breathe in and out.
In her speech, King thanked everyone she could think of who had helped her achieve her goals, and she told some great anecdotes. What impressed me the most, though, is that she wasn't just touched and grateful; she was also openly stunned that a major world facility would be named for a woman. Even in the moment of her greatest glory, she was sending a message that things are not right. King said she considered this event in her life as a message of hope to women, people of color, gay people, and disabled people. That she has always transcended identity politics is a sign of her greatness.
But, oh--the reaction from members of a major women's tennis message board. Many women were angry that tennis was delayed in order to conduct the ceremony. Many wanted to bash the Virginia Slims circuit because it was sponsored by a tobacco company (no one else would go near it). And then there were the young women who didn't understand why such a fuss was being made when everyone knows it was --wait for it--Anna Kournikova who brought tennis to so many women and made the tour what it is today.
I'm not making that up, though I wish I were. And nothing against Kournikova--I am one of her defenders. But the knowledge that young women think that there would be a WTA without Billie Jean King is scary. I cannot imagine anyone in this post-Second Wave world having the courage to do what King did. She risked everything--her career, her friendships (many of which she lost, at least for a while), her professional status, her income, her ability to enter tournaments--so that women could earn money playing tennis, just like men.
Several years ago, an interviewer asked Jennifer Capriati how Title IX had affected her life. Capriati's reply: "What's Title XIX?"
The WTA probably doesn't deserve Billie Jean King, but she will be there for female tennis players as long as she can breathe in and out.
posted by Diane at 10:09 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Education. The women of my generation (X) and behind me just weren't taught much about women's history. As a high schooler I knew that there was a law that said I could play football, but I didn't know it was Title IX. Thank the goddess for women's studies!
By
Roni, at
3:19 PM
Actually, Billie Jean refused to play Riggs (which, in my opinion, was the correct choice) because the whole event was so cheesy. It was Margaret Court who made her change her mind. Court played Riggs, choked like mad (Court could have beaten him with one hand tied behind her back), lost, then bowed and scraped to him. After that, BJK felt she had to do it, even though she found it distasteful.
By
Diane, at
4:18 PM
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