Rating tennis heroes

Tennis writer Charlotte James picks her Top 10 Tennis Heroes for an Australian Open audio slide show, and I wish she had reversed her number 1 and number 2 picks. James's number 2 pick is Billie Jean King, and her number 1 pick is Arthur Ashe. Both of these players did a great deal for tennis, and for many other causes, including the women's movement, African American civil rights, and the battle to educate the public about AIDS and help find a cure.

There are a couple of significant differences, however. Arthur Ashe was secure in his position in the ATP, but King, when she demanded that professional women players be given the same money, facilities and publicity as men, was threatened with expulsion from pro tennis. When she helped start the Virginia Slims Tennis Tour and founded the WTA, which launched women's tennis as we know it today, King risked everything to create a solid venue for women's tennis.

The other difference? When King broke away and demanded equality for women, her male tennis colleagues--many of whom she considered friends--not only refused to help her, but were solidly against tennis equality for women. One of the loudest opposing voices was that of Arthur Ashe. Ashe changed as he matured--many give his wife credit for his shift in attitude about women--but nonetheless, when the stakes were high, King was abandoned by the men, including Ashe.