Quote

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

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Billie Jean King
Age: 80
Born: 1943
Born: November 22
Sports Commentator
Tennis Coach
Tennis Player
Long Beach
California
Billie Jean Moffitt
Heroes
Beat
Reasons
Beats
Hero
Reason
Bobby
Admired
Respected

More quotes by Billie Jean King

Image
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
Image
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.
Billie Jean King
Image
I always think it's best to pretend you're in a tenuous position. Just as a player, you always want to stay in the now and work hard but also have goals for the future. There's no promises in any entrepreneurial business. You have to really work hard every year and also try to envision where you want to go in the future at the same time.
Billie Jean King
Image
I have a lot to say, and if I'm not No. 1, I can't say it.
Billie Jean King
Image
The trouble with being number one in the world - in anything- is that it takes a certain mentality to attain that position, and that is something of a driving, perfectionist attitude, so that once you do achieve number one, you don't relax and enjoy it.
Billie Jean King
Image
I would just never out anybody. I think everyone has to find it in their own way and their own time.
Billie Jean King
Image
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
Image
I wanted to use sports for social change.
Billie Jean King
Image
I grew up in team sports. I think I understand the psyche of America. I think when children sign up to play, it's got to be team.
Billie Jean King
Image
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
Image
I think one of the concerns, anytime you're in the human business, like sports, it's a very high - risk endeavor. 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.
Billie Jean King
Image
In the complete overall history of tennis, I figure I'll be worth a sentence or two.... 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?
Billie Jean King
Image
Every generation I think gets better usually [in tennis].
Billie Jean King
Image
I always wanted to help make tennis a team sport.
Billie Jean King
Image
Martina and I went through a very bad five years. Everything's very good between us now, but it was a long haul.
Billie Jean King
Image
No matter how tough, no matter what kind of outside pressure, no matter how many bad breaks along the way, 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
Image
Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.
Billie Jean King
Image
Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball.
Billie Jean King
Image
I try to perfect my strong points and make my weaknesses adequate.
Billie Jean King
Image
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.
Billie Jean King