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When you oppress people either by gender, by race, by sexual orientation, when you do that and the doors become ajar, they will fly open and they will come and they have.

Billie Jean King

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Billie Jean King
Age: 81
Born: 1943
Born: November 22
Sports Commentator
Tennis Coach
Tennis Player
Long Beach
California
Billie Jean Moffitt
Come
Orientation
People
Sexual
Gender
Doors
Either
Open
Race
Ajar
Become
Oppress

More quotes by Billie Jean King

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As far as U.S. tennis, we need new stars coming up in the pipeline, but I don't know if we have it.
Billie Jean King
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Ladies, here's a hint. If you're up against a girl with big boobs, bring her to the net and make her hit backhand volleys. That's the hardest shot for the well-endowed.
Billie Jean King
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Reputation is what others think about you. What's far more important is character, because that is what you think about yourself.
Billie Jean King
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I always liked co-ed events best so we have two men and two women on each team.
Billie Jean King
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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.
Billie Jean King
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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
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Don't be afraid to hit the ball.
Billie Jean King
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A girl didn't get an athletic scholarship until the fall of 1972 for the very first time.
Billie Jean King
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I have often been asked whether I am a women or an athlete. The question is absurd. Men are not asked that. I am an athlete. I am a women.
Billie Jean King
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I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis has been great to me.
Billie Jean King
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Every generation I think gets better usually [in tennis].
Billie Jean King
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Winning is very tangible, it's very exciting, it's very pleasing, but it's momentary. If you can do things that last, that each generation can build upon, then that's when you're cooking.
Billie Jean King
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I love to promote our sport. I love grass-roots tennis. I love coaching. I love all parts of the sport. I love the business side.
Billie Jean King
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You want people to feel like they belong to something. And not be elitist. You don't want us to be elitist.
Billie Jean King
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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.
Billie Jean King
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It's really impossible for athletes to grow up. On the one hand, you're still a child, still playing a game. But on the other hand, you're a superhuman hero that everyone dreams of being. No wonder we have such a hard time understanding who we are.
Billie Jean King
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It's just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let's start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.
Billie Jean King
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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
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Champions take responsibility.
Billie Jean King
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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!
Billie Jean King