Interview Transcript
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Source:
Email Interview November 15th, 2011 Billie Jean King Founder Women's Tennis Association, Women's Sports Foundation, Title IX Advocate |
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From: Tip Nunn <tipnunn@comcast.net>
Date: Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Subject: Billie Jean King Request
We have received your request for an interview with Billie Jean King. Unfortunately, we are not able to grant individual interviews for these projects. However...her answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Good luck with your project.
Tip
Tip Nunn
1) Title 9 was created over 30 years ago; are you happy with how it is working today or do you feel that improvements should be made? If so, what?
First you have to recognize that Title IX was about education and the inclusion of sports was almost an afterthought. Prior to the passage of Title IX in 1972 many colleges and universities had quotas on the number of women who could enroll in their medicine, law and related degree programs. Because of Title IX we now have much more of a balance in the number of men and women who are doctors and lawyers in this country. So, yes, Title IX is working. But, we also have to remain committed to protecting the legislation. Slowly but surely, we are working to change the hearts and minds of people to match the legislation of Title IX and one of the most important advances is how fathers are now demanding the same opportunities for their daughters as they do for their sons.
2) How do you feel knowing that you were instrumental in the fight for athletic gender equality?
I am frequently humbled by the praise people from all walks of life give me in this area. But, I did not do it alone and while I am blessed to have been part of the solution, I was just a part of it. My life’s work has been to provide equal rights and opportunities for all . . . men and women, boys and girls. It is not solely focused on the athletic arena, but because of the gifts God gave me to play tennis, I was blessed to be able to use those talents to have a platform to talk about gender equality. It is a responsibility I take very seriously. Those who are given the talent and the drive to be a champion must do whatever they can to make a difference in the lives of others.
3) What specific things are you most proud of with your efforts for gender quality?
World TeamTennis is one of the proudest parts of my life. If you have ever seen a WTT match, you have seen my philosophy of life in action . . men and women competing together on equal terms. For me, it does not get much better, much more important than that. I have often said the main reason I helped women so much is that at the time (in the 1970s) they were underserved, they needed my help and the assistance of others. If the boys had been underserved, I would have helped them. Gender is important, but equality is huge.
4) At the time, did it occur to you that the match with Bobby might have a bigger context or were you just thinking that this was a fun tennis match and a chance to display your own athletic ability?
The match was only a tennis match on the outside. It was really all about social change. I knew that going in—especially after Bobby had defeated Margaret Court (who was the #1 player in the world at the time). Bobby’s match against Margaret was so one-sided it became known as the Mother’s Day Massacre.
5) What did your victory mean to you personally and to women in general?
1973 was a very different time. No one had an iPhone, Twitter and Facebook did not exist. Women could not even get a credit card on their own. Over the years since I played Bobby, I have had many women and men come up to me with great stories. I have had women tell me how the match gave them the confidence to go ask their bosses for a raise and how they used that night as a motivator to start standing up for what they wanted in life. Also, and just as important to me, several men told me they decided that night they wanted the same opportunities for their daughters that were available to their sons. I am always humbled that people give me credit for helping them, when in reality they chose to help themselves.
6) If you had lost, what do you think would have happened? Would your life have been altered? Would the progress of women's right have changed in any way?"
For several years after the match I would have these dreams that I either had not yet played the match or I had lost the match. Losing the match was simply not an option for me. Title IX (the landmark legislation mandating equal funding and opportunities for boys and girls at educational institutions) had just been passed on June 23, 1972 and I wanted to use the King/Riggs match to change the hearts and minds of society to more closely match the intent of Title IX. I wanted equal opportunities for men and women, boys and girls. We also had just started the first women’s professional tennis tour and we were working very hard to get it off the ground. If I had lost, all of those things would have suffered severe setbacks and yes, things would have been different for women. I didn’t change this all by myself, I was just fortunate to be one of the many faces that were part of improving conditions for women in the country.
7) Can you describe what it was like for women in sports and women in society then, compared to now.
Looking back it is sad to acknowledge there was not one female reporter covering the match against Bobby. And if you look at the tapes of the ABC broadcast, Howard Cosell (then a giant in sportscasting) talked about my looks rather than my accomplishments. That still bothers me today. I’ll illustrate the point with a story. Countless times men and women come up to me and say “Thanks for what you did for WOMEN’S tennis.” I often wonder if they would thank Jimmy Connors for what he did for MEN’S tennis. Probably not. They would probably say hey Jimmy, thanks for what you did for tennis. I hope what I have done has helped all tennis and not just women’s tennis. Women make up 51% of the world’s population. We are the majority and we need to accept that responsibility. Perhaps were are now at the point where we do not need to be happy accepting the crumbs and we know we can have the cake and the icing, too!
8) In a sense, this was just a tennis match, and not even one pitting you against one of the best male players. Why do you think it has become such an iconic moment in the history of women's rights?
It was all about timing. In 1973 women’s rights were really heating up it was a very important topic of the time. I was blessed to win 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in my tennis career. But I may be forever known for that night in Houston. That’s fine with me, too. I know we made a difference that night and it has allowed me to live out a promise I made to myself at 12 years old. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. That is my life’s work . . and has been for many, many years.
Date: Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Subject: Billie Jean King Request
We have received your request for an interview with Billie Jean King. Unfortunately, we are not able to grant individual interviews for these projects. However...her answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Good luck with your project.
Tip
Tip Nunn
1) Title 9 was created over 30 years ago; are you happy with how it is working today or do you feel that improvements should be made? If so, what?
First you have to recognize that Title IX was about education and the inclusion of sports was almost an afterthought. Prior to the passage of Title IX in 1972 many colleges and universities had quotas on the number of women who could enroll in their medicine, law and related degree programs. Because of Title IX we now have much more of a balance in the number of men and women who are doctors and lawyers in this country. So, yes, Title IX is working. But, we also have to remain committed to protecting the legislation. Slowly but surely, we are working to change the hearts and minds of people to match the legislation of Title IX and one of the most important advances is how fathers are now demanding the same opportunities for their daughters as they do for their sons.
2) How do you feel knowing that you were instrumental in the fight for athletic gender equality?
I am frequently humbled by the praise people from all walks of life give me in this area. But, I did not do it alone and while I am blessed to have been part of the solution, I was just a part of it. My life’s work has been to provide equal rights and opportunities for all . . . men and women, boys and girls. It is not solely focused on the athletic arena, but because of the gifts God gave me to play tennis, I was blessed to be able to use those talents to have a platform to talk about gender equality. It is a responsibility I take very seriously. Those who are given the talent and the drive to be a champion must do whatever they can to make a difference in the lives of others.
3) What specific things are you most proud of with your efforts for gender quality?
World TeamTennis is one of the proudest parts of my life. If you have ever seen a WTT match, you have seen my philosophy of life in action . . men and women competing together on equal terms. For me, it does not get much better, much more important than that. I have often said the main reason I helped women so much is that at the time (in the 1970s) they were underserved, they needed my help and the assistance of others. If the boys had been underserved, I would have helped them. Gender is important, but equality is huge.
4) At the time, did it occur to you that the match with Bobby might have a bigger context or were you just thinking that this was a fun tennis match and a chance to display your own athletic ability?
The match was only a tennis match on the outside. It was really all about social change. I knew that going in—especially after Bobby had defeated Margaret Court (who was the #1 player in the world at the time). Bobby’s match against Margaret was so one-sided it became known as the Mother’s Day Massacre.
5) What did your victory mean to you personally and to women in general?
1973 was a very different time. No one had an iPhone, Twitter and Facebook did not exist. Women could not even get a credit card on their own. Over the years since I played Bobby, I have had many women and men come up to me with great stories. I have had women tell me how the match gave them the confidence to go ask their bosses for a raise and how they used that night as a motivator to start standing up for what they wanted in life. Also, and just as important to me, several men told me they decided that night they wanted the same opportunities for their daughters that were available to their sons. I am always humbled that people give me credit for helping them, when in reality they chose to help themselves.
6) If you had lost, what do you think would have happened? Would your life have been altered? Would the progress of women's right have changed in any way?"
For several years after the match I would have these dreams that I either had not yet played the match or I had lost the match. Losing the match was simply not an option for me. Title IX (the landmark legislation mandating equal funding and opportunities for boys and girls at educational institutions) had just been passed on June 23, 1972 and I wanted to use the King/Riggs match to change the hearts and minds of society to more closely match the intent of Title IX. I wanted equal opportunities for men and women, boys and girls. We also had just started the first women’s professional tennis tour and we were working very hard to get it off the ground. If I had lost, all of those things would have suffered severe setbacks and yes, things would have been different for women. I didn’t change this all by myself, I was just fortunate to be one of the many faces that were part of improving conditions for women in the country.
7) Can you describe what it was like for women in sports and women in society then, compared to now.
Looking back it is sad to acknowledge there was not one female reporter covering the match against Bobby. And if you look at the tapes of the ABC broadcast, Howard Cosell (then a giant in sportscasting) talked about my looks rather than my accomplishments. That still bothers me today. I’ll illustrate the point with a story. Countless times men and women come up to me and say “Thanks for what you did for WOMEN’S tennis.” I often wonder if they would thank Jimmy Connors for what he did for MEN’S tennis. Probably not. They would probably say hey Jimmy, thanks for what you did for tennis. I hope what I have done has helped all tennis and not just women’s tennis. Women make up 51% of the world’s population. We are the majority and we need to accept that responsibility. Perhaps were are now at the point where we do not need to be happy accepting the crumbs and we know we can have the cake and the icing, too!
8) In a sense, this was just a tennis match, and not even one pitting you against one of the best male players. Why do you think it has become such an iconic moment in the history of women's rights?
It was all about timing. In 1973 women’s rights were really heating up it was a very important topic of the time. I was blessed to win 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in my tennis career. But I may be forever known for that night in Houston. That’s fine with me, too. I know we made a difference that night and it has allowed me to live out a promise I made to myself at 12 years old. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. That is my life’s work . . and has been for many, many years.
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