Billie Jean King turns 80 - A true tennis legend - video Dailymotion

Hear what people have to say about tennis legend Billie Jean King on her 80th birthday

Transcript

00:00 (upbeat music)

00:02 We are at a tipping point for the first time ever.

00:11 And because of my age, I've had perspective.

00:13 I'll be 80 this year.

00:14 So to see where we started 50, 60, 70 years ago

00:19 and where we are now, we're just now in men and women,

00:23 all genders are starting to invest in women's sports

00:27 in a big way, not small money, but more big money.

00:30 I knew after my first practice with coach Clyde Walker

00:34 that I wanted to be the number one player in the world.

00:37 Then at 12 years old, I was thinking about my sport.

00:43 I noticed everyone who played tennis wore white clothes,

00:47 played with white balls, and everyone who played was white.

00:52 And I asked myself, where is everyone else?

00:57 From that moment on, I decided to dedicate my life

01:01 to equal rights and opportunities for all.

01:04 I have a vision where the world of sports

01:08 looks more like our world,

01:11 represented equally by people of all genders

01:14 and all races and cultures.

01:16 A world where we all have a seat at the table,

01:20 a voice in the conversation, and a chance to lead.

01:25 (upbeat music)

01:27 - Billie Jean, the OG, short-haired, wild-ass lesbian.

01:32 You really opened so many doors

01:37 and set the stage for so many of us.

01:39 - Well, Billie Jean is an amazing person

01:46 and she's everywhere.

01:49 I mean, she's made the WTA big.

01:51 I mean, she fights for everything, for equality.

01:56 I mean, she's always representing all the women players,

02:01 not only in tennis, but in other sports.

02:04 She's huge and I really thank her.

02:08 And it's a great honor that she thought of me for this role.

02:11 (upbeat music)

02:14 (upbeat music)