Billie Jean King Quotes

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Billie Jean King

Profession : Tennis Player

Birth : November 22, 1943

In the seventies we had to make it acceptable for people to accept girls and women as athletes. We had to make it okay for them to be active. Those were much scarier times for females in sports.

Billie Jean King

A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.

Billie Jean King

Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.

Billie Jean King

I think it's impossible to judge whether another person should come out. You just hope they will on their own time and their own terms.

Billie Jean King

I wanted to use sports for social change.

Billie Jean King

Ever since that day when I was 11 years old, and I wasn't allowed in a photo because I wasn't wearing a tennis skirt, I knew that I wanted to change the sport.

Billie Jean King

Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to win and lose-it teaches you about life.

Billie Jean King

No one changes the world who isn't obsessed.

Billie Jean King

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

Sports are a microcosm of society.

Billie Jean King

The main thing is to care. Care very hard, even if it is only a game you are playing.

Billie Jean King

Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquillity.

Billie Jean King

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

In 1973, a woman could not get a credit card without her husband or father or a male signing off on it.

Billie Jean King

Victory is fleeting. Losing is forever.

Billie Jean King

That is where the power, opportunity, and choice come from-when you have money. Money equals opportunity. There is no question.

Billie Jean King

I knew after my first lesson what I wanted to do with my life.

Billie Jean King

I would love to be a player today. I had the right personality for it.

Billie Jean King

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

I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.

Billie Jean King