Billie Jean King Quotes

The most important words that have helped me in life, when things have gone right or when things have gone wrong are 'accept responsibility.'

There is no life for girls in team sports past Little League. I got into tennis when I realized this, and because I thought golf would be too slow for me, and I was too scared to swim.

Champions take responsibility. When the ball is coming over the net, you can be sure I want the ball.

Don't go into debt and don't spend a lot. It's not how much money you make, it's how much you spend.

Ask Nureyev to stop dancing, ask Sinatra to stop singing, then you can ask me to stop playing.

I didn't really care if I had a coach that much, me personally, because I was brought up to think for myself.

You've got to win in sports - that's talent - but you've also got to learn how to remind everybody how you did win, and how often. That comes with experience.

I try to perfect my strong points and make my weaknesses adequate.

Don't be afraid to hit the ball.

Men still get a lot more opportunity. It is still a big part of the old boy network... They have more companies they can get money from.

In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and business, we are at 68 cents on the dollar.

A girl didn't get an athletic scholarship until the fall of 1972 for the very first time.

It's important to try to get people to think about women's wellness.

Champions take responsibility.

People say, "Do you know how much a million dollars is?" I don't have a clue. How many Big Macs will it buy me?

I used to be told if I talked about my sexuality in any way that we wouldn't have a tennis tour.

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.

Being Number One isn't everything to me, but for those few hours on the court it's way ahead of whatever's in second place.

I always liked co-ed events best so we have two men and two women on each team.

Bobby Riggs was one of my heroes. I admired him. That's one of the reasons I beat him - because I respected him.

If your partner wants to be private, you have to respect that.

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!

Each point I play is in the now moment. The last point means nothing, the next point means nothing.

Love, light & blessings be On this day I wish to say 'Health & Happiness to come your way' Happy Birthday

It's your birthday today, so what would you say, if we turned that frown upside down

I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis has been great to me.

I always wanted to help make tennis a team sport.

At 62 you want to keep moving; that's important.

Any therapist will tell you that when you're ready, you will come out. To be outed means you weren't ready.

When I was outed, it was like, That's done.

I like to see what future generations are thinking about.

You want people to feel like they belong to something. And not be elitist. You don't want us to be elitist.

Trust and respect is something you earn, not something that is given.

Female athletes are stereotyped by the general population--and usually as homosexuals.

Our love one's are never gone, they have just popped into another room.

As far as U.S. tennis, we need new stars coming up in the pipeline, but I don't know if we have it.

Martina and I went through a very bad five years. Everything's very good between us now, but it was a long haul.

I have a lot to say, and if I'm not No. 1, I can't say it.

I think it's really important to have portion control. I don't believe in losing weight quickly.

It's very important to take tennis to the people. For young people, they get to see the best in the world.

I got to see the best players in the world every year the week after the U.S. Nationals, which is now known as the US Open, in Los Angeles. That made a huge difference in my life.

Sports are a microcosm of society. It just shows how much more competition there is in the world.

Every generation I think gets better usually [in tennis].

The main thing is not a matter of wanting to win; the main thing is being scared to lose.

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

Champions take responsibility. When the ball is coming over the net you can be sure I want the ball.

I like entrepreneurial people I like people who take risks.