Learn English via Listening - Level 3 - Billie Jean King | Текст песни

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• Billie Jean King

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During her competitive days, Billie Jean King was one of the most successful players in
women's tennis. However, King is probably more recognized for her political support of
women's tennis, and her fight to achieve respect for lesbian and gay athletes in tennis,
and in sport in general.
Born in Long Beach, California in 1943 as Billie Jean Moffatt, she began playing tennis at
the age of 11. King learned the game playing on municipal courts, rather than the route
most successful players take in tennis in the private clubs. When King began competing
in the elite levels of tennis, the sport was strictly amateur. She first entered Wimbledon in
1961, and only two years later she advanced to the final. She won her first Wimbledon
title in 1966, at the young age of 22. Her first place prize for winning was a $60 gift
voucher for Harrods department store. By the end of her remarkable career, King would
amass a remarkable 39 Grand Slam titles.
Although women's tennis was amateur, King and a few other players began arguing for
professional status. Indeed, King's competitive performances and training regimen took
on a very professional tone. In fact, it was King, and not men's player John McEnroe,
who started the practice of arguing against umpires' decisions on the court, although it
is the latter player who is better known for such antics. King's training and competitive
practices made her a truly modern and "professional" player, but they also cost her
much public support.
King's major initiative was to start a professional tour, which began in 1968. Operating
outside the auspices of the "official" tournaments and organizations, the new
professional tour had trouble attracting many of the top international players.
Interestingly, Wimbledon allowed professionals soon after King's tour started. The rest of
the world's tours permitted professionals soon after.
Among King's other major political initiatives, she aligned herself with the pro-abortion
movement, Title IX legislation in the U.S. (the purpose of which was to equalize girls' and
women's funding in education), and she negotiated a deal with the Philip Morris Tobacco
Company to set up the Virginia Slims tour. Finally, the famous match between herself and
self-styled "male chauvinist pig" Bobby Riggs in 1973, which King won, brought much
public attention to King and to the growing women's athletic movement.
Finally, in 1981, it was revealed that King had a lesbian relationship with her secretary. At
first King denied the allegation, but later she admitted to the relationship. Instead of
hiding her sexuality, which is what female lesbian athletes had been doing for years,
King was the first major sports superstar to come out. As such, King will be justifiably
recognized as one of the first and most important fighters for the sexual rights of gays
and lesbians in sport.

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