ipl-logo

Billie Jean King Major Accomplishments

1883 Words8 Pages

“Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility” says the tremendous tennis legend Billie Jean King ("Billie Jean King quote") .Billie Jean King is a feminist icon who used tennis to make change for women and women’s sports for all of eternity. She was known for her phenomenal tennis playing and the numerous amounts of titles she has won across the globe. Her determination to fight for what is right and her devotion for tennis made her shine. Her accomplishments are deeply appreciated by the women of today’s world, from all races and backgrounds, who have an equal chance as men, as well as equal pay. Billie Jean King started out as a girl with a fierce devotion to tennis, a determination …show more content…

She was born on November 22, 1943 in Long Beach, California ("World Biography"). She was raised in a working class family, with both of her parents, Willard (Bill) and Betty Moffitt, and her brother, Randy Moffitt (Summer "King, Billie Jean"). When Billie Jean King and Randy Moffitt were youngsters, they played baseball (Summer "King, Billie Jean"). Everyone encouraged King to play because she was an excellent hitter, but she soon realized that “there was no place for an American girl to go in the national pastime” (Summer). "King, Billie Jean"). Tennis was the only sport that sparked her interest so her parents enrolled her in Long Beach city recreation program, where she borrowed a racquet and received free lessons (Summer "King, Billie Jean"). King was the odd one out from the start, being that tennis was considered a sport for the white elite. Her 20/40 vision brought the need for glasses (Summer). Being five feet, four and a half inches with weight and knee problems, didn’t make things easier (Summer). To top it off, she couldn’t afford the traditional tennis whites, leaving her to play in her blouse and shorts handmade by her mother (Summer). As the embarrassment set in, she came to question why her tennis team was full of the white elite and why all of her friends thought there was no point in playing a sport. She wanted to change her sport so that it wasn’t just for the white elite, and change what her friends thought of women’s sports. At the age of 14, Billie won her first championship (Summer). Ever since then she has had big dreams to change the world through tennis and one day play in the Wimbledon. A year later, she was awarded the opportunity to be coached by the legendary tennis player, Alice Marble (Summer). King was beyond dedicated; she spent weeks practicing at the Long Beach courts. It became hard for Billie to

Show More
Related

  • What Are Jackie Robinson's Major Accomplishments

    665 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jackie was born January 31, 1919 (www.bio.com). He was born in Cairo, Georgia and grew up in West, California (www.bio.com) (Robinson 4). Jackie’s father left at a young age (Robinson 4). He had to move quite a bit when his parents split up (Robinson 4).

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: The Hero's Journey

    933 Words  | 4 Pages

    From trading pieces of candy for chess pieces, to playing in local tournaments, she transforms into a proficient chess player. Her skills were unmatched in her early years, and she was quickly seen as the first female Grandmaster at the age of twelve. This is her departure from what would appear to be a “normal” life. Furthermore, she meets a mentor, Lau Po, and improves at playing chess. This mirrors the Hero’s Journey, in how both a Hero, and Waverly, must traverse through calls of action, meet a mentor, and transform.

    Read More

  • Jackie Robinson Accomplishments

    761 Words  | 4 Pages

    ¨A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,¨-- Jackie Robinson. (brainyquote.com). Jack (Jackie) Roosevelt Robinson is the person of the twentieth century as he is a legend beyond baseball. By playing baseball for so many years, he was able to prove that he was a remarkable baseball player. Robinson was also able to win numerous awards for all of his accomplishments.

    Read More

  • Jackie Robinson Accomplishments

    836 Words  | 4 Pages

    Way back in 1919 he hit 137 home runs, had 734 runners batted in, and 197 stolen bases. ("Jackie Robinson Career Home Runs") The color of your skin should have nothing to do with how you play; your race is nothing, but a color and he surely proves that. Jack Roosevelt Robinson, aka Jackie Robinson, a worldwide known baseball player, is known for changing baseball. His accomplishment changed baseball.

    Read More

  • Pat Summitt Biography Essay

    746 Words  | 3 Pages

    The basketball world mourns the passing of a legend this week. I could reprint the same quotes most other news sources have, but instead, I'd like to share who Pat Summitt was to me. As a girl that grew up as a tomboy, most of my heroes were male, including Superman, the Hulk, Luke Skywalker, Don Mattingly of the Yankees, and I modelled my basketball moves after Charles Barkley, but there was one amazing lady that topped them all-

    Read More

  • Serena Williams Research Paper

    505 Words  | 3 Pages

    Just because Serena Williams is a “black women” (Claudia) she is seen to portray a certain type of image in “white America” because she is in the public eye, and on the flip side she overpowers her white competitors. But of course, once recognized, black excellence is then supposed to perform with good manners and forgiveness in the face of any racist indifference or violations. Even on her worst days media reports can put down Serena Williams but that will never stunt her growth as one of the worlds best tennis players or take any of her talents away. Through injuries, sickness, training, and harsh name-callings Serena has showed the world why she is one of the top tennis players. Despite what newspaper articles and social media say about

    Read More

  • Title IX And Women In Sports Essay

    1148 Words  | 5 Pages

    "-Billie Jean King Title IX is a law that has help women everywhere, including Billie Jean King. Women and girls everywhere are grateful for the law, before the law was made work, sports, and education was unfair to women and girls. Once Title IX was created girls and women can participate in the same activities and sports an men. Girls and women everywhere are affected by Title IX, they are so grateful for the law.

    Read More

  • Jackie Robinson Accomplishments

    893 Words  | 4 Pages

    “I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… all I ask is that you respect me as a human being. ”-Jackie Robinson (Lorber) Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson change the world in many different ways.

    Read More

  • What Are Jackie Robinson's Accomplishments

    426 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jason Shaw Mrs.Outley English Lit 2nd Period 26 October 2017 The Life of Jackie Robinson On January 31st 1919 a boy named Jackie Robinson was born by his mother Mallie Robinson. This boy would grow up to take what he wanted in life and he created history thru his accomplishments.

    Read More

  • Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Overcoming Obstacles

    431 Words  | 2 Pages

    A person who is trying to find a goal in life, she chooses a great ability she had in school. While trying to reach her goal, she is like a hard-working wolf trying to reach her prey. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, chooses to be a athlete the rest of her life after winning several awards in highschool, and she goes to the olympics and becomes one of the world’s greatest athletes. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, was one of the greatest athletes i’ve ever seen on TV, after reading information about her online she seems like a great woman and athlete.

    Read More

  • Jackie Robinson's Accomplishments

    703 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout his baseball career, Jackie Robinson combated and disarmed antagonists of all kinds with an unflappable demeanor and preternatural inner resolve. My favorite example of his delicate balance between outward poise and inner tenaciousness lies in his encounters with Phillies manager Ben Chapman, who resorted to using malicious racial epithets and instructing his pitchers to purposely throw harmful balls at Jackie Robinson. In a game against Chapman’s team in 1947, Robinson responded by scoring the sole run in the Dodgers’ 1-0 victory. For Robinson, vindication came in the form of tangible results. His resolve and success in the face of contempt, bigotry, and harassment serves as an eternal example for students like myself who seek to

    Read More

  • Jackie Robinson Accomplishments

    180 Words  | 1 Pages

    One person who achieved greatness in their lives was Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first African American to play in the MLB. This was one of the greatest things that happened in sports people say, except the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in 2016. If Jackie Robinson did not take a hack at this great achievement, who would have.

    Read More

  • John F Kennedy's Accomplishments

    1086 Words  | 5 Pages

    John F. Kennedy President of The U.S.A Determined. Opposed the Soviet Union even in the face of war. Courageous. Saved fellow sailors during times of war. Leader, was the president of the United States.

    Read More

  • Essay On Gender Inequality In Sports

    779 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although over time gender discrimination has grown progressively over the years, one place that gender inequality is not fully present is in the sports world. Gender inequality in sports has been an issue in the industry for centuries. For years and years women faced the issues of lower pay, not as much publicity and not being appreciated as a female athlete. Clearly, even in this prevalent era of alleged equality and impartiality, most sports still remains as a male dominion, as there still is an unnoticed barrier between sport and woman. Through this analysis, I wanted to investigate some of the initial causes for the above circumstances.

    Read More

  • Equality In Sports

    1378 Words  | 6 Pages

    So why is there still debate about gender equality in sport? Women and men compete in separate events in all sporting disciplines apart from Equestrian competitions and in mixed doubles teams in Badminton, Tennis and Ice Skating. My essay will look at the different arguments around whether or not women and men should be allowed to compete together in sport. One of the most compelling arguments for why women and men should be allowed to compete against each other is that in today’s society in which women and men are equal and can do the same things, they should be given the same opportunities in sport.

    Read More

More about Billie Jean King Major Accomplishments

Open Document