Billie’s life became filled with training, she would listen to any coach that might know anything about Bobby’s tactic. The other demand on her time was interviews lots and lots of interviews. During an Interview Billie said,” I told them I never thought women were better than men, and that the top man in tennis would beat the top woman. I was playing to prove that men and women had the same entertainment value, which is why we should be paid equally” (King 26). That was not what the press wanted to hear, so it all got swept under the rug. All people could see was a girl was playing a boy. The day had finally arrived, and Billie forced herself to live in the moment, as she was carried in on an Egyptian litter carried by some strong …show more content…
Though, Title IX was passed on June 23, 1972 Billie’s major win in the Battle of the Sexes brought it into America’s eye and made it a reality. Because of King’s contributions to Title IX all levels of school receiving federal funds for education to spend them equally on boys and girls (King 22). In addition, Billie and 5 other women started The Women’s Sports Foundation in 1974; it is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing the sports experience for all women. The Women’s Sports Foundation has speakers, sponsors the international women’s sports hall of fame, provides sports camp scholarships for girls, was instrumental in the passing of Amateur sports Act of 1978, and provides athletes with training and a world class experience (Woolum 21). She has also been very involved in the Elton john Aids foundation, and a same sex marriage activist (King 56). Her impact is immeasurable and has lead her to getting some well-deserved awards such as, being named one of the 100 most important Americans in the 20th century; the only other athletes were Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Muhammad Ali. Sports illustrated named her in the top 40 athletes “significantly altering or elevating sports in the previous 4 decades” (Woolum 161). Lisa Olson, a sports writer, got the privilege to go hear Billie speak, and this quote is from her article after the event, " ‘For so many girls,