Billie Jean King Spends Night with Lobsters
July 16, 2013 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Boston Lobsters News Release
The Boston Lobsters had the best attendance numbers the team has seen this summer at the Manchester Athletic Club on Monday night, as 1,740 fans packed the Joan Norton Tennis Center.
The turnout didn't come as a big surprise. After all, everybody wants to see the King.
Billie Jean King was on hand to watch the Lobsters fall 23-18 to the Washington Kastles. She also held a clinic for local tennis youths before the match, participated in a question-and-answer with announcer Steve Calechman during a break in play, and signed autographs for fans, who welcomed King with a standing ovation before the match.
Lobsters' announcer Steve Calechman with Billie Jean King on July 15
In an interview before the match, King discussed the future of Mylan World TeamTennis, which she co-founded, what makes it so special and what she likes about the facility the Lobsters have established at the MAC.
"I must say, of all the things I did in my life, this will be one of my greatest contributions," said the 39-time Grand Slam champion, who played at the Essex County Tennis Club when she was just 17. "When we drove in, I was like, 'Oh my goodness, I've been here before.'"
During her brief Q&A with Calechman, King revealed some personal nuggets. Fans learned her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, her favorite movie is It's a Wonderful Life, she drinks coffee but only decaf, and that she's watched Wimbledon with the Royal Couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton.
As far as Mylan WTT is concerned, King has found the next generation of tennis greats to help bring the league into the future.
"We want to start getting younger players involved with the league because I'm going to be 70 this year. We asked (Andy) Roddick, and we asked Venus (Williams), and they both said yes right away," King said. "They are into it - their skin is in the game so they aren't just celebrity owners. I want them to shape the future because they're the young ones. They're the ones who know what's going on with the younger folks and can shape this league's future."
A longtime advocate for gender equality, King points to the example Mylan WTT sets for younger kids when it comes to working alongside the opposite gender. The league is one of few in pro sports in which men and women play together and against one another.
"There are contributions from both genders equally. When you get a little 8-year-old girl out here, they're going through a socialization process that they don't realize," King said. "They're watching men and women working together and cooperating, which is how things are in real life. It's very rare to have men and women on the same team in pro sports, so it's great that we have it."
Lastly, King touched on the venue at the MAC and why she thinks it's an ideal place for tennis enthusiasts as well as future standout players.
"This facility is just amazing. They have a new court and everything. It's also a beautiful area and a lot of people in this area show up and love tennis," King said. "This is also a great place for the kids especially in the winter, which they'll need if they want to make it. They don't have to go down to Florida."
The match itself started with an ace for Lobsters (3-5) marquee player Mark Philippoussis, but the Australian native lost 5-4 to Bobby Reynolds of the Kastles (4-2). After the match, Philippoussis spoke about the guest of honor.
"This (Mylan WTT) is what she started, so I think it's great that she comes out and shows her support," Philippoussis said. "She's been a huge influence in tennis and has done incredible things for both male and female players. She's as good as anyone in sports - or not in sports - to look up to."
After Martina Hingis dispatched Boston's Jill Craybas 5-3 in women's singles, Philippoussis and Eric Butorac defeated Reynolds and Leander Paes 5-3 in what was Boston's best set of the night. The Lobsters clinched the set winning a three-all point, but, overall, the team struggled in those do-or-die moments.
"With the Kastles, we have a smaller margin for error. We started with a lot of energy, but we didn't carry it through until the end," said Boston head coach Bud Schultz. "Three-all points are huge swings in a match and we have to get better. I have to prepare them better." Craybas and Katalin Marosi were defeated 5-2 by Hingis and Anastasia Rodionova, before Butorac and Marosi fell to Paes and Hingis 5-4 in the final set of the night.
Billie Jean King with Tenacity's Boston Marathon Running Team on July 15. In total 16 runners raised $112,000 for Tenacity. Tenacity is co-founded by Boston Lobsters' coach Bud Schultz (photos by Lori Lynes)
Boston will be in Albany, New York tonight to play the New York Sportimes (2-3).
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World TeamTennis Stories from July 16, 2013
- Philadelphia Freedoms Defeated by Washington Kastles in Overtime - Philadelphia Freedoms
- NY Sportimes Defeat Boston Lobsters, 21-14 - New York Sportimes
- Billie Jean King Spends Night with Lobsters - Boston Lobsters
- Capitals Newsletter - Sacramento Capitals
- Hall-of-Famer Hingis Leads Kastles Over Lobsters, 23-18 - Washington Kastles
- Mylan WTT Final Results - WTT
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