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PHOENIX, AZ (Cable
Muse Network), November 07, 2008 ---Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I’ve Learned from Life and the Battle of the
Sexes, the first book by sports icon and social activist Billie Jean King in more than 20 years, was released in August
, 2008. Cable Muse Network brings in close to interaction with a enthusiastic audience in Tempe, Arizona.
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Billie Jean King’s
new book chronicles a series of life lessons that guided her to the world stage and her historic Battle of the Sexes match
with Bobby Riggs, held September 20, 1973 in Houston, Texas.
Academy Award-winning
actress Holly Hunter wrote the preface for the book. “Published in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of one of the
most pivotal moments not just in the history of women’s sports, but in American culture, Pressure is a Privilege uses
the Battle of the Sexes match as a backdrop to illustrate the life lessons that led to Billie Jean’s success in sports,
life and in the world at large,” said Jacqueline Grace, president of LifeTime Media, Inc.
Billie Jean King was one
of the five recipients of the 2008 Minerva Award earlier this year, presented by Maria Shriver.
In Billie Jean King’s
(BJK) words:
BJK: It was so wonderful
because I dedicated it, my Minerva Award to the people of Long Beach, because I’m born and raised there in Long Beach.
And here we are in Long Beach, because, without the people…yeah, it takes a village. Hillary’s right, Clinton’s
right, it really does, it takes a village.
When you read the
book, you’ll see all these different people. Carol Gyver who believed in me and raised money for me, the Long Beach
Century Club, Women’s Tennis Patrons, all these people in the community of Long Beach made it possible for me to play.
I couldn’t afford
entrance fees, the Long Beach Tennis Patrons helped. I couldn’t afford to go to Europe, Carol Gyver went to Long Beach
Century Club so it was all these… So it was very moving, I broke down a couple of times, I really had to suck it up.
It was an honor to win the Minerva award and the people of Long Beach gave me the courage, strength and
wisdom. That’s why I was standing …14,000 people going crazy, it was fun.
When you read the book,
Pressure is privilege, you’ll see, uh, when I played Bobby Riggs, it was a year after Title 9 was passed. It passed
June 23rd, 1972, it’s about education. A congress woman, from Oregon, was very instrumental. She loved and she really
cared about education and she started thinking about girls getting a fair shake. They don’t have as much money spent
on them…we’ve got to change it”. It was the emphasis to start Title 9.
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