King immortalized in bronze with Hollywood star

LOS ANGELES — Billie Jean King grew to become the primary girl to obtain a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame within the new sports activities leisure class on Monday and she or he was joined by mates Magic Johnson and Oscar-winning actor Jamie Lee Curtis.

“The vital factor is, I do not need to be the final one,” the Corridor of Fame tennis participant instructed the group.

King acquired the two,807th star, situated close to the famed intersection of Hollywood and Vine throughout from the historic Pantages Theater. Its digital marque learn, “A star for a star. Congratulations Billie Jean King.”

Followers gathered on the sidewalk outdoors a dumpling store whereas horns honked and movie star tour buses cruised previous on busy Hollywood Boulevard. King’s spouse, Ilana Kloss, joined the clutch of photographers to shoot her personal footage.

“You at all times struggle for what’s proper,” Johnson instructed King above the din. “You lend your platform and your voice and your time and your cash to result in change.”

Johnson, like King, is a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been honored on the White Home earlier Monday for profitable the 2024 World Sequence.

“We’re simply alike,” he stated. “We’re tremendous aggressive as hell, we’re management freaks as a result of we all know that in case you put it in our arms, we’ll win. You’ve got been a winner your complete life, you’re keen on to assist folks and final however not least, you at all times will stand for what’s proper.”

The ceremony reunited King with gamers Rosie Casals and Julie Anthony from the earliest days of the WTA Tour, in addition to the tour’s retired athletic coach Connie Spooner. Additionally attending have been five-time main champion Maria Sharapova and Stacey Allaster, former WTA CEO and present U.S. Open event director.

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“Billie Jean King’s contribution is energy,” Curtis stated. “She’s energy on the courts, she’s energy within the courts, she’s energy within the press, energy in her public advocacy, energy in her struggle for freedom, energy to be who she is now.”

King grew up in Lengthy Seashore, 34 miles south of Hollywood. She performed on the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills tennis golf equipment, the place she’d spot stars resembling Lucille Ball and Doris Day.

“My household beloved music and films,” she stated. “A visit to Hollywood, a film at Grauman’s Chinese language Theatre, was a particular deal with for our household. My mom would have beloved this.”

King attended Oscar-winning actor Holly Hunter’s star ceremony in 2008.

“I bear in mind pondering again then, ‘Oh man, that is actually cool. That is unbelievable,'” she stated. “‘Oh, I am by no means going to get this.’ Right here I’m.”

King was the primary to step on her bronze star after it was uncovered a number of blocks east of the place her longtime good friend Elton John’s is situated.

“Bear in mind,” she stated, “my star is your star.”

Additionally readily available was Los Angeles Lakers proprietor Jeanie Buss, her husband Jay Mohr, rapper Taste Flav, race-car driver Katherine Legge and Emmy-winning screenwriter Jane Anderson.

In January, King served as grand marshal of the 136th Rose Parade and final yr she acquired the Congressional Gold Medal.