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Billie Jean King Discusses Being Back in the Game with New Knees on The Dr. Pat Show
Phoenix, AZ (Press Release Service) July 11, 2011 – Sports Icon Billie Jean King shares her inspirational journey back to the courts after her knee replacement surgery in this one-hour interview with Dr. Pat Baccili, “The Dr. Pat Show”, streamed live Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 8am (PST)/11am (EST) on VoiceAmerica’s Variety Channel (http://voiceamericavariety.com/ ). Don’t miss this heartfelt conversation between two passionate activists.
“I am thrilled to be interviewing one of the most influential women in sports history, Billie Jean King, says Baccili. Many of us owe our journey as women and women in sports to Ms. King for leading the cause for equality in sports for women. Ms. King remains an icon in the world of tennis and continues to carry the voice for women globally.” Dr. Pat’s interview with Ms. King explores the world of tennis and what enabled her to get back on the court.
Billie Jean King the preeminent sports icons of the 20th century. Her legendary career includes 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles tennis titles, and a record 20 wins at Wimbledon. This year marks Billie Jean’s 50th Anniversary of her first Wimbledon win, when she was just 17 years old. Off the court, she also paved the way for equality among both genders, and continues to make her mark today.
After 40 years of debilitating pain and strain from playing tennis, and six knee surgeries (her first being at age 23, when she was the #1 female tennis star in the world), Billie Jean decided to sacrifice her life’s passion – playing tennis. A year ago, unable to withstand the pain any longer, she underwent a double knee replacement with Smith & Nephew’s VERILAST™ Knee Technology. Now, at the ripe age of 67 years old, she is pain-free and back on the courts, and has been able to return to her beloved sport. Billie Jean wishes she hadn’t waited so long to talk to her doctor about knee replacement surgery. Her energy, drive to continue her active lifestyle, and will to overcome her knee issues, is inspiring and empowering. With the aging boomer population, it’s important for you to know that you might be able to continue an active lifestyle too and to see if knee replacement surgery might be an option.
About Billie Jean King - Visionary. Innovator. Champion.
As one of the 20th century's most respected and influential people, Billie Jean King has long been a champion for social justice and equality. She created new inroads for both genders in and out of sports during her legendary career and she continues to make her mark today. Among her many accomplishments are:
• On August 12, 2009, King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The first female athlete to be honored with the Medal of Freedom, King was presented the award by President Obama in ceremonies at The White House.
• Named one of the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" by Life Magazine in 1990.
• Won 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles tennis titles, including a record 20 titles at Wimbledon.
•In 2008 King authored Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes to commemorate the 35th anniversary of her historic 1973 match against Bobby Riggs.
• Was 1 of 9 players who broke away from the tennis establishment and accepted $1 contracts from tennis promoter Gladys Heldman in Houston. The revolt led to the birth of women's professional tennis and the formation of the Virginia Slims Tour and Women's Tennis Association.
• Empowered women and educated men when she defeated Bobby Riggs in one of the greatest moments in sports history – the Battle of the Sexes in 1973. This match is remembered for its effect on society and its contribution to the women's movement.
• Founded the Women's Tennis Association (1973), the Women's Sports Foundation (1974), Women's Sports Magazine (1974) and co-founded GreenSlam, an environmental initiative for the sports industry (2007).
• Co-founded World TeamTennis (1974), the groundbreaking co-ed professional tennis league and founded the World TeamTennis Recreational League, one of the most popular recreational tennis formats in the U.S.
• Named Global Mentor for Gender Equality by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2008, received the NCAA President's Gerald R. Ford Award in 2009, honored with Major League Baseball's Beacon of Change Award in 2010 and appointed to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition in 2010.
• Continues to be a leader in the fight for equality and recognition in the GLBT community, and has been honored by many of the leading GLBT organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD and Lambda Legal Foundation.
• Honored on August 28, 2006, when the National Tennis Center, home of the U. S. Open, was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in honor of King's contributions to tennis, sports and society both on and off the court. She continues to be involved with the USTA and is currently Honorary Chair of the Tennis in the Parks Committee.
• Currently serves on the boards of the Women's Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
To learn more about Billie Jean King go to http://www.wtt.com/
Dr. Pat Baccili, international award-winning host of The Dr. Pat Show – Talk Radio to Thrive By! is passionate about motivating people and helping her listeners discover just how good life can be. Always one step ahead of other radio hosts, Dr. Pat is known globally as the woman who supports positive vision and finding solutions. Her award-winning interview style attracts the best of the best in the field of human potential. Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield, Marianne Williamson, Olivia Newton-John, Dee Wallace and Bruce Lipton and a host of other world-renowned celebrities and experts are regulars on her shows. Much more than a radio show, The Dr. Pat Show is a complete transformational experience. She is the creator of Dr. Pat’s Holistic Makeover, www.drpatsgreenchallenge.com , her pay-it-forward initiative www.calltoconnection.com and www.transformationtalkradio.com , www.crustbusting.com . This award-winning talk radio host, is a life coach, organizational consultant, inspirational speaker, author and creator of Transformation Talk Radio.
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Visit www.TheDrPatShow.com for more information about The Dr. Pat Experience contact Senior Producer, Linda Firing at 908-526.8571.
