Womens Sports Foundation Hosted The Billies, Recognizing Media Excellence In Women's Sports And Physical Activity
Event Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Battle of the Sexes Match Between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs and Raised Over $1 million
LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2008 –The Billies, hosted by the Women’s Sports Foundation, was held last night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Billies, named for tennis great and Women’s Sports Foundation founder, Billie Jean King, recognizes media excellence in women’s sports and physical activity while simultaneously raising funds for the Foundation. This year’s event that raised more than $1 million for the Women’s Sports Foundation, was attended by sports and entertainment industry influentials alike, and ended with a special performance by Sir Elton John. ESPN was a contributing sponsor for the event.
The Billies also celebrated the 35th Anniversary of The Battle of the Sexes, a nationally televised tennis match played in 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Lornie Kuhle, Riggs’ coach and tennis great Rosie Casals, both key figures responsible for promoting the match, were on-hand to help commemorate this history-making event. Rosie Casals told the audience, “Once I looked into Billie Jean’s baby blues that day, I knew she was going to beat him.” Billie did, in fact, win the match, paving the way for female athletes to become equal to men in the eyes of the media.
The Billies’ winners were selected by a panel of women’s sports historians, journalists and media industry executives and were awarded and recognized in four categories: “Breakthrough & Innovation”, “Entertainment”, “Journalism”, and “Outstanding Journalist”. The winners in each category are as follows:
1. Breakthrough and Innovation
o “Boom Boom Tap”—Under Armour—Advertising Campaign—Under Armour’s first ad campaign developed for female team athletes
2. Entertainment
o “Chak! De India”—Yash Raj Films, Produced by Aditya Chopra—A film depicting a group of girls who forgot what it was like to play simply for the love of field hockey
3. Journalism
o “Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports”—Carol & Graf Publishers, Kathrine Switzer—The story of Kathrine Switzer, who helped introduce women’s marathon into the Olympic Games
4. Outstanding Journalist
o Sports Broadcast Journalist Lesley Visser - for her extraordinary career as a sportscaster, spanning more than 30 years.
Among the attendees celebrating the nominees’s insightful depictions of women’s sports at last night’s Billie Awards were, Event Co-Chair Kathy Smith, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler, Master P., Drew Lachey, Keke Palmer, Doug Savant, Aimee Mullins (Track & Field), Diana Nyad (Swimmer), Grete Eliassen (Skiing), Julie Foudy (Soccer), Lyn St. James (Auto Racing), Mary Osborne (Surfer), Michelle Kwan (Figure Skating), Rosie Casals (Tennis Player), Sarah Burke (Snowboarding), Tony Gonzalez (Football) and Tracy Austin (Tennis).
Sir Elton John, who is a long-time friend of Billie Jean King, added excitement to the evening by performing for the guests. His performance included a heartfelt rendition of “Philadelphia Freedom”, a song he wrote for Billie Jean in 1974. In closing, Sir Elton John saluted the female athletes “who always put themselves on the line and rarely get the credit or recognition they deserve.” He added “Hey ladies, just know, I am on your side.”
The Foundation also announced at last nights Billie Awards that the Women’s Sports Foundation will be opening the Billie Jean King International Women’s Sports Center inside the Sports Museum of America in May of 2008. When open, the center will be the first gallery in the United States dedicated to women’s sports.