Los Angeles (AP) – Billie Jean King became the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the new sports entertainment category on Monday and she was joined by friends Magic Johnson and Oscar -winning actor Jamie Lee Curtis.
“Important things are that I don’t want to be the last,” said tennis player at the Tonneommée to the crowd.
King received the 2,807th star, located near the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine in front of the historic theater of the Pantes. His electronic brand said: “A star for a star. Congratulations Billie Jean King. “
The fans gathered on the sidewalk outside a dumplin shop while horns horn and celebrity tourist buses passed in front of the busy Hollywood boulevard. King’s wife, Ilana Kloss, joined the clutch of photographers to take her own photos.
“You are still fighting for what is good,” said Johnson above the din. “You lend your platform and your voice and your time and money to make changes.”
Johnson, like King, is an owner in part of the Los Angeles dodgers, who were White House Earlier Monday for winning the World Series 2024.
“We are just similar,” he said. “We are super competitive like hell, we control the monsters because we know that if you put it in our hands, we will win. You have been a winner all your life, you like to help people and finally, will always defend what is right.”
The ceremony brought together the king with the players Rosie Casals and Julie Anthony from the first days of the WTA tour, as well as the retired sports coach of the Connie Spooner tour. The five -rate participants major champions Maria Sharapova and Stacey Allaster, former CEO of the WTA and current director of the US Open tournament.
“Billie Jean King’s contribution is power,” said Curtis. “It is power in the courts, it is the power of the courts, it is power in the press, power in its public plea, power in its struggle for freedom, the power to be which it is now.”
King grew up in Long Beach, 34 miles south of Hollywood. She played in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills tennis clubs, where she spotted stars like Lucille Ball and Doris Day.
“My family loved music and films,” she said. “A trip to Hollywood, a film at the Chinese theater of Grauman, was a special treat for our family. My mother would have loved it.”
King attended the Star ceremony of Oscar -winning Holly Hunter actor in 2008.
“I remember thinking at the time,” oh guy, it’s really cool. It’s incredible “”, she said. “” Oh, I’m never going to get that. “Here I am.”
King was the first to walk on his bronze star after being discovered in several houses in the east of the place where his longtime friend Elton John is located.
“Remember,” she said, “my star is your star.”
Jeanie Buss, her husband Jay Mohr, rapper Flaving Flav, the racing pilot, Kane Legge and Scried-Anderson, Jane Anderson.
In January, King was a great marshal of 136th Rose Parade And last year, she received the Congress gold medal.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
