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 he or she was joined by associates Magic Johnson and Oscar-winning actor Jamie Lee Curtis.
“The necessary factor is, I do not need to be the final one,” the Corridor of Fame tennis participant advised 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 celeb tour buses cruised previous on busy Hollywood Boulevard. King’s spouse, Ilana Kloss, joined the clutch of photographers to shoot her personal photos.
“You all the time combat for what’s proper,” Johnson advised 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 had been honored on the White Home earlier Monday for profitable the 2024 World Sequence.
“We’re simply alike,” he mentioned. “We’re tremendous aggressive as hell, we’re management freaks as a result of we all know that in the event you put it in our palms, we will win. You’ve got been a winner your entire life, you like to assist folks and final however not least, you all the time 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 had been five-time main champion Maria Sharapova and Stacey Allaster, former WTA CEO and present U.S. Open event director.
“Billie Jean King’s contribution is energy,” Curtis mentioned. “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 combat for freedom, energy to be who she is now.”
King grew up in Lengthy Seaside, 34 miles south of Hollywood. She performed on the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills tennis golf equipment, the place she’d spot stars equivalent to Lucille Ball and Doris Day.
“My household beloved music and flicks,” she mentioned. “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 keep in mind pondering again then, ‘Oh man, that is actually cool. That is unbelievable,'” she mentioned. “‘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.
“Keep in mind,” she mentioned, “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 12 months she acquired the Congressional Gold Medal.