Night of Stars: The Billie Awards
April 16, 2008 by jane
Filed under Entertainment, Pretty Good
April 16, 2008 – If you’re under the age of 20, there’s a chance you may not recognize the name Billie Jean King (though you should). Among other accolades, she boasts 20 Wimbledon titles, a landmark “Battle of the Sexes” victory over Bobby Riggs and was named by Life magazine as one of the 20th Century’s ‘100 Most Important Americans.’
Basically, Billie Jean King is responsible for almost everything you take for granted when you play and compete in athletics. She’s also the founder of the Women’s Sports Foundation and the namesake for last night’s Billie Awards, a gala recognizing extraordinary contributions in the media’s portrayal of women in sports.
The Billies, which took place in the ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, was a great event. It was a great place to catch a glimpse of the world’s most phenomenal female athletes and to wrap up the evening, Sir Elton John (and Billie Jean’s BFF) blessed us with an hour-long performance featuring his greatest hits. All in all, a fantastic night.
One of the highlights of the Billies was the Grand March of Athletes. It’s not often one gets to see X Games stars like skateboarder Lyn-z Adams Hawkins and skier Sarah Burke alongside figure skating legend Michelle Kwan and Grand Slam champion Tracy Austin. Young and old(er), mentors and mentees, current competitors and hall of famers, a multi-generational mix of superstars.
The dias was filled with such luminaries as Rosie Casals (tennis), Cory Coffey (BMX), Julie Foudy and Angela Hucles (Soccer), Nancy Lieberman and Ann Meyers-Drysdale (Basketball), Kristen Kjellman (LAX), Angela Ruggiero (hockey), Mary Osborne (surfing), Tania Satchwell (motorcross) and Lyn St. James (auto racing). All groundbreakers, all beautiful, all stars, all pretty tough!
With presenters like Keke Palmer, Sharon Osborne and Aisha Tyler, the Billie honorees included Kathrine Switzer, author of Marathon Woman
A big thanks to the Women’s Sports Foundation for the stellar event and my hosts, Crystal Allene Cook and Stacy Smith of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender Media, along with the guest athlete at our table – Maritza Correia.
