(Note -- I was fortunate to attend the taping of this show. Long Beach should be very proud of Billie Jean King -- pay particular attention to how King points out several times that if it had not been for Long Beach free tennis program -- she would not have been able to learn how to play!!)
ESPN to Air ‘Homecoming with Rick Reilly’”
Featuring Tennis Legend Billie Jean King On July 3
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, who grew up learning how to play tennis in Long Beach, will be featured on ESPN’s “Homecoming with Rick Reilly” on Saturday, July 3, at 4 pm on Long Beach Charter Communications Channel 35. The program will repeat on Friday, July 9, at 4:00 pm on ESPN2, Channel 36.
The “Homecoming” series challenges the old adage “You can't go home again.”
On April 14, Long Beach welcomed tennis legend Billie Jean King back to her hometown for the taping of ESPN’s "Homecoming with Rick Reilly” at the Billie Jean Moffitt King Tennis Center in Recreation Park. Filming also took place at Houghton Park where Ms. King took her first tennis lesson with instructor Clyde Walker. She practiced regularly at the courts now named in her honor, and her brother Randy Moffit played next door at Joe Rodgers Field.
In the program, Ms. King describes how Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine programs contributed to her success and provided her with opportunities that weren’t available in other communities.
Ms. King’s career highlights include 20 Wimbledon titles – six singles, ten doubles and four mixed. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
For more information about the program, visit www.espn.com/homecoming
