Why don't you start by telling me a little about
the Billies?
We wanted to honor people -- media -- who have done
great things for girls' and women's
sports. Women's sports is not covered very much --
about 8% of coverage--and sometimes we're not
portrayed in the most solid way. When I played Bobby
Riggs or Anika Sorenstam played in the PGA, the only
reason everybody got so excited is because we crossed into
the male arena. Of course, 90% of the media's
controlled by men, so all of a sudden they're
interested.
Do you think we've made progress since the time
you first entered women's sports?
We have made progress, but we have so far to go.
We need more professional opportunities at the top for
women's sports. When little girls grow up, just
like little boys, there's this top element that
inspires and motivates them. We have to keep Title IX
strong. The other thing we're trying to do is
stop the drop: We know that girls drop out of sports
and fitness twice as fast as boys from ages 8 to 18. Around
girls, it's about looks instead of feeling
good. [But] if you feel good, you'll look
better, OK?
Tell me how you got involved with RainbowVision.
They called me. [President-CEO Joy Silver] wanted me to
be involved because I've done a lot of things
first. She likes that.
What makes RainbowVision different from other
retirement communities?
What I like is that help is there when you need
it. When you're ready for assisted living,
it's there. You can live there with or without it. I
know because I'm taking care of my parents.
They're in their 80s now, and it's a
worry. One thing I think is really good -- I said [to
Silver], "What if you want to visit a friend,
but you don't want to stay with them?"
So we're going to have rentals. We're going to
have buy, lease, and [short-term] rent.
How involved will you be?
Santa Fe was already built when I got involved.
I helped put the last touches on the fitness center.
We had conference calls about equipment, the things I
thought were important if you want to work out. And
I'll be more actively involved in Palm Springs,
with the tennis court, the health and fitness, the
spa, and all that.
Will you do tennis clinics?
I don't know what we're going to do, but
we'll have activities for sure. We're
not going to have a tennis court without activities,
I'll tell you that much. I can't stand
an empty tennis court.
RainbowVision is targeting people in their
"second 50 years." You're 62 now.
Would you consider moving into a RainbowVision community?
Absolutely. You don't have to be part of the
[LGBT] community either. It's open. Like some
of us have straight friends, and we're thinking, I
want to be with my friends, period. Can't you
just see Chris Evert, Martina, Billie, all of us sitting on
the porch together?
Related Links:
Women's Sports Foundation
RainbowVision
