Catching Up With Billie Jean King

Even though tennis icon Billie Jean King turned 65 just last November, that doesn't mean she's ready to head off into retirement.

On the contrary, King's as visible in the public eye as ever, helping to promote the Billie Jean King Cup -- a one-night only event that will be held on March 2 at Madison Square Garden that will feature four of the top women's players in the world and televised on HBO -- as well as her appearances in numerous commercials and her involvement in promoting the game and World Team Tennis.

And, she isn't shy about telling you what she thinks of today's game.

Did You See That?

The field clears a fence during the New Season Handicap Steeplechase during the at Ludlow Racecourse on September 16, 2008 in Ludlow, England.

Emanuele Canonica of Italy helps his caddie in the rescue of a pigeon from the water around the 18th green during the first round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 16, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.

English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.

Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.

A golf ball which has been enveloped by the tree over many years is pictured during the pro-am for the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 15, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.

Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out.

Herbert Knosowski, AP

Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images

For anyone thinking she'd rather live in the past, she makes no bones about how today's players are much better than her generation.

"They're a lot better today, every generation just gets better," King said. "Older athletes talk about the glory days, but we're not the best ever.

"It's amazing the spins and what they can get on the ball. Everything's more exaggerated than ever before. They're so good, they train better, and the information available is better than anything than what we had. It'd be great to be a player today. It's great to have choices when you have money and resources."

She even comments how while players struggled to keep their racket strings in playing shape, today's players have no problems just ripping them out and replacing them -- thanks to the resources they have at their disposal.

One complaint she does have about today's game is the "Q factor" that's now involved on the women's side of the game, that style bleeds through more than substance in the media.

"Here's what happens with women's athletes today - their accomplishments aren't talked about enough. They are what they are, but if you succeed on the court that'll eventually take care of itself."

Serena Williams Snapshots

Serena Williams of the United States poses with the WTA world number one ranking trophy during a photocall after her Australian Open straight sets victory over Russia's Dinara Safina in the Women's singles final at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)

Serena Williams of the U.S., makes a return to Russia's Dinara Safina in the Women's singles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens)

Serena Williams of the U.S. hugs her trophy after winning her women's singles final match against Russia's Dinara Safina at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 31, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA)

Reuters

Serena Williams of the United States makes a return to Russia's Dinara Safina to win the Women's singles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens)

Venus Williams, top, and Oracene Price, center, family members of Serena Williams of the U.S., watch her Women's singles final match against Russia's Dinara Safina at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens)

Russia's Dinara Safina reacts after losing to Serena Williams of the U.S., in the Women's singles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Russia's Dinara Safina reacts during a press conference after she lost to Serena Williams of the U.S., in the Women's singles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens)

Russia's Dinara Safina reacts after losing to Serena Williams of the U.S., during the Women's singles final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Serena Williams of the United States poses with her Australian Open trophy after her straight sets victory over Russia's Dinara Safina in the Women's singles final at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Rick Stevens)

She also weighs in on the state of tennis in the United States, particularly on the men's side.

"We have a good young group of guys right now, but it's just no one's broken through to become No. 1 in the world. But it's a lot harder now than it was then because now you're competing with the rest of the world.

"We don't have as many tournaments played [in the U.S.] anymore. ... but junior rackets are way up, we've more than doubled the number of players in the last few years, and it's the only traditional sport that's currently growing.

"Everyone's trying to pull together, and the last few years, we're starting to do that."

As part of that goal, the tournament featuring three of the four defending women's Grand Slam champions -- Australian Open and U.S. Open champion Serena Williams, Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, French Open champ Ana Ivanovic, along with U.S. Open runner-up Jelena Jankovic -- is being held in conjunction with "Tennis Night in America," an event aimed at signing up youngsters to play the game.

And with the four vying for a trophy named after King -- "that wasn't my idea" she says with a laugh -- she hopes the $1.2 million purse and the game's return to HBO for the first time in nine years will help sign up new players and expose them to tennis.

"To have these great athletes and tennis players in one event is great, and two players [Jankovic and Ivanovic] that people haven't seen as much. Venus is playing great, she's doing great, despite what she says - it always cracks me up when she says she isn't playing well, and she's simply terrific."

"It's pretty exciting, and people should appreciate these athletes - they're great.

"Jankovic so fantastic with the media. She's fun. I can give her a hard time, and she just laughs at herself. She was saying it was such a privilege to be No. 1. If Serena and Venus would play more they'd have it regularly.

"Ana probably replaces Gabriela Sabatini, because she's a popular one now. She's talented, I but don't want to talk about looks."

Ana Ivanovic Snapshots

Russia's Alisa Kleybanova talks with supporters as she enjoys a game of short tennis, at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Kleybanova defeated Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in a Women's singles match on Jan. 23. (AP Photo/Fiona Hamilton, Pool) ** AUSTRALIA OUT **

Russia's Alisa Kleybanova, enjoys a game of short tennis at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Kleybanova defeated Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in a Women's singles match on Jan. 23. (AP Photo/Fiona Hamilton, Pool) ** AUSTRALIA OUT **

Russia's Alisa Kleybanova celebrates winning her match against Serbia's Ana Ivanovic during their match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 23, 2009. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic (AUSTRALIA)

Reuters

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic leaves the court after losing her match against Russia's Alisa Kleybanova at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 23, 2009. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic (AUSTRALIA)

Reuters

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Ana Ivanovic of Serbia talks to the media at a press conference after her third round match loss to Alisa Kleybanova of Russia during day five of the 2009 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ana Ivanovic

Getty Images

Alisa Kleybanova of Russia gestures as she celebrates victory after her women's singles match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 23, 2009. Kleybanova won 7-5. 6-7. 6-2. . AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Alisa Kleybanova of Russia waves to the crowd as she celebrates victory after her women's singles match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 23, 2009. Kleybanova won 7-5. 6-7. 6-2. . AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

""They're coming out to play in this tournament, it's amazing."

As for which players draw her attention now, she mentioned that two American stars were who she wanted to see play.

"I'm prejudiced, I do text message a lot of the boys. Andy Roddick's doing better, so I'm happy for him.

"Really, I'm interested in all of them. If you asked me about the player with the best ability that I'd want to watch, it'd be Serena, especially with her success at the Australian Open."

King's also excited about bringing this event to her adopted hometown of New York, particularly to the "World's Most Famous Arena."

"There's a narrow focus here, and New Yorkers get pumped up for events. We're going to go out for one night and it's going to be great. Spike Lee and John McEnroe are going to come out, and he's going to do commentary on the broadcast."

And, for King herself, she stays busy, and gets recognized for everything from her recent car insurance ad spoofing the 1973's "Battle of the Sexes" match with Bobby Riggs to a 36-year-old cameo on a sitcom.

"I was walking down the street the other day, and someone yelled 'Hey Billie Jean, I saw you on the The Odd Couple last night!' All thanks to TV Land."

"I'm very fortunate. It's very nice."