By Liza Horan

New York—Sports fans have a new altar at which they can pay their respects: the Sports Museum of America. And there are some real goodies for tennis fans among the artifacts.

Billie Jean King's school report card from 1953, at age nine, will be on show starting Wednesday at noon, when the museum opens to the public.

According to the evidence, little Billie Jean was an excellent student and a force on the playground:

"Billie Jean is showing fine progress in all her school work...I feel that Billie Jean occasionally takes advantage of her superior ability on the playground," wrote teacher Dorothy Polocheck.

Mom's answer to that?

"We have talked to Billie Jean about her atitude (sic) on the play ground. We know she will try to do better. We are happy she is doing well in her school work," signed Mrs. W.J. Moffitt.

King is joined by Martina Navratilova and Bud Collins on the museum's Board of Honorary Trustees. Other sport legends serving include basketball champ Patrick Ewing, boxer Joe Frazier, softball player Lisa Fernandez, golfer Ray Floyd, track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and car racer AJ Foyt.

The museum counts the International Tennis Hall of Fame among its key partners, and the Newport-based institution will loan items such as Grand Slam trophies, Roger Federer's outfit from the 2005 U.S. Open, and the racquet used by Chris Evert in the 1982 U.S. Open. The partnership includes joint promotions by both parties and an annual donation from the Sports Museum of America to the ITHF.

 

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