Tennis legend Billie Jean King visits with Stratham youngsters: part of Hillary's NH tour

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Seacoastonline.com Retweeted
Max Sullivan ‏@MaxSullivanLive Jan 18

Waiting for @BillieJeanKing to arrive at @HillaryClinton get-out-the-vote center in Hampton #NHpolitics #fitn @seacoastonline

STRATHAM
Tennis legend King visits with Stratham youngsters
Hall of famer touts Hillary Clinton

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Bailey Homer, of Greenland, welcomed tennis legend Billie Jean King in Stratham Monday with a message from his grandfather, David Sullivan, who once played doubles with her. Photo by Erik Hawkins/Seacoastonline |


Photo by Erik Hawkins/Seacoastonline
Bailey Homer, of Greenland, welcomed tennis legend Billie Jean King in Stratham Monday with a message from his grandfather, David Sullivan, who once played doubles with her.


Photo by Erik Hawkins/Seacoastonline.comTennis legend and LGBT equality advocate Billie Jean King appeared in Stratham Monday afternoon before a group of enthusiastic Seacoast tennis students and their parents to stump for Hillary Clinton Photo by Erik Hawkins/Seacoastonline

By Erik Hawkins
[e-mail]

Posted Jan. 18, 2016 at 8:20 PM
Updated Jan 18, 2016 at 11:26 PM

STRATHAM – Dozens of budding young tennis stars could barely contain their excitement Monday afternoon as legendary tennis pro and gender equality advocate Billie Jean King paid a visit to BEAM Tutoring in Stratham as part of her tour in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

“We love tennis!” the room erupted when King entered, handing out hugs, fist bumps and tips to the young students.

As part of King’s introduction, BEAM owners Michael Blaisdell and Sarah Olsen had their students each step onto a makeshift stage and read an inspirational quote by or about King.

King received a bit of a surprise when young Bailey Homer, of Greenland, told her that his grandfather, Paul Sullivan once played with her – and was in the audience.

“He told me to tell you that you were the best doubles partner he ever had,” Homer said, as Sullivan stood up to be recognized by King, who apparently remembered him.

“Face your fears. Live your passions and be dedicated to your truth,” is one of King’s most famous quotes, and once it was read to her by the excited young students, she connected it to the woman she is supporting for president of the United States.

“Hillary is one of the kindest, warmest people I’ve ever met,” King said, adding that she believes some people may believe Clinton is cold simply because the former first lady and secretary of state is “just shy.”

King trumpeted Clinton’s support for equal pay for equal work as well as paid paternity leave. She called the fact that the United States is the only advanced nation without universal paid family leave “pathetic.”

King took aim at the more than a dozen Republican primary contenders briefly in terms that children could understand.

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1. .@BillieJeanKing tells a packed GOTV training in Hampton how @HillaryClinton "dares to compete."

Mike O. ‏@MikeOllen Jan 18

.@BillieJeanKing tells a packed GOTV training in Hampton how @HillaryClinton "dares to compete." #ImWithHer #fitn

[comradebillyboy]

3. Yet another establishment oligarch supports Clinton...../s