Jack Kramer National Tennis Center

[jussumman]

Why isn't the National Tennis Center named after Jack Kramer who was the leading advocate for professional tennis and a champion player, paving the way for Billie Jean King?

Was he even considered?

Jack Kramer - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ibbi]

Probably because she is a much bigger star, and won much, much more in addition to also playing her own massive role in the formation of the modern game. Kramer is a massive figure in the history of the the ATP and Open tennis, but the National Tennis Center has nothing to do with that, it's the USTA's place, and he has no role of significance with them.

 

[Autodidactic player]

Kramer was reputed to be against equality for women in tennis. King called him out on this and they had a fairly public dispute. I think the USTA wanted to avoid dredging this issue up again and seeming to support Kramer's views as well as wanting to honor King's more modern views and contributions to tennis.

"Once a tennis champ himself, Kramer (Bill Pullman) was running the Pacific Southwest Tennis Tournament in 1970. That tournament offered women just 15% of the prize money that it awarded the men, despite that the women’s final sold as many tickets as the men’s final did. King challenged Kramer about the pay gap, and when he would not agree to up the women’s prize money, King led a walk-out. She and several other women went on to create the Virginia Slims tour and later the Women’s Tennis Association.

Kramer and King came into conflict again three years later on the eve of the Battle of the Sexes game. Kramer was set to be a commentator for the game, and King threatened to call off the match at the last minute if Kramer wasn’t removed. She argued that he was biased against female tennis players. The network conceded to her demands."

The True Story Behind the 'Battle of the Sexes' Movie

Here's what the filmmakers, Emma Stone and Steve Carrell got right—and wrong—about the match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs

time.com

 

[ibbi]

wanting to honor King

I mean that's it right there. They weren't looking for someone to name the tennis center after, they were looking for a way to honour Billie Jean King. I think at one point they considered naming the new stadium Ashe-King, I'm pretty sure they considered naming the Grandstand after her too. In the end they went bigger.

 

[Swingmaster]

Why not Cosmo Kramer?

 

[tennis tom]

He didn't know how to play the trumpet.

 

[Autodidactic player]

Why not Cosmo Kramer?

As I recall, Cosmo played golf, not tennis.

 

[Jack the Hack]

As I recall, Cosmo played golf, not tennis.

Yeah, but Cosmo was the oldest ball boy at the US Open!

 

[Autodidactic player]

Touché!

 

[sureshs]

Why not Bill Tilden?

 

[Swingmaster]

Why not Bill Tilden?

Because of his preference for children. They didn't call him Bill Children for nothing.

 

[ollinger]

Kramer was a force of nature but as noted above he was down on women's tennis and also was reported in the early days of pro tennis to have paid players to dump matches so he could set up a more appealing final. So there's a certain integrity problem that would make you hesitate to put his name on a showcase property.

 

[Autodidactic player]

Why not Bill Tilden?

There are many, many American players worthy of recognition at the BJK National Tennis Center, Tilden among them (despite his proported proclivities) . There are, however, only a finite number of courts, etc. that are suitable for such honors. It appears to me, therefore, that contributions to tennis, beyond simply winning, will be required for recognition. For example, I think Evert and McEnroe, who are not only great champions but are also commentators and run tennis academies training young players, are more likely to get recognized sooner than players only like Seles or Sampras. But what do I know!

 

[skip1969]

Such a pivotal time that was, the 1960's, before the advent of professionalism. Any player from that time who help to bring about the Open era, and who advocated for the players' rights will always be up there in the mentions. These are the people who created the ATP and WTA out of thin air, as it was. It was a HUGE honor to name the National Tennis Center after King. I don't even think she expected it.

Despite the US's obsession with naming fields/stadia/courts/parks, we don't really have a lot of tennis things named after tennis players, do we? I mean, the second show court at the National Tennis Center is named Louis Armstrong.

 

[Autodidactic player]

... the second show court at the National Tennis Center is named Louis Armstrong.

Although Satchmo lived in Queens for several years until his death, it doesn't make much sense to me to name a tennis stadium for the great jazz musician (who is more generally associated with New Orleans). Of course naming things for famous people who had nothing to do with the thing named is not unusual. In my home state, North Carolina, a portion of interstate 40 is named for the great basketball player, Michael Jordan.

 

[skip1969]

Although Satchmo lived in Queens for several years until his death, it doesn't make much sense to me to name a tennis stadium for the great jazz musician (who is more generally associated with New Orleans). Of course naming things for famous people who had nothing to do with the thing named is not unusual. In my home state, North Carolina, a portion of interstate 40 is named for the great basketball player, Michael Jordan.

Well, he did go to UNC.

I think it's fine to name a tennis court after someone that has nothing to do with tennis. I mean, look at Roland Garros. That's a whole tournament. But it can make things a little confusing for fans. Personally, I like numbers, like Wimbledon. Centre, Court 1, Court 2 . . .

 

[ollinger]

Despite the US's obsession with naming fields/stadia/courts/parks, we don't really have a lot of tennis things named after tennis players, do we?

Hey, Roland Garros was an aviator, and not altogether a successful one, as he was shot down and killed shortly before the end of WW1

 

[Autodidactic player]

... I like numbers, like Wimbledon.

Numbers might be the best/fairest idea. The USTA could say that court number 1 is in honor of all players that have 1 title, court 10 for those with 10 titles, ect. Of course, you'd have to have a lot of courts to cover Margaret duPont's 25 titles!

 

[Tshooter]

Why isn't the National Tennis Center named after Jack Kramer who was the leading advocate for professional tennis and a champion player, paving the way for Billie Jean King?

Was he even considered?

I doubt he was ever in the conversation. And he didn’t pave the way for BJK. Kramer was no fan of the women’s tour.

Original 9: A legacy of independence and empowerment

The WTA honors the 50th anniversary of the Original 9 and Gladys Heldman, who pioneered women's professional tennis and inspired equality in sports and in society as a whole.

www.wtatennis.com

 

[Tshooter]

Although Satchmo lived in Queens for several years until his death, it doesn't make much sense to me to name a tennis stadium for the great jazz musician (who is more generally associated with New Orleans). Of course naming things for famous people who had nothing to do with the thing named is not unusual. In my home state, North Carolina, a portion of interstate 40 is named for the great basketball player, Michael Jordan.

TTW = Groundhog Day.

You don’t know about the history of the site or the stadium so it makes no sense to you. Use the search button or remain mystified.

 

[Tshooter]

Because of his preference for children. They didn't call him Bill Children for nothing.

They could rename kids day after him.

 

[tennis tom]

Hey, Roland Garros was an aviator, and not altogether a successful one, as he was shot down and killed shortly before the end of WW1

A trailblazer for aviation and a war hero: Roland Garros - Roland-Garros - The official site

The exclusive home of Roland-Garros tennis delivering live scores, schedules, draws, players, news, photos, videos and the most complete coverage of The 2024 Roland-Garros Tournament.

www.rolandgarros.com