I recently visited with the great champion Billie Jean King in her box at the U.S. Open right in the stadium that is named for this national treasure. We had a hectic chat because our mutual friend, the publicist Peggy Siegal was with us and we all talked at once. But I "think" I ferreted out a few Billie Jean opinions direct for wOw. Here goes …

Liz: Billie Jean, champ of champs and pioneer for all women, what do you think of the vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska? I know you are a stated voter for Barack Obama in the election.

BILLIE JEAN KING: Well, she’s funny. She’s a woman. She’s a barracuda. She’s a leader. She’s a beauty queen. I am not into hunting animals but I think she is doing a good job, all things considered. And she played sports! But, that is not enough for me to support her and McCain. There are still so many issues where we differ.  And as for the "experience" argument, I’d like t o say that no one needed that argument when Hillary was being considered.

LIZ: You were a big Hillary booster and so was I. Let’s look back; what did you think of the argument that Hillary could not be considered because Bill Clinton would be too divisive and on the scene had she been elected?

BJK: I think the president of the United States could and would put any interference, by anybody, even a family member, on the sidelines. The president can just say get off the grounds. I think if that’s the reason Obama didn’t pick Hillary for his vice-presidential candidate then he doesn’t understand that being the President — why, he would be "The Man!" Nobody could interfere with him. It would have proved he had the courage to take Hillary and believe he could control his own veep and his own cabinet and his own presidency. It would have made Obama look strong, unafraid of the Clinton myth and in control. And Hillary is no fool; I don’t think she would have tolerated Bill interfering once she got in office as either president or vice president. I believe if Barack had taken Hillary, it would have been the right thing to do, the right things for our country and it would have been a landslide.

LIZ: You were cute out on the court hitting a few balls with Regis Philbin but you let him "win" easily.

BJK: It was a gag, a joke. I didn’t want to make him look bad. But I have not played tennis for seven months. It feels good to be back in the gym. I had an operation on my stomach last January and I didn’t do sit-ups or exercise for seven weeks. It feels so much better now.

Billie Jean King and Regis Philbin

PEGGY SIEGAL: Billie Jean, I have terrible heartburn.

BJK: Well, ask your doctor, you could have reflux. It could be a number of things.

LIZ:  Heartburn can be an important symptom. I remember Gov. Ann Richards complained about it before she was diagnosed and died with cancer of the larynx.

Billie Jean, has having this big facility named after you and your inclusion on Life’s 100 Most Important Americans list changed your life in any way?