King of the World 

On April 27 and 28, the US team will take on Austria at Olde Providence Racquet Club. The US is 7-0 against Austria in Fed Cup competition, although they barely won their last meeting. Nonetheless, the US is favored. Capriati is ranked number one in the world in singles (as of March 18), and Raymond is number one in doubles and number 21 in singles. Seles is sixth in the world in singles, and O'Shaughnessy is number 13 in singles and number 24 in doubles. Austria's top ranked player in the Fed Cup is Barbara Schett, number 23 in singles.

The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, elected not to play for the US because of "scheduling -- too much tennis," said Bruce Levy of the United States Tennis Association, which sponsors the event. The sisters last played the Fed Cup in 1999.

As captain of the US team, King has an 18-3 record, dating back to when she was player-captain in 1965. She has led the US to three titles, including consecutive ones in 1999 and 2000. In a recent teleconference, King shared opinions on the competition, women's tennis and women's sports in general. Here are some highlights:

Creative Loafing: When was the last time the US Fed Cup team played Austria?

Billie Jean King: We played them in 1996 in Salzburg, Austria, and barely beat them. It was 3-2. So tight. I cannot tell you. I thought I was going to die. We had Gigi Fernandez and Mary Jo Fernandez playing. They were. . .the best (doubles) team in the world at that time. We barely won the doubles."

The US was supposed to play Spain in Madrid for the Fed Cup championship last fall, but withdrew because of security concerns following 9/11. Do you think it was the right decision?

It was the right decision for the moment. . .We were told (by the FBI) not to go as a team. . .because of the nationalistic point of view, and it would be a beautiful target for different (al-Qaida) cells that are in Spain. . . .We were very upset we didn't go. It was very sad. The US has played in every Fed Cup since 1963. We are not a no-show kind of people. We show up. We play. We win. If we don't win, hopefully we are good sports. If we do win here, or should I say when we win, in Charlotte, we'll have to play either Croatia or the Czech Republic and we do have to play over there in July. There has been no discussion whatsoever of not going. At this time we plan to bring back the cup to the United States of America. And Charlotte is our first stop.

For the Fed Cup to approach the popularity of the Davis Cup, do top women players need to commit to a year-round schedule?

Yes, I think they do have to commit. I think you have to remember, Davis Cup started in 1900. We started in 1963. So we're 63 years behind them right there, and we keep changing our (Fed Cup) format. So I think you are going to have to give us probably another good 40 to 50 years to ask that question. I won't be alive. Women's sports in general is so young, and I don't think people understand that. It is just impossible to compare.

Are the women who play Fed Cup very nationalistic?

Extremely. . .You look at all the top women players who have played -- they are very nationalistic. Once they get to Charlotte, they're like, 'OK, let's go. We got to win this for the USA. Let's do it.' Sometimes you have people because of their religious beliefs who aren't going to be as nationalistic. And I have to honor that as well. So everyone comes from a different place. I am extremely nationalistic. I am ridiculous. Don't get me started.

What's your take on the Fed Cup being able to attract more top players than the Davis Cup?

It really gets down to whether players want to play or not. I think Patrick (McEnroe, Davis Cup captain) did a great job by concentrating on the young ones. That's what you have to do if the top ones don't start to come through. What's happened now is (Pete) Sampras wants to come back. You can only try so hard and beg so much and then you have to put your foot down and say, look you don't want to play; then we're going to go to the younger ones. That's my philosophy, too. We have been just very fortunate, for some reason. The top American women have the sense of country and they want to play.

What about Monica Seles' ongoing commitment to play the Federation Cup?

Monica has been exceptional as far as saying if you want me, I will be there. That's the kind of carte blanche you want with the players because then I know what's happening. There is consistency there. Monica seems to be very nationalistic. I think when you become an American citizen after coming from a different country. . .sometimes (there's) a strong sense of opportunity and understanding of what (you) have."

Could you point to a few of the driving forces behind the growth of women's sports over the last few decades?

Well, the main point is Title IX in 1972 -- June 23, 1972, when Title IX was passed. That is the biggest difference. You have to remember that girls never got athletic scholarships before the fall of 1972. That's incredible when you think about it. We still are $150 million behind every year in scholarships over the last 10 years. That makes it $1.5 billion behind in scholarship money even though we have Title IX. What it really means is Title IX hasn't been enforced. So that's the driving force. It (Title IX means) equal opportunity. It equals better coaching, which equals better fundamentals. Better fundamentals and opportunity equal winners. The number one reason, I think, my beating Bobby Riggs was helpful was because. . .it kept the momentum (of Title IX) going, of thinking that girls should have opportunity. Also, young boys who watched that match. . .are now in their late 30s, 40s and early 50s. They are the first generation of men -- I call them -- "of the women's movement." . . .(Now) these fathers who have daughters insist that their daughters have equal opportunity with their sons."

For tickets to the Fed Cup, call 1-888-334-8782

Bobsleds and Moonshine

NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine will have one of his Bo-Dyn bobsleds at the April 4-7 Food Lion AutoFair at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The sled, developed by Bodine and Connecticut race-car builder Bob Cuneo, was a critical factor in the US winning gold, silver and bronze medals in bobsled races at the Salt Lake City Olympics. For a small donation to the sled effort, Bodine will sign autographs, allow pictures, and let people sit in the sled from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday. He reportedly has invested $250,000 of his personal money in the design

Also at the Food Lion AutoFair will be an historical exhibit that wouldn't have seen the light of day if NASCAR hadn't achieved mainstream acceptability in the 1990s. On display will be a 65-gallon copper still used to make moonshine, a 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe that transported it, and a No. 3 Chevrolet race car driven by Junior Johnson, the most famous among many future race car drivers to run moonshine out of the North Carolina mountains.

Johnson will attend the fair from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, April 6, to sign copies of his book, Junior Johnson: Brave In Life, written by longtime motorsports journalists Tom Higgins and Steve Waid.

The fair's hours are 8am to 6pm Thursday through Saturday and 8am to 4pm on Sunday. Admission is $8 at the gate, and children under 12 get in free when accompanied by an adult. For more information, cal1 704-455-3205 or go to www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. *