2012 Media Guide PUBLISHER World TeamTennis EDITOR Rosie Crews DESIGN Paulien Rorick Photography Fred and Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA ATPWorldTour.com • Bill Putnam • Getty Images John Russell Photography • Norm Lao • Thomas Schulze Travis VanDenBerg • Univ. of North Carolina • USTA • WTA Billie Jean King/Ilana Kloss Photos: Jonathan Exley The official Media Guide of World TeamTennis is published by World TeamTennis, LLC., 1776 Broadway, Suite 600, New York, NY 10019, (212) 586-3444. All contents in this guide are copyrighted 2012 by World TeamTennis, LLC. Reproduction of any portion of this Media Guide is not permitted without the prior written consent of World TeamTennis. World TeamTennis gratefully acknowledges the following for their assistance with this publication: ATP Tour, Camerawork USA, Getty Images, Matt Fitzgerald, Paulien Rorick, WTA Tour and USTA. World TeamTennis, LLC. Billie Jean King, Co-Founder Ilana S. Kloss, CEO/Commissioner WTT Staff Rosie Crews, Vice President, Communications Nancy Falconer, Office Manager Bryan Hicks, Supervisor of Officials Natalee Jarrett, Manager of Corporate Partnerships & Communications Isaac Leamer, Director, Advanced Media & Internet Technology Delaine Mast, National Director, WTT Recreational League Kerry Schneider, Director, Marketing & Sponsorship Services Samantha Shaw, Vice President, Player Recruiting & League Operations Jennifer Smith, Director, WTT Recreational Tournaments Jason Spitz, Vice President, Marketing Elaine Wingfield, Director, WTT Collegiate Competition Sponsors & Partners Comcast • DecoTurf • GEICO • NBC Sports Network • Tennis Channel • USTA • Wilson Media Relations Rosie Crews, WTT Ph: (817) 684-0366 Cell: (817) 691-5424 [email protected] CONTENTS Billie Jean King Bio 2 Ilana Kloss Bio 3 WTT Pro League Staff 4 WTT in 2012 5 2011 Season Recap 6 - 9 WTT Pro League Schedule 10 The Road to Charleston 11 WTT TV & Live Streaming Schedule 12 WTT Television Media Partners 13 WTT Glossary 14 - 15 World TeamTennis History & Highlights 16 - 17 WTT Finals Recap 18 MVP Awards Recap 19 Rookie of the Year Awards Recap 20 Coach of the Year Awards Recap 21 WTT Pro League Records 22 WTT Bonus Incentives 23 Sponsors 24 WTT Recreational League 25 World TeamTennis Teams Boston Lobsters 26 - 31 Kansas City Explorers 32 - 35 New York Sportimes 36 - 39 Orange County Breakers 40 - 43 Philadelphia Freedoms 44 - 47 Sacramento Capitals 48 - 51 Springfield Lasers 52 - 55 Washington Kastles 56 - 60 NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS World TeamTennis 1776 Broadway, Suite 600 New York, NY 10019 (212) 586-3444 WTT.COM MEDIA GUIDE 2012 | WTT.COM 1 As one of the 20th • Founded the Women’s century’s most respected Tennis Association and influential people, (1973), the Women’s Billie Jean King has long Sports Foundation been a champion for (1974), Women’s Sports social justice and equality. Magazine (1974) and co- She created new inroads founded GreenSlam, an for both genders in and environmental initiative out of sports during her for the sports industry legendary career and she continues to make her mark (2007) today. Among her many • Co-founded World accomplishments are: TeamTennis (1974), the • On August 12, 2009, groundbreaking coed King was awarded the professional tennis Presidential Medal of league and founded Freedom, the nation’s the World TeamTennis highest civilian honor Recreational League, The first female athlete BILLIE JEAN KING one of the most popular recreational tennis to be honored with the Co-Founder World TeamTennis Medal of Freedom, King formats in the U S was presented the award VISIONARY • Innovator • ChampIon • Named Global Mentor by President Obama in for Gender Equality ceremonies at The White by the United Nations House Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization • Named one of the “100 Most Important Americans (UNESCO) in 2008, received the NCAA President’s of the 20th Century” by Life Magazine in 1990 Gerald R Ford Award in 2009, honored with Major League Baseball’s Beacon of Change Award in 2010 • Won 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed and appointed to the President’s Council on Fitness, doubles tennis titles, including a record 20 titles Sports and Nutrition in 2010 at Wimbledon • Continues to be a leader in the fight for equality and • In 2008, King authored Pressure is a Privilege: recognition in the GLBT community, and has been Lessons I’ve Learned from Life and the Battle of honored by many of the leading GLBT organizations, the Sexes to commemorate the 35th anniversary of including the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD and her historic 1973 match against Bobby Riggs Lambda Legal Foundation • Was one of nine players who broke away from the • Honored on August 28, 2006, when the National tennis establishment and accepted $1 contracts Tennis Center, home of the US Open, was renamed from tennis promoter Gladys Heldman in Houston the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in in 1973 The revolt led to the birth of women’s honor of King’s contributions to tennis, sports and professional tennis and the formation of the Virginia society both on and off the court She continues to Slims Tour and Women’s Tennis Association be involved with the USTA and is currently Honorary • Empowered women and educated men when Chair of the Tennis in the Parks Committee she defeated Bobby Riggs in one of the greatest • Currently serves on the boards of the Women’s moments in sports history – the Battle of the Sexes Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS in 1973 This match is remembered for its effect Foundation on society and its contribution to the women’s movement Born: November 22, 1943 Birthplace: Long Beach, Calif. Residence: New York, N.Y. 2 MEDIA GUIDE 2012 | WTT.COM Ilana Kloss knows firsthand players to local communities how the sport of tennis can where kids can see them connect and inspire At working together as a age 11, she was a ball kid team That’s an important for the South African Open, inspirational message ” a men’s and women’s pro “WTT is also about giving tournament in Kloss’ native communities a sense of South Africa One of the ownership in tennis and a top players hit a few balls connection to our players,” with her and told Kloss’ adds Kloss. “We provide father Shlaim that his a level of access and daughter had real potential involvement fans generally That was all an aspiring can’t get with other sports ” young tennis player needed to hear. “When I heard Kloss was just a kid herself that I really began to dream when she became the about the possibilities and youngest No 1 in South work towards being the African tennis history at age best player I could be,” ILANA KLOSS 17 By the time she turned said Kloss 20, she was the top-ranked CEO/Commissioner World TeamTennis doubles player in the world, Four decades later, winning doubles titles at Kloss is still inspired by the US Open, Italian Open, tennis, now as the CEO/ U S Clay Courts, German Commissioner of World Open, British Hard Courts and Hilton Head in 1976 TeamTennis which was co-founded by Billie Jean King Kloss also added the 1976 French Open Mixed Doubles and then-husband Larry King in the 1970s While Championship with Kim Warwick King’s current role is primarily as a spokesperson, advisor and global ambassador, it’s Kloss who heads Kloss played World TeamTennis for several years (San up the day-to-day efforts to secure sponsorships and Francisco, Oakland, Long Beach, Miami Beach) before grow the team tennis concept both in the U S and becoming a team coach She guided the Chicago internationally In early 2009, Kloss brought the Fyre to the 1983 WTT title before joining the League United States Tennis Association (USTA) on board as a full-time as Player Liaison in 1985 The transition minority owner of World TeamTennis The USTA works from the courts to the office was a smooth one for with WTT on a number of growth initiatives, including Kloss. “I did it gradually, going from being a player to youth participation in team tennis Kloss, who was coaching a WTT team then working to recruit players recognized as Sports Business Woman of the Year for the League and eventually running the operation ” by the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center in 2007, was Kloss took over as the WTT Vice President in 1987 recently elected to the International Jewish Sports Hall and eventually succeeded Billie Jean King as WTT of Fame and will be inducted during the next ceremony Executive Director in 1991 Kloss was named CEO/ at the Maccabiah Games in July 2013 Commissioner in February 2001 Kloss’ passion for WTT’s unique coed format and Kloss oversees the WTT Pro League and the nationwide community appeal is evident when she speaks about grassroots WTT Rec League programs from the how WTT stands out in the sports landscape. “WTT is League’s headquarters in New York City office Kloss’ about both men and women competing together primary focus is on national sponsorships, strategic on a level playing field Our vision is to grow tennis planning, media partnerships and expansion of the and make it a true team sport With the WTT Pro WTT Pro League League, we are able to bring the best professional Born: March 22, 1956 Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa Residence: New York, N.Y. BILLIE JEAN KING & ILANA KLOSS PHOTOS BY Jonathan EXLEY MEDIA GUIDE 2012 | WTT.COM 3 WORLD TEAMTENNIS PRO LEAGUE STAFF ROSIE CREWS, Vice President, Communications Rosie joined WTT in 2006 and is responsible for communications and media relations Previously, Rosie worked for an international sports and event marketing agency where she supervised the WTT