Philadelphia Freedoms

Infobox Sports team
team = Philadelphia Freedoms
color1 = Red
color2 = Navy

pixels = 125px
founded = 1974
league = World TeamTennis
history = Philadelphia Freedoms
1974, 2001-present
arena =
ballpark =
stadium = King of Prussia Mall
city = King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
colors = Red, White, and Blue
owner =
president =
coach = Craig Kardon
manager =
championships = 2001, 2006
titles =
cheerleaders =
dancers =
mascot =
broadcasters =
media = The Philadelphia Freedoms are a tennis team currently competing in World TeamTennis.

Overview

The team traces its origin to WTT's inaugural season of 1974. The original team, actually called the Philadelphia Freedoms, starred tennis legend and social pioneer Billie Jean King, who had beaten Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" the previous year.

Other members of the team were: Fred Stolle (Australia), Brian Fairlie (New Zealand), Buster Mottram (U.K.), Julie Anthony (US), Tory Ann Fretz (US), Betsy Nagelsen (US) and Kathy Kuykendall (US).

Julie Anthony later married the owner of the team, Dick Butera, and they settled in Aspen, CO, where she practices as a sports psychologist. Nagelsen married the late Mark McCormack, the Founder and Chairman of International Management Group. McCormack who represented Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan amongst others , was often referred to as one of the most powerful men in sports. Mottram was a controversial figure who spoke publicly about his extreme right wing views and made unsuccessful attempts to become a Conservative candidate for the British Parliament. Stolle was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. Fretz was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.

Pop singer Elton John was a friend of Billie Jean King's, and was invited to participate in a promotional match during one of the team's games. In return, he was later inspired to write a song about King, also called "Philadelphia Freedom." In 1974, the Freedoms had the league's best regular-season record, but were upset by the Denver Racquets in the championship game. The following year, the Freedoms merged with the Boston Lobsters (ironically also a 2006 member of WTT as well).

The current team joined WTT in 2001. Before the beginning of the 2008 season, the Philadelphia Freedoms announced they would be leaving their previous home at Cabrini College. Their home matches are now played at the tennis stadium outside the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (located near Philadelphia).

Current Squad

*flagicon|USA Craig Kardon, Head Coach
*flagicon|USA Alex Bogomolov, Jr.
*flagicon|USA Audra Cohen
*flagicon|USA Lisa Raymond
*flagicon|USA Venus Williams
*flagicon|USA Travis Parrott
*flagicon|USA Carly Gullickson
*flagicon|MAR Mouni Sabri

External links

* [http://www.philadelphiafreedoms.com/ Official Team Website]