‘Queen of the Funkhouse’ Billie Jean King Receives Heartiest Message From $160M Worth Snoop Dogg Over Her Recent Feat

Talk about an unexpected duo! The 2024 Paris Olympics unveiled a surprising connection between tennis icon Billie Jean King and rap superstar Snoop Dogg. Their paths crossed in July 2024, resulting in a memorable photo op. King later revealed their shared Long Beach, California roots and alma mater, Long Beach Polytechnic High School, proclaiming “LBC forever in our hearts.” Snoop Dogg reciprocated the sentiment with an enthusiastic, “Love u. B. J. K. Poly high alumni…” This unlikely link-up left many intrigued, and recently, Snoop Dogg was even seen celebrating another of King’s achievements. What exactly was he congratulating her for?

Billie Jean King completed her schooling at Long Beach Polytechnic High School before attending California State University, LA in the 1960s. Just a few weeks ago, Long Beach Poly unveiled a new mural on the historic campus, honoring all-time great alum King (class of 1961). The mural, made by Mike Sullivan, depicts King in her athletic prime during a career that saw her win a staggering 39 Grand Slam title and also earn the year-ending World No. 1 in six of the ten years from 1966 through 1975.

Highlighting this iconic moment on her IG post on April 5, King wrote, “Such an incredible honor to witness the unveiling of this mural on the outside wall of my high school, Long Beach Poly, Home of Scholars and Champions, in Long Beach, California. Artist Mike Sullivan did an incredible job, and it was so much fun to have the high school’s tennis teams there to witness it all. Thank you to all involved in making this happen. I am forever grateful, and my Alma Mater will always have a huge piece of my heart. Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve. 💛💚”

King’s close friend, Snoop Dogg, offered congratulations to King on her new mural at their alma mater through a video clip. In that video clip, the rapper, having a net worth of $160M (per Celebrity Net Worth as of 2024) said, “Hello, this is your boy, big Snoop Dogg giving a double shout-out to Long Beach Poly High School and the great Billie Jean King. Congratulations on your mural. Well deserved, you’re a GOAT, the queen of the Funkhouse, so we say. Thank you for being you, thank you for showing us the way, and I’ll come there one day and take a picture on the side of it. Love you, Billie Jean, thank you, Poly High School. Appreciate y’all.”

King has been honored many times over in her hometown, not just for her record-setting career in tennis, but also for being an advocate for gender equality. But this is the first time she has been honored in a permanent way by her alma mater. Well, the school does have a racket and other memorabilia honoring her career on display.

Talking about her connection with the school, King said, “You have no idea how this school and this town is so important to me and play a critical role in my life and career. I loved coming to school. I loved looking up and seeing ‘Home of Scholars and Champions.’ It’s perfect. And ‘Enter to learn, go forth to serve.’ That tells you everything you should do with your life–it motivated me every day I came to school.”

King also mentioned how proud she was to see the diversity that Poly embodied in the 1950s and 60s and how it has continued to this date. She concluded her speech during the ceremony by saying, “Really absorb it–the Home of Scholars and Champions. Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve. And: Once a Jackrabbit, Always a Jackrabbit. Go green and gold.”

Besides, King was also honored last year by California State University, LA. What was the honor and her reaction to that?

Billie Jean King gets recognized for her invaluable contributions to revolutionizing the sport

From demanding equal prize money to triumphing in the historic ‘Battle of the Sexes’ against Bobby Riggs in order to shatter antiquated notions of gender superiority, Billie Jean King’s impact extends way beyond the confines of the tennis court.

Last year, she was honored by California State University with a bronze statue made by the renowned sculptor Brian Hanlon. The statue showcased King at the peak of her powers. Receiving the honor, King said, “I’m so honored. This statue on our campus will connect us forever. It reminds me that our legacy is not what is important. Your legacy is what other people say about you, but our contributions to our communities is what will define us forever.”

Not only that, she further added, “When I left this campus in 1964 to become the No. 1 tennis player in the world, I was not able to complete my degree. I am happy to announce that I will be re-enrolling in Cal State LA to finish my degree. It’s never too late! The value of a good education has always been important to me, and I learned a great deal while I was on this campus.”

Fun fact: In March this year, King set a new benchmark at the age of 81 by announcing her ‘Road to Graduation’.

King attended California State University in Los Angeles from 1961 to 1964. Last year, apart from the bronze statue, they also announced that they would give King a Congressional Gold Medal. Other than that, just days ago, Billie Jean King made history by becoming the first woman to receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s newly created Sports Entertainment category? King never fails to impress us, does she? Truly a living legend!