Most bizarre, however, was when the tennis star appeared to be distracted, much in the way a five-year old would be upon seeing a butterfly. King noticed a tennis ball wedged in an adjacent camera and fixated on it as an example of recycling (as seen above). Apparently bewildering even Champion, she rambled, "We want to use things again. Okay? You see this tennis ball? You have one on your camera over there so that you don't whack somebody. It’s protection. There’s one at the end of, there’s one at the end of the camera there. That’s reusable. [Points to GMA camera.] All these little things we can do. I’m taking shorter showers. I’m worrying about the plastic bags now."
During the segment, which aired at 8:33am, Champion never attempted to pull specifics from King. He simply claimed that her charity will attempt to "raise awareness and, kind of, change things..." (The organization's website is equally vague on what exactly it will do.) The ABC weatherman has a long history of using celebrities to promote left-wing environmental causes. In May, he touted liberal actor Robert Redford as a "pioneer for the environment." A month earlier, Champion, along with singer Sheryl Crow and Laurie David, kicked off the "Stop global Warming College Tour." Finally, back in January, he hyped the "sexy" celebrities who promoted the environmental agenda.
A transcript of the segment, which aired at 8:33am on August 28, follows:
Sam Champion: "I'm very, very excited this morning because now we are debuting our ‘Just One Person.’ It’s someone who is making a difference in green projects somewhere in the nation, somewhere in the world and our very first ‘just one person,’ I’m a huge fan, Billie Jean King. Tennis great, tennis legend, I don't know what to call you. Welcome to the broadcast."
Billie Jean King: "Thanks. Thanks a lot, Sam."
Champion: "And you've launched a brand-new initiative called GreenSlam. So, tell me, what that’s going to do?"
King: "It’s called GreenSlam. It's a non-profit to really try to make a difference. The main thing we have to do first is get a group of experts together to set a standard. And we want to really get all the sports fans, the public, professional sports, anything to do with sports. Because sports tends to be separated from everything else."
Champion: "Right."
King: "We’re going to bring it right into with everybody else on this. There’s a lot of green noise going around. We also want to help with green-collar studies and opportunities. You know, green, the, the green, uh, collar is important for the future because– And now, look at everyone here. Look at all the generations are just standing with us– It’s just amazing."
Champion: "Right. And they all know you."
King: "Well, they don't all know me."
Champion: "No, they do, because you should have heard them, well, you did hear them when ‘em cheer when you got here."
King: "No, but– Look at the generations here. You got the grandmas. You’ve got the parents. You’ve got the young people. But this is really for our planet. It’s for our future."
Champion: "And so, you guys are going to put a group together to raise awareness and kind of change some things in–"
King: "First we're going to set standards that we can all use, because there is a lot of green noise going around. We’ve got to set a standard."
Champion: "Right."King: "So, we're going to get all the experts. I am not the expert. I’m like all the of us. I’m trying to figure this all out. How can I truly make a difference? I’ve always wanted to make a difference."
Champion: "I love this. You're absolutely right. We do these stories, people are always saying, ‘Okay, well, what's the guideline? What’s the standard?’ So this GreenSlam. This is going to help that."
King: "That’s the first thing we’re going to do. And thanks to TIA, Prince and Firm Green energy. They’re the ones who stepped up first. Of course, TIA is the Tennis Industry Association. But we want– We want to use things again. Okay? You see this tennis ball? You have one on your camera over there so that you don't whack somebody. It’s protection. There’s one at the end of, there’s one at the end of the camera there. That’s reusable. [Points to GMA camera.] All these little things we can do. I’m taking shorter showers. I’m worrying about the plastic bags now. Take a cotton bag or take something with you."
Champion: "And just put some attention on it. Billie Jean, thank you so much for being here. I so appreciate it."
King: "Thanks, Sam. GreenSlam and go to BillieJeanKing.com to get this started. And then we’ll go to GreenSlam. BillieJeanKing.com"
Champion: "And by the way, happy anniversary because they had named the tennis center here at the U.S. Open after you a year ago today."
King: "And that's why I did this. And that’s why we’re doing it today because I made myself a promise to try and do something else to make a difference for men and women throughout this world. Thanks a lot."
