Women getting own hall of fame in NYC

Top Fuel driver Melanie Troxel signs autographs for waiting fans before qualifying at the NHRA Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo., Friday, July 14, 2006. Troxel was given the Women's Sports Foundation'sNEW YORK - Wimbledon trophies, Olympic figure skates and NASCAR helmets will be on display at the first hall of fame museum dedicated to women's sports. Plans for the Billie Jean King International Women's Sports Center were unveiled Tuesday at the future site of the National Sports Museum. The center is expected to open, along with the museum, in the spring of 2008. Martina Navratilova, Julie Foudy and Joe Frazier joined King at the museum, located four blocks from the World Trade Center site.

The National Sports Museum and the Women's Sports Foundation, which was founded by King, are collaborating to create the center that will highlight past and present women in sports. It also will showcase the foundation's 110 Hall of Fame inductees and offer interactive exhibits and sport-specific multimedia displays.

Navratilova played doubles with King, helping her win a record 20th Wimbledon title in 1979. They unveiled the wooden racquet King used at Wimbledon, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee unveiled Wilma Rudolph's 1961 Associated Press Athlete of the Year trophy.

The National Sports Museum, the new home of the Heisman Trophy, expects to house more than 50 single-sport museums and halls of fame. It will offer rotating exhibits, educational programs, special-event space and a sports-themed cafe. link