May 15, 2000

The following is not a typical athlete's journal entry. You will not read about how many points were scored, who won, or who was difficult to guard. Mostly because of what you'll read about below. Instead, you will experience The World According To Me. Each week, I'll be posting another entry, so stay tuned ...

My girls are back!!! We started practice on May 3 and it is so nice to have my teammates back in town. It's crazy that we only had 10 days of practice before the first preseason game, but any athlete would rather compete in a game than just practice. Wow, opening day (Memorial Day Weekend) is approaching quickly. Should be a fun and exciting season all around. I can't wait to join my teammates on the court!! Right now we're hoping I'll be back and completely healthy in early July. Just gotta keep praying and working on that knee!!!

I can't wait to join my teammates on the court!! Right now we're hoping I'll be back and completely healthy in early July.

Training camp has been pretty rigorous. The team practices four hours every day. I need to be at practice so I can learn the offenses and drills for when I return. However, I also need to go to rehab to continue strengthening my knee. That translates into a 5:30 wakeup every morning so I can be at therapy for a few hours before I head to practice. It hasn't been bad getting up each day. I was able to get my body on the early schedule fairly easily. I just have to be in bed by 10 p.m. ... (it's pretty difficult turning the Knick games off in the third quarter.)

Until I get some more good Liberty stories, I'll just fill you in on the events of the past month in "My World." I've got three words for you: AIR FORCE ONE. In mid-April I had the opportunity to join President Clinton in both Palo Alto, Ca. and Albuquerque, N.M. as he launched his initiative to help bridge the digital divide. Both events were the same day so I got to ride on Air Force One between cities. It was an incredible experience!

Just Plane info.
The 747 has 79 seats and 86 phones (some phones are secure lines).
I tried to find out how many Secret Service men were on the plane but they wouldn't tell me (how this is classified, I don't know).
When I got on the plane, there was a placard by my seat which said, "Air Force One welcomes Rebecca Lobo."
The President has an office near the front of the plane which includes a big desk, carpet with the Oval Office seal and couch. I walked past the office as Mr. Clinton was working on his speech.
There is a whole section of the plane for media members.
Baskets filled with candy are strewn about the plane. I took some M&M's with the Presidential seal as souvenirs (I also got some matchbooks with the seal ... they'll look cool in my apartment).

We also rode in a military plane and a Cessna helicopter. The Shiprock Indian Reservation we visited didn't have an airport or anything to accommodate the "Big Boy Plane," so we took the helicopters there. It was my first time on a chopper. It was a smooth ride but very loud. We were given earplugs for the trip. We finished the day at a Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque at 11:30 p.m. The restaurant stayed open for the Commander in Chief and served the 25 diners fajitas and nachos.

Yes, that's me on the far left as President Clinton speaks in East Palo Alto, Ca. (AP Photo)

Of course, some funny things happened during my day with the prez ... in Palo Alto we went to and from the event as part of the Presidential motorcade. The motorcade included two limousines and about four white minivans full of secret service men and the "Guests of the President" (senators, cabinet members, and ... Me). I had some cool folks in my van including Minyon Moore (Assistant to the Prez and Director of Political Affairs), Lisa Kountoupes (a 5-7 blonde assistant to the prez who was mistaken for me?!?), and Rae Grad (CEO of the Power Up company).

The motorcade traveled on empty streets as police closed all the roads. We followed no speed limit. While we traveled to the airport at speeds never under 80 mph, my mind wandered to the driver of the vehicle. I found out that the girl behind the wheel who had my life in her hands was a 17-year-old volunteer from a local high school. We were being driven in the Presidential motorcade by a kid who had just replaced her learner's permit with a license. Not really what I expected. Then again, anything feels safe after riding around in a NYC yellow cab!

At the Indian Reservation in New Mexico, Mr. Clinton participated in a webcast. At one point he took questions from a group of young Native American girls. One girl was a pint sized 6-year-old in pig tails and overalls. She had asked for my autograph earlier and I jokingly told her to ask the President who his favorite WNBA team was. After answering about five questions, the President chose my little friend. She asked him, in front of all the reporters and webcast participants, who his favorite WNBA team was. Mr. Clinton correctly answered, "Whichever team Rebecca is playing for." I have to get a tape of that answer!!!

On to another note ... the NBA Store Fashion Show

There are only two things you need to know about the NBA.com Fashion Show: 1.) I had to wear TIGHT, tie-dyed denim bellbottoms with a shirt about 100 sizes too small and a big hat stolen straight off Rerun's head from the set of What's Happening!!. 2.) Monica Lewinsky was there. (She left in disappointment when she didn't have a chance to meet OUR commander-in-chief, David Stern).
Nuff said.

My FAVORITE QUOTE from training camp so far comes from none other than ... Sue Wicks.

Wicks

Sue and I were discussing which 11 players we thought looked good and might make the squad this year (Right now we have more than 15 women fighting for a spot). As we left the gym and passed the Liberty poster adorned with action shots of Sue, Spoon, and Crystal, Sue said (I paraphrase), "I can't possibly get cut. My image has a predominant place on the poster ... and false advertising is one evil the word can do without!" Gotta love Sue logic!

Hammon

Actually, Sue is playing great. Crystal looks incredible and VJ is doing what VJ does ... just better than ever. Spoon is leading us like always and Becky Hammon hasn't missed a shot yet (and she's taking PLENTY of them). Kudos to her! You can check us out in person for the first time on May 20 at our first preseason home game.

By the way, I was reading about the Webby awards last week. They are given out to internet sites in different categories. I want to know why I wasn't nominated for serious, in-depth, life-changing journalism!?! Dare I say ... CONSPIRACY!

In Case Ya Missed It
The famed Italian fashion house Gucci has launched a line of baby products, consisting of everything from horse-bit buckle loafers to a black leather biker jacket with matching zip-through trousers. The luxury clothes maker is even tossing in a white mink coat lined with black leather which goes for a mere $2,450. Someone better alert Sheryl Swoopes and the rest of the mothers in the WNBA ... really, what infant can live without his/her Gucci duds? (I mean, really).

Common: A sprinter was stripped of medals and suspended for testing positive for anabolic steroid use.

Not So Common: The sprinter is a 56-year-old WOMAN who competed at the World Veteran's Track and Field Championships. Not only did she have to give back her gold medals, she had to undergo a gender test after being accused of being a man ... she passed. Talk about a bad day!!!

FYI
My favorite little elf at WNBA.com has moved on to become Vice President at a new company. No matter what titles she garners in the land of the little people (or big people), she will always be my Lil' L-Dog. Dot-com-land ain't the same without ya!

Time for some Shout Outs to ...

Moms. Every day is mother's day.
All the folks who showed up at the Daffodil Festival in Meriden, Conn.
The folks at Wilson's Bar who I served while acting as a celebrity bartender during a fundraiser.
The Big Aristotle ... you are the man.
Kenton and Natasha: I loved the wedding!
Pam -- way to throw that first pitch.
All those who sent me emails via my website ... I'm answering them ALL!!!
Brightly dressed friends who boast of making five figures every two weeks.
Producers who put up with such friends on a daily basis.
The commencement speaker at Emmanuel College.