The Study of Racialism

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2942 }

Rebecca Lobo
Athlete
Born: Hartford, Connecticut

As a high school and college athlete, a member of the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team in 1996, and a player on three Women’s National Basketball Association teams, Rebecca Lobo has distinguished herself on and off the court.

“My mother never wanted my gender to be something that would limit me in any way. Young girls need to realize they really can do whatever they want, even if there aren't a lot of women doing it already.”

Lobo began playing on boys' basketball teams because there were no teams for girls. The leading scorer of either gender in her state's high school history, the 6'4” Lobo was recruited by more than 100 universities. At the University of Connecticut, she led the Lady Huskies to their first NCAA basketball championship. Lobo played for the WNBA's New York Liberty and two other teams before retiring in 2003 to pursue other challenges.

“Sports breaks down a lot of the barriers that people might otherwise have. You see each other as teammates, not as black or white or Hispanic.”

After her mother was diagnosed with cancer, the two of them established a scholarship at the University of Connecticut to encourage diversity in the health professions. In addition to raising money for breast cancer, Lobo also supports pediatric AIDS causes.

“I try to live my life the right way, like my parents taught me. When I think of achievement, I don't think of awards or bank accounts. I think of someone who has done the most with what they have, of someone who makes a difference in other people's lives.”

Mention the name Rebecca Lobo and women's basketball immediately comes to mind. Rebecca retired after playing the 2003 season with the Connecticut Sun and attempting to overcome two torn ACLs.
Rebecca fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a professional basketball player by signing in 1996 as the starting forward/center for the New York Liberty where she led her team in rebounding and scoring. Her skills and athletic ability earned her a nomination to the All-NBA Second Team in the league's inaugural season. As the youngest member of the 1996 U.S. Women's Olympic basketball team, she helped her team win a gold medal in Atlanta.

In addition, Lobo achieved academic honors while studying at the University of Connecticut where she was named a 1995 Rhodes Scholar and a NCAA top scholar athlete. She has also received several other prestigious awards throughout her career including the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, National Athlete of the Year and NCAA Woman of the Year.

In 1996, Rebecca took time out from her busy basketball career to co-author a book with her mother RuthAnn. The Home Team is an autobiographical account of Lobo's career and her mother's successful battle against breast cancer. She also wrote a short inspirational work titled 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, subtitled Stories, Songs, Poems and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women.

Lobo is also a budding sports analyst and commentator having provided color analysis for women's college basketball on CBS and ESPN and serving as an analyst during ESPN's exclusive coverage of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

Rebecca is very active in charitable work, most notably the Children's Miracle Network. She has also served as the spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day, which raises money for breast cancer research. In addition, she been involved with Gilda's Club - a free, nonprofit psychosocial support community for persons with cancer, their families and friends.

Ms. Lobo is a highly sought after motivational speaker who has provided inspirational speeches to various groups throughout the United States. Rebecca's audiences typically includes: business executives, cancer survivors (with her mother RuthAnn), athletic teams, college students and administrators, civic groups, girl scouts, school children, and corporate employees.