Ringing in the $eason

Published Dec. 7, 2009 at 9:30 p.m.

Nancy Lieberman continues to enjoy a great roll. Not only is she the first head coach in NBA or NBDL history, on Tuesday she will get the honor of ringing the bell to open the day's trading on Wall Street.

It will be the second stock market that a NBA D-League Frisco staff member has initiated in the past week as President of Basketball Operations Spud Webb rang the opening bell of the Canadian stock exchange last Wednesday.

Lieberman is in New York to accept the Bill Walsh Champion of Change Award for her philanthropic and athletic achievements...The Bill Walsh Champion of Change Award is presented by former NFL player Ronnie Lott, founder of All-Stars Helping Kids.

"This will be a very special day for us as we honor one of the great pioneers in leadership both on and off the court in Nancy Lieberman," Lott said.

As part of receiving the award, Lieberman will have the unique honor of launching the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday morning.

"I am truly honored to be receiving the Bill Walsh Champion of Change Award," Lieberman said..."It is our responsibility to aid and support today's children in every manner possible, and the opportunity to 'ring the bell' is obviously a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Lieberman was recently hired by NBDL-Frisco co-owner Donnie Nelson as the first female head coach of an NBA or NBA D-League franchise.

"Nancy Lieberman is a pioneer as she has changed the way we look at females competing in men's leagues," Nelson continued..."As a player, and now as a coach, she continues to shatter glass ceilings that exist in sports today...She should be an inspiration to every little girl across America with a dream...Ringing the bell is a once-in-a-lifetime deal that, frankly, I'm very jealous of...she promised to bring me back a few stock tips though - so that softened the blow...The only thing Spud brought back from Canada was the weather."

--Eddie Sefko

Back | Read more at Dallas Mavs blog