Lisa Leslie goes to Washington
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Lisa Leslie isn’t awed by many things, not after winning four Olympic basketball gold medals, three WNBA most valuable player awards and two league titles.
But she’s admittedly thrilled to have the chance to witness Barack Obama‘s inauguration Tuesday in Washington, D.C., and to attend at least one inaugural ball. She also hopes to meet the new chief executive and his wife, Michelle.
‘It’s an exciting time in our country. I think this will be a great opportunity to share with our children, grandchildren and their children’s children, to say that we were there when our president was inaugurated,’ said Leslie, who will spend three days in the capital with her husband, Michael Lockwood.
‘I think it also shows where our country is. I think our country is ready for change and movement, and I’m looking forward to Barack really inspiring so many people to want to help and volunteer. I feel like this is really a good time for us, as role models to other people, for them to see us there and showing support.’
Given that the incoming president is a weekend basketball player, it’s entirely appropriate that Leslie and former Laker Rick Fox will be among the athletes attending the inauguration or surrounding ceremonies. Leslie said the NBA was sending a camera crew to follow her ...
... around and that Fox also would participate in a documentary.
But basketball isn’t the only sport that will be represented: Tiger Woods announced on his website Friday that he would speak at an inaugural celebration Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial.
‘They’re really trying to get all the athletes together, but I’m not sure how,’ she said Friday. ‘We’re probably all going to different balls. We don’t even know, with 5 million people, how we’re even going to get around.
‘We’re going to have a lot of fun with a whole bunch of people we don’t know.’
Leslie said she had been to the White House during both the Clinton and Bush administrations but never to an inauguration. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) was her angel in helping her secure tickets to one of the balls.
‘I think that this is the most that not only myself but I’m sure a lot of people around the country really participated and followed the election more closely than they ever have,’ Leslie said.
‘I just really feel like I’ve been a part of this from Day One. It really feels good for a lot of the younger people just to say we really participated and we really have been up on a lot of the current issues and events when they were in the debates. I really feel honored as an American to go there.’
Check back here for Leslie’s observations during her visit to Washington.
-- Helene Elliott