Great article about Nancy from 'The Shreveport (Louisiana) Times',
talking about personal financial matters. The accompanying website
even has a photo of Nancy in a mirror image, taken at her home in
Phoenix.

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From:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20070122/NEWS05/701200310/1064

HOOPS GREAT TEACHES STUDENTS PERSONAL FINANCE
January 22, 2007


PHOENIX -- Nancy Lieberman always felt at ease with a basketball in
her hands. What took time was gaining a comfort level with money in
her pocket.

The Basketball Hall of Famer, who grew up in a one-parent household
in New York, suddenly found herself with a lot of cash upon signing a
professional contract in 1980 after leading Old Dominion University
to two national titles.

"I went from making nothing to making $100,000 a year, and I had no
idea what to do with it," Lieberman said during an interview at her
condominium in downtown Phoenix. "That's why I'm so passionate about
this program."

The program in question, called "Playbook for Life," is a financial-
literacy effort aimed at college students -- athletes in particular --
and sponsored by The Hartford, one of the nation's largest investing
and insurance firms.

Lieberman helps promote the program by talking about personal-finance
issues with college students and the media.

In addition to financial talks and a 33-page booklet that covers
budgeting, taxes, credit cards and other topics, the program includes
short financial videos and more at www.playbook.thehartford.com.

Other former athletes on the "Team Hartford" roster include ex-Notre
Dame running back Allen Pinkett and Jennifer Rizzotti, a former
professional women's basketball player and University of Connecticut
star.

Lieberman, who also has remained in the public eye as a basketball
broadcaster for ESPN and NBA-TV, tells her audiences it took her a
while to learn the ins and outs of money management.

Today, she has stock-market investments and certificates of deposit,
owns a stake in a hedge fund and has other fairly mainstream
investments. But it wasn't always that way.

For example, she recounts financial setbacks like the $10,000 she and
her ex-husband lost about a decade ago by investing in a flock of
emus.

"We were told we had to invest in emus because we could sell the meat
and feathers," she said. "It was a good example of not knowing enough
and not doing our homework."

She considers star college athletes to be especially vulnerable to
eventual financial shocks because the system pampers them for as long
as they remain on scholarship.

"They register you for classes, bring your books and give you an
itinerary to follow," Lieberman said. "I'm trying to impress on these
kids the need to educate themselves."

Based on feedback she has received, Lieberman believes a lot of young
adults have had little exposure with activities such as budgeting,
paying taxes and applying for car loans.

"As a coach, I'd never send my team onto the floor without a game
plan," she said. "But we're sending our kids out into the world
without financial game plans."

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Steven
Sacramento, CA