SouthernWorldwide.com – WNBA legend Nancy Lieberman is issuing an urgent alert to men, prompted by her personal experiences with friends affected by a serious disease.
Lieberman, who made history in 1986 as the first woman to play in a men’s professional basketball league with the Springfield Fame in the USBL, shared a poignant story about her former teammate, Micheal Ray Richardson.
Richardson tragically passed away after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lieberman recounted her attendance at his funeral, emphasizing their shared history as teammates during a time before the WNBA existed.
She revealed that Richardson had kept his diagnosis a secret from his loved ones, a detail that deeply affected her.
“He didn’t want to tell his wife, Kim,” Lieberman stated. “He didn’t want to tell the family.”
The basketball icon noted that other prominent figures, including former players Spencer Haywood and Alonzo Mourning, as well as ESPN anchor Jay Harris, have successfully overcome battles with the same disease.
These personal connections and observed struggles have fueled Lieberman’s current advocacy, driving her message directly to men.
In a significant move, the renowned women’s basketball figure has partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, alongside Ice Cube and the BIG3, to promote a straightforward yet vital public health message: encourage men to request a PSA test.
“You must tell the doctor, ‘Check the box,’ because sometimes they will not check the box,” Lieberman urged, highlighting a crucial step in the screening process.
The “box” she refers to is for the PSA test, which measures prostate-specific antigen levels. The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s “Check the Box” campaign aims to empower men to proactively discuss their health with their doctors, undergo a simple blood test, and understand their PSA score.
Lieberman’s strategy is to make it routine for men to ask for this specific test, particularly when they are already having blood drawn for other reasons.
“It’s the PSA box,” she reiterated. “It’s the prostate-specific antigen.”
Furthermore, Lieberman is extending her call to action to women, encouraging them to be advocates for the men in their lives.
“If you’re a woman, we’re going to nudge our men and say, ‘Go to the doctor. Don’t be afraid. We are standing right with you,’” she declared, emphasizing the importance of support and encouragement in addressing men’s health concerns.
