Dikembe Mutombo took a break in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders event in Johannesburg, South Africa, and typically thought not about what he was doing but how much more could be done.
Mutombo had already opened his hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo this summer. "It brings tears to my eyes to finally say my dream came true," he said.
The latest Basketball Without Borders (BWB) clinic was his sixth. But as much as he cherished the work and celebrated the progress, he spoke more about new dreams.
"It's changed over the years," Mutombo said. "The competition is getting so much better. The kids have so much energy. They are competing very, very hard. But I cannot help but think what we can do for these kids to make them succeed. That is something we are battling.
"I'd like to see more in American high schools with a chance to get scholarships to high schools and junior colleges and colleges. It feels good to know more are getting scholarships now and there will be more Dikembe Mutombos in the NBA."
That would mean leading charitable efforts such as Mutombo's. But Mutombo said he was thrilled especially to see the young players involved in BWB.
This year's event including former players Steve Smith and Jim Jackson, the Magic's Pat Garrity, the Spurs' Bruce Bowen, the Hawks' Josh Childress, the Suns' Sean Marks, the Knicks' Malik Rose and the Bobcats' Primoz Brezec and Emeka Okafor.
He particularly cited Okafor's work to bring safe blood to Africa to help curtail the spread of AIDS and other diseases.
"Things like what Emeka is doing help me believe that more will be done, that many people and many players will help," Mutombo said. "With so many people, especially children dying from this deadly disease, it doesn't have to be in the darkness. We can be the sunlight on the problem."source : chron.com
No comments:
Post a Comment