Why does he do it?
"I love my continent," Mutombo says. "I'm proud to be from Africa. I love the heritage of my ancestors. ... We are wonderful people. We come from a great culture. We want people to discover our homeland. I'm glad this is happening."
4:30 p.m. Leaving Soweto: After the ceremony, the children flood into the parking lot to say goodbye.
T-Wolves scout Zarko Durisic walks over to a new basketball court (built especially for this visit by the children) and begins teaching the kids how to shoot.
"Keep playing basketball," the native of Montenegro implores. "It is good for you."
Other scouts and coaches are stripping bare to give whatever they have to the children. One gives up his shirt. Another gives up a hat. Another gives his shoes, size 14, to a 10-year-old child.
The crowd of children around the bus is so thick, it takes awhile before everyone can finally get to the bus and leave.
Before going, Bob Lanier, the NBA's Community Ambassador on the trip, promises, with tears streaming down his face, that the NBA will back here.
Other scouts and coaches are talking about sending boxes full of jerseys, shorts and socks to the children here once they return home. Each of them, in their own way, seems moved to do more to help the children here.
"It makes all of our problems seem pretty insignificant," Pistons scout Tony Ronzone says. "You read about things like this, see them on TV, but images and words can't describe what we saw and felt here today. You see this and basketball suddenly doesn't matter anymore."
Mutombo would disagree. Basketball doesn't define him. But it has given him the opportunity to help his people. If there is any lesson from the NBA Africa 100 Camp, Mutombo says it's this one.
"Dikembe Mutombo is not just a basketball player. I want the kids to see this powerful message. If you want to dream about being Dikembe Mutombo, it has to be about more than just basketball. They cannot forget where they came from. If they want to dream about me, dream about what I'm doing on a daily basis. Dream about being a person who can look behind them and see people suffering and say, 'I will turn my shoulder and look after them and see what I can do.' I think if the kids can get that message, it will be a bright day in Africa soon."
----------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 5
Updated: September 5
11:16 AM ET
Miller
Memphis Grizzlies: While most of the NBA was taking the summer off, Memphis small forward Mike Miller was in the gym not once, not twice, but sometimes three times a day. "The guy 's a freak, " Griz president Jerry West said in the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "He really loves to play, and he's been going hard every day." And now that he used to the Grizzly system, his back is healed and he's one more year experienced in the NBA, Miller has one goal. "One thing I really look at is that this year is going to be one of the first years in the NBA that I have to work on making everyone around me better," Miller said. "I played with Tracy my first 2 1/2 years and he was always the one who did that, and hopefully I'll have a chance to make players better."
Miami Heat: You can call him Skip To My Lou or you can call him one of the most prolific streetballers to ever come out of New York City just as long as you call Rafer Alston the latest member of the Heat. The Miami Herald is reporting that the team has signed the point guard to a one-year, $688,679 contract. Alston became famous for his exploits on the AND1 Mix Tape tour and has also played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.
Atlanta Hawks: Who says you can't go home? "It's a good thing I'm back," Jacque Vaughn said in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about his return to the Hawks. "It feels good to be in familiar surroundings, but it's a bit of a fresh start for me." Vaughn, who signed a one-year deal, has also played for the Jazz and Magic and is expected to back up Jason Terry, another restricted free agent still unsigned.
O'Neal
Indiana Pacers: On second thought, Jermaine O'Neal may not hate this whole Rick Carlisle-Larry Bird thing going on in Indiana. "I'm upset, but it's a business. I understand that," O'Neal said in the Indianapolis Star. "I'm sure Isiah (Thomas) would want me to play hard. I'm not going to disappoint him and I'm not going to disappoint Rick Carlisle." A phone call from his new coach with another from Bird forthcoming has soothed some of the tension that erupted when the Pacers fired Thomas. "No way in the world we want to get rid of Jermaine O'Neal," Bird said. "But after the season we'll sit down and he can tell me what he wants to do. We have to try to work this out."
Dallas Mavericks: Raja Bell may be a day late and more than a few dollars short after Dallas decided to guarantee the contract of swingman Marquis Daniels of Auburn. The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Mavericks will pay the rookie $366,000 this season to join Icelander Jon Stefansson and first-round pick Josh Howard on a team that may no longer need the services of Bell. "Marquis played extremely well in the summer league," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations. "We think he has a chance to be a contributor in the future. We're excited about making his contract official."
"I love my continent," Mutombo says. "I'm proud to be from Africa. I love the heritage of my ancestors. ... We are wonderful people. We come from a great culture. We want people to discover our homeland. I'm glad this is happening."
4:30 p.m. Leaving Soweto: After the ceremony, the children flood into the parking lot to say goodbye.
T-Wolves scout Zarko Durisic walks over to a new basketball court (built especially for this visit by the children) and begins teaching the kids how to shoot.
"Keep playing basketball," the native of Montenegro implores. "It is good for you."
Other scouts and coaches are stripping bare to give whatever they have to the children. One gives up his shirt. Another gives up a hat. Another gives his shoes, size 14, to a 10-year-old child.
The crowd of children around the bus is so thick, it takes awhile before everyone can finally get to the bus and leave.
Before going, Bob Lanier, the NBA's Community Ambassador on the trip, promises, with tears streaming down his face, that the NBA will back here.
Other scouts and coaches are talking about sending boxes full of jerseys, shorts and socks to the children here once they return home. Each of them, in their own way, seems moved to do more to help the children here.
"It makes all of our problems seem pretty insignificant," Pistons scout Tony Ronzone says. "You read about things like this, see them on TV, but images and words can't describe what we saw and felt here today. You see this and basketball suddenly doesn't matter anymore."
Mutombo would disagree. Basketball doesn't define him. But it has given him the opportunity to help his people. If there is any lesson from the NBA Africa 100 Camp, Mutombo says it's this one.
"Dikembe Mutombo is not just a basketball player. I want the kids to see this powerful message. If you want to dream about being Dikembe Mutombo, it has to be about more than just basketball. They cannot forget where they came from. If they want to dream about me, dream about what I'm doing on a daily basis. Dream about being a person who can look behind them and see people suffering and say, 'I will turn my shoulder and look after them and see what I can do.' I think if the kids can get that message, it will be a bright day in Africa soon."
----------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 5
Updated: September 5
11:16 AM ET
Miller
Memphis Grizzlies: While most of the NBA was taking the summer off, Memphis small forward Mike Miller was in the gym not once, not twice, but sometimes three times a day. "The guy 's a freak, " Griz president Jerry West said in the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "He really loves to play, and he's been going hard every day." And now that he used to the Grizzly system, his back is healed and he's one more year experienced in the NBA, Miller has one goal. "One thing I really look at is that this year is going to be one of the first years in the NBA that I have to work on making everyone around me better," Miller said. "I played with Tracy my first 2 1/2 years and he was always the one who did that, and hopefully I'll have a chance to make players better."
Miami Heat: You can call him Skip To My Lou or you can call him one of the most prolific streetballers to ever come out of New York City just as long as you call Rafer Alston the latest member of the Heat. The Miami Herald is reporting that the team has signed the point guard to a one-year, $688,679 contract. Alston became famous for his exploits on the AND1 Mix Tape tour and has also played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.
Atlanta Hawks: Who says you can't go home? "It's a good thing I'm back," Jacque Vaughn said in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about his return to the Hawks. "It feels good to be in familiar surroundings, but it's a bit of a fresh start for me." Vaughn, who signed a one-year deal, has also played for the Jazz and Magic and is expected to back up Jason Terry, another restricted free agent still unsigned.
O'Neal
Indiana Pacers: On second thought, Jermaine O'Neal may not hate this whole Rick Carlisle-Larry Bird thing going on in Indiana. "I'm upset, but it's a business. I understand that," O'Neal said in the Indianapolis Star. "I'm sure Isiah (Thomas) would want me to play hard. I'm not going to disappoint him and I'm not going to disappoint Rick Carlisle." A phone call from his new coach with another from Bird forthcoming has soothed some of the tension that erupted when the Pacers fired Thomas. "No way in the world we want to get rid of Jermaine O'Neal," Bird said. "But after the season we'll sit down and he can tell me what he wants to do. We have to try to work this out."
Dallas Mavericks: Raja Bell may be a day late and more than a few dollars short after Dallas decided to guarantee the contract of swingman Marquis Daniels of Auburn. The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Mavericks will pay the rookie $366,000 this season to join Icelander Jon Stefansson and first-round pick Josh Howard on a team that may no longer need the services of Bell. "Marquis played extremely well in the summer league," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations. "We think he has a chance to be a contributor in the future. We're excited about making his contract official."
