Mutombo stands tall with Bush

Houston Chronicle ^ | 01/24/07 | JONATHAN FEIGEN

[presidio9]

Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, seated next to first lady Laura Bush and proudly flashing his familiar broad smile, was honored by President George Bush Tuesday at the State of the Union Address in Washington.

Mutombo, working almost daily, raised $29 million (donating $15 million himself) for the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutombo plans to open the hospital — Kinshasa's first new one in 40 years — this summer. It is named for his mother, who died nine years ago when civil unrest and a curfew prevented her from getting to a hospital.

Mutombo was honored during Bush's speech as an example of "heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice."

"When America serves others," Bush said, "we show the strength and generosity of our country.

"The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if you know where to look — and tonight we need only look above to the gallery.

"Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine, but coach John Thompson took a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. Dikembe became a star in the NBA and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth — or the duty to share his blessings with others. He built a brand-new hospital in his old hometown.

"A friend has said of this good-hearted man: 'Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things.' And we're proud to call this son of the Congo a citizen of the United States of America."

Said Mutombo in a phone interview afterward: "My heart was full of joy. I didn't know the president was going to say such great remarks. He raised me so high. I'm so happy. I'm so proud to be a citzen of the United States of America and to be recognized for my work. God is good to have put this work in my heart."

[presidio9]

Dikembe Mutombo, left, acknowledges applause at the U.S. Capitol. Mutombo was honored during Bush's speech as an example of "heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice." MARK WILSON: GETTY IMAGES

[RexBeach]

Oprah is probably very upset she didn't get a mention about her school in Africa.

Too bad.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Can American-African-Americans learn a lesson or two from this guy ?

[avacado]

That was a great moment last night!

[presidio9]

Here's the difference between Mutombo and Oprah: When Dikembe opened the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa, there wasn't a Western journalist in sight. To be fair, Oprah appears to be very generous with his money, but something tells me that she doesn't drop a quarter in a homeless guy's coffee cup without a photographer recording her philanthropy.

[Rakkasan1]

rich folks from New Orleans could learn something from him.

[massgopguy]

Ever meet real African people? They are a joy to be around.

[presidio9]

That was a great moment last night!

Did you have any forewarning of it? I had no idea that it was going to happen, and was very moved by it.

[beyond the sea]

I'm sorry..... I love Laura Bush..... but have you noticed that she applauds like a trained seal? (Flap, Flap, Flap)

I really love that beautiful little lady, but she has a very funny way of applauding.

;-)

[dfwgator]

Great story. Immigrants (especially those who come in legally) are the ones who appreciate what this country is all about, moreso than most of us who are fortunate enough to be born here.

[Alter Kaker]

The man speaks NINE languages and has two degrees from Georgetown, but he will be always remembered for using the world's greatest pickup line, "Who wants to sex Mutombo?"

[beyond the sea]

...... and by the way, the Dikembe Mutombo moments were the best of the night!

(jmo)

[USMCWife6869]

What an uplifting story. I had no idea. I am thrilled to see that there are actually some non-thug basketball players out there lately. My husband and I have all but given up on the sport these days.

I can't tell you how happy I am to see such a giving and unselfcentered athlete.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Mutombo, working almost daily, raised $29 million (donating $15 million himself) for the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutombo plans to open the hospital — Kinshasa's first new one in 40 years — this summer. It is named for his mother, who died nine years ago when civil unrest and a curfew prevented her from getting to a hospital.

What a pity. Dikembe Mutombo was already a multi-millionaire nine years ago - presumably his mother resisted moving to the US and leaving her homeland.

[Remole]

I taught at Georgetown while Dikembe was a student there (he was never in any of my classes) and his presence was unmistakeable. All over the campus, you could hear his fog-horn like laugh. Just remembering it right now makes me smile.

[nmh]

Yes, it was!

There are some truly wonderful black people out there!

It's so unfortunate we have to only see them for their color and not their actions. It should be just as normal to see a black man do something impressive and honrable as this. HE is a good role model for ALL skin colors. How I wish that could be a reality.

[Hildy]

Why criticize Oprah on a thread like this? Come to think of it, why criticize Oprah at all? She's done incredibly generous things with her wealth and stature. I, frankly, don't get the anger.

[38special]

These type of athletes, like Dikembe Mutombo need more press, not the Dennis Rodmans or the Barry Bonds or the Terrell Owens prima donna types.

[beyond the sea]

I can't tell you how happy I am to see such a giving and unselfcentered athlete.

He's a great guy.

I'd like to see the law changed and allow a guy like this to become our President, if some day he continues to deserve something of the sort.

[nutmeg]

That was a great moment last night!

Definitely! And the NYC subway hero (giving multiple 'thumbs up' gestures to GWB)... the sargeant who earned the Silver Star... Wow!

I've been pretty down in the dumps lately about politics, GWB's current effectiveness, and the way this country is heading. Dubya's SOTU speech (which I watched TWICE) really has lifted me up... I've been beaming since last night! :o)

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

I should have clarified my comment but I thought it was obvious. I don't what you meant by 'real', I was refering to inner city youth--drug addicts, gang bangers, the unemployed(by choice), freeloading single young mothers, plus the worshippers of Jesse Jackson, Sharpton,etc, which represent a significant percentage of the African American population

[presidio9]

Immigrants are the ones who appreciate what this country is all about

[nmh]

This verse was drilled into my head:

Matt.6:3

[3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

In other words, keep your charitable acts low key. Then you can be sure it is not being done for the WRONG reasons. When you call attention to yourself as Oprah does, it's not as God wants - for Oprah it's about SELF ADULATION and unchristian.

[nmh]

The man speaks NINE languages and has two degrees from Georgetown, but he will be always remembered for using the world's greatest pickup line, "Who wants to sex Mutombo?"

---

WHOA! Who knew?

Too bad about the "pick up line" .... spoils it.

[LWalk18]

There are some truly wonderful black people out there!

And you thought they were all trash, right? Who knew?

[presidio9]

I'd like to see the law changed and allow a guy like this to become our President

A president Mutombo would certainly present logistical problems if some of our more vertically challenged foreign adversaries ever required face-to-face diplomacy.

[RexBeach]

See Post #5.

[presidio9]

I've been pretty down in the dumps lately about politics, GWB's current effectiveness, and the way this country is heading. Dubya's SOTU speech (which I watched TWICE) really has lifted me up... I've been beaming since last night! :o)

My immediate reaction to last night's speech was "that's the thing with this guy: When expectations are lowest, that's when he morphs into a rock star."

[nmh]

Me: There are some truly wonderful black people out there!

You: And you thought they were all trash, right? Who knew?

Me: It's precisely your negative attitude that feeds them to be the worse they can be. Broad brushing by skin color, in this situation, black, only hurts people of any color and keeps them down. People of any color need encouragement in the RIGHT direction.

I'd rather have that man as my neighbor that the elite white trash I have as neighbors.

[beyond the sea]

LOL!

I guess you saw that pic of him and Laura.

Yoi!

[misterrob]

Not in this lifetime....


also

Tell the folks at La Raza that this is what we have in mind when we think about good immigrants

[presidio9]

To be honest, when the camera closed in on him standing to be recognized, I figured the First Lady was still seated for a couple of seconds. It looked like she didn't come past his belly-button at first. Now I look at the photo, and see that it was mre like mid-chest. Maybe she was standing on her chair at that point. What is he, like 7'4"?

[LanPB01]

I'd like to see Mutombo swat away some of the Democrat proposals and do his famous finger wave in their face.

[Pharmboy]

A woman from Mali (religious Muslim also) worked for me for several years. A "joy to be around" is an apt description of her.

[beyond the sea]

Why criticize Oprah on a thread like this? Come to think of it, why criticize Oprah at all? She's done incredibly generous things with her wealth and stature. I, frankly, don't get the anger.

I frankly don't get why you can't get off your Oprah "jag" for just one day. Are you two real close?

Go to her crumby, meaningless show and get her autograph. Maybe that will make you happy.

[Alter Kaker]

There are some truly wonderful black people out there!

This is news? What rock have you been living under for the past 150 years?

[LWalk18]

You were the one who mentioned his race, not me. Mutombo is exceptionally generous by any measure, not just compared to other black people.

[Mr. Jeeves]

What is he, like 7'4"?

7'2". Close enough. ;)

[nmh]

"You were the one who mentioned his race, not me. Mutombo is exceptionally generous by any measure, not just compared to other black people."

I'm not naive. Bush highlighted him because of his race. I am not black. I'm white and I find that skin color highlighting is offensive. What needs to happen is making skin color irrelevant and I suppose that means starting somewhere as Bush did ... guess it's not so "offensive". Have to start with someone. I hope that as time goes by, race will not be an issue ... but I'm a dreamer ... .

[Hildy]

I'm not the one who brought Oprah up...Of course, since you're obsessed with me, it was a fine excuse to make contact. Don't worry, I understand.

[nmh]

Me: There are some truly wonderful black people out there!

You: This is news? What rock have you been living under for the past 150 years?

Me: Odd how you try to stick YOUR prejudice on ME!

How much clearer can one get - I've known it for longer than YOU are old. It's shameful that Demoncrats get the BLACK vote.

[presidio9]

The one thing I do remember about Mutombo (in addition to the many languages) is that he is apparently a better soccer player than he is a basketball player.

[beyond the sea]

He's tall.

He didn't look all that tall when he was sitting beside lovely Laura.

I guess he has some really long legs.

;-)

****

Nevertheless, I've met Dikembe in my life, and may I say that when I was near him physically, I felt a real (physical) warrmth that I could not explain, but for his REAL beauty, calm, love, and goodness!

[Hildy]

I see you're drinkig a little early today. I've been told about you.

[presidio9]

I hope that as time goes by, race will not be an issue ... but I'm a dreamer ... .

Thank you John Lennon.

In fairness, though, I know it was not your intention, but the way you said it was a bit awkward.

[presidio9]

I was near him physically, I felt a real (physical) warrmth that I could not explain, but for his REAL beauty, calm, love, and goodness!

Jesus, were you sporting wood when you typed this?

[beyond the sea]

LOL........ you are a real joker.

You and Oprah really need to get a room.

But, don't let her make you pay. She's got the loot.

[beyond the sea]

I see you're drinkig a little early today. I've been told about you.

LOL.......... one more Quaalude for you and we'll be calling your physician.

By the way, I here that spelling ("drinkig") is the first thing to go with that Quaalude overuse.

ROFL

[beyond the sea]

sporting wood

Does that mean what it sounds like?

;-)

If so, I only "sport wood" for my wife...... and a great bacon/ cheeseburger.

[presidio9]

Just messing with you. You have to admit, that it does begin to sound like borderline man-crush material...