Manute Bol's Radical Christianity

The Wall Street Journal ^ | June 25, 2010 | Jon A. Shields

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By JON A. SHIELDS As any churchgoer who tuned in to watch the recent NBA finals contest between the Lakers and Celtics already knows, the term redemption is probably now heard more often in NBA sports broadcasts than in homilies. A Google search under "redemption" and "NBA" generates approximately 2 million hits—more hits than "redemption" and "Christianity." The term can also be found in more than 2,600 stories on ESPN.com.

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I'm posting this, not because I agree with the author's sanctimonius leveraging of the occasion of Mr. Bol's passing to flog his pet peeves, but a token of honor of Mr. Bol's life.

Obituary titles for Bol, for example, described him as a humanitarian rather than a Christian. The remarkable charity and personal character of other NBA players, including David Robinson, A. C. Green and Dwight Howard, are almost never explicitly connected to their own intense Christian faith. They are simply good guys.

However, the author's whining was particularly timely in light of Sunday's readings and the homily at the 6pm Mass, wherein we were reminded, by the story of the Good Samaritan, that being Christian doesn't mean being "better" than anyone else, it means being more fully human. I don't care what you call a cheeseburger as long as it's lean and cooked right. And so, the reference to Bol as a "humanitarian" isn't an offense, it's a towering compliment. Would that more Christians were more human.

RIP, Manute Bol.

[Mere Survival]

That was a beautiful article.

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He was a beautiful person.

[xkaydet65]

Good Francesco Bernadone must have heartedly welcomed another Fool into Paradie.

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Good Francesco Bernadone must have heartedly welcomed another Fool into Paradie.

My thoughts, as well.

[Retired Greyhound]

“Bol, a Christian Sudanese immigrant, believed his life was a gift from God to be used in the service of others. “

“Most NBA cats go broke on cars, jewelry & groupies. Manute Bol went broke building hospitals.”

I remember seeing him play in person. He was fascinating to look at.

God bless this wonderful man, and may he RIP.

[Persevero]

I am very glad this article was written, and published in a wide circulation paper (WSJ).

Manut Bol deserves to be well remembered. A giant in life. Basketball was just a sideline.

A truly great man.

[SeekAndFind]

TRIBUTE TO MANUTE BOL AND SPUD WEBB. The Tallest and Shortest Player in the NBA then.

Two of the most entertaining players in the game. I will miss watching Manute taking 3 point shots and actually MAKING THEM...

[SeekAndFind]

More pictures of 2 of the most entertaining players who ever played in the NBA :

[Mere Survival]

Manut Bol deserves to be well remembered. A giant in life. Basketball was just a sideline.

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I’m glad the article was written as well. I did not know what a giant Bol was.

Another story: “He helped raise money for refugees. Reports say he donated nearly all of the estimated six million dollars he made playing basketball.”

[the invisib1e hand]

I remember reading, when he first came on the scene (in the ‘80’s) that he knocked out his front teeth by ramming into the rim mouth-first.

[jwalsh07]

A good Christian man gone to his just rewards with the Father.