Posted on 08/18/2002 7:09:58 AM PDT by SlickWillard
Islam is a religion of peace;
Islam is a religion of peace;
Islam is a religion of peace...
Manute Bol Is Stranded in Egypt
Starting in 1991, Bol began making visits to southern Sudanese refugee camps. Many of Bol's relatives were leaders in the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the rebel movement.
He tried to leave in 1999, but the government stopped him. His money dwindled as he supported himself and 20 relatives.
Manute is a nice guy - but this is yet another situation where someone who "had it all" is left to scratch for crumbs once the money is gone.
Granted, it's insane to invest $500,000 in a restaurant. OTOH, you've got to cut the guy some slack for supporting 20 relatives, many of whom may have been involved in the struggle against the Muslim tyranny. A number of our forefathers went bankrupt loaning money to our own Continental Congress.
Those lessons are needed, but Bol is a poor example. He did not spend his income on a lavish lifestyle and blow his money partying - he had, throughout his career, donated most of his income to his family, his Country, and those in need. Even though he has no money now, he still donated his 'celeb boxing' fee to charity. Manute Bol is not a poster boy for NBA excesses.
Around the same time I recall reading an interview with him where he stated that money didnt mean much to him, since in his country a man with a few heads of cattle was how wealthy was defined, and he routinely donated several heads of cattle to various villages and friends over there. I do admit, I find it hard to believe that he blew his millions buying cows for africa. More likley he blew it the same way most other NBA and/or hollywood types do: fast cars, expensive clothes, gambling, maybe other things too. But that doesnt make me happy to see his life ruined by the Sudanese thugs.
Sounds like there is a difference though. This guy ain't out to just take care of himself. He has spent the majority of his money on other people.
bump
Top THAT, Iverson!
Bol began making visits to southern Sudanese refugee camps... became an important backer of the rebels, contributing an estimated $3.5 million... met with dozens of members of Congress, warning of Muslim extremists and begging for U.S. intervention... picketed the Sudanese embassy...
A decent, honorable man, all-around. Note the lack of any extremist methods to support or spread the word of his cause. The world needs more like him.
In August 1998, Bol was sitting on his roof in Khartoum to escape the heat when an explosion one-half mile away lit up the night sky, followed by 15 to 20 more. President Clinton had ordered the cruise-missile strike on a Sudanese pharmaceutical plant suspected of aiding the manufacture of chemical weapons. The attack was a turning point for Bol. The government accused him of being a spy, he says.
Only a half-mile from Clinton's misdirection attack.
Bol returned to Khartoum, where the government, promising more talks, offered him a post as minister of sport. Their offer was conditional, however. He would need to become a Muslim first. A Christian since childhood, Bol refused.
Ah, the Religion of Peacetm strikes again. If there are any FReepers left who don't think that Islam is a religion-cloaked political attempt at conquest, this should help dispel the misconception.
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.
Returning home to Northern Virginia years ago, I saw Bol arriving at National Airport. A young man had been driving the car, and Bol was sitting in the back seat with his feet and legs where the passenger seat in the front usually is found. It was a strange sight, but the car was, otherwise, unremarkable. He was not a flashy man.
he lived the NBA high life, making $1.6 million a year at one point and owning homes in Maryland, Khartoum and Egypt. He opened a restaurant with a $500,000 investment, only to see it go bankrupt. He drove luxury cars
This is not, by and large, conspicuous consumption, at least not as compared to others. However, my own run-in with Bol was different than yours. As I recall, I was told he routinely spent an evening in the casino and would play with tens of thousands as a bankroll, which he often lost large portions of if not the entire ammount. Perhaps he didnt blow his cash on Ferrari's but anyone who gambles away thens of thouasand in a single night is not going to be wealthy for long. And indeed, Bol is no longer wealthy. Too bad, everyone says he's a great guy.
I don't believe you can say B*****s. Abe Pollin had the team name changed to the Wizards to cut down on crime in DC.
(Readers will recall the attack on the Sudanese "chemical weapons" plant actually destroyed a factory making aspirin, and that we got worsened relations with that part of the world all so Bill Clinton could keep our minds off L'Affaire Lewinsky).
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