Back to more Kansas blogging. Wednesday's Kansas City Star has an update on Manute Bol, onetime NBA player. In 1985, the 7-foot-7 Sudanese became the first African drafted by the NBA.
He's still recovering from a near fatal 1984 automobile accident.
Earlier this month, Bol moved to Olathe, a suburb on the Kansas side of the KC sprawl.
The Star explains why:
Manute Bol moved to Olathe because of his people, and all great chiefs take care of their people.
Kansas City is the cultural capital for those of southern Sudanese descent living in America, a place where decisions are made on everything from beauty pageants to ideas to aid their homeland.
"Every time they do something," Bol says, "they have to do it here, because Kansas City is supportive."
Bol, 44, has lived here since July 7 and has instantly become an easily recognizable celebrity in the area. Besides his NBA fame, Bol has long been a leading voice for the crisis in southern Sudan. Genocide and civil war have ravaged his home country. And although the charitable cause is popular now, Bol was funding thousands of refugees as far back as the early 1990s. Even after he retired, Bol took part in several publicity stunts — like becoming the world’s tallest jockey, boxer and hockey player — to raise money for Sudan.
In 1995, Bol moved back to the Sudan--believing he'd be named the nation's Minister of Sport. But acceptance of the position required that Bol, a Christian, convert to Islam. Bol refused, saw his visa revoked, and was trapped in the war-torn nation.
Most of Bol's money is gone, for the most part not squandered on rich man's toys, but given away to Sudanese refugees. And this was years before international attention was focused on Sudan.
Thanks for the links:
Robert Spencer's Dhimmi Watch
Weasel Zippers
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Sudan 
human rights 
Africa 
Manute Bol 
NBA 
basketball 
sports 
Kansas 
Kansas City 
السودان 
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