THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND

Manute Bol died on Saturday due to severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition at the age of 47. The 7 foot 7 inch shot-blocker played 10 seasons in the NBA. He was from Sudan and did a lot of humanitarian work in Africa after his NBA career ended. Manute averaged 2.6 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 blocked shots. In his rookie season (1985-1986) Bol appeared in 80 games and recorded a career-high 5.0 blocks per game. His total of 397 blocks set the NBA rookie record. During Bol's last season in Philadelphia, Bol enjoyed a memorable night while playing against former teammate Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. Bol hit 6 of 12 three pointers all in the 2nd half  in a losing effort against the Suns.
Fans became a fan of Bol's by yelling for him to shoot when he got the ball. Manute would shoot from 3 point range more often than you would think. In 1988-89 season, when he played for the Golden State Warriors,  he shot a career-high 91 three pointers and made 20 of them. I truly wish I could have seen Manute Bol play in person. That would have been a highlight in my sports memory bank, especially if it was court side seats.

In 1987, Bullets drafted 5 ft 3 in. Point Guard Muggsy Bogues. Bullets had the Tallest and shortest player in the NBA.

Bol was very active in charitable causes throughout his career. In fact, he said he spent much of the money he made during a 10-year NBA career supporting various causes related to his war-ravaged nation of birth, Sudan. He frequently visited Sudanese refugee camps, where he was treated like royalty. In 2001 Bol was offered a post as minister of sport by the Sudanese government. Bol, who was Christian, refused because one of the pre-conditions was converting to Islam. Later Bol was hindered from leaving the country by the Sudanese government, who accused him of supporting the Dinka-led Christian rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Army. The Sudanese government refused to grant him an exit visa unless he came back with more money. Assistance by supporters in the United States, including Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman, raised money to provide Bol with plane tickets to Cairo, Egypt. After 6 months of negotiations with U.S. consulate officials regarding refugee status, Bol and his family were finally able to leave Egypt and return to the United States.



Reference:
http://www.focusdep.com/articles/Society/NBA_Star_Now_Refugee