Con sus 231 centímetros de estatura ha sido, junto al rumano George Muresan, el jugador más alto de la historia de la NBA. Extremadamente delgado (apenas pesaba 90 kilos), las piernas de Manute Bol parecían finos alambres a punto de quebrarse. Tras sufrir mil y un avatares en pos del sueño americano, logró hacerse un hueco en la mejor liga de baloncesto del mundo. Consiguió fama, dinero y el cariño de todos, especialmente en su Sudán natal, país por el que luchó hasta los últimos días de su intensa y sorprendente vida. Pero el destino no fue benévolo con él, y murió joven, enfermo y arruinado.
A mediados of the 80 peculiar picture of a basketball player turned around the world. It was a picture of a boy of color with the number 10 shirt from the modest University of Bridgeport (Connecticut). He was a baby face and long, long, infinite body, as had not been seen before. In the picture, the first you can see below these lines, the boy, named Manute Bol, a native of a tribe in Sudan, raised his arms, no feet off the ground, reaching almost to the height of the rim. Behind him, one of the referees of the match gives the true perspective of its massive scale. But what most surprised were his arms and legs, authentic sticks, and his body emaciated. The picture showed a "noodle walking" on a court. We possibly to the most unique physiognomy basketball history, could not believe that this body could play authentic moles without breaking into pieces.
Months later, the young Manute landed at last, after endless avatars, the best basketball league in the world. It was the first African to get it. His arrival to the NBA sparked interest in the unusual sense. In October 1985, in one of his first public appearances, dozens of journalists besieged him and riddled with questions: "Would you afraid of the challenge against the best players in the world? ". "I'm not afraid of anything," said shyly. I remember when I was younger I had to hunt a lion with my bare hands. "
These statements enlarged their legend, and helped increase the fascination with her figure and her personal story of a young man arrived from a distant and savage world triumphed in the land of opportunity. Years later, Manute Bol matizaría himself and put in its true dimension that episode. According to his account later, when he was 15, in one of his journeys in open fields with cattle, one cow was eaten by a lion, something that frightened him: therefore, the next few days would carry a spear. One of those mornings, he found the lion sleeping under some bushes, silently, approached and threw the spear with all his strength, killing the beast. Sudanese giant recognize that has not been asleep the fierce animal, would not have dared to confront him.
tribal life and early baskets
Manute Bol was born in Turalei, a village in southern Sudan, officially on October 16, 1962, although their real date of birth has always been a mystery since they lacked Registration civil. Belonged to the Dinka tribe, the highest in the country, in fact, that his grandfather, Malouk Bol Chol, one of the tribal chiefs, measured 2.39 meters. The Dinka, the majority ethnic group in the south, was a very primitive people in their habits, people who had no written laws, turned their heads in the sole repository of authority, and allowed polygamy. Thus, Bol Chol had forty wives, more than eighty children and hundreds of grandchildren, one of which, our hero, inherit its most distinctive feature: an unusual height. Manute
grew in a wild environment, in harmony with nature. 's life people depended mainly on cattle, wheat and cereals, and he, like most young Dinka, was responsible for the care of the cows that gave them milk and meat that remained. Among the customs of the tribe was not the one to go to school, hence a classroom never set foot in Sudan. On the verge of adulthood and his height was about 2.31 meters, a height so huge that soon attract attention outside the bubble of his village. And then I would know a sport that would eventually change his life.
was in 1979 when he first heard about basketball. An uncle, police and a resident of Wau, the largest city south of the country, tried to persuade him to travel there to try the local team, which participated in the National League. A Manute what sounded like a joke that game and did not travel. But his fate was already written and appeared in it ... football and returned to knock on his door a few months later. This time it was a cousin, one of the very many who had ", named Joseph Victor Bol Bol man of the world, airline pilot Sudanese and contacts in various clubs in the country, who tried to convince with arguments" powerful "spoke of the United States, money, a possible life as a professional ... This Once yes, agreed, and went to Wau where he saw for the first time in his life a ball, a basket and a court of this strange sport called basketball.
were not easy its beginnings in the basket. One of his first days of training, Bol Victor asked his cousin to male the ball in the basket. To try, broke teeth against the rim. did not know even the most basic fundamentals of the sport, but was most important, the only thing you can not train: the height. Despite that incident, continued to train until Victor and another cousin, Nyoul Makwag Bol, based on the selection of Sudan, we facilitated proceedings so he could play on the same team than this, the Catholic Club in Khartoum . Despite its obvious technical deficiencies, its sheer size was of great help to win the championship loose Sudan. Six months after starting to practice this sport, I was on the national team.
A providential visit
From here, a combination of circumstances and coincidences that occurred in just over a year, Manute out of a country that was on the verge of a bloody civil war. And in this story played a key role Don Feeley, young American technical of Fairleigh Dickinson , a small college in New Jersey. As part of an exchange program, Feeley went to Sudan in the summer of 1982 to run for a few months before the national team of that country. Though at first reluctant to travel, we ended up convinced that this adventure could enrich your resume as a coach, while it could serve to uncover some interesting player for his college.
After several weeks in his native village, Manute made the long trip (more than three days by train) that would lead him to Khartoum, the capital of the country where the training would take place selection. He did so with the extra motivation of knowing that would lead an American coach. The training took place in one of the few concrete clues that were in Sudan, on top of a hill, under a blazing sun. Like every day, when Feeley came a group of players he was shooting baskets. But that day, saw something different, a scene that left him utterly perplexed.
Without lifting the feet off the ground without the aid of any bank or straight, only raising his endless arms, Manute was engaging the rim of the networks. When I explained who I was, completely changed their training plans to pay special attention to the giant wire legs, which was missing several teeth and whose toes were twisted and deformed by failing to wear sneakers ever their size. Soon trabarían a good relationship and Feeley could ascertain its simple and friendly.
In the following weeks, the young technician also found two other potential senior players Sudan: Nihal Deng, Manute friend in the Catholic , and Akila Shokai. Both had been well educated in Khartoum and were handled well in English, so they did the work as an interpreter between the players and Feeley. Thanks to this, Shokai end up getting a scholarship to play at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he remained several years. But the rough diamond was Bol, who the coach was amazed by its power of intimidation and its rapid progress, and who try to convince to travel to the United States in search of a future as a professional player.
A failed election
In the following months, due to disagreements with the school management, Feeley was dismissed from the University, but continued his efforts to bring Manute United States, have convinced a future star that just had to polish. Besides, he thought, would serve of "safe passage" to get a new job. He thought he saw an opportunity when Kevin Mackey, coach of the Cleveland State University and acquaintance, showed interest in his proposal: receive the post of assistant to lead the team in exchange for two players who spoke wonders Nihal Deng and who considered the best kept secret in the world of basketball. Mackey agreed. wanted to see the players as soon as possible, so Feeley processed as quickly as he could ticket from Khartoum to Manute and Nihal. On May 23, 1983, both giants landed at Logan Airport in Boston, penniless and totally under their mentor.
elapsed But things are not as agreed. Mackey was interested in Bol, but backtracked on his idea to offer the position of assistant to Feeley, who, feeling cheated, changed tack and began to look for another destination for Sudan. Five days before the 1983 draft, calls his good friend Jim Lynam, new coach of the San Diego Clippers . "I have a surprise for you Jim, a real surprise," he said. As he was giving details, the interest of Lynam, incredulous at first, was growing. It seemed extremely risky bet in the draft by a complete stranger he had never seen him play, but what heck, I needed something different to change the dynamics of Clippers losing . In addition, many chose not lose any of their last rounds. "Okay," replied Don. Do not talk about it with anyone else, I'll choose. " And it was. Reached draft night, and in the fifth round, No. 97, San Diego chose to Manute Bol, Sudan, 2.31 meters tall, 81 kilos. A murmur, a mixture of surprise and bewilderment, burst into the room. Nobody knew anything about this player unbelievable height and weight.
Days later, Lynam traveled to Cleveland to meet at last "best kept secret the world of basketball. " The African giant was training in the gym with Nihal Deng-his inseparable friend and translator, and a group of rookies fighting for a place in the NBA. Saw him, she was deeply impressed, it was still higher than I had imagined. Soon found that, indeed, he had a lot to learn, but also realized the incredible power of intimidation, something I had never seen before. After observing him for several days, was more than satisfied: indeed, Manute was the grand theft of that draft.
But soon they would take the joy, because the NBA is quickly exotic nullify that election, claiming it was under 21 years and had not been declared eligible by the deadline set by the league. There were complications when the League requested his passport and this indicated that Manute was 19 and measured 1.58 meters! The player explained that Sudanese officials had measured sitting, but the NBA, seeing no clear on the matter, decided to annul the election. Thus, Lynam was left without its rough diamond, and Feeley lost his jobs as an assistant with the Clippers. Frustrated
passing to the NBA, Don Feeley tried again with the help of Mackey, Manute enroll at Cleveland State. But again they found a large would become insurmountable obstacle: no education of any kind, unable to read or write, and without knowledge of English, seemed more difficult to enter university could . For more than Mackey tried to make an exception with him, it was not possible. The center's director wished she could do anything and gave the matter closed.
And finally, basketball
Outside the NBA and the NCAA decided to spend a year working out, studying and learning the language, which was sent to Case Western Reserve , a special academy for immigrants. They were difficult months for Manute, who feel the loneliness of being in a strange country and without mastering the language, did not stop to consider if I was doing the right thing. He had come to the United States to play basketball and, for various reasons, could not do it. He came to think to leave everything and return to his native village where, according to the laws of the Dinka people, should take responsibility for the care of his family. Only his inseparable friend Nihal was able to convince him not to throw away a promising future. Meanwhile, continued training and sought him a representative to guide his career, Frank Catapano. He would bear the costs generated by his stay in the U.S. rate.
So the months passed and sighted on the horizon is a new season. Steps were taken to enroll in another small college Manute - Bridgeport in Washington, whose basketball team was active in the second category of the NCAA, and where Feeley finally had found a position as assistant to the orders of Bruce Webster , who was also impressed by the scale of the Sudanese and happy to have a player that unusual. During the first five days, Manute stayed at the home of Webster, sleeping in two beds placed adjacent T-shaped As Mackey did in Cleveland, Bridgeport coach asked the management center of a special scholarship for registration as a student could Bol. Although his academic level was still very poor (could barely read and write), and defended himself in English and had become accustomed to American life and customs. In addition, the director of Bridgeport understood the importance for the center could have its presence in the basketball team, so there was no problem in granting a scholarship designed especially for him. Then the story
Manute staff jumped to the media, knowing all the details of his life in Africa, the complicated arrival in the United States, the ups and downs of their year blank, the plight of his country ... Suddenly, it stopped being a stranger and generated enormous interest around his figure and its potential as a future NBA player. His life changes overnight: prosthesis was implanted in the mouth, made him a bed as they put their papers in order ... Since then they should just worry about playing basketball.
With capacity for 1,800 spectators, the Harvey Hubbell flag remained small whenever the University of Bridgeport played at home. Manute was the great attraction of a team that quickly attracted media interest itself of the best universities. In his debut against Stonehill scored 20 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and made 6 blocks. His presence was raging between rival attacks, forced to alter their shots again and again, and also in defense suffered to defend as far apart. Wherever traveling Bridgeport team stood a huge buzz, everyone wanted to see the giant wire legs. In Quinninpac organized a party in his honor they called Manute Bol Fans Party, after which the honoree scored 22 points and got 15 caps for the local team's players. The team coached by Webster finished the season with a brilliant record of 26-5, but lost in the regional final against Sacred Heart. That season, Bol signed a spectacular average of 22.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and nearly 6 blocks per game.
Now, close to the stars
Seeing the progress being made and how their physique allowed him to dominate the area in that category in the NCAA decided it was time to make the leap to the NBA. I wanted to turn professional and start earning money to help people. As first step, in the spring of 1985, decided to play in the newly created USBL (United States Basketball League ), a minor professional league consists of only seven teams foguear aimed at players who might be of interest to the NBA. Frank Catapano agreed that Manute be part of the Rhode Island Gulls , a team that had played eight games before the draf. These parties would meet two objectives: to provide its first income as a professional and, above all, serve as a showcase for the NBA franchise heading into the draft was coming. Bol receive $ 25,000 for those weeks of competition, being the highest paid player in the league. Gulls In
coincide with players who would later be known as John Hot Rod Williams or "dwarf" from North Carolina State, at just 1.69 meters, known as Spud Webb, who starred with a brutal contrast of heights. In his debut with the team Rhode Islands, Bol got 16 caps and caught on a great defensive performance. Complete its experience in the USBL with an impressive average of 13 blocks per game. Despite the technical shortcomings that still had his game, this monster defensive interest was growing among several NBA teams, and renowned coaches and team managers came to see him live. "It's the best blocker in the history, even better than Bill Russell," Don Nelson said of him, then head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. who also was wary of its potential due to his physique emaciated, barely 86 kilos for 231 feet then, "and who directly ruled his move as being more a spectacle than a usable player for the NBA.
One of the most impressed by his performances turned out to be Bob Ferry, sports director of the Washington Bullets , who already had direct references to the player by an old acquaintance, Bruce Webster, Manute coach in Bridgeport. "Take my advice and go see it. It's a corking machine, "he said. Indeed, he made the case and was puzzled by what he saw. Although the head coach of the Bullets , Gene Shue, I was totally convinced of the potential of African giant, Ferry insisted Manute. It was his commitment to the draft and Washington used its second-round pick (number 31) in the Sudan. And this time it all was in order. He signed a three-year contract that would begin charging for the first $ 130,000 of them. Had finally fulfilled his dream of joining the best basketball league in the world.
From the start, the Bullets put all their efforts to make the most of your new player. He was assigned an assistant coach to polish his technique, a personal assistant to help him in all daily chores, and put a hard workout plan and food that was meant kilos and add muscle to your body. When the Oct. 9 debut in a friendly match against the Celtics , Bol had won five kilos. Boston players who did not know him, made a bet: who would take $ 600 got crushed over the giant. No one succeeded and Manute put new plugs in 26 minutes. McHale, Parish, Bill Walton, Larry Bird ... No one was spared the long arms of Sudan. From that day, and would not forget his name.
A corking machine
When Manute officially debuted in the NBA, the October 25, 1985, became its 2.31 meters the tallest player in the history of the competition. Years later, he would equal the Romanian George Muresan. Very limited in attack, from the beginning had a big impact defensively, and had virtually no ball that did not reach their kilometric arms. Many of his best performances of the sign in his first year as a pro: 15 caps against Atlanta, the day of its debut, 12 against Cleveland soon after, 18 points, 9 rebounds and 12 blocks before the day of his Milwaukee debut as a starter by Jeff Ruland's injury (he played 48 minutes with extension included) ... In his first season, made history by smashing the record of "caps" for a rookie with 397, an average of 4.97 per game. In addition, the first year averaged 3.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 26 minutes. Manute Bol
still holds the record for blocks in a single room (8, something he did twice), in one half (11, shared with George Elmore Smith and Johnson), and the second mark of history in a game (15, 17 that placed by Elmore Smith). Also, is the second in history to average blocks per game (3.34, second only to the 3.50 of Mark Eaton) and the best average per minute played (0,176). In a game against the Orlando Magic did something never seen before: put four "caps" on the same play ... in just ten seconds.
His NBA career would last for ten seasons, in which he played, in addition to the capital equipment in Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat . In parallel to his basketball career, he soon became a whole "character" in the NBA, thanks to their cheerful and outgoing personality. It was a new player, different, exotic, the center of attention wherever he went, and starred in numerous strange situations. In the 1987-88 season he starred in a picture more like a circus than a basketball team to match the Bullets with Tyrone Bogues, the basis of only 1.59 meters. 72 centimeters separating the tallest player and the lowest in the history of the competition, forming a striking picture (you can see the image below) that went around the world and that the NBA is commissioned to operate properly.
In June 1988 left the discipline of the Washington Bullets to joining Golden State Warriors. Then there is a surprising change in his game, X-Files kind that causes surprise nearly everyone. The tallest player in the world, with rudimentary basketball fundamentals, suddenly transformed into a more or less reliable triple jumper. It uses the three-point shot as a weapon of his game, although their percentages were never very bright. After releasing three triples in the three seasons he spent in Washington-no-scoreless in his first season with the Warriors had 20 triples in 91 attempts. His style was unusual and unorthodox (threw her arms too far back to get the ball at head height, almost from his right shoulder), but managed to improve it somewhat in the coming seasons to sign a 32% playing for Philadelphia 76ers in 1992-93.
Dump with Sudan
Between 1985 and 1993 signs his best years in the NBA, but after this season sporting level begins to decline, affected by a chronic arthritis in his knees. His pains became constant and could not maintain the physical demands of the competition. In 1995 the Milwaukee Bucks cut off without reaching debut. In his last years in the league averaging just over 2 points and 3 rebounds per game, and statistical closures resented both his physical. After leaving the NBA, he played in 1996 in Uganda, Sadolin Power in , a team that helped win the league. A final year in Qatar was the prelude to his retirement.
While in the NBA enjoyed lucrative contracts with their teams (in its ten years of professional salaries cashed in more than seven million dollars) and sponsors the likes of Coca-Cola, Nike, Kodak and Toyota. But the savings was not his strong and soon lost all the money earned in his years as a professional basketball. To this influenced their lack of vision for finance (failed in several businesses), a large family who never hesitated to help and financial support to the most disadvantaged civil war that his country lived in the 90's.
In the name of religion, south Sudan were massacred by the fundamentalist government in the north. Two million civilians were killed and four million were displaced from their homes. Manute, from a distance, took as one of its responsibilities to help their compatriots. "In 1991 I watched the news on television Sudan and the government was killing my people" would have in the last years of his life. I said I had to do something, so I decided to become a warrior. I felt I had done a lot of money and it was time to give something to my people. " Much of their earnings were aimed at the reconstruction of his native village, Turalei, ravaged by war, to build a hospital and hunger programs. also financially supported the rebels, and campaigned around the world to raise money, food and medicine to refugee camps. Thousands of people, especially children, saved their lives thanks to their help and efforts. Until the end of his days, despite the precariousness of their health and their economic situation, fought to improve the living conditions of its people. For them, Manute always be a god. The Sudanese Loulé
Deng is now one of the star of the Chicago Bulls One of the best teams in the NBA. But at that time - mid 90's - was just a kid who was starting in the sport of basketball: "Speaking of Manute, Sudan immediately think everything you did to help people, only then think their sporting successes. He did not need things to do, but it would not be happy unless he was helping his people. " Deng has always recognized that his successful career in the NBA has a lot to do with the help of Bol, was light, guide and example for him: "If Manute had not given much love to his people and had not helped others, perhaps I would not be here today. "
Ruined and ill
At just 35 years, and recently retired as a professional, Manute Bol was in ruin. Furthermore, his wife left him and went to live in New Jersey with their four children. He had to sell their homes in Egypt and Khartoum, and the United States was seized, but even so he managed to solve its economic problems. For years, he lived in a rented house in the suburbs of Khartoum with two wives, one child and 14 relatives. had no work, and while his health allowed it served as chief of the Dinka, wedding organizing, mediating disputes between tribal members and advising more youth. And occasionally, when the opportunity arose, I participated in a charitable sports event, to get some advertising revenues to continue to help his people. Meanwhile, continued to suffer from arthritis, which seriously affected the wrists and knees.
In July 2004 his condition was complicated by a serious car accident suffered West Hartford (Connecticut, USA), which caused numerous fractures were recovered in the North American country. Former teammates organized a charity game in his name. During his recovery, come the end of civil war in Sudan.
Then Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a rare degenerative skin disease that also affects the mucous membrane and some internal organs, was slowly destroying his life. Manute Bol, the giant wire legs, physical player unlikely to triumph in the NBA, he died on June 19, 2010, at 47 years of age in a hospital in Charlottesville (Northern Virginia, United States ) because of severe kidney disease. Coming from afar, he left an indelible mark of humanity in the world of sport. His heart was as big as him. And always will, forever and ever, the head of the tribe.
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