Manute Bol dies at 47: Bol's sprit of giving not well known

Manute Bol

Former Golden State Warriors player Manute Bol (who also played with the Philadelphia 76ers, Seattle Supersonics, and Washington Bullets) sadly passed away Saturday at the young age of 47 and do to complications from "Stevens - Johnson syndrome," which Bol reportedly contracted while in Sudan.

Bol is being celebrated as one of the NBA's best defensive players in history, but Bol's also praised for his work in the sprit of giving. The Kansas City Star reported in May - as Bol was in the hospital for the condition that would ultimately take his life - that Manute Bol's charitable work for Sudan was not well-recognized by the public.

Bol's focus was helping those less fortunate in his home country of Sudan. One of the organizations Bol supported is called "Alliance For The Lost Boys of Sudan."

Alliance For The Lost Boys is an organization that supplies medical and dental coverage as well as educational funding and school supplies for the boys of Sudan. Specifically, the estimated 27,000 Sudanese boys who were displaced from their families during the Second Sudanese Civil War. A war where Bol himself lost several hundred family members. A war that saw 2 million killed; 3,800 boys were orphaned in America, mostly in the State of Arizona, Chicago and the State of Florida.

(That Arizona has Sundanese orphans makes one wonder if they too are being harmed by that states' Hitler-like illegal immigration law and the intense racism expressed by some there.)

This comment summed up Bol's thoughts: "There’s no way I can put the money in my pocket while my people are getting beat up. Whatever I can do to help my people I will do. I feel whatever I make here I make for my people."

The Kansas City Star 's Sam Mellinger wrote that Bol "has given so much and received little in comparison." And in a set of paragraphs that makes any one want to cry, Mellinger wrote:

He was once lured back to his home country with the promise of a cabinet post, only to find out he would be required to convert to Islam. When he refused, he was stranded for nearly five years. His trust and good intentions have been abused so many times.

Even while playing, he went into war zones to help the Lost Boys and other refugees. Sometimes, those visits were interrupted by bombings from warlords who viewed Bol as a threat.

His family was wiped out by Darfurians, but when that country became victims, Bol was one of the first Sudanese to speak out in support. A Christian, he told his people that extremists were the enemy, not Muslims.

he uncomfortable part of this is that we’ll appreciate Bol, 47, more when he’s gone, whenever that comes.

You know, there are times when I have said "I wish someone would have told me about that; I'd have done what I could to help." Manute Bol's story is one of those times I wish someone had contacted me. A person's story is a collection of small contributions; that's one I would have certainly made.

Manute Bol's in a better place. And, while it's after his passing, we should stop to celebrate Manute Bol's time on Earth.

God bless Manute Bol.

Manute Bol dies at 47: Bol a Golden State Warrior who will be missed

Manute Bol, the tallest player in Golden State Warriors in history, died today at 47 and of complications from "Stevens–Johnson syndrome" at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Bol as a player was a sight to see: a literal cross between a stilt and a praying mantis. Bol, who towered at 7 feet, 7 inches, was one of the tallest NBA Basketball player in history and for a long time known as just a shot blocker, and is one of a just a few players with 12 or more blocks in one game.

In this video below called "Manute Bol: Welcome to the Block Party," Bol blocked four straight shots in the opening segment. Moreover, he did it so effortlessly, blocking shots seemed like child's play.



Bol is the only player in NBA history to have blocked more shots (2,086) than points he scored (1,599). Manute averaged 3.3 blocked shots per game, and under Don Nelson in his second stint with the Warriors in 1994, became a defensive terror.

Manute the Shooter

Manute Bol

But Manute was also a great three-point shooter (and you can see him making one with the Warriors as his teammate Chris Mullin looks on). Manute was the giant master of the "three": the person you least expected to try a shot from downtown and the one you least expected to make one from downtown. In his first stint with the Warriors from 1988 to 1990, Bol shot them with regularity, attempting a career-high 91 "threes" and making 20 of them.

Bol, listed in many headlines as a former Philadelphia 76ers player, will always be remembered as an Oakland, er Golden State Warrior, in this space.

Manute was the player you wished and cheered for because for all of his physical gift of height (Manute means "special blessing") and story that he fought a lion in Sudan, he seemed to be a very kind man.

Manute Bol lived almost exactly the same number of years as I have; he's gone and taken from us far too early. He died of Stevens–Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening condition where your skin and mucous membranes over react to a medication or infection, according to The Mayo Clinic.

Manute Bol was one of the great ones; he will be missed by many.

SAIC uses Crain's to defend itself CityTime tax payer's Titanic by Suzannah B. Troy

This is for people following my YouTube and blog postings on CityTime, the tax payers Titanic or want to know about a NYC technology scandal at City Hall that for far too long is  making consultants the big bucks off of CityTime's  flaws.  They  did their best  to keep this Orwellian techno dream of Bloomberg's quiet like Sleeping Beauty but more and more people are learning about this economic disaster. 

If you visit the Crain's piece I am giving you a link to SAIC and you can read what that stands  and how SAIC is using Crain's to defend it's reputation.   CityTime was suppose to save the city money by using technology from hand prints to using computers to sign in and instead it seems like a scam to make consultants even richer.   There are over 200 consultants and some are getting close to half a million and some a million but CityTime is about to bust the 1 billion dollar mark and CityTime is very flawed....flawed is a kind word for hunk of junk, a black hole sucking tax payers money, a scam or sham....read on....

I had made this YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/Suzannahartist#p/u/19/_Tz4eMcP2LU

May 27, 2010.

You can find the first blog posting that goes in to the CityTime and SAIC in the text portion of this YouTube link above.

I give you a link to this woman Ali Winston's article that gets in to SAIC and Iraq and even the FBI.

Check it out.

Go to my main blog and search under CityTime to find all my postings....www.suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com

Juan Gonzalez's work covering CityTime has been outstanding and indepth so you must check out Ali Winston's piece from City Limits that connects the dots with SAIC to federal level scandals  and Gonzalez's series that is focused here in NYC.   Juan Gonzelez's series of pieces exposing CityTime are all on The New York Daily News website are a must read.  

Renewal is this Sept. and I am one of many that feels rather than renew we need an investigation.

Even better would be a full refund of tax payers money which is moving towards the billion dollar mark for a massively flawed system and this article says Joel Bondy is laying low.

I would like to know how much he earns as a city employee vs. a consultant or what....?  What is his role with CityTime and NYC gov fully explained along with other consultants especially anyone that has ties to NYC gov and or Bloomberg and friends.   I don't have a press pass and I am finding NYC gov is not eager to answer questions and or be transparent.   Maybe a press pass would help....?

Actually on 2nd thought....

here is paragraph from Ali Winston's article from City Limits....

But SAIC has also had high-profile problems over the years. In the early 1990s, the company and six of its employees pleaded guilty to making false statements in their handling of work at EPA Superfund sites. In 2004, the Pentagon's inspector general faulted SAIC's performance on a contract to rebuild the Iraqi media. The following year, the FBI blamed SAIC for botching the development of the bureau's new "Trilogy" information management system (although the Justice Department inspector general said the FBI deserved much of the blame). And the company was still wrangling into 2007 with the Greek government over whether SAIC deserved full payment for a security system it developed for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Rishat Kamalov, Robert Lederman, Hiss & Spit Union Square by Suzannah B. Troy

http://suzannahbtroy.blogspot.com/2010/03/suzannah-b-troy-buys-rishat-kamalovs.html
Above is the link to me purchasing my first photograph by Rishat Kamalov which is quite large of The Cyclone!   Today I had hoped to make it to Coney Island and see the mermaids in The Mermaid Parade,  activists, friends, characters....maybe ride the Cyclone again in the front seat....my favorite spot.

Instead here I am visiting Union Square where I found lots of artists with their work on display although some like the Kamalov's might be forced to move because of mayor Bloomberg restrictions.  Read on...

I spoke with the Kamalov's devoted wife and daughter selling his wonderful photos and they had their Artist Power sign up.  They told me because of the changes put in place they would most likely be moving to Union Square.

In the meantime I told them today 1010WINS reported Robert Lederman is suing Rudy Giuliani's predecessor and I expected Robert to win and defeat the mayor king Bloomberg the way he did Guiliani.

Because I feel too tired to make it to Coney Island here is a shot of mine on my humble IPhone 3GS but get ready folks my new IPhone is on the way with a much better camera and HD video plus ZOOM!!!!!


My 3GS was white but you could only get the new phone in black.  I hope to make a documentary from start to finish on my phone.  I wish it was the Giuseppi Logan story....which I have up as a YouTube documentary.  I have a series following NYC characters, artists, etc. but not all were filmed entirely on my Iphone and the 3GS was not HD.  I love this photo of mine too!  I love Rishat Kamalov's Coney Island Cyclone photos and now I have two!

If you look closely you can see the base of The Cyclone in my photo.  If you haven't ridden The Cyclone than you must and sit in the front seat!!!!!!!!


Instead I bought a small photo of Kamalov's and I love it because of how he uses color and how he framed the shot!  "How Sweet it is!"

http://www.hissandspit.org/
I love this woman's face and smile.   She and beautiful kittens are roughing the heat in hopes of finding homes for kittens and cats in need.  I made a donation and if you are a loving kind soul please adopt a kitty cat in need!

Thanks, hugs and love,
Suzannah

Koman Coulibaly: USA Slovenia World Cup ref wakes up America

Koman Coulibaly

For all of the criticism and jokes leveled at World Cup Soccer referee Koman Coulibaly, we in the USA can at least thank him for one thing: waking up America.

In the wake of Koman Coulibaly's no-call, call that he did not explain and that FIFA will not let him explain in its wake, there has been so much anger expressed from quarters that don't pay attention to Soccer, let alone sports, that the World Cup has not only become America's cultural focus, people in the USA actually want to win it.

The USA Slovenia game, played really early on Friday morning on The West Coast, would not have caused much of a stir if the USA just went ahead and lost 2-0. Instead, we had Koman Coulibaly's introduction, leading to a flurry of angry responses, like mine:



But with those angry videos, blogs, websites, and ESPN telecasts, comes something America has not felt before: the desire to win The World Cup.

England's tie of Algeria on Friday left the Group C contest wide open, and makes the USA game against Algeria on June 23rd that much more important. A win would put the USA ahead of Slovenia by one point even if Slovenia beats England.

And as much as USA v. Algeria will be watched in America, England's eyes will be glued to TV sets for the match against Slovenia.

Whatever the case, Soccer now matters in America thanks to Koman Coulibaly.

President Obama should punch BP Oil's Tony Hayward in the nose

Tony Hayward

First, let's get this out of the way: British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward does not reflect the Oil Industry and it's many CEO's, executives, and workers. The vast majority of people in the industry really do care about the areas they impact, and many good efforts are clouded by the actions of shady lawyers and non-government organizations looking to make a buck off of them.

BP's corporate reaction to what is called "The BP Gulf Oil Spill" is an embarrassment to the Oil Industry, where many CEOs know that the buck stops with them and aren't afraid to say so.

Watching Tony Hayward testify before Congress this week and try to avoid personal responsibility for what BP did was so frustrating, that the best thing to happen would have been for President Obama himself to walk into that chamber and punch Tony Hayward in the nose. Listen to Tony Hayward here:



This space does not normally advocate violence, but in this case, Obama could do it live on television and because he's President, get away with it.

Such an action would not only make Hayward understand the damage his firm caused, but make him personally feel it, which is the whole point of Obama's punch. Tony Hayward does not seem to really care about what's happened to life along the Gulf of Mexico, especially for people in Louisiana and Florida.

It's no wonder organizations like Chevron have worked to distance themselves from Hayward. CEO's never avoid responsibility for what happens on their watch. Moreover, BP's Hayward is an unwelcome presence at a time when the Oil Industry is working to meet population demands and technological and political change Worldwide. The Oil Industry can't afford Tony Hayward and neither can President Barack Obama.

President Obama was elected in part for his cool, unflappable nature. But in this case, and for the most part because of the smug Hayward, Americans want to see the President express anger when it's appropriate; you can't fake it. It has to be there, or it's just an act.

Ali tells Liston who's boss

One place where Obama's anger should have reached fever pitch was when Hayward was in that Congressional hearing.

Imagine President Obama walking into the room without warning, strolling up to the table where Hayward was seated, going up next to him, and saying "Will you just shut up!", cold cocking him in the nose, then saying "take responsibility for this crap, will ya!?"

Then Obama would stand there, talking down to Hayward, like Muhammad Ali did after he clocked Sonny Liston. "The punch" would guarantee Obama's second term.

Oh well, one can dream. Hayward's relieved from public speaking, so his nose is saved for now.