Thank You!: Dikembe Mutombo (No, seriously.)

by ArbyOSU on Apr 23, 2009 11:26 AM PDT

So after reading some conversations on The Dream Shake and of course all of the conversations here on BE I thought I'd hit up the Mutombo Foundation website. I'd heard him talk about it on Rome once before, further cementing in my mind that he was quietly one of the most generous and caring professional athletes ever. Not to belittle anyone's efforts--when an athlete decides to give I say great, no matter what the amount. While some guys donate t-shirts and shoes to local basketball teams Mutombo builds hospitals, sponsors clean water projects and picks up the tab on vaccinations for entire villages.

Needless to say, the man's done a lot.

Watching him go down was a huge bummer. All I could think is that without basketball, his foundation would lose a lot of the funding he has personally provided over the years.

I feel for Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo (full name according to Wikipedia) and thought what better way than to float his foundation $10 today. It's not a bad way to say, "Sorry about your knee, man." and "Thanks for the memories and all of your humanitarian efforts." all at once. Just an idea.

Check it out or even donate here.

And if you're in the mood to help people here in the US, here's a way to help people right here in Portland. I'm not rich, but for the price of one Rose Garden beer you can help people out which is pretty cool.

My apologies for straying off topic. I was going to throw in some stat-heavy draft predictions or trade possibilities to make this post a legit FanPost but couldn't muster anything up...

GO BLAZERS.

BEAT THE ROCKETS.

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Agreed and Rec

Deke was and is a class act. Sad to see him go.

by blazerbeliever97504 on Apr 23, 2009 11:52 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks for the link man.

There are some talk radio guys pumping his foundation too. I know him and the Houston owner (Les Alexander) are very close, and Les himself as given a lot of his time and energy to some of Dikembe’s projects so its hard for me to believe his old boss would let those projects suffer financially due to Deke’s retirement.

by flipasta on Apr 23, 2009 12:37 PM PDT reply actions

Now that's "classy"

I know, I know. We are tired of the term, although it seems to be falling from favor as this series heats up. Regardless, Mutombo has been one of those few players who I liked no matter who he played for, and his humanitarian efforts are simply incredible. I would say he’s the Bono of the NBA, but I think he’s endured enough this week.

"Estos tíos están locos"- Rudy Fernandez

by cafe_civet on Apr 23, 2009 1:56 PM PDT reply actions

Great post

I donated a $10 spot. I’ve always admired that guy.

Here is my Playoff mode signature, that I thought up myself: "Just Do It".

by johnv59 on Apr 23, 2009 2:45 PM PDT reply actions

only thing i disagree about

All I could think is that without basketball, his foundation would lose a lot of the funding he has personally provided over the years.

well disagree may be strong..

Of course, basketball provided him the opportunities to reach this point. But I’ll bet we have only seen the tip of the iceberg of what Deke will accomplish in his life. His NBA career is over, but the man will just turn all of that intensity onto making the world a better place. He doesn’t need an NBA salary to make an impact at this point.

"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum

by idoltime on Apr 23, 2009 2:58 PM PDT reply actions

Dikembe for Sec of State

He’s got my vote. – Elgin

Tonight felt like the day you open the mail and receive an acceptance letter to your dream school: the University of Playoffs. - Ben Golliver, Apr 15 2009

by 22baylor on Apr 23, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

i'd vote for him!!

and then for Secretary-General of the United Nations!!

"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum

by idoltime on Apr 23, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope (and think) you're right.

People like him don’t run on money, clearly. I more or less was just trying to convey that a big heart with a big wallet has done big things. Taking the money away might limit his reach a little but obviously he’s going to continue to do wonderful things.

I just hope his example does not go unnoticed for future generations of NBA players.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

- from Quick's Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door, 4/16/09

by ArbyOSU on Apr 23, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions

He could be a wonderful spokesman for many governmental and non-governmental organizations

I would also assume that he knows how to talk to other athletes (or entertainers) how to get them behind causes he deems worthy. I think his own foundation will be fine.

That stop and go by Roy is straight sick. I'm calling him "The Flu" from now on. - Wendell Maxey

by Norsktroll on Apr 23, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Agree

$10 from me and a rec.

As much as that finger wag infuriated me I greatly admired him as a player and I was very, very sorry to see him go down. This series will not be the same without him.

Buck Williams for the hall of fame

by Phizbin on Apr 23, 2009 4:55 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks for posting this

I was considering a post along the same lines, but you beat me to it. Deke is one of my favorite human beings of all time, a truly great man and a great player.

Things happen for a reason they say, but I say there's a reason things happen.

by sixth on Apr 23, 2009 6:42 PM PDT reply actions

This shouldn't have any comments on it.

It only should only have recs.

Hail Mutumbo.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Apr 23, 2009 6:54 PM PDT reply actions

I always thought

that Mutombo’s charity was real and heartfelt, where with most everyone else it was to satisfy some league requirement, or for PR purposes.

Aprende epsañol y esto tendra mas sentido para ti.

by Diosnomeama on Apr 24, 2009 6:26 AM PDT reply actions

I agree, didn’t seem to have that many photo-op moments (not that it didn’t have any). Clearly he’s one of those people (not just NBA players) who gets it.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

- from Quick's Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door, 4/16/09

by ArbyOSU on Apr 24, 2009 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions