NBA star now impoverished refugee [Manute Bol flees Sudanese Muslim tyranny]

The Associated Press via The Seattle Times ^ | Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific | Michael Luo

[Willie Green]

With a flat-footed reach of 10 feet, 6 inches, Bol is so tall that the average man comes up to his rib cage. His inseam measures nearly 5 feet, and he wears size-16-1/2 sneakers.

Hmmmm... surprisingly small feet for someone that size....
I've known high school kids (approx 6'1" to 6'5") who've worn that size...
In comparison to another former NBA star, however: Bob Lanier was 6'11" and took a size 22 shoe!

[Tribune7]

ping

[tictoc]

Woody Allen: "Manute Bol is so skinny, to save money on road trips they just fax him from city to city."

Spud Webb attempting an in your face dunk over Manute Bol!!! How's that for spunkiness?

[Temple Owl]

Thanks for the ping. Manute was a joy to read about when he was with the 76ers. I especially remember the by-play and teasing he took from Charles Barkley. Manute was --and obviously still is --a kind, gentle and unselfish person. A much better role model than Iverson.

[dead]

Despite accusations of betrayal, Bol flew to Nairobi. "I thought I should go and support the peace initiative," he says. Talks collapsed two weeks later.

Bol returned to Khartoum, where the government, promising more talks, offered him a post as minister of sport. Their offer was conditional, however. He would need to become a Muslim first. A Christian since childhood, Bol refused.

As time passed with no progress toward peace, Bol began to feel used. He told refugees that there was hope, even though he didn't think so. "I have to say it for my safety," he says.

Interesting old article. Rest in peace, Mr. Bol.