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In case you missed it, Frank Deford has a piece on Manute Bol for HBO's Real Sports this month. Bol has given everything he's earned from his NBA playing days to the Sudan people who are fighting against the Islamic government that took over several years ago. He has supported them with food, supplies, and clothing since early in his NBA career.
A couple of years ago he traveled back to the Sudan because the government had promised him a position that would, supposedly, allow him to help his people. However, the whole thing was a hoax and he was held against will and not allowed to return to the United States. Being 7'7" certainly has it's draw backs and made it difficult for him to escape. After 9/11, it was almost impossible for him to get out. But he managed to flee to Egypt in January and, after another month, was able to return to the United States.
Although he lives in a very poor home that he rents and is virtually broke, he plans to give all of the money that he gets from Celebrity Boxing to aid the Sudanese people who are fighting the Islamic regime.
Sometimes, there's more to a story than there first appears to be.
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