Great Stuff AK.

I wish more of these things were mentioned or reported.

Artest is a crazy guy but hes well educated and knows his stuff so Im sure he and Mo, Theo, and Etan (who writes a great column at SLAM) were the right people to send.

But I wish more of these guys went. You know who I would really love to see go?? Guys like LeBron, Iverson, Garnett, Carmelo, D-Wade, etc. You know if you really wanted the NBA to change its image it would be by sending these guys on missions over there.

Since this thread isnt about basketball then I feel okay to write about this. I wish more of these African-American athletes went back to help out. I dont think its racist or stereotypical to say this at all. I wish more black athletes went back to see how their brothers and sisters lived in conditions overseas. It would really put things into perspective.

Now of course as a minority myself, I know that black people in this country have been screwed since the day they were brought on slave ships, and between Jim Crow, Missouri Compromise, George Wallace, George Bush, Katrina, Rodney King everything else, things like racism, urban poverty and lack of resources have been thrown onto black people as a whole. Many of these athletes, and NBA players have come from these situations. Many of them have used basketbal to escaple jail or death and so its valid in my opinion to say that they do have a perspective of tough living conditions.

However, when compared to issues facing other nations, I wish that Blacks who have come so far here in the U.S. would make that next step like the Dikembe's and Hakeems. I know those guys are connected over there because they were actually born there, but to see an Iverson, or LeBron really go over there would be something else.

Look if I was the NBA commisioner I would plan big trips. Send Kobe, LeBron, Iverson over there to run basketball camps and begin a crop of NBA players. You can use that as your justification for sending athlets. You can sell this idea to corporate sponsors.

The NBA is currently doing this in China, but in typical capitalism and odd foreign policy, the NBA is looking at bucks instead of impact. I mean here were are with a trade embargo on Cuba because of their communism, but we are the worlds' biggest trade partner with China (so much that we have a huge trade deficit), even though they are communist and probably have way more human rights violations than Cuba. But China is the bottom dollar.

The NBA is doing the same thing, running basketball camps, bringing Kobe and MJ to China, trying to bring Yi and Yao, and encourage their system of doing things. This whole Yi fiasco??? Thats stupid.

If you want to really do something, send those guys to really change the world and send them Africa where they will have a great chance of doing something special. I always thought basketball players had that power because there is so much emphasis on the individual that the individual players can affect so much, more so than other team sports.

I think the NBA culture would be served well to see more of these humanitarian missions. It would really change players and GMs and so forth. It would save the image of the NBA, and also do something really socially relevant.

Thanks AK. That's the kind of story I want to hear about, something that might serve as a wake-up call to other people, including us. Sounds to me like Mo had a much better, much more important summer than most.

NOT ONLY A GOOD BALLER BUT A NICE PERSON AS WELL!!!!

THANK YOU FOR BEING A LAKER....

AK, that was a GREAT interview with a GREAT person. Mo obviously understands that the only things that count are the things you can't count and has made a commitment to service and to getting blessings so he can give them. And the same holds true for the alleged "head case," Ron Artest, along with Theo Ratliff and Etan Thomas. If every NBA player "tithed" a measly 1% of his gross salary to a program such as family planning or fighting global warming, etc. we would be in much better shape. How about spreading that idea to the NFL, to MLB, to all these really overpaid "entertainers" in whatever industry they're in? I'd be willing to give 10% of my taxes to similar efforts, why not them?

Think about it.

Meanwhile, thanks for a terrific read.

Africa is the neglected continent, except when it has resources for multinational companies to exploit (one of them happens to be 7 foot basketball players!). But even when westerners take an interest in the resources, they neglect the people. It's heartwarming to see dudes like Mo Evans and Ron Artest stepping up and stepping in (with or without shoes).

I think somebody should send a copy of The Lake Show's post to David Stern. Maybe the kind of honesty Mo Evans shows will distract Stern from the dishonesty of one (or some) of the refs.

Lake Show,

David Stern and every NBA owner, coach and player should read your post.
These privileged few have the power and opportunity to redeem the sport and themselves. They have the power and opportunity to turn "the ugly American" into the "welcome American."

All the "NBA Cares" promos we are subjected to during the season seem about things so small, however valuable, that they just ring hollow. Artest, Evans, and the others have recognized something they can teach all of us. The biggest beneficiary of giving is actually the giver. It is the recipient who bestows honor and blessing on us.

When you read Evans' account of how far a bowl of food received at these schools must go, it is absolutely heartbreaking. Perhaps you could provide a link for bloggers who would like to contribute.

The conversation with Evans is absolutely inspiring. It is a great antidote to what has otherwise been a wretched off-season.

Chris,

Kobe is also involved with the Make A Wish Foundation. That doesn't even get much press, except here on this Blog, of course. Mo Evens wouldn't have gotten any press if it weren't for AK and BK.

You cannot possibly judge what any athlete is doing that is charitable based on the press. Those types of things do not get good ink.

Kobe does even more than that with his own money, without planning or press, all around the city and league, all the time. He doesn't even try to get people to notice. He helps through the kindness of his own heart. To know what he truly does, you have to run into these people and hear their stories.

No one here can adequately judge Kobe's Philanthropy because none of us really knows. But, rest assured it is a LOT. The only press Kobe seeks in this area is for causes for which the publicity would specifically help in and of itself. Vivo is such a cause.

Stay off the Dude's back. Yeah, it would be nice if he helped with this cause. That is true. But, don't take the next illogical step of assuming that he isn't helping at all, or that he is helping the wrong cause, or that he is offering some token sort of help. One does not mean the other. That was an illogical leap of faith.

--FearlessWhackJob

There was a Mr Show sketch where Bob Odenkirk is doing a whole bunch
of charity work while on the show and he at one point informs David Cross
that charity is "Doing something for someone while other people are watching."

Shaq is big on having the press there when he's delivering toys to kids at
Christmas. The NBA gets LOTS of press for the Feed the Children thing, to
try to raise the image of the NBA. And of course there are the ads during
NBA games showing players teaching kids how to read. And all of those
things are fine, and the actions by the players involved is great.

But just because other players (including Kobe) aren't pushing for the big
national news story surrounding their charity work doesn't mean they
aren't out there doing charity work. I think most of the NBA players are
involved in several charities, and I know Kobe is.

Bob Jackson--

Our family also supports a child through Compassion (www.compassion.com). With administrative costs at less than 5%, it is one of the great ways that our family can make a difference in the lives of others.
Thanks for the reminder.

Chris,

"Who do you pay more respect to at the end of the day? Who made a greater impact this summer, Kobe of Mo Evans? kid with cancer or thousands of starving kids without shoes?"

Why don't you ask the cancer-stricken kid that Kobe visited before just assuming the answer?

You should pay equal respect for anyone looking to help others less fortunate. It's not important how you help or who you help, but simply THAT you help. If everyone took as much time doing what Kobe does, Mo does, or just spent time with hundreds of other charitable outlets, the world is guaranteed to end up a much better place. How the energy gets divvied up isn't nearly as important as the energy simply being expended.

AK

Lake Show,

I've read some of Etan Thomas' stuff, too. You're right. He does a very nice job. I'm pretty sure he participates in poetry slams as well.

AK

AK

"It's not important how you help or who you help, but simply THAT you help."

no, actually it IS important how you help and who you help AND how many you help. all help is not created equal, sorry for shattering your misconception of the world. last time i checked, helping starving kids is more important than helping one kid with cancer. just like helping the Katrina victims is more important than helping a kid learn how to play basketball better. there are more definitely differing degrees of philanthropy. maybe in the sheltered confines of an LA Times media outlet, it's easy to say what you say, but why don't you tell it to the millions of starving kids in Africa that have been abandoned by their parents?

I think it does not matter which charity is more important. It only matters that people help. we all wish that more people will help other people wether they have cancer, hungry or no shoes.

Chris,

Stop telling other people (Kobe) on what to do with their time and money. Its their choice. also, just because its not in the news doesnt mean Kboe isnt doing anything. BTW, I dont know if you donate to any charity, i dont hear that in the news either. so, stop criticizing and just start applauding all these people

Ron L

AK,

I commend you on your efforts to enlighten some, including Chris, who simply serve to define the term myopic.

Is it the American kid's fault that his particular ailment (cancer) costs more to fix than maybe the plights of a thousand African children? Is he just to die alone because his cause is too expensive? Is his suffering any less great?

Chris,

Besides, you are absolutely unaware of Kobe's efforts in Africa or any other continent. He chooses to not publicize his efforts. I bet you are barking up the wrong tree and making a fool of yourself in the process.

You simply do not know from where you speak.

You only know what you know thanks to our very enlightened Bloggers (AK, and BK), who continually feed us these tidbits that we would otherwise never have heard of.

Get off his back, dude. You are seriously making a fool of yourself. I refuse to rate the suffering of one child above another.

--FearlessWhackJob

Long Time Laker Fan,

I remember that Mr. Show sketch. Hilarious stuff. Just thiking about it makes me laugh.

AK,
Thanks for pointing out the link. I did, in fact, miss it in the early morning bleariness.

Also, thanks for standing up for Kobe's right (and everyone else's) to choose the charity of their choice. The number of worthy causes is abundant for a reason: there are lots of needs in the world.

So the Mavericks are using their mid level to sign Webber and Posey...Hmmm.....

The Knicks are rumored to be close to a deal with Sac for Artest...Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....

The Lakers signed Coby Carl.....

Hm.

I was ready to forgive Mitch and give him a second chance, but this offseason has proved his uselessness. Come on Mitch. Can't you make a little trade to improve this team? Can't you bring in a few new players to shake up an environment that needs shaking up?

When your star player demands changes, a small lateral move can have a signifigant impact. New faces = new hope.

For Mitch to give away that last roster spot to Coby Carl when Webber and Posey are still out there..well, he should loose his job. We need players with experience, not kids...

If they shot Old Yeller, they can surely fire Mitch.

Wes

Chris,

Ad hominem can only be reached if the central point of your argument is accepted as true; that it is possible to place relative value to human life and suffering. That is the only point I refute, because it is the only point that matters. The rest of what you say is a direct descendant of that point. I would, therefore, be trying to treat the symptoms and not the cause in trying to refute the rest of your points.

It is your task to somehow convince the rest of us of two central tenants of your position; 1) that it IS possible to quantify and compare human suffering, and 2) that YOU have the wherewithal to make such value judgments yourself.

Because, I daresay, even if you were able to satisfactorily convince every one here that you are correct on position number one, I doubt you would have any success at all at convincing us that you are the person from which we should look for guidance on who to save, and who to let die.

BTW, "probably" isn't "definitely". And more than a few of those Kobe has directly helped most certainly did NOT survive (one or two rather publicly because of the circumstances surrounding their passing). He has decided to put his name, $$, and efforts behind a particularly expensive cause. One that may be particularly suited to getting help from the very rich.

BTW, you have ignored my central point completely. While I have not avoided any of yours. My point is that you are speaking from a position of ignorance. You do not know, or have any particular idea of the sum, distribution, or type of philanthropy that Kobe engages in. It is always foolish to make an argument when you don't even have all the facts, or even access to such facts. You make it easy debunk everything you say. You make our job easier when you do that.

That is foolish, unless you prefer loosing your arguments.

--FearlessWhackJob

PS: the main reason I would never agree to your point number 2 is that you have already proven to me that you lack the critical thinking skills necessary to be my Oracle. You obviously think it OK to judge someone when you don't have all the facts. I already know that the fact you don't know what you need to make the judgment isn't your fault. Kobe has done that on purpose. But, even if your ignorance isn't your fault, it does specifically preclude you from being qualified to make such judgments.

Now I've truly heard it all.

Kobe's been accused of every bball misdeed there is, including and definitely not lmited to, choosing bad shots. But now to be choosing bad charities?

Fearless,

I thank you not as a Kobe fan but as human being.

In response to the Chris vs AK thread regarding Kobe's charitable contributions, there are two ways to help make the world a better place, on the macro and micro levels. Giving money to the United Way or Feed the Children or Katrina relief is helping on the macro level; playing basketball with one dying child is another. I don't think it's fair to compare the two, because doing work on a smaller scale can often have the ripple effect of a small stone thrown in a pond. Perhaps it would be best for all NBA players to forego doing any actual charity work and just hold very expensive basketball camps; they can give all the money to the Darfur relief fund. On a dollar by dollar basis, something like that may be more effective than taking a trip to Africa to do the work firsthand. However, just giving money may not satify the soul or one's sense of personal involvement in a cause. I admire anyone who selflessly gives of their time and money to causes that better the human race, and it doesn't matter to me what the charity of choice. And Chris - yes, your examples from Micro and Macro Econ 101 are very good, but they come from the world of ceteris paribus; there are other factors besides pure opportunity and sunk costs to keep in mind in any economic model of charity work.

AK-
Kobe is a busy man. he has to play 82 games a year, train every single day, go through media blitzes, different endorsement meetings, along with i don't even want to know how much other stuff, like taking care of his kids, his family, and maintaining a happy relationship with the wife. the dude is BUSY. he often sleeps 4 hours a day during the season. so yea, he really can only pick and choose what he can do with his spare time volunteer-wise. and it's not like he's going to give all 20 million of his dollars away each year. the guy earns that money and deserves to use it on himself and family as well. so ultimately, it IS one or the other. either he does make-a-wish, or he does feed. on or the other. or he chooses to split his time in half with make a wish and give little bit of time to feed. his call. but he can' t just do every volunteer activity there is.

Chris,

"i find it funny that AK posted that link at first because I've already seen the site. the example with the cancer kid was just that; an EXAMPLE. stop and READ."

Hey, you harped on this "EXAMPLE" and didn't present it in the context of acknowledging everything else Kobe does. It's up to you to establish your point to its fullest, not me. I'd figure somebody as smart as you knows that. "Stop and READ" your first few comments on this topic. You present little knowledge of Kobe's background and what you do talk about, you basically belittle.

You definitely don't sound up on everything Kobe does, because if you were, you'd realize that he does indeed divide up his time between more than one charity. In fact, he divides his time between many. Therefore, your contention that he basically has to choose between "Make a Wish" and an African charity is patently false.

What this really comes down to is Kobe's choices in charities vs. yours. You feel the African charity is more imporant, and therefore you're upset that he doesn't (publicly, at least) partake in such an effort. Which takes us back to my original point, that it's not really possible to say which is more "important," and not by you in particular. Or at the very least, it's not possible in a context that allows you to criticize the choices of a guy actually bothering to do something to begin with. To pick on the efforts of someone else as misguided because they don't prioritize in the same fashion as you is ultimately quite petty.

AK

AK- i will say this one last time. millions of starving kids versus hundreds of suffering kids. if you had the choice to help one of those categories, which would you pick?

Fealesswhackjob- wow, where do i start? first of all, it doesn't matter how good your vocab is if you can't formulate a concise argument. secondly, the vocab you're using isn't formidable. it's just out of context. seriously, read the crap you're writing man. it's just... bad, and that's an understatement. third, i think it's hypocritical to categorize me as condescending and judgmental when you're the one calling me a fool. fourth, good vocab does not equate to high intelligence.

and finally, to both AK and Fearlesswhackjob: okay, fine. i haven't seen and documented every single volunteer action kobe has ever done in his life. and since, apparently, i'm trying to be an oracle (at least according to fearlesswhackjob) that was my responsibility as an american citizen. which must make me completely ignorant of course, and unable to give my opinion on what is important. because i have no right, absolutely none, especially not in america, most definitely not in america. because to say that millions of african kids who are dying of STARVATION is more tragic than several hundred dying of cancer is just completely out of line.
look, the point isn't that kobe doesn't do enough. kobe does more than his fair share. and maybe i didn't make this clear in my first couple posts. my bad. but i think i clarified it several times thus far . i didn't think people would get so worked up over what i said. so if it doesn't make sense to you yet, i'll say it one last time: i'm just offering my opinion on what kobe should be doing. just one man's opinion. don't need to agree. don't even need to care. and certainly, kobe doesn't have to care. i'm just offering my opinion.
peace.

Ok, this is a new low. Kobe is criticized for a lot of things, but to knock him for doing the "wrong" charitable work according to you, is just ridiculous.

Chris,

Are you 100% certain that Kobe has never ever done anything to help the kids in Africa?