During his 18-year career, Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon staked his claim as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Long considered a physical marvel since his days at the University of Houston, his creative and productive play -- highlighted by his Houston Rockets' back-to-back NBA titles -- earned him a place among the game's best.
In his rookie year, Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds while shooting over 53% from the field. He finished second to Michael Jordan in Rookie of the Year balloting. He was the NCAA Final Four MVP in 1983 and an All-American selection in 1984 while at the University of Houston and was the overall 1st pick by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA draft.
The Rockets went from a 29-53 record before Olajuwon's arrival to a 48-34 mark in his first season as a Rocket. Olajuwon ranked fourth in the league in rebounding and second in blocked shots with 2.68 per game his rookie year. In 1986-87 Olajuwon led the Rockets in 13 statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots.
He played in the 1985 NBA All-Star Game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He began a string of selections to the All-NBA First Team (1987 to 1989) and NBA All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1988 and 1990), and was the starting center for the Western Conference All-Stars four years in a row (1987-90).
Olajuwon regularly placed among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and steals. He won rebounding titles in 1989 and 1990, averaging 13.5 and 14.0 boards, respectively. And in 1989 he became the first player to finish among the league's top 10 in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocked shots for two straight seasons. That same year against the Milwaukee Bucks, Olajuwon had 18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks and 10 assists, recording a rare quadruple-double. He also led the NBA in blocked shots in 1989-90 with 4.59 per game and in 1990-91 at 3.95 per contest.
In 1993-94 he had a storybook season, becoming the first player to be named NBA MVP, NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Finals MVP in the same season. The following season he rallied the Rockets from a sixth seed in the playoffs to their second straight NBA crown, making Houston only the fifth NBA franchise ever to win back-to-back titles and earning him a place among the NBA's all-time best. Olajuwon is the NBA s all-time leader with 3,459 career blocked shots and finished the 1998-99' season ranked 11th, ahead of Jerry West, all-time for career points scored. Olajuwon is one of only eight players in NBA history with over 20,000 points and 12,000 rebounds in his career. He was selected in 1996 as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Some of his accomplishments are:
Overall 1st pick by the Houston Rockets in the 1984 NBA draft
Second to Michael Jordan in Rookie of the Year balloting
Named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team - 85'
NBA's all-time leader with 3,459 career blocked shots
One of only eight players in NBA history with over 20,000 points and 12,000 rebounds in his career
Rockets' all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, steals and ranks 3rd in assists
Selected in 1996 as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History
Named NBA MVP 1993-94' season
Named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1992-93' and 1993-94'
Named to the All-NBA First Team six times
Named to the All-NBA Second Team three times - All-NBA Third Team twice
Named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times
Named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team four times
Led the NBA in blocked shots twice
Led the NBA in rebounds twice
Notched his 14th career triple-double in 1997
Recorded only 3rd quaruple-double in NBA history
Played in 12 NBA All Star Games
Member of the Houston Rockets' 1994 and 1995 back-to-back NBA champion teams
Earned NBA Finals MVP honors 1994 and 1995
Has appeared in 136 career NBA Playoff games, averaging 27.0 ppg and 11.6 rpg
When David Robinson retired, it was a sad day for the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league and its fans said goodbye to perhaps the classiest man to ever play basketball. It was impossible not to respect Robinson for his loyalty, charity and diligence.
Yet, as this embodiment of all a role model should be, left the world of sports, he wasn't taking its sobriety with him. Robinson was simply handing the reins to his protg, Tim Duncan, who officially stepped out of the shadow and embraced the task of preserving the integrity of professional athletics. In a time when the definitions of an athlete and a role model are drifting decisively apart like tectonic plates, it is crucial to recognize those men who bubble up in the rift, solidifying and bridging the gap once again.
Fortunately, Duncan does not have to perform this task alone. His dedication, respect and toughness are relatively common in professional sports. For every Joe Horn making headlines with his cell phone there are twice as many Marvin Harrisons quietly outplaying him. Often it is the quiet ones that perform better and those who are mature enough to understand the value of the proper attitude and work ethic are at a great advantage. Unfortunately, we are too busy talking about the delinquent athletes to notice the virtuous ones. We have a dilemma.
The good role models are those who decline the spotlight. The poor role models are those who demand it. So then, why do we give these men attention they don't desire? Don't we, as sports viewers, choose our celebrities? The answer to the second question is a simple "yes." The first question is a bit more complicated.
We, as consumers, are sucked into the controversy. We hate the bad role models, yet we can't get enough of them. We read their interviews and watch their games. We argue about them on talk radio. Thus, we give them exactly what they want and the benefits of keeping your mouth shut don't nearly add up to the rewards of making a scene.
We embrace the clowns and encourage their outrageous behavior. The good news is that we do choose our celebrities. The bad news is we are choosing the wrong ones. Despite what many people think, there are good role models out there. We just stopped paying attention to them.
It's time we gave the good guys their due. Next time you watch a game make the effort to notice them. Notice Tim Duncan and realize the only reason the two-time Most Valued Player (MVP) is not a household name is because he spends his time doing charity work instead of getting arrested.
Notice the agony on co-MVP Steve McNair's face when he drags his injured body back to the huddle, as he always does, because he feels he owes it to his team. Notice the humility in Bill Mueller, as the reigning AL batting champ plays his heart out for a team and a city he genuinely feels lucky to be a part of. Notice Tom Brady's grin as he plays the game like he never left the playground, just like we beg every athlete to do. Even notice Drew Bledsoe, my boyhood hero, as he makes a new life in Buffalo without harboring a sliver of resentment towards the team that gave up on him.
Notice all the players who are worthy of being someone's hero and notice there still are good guys out there. But don't just notice these men and women, respect and admire them. Make them your celebrities.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games are presented each year by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans), with additional support from numerous corporate and community sponsors.
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and the Mountain States PVA Chapter are hosting the 30th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The events take place in and around the Denver area, July 4-9, 2010.
Events At the Games, veterans compete in:
9-Ball Air Guns Archery Basketball Bowling Handcycling Motorized Wheelchair Rally Power Soccer Quad Rugby
Slalom Softball Swimming Table Tennis Track & Field Trapshooting Weightlifting
Exhibition Event Kayaking
Competition/Venues Many of the 2010 events will be held at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, as well as other local venues including Brunswick Zone, Invesco Field, Hyatt Hotel, Cherry Creek Park, Confluence Park, Dick's Sporting Goods Park-Denver, APEX Myers Pool City Park, East High School.
Eligibility The Games are a multi-event sports and rehabilitation program open to U.S. military service veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments.
Volunteers To accommodate the needs of the athletes, more than 2,000 local volunteers are required to assist with all aspects of the Games, from helping with transportation, to event set-up, water distribution, assistance with meals, and numerous other activities that will help guarantee a successful event. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Susan Miller (719.553.1032,
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) or Michelle Kirk (303.399.8020 ext. 5849,
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).
Fundraising To make this event happen, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the local hosts are hoping to raise substantial monetary donations to offset the cost of the Games and to treat our nation’s wheelchair veterans to a quality week in Denver, CO. If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting please contact Ginny Schmidt at (800) 424-8200 or
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.
Benefits to the mind The purpose of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games is to provide veterans with physical disabilities an introductory experience to a variety of wheelchair sports, and expose them to the numerous organized wheelchair sports and recreation activities available nationwide. In doing so, the Games serve to encourage veterans to become aware of their abilities and potential while promoting a spirit of healthy activity and camaraderie.
Benefits to the body The National Veterans Wheelchair Games clearly demonstrate the therapeutic value of sports and competition. As presenters of the event, VA and Paralyzed Veterans are committed to improving the quality of life for veterans with disabilities and fostering better health through sports competition. While past Games have produced a number of national and world-class champions, the event also provides opportunities for newly injured veterans to gain sports skills and be exposed to other athletes who use wheelchairs.
Benefits to the spirit Since the annual Games began in 1981, thousands of disabled veterans have enjoyed the health benefits provided by sports participation, and have revitalized the spirit of competition within themselves.
Questions If you have questions regarding Parlayzed Veterans of America's involvement in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games contact Andy Krieger at (800) 424-8200, ext 757 or
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Paralyzed Veterans of America 801 Eighteenth Street, NW | Washington, DC 20006-3517 Contact Us | 1-800-555-9140 |
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The most celebrated player to ever put on a Hawks uniform, Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins enters his fifth season as the Hawks' Vice President of Basketball. Previously the team's Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President and Player Development Assistant, Wilkins works in various management functions within the organization's basketball and business areas, and as the team’s analyst for the Hawks broadcast networks.
Wilkins is responsible for advising the senior management team on basketball-related issues and working as a strong voice in the community. The 6-8 forward, who concluded his NBA career with 26,668 points, is the ninth all-time leading scorer in league history and his 24.8 career scoring average is 11th on the all-time charts. Wilkins' 23,292 points with the Hawks are the franchise's best, and he ranks second overall in team history in steals (1,245), fourth in rebounds (6,119), fifth in blocked shots (592) and sixth in assists (2,322). One of league's true marquee players, his outstanding contributions on the court were recognized by the organization in January 2001 when he became the third player in club history to have his uniform number (#21) retired, joining Hawks legends Bob Pettit and Lou Hudson.
One of the NBA's true marquee players for more than a decade, Dominique Wilkins earned the nickname "Human Highlight Film" with a plethora of spectacular individual plays dating back to his college years at Georgia. A member of the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1983, the high-flying 6-8 forward was been named to seven All-NBA teams and nine consecutive All-Star squads and is a two-time winner of the NBA Slam-Dunk Championship. In 1986 he won the NBA scoring title with an average of 30.3 points per game.
Extremely active with local and national charity endeavors, Wilkins has done work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy Association and American Lung Association. In July 2007, Wilkins launched "Nique and Newt's Full-Court Press on Diabetes" with former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich.
Wilkins, 48, was born on January 12, 1960 in Paris, France. He and his wife Robin have two boys and a girl together, and he is also the proud parent of four other daughters. He joined basketball's immortals with his entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8, 2006, was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame on April 3, 2004, and into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame's inaugural class on June 10, 2005.
