Life IS Sport

Dikembe Mutombo: Rejecting sickness and poverty.

Throughout his NBA career Dikembe Mutombo has been known for his shot blocking skills and his customary finger waving after a rejection. What most basketball fans do not know is that he has been honored with USA Weekend Magazine's "Most Caring Athlete Award," and by FOXSports.com as the most generous athlete in the world to name a few of the many humanitarian awards he has received.

Mutombo has received this recognition in large part because of his efforts to improve the health, education and quality of life for the people in his birthplace, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation is attempting to eradicate many childhood diseases that have virtually disappeared in developed countries while those diseases are still life threatening to children in the Congo everyday. On September 15, 2001, his dream became a reality as he witnessed the historic groundbreaking of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center, a new 10-acre, 300–bed facility dedicated to the memory of his beloved mother.  Phase 1 is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Dikembe's hometown of Kinshasa will provide special care to the nation's poorest residents and train its health professionals with the latest innovations in health care. Mutombo has already contributed over $15 million toward the $29 million project. The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center is one of the very few well-equipped and modern hospitals in the DR Congo. Mutombo believes the addition of this new facility will be effective in diminishing some of the major health gaps within his country.

Mutombo may be the most active athlete in the world when it comes to humanitarian efforts and doing for the common good.  Ahmad Rashad did a great profile video on Mutombo that is worth a few minutes of your time.

Doug Flutie and Virginia Tech

Tonight the college football world will be watching Boston College take their #2 ranking into Blacksburg, VA. to face # 9 Virginia Tech.

No predictions here but I would not bet against the Hokies. Here are a couple of worthy causes related to the game.

The most famous Boston College alum of all time is Doug Flutie and he will be in Blacksburg tonight calling the game with ESPN mates Chris Fowler and Craig James.  Doug's son, Doug Jr. known as "Dougie" is autistic.  The Flutie's started The Doug Flutie Jr Foundation to assist families affected by autism and fund medical research.

The Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund was created after the horrible shooting tragedy occurred on the Virginia Tech campus. Over $7 million poured in from around the country and was distributed according to donor intent across 34 funds including 32 named funds, one for each victim; a general scholarship fund; and a fund intended for broad support of the university community and the families of those involved.

The Games Do Count

I am enjoying a good book right now written by Brian Kilmeade, called The Games Do Count, Americas Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports.

The book features notables such as Jack Welch, George H. W. Bush, Howard Schultz, Gerald Ford, Jerry Bruckheimer, George Will and Jon Bon Jovi sharing experiences and lessons from playing youth sports that shaped them as adults and contributed to their success.

The following are a few excerpts from the book.

"The thing it taught me was that winning's a helluva lot more fun than losing.It also taught me that the team with the best players that worked together the best wins, and that competition is fun."
~ Jack Welch

"There's a kind of clarity to it. And you begin to learn what it's like to strive on an equal footing. Level playing field is more than a metaphor.  It means that you're on an equal footing with others, and yet you will probably yield to superior talent."
~ George Will

"The same sensation I got at eleven playing hockey with my friends and winning is the same feeling I get today when I make a movie that works."
~ Jerry Bruckheimer

Ben Comen: Running to belong.

Ben Comen is 18 year old cross country runner with cerebral palsy. SportsCenter did a profile on Ben that will simultaneously break and encourage your heart.

Watching this video reminds me that champions are defined by their heart, not their accomplishments.

To learn more about Ben Comen and the resulting influence because of his courage, visit his website

Big Papi's Big Heart

It's October and the Red Sox are fighting to stay alive in the ALCS. As I write this, the Sox are up 10 - 1 in the 4th inning. I'm not a big fan of the Red Sox but I have always liked David "Big Papi" Ortiz.

David Ortiz is arguably the best clutch hitter in the game of baseball right now but he is also one of the most respected players among his peers as well.

Best known for his heroics at the plate, the Dominican born Ortiz's heart is bigger than his bat. In this article today, Kevin Baxter with the LA Times reveals the giver in Ortiz, highlighted by a $200,000 personal check to fund heart surgeries for Dominican children with heart disease.

Receiving Means Giving: The Braylon Edwards Foundation

As a Michigan Wolverine fan, I am proud to highlight a former star wideout for the maize and blue, Braylon Edwards. The third year receiver for the Cleveland Browns is having a breakout season thus far but his efforts off the field are even more impressive.

Beyond the $500,000 endowment he donated last year to his alma mater, Edwards has also started the The Braylon Edwards Foundation. Through the foundation, Edwards is investing a large amount of his time and money in the future of Cleveland, her children. Specifically, the poor and at risk in Clevelands public schools.

The foundation is dedicated to addressing and meeting the needs of under-served youth in the concentrated area of education by providing scholarships and incentives to youth who demonstrate strong commitment and effort to excel in academics, conduct and community volunteerism.

I recently read a profile on 24 year old Edwards in USA Today that tells the story behind his pledge of $1 million to Cleveland's public schools. The money will fund 100 scholarships for at risk children through a program called Advance 100.

READ MORE Edwards profile