Paper: Houston Chronicle Date: Fri 01/05/2007 Section: Sports Page: 9 Edition: 3 STAR Mutombo points to No. 2 / Rocket 7 blocks from trailing only Olajuwon on list By FRAN BLINEBURY Staff Dikembe Mutombo leans back in his chair, looks up at his locker and chuckles at the sight of the little plastic doll with the "bobblefinger" that sits on the shelf. Then his gaze moves to the chart that shows his progress up the list of the NBA's great shot-blockers and the smile turns inward, reflecting a sense of accomplishment. One minute Mutombo is laughing and joking and demanding arrangements be made to stop the game whenever he gets seven more blocks to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3,189) for the No. 2 spot on the list. But in the next minute he is a humbled son of Africa, proud to be taking his place in the pantheon behind all-time leader Hakeem Olajuwon (3,833). "I'm so excited, so excited," Mutombo said. "I'm really thrilled about becoming one of the great shot-blockers who has played this game. To see myself up with my brother Hakeem Olajuwon, I think it's a great honor for me. To go into the history books as two African kings who came in and did something very special in this league, it is overwhelming to me and I think very significant." Inspiration to Africans The gangly youth who originally had dreams of traveling to America to become a doctor and then return home to help the people of his native Congo is now the 40-year-old man who has carved out a 16-year career in the NBA as a tireless shot-blocker, rebounder and compassionate ambassador for an impoverished continent. "Hakeem's career, my career, I think it's a good inspiration for any African kids who come into this league after both of us are long gone," Mutombo said. "They can say, `I want to reach and try to touch where my brothers have been.' " Mutombo and Olajuwon had dinner last summer in Houston, sharing a meal and philosophies and dreams about bringing more African basketball players to the United States. "We thought it would happen before now, and it should have," Mutombo said. "But there are NCAA regulations and rules from State Department, so much red tape that it is like a wall that those kids have to jump over. We just lost about 20 kids from our last (Basketball Without Borders) camp in Africa, who are already playing in Division III or two pro leagues in Europe. "That is a common goal Hakeem and I share, maybe to find a way to open things up again. We talked a lot at dinner. I learned a lot from him. He's a proud man. So smart, really talented and skill-wise was so far ahead of any big man who ever played this game. His footwork, you can't even talk about. His rebounding. His blocked-shot record. Every day now I look at my bobblefinger doll and I look at this list and I say to myself, `What a joy to be 1-2 with my brother.' " Since Yao Ming went down with a broken bone in his right leg Dec. 23, the venerable Mutombo has moved into the starting spot at center. In six games, he has averaged 10 rebounds while playing 22.5 minutes, and his on-court time is increasing. "It has motivated me and, at the same time, there's a lot of pressure," Mutombo said. "My teammates are saying, `You gotta help us.' The coaches are saying, `Deke, we need you.' "When you're in that position, all you can do is try to respond. (Coach) Jeff (Van Gundy) is pushing me, testing me, and I think we're getting a good result from that." No. 1 not in plans His teammates have noticed. "I respect the guy a lot," Juwan Howard said. "He's a professional. He never complains and he goes after it. That's what you call being a leader by example. When Yao was healthy, he got spare minutes. But look at him now. Look at all that he's done." Of course, when he passes Abdul-Jabbar and gets to 3,190, Mutombo will only need 643 blocks to catch Olajuwon. "Ohhhh noooo!" he says in that loud booming laugh. "I'm not going to be around. I'll be hanging up my jersey somewhere. I told Hakeem that I'm not going to be around to catch him. After this, I will go home and lay down." ROCKETS UPDATE Wednesday : Rockets 103, SuperSonics 96. Record: 20-12. Today: Utah at Toyota Center, 7:30 p.m. TV/radio: FSNH; 610 AM and in Spanish on 920 AM. THE BIG THREE The NBA's all-time blocked-shot leaders: Hakeem Olajuwon 3,833 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3,189 Dikembe Mutombo 3,183 Note: Blocked shots have only been compiled since the 1973-74 season.
http://www.nba.com/allstar2006/program_bigmen.html Mutombo is saying all this in the locker room in Los Angeles, after a tough loss to the Clippers. Before the questions about his idol, the Kinshasa, Zaire native was glumly eating his postgame meal. But just talking about Hakeem has brought back his trademark smile and his Cookie Monster laugh. “Hakeem always calls me the King of Africa,” says Mutombo upon reflection, “but I think he’s the King of Africa because he inspires all of us. He led the way by passing the torch to us.” You can hear the Lagos, Nigeria native laugh his trademark giggle when the remark is relayed to him. “That’s an ongoing joke we have,” says Olajuwon from his new home in the Middle East country of Jordan. “That’s my title for him and his title for me. It’s going to be nice to see the King of Africa and all the familiar faces in Houston for the All-Star Game.”
Dream was the one that convinced Deke to come back last year. They had dinner together and Dream told him he should play as long as he can. I wouldn't be surprised if Deke came back next year also. Edit: Tinman covered it in his article post.
i remember bob costas had mutombo on during the 1994 finals and mutombo eloquently phrase a passage comparing the championship to a drink of water in the desert and how it was unfortunate that between ewing and hakeem it's unfortunate that only one could drink.
I read the story about Dikembe dissing Hakeem too, the one about Dikembe dissing Hakeem for leaving his african heritage behind him and that he's forgotten where he's from. Hakeem confronted him and he denied it and Hakeem called the paper who wrote the paper and indeed Dikembe said those things about Hakeem. I think Dikembe's comment had some bad effects on their relationship. And this crap about journalists and people trying to make them closer than they really are just because they are africans is silly, would they have done the same if the two of them were european or asian? I like them both though, both seem to be very humble and kind guys.
yes he does, and when he showed up last year, less has invited him and bought him the ariline ticket if i remember.
seems liley your right there just two guys that had a disagreement put it behind them and are friends now.
Deke had accused Hakeem of not donating money to the African cause thru the media. Hakeem confronted him and Deke apologized. Deke had assumed that just because Hakeem did not make all of his donations public, he was not being charitable and had forgot his roots. After meeting with him he found out Hakeem was, in fact donating. It's just that Hakeem did not seek public acknowledgments for his charity. This was long time ago, of course. Hakeem clarified the misunderstanding right away and today they both have respect for each other.
Thats what I think. Dream supported, team didnt respond, Dream has other things to put his time toward. Its natural for it to be that way. Maybe if the Rockets advance maybe he might stop by. But then he doesnt need to show up to events every summer while all the other ex Rockets sit at home
wasn't this last years clutch fan's prank? i always forget about april fools and i admit for about 10 minutes i was giddy as hell sittin in class, leg shaking, just waiting to get out to go tell everyone i knew, and then i looked at the date and sorrow swept across my body and i was no longer in a good mood...
After that final game last year, Dream was in the locker room consoling Yao. Told him to keep his head up.
Didn't he also tell him that a big man needs to dominate the middle? I guess Yao got that advice correct this year!