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Mitglied zgr123
Mai 19 '17
TORONTO - Masai Ujiri remembers being a boy attending a basketball camp in his native northern Nigeria, and the excitement of being given an Hakeem Olajuwon T-shirt. Deshaun Watson Jersey .It was a small gesture with a big impact.My eyes were so wide, to get that T-shirt was unbelievable, Ujiri said.Ujiri speaks passionately about the power of sports to change lives. Hes seen it first-hand through his Giants of Africa camp and Basketball Without Borders, and is himself living proof as the president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors.Its a determination he shared with the late Nelson Mandela, who Ujiri and the Raptors will celebrate Friday in an all-star benefit.How many people in those kinds of positions ever have any kind of relations with sport in some ways other than being like a guest of honour or something? Ujiri said in a phone interview Thursday. But Nelson Mandela, with what he did with rugby, the way he supported sports, I thought it was so impactful because he said it best: sports has the power to impact people and society, and youth. And so I think its a great message for us, its not only a great game, but its a great day to spread that message around the world that we are blessed to have sports and we are blessed to participate in something fun like this.When South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Mandela famously donned the Springbok sweater, a gesture he hoped would help unite his racially-fragmented country.Friday marks the one-year anniversary since Mandelas death at the age of 95.Ujiri has assembled an all-star lineup for the event, including NBA legends Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Dikembe Mutombo, along with UN Goodwill Ambassador and 1999 Miss Universe winner Mpule Kwelagobe. Other guests include Raptors alumnus Tracy McGrady, Toronto Maple Leaf goaltender Jonathan Bernier and Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, former Toronto Argonauts star Michael (Pinball) Clemons, deputy commissioner of the NBA Mark Tatum and Amadou Fall, vice-president of NBA Africa. Funds raised will go to both the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ujiris Giants of Africa.Ujiri founded Giants of Africa in 2003, both as a means to enrich the lives of children in Africa, and to shine a spotlight on the abundance of untapped talent there.He signed a deal with Nike to outfit the players. He sees himself in the kids he helps.You see these kids, their faces when you give them shoes and you give them gear, socks and shorts and jerseys and T-shirts, its remarkable how that affects them in some kind of way, and how they want to play the sport more, and even dedicate themselves more, Ujiri said. But its come to a point where I look at myself, and say: We have to look at it even beyond playing. I say How do we really use basketball as a tool? Because now sports has become so general, its important to expose Africa and kids to other aspects of sport.What about sports medicine, and sports journalism, and sports agencies, coaching, and all the different things that you can do in sports, he said. It doesnt have to be making the NBA or it doesnt have to be playing. You can figure out how you can use basketball as a tool and guidance to maybe do something very very reasonable and very very good for your life, and to grow.It doesnt necessarily have to be playing basketball. Im the prime example of that.The six-foot-four Ujiri played basketball in the U.S. at Bismarck State College, and then spent six years playing professionally in Europe. He virtually chiselled out a post-playing career for himself, working as an unpaid scout for the Orlando Magic. He paid his own way on trips at times, and bunked with other scouts and players.He went on to be an international scout for Denver and Toronto, then won NBA executive of the year in 2013 with Denver, where he was the first African-born GM of a major North American sports team. He returned to Toronto to be the teams president and GM in 2013.Ujiri said his summer trips to Africa are the times he looks forward to most. Going spending it in the grinds of not only travelling in Africa and seeing different cultures and different people, but seeing different communities and people, and what makes them tick and what makes them live, and how they live happy, and some of the struggles that they have. It puts life in perspective, Ujiri said. Its a huge part of who I am and what I want to do.Our concentration is sports and how we can build sports, and going into communities to help, whether its teaching basketball, whether its us figuring out charities or foundations that we can help, or us figuring out little courts that we can build, or give them a net, give a basketball team basketballs . . . those are the things we want to continue to build and grow over there. Thats the impact it has on me when I go back in the summer, he said.A big believer in never forgetting where youve come from, Ujiri said his experiences in Africa remain with him in his daily work back in Toronto with the Raptors.Honestly, it puts things in perspective, he said. We take things for granted a lot of times, and I would never forget to be humbled by the position that I am in, and the blessings that I have to be in this position, with such good people around me that give me that opportunity to go help other Africans, and other youth.I have to be a voice, and I have to make an impact on other people. If not, what Im doing here means really nothing.Fridays celebration will begin with a panel discussion. It will continue into Fridays Raptors game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, with video tributes. The Raptors will wear special edition shooting shirts and management will don Giant of Africa lapel pins. The Giant of Africa T-shirts will be for sale, featuring Mandelas five pillars; being a leader, fighting for freedom, creating a better future, committing to the community and using sport to inspire change. Proceeds from sales go to Giants of Africa. Julién Davenport Jersey . This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. D Onta Foreman Womens Jersey . - Tom Brady and the Patriots routed the Bengals and quieted the doubters.LONDON - John Terry scored for the second straight game and Diego Costa grabbed his 13th goal of the season as Chelsea beat West Ham 2-0 to stay top of the Premier League on Friday.West Ham arrived at Stamford Bridge in fourth place and one of the surprises of the season, but rested key players Alex Song and Diafra Sakho in view of the hectic festive schedule and was cut down to size by Chelsea.Terry tapped home a close-range finish in the 31st minute after a right-wing corner from Cesc Fabregas was headed goalward by Costa.West Ham goalkeeper Adrian made a string of fine saves but could not get anywhere near a low, angled shot from Costa in the 62nd after the Spain striker was fed by Eden Hazard.Substitute Morgan Amalfitano clipped a deft shot against the post in the 87th minute in one of the few chances created by West Ham, which paid for deploying a defensive shape in the first half that allowed Chelsea to seize the initiative.Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho fielded a full-strength lineup, despite a potentially tougher fixture at Southampton coming up on Sunday. And the gulf in the sides was clear from the start as the hosts — three points clear of Manchester City at the start of the day — won a ninth straight home game, boasting 66 per cent possession. Deshaun Watson Youth Jersey. e are playing great, everyone can see that, Terry said. If we can keep playing like that, its going to be tough (to stop Chelsea).Mourinho accused West Ham of playing football from the 19th century after a 0-0 draw between the teams in the corresponding fixture last season, but Terrys goal ensured there would be no frustration this time for Chelsea.Four days after setting Chelsea on its way to a 2-0 win at Stoke, the former England captain was on hand to poke in from barely two meters out to punish West Hams poor marking from a corner.Adrian had already saved well from Gary Cahill and Willian, and the Spanish goalkeeper then tipped aside a curling shot from Nemanja Matic as Chelsea poured forward.Costa looked dangerous throughout and got the goal his performance deserved when he collected a forward pass from Hazard, twisted and turned past Carl Jenkinson, and shot into the bottom corner from just inside the area.Mourinho said he was delighted with the creativity of his team, saying: It was the football of a team that leads (the league), and leads with the credit that it deserves. 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Mitglied vourdalak
Mai 7 '20
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