Home »

[bana2166]

Haitian Samuel Dalembert Discusses Basketball without Borders Asia

posted on May 18, 2006

76ers center Samuel Dalembert will be participating in Basketball without Borders Asia for the second consecutive year at the Shanghai Sports Institute in Shanghai, China from June 8-11. Basketball without Borders is a basketball instructional camp for young athletes that also promotes friendship, healthy living and education with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention and features current and former NBA players and team personnel as camp coaches. Below is the transcript of a conference call conducted with Samuel Dalembert to discuss the upcoming event.

Conference Call with Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert

Q: This will be your second trip to China for Basketball without Borders Asia and you are also taking part in Basketball without Borders Europe, which will be your sixth Basketball without Borders camp. How do you feel about these numerous charity basketball camps you have participated throughout the years? What is it that you look forward to giving back or contributing to these camps, from a personal experience or your own background?

A: Traveling is a great part of going to these camps! I think Basketball without Borders is actually one of the best ideas that anybody can come up with. In America it has always been a truth for kids to become an NBA player; they can always watch the games on TV. But for many other cultures, they might not have ever been introduced to basketball from a professional standpoint. They might have seen the NBA on TV, have played basketball on the streets, but never had a basketball experience. It?s different from watching TV everyday. It is real NBA players and coaches coming to you, to give you the knowledge and the skills about the game. I think it?s a great idea for the players to do it.

For me, I do it simply for the joy. I love giving back to the community, I love giving back my time. For us to go to them makes it easier for those kids. Sometimes with young children, I do ask myself what they expect from you. It is important though to know that the training cannot be complete, but a highlight. It is to understand what they want, what areas they want to improve upon and really help them and give them the knowledge to do so. It is about the will and knowledge, but also about how simple the game can be. I want to talk to those kids and see what they want to do, what positions they want to play and then really teach them the skills to become a guard, or a defense, or the guy to score! So it?s important for them to know what they want to be good at then have a better chance to secure scholarships, be encouraged and maybe be a professional athlete.

Q: Is there one message that you want to give back to the children at Basketball without Borders in China this year?

A: To keep on playing. Don?t give up and always push harder. Not only in basketball but also in school, to work hard both in school and in playing the game.

Q: What does Basketball without Borders mean to you?

A: The words speak for itself. It is initiating contact with the rest of the world, reaching across the boundaries and going out there. Sometimes language can be a barrier between people, but I think basketball can transcend boundaries and is itself a kind of language. It is teaching kids to become aware of the environment, of social issues. Often people only think about themselves and their own country, but Basketball without Borders teaches them to learn about other cultures. I think that?s what I love about BWB. It?s about the passion and giving time to the community, to share with others and make a difference for the children.

Q: What do you feel is the connection with children in China? At last year?s Basketball without Borders, you shared about how as a child you had to struggle through poverty in order to get an education. Are their any areas apart from education where you feel these children and you connect on?

A: I think it is the understanding of what is actually going on in life and in the world. Those kids could be your own kids, 8 or 9 years old. Who knows what kind of things they have been through, who knows what disease they might go through, who knows what they have to face. We dealt with different problems in Haiti, like lack of medical facilities, poverty or starvation. As a child I had my struggles too but never had to deal with a disease like that (HIV/AIDS). It is not their fault either, it was the mistake of parents, misuse of equipment, and to have those children suffer the consequences is not fair. I want to share with them, to understand what they have to go through and simply be there as an encouragement.