Update (6:19 p.m. June 23): The funeral for Olathe resident and former NBA player Manute Bol is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where the 7-foot-7-inch center's professional basketball career began. That's according to a Facebook message from Bol's friend, Tom Prichard, who adds that the funeral is open to the public.
KCUR 89.3 reports that Bol told his cousin that he wanted to be buried next to his father in the village of Turlai in Sudan.
Random trivia, Bol was the guy who helped popularize
the phrase "my bad." I updated and corrected the above trivia note
after reading Dan Steinberg's Washington
Post blog.
Original story (12:52 p.m. June 19): Retired NBA player and
Olathe resident Maute Bol died today, according to a Facebook
message from Bol's friend, Tom Prichard. Bol (left) was one large humanitarian.
Bol, who wasManute
May 12 with acute kidney failure and Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome (described as a potentially deadly skin disease), was 47.
In a message sent today via Facebook, Prichard wrote:
I am very sorry to pass on the newsAt one time, the 7-foot-7 center was the tallest player in the NBA. Bolthat Manute Bol died this morning at
UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. Please hold his family in your
prayers.
If you would like to leave messages for his family
here, we will see they get them.
"Well done, good and faithful
servant."
Sudan and all the world will miss you.
started his career in 1985 with the Washington Bullets. He was known for
his shot blocking. He played for the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76'ers and Miami Heat, ending his career during the 1994-95 season.
Bol spent much of his pro basketball money on charitable efforts to end the violence in Sudan. Bol's Sudan Sunrise foundation is based in Lenexa, Kansas.
In May, a "get
well soon" Facebook page dedicated to Bol said the former basketball player "was so determined to help with the election in Sudan, he
postponed
needed medical care."
That led to trouble upon Bol's return
stateside. Bol flew into Dulles International Airport and stayed the
night. He was supposed to fly back to Kansas, but Bol had to be rushed
to a hospital.
Last month, The Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger wrote a really good column about Bol's life.
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