MVP Olajuwon makes quiet entrance here
JAKARTA (JP): It's too bad that Hakeem Olajuwon wasn't here last week.
His mere presence might have put some life into the Independence Cup basketball tournament.
Who knows, with him on their side the national junior team might have walked away with the trophy.
After all this is the NBA Most Valuable player we're talking about.
The triumphant Houston Rockets giant, currently here to film a commercial, is the first NBA player to set foot in Indonesia. The real star, however, remained down to earth as he shared experiences, including his dedication to Islam, with local journalists.
The Moslem faith, much misunderstood by most Westerners, was the topic that the journalists were most eager to explore during the two-hour informal chat. Olajuwon literally opened his big arms wide to such sensitive questions.
"We cannot separate religion from our daily lives. The two are interconnected," the soft-spoken Olajuwon replied in his British accent.
In the event, Olajuwon had performed a prayer within an hour of arriving at the hotel.
The highlight of the wide-ranging discussion was when he briefed a journalist, who claimed to be a Moslem, on the five pillars of Islam. The Nigerian-born Olajuwon has increasingly devoted himself to religion over the past few years, and attributes much of his success to the "base" provided by his faith.
But don't try asking him about money. "I won't disclose it," he replied when asked to reveal the size of his paycheck. Slouching in his seat, he also refused to comment on whether he got a raise after leading the Rockets to the NBA championship.
"Money is just a reward. The most important thing is doing my best," he said.
"What a man. He doesn't seem like such a big star," a female sportswriter, who professed to knowing little about basketball, whispered about the man they call "the Dream."
Olajuwon's arrival at Soekarno-Hatta airport yesterday was a quiet one, especially considering that the 6-10 (2.08 meter) giant is the idol of millions of basketball fans around the world. He did receive garlands, but his welcoming party consisted mostly of photographers and journalists.
Globetrotter
As the first selection in the 1984 NBA Draft, Olajuwon transformed the Rockets' worst-ever team (14-68 in 1982-83) into NBA finalists in just his second season.
Known for his solid defense, relentless rebounding and cat- like quickness, Olajuwon has ranked consistently among the league's leading scorers. He averaged 25.2 points per game last season.
Olajuwon was granted U.S. citizenship last April, 14 years after he left home to embark on his basketball odyssey.
Olajuwon's visit here comes at the end of his five-week round- the-world tour as the NBA's first-ever international ambassador. He spent three days in Malaysia before arriving here.
This country looked like a new one for the globe-trotting Olajuwon. He said he knew Indonesia as the biggest Moslem country in the world, but deflected journalists' persistent attempts to get him to elaborate.
He expressed surprise upon learning that the archipelago is home to 300 different ethnic groups. He also said he could not wait for his holiday in Bali to begin, asking "what's it like out there anyway?"
Olajuwon will leave for a short stay on the paradise island early next week.
He is scheduled to present his number 34 jersey to Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman on Monday. (amd/brd)