ANDERSON, Ind. -- Manute Bol, the 7-foot-7 former NBA player
from the Sudan, plans to follow his brief stints in hockey and
boxing with a venture into horse racing.
Hoosier Park announced Friday that Bol plans to "become the
world's tallest jockey" on Oct. 18.
The track, about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis, said Bol
will become a licensed jockey with the Indiana Horse Racing
Commission in an effort to raise money for his native country. The
news release did not offer further details on Bol's plans on the
race track.
It would not be the first time Bol has taken up a new sport in a
promotion to support his Ring True Foundation, which raises money
and awareness about problems in the civil war-torn Sudan.
On Nov. 12, 2002, Bol, who was known for blocking shots and
shooting 3-pointers, agreed to terms to play with the Indianapolis
Ice of the Central Hockey League. Four days later, he suited up for
a home game, sitting behind the bench until his arthritic feet
began to swell in his custom-made skates. He was out of uniform
after one period of the game, which drew a season-high crowd of
5,859 to Conseco Fieldhouse. He did not return to the team.
Bol also once competed in Fox TV's Celebrity Boxing show and
beat former NFL player William "The Refrigerator" Perry in a
bout. Bol agreed to take part, so long as Fox agreed to air a
toll-free number for the Ring True Foundation.
A member of the Dinka tribe, Bol was a second-round draft pick
of the Washington Bullets in 1985.
He played 11 seasons in the NBA with four teams, blocking more
shots per minute than anyone in league history. He retired from in
1995 after averaging 2.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in his career.