Manute Bol, the 7-ft, 7-inch shot-blocking giant who played 624 games for four different NBA teams died today from complications of a rare skin disease. He contacted the illness during his time spent in his native country of Sudan Africa where Bol’s passion was helping his fellow natives in the war-torn country.

The 47-year-old Bol died at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville from internal bleeding and other complications from the disease known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Bol’s journey to the NBA started in southern Sudan where a basketball coach noticed him herding cattle with the Dinka tribe. Shortly after, Bol entered the U.S. not knowing a word of English and played for Bridgeport college before going on to become a crowd-pleaser in the NBA.

Whether on home court or on the road, crowds erupted when the Bol, one of the tallest players in NBA history, took the court, watching the player battle stouter competition like Shaq and Gheorghe Muresan.

Besides being known for his freakish, skeletal-like physique, Bol is known for his passion to help save his country and got involved in publicity stunts like Celebrity Boxing where he fought Refrigerator Perry, playing in an IHL hockey game and riding as a horse jockey in another event.

Though criticized by some, Bol did all of this for his country and was constantly trying to raise awareness and money for Sudan’s cause.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

SUDAN- Let’s make a list of challenges a 7 ft. 7 in. lanky man the size of a twig should avoid:

1. Climbing in a boxing ring to go toe-to-toe with a 375 pound ex-NFL lineman named “Refrigerator”.

2. Lace up a pair of skates and take a shot at professional ice hockey.

3. Become a licensed horse jockey.

Manute Bol, a Dinka Tribesman and former center in the NBA who weighed a measly 190 when breaking into the league did all that. His skeletal-like legs were so long, he stood like a giraffe, his legs buckled, looking ready to collapse.

Utilizing his towering height and 102″ reach, the second-round pick of the Washington Bullets set records for blocks during his 11 year, four team NBA career.

After his basketball career, Bol became a side-show circus act, whoring himself out. He would sign on the dotted line for most any paid gig but his intentions were heart-warming.

Bol was on a mission to bring attention to, and raise money for, his fellow citizens of Sudan who were in the middle of a severe conflict in his war-torn country.

In 2002, the lanky Bol fought Chicago Bear lineman Refrigerator Perry in a Springer-style, celebrity boxing match. It was as pitiful as it was humorous to watch.  Against all speculation, Bol was actually the aggressor and utilized his 102″ reach to win the fight.

Afterwards, he donated the $35,000 paycheck he received for the bout to his freedom-fighters in Sudan.

Some time later after being fitted with custom-made size 20 skates, Bol signed a standard CHL contract and played in a game with the Indianapolis Ice in a professional hockey game.

A season-best crowd of 5,900 fans filled Concesco Fieldhouse to see the circus act. Bol lasted just one period, was falling flat on his face and again donated his paycheck to his worthy cause in Sudan.

Freak show . . . circus act . . . call it what you want. Bottom line is,  Bol was willing to make a spectical of himself for the sake of the children in his homeland of Sudan.

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