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The NBA's all-time leading scorer, was just named a Global Cultural Ambassador and in his spare time Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has written a children's book...
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You know him from.
Huge success and the NBA and now he's here to talk about a different venture.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar is here in Powell.
What a pleasure to have you here this morning and we've been here I know some things have been happening and I want to talk directly about your entrance -- Well I've just been important for reporting to be a cultural ambassador.
And I'll be.
Traveling to -- places in the world to.
Talk about education and enhance communication between.
Our culture and -- culture.
The secretary of state Hillary Clinton making this announcement this.
Yesterday what was -- like to hear those words cultural ambassador.
I'm still trying to -- you think.
Everything in my life up to this point is there's been very much involved -- Sports and -- I'm also an offer.
-- a number of books and you know some sort of stop playing.
And that's -- -- through my life.
Do some coaching but you know it's reversed more.
Or or writing.
Anyway you know always an ambassador because you represent the United States every -- she can play them all over the world and now is there particular age group.
-- -- hoping to reach around the world.
Well we hope to connect with -- young people my first trip things we can for Brazil and Brazilian government is trying do an outreach.
And expand.
Good educational opportunities throughout the country it's not very well done down there and in order for them to make.
The next to get to the next level in terms of the women infrastructure.
And educating your population they're going -- helping those states and and the Brazilian government are.
Front incorporated and facilitate them so they wanted to talk about education.
And just give young people fearful of what progress is about American stuff.
So when people look at Kareem Abdul -- they think of titles in the NBA they think of tremendous success.
What they may not know that you mentioned your author your children's author.
I hear my first children's book comes out -- -- and it's available everywhere in this.
-- we Begin to connect the dots.
Yeah.
I think I -- you you -- wonderful and it and terrifically nice person in person but people might be wondering wait a minute people to be an ambassador.
I think you Begin to connect the dots between it was a children's author wanted to do outreach with young people.
Well you know literacy and education has always been a very important thing for me been involved in.
A lot of projects over the years especially since I retired and promoting literacy and encouraging young people to.
To hit the books because knowledge is power.
Yet you know to have had the success that you -- -- the professionals who work.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- But but it's more than oh it's truth actually got to -- yourself -- -- if -- you are walking business as a professional what it.
Yup especially if you get the opportunities that -- had been you don't have the right educational foundation.
Can't take advantage of it because you don't know what you're doing.
And -- end up becoming one of those people that everybody feels sorry for because.
It didn't.
Go forward so what tools that you put into place to keep from becoming one of -- statistics.
My -- did it back in the day when I was in college or underinsured got my degree.
And I made sure all work -- Playing.
That I've done the right thing isn't known from saving my money in a plan former future.
No doubt along the way inside young men in the NBA who were not doing this thing or two men who -- through you right -- well I've been issued today in professional sports that that.
Young men and women are just not getting the information that they need.
-- it is very much an issue I.
I know it's OK are -- also -- -- -- that worked with the retired players association.
And they go out and try and you know get to retired players.
Active we have a remedial.
Training for them and stuff like that wouldn't -- retired players association.
And one -- talked to has found guy's living under bridges or in their car.
Know guys who made millions of dollars.
Playing professional basketball.
Other other people gotten in trouble with the law.
Because so when the money runs out.
These unscrupulous means to try to maintain your lifestyle and they get in trouble it's -- -- oftentimes really really tried to.
What are some of the things about about professional sports that you're sharing the war that you will -- I should say as a cultural ambassador than you think you kind of take out -- can use them.
As a good example.
Well just that those sports for many people as a key for me and -- -- -- to get my education I got a scholarship and go to college.
A lot of guys they might be good high school athletes and that might be as far as their -- can take them but they can -- -- to get scholarship goes to go to college.
It was their college education.
Do very well for themselves I.
I want to talk a little bit because I mean I think no no plugs in king once so little.
Felt really thought yeah -- writing for kids.
It was something I want to try it was an issue -- -- because one I was if you.
In grade school and stuff all books had in them about black Americans had to do with the issues of slavery.
All of us are gonna let it tell everybody what color is my world is the title of the book -- When when I was a kid.
The.
The only things that were mentioned about black Americans have to do with the issues -- flavoring.
We're civil rights and -- so much more -- story.
