Manute Bol, humanitarian, great defensive basketball player, who I enjoyed watching play, rest in peace. You departed too soon.

Manute Bol was once billed as the tallest men ever to play for the NBA. He stood 7 feet 6 inches, his shoe size was 16 ½ , his heart size was about the biggest in the world. He died, yesterday, Saturday, at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, from severe kidney trouble and complications of a rare skin disorder. He was only forty seven.

Manute Bol was an immigrant from the Sudan. He was a great defensive player in the NBA for ten seasons. He played for the Washington Bullets, later for the Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat. He is being remembered as a humanitarian, who provided aid to his native Sudan. He returned to Sudan regularly during his playing days, donating his money for school construction, and other worthy projects. Once he retired, he became more active there. He went to Sudan late last year to check on humanitarian ventures. He was a man who gave back as well as received the bounties of life.

Manute Bol, RIP