http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/368562.html
A benevolent pair of Kings: Kevin Martin travels to Africa and is shocked by the poverty but buoyed by the spirit of the people
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 7:26 am PDT Sunday, September 9, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
At a news conference to discuss his newly signed $55 million contract Aug. 29, Kevin Martin delivered a tad of perspective courtesy of his Kings boss.
"My agent told me a quote I think he got from (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie), and that is, 'Never confuse wealth with money,' " Martin said.
If the Kings shooting guard didn't embrace the meaning behind his borrowed words then, he does now.
Just days after his five-year extension was formalized, Martin departed for a trip to Africa he described as "humbling." With his own fortunes fresh in his mind, Martin witnessed widespread poverty and misfortune, and said he was amazed at the people's prevailing spirit.
"The one thing you see (in Africa) is sometimes they're happier than people in the states making a lot of money," said Martin by phone from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he leaves today to return to Sacramento. "You learn from them that it's not what you have money-wise, but it's how you are with your family, the community and in relationships. They definitely make the best of it. Their spirits are so high."
The trip began Aug. 31, when Martin and his party traveled to the starting point of a three-day safari that would showcase the region's celebrated wildlife at the Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve in southeast South Africa. But the Discovery Channel-like chapter segued into a starker scene upon arriving in Johannesburg, the epicenter for the NBA's "Basketball without Borders" program.
He laid brick on houses being built for the community, taught basketball and preached AIDS awareness to some of the region's best players 19 years and younger, and even made a new friend when a 10-year-old boy in touch with technology shared his e-mail address and a picture of himself. But the 24-year-old Ohio native said the poverty left the largest impression.
"There's trash everywhere. They say the little kids pick up that stuff and the first place they put it is their mouth. That was kind of shocking," Martin said.
Simply getting to the event, however, might have been the most memorable part of all. From the game reserve, a six-seat charter plane took Martin and his party on a 75-minute flight to forget.
"It was the worst experience ever," Martin said. "This thing shook the whole time. A couple times you felt like you were (going down)."
Asked if he was perhaps spoiled by the luxuries of NBA travel, Martin said: "It had nothing to do with being spoiled. You'd be scared, too."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
A benevolent pair of Kings: Kevin Martin travels to Africa and is shocked by the poverty but buoyed by the spirit of the people
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 7:26 am PDT Sunday, September 9, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3
At a news conference to discuss his newly signed $55 million contract Aug. 29, Kevin Martin delivered a tad of perspective courtesy of his Kings boss.
"My agent told me a quote I think he got from (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie), and that is, 'Never confuse wealth with money,' " Martin said.
If the Kings shooting guard didn't embrace the meaning behind his borrowed words then, he does now.
Just days after his five-year extension was formalized, Martin departed for a trip to Africa he described as "humbling." With his own fortunes fresh in his mind, Martin witnessed widespread poverty and misfortune, and said he was amazed at the people's prevailing spirit.
"The one thing you see (in Africa) is sometimes they're happier than people in the states making a lot of money," said Martin by phone from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he leaves today to return to Sacramento. "You learn from them that it's not what you have money-wise, but it's how you are with your family, the community and in relationships. They definitely make the best of it. Their spirits are so high."
The trip began Aug. 31, when Martin and his party traveled to the starting point of a three-day safari that would showcase the region's celebrated wildlife at the Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve in southeast South Africa. But the Discovery Channel-like chapter segued into a starker scene upon arriving in Johannesburg, the epicenter for the NBA's "Basketball without Borders" program.
He laid brick on houses being built for the community, taught basketball and preached AIDS awareness to some of the region's best players 19 years and younger, and even made a new friend when a 10-year-old boy in touch with technology shared his e-mail address and a picture of himself. But the 24-year-old Ohio native said the poverty left the largest impression.
"There's trash everywhere. They say the little kids pick up that stuff and the first place they put it is their mouth. That was kind of shocking," Martin said.
Simply getting to the event, however, might have been the most memorable part of all. From the game reserve, a six-seat charter plane took Martin and his party on a 75-minute flight to forget.
"It was the worst experience ever," Martin said. "This thing shook the whole time. A couple times you felt like you were (going down)."
Asked if he was perhaps spoiled by the luxuries of NBA travel, Martin said: "It had nothing to do with being spoiled. You'd be scared, too."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
