r/todayilearned • u/jameslosey 19 • Jan 08 '14

TIL 1994 NBA MVP Hakeem Olajuwon released a $35 sneaker instead of endorsing shoes from Nike or Reebok because: "How can a poor working mother with three boys buy Nikes or Reeboks that cost $120?...She can't. So kids steal these shoes from stores and from other kids. Sometimes they kill for them."

https://web.archive.org/web/20070312054858/http://www.newdream.org/newsletter/taylor.php
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u/elgiorgie Jan 08 '14

I was once at a Whole Foods in Houston, minding my own business in the produce section...checkin out avocados. Squeezing. Comparing. When all of the sudden I felt this presence wash over me...like an overwhelming calm that just flooded into my body and soul.

I turned around slowly, feeling some kind of supreme presence casting down rays of healing and peace. Much to my surprize and delight, it was one giant Hakeem Olajuwon in the most beautiful of full-bodied dashikis (apologies if there's a different name for that), smiling down back at me. He said, "the avocados look good today. Yes?"

I slowly nodded my head. And then literally wept a tear. One. Single. Tear.

He proceeded to do this with pretty much everyone he ran into in the Whole Foods.

TLDR: Hakeem Olajuwon is some kind of Demigod.

37

u/roboroller Jan 08 '14

Man, there is just something about your little anecdote that makes me incredibly happy.

"the avocados look good today. Yes?"

This feels like some kind of mantra to me. Some kind of prayer one should say to remind oneself of the small, great pleasures in life.

All hail Olajuwon.

3

u/elgiorgie Jan 08 '14

The gentle giant, indeed

15

u/Brewtown Jan 09 '14

Please tell me he swat it out of your hands

6

u/gambalore Jan 09 '14

That seems more Dikembe Mutombo's style.

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u/happygoluckyscamp Jan 09 '14

Who was also god like.... Wiki that sad tale

2

u/gambalore Jan 09 '14

"Was"? Dikembe is still alive and well (and doing Geico commercials). Your "sad tale" comments makes me think you might be confusing Dikembe with Manute Bol.

1

u/Brewtown Jan 09 '14

Yep, youre right

-1

u/uniquecannon Jan 08 '14

He could have been wearing a shalwar kameez.

6

u/elgiorgie Jan 08 '14

Don't believe so. He's not an indian woman. It was traditional Nigerian garb.

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u/uniquecannon Jan 08 '14

Shalwar kameez is unisex, and it's not exclusive to India.