OSAKA, Japan (AP)—Two important things haven’t changed for Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in the 14 years since he set off a firestorm of criticism by refusing to stand for the national anthem before NBA games.
He’s still a devout Muslim and playing basketball.
Abdul-Rauf is now in Japan, the latest stop of a globe-trotting career that became necessary in the aftermath of being booed, inundated with hate mail and suspended by the NBA for refusing to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner” in March 1996.
“It was close to impossible to play in the U.S. after that,” Abdul-Rauf said. “The doors were shut, but I said the NBA wasn’t the only show in town and I was going to make use of my God-given talent even if it meant playing in Timbuktu.”
He has found his latest refuge in Japan’s fledgling professional league, where he is settling in with the expansion Kyoto Hannaryz as the highest-profile player in the league’s five-year history.
Read more @ Former NBA star Abdul-Rauf has kept the faith - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
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tags: athletics, islam, politics, dissent
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