Kareem Abdul-Jabbar named U.S. global cultural ambassador

[ellisonz]

Photo: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accepts gifts from Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the announcement of his appointment as U.S. global ambassador. Credit: Michael Gross / U.S. State Department

-- Rene Lynch
January 19, 2012 | 9:16 am

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA Hall of Famer and Laker legend who continues to reign as the league's all-time leading scorer, transcends basketball with his latest gig: global cultural ambassador.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made the appointment Wednesday, tasking Abdul-Jabbar with engaging young people worldwide and "using people-to-people diplomacy as a means to create opportunities for greater understanding."

First up is a trip to Brazil, where Abdul-Jabbar "will lead conversations with young people on the importance of education, social and racial tolerance, cultural understanding, and using sports as a means of empowerment," according to the secretary of State's website. And, of course, there will be basketball clinics.

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Abdul-Jabbar is an intriguing choice for cultural ambassador. He was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. and raised Roman Catholic in New York City. He later changed his name and converted to Islam.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2012/01/kareem-abdul-jabbar-named-us-global-ambassador-.html

[ellisonz]

1. Kick for the Sky-hook.

[taterguy]

2. The co-pilot from Airplane is our cultural ambassador?

Cool

[ellisonz]

3. I know right...

Dude's got skills.

[progressoid]

4. But just remember, my name is Roger Murdock.

I'm an airline pilot.

[Major Hogwash]

5. Is that a portrait of Regis Philbin on the wall in the background?

"Watch this. This is a neat card trick Joey Bishop taught me years ago. Now, look, nothing up my sleeve".