Joakim Noah solidifies dedication to African basketball through initial visit to South Africa.
Observing Joakim Noah, a two-time NBA All-Star, as he takes a trip to the Lion & Safari Park located in South Africa.
Andscape
Though Noah is considered a native of New York, his love for Africa is evident as he proudly sports a Cameroon T-shirt. He has fond memories of his childhood trips to Cameroon with his father and continues his efforts to give back to the community by constructing new courts in Cameroon and Nigeria. Noah also attends BAL games in various countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, and Egypt, as well as exploring the Lion & Safari Park. Every moment spent in Africa holds special significance for him.
Andscape
The wildlife reserve, spanning 2,471 acres, is home to various animals such as lions, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, and zebras. Like many other visitors, Noah was both thrilled and anxious about the prospect of seeing the lions, albeit from the safety of a bus. This fear is justified as in 2015, a lioness at the Lion & Safari Park attacked and killed an American woman during a self-guided driving tour, caused by the error of leaving a car window open. In another incident, an Australian tourist was bitten by a lion for the same mistake, and a teenager who disregarded safety protocols and rode a bike through an unsupervised area was attacked by a cheetah.
Noah said that working with BAL is crucial. He finds it truly fulfilling to travel throughout the continent. South Africa holds a special significance, being a land charged with history and known for the Zulus, fierce warriors. The country has a rich, revolutionary past. Noah was drawn to join BAL primarily because of its strong leadership.
Joakim Noah is determined to alter the perception surrounding African basketball. Read more.
Experienced tour guide Alex Larenty provided Noah and his friends with a private tour. Larenty, who is 65 years old, has been leading tours for the past 24 years for famous individuals like comedian Kevin Hart, actor Will Smith, tennis icon Serena Williams, singer Celine Dion, rapper Snoop Dogg, and his favorite actor Clint Eastwood. Larenty mentioned that he has personally raised some of the animals on the safari at his own home. He is happy to work seven days a week and feels at ease with lions, whether he is feeding them, giving them affection, grooming their manes, or playfully interacting with them.
Noah recalled, “The lion seemed solely focused on reaching you. The intense gaze in its eye will always stay with me. This will be a memory I carry with me forever. I have a remarkable story to share now, fully documented…”
“The unrestrained lions, that is the ideal. Whenever there is a chance to observe lions, go and experience it. Today, we are within the cages. I am enthusiastic,” stated Noah prior to the tour.
Marc J. Spears, senior writer for Andscape’s NBA coverage, was once known for his dunking skills. However, due to knee issues, he is no longer able to showcase this talent.
“I have a great deal of faith and confidence in Amadou Fall, the president of BAL. He has shown his support for me since the early days of my career, when he came to my village in Cameroon to host my first basketball camp. This act of kindness was well before the establishment of BAL, and it was a demonstration of his commitment to my community and my roots. I distinctly remember him addressing the children and I thought to myself, ‘This man is a true leader with a clear vision.’ Now that I have retired from basketball and this opportunity with BAL has presented itself, I feel even more driven and purposeful than I did when I was playing.”
“I have a great deal of faith and confidence in Amadou Fall, the president of BAL. He has shown his support for me since the early days of my career, when he came to my village in Cameroon to host my first basketball camp. This act of kindness was well before the establishment of BAL, and it was a demonstration of his commitment to my community and my roots. I distinctly remember him addressing the children and I thought to myself, ‘This man is a true leader with a clear vision.’ Now that I have retired from basketball and this opportunity with BAL has presented itself, I feel even more driven and purposeful than I did when I was playing.”
Rewording:
In the top photo, we see Alex Larenty, a guide at Lion & Safari Park, speaking to the group. In the bottom photo, a lion is seen close to the caged bus during the park tour.
“I have a great deal of faith and confidence in Amadou Fall, the president of BAL. He has shown his support for me since the early days of my career, when he came to my village in Cameroon to host my first basketball camp. This act of kindness was well before the establishment of BAL, and it was a demonstration of his commitment to my community and my roots. I distinctly remember him addressing the children and I thought to myself, ‘This man is a true leader with a clear vision.’ Now that I have retired from basketball and this opportunity with BAL has presented itself, I feel even more driven and purposeful than I did when I was playing.”
During the tour, Larenty’s initial destination was to see two lions, one of which was his favorite named George, and two lionesses. He parked the bus next to the lions who were lounging on the ground. Larenty enticed the lions to stand and walk by throwing raw meat towards them.
During the rest of the tour, there were opportunities to observe wildebeests, hyenas, and a black leopard up close. One particular lioness startled the tourists on Noah’s bus when it attempted to take a backpack with its teeth, but Larenty intervened and prevented any harm. The tour also included sightings of impalas in their natural habitat, vulnerable to potential predation by the lions.
During his NBA career from 2007 to 2020, Noah was known for his defensive skills. He maintained strong stats, averaging 8.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in 672 games. He was recognized as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and was selected for the All-NBA Defensive Team three times. In addition to these accolades, the former University of Florida standout also made appearances in the NBA All-Star games in 2013 and 2014 while playing for the Chicago Bulls.
During the tour, we made a final stop to visit a gentle giraffe who stood at a height of approximately 16 feet. As our guide, Noah, approached the giraffe, he happily fed it potato chips from his hand. Larenty, known for his adventurous spirit, even fed the giraffe a potato chip directly from his mouth.
As a child, Noah was taken by his father, retired French tennis player Yannick Noah, to their family’s home country of Cameroon. More recently, Joakim Noah has constructed basketball courts in Cameroon and Nigeria. His involvement in the BAL is aiding in the growth of African basketball by fostering the development of players, coaches, referees, and facilities.
Jewell Loyd’s position as a WNBA ambassador for the Basketball Africa League is not something she takes lightly and she recognizes the significance of it.
Noah sat at the back of the bus, admiring the lions when Larenty instructed him to prepare for a closeup. Larenty placed three chunks of meat on a metal rod and held it near the side of the bus, just a foot away from Noah, through the bars. The lion pounced, grabbed onto the bus, and devoured the meat while Noah looked on with a mix of both happiness and wariness, making eye contact with the lion. Later, a thrilled Noah used FaceTime to excitedly recount the experience to his wife, Lais Ribero.
Andscape
The post Joakim Noah solidifies dedication to African basketball through initial visit to South Africa. appeared first on Americano Sports.
Japanese Siblings Uta and Hifumi Abe Secure Gold at Antalya Judo Grand Slam
The two Japanese siblings are still at the top of their class: Uta and Hifumi Abe won gold at the Antalya Judo Grand Slam. ADVERTISING Welcome to the coast of…
The post Japanese Siblings Uta and Hifumi Abe Secure Gold at Antalya Judo Grand Slam appeared first on 247sports News.
