NBA Superstar Dwight Howard Visits AES |
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By Jeff W., Scribbler reporter
Thursday, August 12th , three- time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard paid a visit to AES while on tour of India.
Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard was in India doing an NBA outreach mission to promote the game of basketball in India. Howard was here from August 10-14. In that time, he ran basketball clinics for players and coaches in Bangalore and Gurgaon. On the 12th of August, he came to AES to work out with his trainers in the Main Gym.
“Dwight Howard is here promoting the NBA and trying to bring the NBA to India” says 7 th grade Humanities teacher Mr. Coyle. “He is also helping the development of a Grassroots league, and is trying to make the NBA more marketable in India.”
“It's crazy,” Howard commented in a phone interview from Delhi. “I'm surprised by the big fan base we have here. I just go out to the lobby and there are a lot of fans around and a lot of people waiting to take pictures.”
Howard also trained with the Indian Men's National Baketball Team. “It was just great training with the National team. Just teaching those guys and to help them become better players. It was great.”
Howard is very religious. When he got drafted into the NBA in 2004, he claimed he wanted to “Raise the name of God in the league and around the world.” He is no stranger to service, though. He has his own foundation called the Dwight D. Howard Foundation, which is an organization that helps strengthen family relationships. He also has a son, Braylon.
“Dwight Howard is a better role model than a lot of the other players,” says Mr. Coyle. “He is a family man, and he works really hard to get even better.”
Howard took time to sign autographs for some Middle Schoolers that were there. 7th Grader Tyler Lochan was one of the lucky students to get an autograph. “It was really awesome to meet him,” says Tyler. “He's huge! His shoulders are the size of my face!”
Dwight Howard is now getting ready to help lead the USA to victory at the FIBA World Basketball Championships in late August and September in Turkey.
Sources:
http://www.nba.com/india/news/howard_india_100812.html