THE UNIVERSITY HAIRY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2009
SPORTS
23
SIMIEN (CONTINUED FROM 22)
LIFE IN THE NBA
Soon after his senior season came to an end, Simien had to prepare for the next level: the NBA. On draft night, instead of being in New York, Simien chose to await his fate back home in Leavenworth with his closest family and friends along with Self and the other coaches.
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Simien was selected as the 29th pick overall by the Miami Heat in the first round. Simien said he remembered hearing his name called by Commissioner David Stern on TV and getting so excited that he didn't hear what team he was going to.
Simien was drafted to the Miami Heat to play with Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade — players Simien said he looked up to.
He joined the Heat in the 2005- 2006 season, averaging 9.6 minutes and 3.4 points a game. The Heat would go on to win the NBA Championship that year. Simien described his rookie season as "amazing."
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"Going into a locker room with guys who had been playing a lot longer like Alonzo, who had been playing for 10 years, and Gary, it was an incredible feeling," Simien said.
Two years into his faith, Simien knew he could be tested by the lifestyle of a professional athlete, but he wasn't worried about it. He said he relied on one thing: surrounding himself with strong men of God.
When the Heat would travel on the road, Simien said, he would have close friends meet him at his hotel so he wouldn't be tempted to take part in a lifestyle that conflicted with his faith. He also sometimes stayed at former NBA player A.C. Green's house, someone whose faith was also important to him.
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While playing in the NBA, Simien knew what kind of money he would make.
"I had a mindset that every penny that I earned, whether it was in the NBA or not, wasn't mine," Simien said. "I didn't do the typical rookie thing."
Simien said he donated money to charity and to his church. His biggest purchase was his Ford F-150 pickup truck.
"I didn't have any elaborate lifestyle," Simien said. "I know that God is my provider whether it's in the NBA, being a minister or working at McDonald's."
Simien said his basketball camp ministry started in 2008 as a way to carry the torch for camps that were once hosted by former player Danny Manning. Simien himself used to go to those camps as a kid and worked them when he was in high school and college.
A part of the camp experience is Simien's daily message to the kids about God.
In 2008, he started his ministry organization Called To Greatness, which worked to reach kids through basketball.
"It's awesome because you can tell how much he loves God by the way he loves people and treats people," Sperry said.
"He's very eloquent," Sperry said. "He puts it in words that kids can understand."
Zach Sperry, Arlington Texas junior, got involved in Simien's camp through interning at Morning Star Church. Sperry said that his job was mainly helping with drills and refereeing 3-on-3 games. Sperry said Simien was a genuine person.
Coming into his second year in the NBA, Simien only played in eight games. The rest of his season was plagued with knee injuries and a bout with salmonella. "He couldn't catch a break," Self said. "His body never really gave him a chance."
Simien started his ministry at Morning Star Church, 998 N 1771 Rd., north of 6th and Wakarusa streets.
Sperry said he learned from Simien that there's more to life than just sports. As a former Kansas baseball pitcher, Sperry said, he appreciated this insight.
Simien said it was disappointing not being able to play, but his faith and positive attitude helped him get through. Self agreed.
Because of the way he handled his money, Simien said, it was easier for him to walk away from the game.
"If he was frustrated, you wouldn't know it," Self said. "He never said 'Why me?' He used it as a test and I think it made him a stronger person."
The Called To Greatness camps are open to students from 3rd to 12th grade. Simien said there had been talk of branching the camps out to other sports such as soccer, baseball and dance.
LIFE AFTER THE NBA
Simien said that when he first decided to become a minister, he got some mixed responses.
After his second NBA season, Simien went through changes on and off the court. Off the court, Simien started a family in 2006 when he married his wife, Katie, and by 2008 had two kids. On the court, Simien bounced back from injury to play professionally in Spain for the team Caceres Ciudad de Baloncesto. But one thing Simien had always enjoyed the most was speaking to the youth.
"People were either real excited or asking 'What the heck are you doing? You could still be playing.' Simien said.
"To me," Simien said, "it was more of a desire to change the lives of people through Jesus Christ than playing basketball for a paycheck."
It's been a long journey for the Leavenworth native, from winning an NBA championship to full-time ministry, but Simien said it was the right focus for him.
Edited by Derek Zarda
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