"When I look at the system here and look at my position - not just as a basketball player, but when I look around me at the values of the people and the culture and compare them with the values of where I came from - I feel so blessed to be from Africa"

Hakeem Olajuwon's quote speaks to the tremendous gratitude he feels for his African heritage. He acknowledges the differences in between the worths of his house country and the values of the system he is currently in. He is thankful for the chance to be a basketball player, but he is even more grateful for the values he was raised with in Africa. He takes pride in his roots and values the culture and values that have formed him. He is grateful for the privilege of being able to review his African heritage and recognize the distinctions in between the two systems. He is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of both worlds and to be able to value the worths of both. His quote is a tip of the importance of recognizing and appreciating one's roots and the values that feature them.