Slam Online - Guest Post: Al-Farouq Aminu
Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:29 am
Guest Post: Al-Farouq Aminu
Al F. Aminu on sunglasses, curses, Sin City and more!
by Maurice BobbDRAFT DAY
June 24, 2010 is a day that I will never forget. It was on that date, I was selected No. 8 overall from a pool of truly talented and gifted basketball players to enter into the NBA kingdom, and play for the L.A. Clippers. To let my Mom tell it, I’ve been playing basketball since the age of 3 and since then have never wanted to do anything else. My journey has led me from Norcross HS in Georgia to becoming a McDonald’s All-American, playing in the Jordan Brand Classic and ultimately gaining the interest of Wake Forest University, where I was a unanimous selection for the 2009 ACC All-Freshman Team. I love basketball; it’s in me. Don’t mistake my passion for an overdose on the sport, but there is nothing else I would rather do. Well, perhaps I’d play video games professionally if I could do that. As I begin my career as a professional basketball player—I like the ring to that, cue Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got”—I start to realize that my show is just beginning…THE SUPPOSED L.A. CLIPPERS CURSE
If the Clippers curse was real then I wouldn’t be playing on the team. You know a young, suave brother like me, Al F. Aminu (and the F is for “Flow”). No seriously, there is no “Clipper Curse.” I was humbled in the fact that the Clippers allowed me to live out my dream. With anything in life, things are cyclical — sometimes you’re up and other times you’re down, but the true measure of a person and in this respect, a team, is how you make things work when it seems that you’re going against all odds, possessing the heart of champion, even if you don’t have a championship ring or title, and weathering the storms to be victorious. The Clippers are and will always be a proud part of the L.A. sports landscape. I am proud to be a member of this organization and promise this will be a great season. Coach Del Negro has put together a great team and you will see our cohesiveness when we get out on the court in October. There is no “Clipper Curse.” The only “curse” you will see or rather hear is from the opposing team when I get on the court and put on a show. I’m ready for my rookie year to begin and gain the respect and love from the loyal Clipper fans.IN LALA LAND
L.A. is my home now and in my downtime, besides playing video games, I enjoy drawing and letting my artistic side come out. I recently went bike riding along the beach, which was cool and different. I can’t live without my iPhone 4 and maybe if Steve Jobs reads this article, I can add next time that I can’t live without my iPad, too! I’m exercising my entrepreneurial talents and working on a sunglass line as well. Overall, there is no other place I would want to be. Sunny beaches, great food and beautiful women. I love L.A. Go Clippers!
Al-Farouq Aminu, Slam Magazine
at Urkel 2010. That may not necessarily be a bad thing if he has his moves: