Big challenges and spicy 'Lights'
By Jason King, Yahoo! Sports
January 21, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. – He's 22 years old, but Kenny George doesn't own a driver's license – and it's not because he can't merge onto a freeway or parallel park.
At 7-foot-7 and 360 pounds, George is too big to fit behind the wheel of a car.
When the UNC-Asheville basketball team goes on road trips, the local bus company removes two seats in the back so George can extend his legs. He has to sleep diagonally to fit into hotel beds, and in class George often sits on the floor because he can't squeeze into a chair.
Suffice to say, the next time someone leans their seat back on an airplane, I probably won't complain.
George, a Chicago native, may be the tallest player in the history of college basketball. And while it may seem cool to dunk without leaving your feet, the truth is that his situation isn't always that fun.
Especially when it comes to travel.
Imagine talking with a friend in an airport and being interrupted every few sentences by a fan wanting a picture. Or being stared and pointed at as you chew your food at a restaurant.
It really is tough not to feel for George. He's college basketball's bearded lady, and everyone, it seems, wants a peek.
"There are times," George has told reporters, "that I wish I weren't so tall."
More and more these days, the Bulldogs are becoming protective of their friend and teammate.
"I feel bad for him," guard K.J. Garland told the Associated Press. "You go into a restaurant and he's not normal. He can't enjoy a normal meal. I try to take up for him at times. I'll tell people to back off a little bit. He's done a tremendous job of dealing with it."
Being under the spotlight has caused George to become soft-spoken and shy. He doesn't enjoy doing interviews and tries to avoid discussions about his health.
Gigantism is a condition in which a tumor on the pituitary gland causes an oversecretion of growth hormone. Deceased pro wrestler Andre the Giant – who weighed more than 500 pounds – is one of the more notable athletes who was affected by gigantism.
Nike has designed a size 28 shoe just for George, who stands 7-9 in sneakers. Academic issues forced George to miss his freshman season, and he redshirted the following year because of knee problems.
After averaging just 11 minutes a game last year, George has blossomed into one of the top players for the 14-4 Bulldogs. Along with 12.4 points, George is averaging 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in only 20 minutes a game.
Even though he got dunked on by North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, George has provided plenty of YouTube highlights of his own.
George's passions include graphic design and animation, and although he'd love a career in comic books and cartoons, he's hoping his future includes a stint in the NBA.
"Can he play in the NBA? Yes," Bulldogs coach Eddie Biedenbach told the AP. "Do I think he will? He's got to stay healthy. If he stays healthy for these two years, he'll play in the NBA."
This article appeared on the Yahoo Sports website on Monday, January 21, 2008.
