May 2018 FORUM

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4 May 2018 Basketball has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I grew up in the Great State of Texas, not far from Houston where I was able to watch Rockets games in the arena then known as the “Summit.” I vividly remember witnessing Hakeem Olajuwon dominate the NBA in those years, and the pure joy the game brought to the fans and players alike. I fondly recall many times during my life when a basketball court was a refuge from whatever ailment was afflicting me. It is a sport so engrossing that you must concentrate all of your soul in it. I was especially touched when I saw Kobe Bryant’s recent Oscar winning animated short “Dear Basketball.” This film encapsulates my sorrow at the prospect of losing a longtime friend when I will no longer be able to lace up my sneakers and play – a day that, with advancing age, could be only one injury away. Please allow me a moment to weave an American historical sporting narrative, while also paying homage to basketball’s everincreasing international appeal. The game was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, while he was an instructor at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). A man of great repute, he earned no less than four Doctorates and was known variously as a physician, pastor, and athletics director. He went to war twice, once to chase Pancho Villa with General “Black Jack” Pershing at the Mexican border, and again to serve in France in World War I. Originally, the players were expected to throw the “basketball” into peach baskets. The game would then be paused after each “basket” to allow the janitor to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball to resume play. The bottoms of the baskets were removed shortly afterwards to facilitate a faster game. The game quickly developed on college campuses and became an official Olympic event in 1936. This led, in 1946, to the creation of a professional league, the National Basketball Association (NBA). The sport has always garnered international interest, but the United States has traditionally had the most talented teams. In fact, of the nineteen Olympic tournaments since 1936, U.S. CONSULATE CORNER Basketball, No Longer Strictly an American Game by James Coker II teams have won gold about 80% of the time. 80%! In the modern era, the 1992 American “Dream Team” is the platinum standard for basketball excellence, and the entire team was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. Some have even said it was the greatest team in any sport ever assembled, and it was only created to re-establish American dominance in international basketball due to increasing competition. The game is transforming. The NBA today is far from being a league made up exclusively of Americans. Almost all NBA teams have one or more international players. My favorite team, the Houston Rockets, has one of the best Brazilian players to have played in the NBA, Nenê Hilário, from São Paulo state. The alltime leading scorer in professional basketball history is also a Brazilian, Oscar Schmidt. He is the leading scorer in the Summer Olympic Games and was also inducted in the FIBA and Naismith Hall of Fames. The game has reached such global heights that the USA now has strong competitors in international tournaments. Many countries now have schools and professional leagues modeled specifically around basketball. Brazil has a professional league of its own named Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB). American universities are heavily recruiting international players. According to a 2017 study, 11% of college basketball players are foreign born, and the number of foreign born players is up 40% in the last 10 years. Universities in the United States give international players exposure to NBA, and other, league scouts. College provides a big stage that can launch a university player into professional ranks by providing a stable environment and a proven track record for professional teams to consider. International players attending universities in the US can also expose players to American culture and give them a great education in the process. I truly love this game, and avidly look forward to the approaching NBA finals. I will continue to debate my picks for top ten players and teams of all time, and also involve myself in internet discussions to predict the next NBA champion, who nowadays could hail from anywhere in the world. This is the favorite time of year for basketball lovers young and old, and I predict that this uniquely, but no longer exclusively, American sport will continue to thrive as long as there is a kid anywhere in the world in a backyard with a ball and hoop, leaning out of bounds and counting down, “3-2-1… and he wins the game!” ...just like I used to do. § To get your kid playing basketball, sign him or her up for AmSoc's Youth Sports Program. See page 15 for details! US Citizen Contacts Emergencies: (11) 3250-5373 (incarceration, detainment, evacuation, health) Non-Emergencies: (11) 3250-5000 (from 1-2pm daily) or saopauloacs@state.gov (lost passports, reparation of remains, Social Security, minor health issues) @USCitsBrazil The official U.S. Embassy Twitter account for American citizens in Brazil. The English feed features daily tips and news for the expat community. The American Society of São Paulo FORUM Newsletter
May 2018 Celebrating Easter continued from page 1 painted with different themes and artwork throughout the day. Families who wanted to get to know the city from the middle of the water reservoir were able to go for a ride on a 100-year-old boat. Yes, the SPYC still maintains a boat from the year the club was established. There is a story behind this old boat. As some of you might have noticed, Graded School is pretty old. It was established for Americans, to provide school for American families in town, at the start of the previous century. Americans came to work for U.S. companies, which along with British companies, set a landmark on the industrialization of the country. The Guarapiranga water reservoir, where SPYC is located, was designed and built by Americans to provide water for a hydroelectric power plant called Henry Borden, at the foot of the Serra do Mar on the way to Guaruja. The boat SPYC used to give our families a view of São Paulo from the center of the water reservoir was designed by one of the American engineers of the Henry Borden power plant. Right after lunch, we had the traditional Easter Egg Hunt, led by Lynda Perdigon and her volunteers. The Egg Hunt was split into three different half-hour time slots, to better accommodate the different age groups we had at the event. We are happy to say that this event was a success, and that families enjoyed the day-long event. See you for the fun next year! § Vanessa Short and her family at the Welcome table For more photos of the Easter event, visit the Photo Gallery on our website at amsoc.com.br/photo-gallery. In-depth pre- and post testing for: • Expressive Language • Mathematics • Phonology • Reading • Written Expression TREATMENT FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCES WITH IN-HOME SUPPORT Specializing in sensory cognitive treatment for Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorders, AD/HD, Learning and Communication Disorders, and Behavior Modification. Comprehensive Learning Evaluation Team Consultations include: • Identification of strengths and areas for improvement • Recommendations for follow-up treatment and/or support • Homeschooling available Dr. Wendy M. Smith Licensed Learning Specialist 55 (11) 3885.7256 [office] / 55 (11) 9.9236.5267 [mobile] The International Dyslexia Association {Provider Directory/Description of Professional Services} www.interdys.org Children & Adults with AD/HD {Resource Directory/Description of Services and Licenses} www.chadd.org American Society of São Paulo’s Welcoming Committee present New Member Coffee Wednesday, May 16 th @ 10:30am Location provided upon RSVP Come meet other new members & learn how you can get involved with AmSoc! RSVP by noon, May. 13 th welcoming@amsoc.com.br The American Society of São Paulo FORUM Newsletter 5
Page 1 and 2: May 2018 The American Society of S
Page 3: May 2018 Welcome To Our New Members
Page 7 and 8: May 2018 Remember, Honor, Celebrate
Page 9 and 10: AMSOC-CAMPINAS May 2018 Campinas Ch
Page 11 and 12: What to Bid On at theGala May 2018
Page 13 and 14: COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE May 2018
Page 15 and 16: Our kids continue to enjoy our Yout
Page 17 and 18: May 2018 Brazilian Courtesy by Ann
Page 19 and 20: May 2018 Getting on the Board & New

May 2018 FORUM

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