Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Former NBA player visits Swiss Guard basketball team

Former NBA player visits Swiss Guard basketball team

Last updated on: April 19, 2013 at 4:25 pm by CNA Daily News

Former NBA player visits Swiss Guard basketball team 2013-04-19T16:25:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Apr 19, 2013 / 10:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The former Los Angeles Lakers player Vlade Divac was thrilled to meet with the Swiss Guard to discuss sports and learn about their work at the Vatican.

“I was very excited to be here, and they have a basketball team here with very tall people,” the 7-foot, 1-inch Divac joked in the Swiss Guard's barracks.

“I also told them that if they need a coach, I can help them out,” he told CNA April 18.

It was the first time the world-famous player met with members of the Pope's protective force. He came with his wife, Ana, and a small group of participants from the TEDx Conference on Religious Freedom, which is what brought him to town.

“They do a lot of hard work to protect the people at the Vatican,” remarked Divac from his seat atop a centuries old cannon. He was taking a break after a brief tour of their facilities and armory.

One of the Swiss guards, Corporal Urs Breitenmoser, said it was “very awesome and great fun” to receive the former professional basketball player at their barracks.

The guards have a small basketball team that plays once or twice a week against teams from around Rome. Corporal Breitenmoser is their center, the same position Divac played for 16 years in the NBA.

“I’m a big basketball fan and I’ve been following the NBA since the 90s, so I have a pretty good idea of what happened at that time and who Vlade Divac was,” he said.

“So for me it was an incredible personal meeting and for him also since he got to know the Swiss guards, our history, and to see how we do our service for the Holy Father.”

Divac gave Breitenmoser and nearly a dozen other off-duty guards an impromptu lesson on the hook shot. They also talked basketball and about his career at the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, as well as his “retired” life.

Divac is in Rome to speak alongside others, including singer Gloria Estefan, graffiti artist Mohammed Ali and Soumaya Slim, museum curator and daughter of the world’s richest man.

They are participating in an event called TEDxViadellaConciliazione. The "x" in the title indicates the meeting was organized independently of the TED organization, while the last half of the title refers to the main street that leads to the Vatican, where the event was held.

The TED concept — which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design — began in 1984 and it is centered on inviting speakers to give talks on “ideas worth spreading” in 18 minutes or less.

Divac does not play for the Lakers anymore, but he is still involved in sports and is president of the Olympic Committee of Serbia, his homeland.

He now runs Humanitarian Organization Divac, a group that began helping civil war refugees and orphans find homes five years ago.

“We also work with the youth and help them achieve their dreams,” said Divac.

His foundation is currently raising money to help schools in Serbia. He hopes for the peaceful co-existence of people, regardless of religion.

“He is up there,” said Divac, “and we should do things better while we’re here.”

He mentioned that he would one day return to the Vatican and the Swiss Guard for a visit.

“They gave me a jersey with their logo, the number 21, and I promised them to give them an original jersey next time I come,” he said.

Uncategorized

Vatican

Previous Post

April 19, 2013

Pope: answering God with the heart protects against ideologies

Next Post

April 19, 2013 Knights of Columbus to help devastated Texas town

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am an offering without defect, completely burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A grain offering A peace offering A burnt offering A sin offering