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Interactive News by Email Hoopchat Frequently Asked Questions Next Generation in thrall to Amaechi Magic
Mark Woods visits Camp Meech
John Amaechi will be paraded in Orlando this week as basketball's latest big money signing of the summer, putting his name to a new deal with the free-spending Magic. But Britain's only NBA star has spent the past seven days taking care of business at the other end of the sporting spectrum, his hometown of Manchester hosting Amaechi's annual camp where the next generation gets its chance to mix with their basketballing hero.
Yet the 6'10" centre was not demonstrating the art of dunking or the minutiae of shooting technique to the 200 attendees. It was life, rather than basketball skills, which he offered to his enthralled audience.
"If someone else cheats, don’t cheat as well.. it makes you a loser," he admonishes to one teenage charge. Next up is a mock parade of elephants on parade, the participants hands joined together in a line to demonstrate the co-dependence of team-work.
For Amaechi, such tasks are a natural extension of his true vocation, that of
child psychologist and counsellor, a role which he enjoys performing on both sides of the Atlantic. And it is, he tells me, an opportunity to demonstrate that sport is not just about competition.
"Check your cool card is one of my themes this week," he outlines, surrounded by autograph seekers half his size. "Far too many players, or indeed owners, in British basketball, are card carrying members of the cool-card carrying club. They'd rather earn money, if possible, and look good rather than win or achieve any long term success. And that's not what we're all about here."
Amaechi has proved a thorn in the sides of basketball's authorities in the UK, a constant critic who has bemoaned the apparent lack of initiative taken to nurture fresh talent. His efforts in Manchester are centred around a former school gym which has become the epicentre of the club which he has founded.
"I am the patron of the organisation, the owner of all the teams from top to bottom," he explains. "I know who plays for the team, every detail down the planning of the new gym. I'm trying to be as instrumental as I can be.
"It's important for me to develop this kind of project, particularly when I don’t believe the governing bodies are doing a good job. I'm not willing to out my money and my effort into their schemes because they don’t work. So I'm going to do my schemes, my way."
The leading side within the programme will take their place in the NBL Super League this season, one step below Britain's equivalent of the NBA. Ironically, they have been re-named as the Manchester Magic in tandem with their overseer's other team across the Atlantic. Returning each summer to lend a hand brings Amaechi back to where he started under his first coach Joe Forber, and affords the Englishman a chance to view the results at first hand.
"We have players who are talented coming through and who are making good strides," he beams with pride. "There aren’t many programmes who have nine teams boys and girls, with the top team which have been promoted the past two years.
"We're about creating players for the future, and building a place where they can come and learn and get as good as possible. Even if they'll never play professionally. They'll have fun and remain grounded, behave with class and dignity. And that's the way it should be. That's my prerogative. If they don’t like that, and want to talk trash, they're free to move on."
That Amaechi is returning to the Magic Kingdom again was met with overt incredulity by the masses ranks of the Stateside media, accepting a one season deal worth a mere £300,000 from his present employers rather than the reputed £15 million package over four years offered by the Los Angeles Lakers.
If all goes to plan though, in 12 months time Amaechi's next contract will likely catapult him into the ranks of the UK's highest paid sportspeople. Since it was Orlando's coach Doc Rivers who took a gamble on his unheralded gifts last summer, the exiled Mancunian insists that loyalty is a debt which must be re-paid.
"I understand that as a business decision it's a poor one. There's no security guaranteed. But a year ago, only one team believed in me, one team had faith in me, one team played me, one team started me. And I'm repaying the favour."
One cruel injury this season could nonetheless leave the Briton with nothing, a risk which he concedes was a difficult one to bear.
"There's all sorts of factors which come into play. Everyone's been talking about them. Some people would like to see me get hurt, especially some British people who would love to see John Amaechi proved to be a moron. Just to have the 'told you so factor'. But there are contingencies there … I'm not an idiot.
Recognition on home soil too has finally started to occur. Last week, Amaechi was paraded in front of the Wigan rugby league fraternity while an unexpected gift was delivered from Old Trafford, a personalised number 13 shirt with the autographed good wishes of the Manchester United soccer team.
But for the kids at the camp, their adulation was earned not from status but from a few words of wisdom from their local boy done good. And that above else will make it worthwhile for the Brit in the NBA.
"It's my chance to indoctrinate them," he grins. "I get to put my personality on the camp and my philosophy on how the game should be played and how life should be lived. I like to make it clear that how you do things is equally important as winning everything or putting the ball in the hole.
"One way or the other, I'd like to think that these kids go away with some gem of something, some spark which came from someone at this camp who managed to inspire them one way or the other."
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