Manute Bol remembered on Senate floor

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) remembered Manute Bol on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. Highlights:

"I do want to speak about the passing, the untimely passing of a giant, a giant in the heart of the Sudanese people, but also a literal giant. At 7 foot 7 inches tall, Manute Bol was a hero in his native home of Sudan, not for the fact alone that he was a pro basketball player in the United States, or for the fact that he killed a lion with a spear while he was working as a cow herder. Manute Bol was a hero because of his advocacy for his fellow countrymen, and a true, true humanitarian...

"Manute coined the idiom, the phrase 'my bad,' which quickly became the standard for the players owning up to their own errors on the court. My bad. To own up to one's own mistakes is a true measure of one's character, and it's no surprise that Manute leaves this legacy to the NBA.

'Manute had a gentle nature and an unmistakable humor. He was also a Christian, and his faith guided his advocacy for his fellow Sudanese brothers and sisters. Manute was the son of a Dinka tribal chief, and was given the name Manute, which means special blessing. Manute was indeed special, and what made him special was not his height, but his heart. Manute often returned to Sudan to visit refugee camps, and subsequently created the Ring True Foundation to assist those less fortunate than himself....

"The world needs more Manute Bols, individuals who dedicate their lives for others. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to Manute, his family, his friends and the people of Sudan."