During his career as a professional basketball player, Tito Horford was recognized as a great rim defender, specialist in block delivery thanks to his tall stature (7 feet, one inch) and his ability to jump.
Now based in the state of Michigan in the United States, the former national team member uses his time and energy to cover up crime and put up screens so that young people can escape the closed defenses of that social evil.
“After leaving the NBA, I went to study Criminal Justice and worked for the juvenile delinquency department in the state of Michigan. I am an employee of the Court, a kind of mentor for young people, ”he said during an interview with LISTÍN DIARIO’s sports editor in the digital meeting of Actualidad Deportiva.
Horford was the first Dominican player to play in the NBA. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (Pick 39) in the 1988 talent show. He had a brief experience, including another stop in the league in 1992 with the Washington Bullets.
“It’s a really tough job trying to get young people out of the gangs and the streets, give them guidance and advice, help them with their education and get a job when they get out of prison,” he added. add to it.
He confesses that his stature has helped him instill “respect, not fear” in the young people he works with, who call him “Mr. Horford,” as things get difficult at times. One of his associates is Larry Johnson, brother of that state’s famous former resident, Magic Johnson.
“I think I’ve worked with hundreds of young people over the years (10). We have a school, they live there until they serve their sentence. If it is a serious crime after the age of 18, they are sent to prison, they have to go where the adults are, ”he says.
Tito, who speaks and understands some Portuguese in addition to Spanish and English, previously worked for refugee services with people from Kosovo, Cuba and other countries, as well as an interpreter for the state court.
Al case
Regarding the Oklahoma City Thunder’s decision not to use the services of his son Al during the NBA season, he said it is a privilege of the team and that it follows a policy to increase its chances of the game. next draft.
“They see that they don’t qualify, they can get a better player in the draw lottery and they want to see the development of the young people in their team. Trevor Ariza was paid while he was at home and George Hill was changed after he was injured, ”explains Tito.
He said Al has calmly accepted the situation as he has received professional treatment from the team.
Al, who has two years and $ 53 million left from the four-year $ 109 million contract he signed with the Philadelphia Sixers a few years ago, hopes he can be transferred to a more competitive team in the summer.
“I had a good season in terms of health, but they have a right to do things like that, like what happened in the cases of Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge,” recalls Tito.
However, the latter players opted for a contract buying move to move from the Cavaliers to the Lakers (Drummond), the Pistons (Griffin) and the Spurs (Aldridge) to the Nets.
“Although he is a competitor, he likes to be in action, but in this case he has no control. You just have to listen and do what you have to do. Stay vigilant, don’t lose focus and keep practicing, ”added Tito.
Evolution of sports
Despite being picked in the second round, the Bucks secured him a three-year contract of $ 700,000, which was good money at the time.
“It was a beautiful experience. It was a more physical game, half court. The game has evolved, today’s players are more versatile and throw three up to 2 meters. In my time it was stronger, we had to travel on commercial planes,” not with private planes like now, ”he said.