Apr10
Vegan Hawks Player Salim Stoudamire
Posted at 04:44 PM | Permalink
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Comments (15)
There's a great interview in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution with Atlanta Hawks Guard Salim Stoudamire about why he went vegan. The interview's been doing the rounds of the basketball blogosphere, and I came across a nice little piece about it today in one of my favorite basketball blogs, True Hoop, which you can read here. In the interview, Salim talks about the health benefits he's experienced since switching to a vegan diet, but I was excited to see that he had a little shout out for the animals he's helping out with his diet too:
"I don't think you should eat something that had a mother. I don't think that's right."
It's always great to see professional athletes talking about veganism, because they're great examples to point to when people have questions about whether a vegan diet is healthy. As Salim says, "My endurance has gone up, and I haven't gotten tired at all during the whole season." Which is a pretty ringing endorsement if you ask me—as is this little move he puts on the Grizzlies' Mike Miller. That's what you get when you try to take a take a vegan to the hole, Grizzlies. Salim, you're a badass.
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Comments
My new favourite (Canadian spelling) NBA player! If you guys don't know about Scott Jurek or Ruth Heidrich, you have got to research those vegan athletes.
They are amazing!
Posted by: Mike | April 10, 2007 08:13 PM
Okay so I have something to say about this. I used to work at The Air Canada Centre and helped feed the Toronto Raptors and when other teams visited we made them food as well. You should have seen what they ate. Absolute garbage! Chicken fingers and fries, whole pizzas etc. I made my transition to Veggie while working the grill in a steakhouse there. It always made me wonder if there was a Vegetarian Basketball player in the NBA? Thank you Jack for pointing out Salim. Maybe he could use a personal chef? hmmmmmmm
Posted by: doug | April 10, 2007 09:04 PM
he is going to become less of an athlete because of the lack of protein in his diet. morals or not, facts are facts
Posted by: Coach | April 10, 2007 11:56 PM
Um, Doug (see post April 10, 2007 9:04PM)... what makes you think dietary protein comes ONLY from animals?
Posted by: Chicago Gal | April 11, 2007 10:30 AM
the best source of protein is through animal products. the proein content in nuts, beans, soy products, etc. is adequate for most people, but not for professional athletes.
Posted by: Phillip | April 11, 2007 11:30 AM
one of the greatest athletes of all times is vegan: carl lewis and also the founders of the different martial arts traditions issue from purely vegetarian buddhist and hindu societies - till nowadays - bruce lee, jet li, jean-claude vandamme, jackie chan etc. are all vegetarians!
Posted by: nino capula | April 11, 2007 01:01 PM
So Salim Stoudamire was one of our Arizona college basketball stars a few years ago. Just sayin'. I'm kinda proud of us Arizona kids.
Posted by: Hillary | April 11, 2007 02:36 PM
I am so surprised at all these negative posts about animal protein. So many misinformed people.
Please go to http://veganfitness.net/
Best fitness website ever!!!!!
Posted by: doug | April 11, 2007 04:15 PM
It is a MYTH that plant-based proteins are not complete. Soy protein is a complete protein. Soybeans contain all the amino acids essential to human nutrition, which must be supplied in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. What makes soy protein far superior to meat is the lack (or lower levels) of fat, cholesterol, and lactose. Soy protein is an excellent way to get non-animal protein in your diet.
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 11, 2007 04:34 PM
Coach,
Wiki the two athletes I mentioned in the top post---Scott Jurek and Ruth Heidrich. Then explain to me why these two vegans are "less of an athlete".
Posted by: Mike | April 11, 2007 09:35 PM
Hemp protein is also a complete protein. We dont only have to rely on soy for our amino acids.
Posted by: doug | April 11, 2007 11:21 PM
Doug,
Don't forget quinoa, which you can buy at the Bulk Barn in Toronto.
Posted by: Mike | April 13, 2007 12:26 PM
NBA basketballs are made of leather.
Posted by: Celery Stick | June 22, 2007 01:18 PM
I don't think we have to worry about the guys eating the Basketballs LOL!
Some strict vegans will avoid animal products in everything they use and wear. Others are vegans in the sense that they do not consume any animal products.
Posted by: Lucy | July 23, 2008 06:47 PM
Vegan basketball player... The NBA uses a LEATHER ball...
Posted by: Paul | November 13, 2008 08:46 AM