Meet the vegan who plays for the Atlanta Hawks

[pigpickle]

In June, Atlanta Hawks guard Salim Stoudamire abandoned his diet of junk food and animal-based foods to become the Hawks' only vegan player. (Vegans typically only eat food from plants — fruits, vegetables, legumes , grains, seeds and nuts.) So when team chef Bradley Rouse cooks turkey chili or Cajun catfish for the rest of the team, Stoudamire gets grilled tofu and quinoa (a high-protein grain).

Stoudamire recently sat down to talk about being a vegan in a sport dominated by carnivores.



Q: Why did you become a vegan?

A: I've always wanted to be one because of health, but I never wanted to go eat by myself or have people talk about me. But I finally reached a point where I just didn't care what other people thought, and I didn't have a problem with eating alone.


Q: None of your teammates goes with you?

A: They don't eat like I do. They look at my food and are disgusted. like, what's that, what's that?


Q: Did you lose weight after you became a vegan?

A: I lost 3 pounds, and I'm in better condition. My endurance has gone up, and I haven't gotten tired at all during the whole season.


Q: So this wasn't prompted by animal rights?

A: Sort of. I don't think you should eat something that had a mother. I don't think that's right.


Q: The Hawks Media Guide says your favorite food is macaroni and cheese. Explain.

A: It used to be! Not anymore.


Q: What's your favorite food now?

A: My favorite dish is brown rice with steamed vegetables and tofu.


Q: What would you say if I told you Philips Arena sells excellent hot dogs?

A: No — that's disgusting to me.


Q: I have a list of famous vegans for you: Prince ...

A: Prince is a vegan?


Q: Yes! Gwyneth Paltrow, Andre 3000, Pamela Anderson.

A: Pamela Anderson's a vegan? I don't believe that!


Q: It's true! She's a PETA spokeswoman. ... How are you on dates? Do you have to tell your date not to order the Buffalo wings?

A: I have a girlfriend. ... She'll go to vegan restaurants with me. She's into it. She'll be converted one day.


Q: Vegan restaurant in Atlanta where we're most likely to see Salim Stoudamire?

A: Soul Vegetarian!


Q: How do you feel about the NBA's return to the leather ball?

A: I like that ball because I grew up with that ball.



http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2007/04/04/0405lvVEGAN.html

[NightWatcher]

1. "Plays" and "Atlanta Hawks" dont really belong in the same sentence

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. Masta Killa from Wu-Tang Clan is a vegan, too.

http://www.peta2.com/outthere/o-mastakilla.asp

[LeftyMom]

3. Thanks for posting that!

:)

[flvegan]

4. I like his high road approach.

His life, his terms. The ball is leather, but that's cool.

Good post, thanks!

[Poiuyt]

5. Bill Walton was a vegan, but I heard he gave it up because he was running out of energy

On the other hand, I've heard of other athletes who were vegans, so take your pick.