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With the destruction of Hurricane Katrina heavy on all our hearts I must preface this article by saying how proud I am of our NBA family. Not just the Orlando Magic Organization, but the entire league whose tireless efforts will have raised millions of dollars and helped collect countless amounts of food, clothes and other necessities for these unfortunate hurricane victims that have lost everything.

You've seen the pictures and heard the interviews and I assure you, it's every bit as bad as you think and then some. But, after having the privilege of helping out the Magic Leadership Staff, Grant and Tamia Hill, Kay Hill and other volunteers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana last week I can honestly say these people will bounce back. They're not refugees, they're not evacuees, victims or homeless people, they're our friends, family members, neighbors and colleagues and their morale is unimaginably optimistic.

We flew on that team plane with 6,000 pounds of supplies to hand out and they would have been just as happy if we'd have shown up, spent time listening to their jaw-dropping tales and then left. Just the fact that someone cared about them, let alone GRANT HILL meant the world to them. I spoke with an individual who was celebrating a birthday while we were there and said it was a perfect day because he got to meet Grant Hill. A person with no money, no car, no possessions and no HOME yet THAT'S the power that these athletes have. To see things like the Hurricane Relief Game, the NBA Wheel of Fortune and the countless other events and charitable contributions made by the NBA is overwhelming and worthy of praise. Yet every person you talk to, TO A MAN will say they've been given much more by the very people they're trying to help.

It's not just the NBA either, and it's not just athletes, it's everyday people like you and I changing the course of history by giving their money, time, clothes or whatever they can to help their fellow mankind. But let's face it! If you, me and eight guys from FedEx go play a pickup basketball game we're going to end up spending more money than we raise, so I applaud the athletes that GET IT and have given their time and money to assist the people that look up to them so greatly.

NOW, that doesn't mean we don't have the occassional knucklehead like Alan Henderson who attempts to board an airplane with a loaded gun! Now, he did agree to donate $100,000 so I'll go easy on him.......but not too easy. The last time I flew on an airplane the person in front of me at the security checkpoint actually packed lighter fluid and matches into their duffel bag. When questioned by authorities they insisted they were going on a big camping trip and they were responsible for bringing those items. Now, I don't doubt they might have been going camping, just like I don't doubt Alan Henderson might have been on his way to a skeet shooting contest, the problem is neither one of them stopped for a second and realized what they were about to do was downright idiotic. In light of events like that, Tony Allen being questioned by authorities, an arrest warrant out for Dennis Rodman, the brawl in Detroit last year it's utterly refreshing to see this positive outpouring of support.

It's even nice to see someone like Shaquille O'Neal going the extra mile and helping Miami police track down an assailant. Say what you want about Shaq, but this might be the only positive thing that can happen when you're cruising South Beach at 3AM. The outcome of this incident would have been much different if it was Dennis Rodman operating a vehicle at three in the morning. He'd be more likely to enlist help from the Coast Guard, after swimming away from his car.

Perennial malcontent Stephon Marbury is giving between $500,000 and $1 million to the effort. Kobe $100,000, Baron Davis $60,000, Blazer owner Paul Allen $1 million and the list goes on and on. I know I come down hard on Vince Carter and similar athletes who quit on their team and fans, and possess the mental toughness of a six-year-old girl, but I give credit where credit is due, and Vince is INCREDIBLE in his community of Daytona Beach. He is extremely charitable and he has no doubt lent a helping hand. The fact is, these players are all human beings no different than you or I........well......with the exception of Greg Ostertag they're all better BASKETBALL players than you or I but not better PEOPLE and it's encouraging to see their contributions

If you've already gotten involved then I applaud you and you're contributions have meant more than you'll ever know. If you haven't done so, there is still plenty of time as this will be a lengthy process and assistance is always needed. You can call 1-800-508-2848, or click on the McCormick Tribune Foundation Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign link.

Dante welcomes your comments, questions and alternative opinions. E-mail him here.

Dante’s Speak is solely the opinion of Dante Marchitelli and does not reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA. Marchitelli has served as radio producer in the Orlando Magic's Broadcast department for seven seasons.