Alex Austin
A-TRAIN For Youths in Action

	Austin had 5 assists in 132-96 win vs. Dawgs.
	Alex Austin can say, been there, done that, wrote the check. And mean it. Fresno, Arizona State, Houston, Cypress, Portugal, France, Finland, Argentina, Poland (deep breath) Grand Rapids Yakima, Columbus, Tel, Aviv and (sigh) Salt Lake City.
Alex Austin in home opener vs. Visalia Dawgs of California.		Ausing fights for 1 of his 8 rebounds of a team and league record 37 rebounds

First class planes and broken down buses, five star hotels and hole in the wall motels. Hall of Famers and never has beens, Austin has been around the world and taken a college degree and a nice jump shot and not only seen the world, but affect it.

From firt appearances, Alex is just another professional athlete, a fit, vibrant, smooth talking gazelle with a big grin and knock you off your feet charm. The proud possessor of a wicked first step and a sharp wit, Alex has made a career that most would be proud of, resting on laurels and statistics and not paying attention to anything that isnt ball related. But looking closer, you notice the coach, the business man, the intellectual, the analyzer and the community involved teacher and student of the game of basketball and life.

Austin has an annual basketball camp in Salt Lake City that takes a week of his time in theory, but its actually a daily, 365 days a week thougth process that takes Austin into the hearts and homes of many Utah teens and families, with the sole attempt of bettering all things that affect his life and theirs. Basketball. Character. Preparation. Education.

From his ability to gather those like him in accomplishing one goal on basketball courts around the world, or in some gymnasium away from the lights and perks of the game to help make some borderline prospect into a future star, Austin quite simply lives, well, for lack of better words, LIFE. His generosity and work ethic, his ability to gain followers, no matter a 26 year old all conference guard in need of that extra something to make it to THE LEAGUE, or some fresh faced youngster in need of his life experiences and stories makes him a Pied Piper to most. Even his BIG little brother, Ike Austin has a certain glow when he looks at Alex. Ike, now owner and coach of the Utah Snowbears of the ABA, trusts Alex to outwork and outprepare those that are almost half his age, and provide a map on how to be a man in any league, a professional, a player.

Two games into the new ABA season, Alex and Ike are smiling about a 2-0 start to their season. Austin is averaging nine points, four rebounds and four assists a game for the Snowbears. But the smile is only for those in private, so that those on the Utah bench dont take those wins for granted and that the kids that hes converted to the 'School of Austin" understands why he is still able to outplay the youngsters night in and night out. Alex wants them to be hungry, to show hunger and to continue living life, hungrily.

On a recent trip to Fresno for an ABA exhibition game, Alex lit up his hometown arena for a big night, and celebrated by going over the game with his son, his brother, and his parents. It always been hard to tell who is who with Alex, and in that arena full of fans and friends, they all seemed to be his sons, brothers, and family. Thats Alex Austins world, stranger or family, white or black, teen or pro. Everyone is family and life is to be lived.