NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England — Fabulous Flournoy, the most celebrated figure in the history of the British Basketball League, wants to learn how to swim. Bear with him: He wants to learn how to swim so he can learn how to surf so he can improve his core stability and play basketball forever.
Flournoy, the 44-year-old player-coach of the Newcastle Eagles, had his second lesson on a recent afternoon. He wore goggles and a small flotation belt as he splashed around and listened to his instructor. Flournoy never learned how to swim when he was growing up in the South Bronx.