Al Horford, His Little Brother's Big Moment And García Márquez

Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford (15) dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. The Hawks won 101-91. (Bob Leverone/AP Photo)

 

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Last week, Atlanta Hawks basketball player Al Horford was upstaged by his 8-year-old brother who quickly became an internet phenom when he appeared to be very err.. surprised by an Atlanta Hawks cheerleader on national television.

In the clip, Horford's brother is first mesmerized by the candy selection a cheerleader is offering, and then mesmerized by the cheerleader herself. Al Horford laughed off his brother's moment in the spotlight during a recent interview with Grantland. When asked if his little brother was more excited by the cheerleader or by the candy he was offered, Horford responded, "Definitely the cheerleader. That reaction was very genuine. He had no idea there was a camera. When he saw the video, he thought it was funny."

Bob Leverone/AP Photo

Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford (15) dunks during... View Full Size

Bob Leverone/AP Photo

Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford (15) dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. The Hawks won 101-91.

Horford, whose full name is Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso, was born in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and moved to Lansing, Michigan when he was just a teenager. His father, Tito Horford, was also a basketball player, and calls his son is an "ambassador for the Dominican [Republic]."Al Horford attended the University of Florida on an athletic scholarship, where he helped the Gators win two national championships. The 26-year-old is bilingual, and even wrote a Spanish-language blog for NBA.com last year.

Another favorite pastime for the Dominican center is reading books by Latin America's most famous authors, including Gabriel García Márquez. Horford said that 100 Years of Solitude is a "great book," but noted that "it's hard."

"A lot to keep up with, a lot to tie. I've read about eight or nine of his books since then. He's so detailed, and he's really visual. I didn't like the recent one [Memories of My Melancholy Whores] as much," he said.

Horford told Grantland that the books of Brazilian author Paulo Coelho are also high on his list.

"[They] have taught me the best lesson though: to make the most out of your opportunities in life."