"Seven words nearly ruined his life.

Seven stinking words.

"Hey, Dikembe, you look like a monkey!"

"I never knew seven words could lead to so much ugliness," says Hooman Hamzehloui.

You probably don't recognize the name; you just know him as the racist fan who was banned by the NBA and the Orlando Magic for a full season after a heckling incident two years ago.

This is a story about how the worst night of Hooman's life turned into the best thing that ever happened to him. It's a story about how his heckling and harassing words turned into inspirational and invigorating ones. It's a story my old high school coach would have loved because he used to tell us this about the game of football and the game of life: "You're going to fall. Just make sure you fall forward."

Hooman has certainly done that since the transcendent moment in October 2006 when he transformed from obnoxious heckler into a motivational speaker.

Two years ago, Hooman owned a big-time real estate company, four luxury cars and an opulent home in a gated Windermere community. He was high-rolling Magic fan, held in such high regard by the team that he was chosen to host a season-ticket selling party for other well-heeled corporate types. Magic players and officials attended the party.

"One of the greatest nights I can ever remember," he says.

Just 24 hours later, he would endure the worst night he could ever imagine. He attended the Magic's home game against Houston and sat in his usual seats on the front row right by where the visiting team comes onto the court.

He says he never drank or cursed at games, but he was a master heckler who always peppered opposing players with derisive nicknames. When Atlanta's Josh Childress would come to town, Hooman always called him "Urkel" because of his resemblance to the geeky '80s sitcom character. And when there were dead times during games, fans around him would urge Hooman to stand up and start his heckling act.

Like so many sports zealots, being a wacko fan became his alter-ego, his release, his fix. But everybody knows a fix can destroy you if you don't control it.

"Hey, Dikembe, you look like a monkey!"

When those seven words came out, everything changed. In two seconds, he went from good-natured heckler to hate-filled racist. Dikembe Mutombo, a 7-foot-2 black man from the Congo, gave Hooman the finger and had to be restrained."