Utah Jazz: Kids benefit from C.J. Miles' working vacation

SALT LAKE CITY — Despite having wide-open summers and oodles of cash, C.J. Miles isn't one to spend his millions or his spare time going on cruises, safaris or soaking up the sun on pristine beaches.

Vacations just aren't his thing.

Most of the Utah Jazz player's offseason, in fact, is spent in two places — Dallas, to visit friends and family in his hometown, and New York City, where he works out and hangs out with buddy and NFL star Ray Rice.

Miles is glad he made an exception this summer.

Dozens of underprivileged kids in Puerto Rico were also thrilled he mixed in some business with his pleasure in this part of paradise. They literally benefited from their heads to their toes from his visit.

It took him out of his typical routine, but Miles visited the Caribbean island this summer on his own dime to help put on some low-key sports camps with Rice in the projects of Puerto Rico.

The trip was good for Miles on two fronts. He got to visit a new corner of the world ("the beach was cool," he said) and had the chance to show kids living in a low-income area how to hoop it up and "that the work pays off."

Miles called it "an all-around great experience."

The non-Spanish speaker even got a kick out of working through a language barrier — something he and his group overcame with the help of translators and a snazzy English-to-Spanish app on his iPhone.

"It was cool, though. I had fun," Miles said over the phone in English without the help of any apps.

"I had no idea what anybody was saying, none spoke English. ... We still got it done."

Rice was originally the only one invited to give a camp by the Catano (County) American Football Club. Not only did the Baltimore Ravens' running back accept, but he also persuaded Miles to tag along with him (though not much arm-twisting was involved).

The organizers then thought it would be all the more beneficial for the Puerto Rican boys to have football and basketball camps, and the two professional athletes agreed and played along with their specialized sport.

"We did our own thing," Miles said. "I haven't touched a football since I was like 6, 7 years old, and Ray can't do anything on a basketball court but dunk."

Frank Quiles, the local leader of the nonprofit sports organization, described Miles as a big hit at the free hoops clinic.