As I mentioned earlier, Zaza Pachulia appeared on CNN yesterday afternoon to discuss the conflict going on right now between Russia and his native Georgia (to learn more about the fighting, click here). The last few days have been tough on the Hawks' big man, as he has seen his otherwise peaceful homeland ravaged by fighting that has left over 2,000 dead and many more homeless..

Pachulia, who is about as big a sports celebrity as there is in Georgia (the Republic of, not the state), has been incredibly active since fighting broke out nearly a week ago, trying to help bring about a peaceful resolution. He attended peace rallies on Sunday and Tuesday night, and has appeared on CNN twice, once on CNN International and again yesterday on the regular network.

While most of the world's attention is on the Olympics in Beijing, Pachulia calls this time "the most stressful of his life" as he tries to stay in contact with his friends and family who are half the world away.

"Because of my age," says Pachulia, "A lot of my friends are still serving in the military. I have been able to get in contact with some of them, but others I have no idea. It's scary - I just want the fighting to end. Innocent people are being killed or losing their homes, and that just can't continue."

Zaza is supposed to travel back to Georgia next week to begin playing with his national team as they try to qualify for the 2009 European championships, but now that is up in the air.

"There are more important things than basketball going on right now," said Pachulia. "I want to go home and represent my country, but we can't be playing games when we have to worry about the stadium we are playing in being bombed."

Pachulia plans to continue to do all he can to help resolve the situation, but was quick to say that politics is not his game.

"I am not trying to talk about who is wrong and who is right," he said. "The most important thing to me is that there be peace, and that the people of Georgia not have to live in fear for their lives or their homes."

Well said, Zaza. Here's to the continued safety of all of Big Z's friends, family, and countrymen, and to hoping that things come to an end over there as soon as possible.