. >>> and former nba great adrian dantley joining us live.es after taking a new job as a school crossing guard. he'll tell us why. >>> a notorious anti-gay church in kansas gets a new neighbor, a rainbow-colored neighbor. is there enough room for both on the same street? it's 8:00 a.m. in the east and "starting point" begins right now. >>> our team this morning is katherine rossman and chris, great to see you here. >> let's start with president obama at the start of a historic middle east visit. there's a new sense of urgency because there are mounting concerns that the syrian government may be using chemical weapons on its own people. listen to congressman mike rogers. this is in the situation roof last night with wolf blitzer. >> i have a high probability to believe that chemical weapons were used. we need that final verification. we need to step up in the world community to prevent a humanitarian disaster. >> let's bring in our john king right now, chief national correspondent traveling with the president. good morning, john. >> reporter:

. >> reporter: 58-year-old adrian dantley who now uses a whistle -- >> dantley draws the foul. >> reporternty of whistles during his 15-year pro career. the washington d.c. high school phenom became an all-american at notre dame. during his pro days, the 6'5" dantley made north of $1 million a year. as a county crossing guard, less than 15 grand a year. but then, for dantley, whose friends will tell you he is frugal and has a net worth well into seven figures, this is not about the money. >> basically i did it just to be around the kids. >> dantley will try to break an 11-1 -- >> reporter: his nba days as a player and coach has paid off. look at this, he appears to be playing defense as he fends off cars on the street. more than once, those long, sweeping arms have been life savers. >> i saved two kids' lives. >> reporter: this job has meaning? >> it has meaning. and i feel like i'm doing something, helping the community. it's all about the kids. >> reporter: dantley says for the next 20 years -- >> reporter: you'll find him in the crosswalk. david kerley, abc news, silver spring, maryland

>>> adrian dantley won the scoring title twice and six-time all-star. in 2008, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame but these days he's playing defense against cars. >> i was in the weight room one day and guys were in there talking. they say they like to do some things for some kids. maybe one hour a day. one guy said my wife is a crossing guard. i said that would be a good job for me. i can stay busy, spend time with the kids. do something for the community and that's why i'm here. >> he's also making a smart play. he qualifies for the county's health insurance benefits. one hour a day, five hours a week and he gets the summer off. this year it's saving him a lot of money he told me. >> well, you know, in the nba, in the nba even though you make a lot of money, they don't pay for your health premiums and me watching the news and business and the premiums goes up every year and i joke with people, i told my wife, you know what? i don't care how much money that people might think i might have, i'm not going to spend $17,000 on health insuran

. >> off this former nba player was a hall of famer adrian dantley . >> yes he is from washington d.c is a great story because this guy i do not care how many points i score how much money i make i want to do something and i'm going to do it. >> he is a crossing guard. he said because of health benefits which is huge. and he wants to pass the time. we have got a former pro athlete not as a crossing guard. >> he is big. he is tall and is very sociable with the kids. i love him. >> i admired anybody that can put their ego aside. you have not read anything like he is down on his luck. >> no. he says is not need the money he wants to help. he wants something to do all they. >> that is critical. >> if not all they only a couple hours. >> he does get health benefits what's more >> if yes because you are considered a full-time employee. >> the average light 24 points a game. he was one of those big stars that you probably never heard of. he was really good. when i saw that i said good for him. >> i know, i know, i know this is a really important job. it is a big deal. it really is. >> if is