ATHENS - He went to Iraq to kill bugs. The Coalition contracted Maurice "Termite" Watkins - and you really gotta love a guy who calls himself Termite - to rid their troops' compounds of scorpions and snakes.

What Termite did next is either the ultimate in feelgood or a modern reworking of Paul Bunyan. Maybe it's a little of both.

Termite is an American from Houston who is coaching the Iraqi Olympic boxing team. Actually, he's coaching one of the 24 boxers he trained for the past nine months. Only light flyweight Najah Ali emerged victorious from the pre-Olympic trials.

Regardless, any Iraqi in any Olympic sport is a little miracle. And it was Termite Watkins who got him here. "The greatest adventure of my life" is Termite's take on it.

Some of what Termite says no doubt is true. How much is true is a matter of personal cynicism. Just bear this in mind: Termite was a professional boxer (58-5-2, 45 knockouts) and a car salesman. Believe what you want.

Termite says in 18 months in Iraq, he rescued two people from death when the car in which they were riding flipped over and burst into flames. He says he was blown from his bed by a mortar in Baghdad. He says he was staying on the 10th floor of a Baghdad hotel when a rocket-propelled grenade hit the 13th floor.

Termite has been contacted by four people eager to make a movie of his life, he says.

At least they won't have to be creative.

There is no doubting Termite is the coach of the Iraqi boxing team-of-one, though.

Because there Termite is, wearing Iraqi team shorts and a T-shirt bearing the words, Iraqisport.com.

Here's how it happened:

In January 2003, a friend asked him if he'd be interested in going to Iraq to kill pests. Termite's father runs a pest-control company in Houston - how did you think he got the nickname?

Termite agreed. He relayed the information to his wife of 25 years, Sharla. "Honey, I think I'm gonna go to Iraq," he said.

"I think not," she said.

"I think it's a calling from God," Termite said.

Sharla cupped her ear with her hand. "I don't hear it," she said. "What I hear is your family that needs you here."

Termite was in Iraq on April 3. Callings can't go unheeded.

He started training a British colonel named Stephen Bruce. Termite's disciples grew to 30 people. He'd spend his mornings working out and his afternoons on bug patrol all over southern Iraq. Six months into it, Termite says he was approached by one Mike Gfoeller, who he says was helping direct the Coalition's effort in Iraq.

"What are our chances of putting together a boxing team in Iraq, and getting it qualified for the Olympics?" Gfoeller asked. Gfoeller figured it would be a morale boost for the locals, and help improve the Coalition's image.

"One in a million," Termite said.

"Great," Gfoeller said. "All we need is the one."

The first thing Termite asked for was money. He got it from some of the millions seized from the ample personal treasury of Saddam Hussein. Then he needed bodies. "We went straight to Baghdad," Termite said. "All the fighters go to Baghdad."

He ended up with 24 fighters. The first day he saw them, they had torn boxing gloves and no headgear. Only half had shoes. The first day of practice, Termite saw nothing but unsmiling faces. He started chanting and dancing around what passed for a gym. "Iraq is back," he yelled, a few times. He made the boxers do it as well.

They began to smile, if only because they thought this Termite person was certifiable.

"I promise you we will have an Olympic program," Termite told them. A little guy named Najah Ali walked up to him and said, "Mister Termite, I will be going to the Olympics."

That was 10 months ago. Termite used Saddam's money to buy equipment and send his team to train all over the world. They worked for six weeks with the U.S. team. Now, Termite is here, with his one-man team, Najah Ali. Only in America. And Iraq.

"The Iraqi people have the biggest hearts," Termite said.

They call him Mister Termite. Or Abdullah Termite Hussein: Special person sent by God. Really. "What you hear on TV is only 10 percent of what goes on in Iraq," Termite said. "Ninety percent is fantastic. Kids are going to school. Buildings are being built. There are new jobs."

And the Iraqis are back at the Olympics, without fear. Termite's protÈgÈ Ali will emigrate to Houston, where he has been accepted in the University of Houston's master's program. Ali wants an advanced degree in computer science.

And that's Termite's story, coming to a big screen near you.

Postscipt: Najah Ali won his first-round bout Wednesday, 21-7 over North Korea's Kwak Hyok Ju.

E-mail pdaugherty@enquirer.com