WEBVTT - Historical Records: Bill Russell (feat. Jalen Rose) 0:00:00.520 --> 0:00:01.480 Good people, good people. 0:00:01.480 --> 0:00:01.800 Hello. 0:00:01.960 --> 0:00:05.040 This is Questlove and in honor of Black History Month, 0:00:05.080 --> 0:00:09.480 when Fridays, we'll be releasing episodes of Historical Records, my 0:00:09.720 --> 0:00:13.079 podcast with the story Pirates. It's an explosive fusion of 0:00:13.160 --> 0:00:16.599 hip hop and history, tailor made for music loving kids 0:00:16.880 --> 0:00:21.000 and families. Yes, something for the entire family that you 0:00:21.000 --> 0:00:24.239 can listen to and enjoy it together all right now. 0:00:24.239 --> 0:00:27.319 In today's episode, Lemonie finds out what it takes to 0:00:27.360 --> 0:00:32.000 win eleven NBA championships and to play a meaningful role 0:00:32.120 --> 0:00:35.400 in the civil rights movement. You'll hear a brand new 0:00:35.520 --> 0:00:39.760 hip hop track about Bill Russell, the legendary player coach 0:00:40.360 --> 0:00:44.040 of the Boston Celtics, and a great interview between former 0:00:44.159 --> 0:00:47.880 NBA star Jalen Rose and a fourteen year old basketball 0:00:47.920 --> 0:00:54.040 fan from Detroit named Messiah. So get your kids, sit 0:00:54.120 --> 0:00:58.440 back and enjoy Historical Records, the show that proves that 0:00:58.520 --> 0:01:01.320 in order to make history, you have to make some noise. 0:01:07.280 --> 0:01:11.000 We're sorry, the number you have died out has been disconnected, 0:01:11.120 --> 0:01:12.320 and it's all your. 0:01:12.120 --> 0:01:15.120 Fault, my fault. How is it my fault? 0:01:15.360 --> 0:01:18.600 It's certainly not my fault, so it must be yours. 0:01:19.000 --> 0:01:21.800 That concludes this pre recorded message. 0:01:23.120 --> 0:01:25.440 Nothing in this lab ever works for me. 0:01:25.800 --> 0:01:27.880 And it's not like I can call anybody to fix 0:01:27.880 --> 0:01:32.800 anything when the phones are always broken and exploding. 0:01:33.319 --> 0:01:37.600 The phones are always exploding. You know what, I've had 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:38.119 it with this. 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:40.679 I'm the one that has to live in a secret 0:01:40.760 --> 0:01:45.720 underground bunker slash laboratory with harsh lighting, leaky pipes, and 0:01:45.920 --> 0:01:51.200 that phantom train sound. There are no train tracks four 0:01:51.440 --> 0:01:54.040 miles where is that coming from? 0:01:54.080 --> 0:01:54.520 That's it. 0:01:54.640 --> 0:01:57.760 I'm taking it upon myself to fix every single thing 0:01:57.920 --> 0:01:59.000 wrong with this place. 0:01:59.360 --> 0:02:02.520 This whole lab is getting nemified. 0:02:02.800 --> 0:02:08.560 Or niminy, fine, maybe maybe nimificient. You know what, Naming 0:02:08.600 --> 0:02:09.960 things isn't my strong suit. 0:02:10.200 --> 0:02:12.680 This whole place is getting the neckover. 0:02:16.480 --> 0:02:19.440 It's historical records. 0:02:19.960 --> 0:02:23.120 You are now listening to historical. 0:02:24.120 --> 0:02:27.160 To make history, you got to have struggles to make history. 0:02:27.280 --> 0:02:30.119 You got to show poise. Cannot be quiet loud, that's 0:02:30.160 --> 0:02:33.160 the riot to make history. You gotta make some noise. 0:02:40.000 --> 0:02:43.520 Welcome back to Historical Records, the show where I dig 0:02:43.520 --> 0:02:48.120 into the historical records in order to produce historically themed records, 0:02:48.360 --> 0:02:51.560 which are like digital music files, except you can accidentally 0:02:51.600 --> 0:02:52.960 spill your drink on them. 0:02:53.120 --> 0:02:54.359 Today's episode is. 0:02:54.320 --> 0:02:59.280 All about legendary basketball icon Bill Russell. But before we 0:02:59.320 --> 0:03:04.560 get to mister Russell and his eleven championship rings, I'm 0:03:04.600 --> 0:03:09.000 just putting the finishing touches on my own personal modifications 0:03:09.120 --> 0:03:12.320 to the laboratory phone lines. All it took was sixty 0:03:12.360 --> 0:03:16.280 four empty soup cans, thirty two discarded piano wires, and 0:03:16.320 --> 0:03:20.679 sixteen milliliters of excess elbow grease. I should really see 0:03:20.680 --> 0:03:24.200 an elbow doctor. But before that, let's try making a call. 0:03:30.960 --> 0:03:33.959 Hello, this is Lee, resident historian Lee. 0:03:34.360 --> 0:03:38.600 It's Niminy from work. Looks like the phones are finally working. 0:03:38.840 --> 0:03:42.000 Oh, so this is a phone. I was wondering why 0:03:42.000 --> 0:03:44.280 the empty soup can in my room was ringing and 0:03:44.320 --> 0:03:47.400 why a my soup disappeared. What's up? I didn't think 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:49.080 I was in the Bill Russell episode. 0:03:49.200 --> 0:03:50.880 Oh you're not. You're just in this part. 0:03:51.120 --> 0:03:54.160 Oh okay. I'm always happy to get some nice meaty 0:03:54.280 --> 0:03:57.520 limes or should I say soup bee lime. 0:03:58.880 --> 0:04:00.600 That's enough for now. Next week. 0:04:03.200 --> 0:04:07.040 Ah, With all my modifications, this place is really starting 0:04:07.080 --> 0:04:08.839 to feel like a bunker of my very own. 0:04:09.120 --> 0:04:11.120 I've got the soupcan phones. 0:04:10.840 --> 0:04:14.720 The neminy neon ambient Lenny, and I've even got custom. 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:16.760 Stickers with my name on it, sticker Slab. 0:04:17.640 --> 0:04:19.960 I don't even mind the fact that all these stickers 0:04:20.000 --> 0:04:26.160 say historical records with memony instead of niminy. The important 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:28.440 thing is that the laboratory isn't falling apart anymore. 0:04:30.760 --> 0:04:34.240 Laboratory helf destruct sequence start the vide. 0:04:34.080 --> 0:04:37.479 Self destruct start a fine no. 0:04:38.040 --> 0:04:51.360 Time to hit the emergency override shutdown hammer smash. 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:49.560 Laboratories helf destruct sequence. 0:04:49.160 --> 0:04:52.040 Stop robot voice. What was that? 0:04:52.880 --> 0:04:54.839 Na a new word? 0:04:54.960 --> 0:05:00.880 I'm crying out miminy, It's nemony with an not. 0:05:01.000 --> 0:05:06.680 According to these unauthorized stickers, your modifications to the laboratory 0:05:06.720 --> 0:05:09.360 have resulted in eleven code violations. 0:05:09.600 --> 0:05:12.560 Since when do you care so much about code violations? 0:05:12.880 --> 0:05:17.200 The year was nineteen ninety two, acid wash genes and 0:05:17.320 --> 0:05:18.159 grunge music. 0:05:18.240 --> 0:05:21.800 Where all the rage I'm meant in the context of 0:05:21.839 --> 0:05:24.360 what's happening now understood. 0:05:24.760 --> 0:05:29.360 Every secret laboratory is highly regulated by the Secret Laboratory 0:05:29.400 --> 0:05:35.040 Owners Association or SLOW for short. Their strict codes must 0:05:35.080 --> 0:05:38.920 be followed as the quarterly inspection will soon be conducted. 0:05:39.360 --> 0:05:43.279 Point of clarification, the quarterly inspection is different than the 0:05:43.400 --> 0:05:47.000 quarter inspection, where they make sure that US quarters in 0:05:47.120 --> 0:05:50.200 every laboratory are organized by stage. 0:05:50.520 --> 0:05:52.240 My quarters are organized by year. 0:05:52.680 --> 0:05:57.280 Additional code violation, I advise you to correct all violations 0:05:57.320 --> 0:05:58.359 before the inspection. 0:05:58.920 --> 0:06:01.440 My improvements code violations. 0:06:01.680 --> 0:06:06.599 Improvements benefit all of us. Besides, this whole place was 0:06:06.600 --> 0:06:08.839 falling apart and I was the only one willing to 0:06:08.880 --> 0:06:09.880 do anything about it. 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:12.360 SLOA would have just let the place break down. 0:06:12.760 --> 0:06:16.320 I am not permitted to agree, as Sloa's codes are 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:18.040 embedded in my programming. 0:06:18.440 --> 0:06:22.560 And if SLOA finds out what's the worst that could happen. 0:06:22.520 --> 0:06:26.839 They will overtake our sound system and play NonStop talk radio. 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:29.440 That's not so bad, I kind of like talking. 0:06:29.800 --> 0:06:34.040 The entire combination bunker slash laboratory will self destruct. 0:06:35.000 --> 0:06:35.880 That's terrible. 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:36.800 Agreed. 0:06:37.320 --> 0:06:40.120 Oh okay, I hear you loud and clear. 0:06:40.440 --> 0:06:43.039 I'll start in the library. Why don't you work on 0:06:43.120 --> 0:06:44.680 removing the stickers. 0:06:44.480 --> 0:06:49.280 Affirmative blowing, sticker feeling fingernails. 0:06:49.760 --> 0:06:50.839 Ew. 0:06:51.279 --> 0:06:54.279 I don't even know how to describe what I'm seeing 0:06:54.360 --> 0:06:54.920 right now. 0:06:55.160 --> 0:06:57.080 I thought you wanted my help. 0:06:57.279 --> 0:07:02.960 Gotta go, Gabe, open up the library. 0:07:03.000 --> 0:07:07.960 It's me, Hey, niminy, it's Gabe Resident historian. 0:07:08.200 --> 0:07:10.840 Weird Lise said that earlier too. 0:07:11.320 --> 0:07:12.840 Really who said it better? 0:07:13.160 --> 0:07:15.480 I don't care? I know who both of you are. 0:07:15.840 --> 0:07:19.280 Let me in, sure, come on in. Hey did the 0:07:19.280 --> 0:07:20.760 power go out for you a little while ago? 0:07:21.120 --> 0:07:24.440 Yeah, but it wasn't my fault. Look, we've got a problem. 0:07:24.720 --> 0:07:27.400 Can robot voice hear anything we say in here? 0:07:27.600 --> 0:07:29.120 No? Nobody can hear anything. 0:07:29.320 --> 0:07:31.600 I've been calling out for a glass of orange juice 0:07:31.600 --> 0:07:34.520 for hours and you're holding a glass of apple juice. 0:07:34.600 --> 0:07:35.920 I mean I'll still drink it. 0:07:36.000 --> 0:07:36.240 Oop. 0:07:37.000 --> 0:07:38.680 Sorry that was just for me. 0:07:39.600 --> 0:07:41.120 I'm thirsty, not me. 0:07:41.480 --> 0:07:43.920 I just had apple juice. We have to get out 0:07:43.960 --> 0:07:44.240 of here. 0:07:44.640 --> 0:07:47.360 Robot wants me to undo all the improvements I've made 0:07:47.400 --> 0:07:50.840 to the lab just because the Secret Laboratory Owners Association 0:07:51.000 --> 0:07:52.920 doesn't like the way I organize my corners. 0:07:53.320 --> 0:07:55.080 You don't organize them by state. 0:07:55.480 --> 0:07:57.280 I organize them by year. 0:07:57.880 --> 0:07:58.040 Uh. 0:07:58.640 --> 0:08:02.240 Maybe it's not even worth a fight. What do you think? 0:08:02.520 --> 0:08:04.960 I think the way you organize your quarters is insane. 0:08:05.520 --> 0:08:07.520 But I also think it's important for you to fight 0:08:07.600 --> 0:08:10.360 for what you believe in. You know there's someone whose 0:08:10.360 --> 0:08:11.840 story might be able to help. 0:08:12.080 --> 0:08:14.000 I bet making a track about him will help you 0:08:14.040 --> 0:08:15.440 see things more clearly. 0:08:15.760 --> 0:08:17.160 That's a great idea. 0:08:17.720 --> 0:08:22.200 Let's get in the history simulator, which, uh where is it? 0:08:22.320 --> 0:08:23.520 Did you move it or something? 0:08:23.760 --> 0:08:26.840 I made it a little bit more portable this time around. Here, 0:08:26.960 --> 0:08:27.880 put on this poncho. 0:08:28.160 --> 0:08:33.400 Okay, hey, this is pretty comfortable as far as history 0:08:33.440 --> 0:08:34.320 simulators go. 0:08:34.760 --> 0:08:36.439 You've really outdone yourself. 0:08:36.720 --> 0:08:37.640 Oh that's not it. 0:08:37.880 --> 0:08:41.400 The new History simulator is a large cooler of electrolyte 0:08:41.400 --> 0:08:45.280 infused sports drink Kraco Raid. It works by pouring it 0:08:45.360 --> 0:08:48.800 all over ourselves. The poncho should help keep you mostly dry. 0:08:49.160 --> 0:08:51.640 Is it too late to get Lee to help me instead? 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:56.000 It's way too late. Sports drinks simulate history, Kroco Go. 0:09:02.200 --> 0:09:04.920 Well, folks, things are heating up here in this nineteen 0:09:05.040 --> 0:09:07.440 sixty nine NBA Championship Series. 0:09:07.600 --> 0:09:09.199 But what else would you expect from. 0:09:09.080 --> 0:09:12.439 Game seven of this heated matchup between the Los Angeles 0:09:12.520 --> 0:09:15.840 Lakers and the Boston Celtics. I'm calling it now. 0:09:16.280 --> 0:09:18.640 This will be a game that goes down in history. 0:09:18.920 --> 0:09:21.400 Gabe, what are you doing announcing the game? You might 0:09:21.440 --> 0:09:23.440 mess up the time stream or something. 0:09:23.720 --> 0:09:27.000 This is a history simulator, not a time machine. 0:09:27.120 --> 0:09:32.200 Let's have some fun here. Get on the mic, Uh. 0:09:32.400 --> 0:09:35.240 That one guy on the yellow team has the ball, 0:09:35.520 --> 0:09:36.600 Wilt Chamberlain. 0:09:36.920 --> 0:09:40.600 Yeah him, and now he's dropping towards the roop. 0:09:41.000 --> 0:09:43.960 He's pulling up to shoot and bow. 0:09:44.440 --> 0:09:48.720 He just got to not by u bye, by the 0:09:48.760 --> 0:09:51.720 heart of that stout Boston defense and the man that 0:09:51.760 --> 0:09:55.319 we both came here to watch, Bill Russell. O. 0:09:55.920 --> 0:09:57.600 Big ups to Bill Russels. 0:09:57.720 --> 0:10:00.720 Oh, his coach is gonna love that hustle fun bit 0:10:00.760 --> 0:10:01.320 of trivia. 0:10:01.559 --> 0:10:05.000 He is the coach who is Bill Russell, the same 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:06.240 one who's playing. 0:10:06.240 --> 0:10:07.240 That's right partner. 0:10:07.400 --> 0:10:10.439 He's a player and the head coach, the first black 0:10:10.440 --> 0:10:13.280 head coach of a major American sports league. 0:10:13.960 --> 0:10:18.520 Oooh, A never strong block from the head coach, Bill Russell. 0:10:18.880 --> 0:10:21.679 How can you not like that imposing style of defense? 0:10:22.160 --> 0:10:24.040 Not everyone always saw it that way. 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:26.440 Back when he was still playing college ball at the 0:10:26.520 --> 0:10:29.520 University of San Francisco, his coach has tried to change 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:32.680 the way he played. Defenders were supposed to stay planted 0:10:32.840 --> 0:10:36.000 and never leave their feet, but he had amazing quickness 0:10:36.000 --> 0:10:38.560 for leaping ability, especially for a center. 0:10:38.960 --> 0:10:41.960 I think it's safe to say he ignored that advice. 0:10:42.280 --> 0:10:44.400 Oh, he knew it worked for him, so he kept 0:10:44.480 --> 0:10:48.400 watching other players footwork, adjusted and improved his own defense 0:10:48.440 --> 0:10:51.880 to create something entirely new, kind of like my history 0:10:51.920 --> 0:10:53.280 simulator system. 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:55.600 That could still use a little more improvement. 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:58.839 I don't see how ponchos and gallons of croco raid 0:10:58.920 --> 0:10:59.960 have gotten us this far. 0:11:00.400 --> 0:11:04.680 Bill Russell's belief in his own game really changed everyone's game. 0:11:04.840 --> 0:11:05.080 Hump. 0:11:05.400 --> 0:11:09.800 He was so dominant the NCAA even changed the rules today. 0:11:10.480 --> 0:11:12.920 When you're that good, who's gonna stop you? 0:11:13.360 --> 0:11:14.880 Certainly not these Lakers. 0:11:15.000 --> 0:11:18.720 Bill Russell's about to take down his greatest rival, Wilt Chamberlain, 0:11:18.800 --> 0:11:22.880 to win his eleven championship. I know that's not what 0:11:22.960 --> 0:11:25.720 this LA crop wants to hear, but where will the future? 0:11:25.800 --> 0:11:29.880 So deal with it. The eighties will be much better 0:11:29.960 --> 0:11:30.560 Laker Nation. 0:11:31.160 --> 0:11:33.560 Bill Russell's life was about to be much more than 0:11:33.640 --> 0:11:34.839 just basketball, though. 0:11:35.120 --> 0:11:37.959 Let's take a look, niminy. Hold your breath? 0:11:38.280 --> 0:11:38.600 Huh? 0:11:38.720 --> 0:11:47.160 Why would I need to hold my breath? Broaco, go blah. 0:11:47.320 --> 0:11:48.880 You need to win me before doing that. 0:11:49.160 --> 0:11:50.560 I told you to hold your breath. 0:11:51.040 --> 0:11:53.960 Oh come on, let's see if this coffee shop has 0:11:54.000 --> 0:11:57.920 any fresh towels. My poncho can only keep me so dry. 0:11:57.960 --> 0:12:00.679 Nah, Niminy, we might not want to go in inside this 0:12:00.800 --> 0:12:03.640 coffee shop. It's not exactly the most welcoming place. 0:12:04.000 --> 0:12:08.679 Huh. Then why did we come here? Hey? Is it? Yeah? 0:12:08.800 --> 0:12:11.559 That's Bill, ma'am, my teammates and I just want to 0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:13.239 order a cup of coffee. 0:12:13.320 --> 0:12:15.720 Well, you'd best look somewhere else because we don't serve 0:12:15.840 --> 0:12:16.560 negroes here. 0:12:17.280 --> 0:12:20.920 Uh, Gay, what year is it? 0:12:20.920 --> 0:12:22.280 It's nineteen sixty one. 0:12:22.600 --> 0:12:25.760 This is Lexington, Kentucky, where the Celtics were scheduled to 0:12:25.760 --> 0:12:28.400 play an exhibition game against the Hawks. 0:12:28.280 --> 0:12:31.480 In a town that treats people like that. There's no 0:12:31.520 --> 0:12:34.439 way he plays right. Don't do it, Bill, They don't 0:12:34.440 --> 0:12:35.040 deserve you. 0:12:35.480 --> 0:12:38.720 He can't hear you. We're not announcers anymore. This time. 0:12:38.920 --> 0:12:43.319 We're ghosts. Were what ghosts? They're floating and see through? 0:12:43.520 --> 0:12:46.120 Have you really never heard of ghosts before? That's not 0:12:46.120 --> 0:12:48.560 what I want. Come on, ghost Nimini, let's catch up 0:12:48.559 --> 0:12:51.439 with Bill. He's already headed over to talk to coach Auerbach. 0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:54.640 Coach, there's no way we're playing this game. We're getting 0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:57.600 on the plane and going home, all of us. Bill. 0:12:57.640 --> 0:13:00.520 I understand what you're saying. The way these folks are 0:13:00.520 --> 0:13:01.480 treating you isn't right. 0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:04.199 But don't you think we can spread your message better 0:13:04.240 --> 0:13:06.120 by playing the game respectfully. 0:13:06.200 --> 0:13:08.680 We won a championship my rookie year. Then that same 0:13:08.760 --> 0:13:10.880 year I went to the fifty six Olympics and won 0:13:10.920 --> 0:13:14.079 a gold medal for this country. But that didn't change anything. 0:13:14.440 --> 0:13:15.920 They've been looking at me the same way in my 0:13:15.960 --> 0:13:18.920 whole life. These people know that I'm a basketball player, 0:13:18.920 --> 0:13:21.559 but they still refuse to see me, to see us 0:13:21.880 --> 0:13:25.040 as human beings. No exhibition game will change that. If 0:13:25.040 --> 0:13:27.560 they're not gonna acknowledge our humanity, we need to speak out. 0:13:27.920 --> 0:13:29.040 We need to change the world. 0:13:29.320 --> 0:13:33.880 You go, Bill, you boycott that gay coach. 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:35.959 Did you hear a ghost just now? 0:13:36.360 --> 0:13:36.400 No? 0:13:37.120 --> 0:13:41.000 But I see two ghosts right over there. They're wearing ponchos, 0:13:41.000 --> 0:13:43.800 and one of them's pumping its fists. I think they 0:13:44.040 --> 0:13:44.959 like what you just said. 0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:47.920 We should probably stand behind a plant or something. 0:13:48.440 --> 0:13:51.160 I worked hard picking out this poncho. I'm not hiding 0:13:51.200 --> 0:13:55.000 behind a plant anyway. Coach Houurback knew that Russell was 0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:57.240 a true leader of men, and that's why he threw 0:13:57.240 --> 0:14:00.440 his support behind the boycott and why he appointed Russell 0:14:00.559 --> 0:14:03.199 as his successor when he eventually moved on from being 0:14:03.320 --> 0:14:04.320 head coach himself. 0:14:04.600 --> 0:14:07.000 So Bill kept speaking up no matter where he went, 0:14:07.200 --> 0:14:09.400 whether it was on the court or in the public eye. 0:14:09.720 --> 0:14:11.920 Speaking of eyes, would you mind closing yours? 0:14:12.120 --> 0:14:21.200 What four croco go? Huh? Hey, we're in a movie theater. 0:14:21.520 --> 0:14:25.000 Yeah, the history highlights theater. Take a seat drinking crocker. Ay, 0:14:25.120 --> 0:14:27.920 let's us see a mini highlight reel of any athlete's 0:14:27.920 --> 0:14:29.800 life while we wait to move forward in time. 0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:39.760 Hey, that's Martin Luther King. And whoa? Bill Russell marched 0:14:39.800 --> 0:14:40.880 with doctor King. 0:14:41.360 --> 0:14:44.480 He sure did back in nineteen sixty three as part 0:14:44.480 --> 0:14:45.680 of the March on Washington. 0:14:51.120 --> 0:14:53.200 And this is nineteen sixty. 0:14:52.840 --> 0:14:55.560 Seven where he was meeting with Muhammad Ali to support 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:58.320 his decision to not fight in the Vietnam War. 0:14:58.560 --> 0:15:00.720 It looks like a lot of black ass athletes showed 0:15:00.800 --> 0:15:01.680 up to support him. 0:15:01.960 --> 0:15:05.120 Speaking out against the war wasn't necessarily the popular thing 0:15:05.160 --> 0:15:07.320 to do at the time, but they still threw their 0:15:07.360 --> 0:15:08.440 support behind him. 0:15:08.320 --> 0:15:10.240 Because they felt it was the right thing to do. 0:15:11.920 --> 0:15:16.120 He was everywhere, wasn't he? How far ahead are we going? 0:15:16.720 --> 0:15:19.600 Just another few decades? We should stand up. It's almost 0:15:19.600 --> 0:15:20.120 time to believe. 0:15:20.480 --> 0:15:24.840 Oh okay, which way should we go? I don't see 0:15:24.880 --> 0:15:25.520 any exits. 0:15:25.720 --> 0:15:28.160 There's only one way out of the history highlights theater. 0:15:28.520 --> 0:15:29.920 Cover your ears. 0:15:29.920 --> 0:15:38.880 Oh my ears? Okay, what the heck? Why would you 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:40.840 throw crocle rate into my ears? 0:15:41.240 --> 0:15:44.440 Niminy, calm down. Look over there, Gabe. 0:15:45.040 --> 0:15:47.479 Is that that's President Obama. 0:15:47.560 --> 0:15:49.640 I can't believe I'm wearing a poncho in front of 0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:51.080 President Obama. 0:15:51.360 --> 0:15:53.720 There's no need to be embarrassed by the poncho. It's 0:15:53.720 --> 0:15:56.320 shaped like a triangle. The second most style is shape 0:15:56.400 --> 0:16:00.200 right after the rhombus, which is just two triangles. Anyway, 0:16:00.280 --> 0:16:03.800 it's the year twenty eleven and Obama's honoring Bill Russell 0:16:03.840 --> 0:16:06.360 for all of his work, not just as a basketball player, 0:16:06.440 --> 0:16:08.200 but as a fighter for human rights. 0:16:08.520 --> 0:16:11.120 I can't believe how much of an impact he had 0:16:11.160 --> 0:16:13.760 on history. To go from being just a kid playing 0:16:13.840 --> 0:16:17.200 basketball to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 0:16:17.280 --> 0:16:18.239 It's incredible. 0:16:18.640 --> 0:16:21.040 And to think if he had changed the way he'd 0:16:21.040 --> 0:16:24.440 played defense all those years ago, just because someone thought 0:16:24.480 --> 0:16:26.920 it was the only way to play, he might never 0:16:27.040 --> 0:16:27.880 have made it here. 0:16:28.320 --> 0:16:30.560 I bet it wasn't easy for him to stand up 0:16:30.600 --> 0:16:33.280 for himself back then, and I bet it didn't get 0:16:33.280 --> 0:16:36.040 any easier standing up for the rights of others every 0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:39.200 time after that. But he did it because he knew 0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:41.240 it was the right thing to do, no matter how 0:16:41.280 --> 0:16:42.320 big the stage got. 0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:45.400 I agree one hundred percent, Niminy, Just like it wasn't 0:16:45.440 --> 0:16:47.120 easy for me to stand up to Lee when she 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:50.080 told me that wearing ponchos and pouring hundreds of gallons 0:16:50.120 --> 0:16:52.920 of custom made sports drink all over myself would be 0:16:52.960 --> 0:16:56.480 a terrible and needlessly expensive way to experience history. 0:16:57.040 --> 0:16:58.080 But you loved it right. 0:16:58.600 --> 0:17:01.520 Actually, if I could redo one thing, it'd probably be there. 0:17:01.560 --> 0:17:04.119 There's no time for your notes, Niminy. Let's get to 0:17:04.160 --> 0:17:05.280 the recording studio. 0:17:05.600 --> 0:17:06.240 Croco go. 0:17:11.400 --> 0:17:11.800 Ah. 0:17:12.040 --> 0:17:15.240 Here we are in the studio, and everybody's happy with 0:17:15.400 --> 0:17:16.800 every part of the journey. 0:17:17.520 --> 0:17:19.919 Gabe, get rid of the krocle Rade. 0:17:20.040 --> 0:17:22.959 You didn't like the flavor, Gabe, you didn't like the ponchos. 0:17:23.119 --> 0:17:25.120 I'm going straight to Lee next time. 0:17:25.920 --> 0:17:28.000 My own personal Wilt Chamberlain. 0:17:28.320 --> 0:17:31.720 Okay, listeners, now that we're in the studio, it's time 0:17:31.760 --> 0:17:34.159 for everyone's favorite part of the episode. 0:17:34.280 --> 0:17:38.119 We're doing my part again, the song Oh right, right, right, right, right, 0:17:38.200 --> 0:17:38.720 right right. 0:17:40.000 --> 0:17:41.880 Get ready to ball out to the beat. 0:17:41.960 --> 0:17:46.479 Everyone, Bill Russell may have countless records already, but this 0:17:46.640 --> 0:17:48.720 here is the newest one. 0:17:51.720 --> 0:17:55.359 What do you see as the meaning of the term revolutionary? 0:17:57.080 --> 0:18:01.600 Revolutionary is a man or a woman things, but basically, 0:18:02.440 --> 0:18:09.359 the revolutionary wants to change the nature of society in 0:18:09.400 --> 0:18:13.320 a way to promote a world where the knees and 0:18:13.359 --> 0:18:15.600 interests of the people are responded to. 0:18:16.720 --> 0:18:19.800 Before Lebron was a king, before Jordan won rings, before 0:18:19.880 --> 0:18:22.959 shacking I came and magic in Kareem one man on 0:18:22.960 --> 0:18:25.800 one team rank completely supreme? Am I blowing too much 0:18:25.840 --> 0:18:28.359 steam to say that man was me? Bill Russell is 0:18:28.359 --> 0:18:28.720 the name? 0:18:28.760 --> 0:18:29.760 And how do you do? 0:18:30.119 --> 0:18:32.320 Thirteen years in the game and still I only lost 0:18:32.320 --> 0:18:35.400 two times in the finals? That's eleven titles. No man 0:18:35.440 --> 0:18:37.480 in this sport has come close to being my rival. 0:18:37.960 --> 0:18:41.159 I was the subject of libel and prejudice, taunts, black 0:18:41.200 --> 0:18:43.679 and in Boston not two things that you want to 0:18:43.760 --> 0:18:47.240 be OUI coop me, yes, sir? How did I thrive 0:18:47.320 --> 0:18:50.399 under oh so much pressure? How did I triumph on 0:18:50.480 --> 0:18:54.280 every measure while also unite all my people together? And 0:18:54.440 --> 0:18:57.159 just how did my leadership lead to our glory? To 0:18:57.160 --> 0:18:59.439 sit down and listen, y'all, because this here's my story. 0:19:00.119 --> 0:19:05.600 Defense the hoop and hej fanza bite. He's a champion 0:19:05.840 --> 0:19:08.280 on the court, and a champion. 0:19:08.480 --> 0:19:10.480 After five he. 0:19:12.880 --> 0:19:16.359 And re bounds four up in fresh City. He goes 0:19:16.400 --> 0:19:20.240 down the court, and he goes down in history. 0:19:20.960 --> 0:19:23.280 My youth, you could say it was a little bit rough. 0:19:23.640 --> 0:19:26.719 Mama died at twelve, and dad even gruff, grew up 0:19:26.760 --> 0:19:29.480 dirt board and there was never enough. My only hope 0:19:29.560 --> 0:19:31.639 was the hoop and get tough. So hoof that I 0:19:31.680 --> 0:19:35.680 did so. University of San Francisco old centers went slow, 0:19:35.760 --> 0:19:36.960 but me, I was nimble. 0:19:37.200 --> 0:19:37.960 They changed the. 0:19:37.960 --> 0:19:40.439 Rules to put me through some pitfalls. I juked the 0:19:40.520 --> 0:19:43.520 gears and still bought through the insults. I press continued, 0:19:43.840 --> 0:19:46.560 was drafted and went to the fifty six Olympics, got 0:19:46.600 --> 0:19:50.240 gold in that window post Uni COOKI oh that one 0:19:50.600 --> 0:19:53.159 NBA rookie and guess what we still won? Then I 0:19:53.240 --> 0:19:55.960 won eight more Celtics made me the coach while also 0:19:56.080 --> 0:19:59.680 still playing. That's right, I did both five mbps odds 0:19:59.680 --> 0:20:02.080 an app salute baller lost a few times to Will 0:20:02.119 --> 0:20:03.480 put He's three inches taller. 0:20:03.760 --> 0:20:08.920 He defends go home, and he defends a bright He's 0:20:08.960 --> 0:20:13.760 a champion on the court. They're a champion of the five. 0:20:14.400 --> 0:20:19.960 He bounds Alco and rebounds for the fresh city. He 0:20:20.040 --> 0:20:24.280 goes down the court, and he goes down in history. 0:20:25.160 --> 0:20:27.919 I am Bill Russell, most athletic on the court, but 0:20:28.000 --> 0:20:31.000 I still hustle and I will tussle with any man 0:20:31.040 --> 0:20:33.320 who stands in the way of progress. And that's in 0:20:33.359 --> 0:20:36.360 the lane in the streets. In the Congress sixty one, 0:20:36.359 --> 0:20:39.720 an exhibition game of Celtics versus the Hawks of Lexington, Kentucky. 0:20:39.720 --> 0:20:42.280 If we expected curses when we went to a cafe 0:20:42.280 --> 0:20:45.040 to try to get some service, instead they acted nervous 0:20:45.080 --> 0:20:46.600 and refused the surface. 0:20:46.359 --> 0:20:47.520