1 00:00:09,562 --> 00:00:10,322 Speaker 1: Originals. 2 00:00:10,362 --> 00:00:22,242 Speaker 2: This is an iHeart original. Spring is tornado season in Georgia. 3 00:00:22,882 --> 00:00:26,202 Speaker 2: But the forecast for March fourteenth, two thousand and eight 4 00:00:26,402 --> 00:00:29,722 Speaker 2: didn't seem so bad. It looked like a cloudy day 5 00:00:29,802 --> 00:00:35,522 Speaker 2: with a chance of thunderstorms. Around nine o'clock that night, 6 00:00:35,882 --> 00:00:41,842 Speaker 2: the situation changed. Radar picked up a pair of large 7 00:00:42,002 --> 00:00:47,682 Speaker 2: storm systems making their way east toward Atlanta. Supercells. 8 00:00:48,162 --> 00:00:50,882 Speaker 3: A supercell does not necessarily mean that a tornado is 9 00:00:50,922 --> 00:00:53,282 Speaker 3: going to form, but typically if we do see a 10 00:00:53,282 --> 00:00:57,482 Speaker 3: supercell thunderstorm, which means more of a heightened storm with 11 00:00:57,562 --> 00:01:01,122 Speaker 3: more instability, really it could wrap up and produce damaging 12 00:01:01,162 --> 00:01:01,922 Speaker 3: winds or hail. 13 00:01:02,762 --> 00:01:07,802 Speaker 2: That's Jen Narimore, a meteorologist who runs the website Ornado Talk. 14 00:01:08,322 --> 00:01:10,762 Speaker 3: Tornadoes are actually hard to form. You have to have 15 00:01:10,802 --> 00:01:12,682 Speaker 3: all the ingredients coming together. You have to have the 16 00:01:12,682 --> 00:01:15,162 Speaker 3: spin in the atmosphere, you need to have a moisture source, 17 00:01:15,242 --> 00:01:17,202 Speaker 3: you need to have some kind of lyft in the 18 00:01:17,202 --> 00:01:18,802 Speaker 3: atmosphere to create these storms. 19 00:01:18,842 --> 00:01:23,922 Speaker 2: Anyway, Atlanta traces its history back to the eighteen thirties, 20 00:01:24,482 --> 00:01:27,922 Speaker 2: and for its first one hundred and seventy years, Atlanta 21 00:01:28,002 --> 00:01:33,282 Speaker 2: experienced its fair share of severe and scary weather, but 22 00:01:33,482 --> 00:01:38,682 Speaker 2: not once had a major tornado touched down in downtown 23 00:01:38,802 --> 00:01:47,242 Speaker 2: Atlanta until March fourteenth, two thousand and eight. Jen was 24 00:01:47,322 --> 00:01:50,162 Speaker 2: living in Atlanta at the time and working for the 25 00:01:50,202 --> 00:01:51,322 Speaker 2: Weather Channel. 26 00:01:51,602 --> 00:01:53,482 Speaker 3: And my shift was over. I was working in the 27 00:01:53,562 --> 00:01:56,162 Speaker 3: radio department. Then It's a Friday evening, and I was 28 00:01:56,202 --> 00:01:58,802 Speaker 3: hanging out with one of my best friends, my co worker, 29 00:01:59,042 --> 00:02:01,202 Speaker 3: and waiting on her shift to end. But we did 30 00:02:01,242 --> 00:02:05,802 Speaker 3: start getting phone calls after about nine thirty nine thirty 31 00:02:05,882 --> 00:02:09,962 Speaker 3: nine forty five time, Hey, the Georgia Dome is something's 32 00:02:10,002 --> 00:02:13,122 Speaker 3: going on here. Everything's moving, the roof is ripping off. 33 00:02:13,202 --> 00:02:16,322 Speaker 3: What's happening. There's stuff falling onto the spectators. We've had 34 00:02:16,322 --> 00:02:18,322 Speaker 3: to stop the game. What's happening? 35 00:02:19,082 --> 00:02:22,722 Speaker 2: The calls were coming from the Georgia Dome, an eighty 36 00:02:22,882 --> 00:02:27,642 Speaker 2: thousand seat indoor sports stadium in the heart of downtown Atlanta, 37 00:02:28,362 --> 00:02:33,282 Speaker 2: inside thousands of college basketball fans were watching the two 38 00:02:33,322 --> 00:02:37,522 Speaker 2: thousand and eight Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament. 39 00:02:38,162 --> 00:02:39,722 Speaker 3: We started getting a lot of phone calls into the 40 00:02:39,802 --> 00:02:42,762 Speaker 3: radio department, and a lot of these were radio broadcasters 41 00:02:42,762 --> 00:02:46,722 Speaker 3: that were actually broadcasting the game, and they were calling 42 00:02:46,762 --> 00:02:48,282 Speaker 3: and saying, Hey, what in the world's going on? 43 00:02:48,362 --> 00:02:49,082 Speaker 4: Here. 44 00:02:49,282 --> 00:02:54,642 Speaker 2: Unbeknown to the spectators inside, a major tornado had cut 45 00:02:54,642 --> 00:02:59,442 Speaker 2: a path through the heart of downtown Atlanta and passed 46 00:02:59,562 --> 00:03:03,482 Speaker 2: within one hundred yards of the Georgia Dome. 47 00:03:03,802 --> 00:03:06,642 Speaker 3: So they were kind of side swiped by the tornado, 48 00:03:07,002 --> 00:03:09,442 Speaker 3: but the core winds were just one hundred yards to 49 00:03:09,522 --> 00:03:10,122 Speaker 3: the north of it. 50 00:03:10,802 --> 00:03:15,322 Speaker 2: The tornado was classified as an EF two with maximum 51 00:03:15,442 --> 00:03:19,522 Speaker 2: winds exceeding one hundred and thirty miles per hour for 52 00:03:19,802 --> 00:03:24,842 Speaker 2: twelve harrowing minutes. The twister cut a six mile path 53 00:03:24,882 --> 00:03:28,162 Speaker 2: of destruction through downtown Atlanta. 54 00:03:30,642 --> 00:03:34,162 Speaker 3: There was glass everywhere, glass blown out of so many 55 00:03:34,202 --> 00:03:37,402 Speaker 3: high rise buildings, The OMNI Center, the CNN Center was 56 00:03:37,442 --> 00:03:39,722 Speaker 3: a mess, and the debris everywhere. 57 00:03:40,482 --> 00:03:44,762 Speaker 2: Tragically, there was one fatality, but it's shocking that the 58 00:03:44,842 --> 00:03:48,842 Speaker 2: number wasn't higher. Atlanta is home to nearly half a 59 00:03:48,922 --> 00:03:53,722 Speaker 2: million people within the city limits alone. A massive tornado 60 00:03:54,162 --> 00:03:57,402 Speaker 2: two hundred yards across with one hundred and thirty miles 61 00:03:57,442 --> 00:04:01,882 Speaker 2: per hour winds slashed through downtown Atlanta on a Friday 62 00:04:01,962 --> 00:04:06,042 Speaker 2: night and only one person died. What else can you 63 00:04:06,082 --> 00:04:07,562 Speaker 2: call that but miracle? 64 00:04:08,042 --> 00:04:12,682 Speaker 3: Yeah, six miles, twelve minutes and twenty five million dollars 65 00:04:12,722 --> 00:04:14,562 Speaker 3: worth of damage it's a. 66 00:04:14,522 --> 00:04:18,362 Speaker 2: Lot, But what if there's a reason that more people 67 00:04:18,442 --> 00:04:22,082 Speaker 2: didn't get hurt or killed in Atlanta in two thousand 68 00:04:22,082 --> 00:04:26,882 Speaker 2: and eight. What if hundreds or even thousands of lives 69 00:04:26,922 --> 00:04:31,642 Speaker 2: were saved by something that happened inside the Georgia Dome 70 00:04:31,802 --> 00:04:35,762 Speaker 2: that night. What if the course of history was changed 71 00:04:36,482 --> 00:04:41,602 Speaker 2: by a jump shot. Welcome to very special episodes and 72 00:04:41,762 --> 00:04:46,642 Speaker 2: iHeart original podcast. I'm your host, Dana Schwartz, and this 73 00:04:46,922 --> 00:04:50,882 Speaker 2: is the shot. 74 00:04:53,762 --> 00:04:57,402 Speaker 4: Hey, everybody, I'm excited to be back with you today. 75 00:04:57,562 --> 00:05:00,482 Speaker 4: I'm excited to get into this story. It's a sports story. 76 00:05:00,522 --> 00:05:03,362 Speaker 4: You do not have to care about sports to enjoy 77 00:05:03,922 --> 00:05:06,882 Speaker 4: or extreme weather. You don't have to be a stormchaser. 78 00:05:07,042 --> 00:05:08,842 Speaker 4: You can just enjoy this one. 79 00:05:09,002 --> 00:05:11,962 Speaker 2: I have to be honest, I know almost nothing about basketball, 80 00:05:12,002 --> 00:05:15,122 Speaker 2: but my husband has had the playoffs on for it 81 00:05:15,162 --> 00:05:17,042 Speaker 2: feels like weeks. I don't know how long it's been, 82 00:05:17,362 --> 00:05:20,282 Speaker 2: but I do feel like I'm absorbing some basketball knowledge 83 00:05:20,402 --> 00:05:23,202 Speaker 2: by Osmosis, and this was a story he did. 84 00:05:23,042 --> 00:05:24,002 Speaker 5: Not know same. 85 00:05:24,322 --> 00:05:26,282 Speaker 6: I love how this is a story that's said in 86 00:05:26,322 --> 00:05:28,802 Speaker 6: my hometown. I don't follow basketball per se, but it's 87 00:05:28,802 --> 00:05:31,322 Speaker 6: said in my hometown and I've never ever heard this story, 88 00:05:31,642 --> 00:05:32,482 Speaker 6: like how. 89 00:05:32,602 --> 00:05:35,002 Speaker 2: It's kind of amazing. It just like makes you think 90 00:05:35,042 --> 00:05:37,322 Speaker 2: that any one of us could be doing anything at 91 00:05:37,322 --> 00:05:40,962 Speaker 2: any time with profound effects, whether or not we're good 92 00:05:40,962 --> 00:05:42,242 Speaker 2: at basketball in any way. 93 00:05:42,402 --> 00:05:46,122 Speaker 5: Totally. Also, don't you love second chance stories? Oh it's 94 00:05:46,162 --> 00:05:47,402 Speaker 5: so sweet, right, And if. 95 00:05:47,362 --> 00:05:49,162 Speaker 6: It's an athlete, I'm always going to root for him. 96 00:05:49,162 --> 00:05:51,882 Speaker 6: But then like, if it's a second chance CEO story, 97 00:05:51,922 --> 00:05:53,922 Speaker 6: probably not going to win the heart strings, you know. 98 00:05:54,002 --> 00:05:56,282 Speaker 6: But at the same time, second chance stories in America 99 00:05:56,362 --> 00:05:58,362 Speaker 6: always kill it. And I think that's true around the world. 100 00:05:58,922 --> 00:06:02,922 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's something It's like pets and people playing sports 101 00:06:02,962 --> 00:06:05,562 Speaker 2: that they really really have tried hard their whole lives 102 00:06:05,642 --> 00:06:07,482 Speaker 2: to play will always get at the heart strings. 103 00:06:07,522 --> 00:06:09,042 Speaker 5: Totally, So should we dive in? 104 00:06:09,402 --> 00:06:09,842 Speaker 4: Dive in? 105 00:06:12,922 --> 00:06:16,882 Speaker 2: Michail Riley grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a city 106 00:06:16,922 --> 00:06:20,682 Speaker 2: of forty thousand about fifty miles outside of Little Rock. 107 00:06:21,202 --> 00:06:25,242 Speaker 2: For as long as he can remember, Michael has played basketball. 108 00:06:25,842 --> 00:06:28,762 Speaker 2: It started when he and his younger brother Dante were 109 00:06:28,762 --> 00:06:32,002 Speaker 2: little kids shooting hoops in their grandma's backyard. 110 00:06:32,642 --> 00:06:35,002 Speaker 7: First we started out with dirt, you know, it was 111 00:06:35,042 --> 00:06:39,122 Speaker 7: dirty and just one basket, And then we got older 112 00:06:39,202 --> 00:06:41,842 Speaker 7: and She didn't want us to go, you know, like 113 00:06:41,882 --> 00:06:43,882 Speaker 7: to the other parks to play. She wanted us to 114 00:06:43,922 --> 00:06:45,482 Speaker 7: you know, stay in her backyard. 115 00:06:46,162 --> 00:06:50,202 Speaker 2: Mikeel's grandma didn't have much money, but she used proceeds 116 00:06:50,282 --> 00:06:53,762 Speaker 2: from a life insurance policy to build a full length 117 00:06:53,922 --> 00:06:59,002 Speaker 2: basketball court right behind her house. Two baskets, asphalt, surface, 118 00:06:59,362 --> 00:07:01,162 Speaker 2: painted lines, everything. 119 00:07:01,762 --> 00:07:04,842 Speaker 1: Yeah, she built that in the backyard. Yeah. I grew up. 120 00:07:05,042 --> 00:07:08,122 Speaker 1: My older cousins also play basketball. Ah. Sit. 121 00:07:08,362 --> 00:07:10,762 Speaker 7: We used to always be out there, and she had 122 00:07:10,762 --> 00:07:13,642 Speaker 7: a big spotlight up there too, big like this, they 123 00:07:13,722 --> 00:07:15,442 Speaker 7: shine bright so we can. 124 00:07:15,962 --> 00:07:17,762 Speaker 1: We played like all night, so you know. 125 00:07:17,922 --> 00:07:19,442 Speaker 7: He used to be out there at one o'clock, two 126 00:07:19,442 --> 00:07:21,522 Speaker 7: o'clock in the morning, especially during the summertime. 127 00:07:22,122 --> 00:07:27,562 Speaker 2: Mchaal's dad, Freddie Riley, became the unofficial neighborhood coach. Random 128 00:07:27,682 --> 00:07:31,082 Speaker 2: kids would show up at grandma's backyard court on summer 129 00:07:31,122 --> 00:07:34,002 Speaker 2: evenings and Freddie would have them running drills. 130 00:07:34,482 --> 00:07:38,202 Speaker 7: That's who started us playing basketball. When she built that court. 131 00:07:38,282 --> 00:07:41,002 Speaker 7: That's when we started. Like he started like teaching us 132 00:07:41,162 --> 00:07:43,362 Speaker 7: real basketball, like we used to play all the time, 133 00:07:43,442 --> 00:07:47,522 Speaker 7: you know. Well, he started teaching us the rules and everything, 134 00:07:47,682 --> 00:07:50,922 Speaker 7: you know, like different moves, the fundamentals, you know, left 135 00:07:50,962 --> 00:07:54,402 Speaker 7: handed stuff, right hand dribble, all of that. 136 00:07:54,962 --> 00:07:59,162 Speaker 2: Freddie remembers those days like they were yesterday. Only after 137 00:07:59,242 --> 00:08:02,122 Speaker 2: the kids learned how to dribble and handle the ball 138 00:08:02,202 --> 00:08:04,722 Speaker 2: did Freddie start teaching them how to shoot. 139 00:08:05,242 --> 00:08:09,202 Speaker 8: Here's Freddy always taught him that as you're going up, 140 00:08:09,402 --> 00:08:12,002 Speaker 8: you don't release the ball till you get to your peak. 141 00:08:12,522 --> 00:08:15,922 Speaker 8: Then you release the ball after then not releasing the 142 00:08:15,962 --> 00:08:18,162 Speaker 8: ball as you're going up. A lot of times, you know, 143 00:08:18,482 --> 00:08:23,402 Speaker 8: young guys that don't really know about basketball, they shooting 144 00:08:23,402 --> 00:08:25,442 Speaker 8: when they're going up, and then they shooting with their 145 00:08:25,442 --> 00:08:28,602 Speaker 8: whole arm instead of shooting from the wrist, you know, 146 00:08:28,682 --> 00:08:31,122 Speaker 8: and put the ball would come off the fingertips. 147 00:08:31,482 --> 00:08:35,082 Speaker 2: Michael picked it up fast. He was a natural shooter. 148 00:08:35,802 --> 00:08:39,362 Speaker 8: Mchl was always the best shooter out of all of them. 149 00:08:39,562 --> 00:08:41,522 Speaker 8: And he would shooting. I mean he could shoot. That 150 00:08:41,602 --> 00:08:45,042 Speaker 8: boy could really shoot and from anywhere. It didn't make 151 00:08:45,122 --> 00:08:49,322 Speaker 8: no difference. He shoot from half court, top of the key, 152 00:08:50,162 --> 00:08:51,202 Speaker 8: deep in the corner. 153 00:08:51,762 --> 00:08:55,082 Speaker 9: That was just him. He had a real nice stroke. 154 00:08:56,522 --> 00:09:00,122 Speaker 2: As Michael grew up, though his confidence lagged behind his 155 00:09:00,202 --> 00:09:04,842 Speaker 2: shooting skills. He was a skinny, quiet kid and when 156 00:09:04,882 --> 00:09:07,682 Speaker 2: he got out on the basketball court, he wasn't the 157 00:09:07,722 --> 00:09:11,082 Speaker 2: one wrestling for loose balls or calling for his shot. 158 00:09:11,722 --> 00:09:14,402 Speaker 2: He mostly got pushed around or ignored. 159 00:09:15,002 --> 00:09:19,002 Speaker 8: Michale was always a timid type kid. He was always 160 00:09:19,082 --> 00:09:21,842 Speaker 8: kind of timid and shy. When he got to the 161 00:09:21,962 --> 00:09:25,322 Speaker 8: ninth grade year, he didn't play. I kept trying to 162 00:09:25,522 --> 00:09:29,122 Speaker 8: encourage him to go out, and he wouldn't go back out. 163 00:09:29,522 --> 00:09:32,002 Speaker 8: So when he came over to the high school his 164 00:09:32,082 --> 00:09:35,762 Speaker 8: tenth grade year, he did try out fuck basketball, but 165 00:09:36,442 --> 00:09:37,362 Speaker 8: he didn't make it. 166 00:09:37,802 --> 00:09:40,482 Speaker 9: He became when you call the water boy. 167 00:09:41,282 --> 00:09:45,482 Speaker 2: Michl remembers those days too. Instead of running drills with 168 00:09:45,562 --> 00:09:49,362 Speaker 2: the other kids, he was collecting at sweaty practice uniforms 169 00:09:49,722 --> 00:09:51,482 Speaker 2: and sweeping the gym floor. 170 00:09:51,962 --> 00:09:55,842 Speaker 1: That's exactly who I was. Shy, didn't say too much. 171 00:09:56,122 --> 00:09:57,842 Speaker 1: That was just shy, you know, the shy kid. 172 00:09:58,562 --> 00:10:02,042 Speaker 2: McHale didn't quit though. He kept working on his jump 173 00:10:02,082 --> 00:10:06,602 Speaker 2: shot in Grandma's backyard. He kept growing and getting stronger. 174 00:10:07,042 --> 00:10:10,602 Speaker 2: McHale tried out for basketball his junior year and made 175 00:10:10,642 --> 00:10:14,682 Speaker 2: the JV team at Pine Bluff High School, but still 176 00:10:14,762 --> 00:10:19,482 Speaker 2: he mostly rode the bench. Then came the growth spurt. 177 00:10:19,762 --> 00:10:20,722 Speaker 9: His junior year. 178 00:10:21,122 --> 00:10:24,722 Speaker 8: He was like, I think about six one, and then 179 00:10:24,762 --> 00:10:27,962 Speaker 8: over that summer when he became a senior, he grew that. 180 00:10:28,122 --> 00:10:31,122 Speaker 8: Over that summer he grew to about six about six 181 00:10:31,202 --> 00:10:35,002 Speaker 8: four six five. He just grew up, I mean just 182 00:10:35,082 --> 00:10:36,682 Speaker 8: shot up over the summer. 183 00:10:37,442 --> 00:10:41,682 Speaker 2: His new height caught the coach's attention, but McHale still 184 00:10:41,802 --> 00:10:45,122 Speaker 2: wasn't a starter. He would only get playing time if 185 00:10:45,122 --> 00:10:48,402 Speaker 2: someone else was sick or injured. But when he got 186 00:10:48,402 --> 00:10:52,042 Speaker 2: in McHale tried to show what his new body could do. 187 00:10:52,602 --> 00:10:55,642 Speaker 9: And the coach did let him play some games. 188 00:10:55,722 --> 00:10:59,122 Speaker 8: And the best game he had during his senior year, 189 00:10:59,562 --> 00:11:02,602 Speaker 8: he scored fifteen points and he even got a dunk 190 00:11:02,642 --> 00:11:03,282 Speaker 8: in that game. 191 00:11:03,762 --> 00:11:04,922 Speaker 9: That was his best game. 192 00:11:05,762 --> 00:11:08,082 Speaker 8: I think that kind of gave him a boostle of 193 00:11:08,522 --> 00:11:11,722 Speaker 8: a lift, you know, getting rid of that that shiness, 194 00:11:11,762 --> 00:11:14,242 Speaker 8: you know, making you know, a little bit tougher. 195 00:11:14,962 --> 00:11:18,642 Speaker 1: He definitely did. I had that game, and I had 196 00:11:18,842 --> 00:11:20,002 Speaker 1: that company as was there. 197 00:11:20,362 --> 00:11:22,402 Speaker 7: It was definitely in my mind that yes, I can't 198 00:11:22,442 --> 00:11:25,402 Speaker 7: do this, and I am, you know, on the level 199 00:11:25,442 --> 00:11:26,202 Speaker 7: with other players. 200 00:11:26,242 --> 00:11:27,482 Speaker 1: I think I can play with him too. 201 00:11:28,202 --> 00:11:31,282 Speaker 2: After high school, Michael tried to build on the momentum 202 00:11:31,322 --> 00:11:34,882 Speaker 2: of his senior year. He did well on his acts 203 00:11:34,962 --> 00:11:38,682 Speaker 2: and caught the attention of a small college called Washa 204 00:11:38,802 --> 00:11:45,322 Speaker 2: Tap Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Washa Tap Baptist recruited 205 00:11:45,402 --> 00:11:48,482 Speaker 2: Mical for the basketball team and even offered him an 206 00:11:48,522 --> 00:11:49,802 Speaker 2: academic scholarship. 207 00:11:50,202 --> 00:11:53,522 Speaker 8: We told him before he left freshman year is your 208 00:11:53,562 --> 00:11:56,682 Speaker 8: crucial year in college. You have to really get down 209 00:11:56,762 --> 00:11:59,922 Speaker 8: to business and stay down in the business during that time, 210 00:12:00,242 --> 00:12:02,602 Speaker 8: otherwise you about won't make it. 211 00:12:03,122 --> 00:12:05,362 Speaker 9: He didn't get down to business. 212 00:12:06,562 --> 00:12:10,882 Speaker 2: Mchael was excited to play ball for the Washataw Baptist Tigers, 213 00:12:11,042 --> 00:12:14,402 Speaker 2: a Division two program, but it wasn't meant to be. 214 00:12:15,122 --> 00:12:19,722 Speaker 2: His grades flatlined and McHale dropped out after just one semester. 215 00:12:20,562 --> 00:12:23,202 Speaker 2: Just like that, he was back home in Pine Bluff, 216 00:12:23,602 --> 00:12:27,482 Speaker 2: without a team and without a plan. That could have 217 00:12:27,562 --> 00:12:31,562 Speaker 2: easily been the end of McHale's story, a late bloomer 218 00:12:31,602 --> 00:12:34,602 Speaker 2: who didn't shine in high school but had a chance 219 00:12:34,722 --> 00:12:38,082 Speaker 2: for a college career, but it didn't work out. In 220 00:12:38,122 --> 00:12:41,842 Speaker 2: that version of the story, McHale settles down in Pine Bluff, 221 00:12:42,242 --> 00:12:45,602 Speaker 2: gets a regular job, plays some hoops on the weekends, 222 00:12:46,042 --> 00:12:49,722 Speaker 2: and spends the rest of his life wondering what could 223 00:12:49,762 --> 00:12:55,122 Speaker 2: have been. But that's not what happened. That's not Michal's story. 224 00:12:55,602 --> 00:12:59,322 Speaker 2: McHale caught a break, the first of many lucky breaks 225 00:12:59,362 --> 00:13:05,642 Speaker 2: and many miracles that kept his basketball dreams alive. One day, 226 00:13:05,722 --> 00:13:09,082 Speaker 2: McHale was back at hind Bluff High School playing with 227 00:13:09,122 --> 00:13:13,162 Speaker 2: some old teammates when a coach stopped in from Panola 228 00:13:13,322 --> 00:13:18,202 Speaker 2: College in Carthage, Texas. The coach liked McHale's shot. He 229 00:13:18,442 --> 00:13:21,882 Speaker 2: liked it so much that he signed McHale on the spot. 230 00:13:22,882 --> 00:13:27,642 Speaker 2: Suddenly McHale had a second chance at a college basketball career, 231 00:13:28,042 --> 00:13:30,322 Speaker 2: and he wasn't going to drop the ball this time. 232 00:13:30,762 --> 00:13:34,082 Speaker 2: He'd get down to business, as Freddie likes to say, 233 00:13:34,602 --> 00:13:38,442 Speaker 2: he'd keep his grades up, and most importantly, he'd show 234 00:13:38,482 --> 00:13:41,202 Speaker 2: the world what he could do on the basketball court. 235 00:13:41,762 --> 00:13:44,882 Speaker 2: It didn't matter if Panola was just a tiny junior 236 00:13:44,962 --> 00:13:49,882 Speaker 2: college in Texas. This was McHale's big chance, maybe his 237 00:13:50,042 --> 00:13:53,202 Speaker 2: last chance, and the way he saw it, there was 238 00:13:53,322 --> 00:13:54,402 Speaker 2: no plan B. 239 00:13:55,082 --> 00:13:55,962 Speaker 1: That was my mind said. 240 00:13:55,962 --> 00:13:58,762 Speaker 7: When I went to Pranola, I was like, this is 241 00:13:58,802 --> 00:14:01,802 Speaker 7: my chance, and I don't know who's going to be watching. 242 00:14:01,882 --> 00:14:03,922 Speaker 7: You never know who's gonna be watching, So all I 243 00:14:04,002 --> 00:14:05,642 Speaker 7: say is every game. 244 00:14:07,122 --> 00:14:08,202 Speaker 1: Are you to kill everybody. 245 00:14:08,802 --> 00:14:11,722 Speaker 7: And the system was so perfect, Like we didn't really 246 00:14:11,722 --> 00:14:14,722 Speaker 7: have plays. We had a system. He's just a running system. 247 00:14:14,762 --> 00:14:17,002 Speaker 7: You run to a corner, the ball is past, you 248 00:14:17,162 --> 00:14:17,602 Speaker 7: shoot it. 249 00:14:19,562 --> 00:14:23,682 Speaker 2: Freddy McHale's dad made the four hour drive to Carthage 250 00:14:23,762 --> 00:14:27,602 Speaker 2: to watch his son play, and he hardly recognized the 251 00:14:27,802 --> 00:14:32,002 Speaker 2: confident player that Michal had become. Gone was the shy 252 00:14:32,162 --> 00:14:36,482 Speaker 2: high school kid who always passed on the big shot McHale. 253 00:14:36,682 --> 00:14:39,642 Speaker 8: Oh, we just bloomed, and he just was a late 254 00:14:39,682 --> 00:14:42,242 Speaker 8: bloom when that's all. We went to one of his 255 00:14:42,362 --> 00:14:45,082 Speaker 8: games down there, but at the end of the third 256 00:14:45,162 --> 00:14:47,002 Speaker 8: quarter he had thirty two points. 257 00:14:46,682 --> 00:14:48,282 Speaker 9: And he didn't even play it for a quarter. 258 00:14:48,922 --> 00:14:52,962 Speaker 8: Everything he shot, I mean knocking down everything, nothing but 259 00:14:53,042 --> 00:14:53,962 Speaker 8: three pointers. 260 00:14:54,362 --> 00:14:59,122 Speaker 2: Painola College was mchel's coming out party. His coaches said, 261 00:14:59,402 --> 00:15:02,082 Speaker 2: if the point guard passes you the ball, that means 262 00:15:02,122 --> 00:15:05,842 Speaker 2: you're open. And if you're open, shoot it every time. 263 00:15:06,522 --> 00:15:10,562 Speaker 7: Man, I had two crazy year in junior college. I 264 00:15:10,602 --> 00:15:14,242 Speaker 7: had like ninety something three in one year. Yeah, I 265 00:15:14,282 --> 00:15:16,922 Speaker 7: was lighted up. Junior college was so much fun. It 266 00:15:17,082 --> 00:15:18,042 Speaker 7: was so much fun. 267 00:15:18,802 --> 00:15:22,962 Speaker 2: McHale's confidence swored and he remembered everything his dad had 268 00:15:23,002 --> 00:15:26,762 Speaker 2: taught him on his grandma's backyard basketball court, how to 269 00:15:26,802 --> 00:15:29,962 Speaker 2: handle the ball with both hands, how to move without 270 00:15:30,002 --> 00:15:32,562 Speaker 2: the ball to get open, how to wait for the 271 00:15:32,602 --> 00:15:35,682 Speaker 2: top of your jump to release the ball, snap your 272 00:15:35,682 --> 00:15:38,642 Speaker 2: wrist and watch it splash into the net. 273 00:15:38,922 --> 00:15:41,602 Speaker 1: That's like one of the best feelings in basketball. 274 00:15:42,162 --> 00:15:45,562 Speaker 2: Mchaale caught a lot of people's attention with his three 275 00:15:45,642 --> 00:15:49,602 Speaker 2: point game at Panola. One of them was Phil Pearson, 276 00:15:49,962 --> 00:15:54,642 Speaker 2: an assistant coach at the University of Alabama that's Division One. 277 00:15:55,322 --> 00:15:59,042 Speaker 2: When coach Pearson found out that a recruiting deal between 278 00:15:59,122 --> 00:16:03,722 Speaker 2: McHale and another school fell through, he drove straight to Panola. 279 00:16:04,282 --> 00:16:06,082 Speaker 10: I scooped it right up quick as I could and 280 00:16:06,082 --> 00:16:07,882 Speaker 10: get him test flows. So just because I thought he's 281 00:16:08,122 --> 00:16:11,082 Speaker 10: you know, he's confident player. Those guys are valuable. So 282 00:16:11,122 --> 00:16:13,722 Speaker 10: we were lucky to have a Mulagati And. 283 00:16:13,802 --> 00:16:17,882 Speaker 2: Just like that, McHale Riley went from waterboy to college 284 00:16:17,962 --> 00:16:29,362 Speaker 2: dropout to a starting guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide. 285 00:16:31,642 --> 00:16:35,402 Speaker 2: McHale remembers showing up for the first day of practice 286 00:16:35,522 --> 00:16:40,322 Speaker 2: at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This is a 287 00:16:40,362 --> 00:16:44,322 Speaker 2: big time college basketball program. They just made it to 288 00:16:44,362 --> 00:16:48,282 Speaker 2: the final four in the twenty twenty four NCAA tournament. 289 00:16:48,922 --> 00:16:53,202 Speaker 2: Old McHale, the shy, skinny high schooler, might have held 290 00:16:53,282 --> 00:16:57,362 Speaker 2: back or been intimidated, but not the new McHale. 291 00:16:57,722 --> 00:17:00,202 Speaker 1: Hey, there's no intimidation at all. 292 00:17:00,522 --> 00:17:02,642 Speaker 7: And it was a lot of freshmen coming in that 293 00:17:02,802 --> 00:17:06,122 Speaker 7: were supposed to be, you know, really good or whatever. 294 00:17:06,282 --> 00:17:07,762 Speaker 1: But I came in. 295 00:17:09,202 --> 00:17:12,322 Speaker 7: I remember Richard Hendricks he told me, he said, man, 296 00:17:12,402 --> 00:17:13,042 Speaker 7: you came in here. 297 00:17:13,122 --> 00:17:17,842 Speaker 1: You made a statement. I was. I was hungry. I 298 00:17:17,882 --> 00:17:20,762 Speaker 1: wanted my family to see me playing on TV. 299 00:17:21,842 --> 00:17:26,242 Speaker 2: McHale earned a starting spot on a competitive Alabama squad. 300 00:17:27,002 --> 00:17:30,522 Speaker 2: Just like at Pinola, Michale made his name behind the 301 00:17:30,602 --> 00:17:33,762 Speaker 2: three point line. Here's coach Pearson again. 302 00:17:34,202 --> 00:17:36,682 Speaker 10: So at six foot four five, he was a little 303 00:17:36,682 --> 00:17:39,002 Speaker 10: bigger than a lot of guys that were guarding him. 304 00:17:39,042 --> 00:17:41,122 Speaker 10: He was able to shoot over the top of some guys. 305 00:17:41,282 --> 00:17:43,602 Speaker 10: You know, just kind of had a knack for making shots, 306 00:17:43,682 --> 00:17:45,762 Speaker 10: you know, maybe a little bit streaky, but when he 307 00:17:45,802 --> 00:17:47,322 Speaker 10: got going, he could make them. 308 00:17:47,642 --> 00:17:50,762 Speaker 2: Every time the ball was in Michael's hands, Coach Pearson 309 00:17:50,842 --> 00:17:54,322 Speaker 2: and head coach Mark Gottfried said the same thing. 310 00:17:54,802 --> 00:17:56,722 Speaker 1: Shoot it and even yelled at me. 311 00:17:56,762 --> 00:18:00,242 Speaker 7: But the only thing he yelled at before was the 312 00:18:00,242 --> 00:18:03,722 Speaker 7: play defense or shoot the ball, and gives you all 313 00:18:03,762 --> 00:18:04,722 Speaker 7: the companies in the world. 314 00:18:05,002 --> 00:18:08,282 Speaker 1: You can easily forget the missus with the hype of Cophanis. 315 00:18:09,282 --> 00:18:13,002 Speaker 2: In his first season at Alabama, McHale averaged more than 316 00:18:13,042 --> 00:18:16,122 Speaker 2: twelve points a game. He was one of the team's 317 00:18:16,282 --> 00:18:21,482 Speaker 2: leading scorers the following year. His senior year, McHale started 318 00:18:21,482 --> 00:18:25,042 Speaker 2: out strong, but then fell into a shooting slump near 319 00:18:25,082 --> 00:18:29,002 Speaker 2: the end of the regular season. The team struggled too. 320 00:18:29,602 --> 00:18:33,762 Speaker 2: Michale had been averaging at least three three pointers a game, 321 00:18:34,162 --> 00:18:36,202 Speaker 2: but there was a string of games where he just 322 00:18:36,282 --> 00:18:41,002 Speaker 2: couldn't find his shot. Then came Senior Night, the last 323 00:18:41,082 --> 00:18:45,682 Speaker 2: home game of McHale's final season at Alabama. It was 324 00:18:45,722 --> 00:18:50,922 Speaker 2: against Vanderbilt, and coach Pearson remembers that McHale's parents drove 325 00:18:50,962 --> 00:18:53,202 Speaker 2: in for their son's special night. 326 00:18:53,402 --> 00:18:57,002 Speaker 10: Freddy and Betty Riley from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and they 327 00:18:57,042 --> 00:18:59,722 Speaker 10: were good folks and his mother on senior Day. Can 328 00:18:59,722 --> 00:19:01,802 Speaker 10: remember his mother coming and man, she had on a 329 00:19:01,802 --> 00:19:06,642 Speaker 10: great outsit. The cameras on television they kept showing her 330 00:19:06,642 --> 00:19:07,642 Speaker 10: on that senior. 331 00:19:07,402 --> 00:19:09,242 Speaker 5: Day and he had a big day, a big game 332 00:19:09,442 --> 00:19:11,282 Speaker 5: was good win for US over Vanderbilt. 333 00:19:11,522 --> 00:19:15,802 Speaker 2: McHale finally broke out of his slump, hitting six three 334 00:19:15,842 --> 00:19:19,682 Speaker 2: pointers and scoring twenty six points in front of his parents. 335 00:19:20,402 --> 00:19:25,282 Speaker 2: All these years later, McHale's mom, Betty, still remembers what 336 00:19:25,322 --> 00:19:27,962 Speaker 2: it was like to be in that crowd in Tuscaloosa 337 00:19:28,082 --> 00:19:31,562 Speaker 2: on senior night and to watch McHale have one of 338 00:19:31,602 --> 00:19:35,122 Speaker 2: those dream games where everything went in. 339 00:19:35,842 --> 00:19:39,322 Speaker 9: Oh man, I mean I was so thrilled. You know, 340 00:19:39,522 --> 00:19:40,642 Speaker 9: just see my son. 341 00:19:41,202 --> 00:19:42,762 Speaker 8: If I'm not to stay I think you one the 342 00:19:42,842 --> 00:19:46,522 Speaker 8: time when he hit a shock, they said, oh NBA shot. 343 00:19:46,482 --> 00:19:48,962 Speaker 10: Not no one. 344 00:19:50,042 --> 00:19:51,002 Speaker 8: Oh my god. 345 00:19:51,482 --> 00:19:52,002 Speaker 5: But I was. 346 00:19:52,242 --> 00:19:56,202 Speaker 8: I am really, really so proud of real. 347 00:19:56,362 --> 00:19:57,362 Speaker 1: I am. 348 00:19:57,722 --> 00:20:02,482 Speaker 2: Even with that big win over Vanderbilt, Alabama's record wasn't 349 00:20:02,642 --> 00:20:07,842 Speaker 2: great going into the Southeastern Conference Tournament. During the regular season, 350 00:20:08,002 --> 00:20:12,402 Speaker 2: Alabama was just five and eleven in the SEC five 351 00:20:12,482 --> 00:20:16,562 Speaker 2: wins and eleven losses. Their record wasn't good enough to 352 00:20:16,602 --> 00:20:20,162 Speaker 2: earn them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, the big 353 00:20:20,322 --> 00:20:24,682 Speaker 2: end of season college basketball attorney known as March Madness. 354 00:20:24,882 --> 00:20:27,722 Speaker 10: We'd had a run there, man. We went five straight 355 00:20:28,042 --> 00:20:31,242 Speaker 10: nc DOUBLEA tournaments there. From I guess it was two 356 00:20:31,282 --> 00:20:34,882 Speaker 10: to seven, won the league in O two, Elite eight, 357 00:20:35,002 --> 00:20:38,042 Speaker 10: O four, But then we kind of really, to be 358 00:20:38,202 --> 00:20:41,522 Speaker 10: perfectly frank, probably underachieved for what we had on our team. 359 00:20:41,922 --> 00:20:45,442 Speaker 2: If they wanted to make it into March Madness, Alabama 360 00:20:45,602 --> 00:20:49,082 Speaker 2: had to win the SEC Tournament, and to do that, 361 00:20:49,322 --> 00:20:53,242 Speaker 2: they'd have to win four straight games in four days. 362 00:20:53,482 --> 00:20:56,882 Speaker 10: Well yeah, I mean, I guess that's that's always the hope. 363 00:20:56,922 --> 00:20:59,202 Speaker 10: And you know, I'm sure at that point we're just 364 00:20:59,202 --> 00:21:00,442 Speaker 10: hoping we could, you know, hey, get on. 365 00:21:00,402 --> 00:21:01,202 Speaker 1: A roll somehow. 366 00:21:01,202 --> 00:21:02,882 Speaker 10: If you can win four straight, you get a chance 367 00:21:02,922 --> 00:21:04,122 Speaker 10: playing the Cuba Tournament. 368 00:21:04,522 --> 00:21:08,282 Speaker 2: The SEC Tournament was played at the Georgia Dome, one 369 00:21:08,282 --> 00:21:12,802 Speaker 2: of the largest indoor stadiums in America. The Atlanta Falcons 370 00:21:12,842 --> 00:21:17,122 Speaker 2: played NFL games there. At full capacity, the Georgia Dome 371 00:21:17,402 --> 00:21:22,202 Speaker 2: could hold eighty thousand spectators, but for basketball, much of 372 00:21:22,282 --> 00:21:26,482 Speaker 2: the arena was curtained off. Still, there were fourteen thousand 373 00:21:26,522 --> 00:21:30,842 Speaker 2: people on hand. In the first round, Alabama faced the 374 00:21:31,082 --> 00:21:36,602 Speaker 2: two time defending national champions, the Florida Gators. While the 375 00:21:36,682 --> 00:21:39,562 Speaker 2: two thousand and eight Florida team had lost a lot 376 00:21:39,602 --> 00:21:42,882 Speaker 2: of players to the NBA, they were still expected to 377 00:21:43,202 --> 00:21:49,482 Speaker 2: stomp Alabama, but McHale and Alabama came out swinging. McHale 378 00:21:49,522 --> 00:21:54,202 Speaker 2: continued his hot shooting streak, tying the Alabama record with 379 00:21:54,362 --> 00:21:59,922 Speaker 2: eight three pointers and twenty six points. Alabama won eighty 380 00:22:00,042 --> 00:22:06,402 Speaker 2: to sixty nine, a huge upset Improbably Alabama had survived 381 00:22:06,482 --> 00:22:10,002 Speaker 2: the first stay of the SEC Tournament and came back 382 00:22:10,082 --> 00:22:14,402 Speaker 2: the next night to play Mississippi State, a big time rival. 383 00:22:15,762 --> 00:22:18,282 Speaker 10: A lot of people don't realize Alabama Mississippi State. They're 384 00:22:18,282 --> 00:22:21,202 Speaker 10: separated by about eighty miles, so there was always been 385 00:22:21,242 --> 00:22:24,042 Speaker 10: a rivalry of soorce from Alaba Misissippi State, just really 386 00:22:24,082 --> 00:22:25,082 Speaker 10: in every sport. 387 00:22:25,282 --> 00:22:29,082 Speaker 2: The game between Alabama and Mississippi tipped off at seven 388 00:22:29,242 --> 00:22:33,202 Speaker 2: thirty eight pm on Friday night. About ten minutes later, 389 00:22:33,642 --> 00:22:37,682 Speaker 2: the National Weather Service issued a severe storm warning for 390 00:22:37,762 --> 00:22:43,042 Speaker 2: the Atlanta metro area lightning thunder winds up to forty 391 00:22:43,082 --> 00:22:46,362 Speaker 2: five miles per hour. But that didn't mean anything to 392 00:22:46,482 --> 00:22:50,242 Speaker 2: the rowdy crowd inside the Georgia Dome or to the 393 00:22:50,242 --> 00:22:53,002 Speaker 2: players on the court fighting for a spot in the 394 00:22:53,122 --> 00:22:58,482 Speaker 2: NCAA Tournament. Mikhale, who had played so brilliantly the day before, 395 00:22:59,082 --> 00:23:03,522 Speaker 2: came out cold against Mississippi State. He missed his first 396 00:23:03,722 --> 00:23:07,642 Speaker 2: three shots, and he couldn't shake his defender, a hard 397 00:23:07,682 --> 00:23:13,562 Speaker 2: nosed Mississippi State player named Ben hansbro Finally, midway through 398 00:23:13,602 --> 00:23:17,562 Speaker 2: the first half, McHale hit his first three. It was 399 00:23:17,682 --> 00:23:21,562 Speaker 2: like a light had switched on. His whole body language changed. 400 00:23:21,922 --> 00:23:25,602 Speaker 2: Over the next eleven minutes, McHale went on a run, 401 00:23:26,002 --> 00:23:30,602 Speaker 2: scoring thirteen points, punctuated by a steel and a thundering dump. 402 00:23:31,202 --> 00:23:35,322 Speaker 2: Alabama was up thirty six to twenty nine at halftime. 403 00:23:37,482 --> 00:23:41,482 Speaker 2: Forty miles away, the severe thunderstorms predicted by the National 404 00:23:41,522 --> 00:23:47,162 Speaker 2: Weather Service continued to bear down on Atlanta. Satellite images 405 00:23:47,322 --> 00:23:53,562 Speaker 2: showed two supercells engaged in a slow, swirling dance. Soon 406 00:23:53,802 --> 00:23:57,802 Speaker 2: they merged into one giant storm and took on the 407 00:23:57,842 --> 00:24:02,362 Speaker 2: ominous shape of a comma. That type of storm could, 408 00:24:02,842 --> 00:24:08,402 Speaker 2: under the right conditions, produce a tornado. Outside the Georgia Dome, 409 00:24:08,522 --> 00:24:12,602 Speaker 2: it started to rain inside. The second half started out 410 00:24:12,642 --> 00:24:16,722 Speaker 2: a lot like the first. McHale couldn't hit anything. He 411 00:24:16,842 --> 00:24:22,042 Speaker 2: airballed a three pointer, he missed a layup. He looked exhausted. 412 00:24:22,282 --> 00:24:25,362 Speaker 2: It was the second game in two days, and Alabama 413 00:24:25,682 --> 00:24:29,802 Speaker 2: was gassed. With just over two minutes left in the game. 414 00:24:30,162 --> 00:24:33,922 Speaker 2: Mississippi State hits a three pointer and takes the lead. 415 00:24:34,562 --> 00:24:38,922 Speaker 2: Alabama stays close but can't claw back in front. With 416 00:24:39,202 --> 00:24:43,002 Speaker 2: just twenty seconds on the clock, Mississippi State is winning 417 00:24:43,162 --> 00:24:47,042 Speaker 2: fifty eight to fifty six. McHale gets the ball at 418 00:24:47,042 --> 00:24:49,682 Speaker 2: the top of the key, but he slips and throws 419 00:24:49,722 --> 00:24:54,522 Speaker 2: a wild pass that's knocked out of bounds. In the 420 00:24:54,562 --> 00:24:59,122 Speaker 2: next possession, his teammate Richard Hendrix, drives for a layup, 421 00:24:59,402 --> 00:25:04,122 Speaker 2: but it's blocked and grabbed by Mississippi State. Alabama has 422 00:25:04,202 --> 00:25:09,762 Speaker 2: no choice but to foul to stop the clock. Outside, 423 00:25:09,922 --> 00:25:15,082 Speaker 2: the rain turns to hail. With just seven seconds remaining 424 00:25:15,122 --> 00:25:18,322 Speaker 2: in the game, Mississippi State has a chance to seal 425 00:25:18,442 --> 00:25:22,042 Speaker 2: the win with two free throws. They make the first 426 00:25:22,082 --> 00:25:26,362 Speaker 2: one fifty nine fifty six Mississippi State. If they make 427 00:25:26,442 --> 00:25:29,682 Speaker 2: the next foul shot, it becomes a four point lead 428 00:25:30,082 --> 00:25:34,242 Speaker 2: and Alabama has almost no chance of winning. But the 429 00:25:34,282 --> 00:25:39,762 Speaker 2: second foul shot bounces out a mini miracle. Alabama grabs 430 00:25:39,762 --> 00:25:43,242 Speaker 2: the rebound and goes streaking up the court. Five seconds 431 00:25:43,482 --> 00:25:47,562 Speaker 2: four seconds, Mississippi State tries to foul, but knocks the 432 00:25:47,602 --> 00:25:50,722 Speaker 2: ball out of bounds past the half court line. There 433 00:25:50,762 --> 00:25:54,322 Speaker 2: are now two seconds on the clock. Two seconds for 434 00:25:54,442 --> 00:25:58,522 Speaker 2: Alabama to draw up a desperation play to heave up 435 00:25:58,522 --> 00:26:02,762 Speaker 2: a three pointer and tie the game. Alabama calls a 436 00:26:02,802 --> 00:26:10,242 Speaker 2: time out. Freddie and Betty Riley were home in Pine 437 00:26:10,242 --> 00:26:13,242 Speaker 2: Bluff watching the game on their big TV in the 438 00:26:13,282 --> 00:26:17,242 Speaker 2: living room. McHale hadn't played his best game, not by far, 439 00:26:17,842 --> 00:26:20,642 Speaker 2: but Freddy had no doubt about who should take the 440 00:26:20,762 --> 00:26:21,562 Speaker 2: last shot. 441 00:26:22,362 --> 00:26:25,842 Speaker 8: I knew past Godfrey who was gonna set up a 442 00:26:25,882 --> 00:26:30,082 Speaker 8: play to get Michale the ball. I remember that if 443 00:26:30,122 --> 00:26:33,602 Speaker 8: anybody could get the shot off and possibly make it, 444 00:26:33,602 --> 00:26:34,842 Speaker 8: it would be Michale. 445 00:26:35,482 --> 00:26:39,482 Speaker 2: Coach Pearson was in the Alabama huddle, and Freddie was 446 00:26:39,602 --> 00:26:40,122 Speaker 2: right on. 447 00:26:40,642 --> 00:26:42,682 Speaker 10: The guy's gonna make shot. Michael Riley the sort of 448 00:26:42,882 --> 00:26:44,882 Speaker 10: be the guy that could do it. I'm sure Ifssissippi 449 00:26:44,882 --> 00:26:46,562 Speaker 10: State had it to do over again, they would have 450 00:26:46,642 --> 00:26:48,442 Speaker 10: done whatever they could have done to keep the ball 451 00:26:48,482 --> 00:26:51,042 Speaker 10: off of Michail Riley. Everybody that, everybody in Adell knew 452 00:26:51,042 --> 00:26:52,122 Speaker 10: that he was going to be the guy that we're 453 00:26:52,162 --> 00:26:53,042 Speaker 10: gonna try to get the ball to. 454 00:26:53,522 --> 00:26:58,242 Speaker 2: The play was called screen Rilo, McHale's nickname. On the 455 00:26:58,282 --> 00:27:02,322 Speaker 2: inbounds pass, one of McHale's teammates would screen, the defender 456 00:27:02,522 --> 00:27:05,802 Speaker 2: and Michale would try to break free for a clean. 457 00:27:05,682 --> 00:27:09,602 Speaker 7: Look coming off the screen and I'm open, you know 458 00:27:10,322 --> 00:27:11,322 Speaker 7: the guys behind me. 459 00:27:11,762 --> 00:27:15,282 Speaker 1: I turned around, I swing through, hoping that he. 460 00:27:15,362 --> 00:27:17,482 Speaker 7: Puts his hand in there at the same time as 461 00:27:17,482 --> 00:27:18,722 Speaker 7: I'm going up to shoot. 462 00:27:19,082 --> 00:27:21,322 Speaker 1: When he lift my hand, it was iffy. I wasn't 463 00:27:21,362 --> 00:27:22,282 Speaker 1: really sure. 464 00:27:23,722 --> 00:27:28,002 Speaker 2: Freddy and Betty lost their minds. The crowd in the 465 00:27:28,042 --> 00:27:33,922 Speaker 2: Georgia Dome went crazy. McHale's teammates swarmed him. He had 466 00:27:34,002 --> 00:27:38,762 Speaker 2: pulled off a miracle three and tied the game for Alabama. 467 00:27:39,402 --> 00:27:43,402 Speaker 8: When he went up and he released that ball, and 468 00:27:43,522 --> 00:27:46,282 Speaker 8: that ball like it hit the rim and then it 469 00:27:46,642 --> 00:27:49,842 Speaker 8: went that way and hit the backboard and then come 470 00:27:49,922 --> 00:27:53,602 Speaker 8: back and like it would rolling around and just she 471 00:27:53,762 --> 00:27:57,242 Speaker 8: lived like it was a roccet shot and then dropped in. 472 00:27:58,162 --> 00:28:02,242 Speaker 2: Sixteen years later, McHale still remembers how it felt. 473 00:28:02,442 --> 00:28:06,402 Speaker 7: It's kind of indescribable, Like I don't know how you 474 00:28:06,562 --> 00:28:09,362 Speaker 7: sole right into the moment and you don't know what 475 00:28:09,402 --> 00:28:12,682 Speaker 7: you're really feeling, you know, because you're like screaming and 476 00:28:12,922 --> 00:28:16,802 Speaker 7: like you know, you got your teammates running at you 477 00:28:16,882 --> 00:28:18,642 Speaker 7: feel a whole bunch of things at the same time, 478 00:28:18,762 --> 00:28:20,402 Speaker 7: so mostly excited, you. 479 00:28:20,362 --> 00:28:23,642 Speaker 1: Know, for sure, and just pumped up and like this 480 00:28:24,242 --> 00:28:26,002 Speaker 1: and be leieve you know, it went in, you know. 481 00:28:28,042 --> 00:28:31,802 Speaker 2: By tying the score fifty nine to fifty nine, McHale 482 00:28:31,922 --> 00:28:36,842 Speaker 2: sent the game into overtime. Shooters like Michale Riley live 483 00:28:37,002 --> 00:28:40,882 Speaker 2: for that moment, hitting a last second clutch shot that 484 00:28:41,162 --> 00:28:45,002 Speaker 2: saves the game. What McHale didn't know at the time 485 00:28:45,602 --> 00:28:49,842 Speaker 2: was that his miraculous three point shot didn't just save 486 00:28:49,962 --> 00:28:54,882 Speaker 2: the game, it might have also saved thousands of lives. 487 00:29:06,282 --> 00:29:11,682 Speaker 2: McHale hit the last second, buzzer beating, game tying three 488 00:29:11,762 --> 00:29:16,242 Speaker 2: pointer for Alabama at around nine thirty PM in Atlanta. 489 00:29:16,842 --> 00:29:20,522 Speaker 2: Neither McHale nor anyone else inside the Georgia Dome had 490 00:29:20,602 --> 00:29:25,922 Speaker 2: any idea what was happening outside the stadium. In short, 491 00:29:25,962 --> 00:29:31,282 Speaker 2: all hell was breaking loose. A massive EF two class 492 00:29:31,322 --> 00:29:35,882 Speaker 2: tornado had touched down in Atlanta. It was the first 493 00:29:35,922 --> 00:29:39,202 Speaker 2: time in the city's history that a tornado tore a 494 00:29:39,242 --> 00:29:43,802 Speaker 2: path directly through downtown Atlanta, and it was headed straight 495 00:29:44,082 --> 00:29:49,242 Speaker 2: for the Georgia Dome. Oblivious to the destruction outside, the 496 00:29:49,282 --> 00:29:53,922 Speaker 2: Mississippi State and Alabama players took the court for overtime 497 00:29:54,362 --> 00:29:58,122 Speaker 2: the clock was reset for five minutes and play resumed, 498 00:29:58,882 --> 00:30:03,362 Speaker 2: But about halfway through the overtime period, something very strange 499 00:30:03,562 --> 00:30:05,922 Speaker 2: started to happen. Here's Michail. 500 00:30:06,362 --> 00:30:08,522 Speaker 7: I think we had just scored and was coming back down, 501 00:30:08,802 --> 00:30:11,362 Speaker 7: and all of a sudden, it sounded like a train 502 00:30:11,602 --> 00:30:13,162 Speaker 7: was right outside the arena. 503 00:30:13,722 --> 00:30:15,242 Speaker 1: I looked at him, I said, is that a train? 504 00:30:15,882 --> 00:30:20,602 Speaker 2: Imagine a sound so loud that a college basketball player 505 00:30:20,682 --> 00:30:24,082 Speaker 2: in the middle of a super important game inside of 506 00:30:24,122 --> 00:30:28,242 Speaker 2: a massive stadium would stop in his tracks and ask, 507 00:30:28,722 --> 00:30:29,482 Speaker 2: is that a train? 508 00:30:30,242 --> 00:30:30,682 Speaker 9: Yeah? 509 00:30:30,762 --> 00:30:31,522 Speaker 10: It was loud. 510 00:30:32,282 --> 00:30:35,562 Speaker 2: That's coach Pearson again. Not only did he hear the 511 00:30:35,682 --> 00:30:40,042 Speaker 2: unearthly roar, but he looked up and saw something even stranger. 512 00:30:40,802 --> 00:30:45,242 Speaker 2: The massive teflon roof of the Georgia Dome was rolling 513 00:30:45,402 --> 00:30:47,722 Speaker 2: toward him in nauseating ways. 514 00:30:47,962 --> 00:30:49,602 Speaker 10: I mean, it's almost like you know when you had 515 00:30:49,602 --> 00:30:51,722 Speaker 10: your sheets on your bed and you're kind of straightening 516 00:30:51,722 --> 00:30:53,482 Speaker 10: them out, you know. It was that kind of ruffling, 517 00:30:53,842 --> 00:30:56,002 Speaker 10: and that's doing the root, you know, I mean, for 518 00:30:56,002 --> 00:30:57,882 Speaker 10: one hundred of yards kind of coming to you. 519 00:30:58,522 --> 00:30:58,882 Speaker 1: It was. 520 00:30:59,282 --> 00:31:01,402 Speaker 10: It was something I don't think I'll ever forget. 521 00:31:01,402 --> 00:31:05,162 Speaker 2: I'll tell you that as the roof waved violently. Overhead 522 00:31:05,562 --> 00:31:08,842 Speaker 2: material began to rain down on the court and the crowd. 523 00:31:09,282 --> 00:31:14,602 Speaker 2: Bits of shredded insulation and plasticciting floated down like snow. 524 00:31:15,242 --> 00:31:18,442 Speaker 2: Screws and bolts were pried loose and fell to the 525 00:31:18,522 --> 00:31:23,322 Speaker 2: court with an unsettling rattle. The referees blew their whistles 526 00:31:23,602 --> 00:31:26,962 Speaker 2: stop the game, and the players were herded off the court. 527 00:31:27,322 --> 00:31:30,202 Speaker 7: I didn't know what was going on until it was 528 00:31:30,242 --> 00:31:33,962 Speaker 7: like Tornado one. The Tornado one, stuff is starting to fall. 529 00:31:34,402 --> 00:31:36,682 Speaker 7: As I'm walking off the floor, I'm looking and walking 530 00:31:36,682 --> 00:31:39,642 Speaker 7: at the same time. I see stuff is swinging the 531 00:31:40,042 --> 00:31:41,962 Speaker 7: jumbo tron, the. 532 00:31:41,522 --> 00:31:42,522 Speaker 1: Catwalks up there. 533 00:31:42,642 --> 00:31:46,042 Speaker 7: Everything is just swinging, and you know, bows is falling 534 00:31:46,242 --> 00:31:46,802 Speaker 7: on the course. 535 00:31:47,482 --> 00:31:51,482 Speaker 2: On TV, the broadcast faded in and out of static. 536 00:31:52,002 --> 00:31:57,042 Speaker 2: Freddy and Betty Riley went from elation to worry. Was 537 00:31:57,122 --> 00:31:58,202 Speaker 2: Mchail in trouble? 538 00:31:58,802 --> 00:32:01,282 Speaker 9: We started seeing stuff falling from the top of the. 539 00:32:01,362 --> 00:32:05,122 Speaker 8: Dome and coming down on the floor, and we didn't 540 00:32:05,162 --> 00:32:06,162 Speaker 8: know what was going on. 541 00:32:06,762 --> 00:32:10,202 Speaker 2: The next hour, the players and coaches from Alabama and 542 00:32:10,282 --> 00:32:14,802 Speaker 2: Mississippi State huddled in their locker rooms. They waited forward 543 00:32:14,882 --> 00:32:18,242 Speaker 2: from the tournament organizers if the game was going to resume. 544 00:32:18,882 --> 00:32:23,522 Speaker 2: News trickled in about a tornado possibly touching down in Atlanta, 545 00:32:23,922 --> 00:32:28,082 Speaker 2: but details were scarce. Most of the crowd of fourteen 546 00:32:28,162 --> 00:32:32,362 Speaker 2: thousand stuck around two. They made phone calls to anxious 547 00:32:32,402 --> 00:32:35,202 Speaker 2: friends and family who were watching the game on TV. 548 00:32:35,882 --> 00:32:38,722 Speaker 2: There was some kind of crazy storm outside, but they 549 00:32:38,762 --> 00:32:44,082 Speaker 2: were safe inside the Georgia Dome. They were okay. When 550 00:32:44,122 --> 00:32:47,202 Speaker 2: it was safe to return to the court, the game resumed. 551 00:32:47,882 --> 00:32:50,842 Speaker 2: It was nearing eleven PM at this point, but there 552 00:32:50,922 --> 00:32:54,162 Speaker 2: was still over two minutes on the clock. The SEC 553 00:32:54,322 --> 00:32:59,762 Speaker 2: tournament must go on. The storm had rattled everyone's nerves, 554 00:33:00,042 --> 00:33:04,642 Speaker 2: but both teams really wanted to win. In the final 555 00:33:04,762 --> 00:33:10,562 Speaker 2: seconds of overtime, Alabama was down by two. Incredibly, McHale 556 00:33:10,562 --> 00:33:13,962 Speaker 2: got another chance to be a hero and make another 557 00:33:14,282 --> 00:33:22,202 Speaker 2: last second miracle shot, but this time his shot rattled out. 558 00:33:22,842 --> 00:33:27,522 Speaker 2: Alabama lost. Their season was over, and so was mchail's 559 00:33:27,682 --> 00:33:33,522 Speaker 2: college basketball career. After the game, mchaale finally got in 560 00:33:33,602 --> 00:33:36,922 Speaker 2: touch with his parents, who congratulated him on the big 561 00:33:36,962 --> 00:33:40,522 Speaker 2: shot that sent it into overtime. They tried to cheer 562 00:33:40,602 --> 00:33:44,282 Speaker 2: him up after the loss. By this point, the tornado 563 00:33:44,562 --> 00:33:48,802 Speaker 2: was big news. Local TV channels were showing footage of 564 00:33:48,882 --> 00:33:52,362 Speaker 2: the damage. The roof was torn off the Cotton Mill 565 00:33:52,482 --> 00:33:56,762 Speaker 2: Lofts in downtown Atlanta. A gaping hole was punched in 566 00:33:56,842 --> 00:34:00,842 Speaker 2: the roof of the World Congress Center. Parked cars had 567 00:34:00,882 --> 00:34:06,162 Speaker 2: been tossed around downtown streets. Brick facades came crumbling down 568 00:34:06,522 --> 00:34:11,122 Speaker 2: near al Olympic Centennial Park. Hearing about the devastation of 569 00:34:11,162 --> 00:34:16,202 Speaker 2: the tornado, one of McHale's teammates, Brandon Hollinger, said something 570 00:34:16,362 --> 00:34:18,642 Speaker 2: that had never crossed McHale's mind. 571 00:34:19,202 --> 00:34:22,362 Speaker 7: Once I finished talking to my parents, he said aloud. 572 00:34:22,362 --> 00:34:24,522 Speaker 7: He was like, dude, you know you could stop a 573 00:34:24,562 --> 00:34:26,682 Speaker 7: lot of people from getting hurt. I hadn't even thought 574 00:34:26,682 --> 00:34:29,242 Speaker 7: about it in that since until he said something. 575 00:34:29,562 --> 00:34:33,802 Speaker 2: What did Brandon mean? How did McHale's shot prevent a 576 00:34:33,882 --> 00:34:38,202 Speaker 2: lot of people from getting hurt? Think about it. McHale 577 00:34:38,362 --> 00:34:42,082 Speaker 2: hit his shot at nine thirty PM. If he had 578 00:34:42,122 --> 00:34:44,882 Speaker 2: missed it, the game would have been over. Many of 579 00:34:44,922 --> 00:34:48,362 Speaker 2: the fourteen thousand fans in attendance at the Georgia Dome 580 00:34:48,682 --> 00:34:51,882 Speaker 2: would have stuck around for the late game between Kentucky 581 00:34:51,962 --> 00:34:56,602 Speaker 2: and Georgia, but a few thousand Alabama and Mississippi State 582 00:34:56,682 --> 00:35:00,602 Speaker 2: fans would have headed for the exits. If those people 583 00:35:00,762 --> 00:35:05,322 Speaker 2: walked outside at that moment, they would have stepped directly 584 00:35:05,442 --> 00:35:09,562 Speaker 2: into the path of a torn Instead of one fatality 585 00:35:09,602 --> 00:35:12,722 Speaker 2: that night in Atlanta, there could have been hundreds. 586 00:35:13,162 --> 00:35:14,762 Speaker 3: I think it could be in tremendously worse. 587 00:35:15,442 --> 00:35:18,802 Speaker 2: That's Jen Narramore again, our meteorologist friend. 588 00:35:19,162 --> 00:35:21,362 Speaker 3: So you're talking five ten thousand people could have been 589 00:35:21,402 --> 00:35:24,922 Speaker 3: exiting the Georgia Dome right when the tornado was coming through, 590 00:35:24,962 --> 00:35:26,962 Speaker 3: and they could have walked right into some of the 591 00:35:27,002 --> 00:35:30,602 Speaker 3: strongest winds. They could have had windows, parts of roof 592 00:35:30,922 --> 00:35:33,562 Speaker 3: blown and landing on them. I think their jury account 593 00:35:33,562 --> 00:35:36,122 Speaker 3: would have been tremendously worse, and sadly, I do think 594 00:35:36,162 --> 00:35:37,602 Speaker 3: that there could have been more fatalities. 595 00:35:38,122 --> 00:35:40,602 Speaker 2: Most of the out of town fans were staying at 596 00:35:40,602 --> 00:35:44,642 Speaker 2: hotels nearby and had walked to the Georgia Dome. They 597 00:35:44,642 --> 00:35:47,322 Speaker 2: would have been making their way back to places like 598 00:35:47,362 --> 00:35:51,242 Speaker 2: the Omni Hotel, where many windows were blown out by 599 00:35:51,242 --> 00:35:55,842 Speaker 2: the tornado, or the Weston which witnesses described as a 600 00:35:55,922 --> 00:36:01,202 Speaker 2: war zone. Brandon Hollinger was right. Thousands of people could 601 00:36:01,202 --> 00:36:04,162 Speaker 2: have been out on the street of downtown Atlanta in 602 00:36:04,202 --> 00:36:08,802 Speaker 2: the path of a deadly tornado. They weren't all because 603 00:36:08,882 --> 00:36:13,362 Speaker 2: a basketball game between Alabama and Mississippi State went into 604 00:36:13,402 --> 00:36:17,882 Speaker 2: overtime because a shy kid from Pine Bluff, Arkansas made 605 00:36:17,962 --> 00:36:20,282 Speaker 2: the shot that saved their lives. 606 00:36:20,762 --> 00:36:23,842 Speaker 3: He is a hero for shure that three pointer and 607 00:36:23,882 --> 00:36:27,282 Speaker 3: getting that in and pushing the game into overtime. Absolutely, 608 00:36:27,842 --> 00:36:29,882 Speaker 3: And it's just one of those things where you just 609 00:36:30,122 --> 00:36:31,842 Speaker 3: look back and think about it, You're like, man, if 610 00:36:31,842 --> 00:36:33,602 Speaker 3: he had not done that, what would have happened. 611 00:36:34,442 --> 00:36:39,522 Speaker 2: As Atlanton's woke Saturday morning to scenes of destruction and chaos, 612 00:36:39,882 --> 00:36:43,442 Speaker 2: the reality of what happened the night before began to 613 00:36:43,522 --> 00:36:48,442 Speaker 2: sink in. A tornado had touched down in Atlanta in 614 00:36:48,482 --> 00:36:52,922 Speaker 2: the middle of the SEC tournament, but instead of mourning 615 00:36:52,962 --> 00:36:59,802 Speaker 2: a tragedy, people were celebrating a miracle. McHale's miracle. McHale 616 00:36:59,842 --> 00:37:04,562 Speaker 2: was interviewed on CNN Sports Illustrated ran a story. For 617 00:37:04,642 --> 00:37:08,682 Speaker 2: a brief moment, the entire sp sports media world paused 618 00:37:09,002 --> 00:37:12,602 Speaker 2: and took stock of what had happened in Atlanta and 619 00:37:12,722 --> 00:37:17,562 Speaker 2: what hadn't happened. For Freddie Riley, there's no question that 620 00:37:17,602 --> 00:37:20,802 Speaker 2: what michale did back in two thousand and eight qualifies 621 00:37:20,882 --> 00:37:22,282 Speaker 2: as a miracle. 622 00:37:22,402 --> 00:37:23,922 Speaker 9: That was a shadow of a lifetime. 623 00:37:24,842 --> 00:37:28,282 Speaker 8: It really was what wins up as high as one 624 00:37:28,402 --> 00:37:30,082 Speaker 8: hundred and twenty mile hour wins. 625 00:37:30,362 --> 00:37:32,202 Speaker 9: That's rush and I thank God. 626 00:37:32,362 --> 00:37:35,162 Speaker 8: I think he was the instrument that God used to 627 00:37:35,442 --> 00:37:36,682 Speaker 8: keep him on inside. 628 00:37:37,082 --> 00:37:40,802 Speaker 2: It's been sixteen years since that fateful night in Atlanta, 629 00:37:41,242 --> 00:37:45,042 Speaker 2: but Michale says that every March, without fail, he still 630 00:37:45,082 --> 00:37:48,802 Speaker 2: gets messages from people who were in the crowd inside 631 00:37:48,882 --> 00:37:49,802 Speaker 2: the Georgia Dome. 632 00:37:50,402 --> 00:37:53,922 Speaker 7: I still give mesues to city today, still give messages 633 00:37:53,962 --> 00:37:56,882 Speaker 7: today and they say thank you. 634 00:37:56,882 --> 00:37:58,242 Speaker 1: You know, I still remember it. 635 00:37:58,242 --> 00:37:58,322 Speaker 4: This. 636 00:37:58,562 --> 00:38:02,242 Speaker 1: They always say the shot they saved my life and 637 00:38:03,602 --> 00:38:04,202 Speaker 1: thank you. 638 00:38:04,202 --> 00:38:04,362 Speaker 9: You know. 639 00:38:04,722 --> 00:38:09,642 Speaker 1: It's crazy, it's crazy to me. I'm still talking about 640 00:38:09,642 --> 00:38:12,202 Speaker 1: this to this day. Wow. 641 00:38:13,122 --> 00:38:17,682 Speaker 2: After college, Michael started playing professional basketball, mostly in France. 642 00:38:18,202 --> 00:38:21,562 Speaker 2: He's been there ever since. His parents have visited him 643 00:38:21,602 --> 00:38:25,162 Speaker 2: in Paris a bunch of times. His mom still shows 644 00:38:25,202 --> 00:38:28,242 Speaker 2: everybody the pictures of her in front of the Eiffel. 645 00:38:27,922 --> 00:38:30,082 Speaker 1: Tower plenty friends of these years. 646 00:38:30,202 --> 00:38:33,122 Speaker 7: Has been all I can ask for, because I would 647 00:38:33,242 --> 00:38:36,442 Speaker 7: never thought I would ever see parents, friends in my life. 648 00:38:36,762 --> 00:38:39,562 Speaker 7: But he's definitely been the experience and an adventure that 649 00:38:39,602 --> 00:38:42,602 Speaker 7: I will never forget. Cherish for the rest of my life, 650 00:38:42,802 --> 00:38:44,122 Speaker 7: this whole journey that I've. 651 00:38:43,922 --> 00:38:49,042 Speaker 2: Had, Freddie couldn't be more proud, not just of Michail 652 00:38:49,162 --> 00:38:52,362 Speaker 2: the professional basketball player, but Michael the man. 653 00:38:52,922 --> 00:38:57,042 Speaker 8: I'm proud that he took the upbringing our teacher is 654 00:38:57,082 --> 00:39:00,202 Speaker 8: stayed within him everywhere he had gone, and he went 655 00:39:00,242 --> 00:39:02,842 Speaker 8: over to France and he made a name for himself, 656 00:39:03,042 --> 00:39:06,522 Speaker 8: and it's just amazing how the people talk about him. 657 00:39:07,082 --> 00:39:12,002 Speaker 8: You can't we can't be none but proud parents. They really, 658 00:39:12,162 --> 00:39:15,882 Speaker 8: I mean people really talk about him over there. Lord, 659 00:39:16,362 --> 00:39:18,362 Speaker 8: they are really crazy about Michale. 660 00:39:18,722 --> 00:39:22,562 Speaker 2: What's become clear to McHale all these years later is 661 00:39:22,602 --> 00:39:26,602 Speaker 2: that there would never have been a miracle shot without 662 00:39:26,722 --> 00:39:31,642 Speaker 2: everything that came before it, starting on grandma's backyard court 663 00:39:32,202 --> 00:39:35,002 Speaker 2: and his dad teaching him the secret of the jump 664 00:39:35,002 --> 00:39:37,122 Speaker 2: shot under an Arkansas moon. 665 00:39:37,922 --> 00:39:40,402 Speaker 7: Oh you already know it's always good to make your 666 00:39:40,442 --> 00:39:42,682 Speaker 7: parents proud of you know, saying it's always good to 667 00:39:42,682 --> 00:39:45,282 Speaker 7: make your parents proud. You know, they even there from 668 00:39:45,322 --> 00:39:49,002 Speaker 7: the high school days to get cut. Oh man, I'm 669 00:39:49,042 --> 00:39:51,882 Speaker 7: fried who They've been there through it all. 670 00:39:52,162 --> 00:39:54,322 Speaker 1: He definitely is a good feeling. They have him proud 671 00:39:54,362 --> 00:39:54,602 Speaker 1: of me. 672 00:39:55,282 --> 00:39:58,962 Speaker 2: Michael is going to retire soon he's pushing forty and 673 00:39:59,162 --> 00:40:03,002 Speaker 2: even in France, that's old for a basketball player. When 674 00:40:03,042 --> 00:40:06,602 Speaker 2: he does it stop playing professionally, he already knows what 675 00:40:06,602 --> 00:40:11,002 Speaker 2: he wants to do. McHale wants to coach kids during 676 00:40:11,082 --> 00:40:15,162 Speaker 2: COVID when his professional season was canceled, Michale came back 677 00:40:15,202 --> 00:40:17,962 Speaker 2: to Arkansas and worked with ten and twelve year olds 678 00:40:18,002 --> 00:40:18,642 Speaker 2: on their game. 679 00:40:19,122 --> 00:40:21,802 Speaker 7: And I really really enjoyed it because once you know, 680 00:40:21,882 --> 00:40:24,002 Speaker 7: like you trained the kid, you know, help with a 681 00:40:24,082 --> 00:40:25,642 Speaker 7: move or something, and then he used that move in 682 00:40:25,682 --> 00:40:28,242 Speaker 7: the game and he scored with it. I didn't even 683 00:40:28,282 --> 00:40:30,722 Speaker 7: care about the money, like, because now you're the problem, 684 00:40:30,802 --> 00:40:32,522 Speaker 7: you know, like like you're on the other end, like 685 00:40:32,642 --> 00:40:33,762 Speaker 7: somebody was proud of you. 686 00:40:34,042 --> 00:40:35,602 Speaker 1: Now you're the problem. 687 00:40:36,402 --> 00:40:39,162 Speaker 7: And I'm like, wow, that is exactly how he started, 688 00:40:39,202 --> 00:40:41,842 Speaker 7: you know, doing jacking full circle. 689 00:40:43,042 --> 00:40:52,442 Speaker 11: Yeah really man, all right, Darren, before we even get 690 00:40:52,482 --> 00:40:55,242 Speaker 11: into the conversation, have you cast this story? 691 00:40:56,362 --> 00:40:57,082 Speaker 5: You know I have. 692 00:40:57,562 --> 00:40:59,082 Speaker 6: So this is kind of a simple one because I 693 00:40:59,122 --> 00:41:03,002 Speaker 6: just basically focused on Mikael Riley and his pops Freddy Right. 694 00:41:03,082 --> 00:41:07,162 Speaker 6: So it's just like basically I wanted Jay Ellis from Insecure, right, 695 00:41:07,162 --> 00:41:09,082 Speaker 6: because he's tall, he's got the hype. I can see 696 00:41:09,122 --> 00:41:11,362 Speaker 6: him pulling it off. He's charismatic. You're going to root 697 00:41:11,362 --> 00:41:14,242 Speaker 6: for that kid, and then also for his pops Freddie Riley. 698 00:41:14,282 --> 00:41:17,042 Speaker 6: I'm thinking, all right, this one is a casting idea 699 00:41:17,282 --> 00:41:19,882 Speaker 6: for him to win back the hearts of audiences in Hollywood. 700 00:41:20,042 --> 00:41:22,922 Speaker 5: Will Smith, He's already played a dad. He can do it. 701 00:41:22,962 --> 00:41:25,482 Speaker 2: He is a dad, right, he does a sports dad 702 00:41:25,522 --> 00:41:28,762 Speaker 2: redemption story exactly. Who's the voice of the Tornado? 703 00:41:29,682 --> 00:41:32,522 Speaker 5: I did not cast that. That's amazing given me ideas. 704 00:41:32,722 --> 00:41:35,322 Speaker 2: Oh no, well not off the top of my head. 705 00:41:35,322 --> 00:41:36,922 Speaker 2: You're the one who's really good at casting. 706 00:41:37,082 --> 00:41:38,602 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, who do we want to hear? Is 707 00:41:38,642 --> 00:41:40,882 Speaker 6: the voice of a storm? 708 00:41:41,402 --> 00:41:42,082 Speaker 9: Cast yourself? 709 00:41:42,162 --> 00:41:43,722 Speaker 4: You're done vo on these? 710 00:41:43,962 --> 00:41:46,922 Speaker 2: Yeah, you have a great voice, Saron, a podcast voice. 711 00:41:47,162 --> 00:41:47,362 Speaker 1: Yeah. 712 00:41:47,362 --> 00:41:49,242 Speaker 6: Well, I'd actually have to defer to my father on 713 00:41:49,282 --> 00:41:52,322 Speaker 6: the voices, so I'll just say him over myself. 714 00:41:53,082 --> 00:41:56,282 Speaker 4: There's a number of good lessons in this episode. It's 715 00:41:56,282 --> 00:41:58,722 Speaker 4: so easy to assume that anyone who's really good at 716 00:41:58,722 --> 00:42:02,042 Speaker 4: something was always really good at that thing, And in 717 00:42:02,122 --> 00:42:04,882 Speaker 4: this one we have pretty deep in his high school career. 718 00:42:05,042 --> 00:42:06,562 Speaker 5: Is the literal water boy? 719 00:42:07,082 --> 00:42:09,722 Speaker 4: Make the team and you know four or five years later, 720 00:42:09,802 --> 00:42:12,602 Speaker 4: he's in the SEC tournament Alabama. 721 00:42:12,802 --> 00:42:14,642 Speaker 5: That's starting. I mean, like, are you kidding me? 722 00:42:14,842 --> 00:42:16,602 Speaker 6: He did something no one has ever made me do, 723 00:42:16,722 --> 00:42:18,842 Speaker 6: which is root for Alabama. 724 00:42:19,802 --> 00:42:21,882 Speaker 2: For me, it's like, you know how people are always 725 00:42:22,002 --> 00:42:24,722 Speaker 2: like Albert Einstein failed his high school math, but the 726 00:42:24,762 --> 00:42:26,562 Speaker 2: truth is he did not, Like that's just like a 727 00:42:26,602 --> 00:42:29,002 Speaker 2: story that people say to make themselves feel better. This 728 00:42:29,202 --> 00:42:31,002 Speaker 2: is like that for real. It's like, you can be 729 00:42:31,042 --> 00:42:33,562 Speaker 2: a water boy in high school and still be a 730 00:42:33,562 --> 00:42:36,482 Speaker 2: star during college, and you can do a basketball shop 731 00:42:36,522 --> 00:42:39,282 Speaker 2: that will save potentially thousands of human lives. 732 00:42:39,402 --> 00:42:40,682 Speaker 5: What a beautiful way to be a hero. 733 00:42:40,842 --> 00:42:43,442 Speaker 6: You know you're always excited about like, oh, they saved 734 00:42:43,522 --> 00:42:45,562 Speaker 6: the game, but he saves the people. 735 00:42:46,002 --> 00:42:47,922 Speaker 5: It's the better hero story for sports. 736 00:42:48,242 --> 00:42:51,122 Speaker 2: The real lesson here is that our meteorologists need to 737 00:42:51,242 --> 00:42:54,202 Speaker 2: up their game and warn people about when there's going 738 00:42:54,282 --> 00:42:57,002 Speaker 2: to be storms, because it feels like the entire city 739 00:42:57,082 --> 00:42:59,162 Speaker 2: was taken by surpris comly completely. 740 00:42:59,242 --> 00:43:00,762 Speaker 5: Did you ever want to be a storm chaser either 741 00:43:00,762 --> 00:43:00,962 Speaker 5: of you? 742 00:43:01,122 --> 00:43:01,162 Speaker 1: No? 743 00:43:01,562 --> 00:43:02,602 Speaker 9: Absolutely not. 744 00:43:04,762 --> 00:43:06,522 Speaker 4: Run away from all the storms. 745 00:43:06,922 --> 00:43:10,202 Speaker 2: Want to be inside, somewhere safe and cozy with doors 746 00:43:10,282 --> 00:43:11,362 Speaker 2: locked and closed. 747 00:43:11,602 --> 00:43:14,362 Speaker 4: My very special character for this one yeah, what is yours? 748 00:43:14,442 --> 00:43:17,122 Speaker 4: I'm going with Grandma. None of this happens without Grandma 749 00:43:17,282 --> 00:43:22,562 Speaker 4: taking her windfall, bring that into the backyard and doing 750 00:43:22,682 --> 00:43:23,522 Speaker 4: right for the neighborhood. 751 00:43:23,562 --> 00:43:24,002 Speaker 9: I loved it. 752 00:43:24,082 --> 00:43:25,802 Speaker 5: Oh my god, I love that. This is a good call. 753 00:43:26,682 --> 00:43:28,202 Speaker 2: Who's your very special character? 754 00:43:28,482 --> 00:43:30,482 Speaker 6: I was gonna go with the storm because I was 755 00:43:30,522 --> 00:43:32,322 Speaker 6: root for the villain, you know, So I was just like, 756 00:43:32,482 --> 00:43:34,322 Speaker 6: I got in this one. It's the storm, but Grandma's 757 00:43:34,362 --> 00:43:36,642 Speaker 6: the better call. I really want to rethink this. What 758 00:43:36,722 --> 00:43:37,162 Speaker 6: about you? 759 00:43:37,322 --> 00:43:39,362 Speaker 2: I'm going storm? Voiced by your dad? 760 00:43:39,522 --> 00:43:41,522 Speaker 5: Okay, there we go the tripecta. 761 00:43:41,802 --> 00:43:47,642 Speaker 4: That's a when Very Special Episodes is made by some 762 00:43:47,762 --> 00:43:51,202 Speaker 4: very special people. This show was hosted by Danis Schwartz, 763 00:43:51,482 --> 00:43:55,962 Speaker 4: Zaron Burnett, and me Jason English. Today's episode was written 764 00:43:55,962 --> 00:44:00,802 Speaker 4: by Dave Bruce. Our producer is Josh Fisher. Editing and 765 00:44:00,882 --> 00:44:05,922 Speaker 4: sound designed by Chris Childs, Mixing and mastering by Beheid Frasier. 766 00:44:06,962 --> 00:44:11,802 Speaker 4: Original music by Elise McCoy. Show logo by Lucy Quintonia 767 00:44:12,642 --> 00:44:16,002 Speaker 4: and I'm your executive producer. If you'd like to email 768 00:44:16,042 --> 00:44:18,082 Speaker 4: the show for any reason, you can reach us at 769 00:44:18,202 --> 00:44:22,362 Speaker 4: Very Special Episodes at gmail dot com. Very Special Episodes 770 00:44:22,402 --> 00:44:24,442 Speaker 4: is a production of iHeart podcasts.