1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone. This is view from the Raptors podcast. This 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: is good news. I would like to be a part 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: of that. I could make it up and you'd be like, oh, yeah, 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: that sounds right right, just keep going. I believe Green 5 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 1: she probably have somebody look at that. Yeah, what probably 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: to start around here? Let's go, here we go. We're 7 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: ready to rack right out of the gates. Put me 8 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: in coach. I am ready to play. Go Celtics Go. 9 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: What a team or a franchise? What a history, what 10 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: a present, what a future? I am the luckiest guy 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: on earth, the Celtics. They did not give me my 12 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 1: career back. They gave me my life back. And here 13 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,599 Speaker 1: I am to try to help pay it back. But 14 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: there is no way that I can ever do that. 15 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: And look who just joined us here, the man, the myth, 16 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: the legend himself. Oh I'm so jealous about that beer. 17 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: I have one of the worst beers in the history 18 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: of the known world. And there is Kendrick himself, the champion, 19 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: the leader of the foundation, the pillar with this magnificent bear. 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: They're so proud there. What are you've built for yourself? Kendrick? 21 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,320 Speaker 1: You opened up with your excitement about the Celtics, and 22 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: in my time here and being around this organization, every 23 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: time I hear you talk about the Celtics, you get 24 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: this glow in your eye. But it's interesting to me 25 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: because you only played ninety games for this team. Obviously 26 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: you want a championship, But what is it that has 27 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 1: given you such a close tie to this organization and 28 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: make you love the green that you're wearing right now? 29 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: By the way, you're wearing a Celtics sweatshirt right now. 30 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: What what makes you love this organization so much? Jeff 31 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: Twist and Nike they a shout out to Twist Twist 32 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: the So. I grew up a Celtic fan and Bill 33 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: Russell was my favorite player ever. I live in my 34 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: hometown of San Diego. I live a mile from the 35 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: hospital that I was born in. We've been in our 36 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: house for forty two years. This is my dream. And 37 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: my mom, who's still alive at ninety four years young, 38 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: she lives in the same family home that we all 39 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: grew up and she's been there for sixty nine years. 40 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: But my parents zero interested sports. They always asked me, Billy, 41 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: are you ever going to get a job. So here 42 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: it was this situation where I found sports following my 43 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: older brother who went to a ton of Celtic games. 44 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: I found sports through this remarkable coach that I had, 45 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: who was like John Wooden, who was like Jack Ramsey, 46 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: who was like Red Auraback. He was just this incredible 47 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: force of nature, much like Big Perk. And this guy 48 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: Rocket was being Perk in my life because he was 49 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: the volunteer coach at the elementary school that I went 50 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: for fifty nine years, never took a dime for fifty 51 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: nine year. He was the local fireman, and he had 52 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: children going to the same school. We were all the 53 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: same age, and so he just saw a need and said, 54 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to take care of this, like Red, like 55 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: John Wooden, like Jack grand like all great leaders, and 56 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: a lot like Rick and Steve did when Obama challenged 57 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: the city of Boston to put that statue up for 58 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 1: Bill Russell, they said, we're going to take care of this. 59 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: And that's what Rocky did. And he taught me the 60 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 1: joy of sport and love and hope and optimism and 61 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: all the things that go into wanting to create this 62 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: dream of Yeah, that's what I want to do with 63 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: my life. And then I met Rocky when I was 64 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: eight years old. And then two years later, within two years, 65 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: chick Hearne took the Laker broadcast job and we had 66 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: our house. We did not have a television debt and 67 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: basketball was not on TV at the time, but it 68 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: was on the radio. So chick I found Jake arm 69 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: My parents zero interest in sports. I mean, I never 70 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: shot a basket with my dad, So him run one 71 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: time at the church and picnic and go over land 72 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: and my mom my mom's a town's librarian, and they 73 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: just they don't like sports. They don't know anything about sports, 74 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: they don't follow sports. But they're the greatest parents ever. 75 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: And so with the incredible parents who were encouraging and 76 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: nurturing and so positive, and then Rocky and chick Hearne, 77 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: and then every coach and teacher that I had as 78 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: a child in these fabulous schools of southern California. They 79 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: were all John Wooden disciples, and so this was this 80 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: wonderful culture. Now I'm not like Big Perk. I did 81 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: not grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. 82 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: But here it was a situation where I had the dream, 83 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: and in the early days that dream from Rocky, from 84 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: my parents, from Chick and ultimately John Wooden was hope, 85 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: opportunity and purpose and over the time that the way 86 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: that Chick used to talk about the Celtics. Chick was 87 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: the Laker broadcast, so he was doing his job with them, 88 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: but the way he talked about the Celtics and the 89 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 1: way I read about the Celtics and the the fast 90 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: break and the team game. And then Bill Russell just 91 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: this incredible he and Bill Russell is my favorite basketball 92 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: player ever on and off the court, and the way 93 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: he played and the way he conducted himself as a player. 94 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: He played to win, He played to make the other 95 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: players the star. He did whatever it took to win 96 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: the games. He was the exact identical player to Steve Nash, 97 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: except they didn't look the same and they didn't have 98 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: the same body type. You know, Bill was big, long 99 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: and lean and rangy and powerful, and Steve was looking 100 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: a lot like Sean there, you know, just you know, 101 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: Steve's about my wife's compliments and so well you're sitting down, 102 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: Sean and so. But Steve, like Bill Russell, is a 103 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: true giant. And the way he played, he played with 104 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: his mind in his heart and his spirit and his 105 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: soul and that's what Bill Russell did. But you could 106 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: never discount the advantages that Bill Russell had with his coach, 107 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: Red Alback. There has never been greatness without a great coach, 108 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: and Red was just phenomenal. And so here was little Bill. 109 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: Are you growing up in San Diego and just dreaming 110 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,559 Speaker 1: about this fantastic team? And then my mom brought home 111 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: Bill Russell's first book, Go Up for Glory and from 112 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: the library and I never turned the back. I never 113 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: turned the book back in and I kept it and 114 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: she kept bugging me, Billy, we're running up these incredible fans. 115 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: We don't have any money, man, you want to eat 116 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: or you want to read this book? And for the 117 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: fifteen time, so I never turned the book back and 118 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: I still have it to this day. When I first 119 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: signed my my initial NBA contract, the first check that 120 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: I wrote was to the San Diego Public Library System 121 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: to replace that book that I never that's a true story. 122 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: Well why would I say, that's what kind of what 123 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: kind of moral character do you have? But to be 124 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: on the Celtics was one of those special special moments 125 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: because I loved all the teams, and I love the 126 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: culture and what Red had established. I read all the 127 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: books and I watched all the shows, and I got 128 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: to know Red as a college player, as a early professional, 129 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 1: and I was playing with the Blazers and I was 130 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: on read on round ball all the time, and Red 131 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: was always trying to get me to go on these 132 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: international tours. But I was either hurt or they had 133 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: a revolution in Iran. We were going to Iran. We're 134 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: all scheduled to go over there and put on a 135 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: big basketball symposium. And but then it read called and 136 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: was saying, hey man, they just had a revolution. They 137 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: just threw the show at jail or out of town. 138 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: It's not a good idea, right, So we're not gonna 139 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: go over there. And then the Yeah, the Russell teams 140 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: and all the people who I had met through Willie 141 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: Knowls and idolized to being a fan. And then to 142 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: see the transition and the early seventies team with Cowens 143 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: and have the Check and Nelson and Silas and Jojo 144 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: White and Don Cheney, who was just a just you know, 145 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: a real pillar in basketball because you know his start 146 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: with Elvin Hayes at the University of Houston and the 147 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: battles that Houston and u c l A used to 148 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: have in the n c A Tournament in the nineties sixties, 149 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: and then that early seventies Celtic team also had either 150 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: Paul Westfall or Charlie Scott on it and had Tommy 151 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: Hinson who was the coach, and it was just And 152 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: then I started to meet guys like Bob Ryan and 153 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: everyone I met it was just like perfect. And then 154 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: I was at a crossroads in life in the eighties 155 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: and I was talking to my great friend David Halberstam, 156 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: who I had met through the breaks of the game 157 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: and I was a huge fan of his. But then 158 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: I met him through Jack Ramsey and the books that 159 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: he was writing, and David Halberstam said, hey, man, you 160 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: should go play on the Celtics. I said that one 161 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: from southern California said it'll be fine, and so I did, 162 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: and I came with high expectations. I had no idea 163 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: how great it would be because the basketball was better 164 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: than perfect. The culture, the life, everything in Boston was 165 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: just over the top, spectacular empty that the saurus. I 166 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: just wish it could have lasted forever. And if I 167 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: ever get close to answering your question as to why 168 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: I'm a Celtic. You should say, Okay, that's enough on 169 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: that bill. We want to ask you a question. Well, 170 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: I can just keep going. Let me try, okay. When 171 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: in in in nineteen eighty five, you've had the injuries, 172 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: it hasn't gone well with the Clippers in San Diego, 173 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 1: it looked like you got a chance to play your 174 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: home team. When in nineteen eighty five, When that summer, 175 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: because remember we've told the story from Cedric Maxwell's perspective 176 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: and how he had fallen out of favor during that 177 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: season and that Red was looking to move on from him. 178 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: When was the first time the idea of this dream 179 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 1: of yours and becoming a Celtic. When is this on 180 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: your radar? In that summer of in the summer, in 181 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: the summer of five, I made the decision that I 182 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: and I was slow to this decision. I'm a very 183 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: stubborn guy. And John and John Wooden he always used 184 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: to you know, John Wooden had a mantra for everything, 185 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,479 Speaker 1: and the mantra for me with my abbornness was stubbornness. 186 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: We deprecate firmness. We couldone the former is my neighbor's 187 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: treat and the latter is my own. And so when 188 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: I finally came to the ultimate decision that I could 189 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: no longer be in the world of Donald Sterling, I 190 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,439 Speaker 1: had to move on. And it was I should have 191 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: done it a lot earlier, But it was the process 192 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: of making it happen. Bill, I had to give Donald 193 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: Sterling every dime. I had to do that, and to 194 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: get out, and and and he kept holding it up. 195 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 1: And you know, I had called Red and and asked 196 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: him for a chance to be on the Celtics. And 197 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,679 Speaker 1: he asked Larry, who was sitting in the room at 198 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: the time. I got Red on the phone, and Larry said, 199 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: go get him, and Read said, okay, let's do it. 200 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: And then and then Reggie said to me, keep your 201 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: mouth shut and let me take care of it. And 202 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: you know, Red Red was, Red was like David Stern. 203 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: Red loved to negotiate. The last thing I want to 204 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: do with my life is sitting inside of building and 205 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: argue about money all day long. I want to play, 206 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: I want to go, I want to work to make 207 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: things better in life. Yeah, and so I've been very 208 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: fortunate that I've been able to make enough money to survive, 209 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: and I am alive right now, and I have the 210 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: dream life that I want. My challenge will be to 211 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: sustain that life. But you know, I'm not in charge. 212 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: I'm I'm an employee. I'm an independent contractor. I'm a 213 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: working man, and I like being a workingman. And I 214 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: wanted to say this to you. Uh be a legend. 215 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan, being a big fan of yours. 216 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: You're not old enough to know who I am. I am. 217 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: I'm old enough. I have an old soul. Okay, I 218 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: have an old soul, right I look, I look, I'm 219 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: thirty six, but I have an old soul. I was 220 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: raised by my grandparents, so I know a lot about 221 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: the history of the game. And I think when I 222 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: look at you, and I think you bought a different 223 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: flavor to broadcast. I remember one time I was watching 224 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: the game in high school and he was brought cast 225 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: in the NBA game and you said something so funny 226 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: it's stuck with me to this day. Somebody took a 227 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: horrible shot and it was just the simplest thing, but 228 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: you was like, that was the worst shot in NBA history. 229 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: I mean, it was horrible, and it wasn't that bad, 230 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,719 Speaker 1: but the fact that you said it, it was just like, 231 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: that's how I need to be, like straightforward. I think 232 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: like you set the bar for guys to be comfortable 233 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: with with who they are for is being able to 234 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: go out there and say what they want to say, 235 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: because that's what the people want, the authenticy, right. And 236 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: I know at times I stuttered, I'm a country boy 237 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: from bout my Texas, but I'm not changing. I'm not 238 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: a guy that's going looking the encyclopedia. I'm not a 239 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: guy that's going looking at diction there. No, we're talking basketball. Okay, 240 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: we're talking barbershop basketball. You know what the hell I'm 241 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: trying to say? I do. I've been to be It's 242 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: the it's the garden spot of South eastern Texas. Absolutely 243 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: beautiful and one of the guys, one of the guys 244 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: in the offer t the Champions who are broadcast for 245 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: now in the Pact twelve from Boulder. He is from Beaumont, 246 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: as well Eli Parque, and then Mail far is from Beaumont, Texas, 247 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 1: and Frank Robinson. I believe it's from all these incredible stars, 248 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: So don't be bad enough in Beaumont, Texas. But I 249 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: have two questions. I have two important questions. One like, 250 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: I'm a huge fan of your son Luke Walt Right 251 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 1: like NBA champion role players times? Yeah, two time champion, 252 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: I know that, right, I mean one time they beat us, 253 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: so I'm familiar. Okay, two time NBA champion read that 254 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: one too. But you know I have a different I 255 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: have a different love for a role for role players, 256 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: right because the average NBA careers three and a half 257 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: four years, and Luke surpassed it, and write NBA champion 258 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: now as the head coach, as a father, as a 259 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: far to, I just want to know how that makes 260 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: you feel watching watching watching your son play the game 261 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: of basketball and now watching him be a head coach 262 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: in the NBA and you know, doing a pretty good 263 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: job it like, as a father, how does that make 264 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: you feel? And do y'all talk on the regular? What 265 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: kind of advice you give them? I know you probably 266 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: call him a lot and give him then I fool, right, perk, 267 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: big perk. There's nothing like the pride of a dad. 268 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: How many children do you have? I have four? How 269 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: many grandchildren? No? No, no, no, I'm not dead old. 270 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: He's thirty six. He's got a couple of years until 271 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: he gains. You're thirty six years old. Oh my gosh, 272 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: I'm I'm thirty two years older than you are. I'm 273 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: sixty just getting started out here. But Luke is one 274 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: of our six children and fourteen grandchildren. My oldest brother 275 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: passed away recently into en and so we adopted his 276 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: two adult children, and there are five children. So now 277 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: that puts our total at six children and fourteen grandchildren 278 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: that were responsible for and the pride of a dad. 279 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: And to see what all of our children have been 280 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: able to do, and you know, Luke is in the 281 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: public eye. There's nothing like the NBA. The platform that 282 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: the NBA gives to so many different people, and the 283 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: value and the ability to enable and to empower people 284 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: to become who were capable of and then to see 285 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: your child do that, and I am just thrilled as 286 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: can be. But I'm well aware that the Kings have 287 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: lost their last three games, and then you're only as 288 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: good as last night's game, and that only lasts until 289 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: the dawn, and then you're only as good as your 290 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: next game. But they're moving in the right directs in 291 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: the right like. So the first time in about twenty 292 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: of years, we could say that the Sacramento Kings, Uh, 293 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: they have bright spots and they're moving in the right directs, 294 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: and so I give them the benefit of the doubt. 295 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: You're very kind and you have a lot more patients 296 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: than I have. I just tell Luke every day that 297 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: I love him because our jobs as broadcasters, Luke's jobs, 298 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: Brad Stephen's jobs, they must be the easiest jobs in 299 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: the world because everybody keeps telling us how to do 300 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: our jobs. And situation where Luke's is responsibility as the coach. 301 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: And you know, Sacramento is a phenomenal town, but in 302 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: the NBA you have to win, and the job of 303 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: the coach is to make the players better at what 304 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: they do and who they are. And so the great 305 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: good fortune and privilege that Luke had as a child 306 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: to grow up in in the NBA atmosphere and culture 307 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: and world. He was very young, he was probably four 308 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: or five, six, maybe seven when when we were Boston, 309 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: and Larry was his favorite player, and Larry's everybody's favorite player. Anybody, whoever, 310 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,919 Speaker 1: anybody who ever saw Larry Bird play basketball, he's their 311 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: favorite player because he was just so remarkable, and Larry 312 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: could not have been nicer to all of our four 313 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: children and always inclusive to him, and Larry would take 314 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: our children with him. He and died that they didn't 315 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: have children at the time, and so they would take 316 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: our children to the All Star Game with him every 317 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: year and buy him as suite and pay for everything 318 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: to say, order whatever you want, and UH and Larry 319 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: would take care of everything, and they would just have 320 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: the time in their life. And and then Luke growing 321 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: up Greg Lee, who was the star of our u c. 322 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 1: L A team. Greg Lee became a coach UH and 323 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: mentor and math teacher here in San Diego Public schools 324 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: after his career was over as a professional in Europe. 325 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: And then he he was instrumental in Luke's in all 326 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: of our children's development and love for sports. And then 327 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: Luke had a great high school coach named Jim Tomy, 328 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: and they were state champions, and he played with his 329 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: brothers and it was just a phenomenal team and tons 330 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 1: of the guys went on too, huge success in athletics, 331 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: academics and in business as well. And then he got 332 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: to go play for lud Olson and lud Olson was 333 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 1: the twenty one century version of John Wooden and induced 334 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: with a style and the culture and identity like the Celtics, 335 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: like the Bruins, like any great franchise, and with the 336 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: great coach. And then and then he got to play 337 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: for Phil Jackson and Rudy ton Janevich for for nine 338 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 1: ten years. Luck, you know, and so you're gonna learn 339 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: a lot. And but you know, you know, in the NBA, 340 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: you gotta win. That's what it's about. And uh I 341 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,439 Speaker 1: I do text him, yea, I do text him more 342 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: than regularly. What's whatever you want? So? I just want 343 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,879 Speaker 1: to know, how do you feel about the Nuclayers right now? 344 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: The new age NBA, the generation. It's fantastic, it is 345 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 1: these guys are remarkable. The physical development, everything is better everything, 346 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, the skill, the talent, the size, the strength, 347 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: the speed, the business aspects of it, the financial aspects 348 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: of it, the medical aspects, the training, the equipment, the buildings, 349 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 1: the charter planes. I mean, when when you look at 350 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: it from my perspective, it's the dream come true. This 351 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,879 Speaker 1: is what we wanted, this is what we thought, this 352 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: is what we visualize and helped to make happen like 353 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: this wouldn't have happened without you. Absolutely, when we were 354 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: doing it. It was perfect then too, you know, you 355 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 1: know basketball and NBA basketball in the seventies was phenomenal. 356 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: You had the Knicks with great players and great teams. 357 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: You had the Lakers, uh Jerry and Elgin and Wilt 358 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: On the Knicks, you had Willis and Walt and Earl 359 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: and Dick Bill and Dave and Red Holtzman just fantastic. 360 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: You had the Celtics, we already went through their whole 361 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 1: team in roster. And then you had the Baltimore Bullets, 362 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: which were great with Rest Unselled and uh Jack Marron 363 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: and Gus Johnson and oh my goodness. And then you 364 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: had Milwaukee with Kareem and Oscar and Lucius and Bobby Dandridge. 365 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: And you had just these phenomenal teams that every year. 366 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: It was just great. Phoenix had a great run. They 367 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: didn't win the title, but they made it to the 368 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: finals once again. Boston and nineteen seventies six Golden State 369 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 1: Warriors one of the great teams ever with Rick Barry 370 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: and Jamal Wilkes and Phil Smith and Aladdle's just absolutely spectacular. 371 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: The expansions were coming in Portland. The Blazers won a 372 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: championship Seattle won a championship in the seventies, and then 373 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 1: you had the Washington Bullets at the end with when 374 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: they got Elvin Hayes. And you know, Elvin Hayes was 375 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,640 Speaker 1: just an absolutely spectacular player and the things that he did, 376 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: and he was just the first of this endless line 377 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 1: of guys who came to Little Billy when I first 378 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 1: when I first arrived at their orbit, and he could 379 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: not have been more accommodating, he could not have been 380 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: more supportive and nurturing. And to see how that is 381 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: all now paved forward and you've got all, you know, 382 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: all these guys just doing spectacular things. And the way 383 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: that the three point shot has changed everything, the way 384 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: that the the remarkable mobility and the athleticism of the 385 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: players and the coaching it used to be that the 386 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: you know that, and the ownership level has gone through 387 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: the roof and and all of that is a result 388 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: of David Stern. And David Stern is the most important 389 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: person in the history basketball. And he's probably Shaun size 390 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: or Laurie's size, and never shot a basket. Mark. I 391 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: don't know, Mark, you look bigger. You're sitting up in 392 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: your chair, and so but David Stern, he made a 393 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: game into a business, and David he loved the business 394 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: aspects of it, and he also saw the opportunities to 395 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: use the NBA as a vehicle to move the world 396 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: to a better place. And and the way that he 397 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: that he insists that people get involved in the community. 398 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: And and you know the Celtics with Wick and Steve, 399 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just like spectacular what they do with 400 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: the Celtics Foundation, all the different charitable worst that they 401 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 1: involved within the community aspects, and to make us so 402 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 1: proud because when you look at this new team that 403 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: they have right now, there's a lot of players on 404 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: that team deep and they just keep coming right now 405 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: with the wind street that they're on right now and 406 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: playing so well and be able to overcome the COVID adversities. 407 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 1: And no team has been more impacted this year than 408 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: the Celtics by COVID and then have Heaven Kimba being 409 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: out of the lineup at the beginning, that doesn't help. 410 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,400 Speaker 1: But know, health is everything, and uh and I am 411 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: I am the most injured player ever. I was in 412 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: the NBA for fourteen years. I missed nine and a 413 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: half full seasons and so I know the logivity of it. 414 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: I know how tenuous it is. And so and when 415 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: when you have something, and basketball was the easiest part 416 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: of my life. And when you have something and you 417 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: love it and and you want to keep it and 418 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 1: you can't, that that changes you as a person. And 419 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: and that's you know, you get you get greater appreciation 420 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 1: for life, get greater appreciation for struggles, because you know, 421 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: I had the greatest childhood in the world. You know, 422 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: we didn't have anything in terms of material possessions, but 423 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: I had everything. You know, I living here in San Diego. 424 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: You know, I thought Los Angeles was freezing cold, and 425 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: then I had never lived in a cold weather climate. 426 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: And then I went to Portland, Man, I thought the 427 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: sun had burned out, that the world was coming through 428 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: an end. And then when I was going to Boston, 429 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: everybody said, Bill, you know the weather there's it was 430 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: a lot different than San Diego. And it was. But 431 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: being on the Boston Celtics with Larry Bird was like 432 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:33,239 Speaker 1: being on a tropical island. Larry. Larry packs a lot 433 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,919 Speaker 1: of heat in every aspect of his life. Even as 434 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: great as Larry is, he was not able to do 435 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: it by himself. You know, I I learned I wanted 436 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: to be the best. I wanted to be great, and 437 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: I learned immediately that I couldn't do it alone. I 438 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: needed teammates, I needed players, and I needed a coach. 439 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: And so I spent my whole life just chasing that dream. 440 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: And that's another of the listen list why I love 441 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 1: the Celtics, because the Celtics have always epitomized the team game. 442 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 1: And that's why I love Danny Age because although when 443 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 1: we played with him, we never really thought of him, 444 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: you know, because because he was the young guy, and 445 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: he was the wild one, and he had always had 446 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:19,239 Speaker 1: the freshest legs and the freshest personality and so uh 447 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: and so we would always teach them about that. But 448 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 1: it's just a remarkable athlete, spectacular human being, and a 449 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: brilliant leader. And I'm staggered and stunned and disappointed, frustrated 450 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: and on the verge of anger that Danny Age is 451 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,360 Speaker 1: not in the Basketball Hall of Fame. And it's very sad. 452 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I'll be coming to Boston, uh in the 453 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,959 Speaker 1: middle of May of this year as they started up 454 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: the Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies again. It's just gonna 455 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: be wonderful to see all the guys again. On the 456 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: Celtics team that I played on. There was you know, 457 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 1: Red was in the Hall of Fame, Casey Jones was 458 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: in the Hall of Fame, Larry Kevin Chief DJ they 459 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 1: wait until he died, which was just tragic. And there 460 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 1: was a period of time when Dennis Johnson was the 461 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,439 Speaker 1: best guard in the world and he and he played 462 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: like it as everybody, your career changes, things happen and 463 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: you can't do what you used to do. And then 464 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 1: he got on the Celtics and got to play with Larry, 465 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: Kevin Chief and Danny and wow, what a team spectacular. 466 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 1: Speaking of that team, I mean we had Scotty Wedman, 467 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:31,159 Speaker 1: Scotty Wedman who there were times when Scott Wedman was 468 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: the second greatest player on the planet, not on the 469 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 1: team on the planet, and he couldn't even get in 470 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: the game because when Casey Jones would try to substitute 471 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: for Larry, Larry wouldn't come out. Scott would come run 472 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: enough and he said, yea, I don't have my turn, 473 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 1: and he's just on fire right and learns I'm not 474 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 1: coming out. You know, you just asked, what asked, which 475 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 1: one of these other guys want to come out because 476 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,919 Speaker 1: I'm not coming out. But then then Scott would look 477 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: back at the casey and say, just okay, Kevin, you 478 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: come out, DJ you come out, and and we worked 479 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 1: it out. What's your greatest Larry Bird memory? Our story 480 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: in their endless I'm not into ranking, raiding and comparing things. 481 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 1: I'm just into enjoying. But as great a player as 482 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 1: Larry was, he was an even better human being. He 483 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 1: was the guy who inspired the crowd. I've never seen 484 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 1: in all my years, I've never seen a player get 485 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 1: the crowd going the way that Larry did. The home 486 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: crowd in the in the garden, the road crowd too, 487 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: because they used to come out. They used to come 488 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: out and and cheer when he would miss in warmups 489 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: when he was trying to, you know, loosen up, you'd 490 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: throw up some shots and he missing. The crowd we're 491 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,120 Speaker 1: just cheering, you know, from the road to I thought 492 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,479 Speaker 1: they might get a win. That didn't happen. No, they 493 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 1: didn't happen. So with this game Portland's and and the 494 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: Blazers last night, I mean the Blazers in Boston. Excuse 495 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: me last night. I was reminded of the time that 496 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,120 Speaker 1: we were coming to an end of a road trip 497 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: and the last game was going to be I believe, 498 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 1: even in Portland, and Larry was was well known for 499 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 1: predicting what he was gonna do on the road trips 500 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: because we have these, you know, seven eight nine game 501 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: road trips. They say we're gonna win them all and 502 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna average a triple double, and the reporters they yeah, right, 503 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: and then he would go out into it right. And 504 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: so it comes to when you have the game in 505 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: Seattle the night before and the reporters come to him 506 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,360 Speaker 1: and there's all the same guys, because in those days, 507 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: the reporters were part of the team, and it was fantastic. 508 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: They traveled with this, stay in the same hotels, we 509 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: ate our meals together. It was just fantastic. They asked Larry, well, so, Larry, 510 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: you come to the end of the road trip, what 511 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: do you got in store. You've achieved all your milestones, 512 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 1: and he said, I'm gonna play this game left handed, 513 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 1: and they said yeah, right. So no, I'm gonna play 514 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: left handed and if the game's endowed in the fourth quarter, 515 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: I'll switch back to right hand, but he played the 516 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: entire game left handed and he had a triple double. 517 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: How insane is that here and that story. I mean, 518 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: I can't use my left hand right now. I couldn't 519 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: them just to think that he did that and double, 520 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: that's crazy. Everything he did was like that big perk, 521 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: you know, it was it was like, you know, the 522 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: things he would say. He was the greatest trash talker 523 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: of all time. John Wooden was number two. And his 524 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: relationship with Red and his relationship with Diana's relationship with 525 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: all the players, and you know the time I knocked 526 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 1: Diana Bird out of playing that Hellenic College and they 527 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: had to call nine one one if they even had 528 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: nine one one in those days. I don't know. You know, 529 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: you know when Larry came out here to San Diego 530 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: after the championship, because and we just had the time 531 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 1: of our lives and he was just so kind and 532 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: we did everything. And Larry used to travel with a 533 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: guy who was an Indiana State trooper and they just 534 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 1: kind of the State of Indiana just assigned Dr Route. 535 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: I don't know what his name was, but his nick 536 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 1: nickname was Dr Rouge. And we never found out that 537 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 1: the root of that name. But he came out here 538 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: at Oh my gosh, Raymail Kiori the trainer and Larry's 539 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: assumption of responsibility just absolutely incredible, and uh, there was 540 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: no one ever like him. And it's just so much 541 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 1: fun and such a privilege. But that don't let me 542 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 1: diminish the contributions and effectiveness and us spectacular nature of 543 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: the games of kel McHale and Robert Parrish and Dennis 544 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: Johnson and you know that, and then the second string 545 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: that has Scott Wedman. We mentioned him and Rick Carlyle, 546 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: who has probably been the most successful of all the 547 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: um of all the guys on that team, and they're 548 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 1: in their post basketball career. You know, did Danny has 549 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: been very successful, but Danny stayed with the Celtics. You know, 550 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: Rick is the Rick is the most unlikely of all 551 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: the success stories, and what he has been able to 552 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: do with Dallas and the head of the Coaches Association 553 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 1: just absolutely spectacular and remarkable. Empty the futuris and then 554 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: Jerry Season, you know, this magnificent player who went to 555 00:30:57,360 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: the same high school that John Wooden went to. Then 556 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 1: not in the same year, but they were friends and 557 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: they were and Greg Kite and David Thirdkill and and 558 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: Sam Vincent and so it was. It was just a great, 559 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: great and we had the perfect coach, a coach that 560 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 1: we loved and we would do anything for. Who made 561 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: it super fun. You know, all the great coaches, they 562 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 1: make it fun. You can't you can't wait to get there. 563 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 1: You know, it's a privilege to be a part of 564 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: something so special and to be there and do what 565 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: you do and have so much joy and happiness. And 566 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,920 Speaker 1: I remember that you asked about Larry because we played 567 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 1: there was no film, no film at all, and there 568 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: was a minimal amount of scouting. And so if like 569 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: when I played for John Woden, John Wooden in four 570 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 1: years mentioned the other team twice. We lost for those games, 571 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 1: thanks a lot of coach and this. You know, Jack 572 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: Ramsey shoot around lasted twelve minutes. Twelve minutes and it 573 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: was so incredibly organized. And then Casey Jones shoot around 574 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 1: lasted eight minutes. And the second that Casey started talking 575 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 1: about the other team, plays Larry and just say, okay, 576 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: that's for you guys. I've been going at the other 577 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: end to work on my game. In case he was like, okay, 578 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 1: that's it. Practice is over. Still, there's a legendary story 579 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: that the story of the Grateful Dead concert has become 580 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: legend of its own. Part of the six Team. I've 581 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 1: been thinking about it now with you know the way 582 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: we look back at history. Now we realize you're new 583 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: coming to that team. You're a veteran, you're an All Star, 584 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 1: you're a champion. But that group have been together, and 585 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: looking back at it now we're doing part of our 586 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: series is about BOOMBOO two and the two thousand and 587 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 1: eight team and how they all came together. I realized 588 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 1: now looking back, that must have really been something for 589 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: that group to kind of do your thing. It was 590 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 1: a way for them to sort of welcome you into 591 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: this elite group. I can't speak to that. I can 592 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 1: only speak for myself. Yeah, tell me about it. I 593 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: don't speak for other people. And but I was going 594 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: and they found out that I was going, and they said, 595 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: can we come too? I think we can do something 596 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 1: about that. I'm gonna go on since I was fifteen 597 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:21,239 Speaker 1: years old, and I can't wait too. I can't wait 598 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 1: to go again. Larry and Kevin asked, you know I 599 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: was standing there. I mean you don't want to hear 600 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,920 Speaker 1: the story again, do you. It's not about the story. 601 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: It's more about joining a group that had been together 602 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 1: for a while, because Perk, you had veterans joined that 603 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: new Big Three team throughout the course, you know, p J. 604 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: Brown and Stefan Marbury and guys who had their own 605 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 1: established careers, and you made them feel part of the group. 606 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 1: And that always struck me as an important part of 607 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: sort of team building team body. And it happened so 608 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:57,440 Speaker 1: early in that well. I begged and pleaded and ultimately 609 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 1: bought my way. And you know, once I had made 610 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:08,759 Speaker 1: the decision, this is where it comes back to stubbornness 611 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 1: and pride. Once I had made the decision, I was 612 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 1: on my way. Now, it took Red a long time 613 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,839 Speaker 1: to close the deal, but that was not Red's fault. 614 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:23,240 Speaker 1: Red was ready, but Donald Stirling, that's a different breed 615 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: of human being that I would rather not be associated with. 616 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: The way it evolved was when I was when I 617 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:33,399 Speaker 1: got there and mL picked me up, I said, look, 618 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 1: let's just go straight over the Chief's house because I 619 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 1: got to talk to the chief and I gotta just 620 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:40,839 Speaker 1: let him know that I'm here to help you. I'm 621 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:42,960 Speaker 1: not I'm not here for anything else. You know. My 622 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: job is to is to back you up. My job 623 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:51,840 Speaker 1: is to lift the pain and ease the burden. And 624 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:55,520 Speaker 1: when Chief went into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and 625 00:34:56,719 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: nothing was more shocking than when he asked me to 626 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:03,440 Speaker 1: be his presenter, and and I sat and used to 627 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 1: sit right next to Chief in the locker room every day, 628 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,279 Speaker 1: and it was so much fun because this was the 629 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:10,960 Speaker 1: coolest dude ever, I mean last, the big perk there 630 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: with that smile on his face, even his eye, and 631 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 1: that was Chief and just just absolutely Chief was the 632 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: foundational pillar of the team. It wouldn't have worked without 633 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,879 Speaker 1: him because you had Larry and Kevin doing their things 634 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 1: on either wing, and it was and that they were. 635 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 1: You know, to win in the NBA, you have to 636 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 1: have the best players, and you know, your best players 637 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 1: have to outplay their best players. It's it's very simple. 638 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:41,200 Speaker 1: You know, where Larry and Kevin are gonna outplay Kareem 639 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:45,360 Speaker 1: and Magic Uh or Dr J and Moses and Charles, 640 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,279 Speaker 1: you know we're gonna win. And they did that all 641 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 1: the time, and their consistency, their durability was just was spectacular. 642 00:35:55,200 --> 00:36:02,120 Speaker 1: Larry epitomized the notion of players may players, players don't players. 643 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: That's really interesting to hear. And really, Bill, listening to 644 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:08,879 Speaker 1: you talk about not only Larry but the eighties six 645 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,279 Speaker 1: team perk. When you're listening to this, doesn't it sound 646 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 1: a lot like how you would describe your experience on 647 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:20,920 Speaker 1: that O eight team. Yeah, I mean the chemistry, different personalities. Um. 648 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 1: But but the most important thing that I got from 649 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:27,319 Speaker 1: is that from what what what Bill was saying, well 650 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:31,280 Speaker 1: the legend himself was saying, is that guys were stars 651 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 1: and they role and guys were okay with who they were. 652 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:38,279 Speaker 1: And I think that's what makes a championship team, right, 653 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:41,880 Speaker 1: guys accepting their roles and being okay with who they are, 654 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:45,440 Speaker 1: blocking out the outside noise because at the end of 655 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 1: the day, what you're trying to accomplish this bigger than 656 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:52,839 Speaker 1: one individual. Right. So that's why a lot of championships 657 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 1: didn't work out, because you saw guy's egos get in 658 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:58,759 Speaker 1: a way. So I do see a similarity to the 659 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 1: most because we had a lot of different personalities. We 660 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 1: had a lot of fun, We had them Boot two, 661 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:08,040 Speaker 1: we had the camaraderie, you know, we didn't have chief 662 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:11,759 Speaker 1: but we had KG, you know, and I mean you know, 663 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:14,479 Speaker 1: and we we we hung out. Man, we had fun. 664 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:19,920 Speaker 1: That was include my high school career. That was the 665 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:22,160 Speaker 1: That was the fun. That was the most fun I 666 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:25,840 Speaker 1: ever had in the basketball season on and off the court, 667 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:29,960 Speaker 1: like we did everything together off the court, were twelve 668 00:37:30,160 --> 00:37:33,839 Speaker 1: thirteen deep wherever we went, and the chemistry was just great. 669 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 1: So I mean, yeah, I do. I'm here these similarities 670 00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:40,320 Speaker 1: and I'm just blown away. But it don't surprise me 671 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:43,120 Speaker 1: because if you go back and watch that team played, 672 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:46,600 Speaker 1: they played like that we were super lucky and that 673 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: we lived by the mantra happiness begins with selfishness ends. 674 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 1: And so here was this culture that read it created 675 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:57,680 Speaker 1: that Casey was driving on a constant basis to be 676 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:01,080 Speaker 1: joyous when somebody else is doing great. Larry would be 677 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:04,160 Speaker 1: going crazy. And Kevin, who we haven't spoken much about 678 00:38:04,239 --> 00:38:06,680 Speaker 1: Kevin because you could have this whole conversation to be 679 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:09,800 Speaker 1: about Kevin as well, because you know, Kevin was the 680 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:13,160 Speaker 1: second greatest low post player I ever played against. And 681 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:18,400 Speaker 1: the only reason he wasn't better than Kareem was because 682 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:21,840 Speaker 1: he wasn't as biggest Kareem. Kareem had probably five inches 683 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:26,040 Speaker 1: on Kevin. But nobody could guard Kevin and and and 684 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 1: Kevin knew it. And Kevin was not afraid to say 685 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:30,560 Speaker 1: that to the other guys. And you know, he was 686 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:34,160 Speaker 1: an incredible trash talker as well. And but we were 687 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:37,640 Speaker 1: as soon as somebody got hot on the team, they 688 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:42,440 Speaker 1: got every ball and there was no challenges or problems 689 00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:45,840 Speaker 1: with with feeding the hot hand there. And it's super 690 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:49,239 Speaker 1: refreshing to hear both of you who have the experience 691 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:54,080 Speaker 1: of getting to the mountaintop. Bill you twice in the NBA, 692 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:57,520 Speaker 1: twice in college, Perk, you once in the NBA. I mean, 693 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,279 Speaker 1: you guys know what it takes. And being able to 694 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:05,160 Speaker 1: explain what that experience is like and what it really takes, 695 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:08,480 Speaker 1: the sacrifice and unselfishness from everyone on the team, it's 696 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,200 Speaker 1: just so refreshing to listen to. Nobody makes it to 697 00:39:11,239 --> 00:39:14,600 Speaker 1: the top alone. It takes all you've got just to 698 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:18,160 Speaker 1: stay on the beat and the dream. As the broadcaster, 699 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:22,160 Speaker 1: Big Perk has these opportunities himself. I got to be 700 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:25,360 Speaker 1: the broadcaster from Michael Jordan's I would ask him, you know, 701 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,480 Speaker 1: how much time do you spend on those spectacular players 702 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:32,000 Speaker 1: that nobody has seen before and nobody can describe. And 703 00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:37,040 Speaker 1: those moves today have become incorporated into all the other players. 704 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,160 Speaker 1: And that's the way evolution works. And the way that 705 00:39:40,239 --> 00:39:43,440 Speaker 1: we grew up watching will to Bill Russell and Elgin 706 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:48,120 Speaker 1: and Jerry Willis Reid and Gus Johnson and Earl Monroe 707 00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:52,120 Speaker 1: and have let Check and endless players who we idolized 708 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:54,440 Speaker 1: growing up and tried to play like them, and that 709 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:57,720 Speaker 1: just keeps going throughout the generations to where we are today. 710 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:00,239 Speaker 1: But when I asked Michael how much time and you 711 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:04,480 Speaker 1: spend on those spectacular plays, he looked at me with 712 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: bewildered and he said, I, Bill, I don't spend a 713 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 1: second on any of those. Spend all my time on 714 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 1: my fundamentals, on my foundation, on my physical fitness, on 715 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:17,800 Speaker 1: my footwork. But what I really spend my time on 716 00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:21,560 Speaker 1: is the dream, the dream of how we're gonna get 717 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:24,160 Speaker 1: this done. You know, I look around who my teammates are, 718 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:27,080 Speaker 1: and I look around and see who they have, and 719 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:30,160 Speaker 1: then I just try to figure out how we're gonna win. 720 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:32,440 Speaker 1: And you know, that's what Steve Nash did, That's what 721 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 1: Bill Russell did the best part of life. The mental 722 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:41,600 Speaker 1: acuity that leads to the decision making process that allows 723 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:44,360 Speaker 1: you to choose the right path. And you're standing the 724 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:47,840 Speaker 1: fork of the road in conjunction with the emotional commitment 725 00:40:48,239 --> 00:40:51,879 Speaker 1: that it takes and and how hard you have to work, 726 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:55,040 Speaker 1: and how much it's gonna take every everything you have, 727 00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:57,960 Speaker 1: and then as soon as it's over. And that's why 728 00:40:58,040 --> 00:41:01,759 Speaker 1: people like David Stirr, eLearning Red Hour back and John 729 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:04,160 Speaker 1: wouldn't now Danny Age in that position, all these people 730 00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:07,320 Speaker 1: in the position of leadership, they can never be happy 731 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:12,759 Speaker 1: because there's always another game. And when you're young, you 732 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:15,359 Speaker 1: don't look at it like that. But as you get older, 733 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:18,160 Speaker 1: you know, you you just try to keep it going, 734 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:20,319 Speaker 1: you know, and you know you tend to live. Yeah, 735 00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:23,000 Speaker 1: right now it's dud and and I'm a big believer 736 00:41:23,120 --> 00:41:25,759 Speaker 1: in living in the moment of getting the job done, 737 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:30,480 Speaker 1: making each day your masterpiece. But there is the big 738 00:41:30,560 --> 00:41:33,879 Speaker 1: picture and as you get older and you face ever 739 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:37,120 Speaker 1: increasing challenges and how much more it's going to take 740 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 1: in your life to keep it going and to sustain 741 00:41:41,239 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 1: the whole thing. And it is it's never easy, there 742 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,759 Speaker 1: is you know, it's every day in the NBA is 743 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:51,960 Speaker 1: a great day. Some days are better than others. It's 744 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:56,279 Speaker 1: never easy. That's that's great perspective, Bill, and I feel 745 00:41:56,320 --> 00:41:58,920 Speaker 1: like I can listen to you talk and give us 746 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,880 Speaker 1: perspective on life for hours and hours. It's it's been 747 00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:05,879 Speaker 1: an unbelievable conversation. And just to hear how um two 748 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 1: people from two totally different backgrounds but who accomplished similar 749 00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:11,880 Speaker 1: things in you and perk to to talk about how 750 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:15,480 Speaker 1: you know, everything intersects um with being able to get 751 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:18,760 Speaker 1: to the top mark. When you're part of something special, 752 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:23,319 Speaker 1: it changes you. It Ultimately, it defines who you are 753 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:27,480 Speaker 1: and you spend the rest of your life trying to 754 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:30,120 Speaker 1: chase that down and get back to it because it's 755 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:35,080 Speaker 1: incredibly hard to hold onto it. I had similar experiences 756 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:38,680 Speaker 1: at U C l A and in Portland's Celtics and 757 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:42,480 Speaker 1: with with the Grateful Debt and so to to to 758 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:47,960 Speaker 1: see that experience and you know, I've lived that. You know, 759 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:50,799 Speaker 1: I've been doing this since I was fifteen years old, 760 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:55,920 Speaker 1: and I know that. You know, all the guys who 761 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:58,920 Speaker 1: played for John Wooden had exactly the same experience that 762 00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:02,000 Speaker 1: I had, and that he was coached there for twenty 763 00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:04,359 Speaker 1: seven years, even the guys that didn't win the Championships. 764 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:07,440 Speaker 1: Their experiences were the same. The guys who played on 765 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:10,319 Speaker 1: the Celtics when Read Our Back was was running the show, 766 00:43:10,640 --> 00:43:13,160 Speaker 1: and the guys and and and the guys who played 767 00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:15,600 Speaker 1: forever on the Celtics, because Wick and Steve have been 768 00:43:15,680 --> 00:43:18,680 Speaker 1: able to create that culture and Danny has been able 769 00:43:18,719 --> 00:43:23,080 Speaker 1: to maintain that culture, and it's interchangeable. And with the Blazers, 770 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:25,000 Speaker 1: and you know, with the guys who you know, the 771 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:28,920 Speaker 1: different eras of greatness of the Blazers, and you have 772 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:33,799 Speaker 1: this this bond you know, the fans, the players, the management, 773 00:43:33,920 --> 00:43:38,000 Speaker 1: the history, the business partners. It is spectacular. And that's 774 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:40,280 Speaker 1: why we do what we do. That's why we're willing 775 00:43:40,360 --> 00:43:43,719 Speaker 1: to go out and risk everything because we know how valuable, 776 00:43:43,840 --> 00:43:46,759 Speaker 1: how important and how critical it is to our own 777 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:50,520 Speaker 1: level of confidence and self esteem and and and and 778 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:55,040 Speaker 1: the realization that being part of the team is really 779 00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:57,439 Speaker 1: what it's all about. And the strength of the team 780 00:43:57,520 --> 00:44:00,040 Speaker 1: is the strength of the individual. And that's why I 781 00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:02,800 Speaker 1: am proud to be on this show and to stand 782 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:09,400 Speaker 1: on the broad shoulders a big person. Well yeah, another 783 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:12,480 Speaker 1: great appearance from Bill Walton Bille. Thank you so much. 784 00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:15,719 Speaker 1: Here the greatest storyteller of all time and uh we 785 00:44:15,880 --> 00:44:18,120 Speaker 1: hope to continue to hear you telling these stories for 786 00:44:18,280 --> 00:44:21,520 Speaker 1: years to come. I'm the luckiest guy live, I'm the 787 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:22,719 Speaker 1: luckiest guy on her