1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: I've been a big sports fan for as long as 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: I can remember. I remember doing homework as a little 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:15,159 Speaker 1: boy listening to baseball games on my radio. But I 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 1: especially like basketball, college basketball, and March Madness. It marks 5 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: the real start of spring. It reminds us that hope 6 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: springs eternal, at least in most of our brackets, especially 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: after last year's tournaments were canceled amid the outbreak of 8 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen. This year's edition of March Madness, it's been 9 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,919 Speaker 1: a real lift to our collective spirits as we continue 10 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: to work together to get through these next few months 11 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: to the light at the end of the tunnel. For me, 12 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: it's been especially fun to see the University of Arkansas 13 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: playing in both the men's and women's tournaments, and to 14 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: see my alma mater, Georgetown make the men's brackets after 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: they're through only run in the Big East. My old 16 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: friend Patrick Ewing is smiling. Premier to hear looking down 17 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: on us is my old friend John Thompson. He's happy 18 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: to so. Why am I telling you this Because for 19 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: so many people across America around the world, sports are 20 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: often about much more than just playing a game. Sports 21 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: teach us about teamwork, self improvement, leadership, endurance, about winning 22 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: and losing with grace and dignity, And as we've seen 23 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: over the last year, athletes can be particularly impactful when 24 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: they use their platform to advocate for social justice and change. 25 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: At their very best, sports lift up our common humanity, 26 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: help people to connect across borders, generations, gender, race, and 27 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: all the lines that might otherwise divide us. Today, for 28 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: the special March Madness edition of Why Am I telling 29 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: You This? I want to share a conversation with someone 30 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: I deeply admire, Don Staley. Since two thousand and eight, 31 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: Don has coached the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, 32 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: which earned a number one seed in this year's tournament. 33 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: This conversation was recorded in twenty and you will hear 34 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: how she's always been driven by a desire to make 35 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: a positive difference in other people's lives through her philanthropic 36 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: work or coaching career and her powerful example. Don Staley 37 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: is a remarkable woman, and I hope you'll enjoy this 38 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: conversation with a true Hall of Famer on and off 39 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: the court. I'll never forget visiting the athletes ahead of 40 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and 41 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: seeing men and women from countries all around the globe, 42 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: some of whom were bitter enemies, sitting with one another 43 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: in the dining hall of the Olympic Village, sharing meals 44 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: and slowly breaking the eyes that divided them. This was 45 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: opening day for the Olympic Games in Atlanta. President Clinton 46 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: and his family were welcomed by athletes from around the 47 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: world as he toured the facilities. President Clinton praised American 48 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: athletes at the Olympic Village. I want you to win 49 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: all the mods to camp, and I want you to 50 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: mop up and do great, But I want you to 51 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: realize that just by being what you already are, you 52 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: are a source of enormous pride to our country and 53 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: an inspiration to the world. And I hope tonight at 54 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: these next couple of weeks of the greatest time of 55 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: your life. Today, I'm joined by one of the athletes 56 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: who won goal thatt those ninety six Summer Games, Don Saley. 57 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: I first met her when she and her basketball teammates 58 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: came to the White House after their victory. After that, 59 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: she went on to win two more gold medals than 60 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: two thousand and two thousand four, to have an accomplished 61 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: career playing and the women's NBA, to become one of 62 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: the greatest coaches in the country, leading the University of 63 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: South Carolina since two thousand and eight, including winning the 64 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: school's first national championship in ten. But more than being 65 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: a great basketball player and coach, Don Staley is a 66 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: great person. I've had the chance to travel throughout Africa 67 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: where here visiting some of our foundations programs, and it's 68 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: clear that she's driven by desire to make a positive 69 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: difference in other people's lives, from her players to the fans, 70 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 1: to the countless people benefiting from her own philanthropic work 71 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: and her powerful example. Don, it's great to talk to 72 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: you today. It's so great to talk to you, President Clinton. 73 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: You're one of the most decorated athletes and coaches of 74 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: all time. You're an All American, you played for the 75 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: American Basketball League, the w n b A, you remember 76 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: the Basketball Hall of Fame, an Olympic athlete and flag bearer, 77 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: head coach at Temple, now at South Carolina. How did 78 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: this happen? What does basketball meant to you, both personally 79 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: as well as professionally. Well, basketball has been and incredible resource. 80 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 1: It's been my safe haven. Growing up in in North 81 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: Philly and the projects called the Raymond Rosen Housing Projects 82 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: was a place in which there wasn't a whole lot 83 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: to do besides sports or getting something that's that's illegal 84 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: or that can leave a negative impact on your life. 85 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: You know, I'm known for playing basketball, but if anyone 86 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: that knew me growing up in North Philly on Diamond Street, 87 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: they knew I played tackle football, I played softball, I 88 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: played baseball. I did everything the guys were doing. I 89 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: grew up with three brothers and one sister, and all 90 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: of us were super competitive. And if seven of us, 91 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: that's my my siblings and my parents lived in this 92 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: three bedroom house with one bathroom, so you had to 93 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: compete to go in and take a shower. I didn't 94 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: win very many of those battles. I had to compete 95 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: because I'm the youngest to you know, to get socks 96 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: and shoes. The one thing, the one thing that I 97 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: had to make sure that none of my oldest siblings 98 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: got to were my socks. I'm a sock fiend. I 99 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: had to have my my white, pure white sox, and 100 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: my seam had to line up with my toes, and 101 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: if any of my siblings wore any of my socks, 102 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: I knew. So I come from a competitive family, and 103 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: I'm very fortunate that I used sports as a vehicle 104 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: defeat into that competitiveness. But when I first received my 105 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: my college letter, just interest letter, which was somewhere between 106 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: the seventh and eighth grade, I knew basketball was gonna 107 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: be the ticket to get me to all the pages 108 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: and books that I read and imagined visiting. How did 109 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: your life affect how you coach? Um, I would say, 110 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: I'm probably the opposite of how I grew up and 111 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: how I coach. How I grew up, I was an introvert. 112 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: I was extremely shy, and I wasn't verbal. I didn't 113 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: use a lot of my verbal skills. UM. I went 114 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: to the University of Virginia, where it's a predominantly white university. 115 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: I grew up in the projects. It was predominantly actually 116 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: not predominant. It was all black, you know. So my 117 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: first experiences, even with people outside of my race, all 118 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: happened at the University of Virginia. When I got to Virginia, 119 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: I didn't quite know. I didn't think I fit in 120 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: with Virginia. As far as what happened outside the basketball court. One, 121 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: it was just I was young. Two Again, I was shy, 122 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: and I was an introvert. So I wasn't easily approachable 123 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: because again it's the trust thing. I had to be 124 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: able to trust you. I had to be able to 125 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: allow you into my space. And I did not do 126 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: that very easily after University of Virginia. So for me 127 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: being uncomfortable, you get more comfortable because I had a 128 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: an experience at Virginia during my first year of college 129 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: where I did not do well and something that I 130 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: applied myself too. Um, So it made me extremely uncomfortable. 131 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: I did have a dean. I had to sit down 132 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: with a dean and she pretty much threatened to throw 133 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: me out of the University of Virginia because I didn't 134 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: perform well. And I'm sitting across from her. Again, I'm shy, UM, 135 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: an introvert. You know, I didn't. I wasn't very comfortable 136 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: in my skin, wasn't comfortable talking to adults that I 137 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: didn't trust. Um. So all of these nonverbals that I 138 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: was giving off really didn't sit well with the dean. 139 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: So my coach really had to help me out. She 140 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: had to have that little pep talk with me and said, 141 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: you know, you basically gotta you know, you gotta look 142 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,599 Speaker 1: people in their eye. You have to you have to conform. 143 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: And I wasn't. I wasn't big on conforming because I 144 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, I wasn't one that liked to live in 145 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: a box or um. So that word really took me, 146 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: took me back. So I said, I'm not gonna kiss 147 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: anybody's but this is the way I am. I'm not 148 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 1: gonna change for anybody. And little did I know what 149 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: I was saying and what I was doing at the 150 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: time really was one of the crossroads in my life 151 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: where I had to stop. I had to think about 152 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: what I wanted my life to be without basketball, and 153 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: that's when it hit me, you gotta, you have to conform. 154 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: This is the way that you have to exist at 155 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: the University of Virginia and it helped me um now 156 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: as a coach. I think certain things happened to me 157 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: throughout my life that has helped me get more comfortable 158 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: with dealing with you know, just across cultural lines. All 159 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: of those life lessons I look back on it has 160 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: helped me to be able to to come to a 161 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:46,479 Speaker 1: place that's predominantly white and unify and reach go across 162 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: different ethnic backgrounds and and be able to hear people, 163 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 1: talk to people, be comfortable in my skin, and then 164 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: and let them see me for who I am. And 165 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: I you know, I always reflect on my days back 166 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: in Virginia know that, um I would sent there for 167 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: a reason other than basketball. I've heard you say before 168 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: that you think it's important that there'll be more black 169 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: coaches in your game. You still feel that way, and 170 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: why is it so important? Well, I absolutely do feel 171 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: like not not just coaches, head coaches, I feel like 172 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: there should be more black coaches to coach individual one basketball, 173 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: women's basketball, because how the makeup of our sport is 174 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: predominantly black. I don't know the breakdown of the numbers, 175 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 1: but I know it's it's more than fifty. And if 176 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: it's more than they need role models. And here's why, 177 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: because no one other than a black woman can teach 178 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: another black woman how to be a black woman in America. 179 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: It's quite simple. There's there's certain things that they're gonna 180 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: go through in their life and they're going to experience 181 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: throughout their life that they're gonna have to handle like 182 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: I've handled in my experiences, good, better and different. I 183 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: think I can be a great example of showing them 184 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: of of giving them advice that they'll need to be 185 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: safe or to have an incredible career in whatever profession 186 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: they decide to go in. Thank you for making that point. 187 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: I think it's important that people understand that. You know 188 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: that the best coaches don't just coach their players when 189 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: they're on the court or a field. They coach them 190 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: when they're off the court, and they think about their 191 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: life after they're out of their one lost column. We'll 192 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:34,719 Speaker 1: be right back. Well, let me ask you something. I 193 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: I like to watch basketball. I like to watch women's basketball, 194 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: and I try to watch you and your team every 195 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: time you're on television. I'm very interested in how various 196 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: coaches relate to their players, have related to the crowd, 197 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: relate to the referees, especially when they're intense situations. And 198 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: one of the things I've noticed about you is that 199 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: you seem to be very careful and sparing about the 200 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: times you jump up and down. I've seen you in 201 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: games that are really tight and the other coaches walking 202 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 1: up and down the sideline and you're just sitting there 203 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: staring looking at the players, trying to figure out what's 204 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: going on. What is is that deliberate? Do you have 205 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: a deliberate style when you're in the public eye about 206 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: how you talk to your players and how you're seen 207 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: by the audience and by the referees and by your 208 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: own players and by the other team to be conducting 209 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: yourself well, I think what happens to me is I 210 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: want to be my authentic self. I want to be 211 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: my authentic self when I'm coaching. I want to be 212 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: my authentic self when I'm off the floor and I'm 213 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: talking to a young person. I think I have a 214 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: way of being appropriate doing appropriate times. But I'm myself. 215 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 1: I want to sleep well at night knowing that by myself. 216 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: So when I'm on the sidelines, I try to figure 217 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: out what's the pulse of the game. So we want 218 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: to we want to pick the face up. Okay, we're 219 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: gonna it out into the passion lines and don't let 220 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: them off the hook, make them work for everything. How 221 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: are officials calling the game? And what are my colleagues 222 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: doing beside me? What's the opponent and the coaching said? 223 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: What do they What does it look like, what does 224 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: the crowd feeding off? I look at my players eyes, 225 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: and I want to see that fire in their eyes. 226 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: I want to see that they are locked into the 227 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 1: task at hands. Every opportunity you can grow, grow, every 228 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: opportunity you can lead, lead, Okay, and then I take 229 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: my place after seeing all those things. If we can't 230 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: get a day, sometimes I do get up and I 231 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,679 Speaker 1: talk to officials. Sometimes I scream at them. Sometimes I 232 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: say some things that I probably shouldn't say, but it's 233 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: my authentic self. I do sometimes sit down and just 234 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: let the game come to me. Trust our players, Trust 235 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: our players, And I will tell you this, President Clinton. 236 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,719 Speaker 1: Is that a lot of times when I'm yelling at 237 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: officials and I'm self assessing because this is what I do. 238 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: If I'm yelling at officials about a certain call, I know, 239 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: for me, the root of why I'm yelling at official 240 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: is probably because I don't trust my team in those instances. 241 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: And I have to do a better job at trust 242 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: of my team and putting that energy that I'm giving 243 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: to the officials to my team. How do you think 244 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: basketball women's basketball, particularly is different from when you played 245 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: in college. How is it changing, where's it going? Well, 246 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: women's basketball is a lot different from I'm not gonna 247 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: mention this. It's almost thirty thirty years from when I played. 248 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: And I know some of my old school buddies will 249 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: say that UH will beg to differ and that I 250 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: think it's better. And here's why. They're quicker, they're stronger, 251 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 1: they are more skilled, and they're more skilled than all 252 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: those things because of what they've been able to see. 253 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: The w n B A I believe, is starting their 254 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: twenty third year, and when the little girls have seen 255 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: twenty three years of women play professionally, that's the carrot 256 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: that's been dangling in front of them for all of 257 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: their lives. When I was growing up, we only had 258 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: the NBA, you know, and that's that was a far 259 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: gone conclusion that we weren't gonna be, you know, in 260 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: the in the NBA. So I would give the new 261 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: schoolers an edge on the old schoolers only because they 262 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: they've seen it. I think the other thing is, I 263 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: think the strength level of these players is expanded enormously. Yeah, 264 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, because every everybody has a trainer. Now, you know, 265 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: some of them are taking care of their bodies a 266 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: lot better because they want to play longer, they want 267 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: to play as long as they can, and their careers 268 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: have been extended because of that. You know, the longevity 269 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: of a w NBA career, it's it's more years than previous, 270 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: but it's it's it's much harder to get into the 271 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: w n b A nowadays because there are only one 272 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: hundred and forty four ops. And that's not to say 273 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: that there's always a hundred and forty four available because 274 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: you have pros that that have been in the game. 275 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: I would say, and I think I talked to a 276 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: couple of GM to the w n b A, they're 277 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: only probably maybe ten to twenty new jobs available if 278 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: that for someone that's leaving college and going into the 279 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: w n b A, and that that percentage is very low. 280 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: So I tried to extend that percentage to our players 281 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: because everybody is not going to be a professional athlete. 282 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: So we gotta get this degree. We gotta learn how 283 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: to navigate through life just in case, just in case 284 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't work out on the professional basketball level. Tell 285 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: me about the Olympics. How did it affect your life? 286 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: How is it different from all the other contests you 287 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: were in the Olympic Games um growing up in on 288 00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 1: those same projects. I only saw women play two times 289 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: on television. One was the n C Double A Final 290 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: Four Women's Final Four, and the other one was the 291 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: Summer Olympic Games. And I wanted to do both. I 292 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: wanted to be a national champion. I wanted to be 293 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: a gold medalist. So the Olympics and playing for USA 294 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 1: Basketball is basketball utopia. The culture of USA Basketball, the friendships, 295 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: the sisterhood that are created because we didn't care, and 296 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: we don't care. You know, who scores the most points, 297 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: who gets the most rebounds. The one goal for us 298 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: is to win basketball games, to do it together. And 299 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: at the end of the two week period of planning 300 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: Olympic Games is that we're standing on that podium and 301 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: we're receiving gold because there's so much pressure to win gold, 302 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 1: and we go into it knowing that it's gold or failure. 303 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: So the Olympic Games, the USA Basketball experience is what 304 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: I model my coaching after. It is that I know 305 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: sometimes when you're coaching at the collegiate level, there's so 306 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: many external people and things that get in the way 307 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: of a player totally committing to that common goal. So 308 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 1: the Olympics is a lot different. And I've coached for 309 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,199 Speaker 1: nineteen years on the collegiate level, I don't think that 310 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: I've ever had a team that had that same type 311 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: of culture. It's they've come close, but not that the 312 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: total culture of giving self to the team. We'll be 313 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: right back. You went to Africa with me and a 314 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: group of people to see the foundation's work that Clinton 315 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: Foundations work to help people get AIDS medication, to help 316 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: farmers improve their yields, to do things to build villages 317 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: that are healthier and get food that's healthier. And you 318 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: agreed to represent and affect women's basketball and going on 319 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: that trip to Africa, and I just like to ask you, 320 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: first of all, do you think it was worth your while? 321 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 1: And what do you remember most of about the trip 322 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: we took together. First, I don't think I got a 323 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: chance to say thank you, so thank you for that 324 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: life changing experience. I'm a better person because of that 325 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 1: experience that I had. The people that I experienced it 326 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: with were incredible giving people. And I cried this, this 327 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: tough girl from North Philly cried on that trip. But 328 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: what I what I remember most about it. The hearing aids. 329 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: I saw someone here for the first time in their 330 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: lives and it it just brought tears to my eyes. 331 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: My heart opened for that person. For a deaf person 332 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: to hear a voice they repeated the words that the 333 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: doctor was saying to them, really was heart wrenching for me. 334 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: There are so many people around the world that are 335 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: classified as death because I live in really poor countries 336 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: who are capable of functionally normally if someone helps him 337 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: and I agree with you, man, when you see somebody 338 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: here for the first time, it's breathtaking. That was a 339 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: session we did with one of our c g I partners, Starkey, 340 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: which is basically giving a couple hundred hearing aids to 341 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: people with difficulty hearing a couple hundred thousand a year. Now, mmm, 342 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,719 Speaker 1: you know if it if it weren't for your foundation, 343 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: I don't think there would be as many people living. 344 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,880 Speaker 1: I can remember we went into the hospitals and we saw, 345 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: you know, people getting treated for AIDS and it was 346 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 1: it was life changing. I came back to the University 347 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: of South Carolina and our team for that particular year 348 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: was be the Change. Be the Change, and I shared 349 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: with my players, what be the change meant to me? 350 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: And we went out into the community and I hope 351 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: we were able to impact some kids and being a 352 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: change in their lives and our lives because it was 353 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 1: an incredible experience. When can we go back, I'd love 354 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: for you to go back with me. Up, you have 355 00:20:55,600 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: your own philanthropic effort UH appropriately named. Since started this 356 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: show with the story of your childhood, Inner Soul, tell 357 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: us about Inner Soul and what did it do. Inner 358 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 1: Soul was birth from a conversation I had one of 359 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: our partners who was doing some some spring cleaning and 360 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: she was gonna throw away some some new shoes that 361 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: she had, and I was like, oh no, don't, don't 362 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: do that, and I just kind of thought about my 363 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: childhood and I'm like, we need to do something. We 364 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: need to do something here in the state of South 365 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: Carolina that will help you know, so many because there's 366 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: a lot of homelessness that's here in the state of 367 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: South Carolina. I said, we need to give out new 368 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: sneakers to homeless children and children who are in need, 369 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: because I know what a new pair of sneakers did 370 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,479 Speaker 1: from me when I was growing up. Because sneakers were 371 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: something that I really enjoyed, and that was the only 372 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,120 Speaker 1: thing that I love. I didn't care what I looked 373 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 1: like from my ankles up as long as I had 374 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: a new pair of sneakers on. And I know that 375 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 1: resonates probably all across the country, where if you feel 376 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: like you have a new pair of sneakers on, would 377 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: pay attention a little bit more in class. So it 378 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,880 Speaker 1: raises your self esteem, It makes you feel a lot better. 379 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: It gives you so much confidence. So what we're doing 380 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: now is we're going into elementary schools and we're implementing 381 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: a new initiative called Educate my Soul. And Educate my 382 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: Soul is an initiative that has about five variables. It 383 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: is class attendance, It is behavior, It is reading, it 384 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: is physical fitness and getting good grades. We go into 385 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:35,120 Speaker 1: these elementary schools and we create a competition between all 386 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,679 Speaker 1: of third grade, all the fourth grade, and all the 387 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 1: fifth grade, and they compete. So after each grading period, 388 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: we find out what classroom scores the highest and those 389 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 1: five variables, and we give them a new pair of 390 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: sneakers each grading period. And I just went to two 391 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 1: today and they open those those bags up with those 392 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: sneakers in it, and again the smiles on their faces 393 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: are quite incredible. So it's a partnership that we had 394 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: with certain schools throughout the state of South Carolina, and 395 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: hopefully we could continue to grow all across this country 396 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: and then hopefully we'll we'll have some sneaks to take 397 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: over to Africa or wherever the Clinton Foundation is is 398 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: servicing young people. I thank you for joining us down, 399 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for 400 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: making this young girl from North Philadelphia get a chance 401 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,400 Speaker 1: to speak to the forty second president of the United States. 402 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. All of you been listening. You 403 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: now know why I'm telling you this dog. Stayley is 404 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: one of the most impressive and admirable people I've had 405 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 1: the honor to meet and really get to know since 406 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 1: I left the White House. One of the great blessings 407 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: of these many years since I left offices that I've 408 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: had a little more time to get to know people, 409 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: take trips with them and make friends with him and uh, 410 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: I think she has done an unbelievable job. It's a 411 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: coach not only on the court, but what's more important 412 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: to me, off the court and as a person Thanks 413 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: for listening. Why Am I Telling You This is a 414 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 1: production of our Heart Radio, the Clinton Foundation and at 415 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: Will Media. Our executive producers are Craig Manascian and Will Malnty. 416 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: Our production team includes Mitch Bluestein, Jamison cat Sufis, Tom Galton, 417 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: Sarah Harrows, and Jake Young, with production support from Tyler 418 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: Scott and LaTavia Young. Original music by What White. Special 419 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: thanks to John Sykes, Tina Finoi, John Davidson on Hell Arena, 420 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: Corey Gantley, Oscar Flores, Kevin Thurm, and all our dedicated 421 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: staff and partners at the Clinton Foundation. If you have 422 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 1: an idea of suggestion for the show, we'd love to 423 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: hear from you, so please visit Clinton Foundation dot org 424 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: slash podcast to share your thoughts with us. If you 425 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: like the show, tell someone else about it. You can 426 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: subscribe to Why Am I Telling You This? On the 427 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: I Heart Ready ap Apple podcast or wherever you get 428 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 1: your podcast. Listening to this podcast, you're helping support the 429 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: work or the Clinton Foundation, So thank you. Hi. I'm 430 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: myshe Alexander. I'm senior Impact and Design manager and a 431 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: proud alumni of the Clinton Global Initiative University c g 432 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: i U, President Clinton and Chelsea often say that you're 433 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: never too young to make a difference. Not c g 434 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: I YOU are working to engage the next generation of 435 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: leaders on college campuses across the country and around the 436 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,360 Speaker 1: world to turn their big ideas for social change into 437 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: meaningful action. Through our year round program of mentorship, skills training, 438 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: and partnership building, we're cultivating a community of more than 439 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 1: ten thousand students and alumni who are committed to taking real, 440 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: concrete steps towards working together and solving the pressing global 441 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,160 Speaker 1: challenges that affect us. All from responding to Code at 442 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: nineteen to expanding access to clean water, to supporting refugees 443 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: and so much more. The students of c g I 444 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: YOU demonstrate the future of impact. Learn more about this 445 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: work and see how you can get involved visit www 446 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: dot Clinton Foundation dot org. Slash podcast