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My great grandfather
came to America in 1923.
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He traveled on a
Dutch ocean liner
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called the Nieuw Amsterdam.
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Cramped in a steerage
with his mother
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and younger sister by his side.
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00:00:50,636 --> 00:00:53,812
I grew up hearing his stories
of success in business,
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00:00:53,846 --> 00:00:56,918
starting a family
and most of all,
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00:00:56,953 --> 00:00:58,299
his stories of speed skating.
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00:01:04,029 --> 00:01:07,412
I intended this film to focus
solely on Jack Brooke's life,
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00:01:07,446 --> 00:01:09,345
about his struggles
in an unknown land.
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It's a tale that fits
neatly in the story books
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and history lessons.
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00:01:14,143 --> 00:01:16,800
The young immigrant escaping
the violence of the old world
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00:01:16,835 --> 00:01:18,319
for the promises of the new one.
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00:01:22,841 --> 00:01:23,842
But I've come to realize
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that this is a story
about many lives.
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00:01:26,189 --> 00:01:27,777
It's about more
than any one man.
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00:01:28,985 --> 00:01:31,229
This is a story about
how we conduct ourselves
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00:01:31,263 --> 00:01:33,955
and treat each other
not only as athletes,
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00:01:33,990 --> 00:01:37,959
but also as brothers, sisters,
neighbors and citizens.
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00:01:39,271 --> 00:01:40,962
This is a story about what
it means to play the game
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00:01:40,997 --> 00:01:42,447
when the field isn't level.
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To find the will to succeed
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00:01:44,897 --> 00:01:47,831
when the prospects of success
remain so persistently grim.
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This is a story about
the fight for fairness,
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00:01:51,904 --> 00:01:54,735
for acceptance on the
field and off of it.
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This isn't the stuff
of Hollywood lore,
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00:01:58,463 --> 00:02:00,154
my great grandfather
and the men and women
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00:02:00,189 --> 00:02:02,191
who come after him,
don't die rich.
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00:02:03,468 --> 00:02:06,126
Sometimes they're
not even remembered,
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00:02:07,817 --> 00:02:09,232
but they lived real lives.
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And their lives, their
story deserves to be told.
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00:02:15,376 --> 00:02:16,412
Because in the end,
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this is a story about us.
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00:02:34,602 --> 00:02:37,053
Most of his family was
killed in the Holocaust,
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00:02:37,087 --> 00:02:39,987
but he brought over maybe
about a half a dozen people
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00:02:40,021 --> 00:02:41,954
that were still alive.
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00:02:43,197 --> 00:02:44,992
He got them jobs, he helped
them out financially,
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00:02:45,026 --> 00:02:47,891
he got them apartments, he
always took care of his family.
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00:02:56,072 --> 00:02:59,420
Speed skating was his
passion, his life passion.
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00:02:59,455 --> 00:03:01,215
Whenever he found a spare moment
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00:03:01,250 --> 00:03:02,527
whether in the middle of the day
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00:03:02,561 --> 00:03:05,219
or in the morning or afternoon,
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00:03:05,254 --> 00:03:07,877
he would just take the skates
which he always had with him
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00:03:07,911 --> 00:03:09,913
and just go skating.
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00:03:09,948 --> 00:03:11,915
The ice meant
everything to him,
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00:03:11,950 --> 00:03:13,641
meeting his wife, meeting...
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00:03:14,780 --> 00:03:17,473
His medals, it's everything.
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00:03:19,129 --> 00:03:21,925
It's his whole life is the ice.
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My father
really worked hard
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00:03:56,477 --> 00:03:59,100
to become a world
class speed skater.
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00:03:59,135 --> 00:04:02,276
And it would have been a very
special experience for him
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00:04:02,311 --> 00:04:04,658
to compete at the Olympics.
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00:04:04,692 --> 00:04:07,764
Unfortunately, even though
he went to Lake Placid
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00:04:07,799 --> 00:04:09,249
on the US skating team,
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00:04:09,283 --> 00:04:11,147
he wasn't able to
skate in the Olympics
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00:04:11,181 --> 00:04:12,666
because he wasn't a citizen.
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00:04:13,943 --> 00:04:17,084
Today, I believe he would
have been granted citizenship,
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00:04:17,118 --> 00:04:19,328
would have been able to
compete in the Olympics.
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00:04:22,227 --> 00:04:25,126
Jack Brooks wasn't able
to compete in the Olympics
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in 1928 or 1932, because
he was an immigrant Jew.
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He wasn't a citizen,
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00:04:31,167 --> 00:04:33,100
so they wouldn't
make him a citizen
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00:04:33,134 --> 00:04:35,171
based on his natural
gifts as an athlete,
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00:04:35,205 --> 00:04:37,932
even though he was
qualified and made the team
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00:04:37,967 --> 00:04:39,520
and beat Olympic champions.
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He couldn't do that
because of who he was
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00:04:41,695 --> 00:04:43,110
and where he came from.
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00:04:43,144 --> 00:04:45,975
Now, there was another
speed skater at the time,
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00:04:46,009 --> 00:04:50,013
Irving Jaffee, who was Jewish
but he was an American,
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he was a citizen.
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Very proud that
he beat the world champion,
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00:04:55,087 --> 00:04:58,988
Irving Jaffee, in
one of the races,
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00:04:59,022 --> 00:05:00,714
that was his high
point of his life
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00:05:00,748 --> 00:05:03,164
that he beat an Olympic star.
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00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:05,063
That moment
was very special to him.
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00:05:05,097 --> 00:05:08,998
He proved to himself,
to the Olympic champion
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00:05:09,032 --> 00:05:10,517
and all of the skaters
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00:05:10,551 --> 00:05:13,313
that Jack Brooks
was a contender.
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00:05:13,347 --> 00:05:15,901
I'm sure he would have loved
to been able to step on the ice
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00:05:15,936 --> 00:05:18,041
at the Olympics and
prove that to the world.
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Even though he made
the Olympic team,
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00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,809
he worked his whole life, became
a world-class speed skater,
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00:05:26,843 --> 00:05:29,501
beat Olympic champions,
it didn't matter.
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00:05:29,536 --> 00:05:32,573
At the time they didn't
give citizenship to athletes
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00:05:32,608 --> 00:05:35,818
based on their natural
gifts as an athlete.
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Now, today that
happens all the time.
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00:05:37,682 --> 00:05:40,340
In Sochi, there was
over 120 athletes
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00:05:40,374 --> 00:05:43,515
that competed for nations
other than their birth nation,
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so it happens today.
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That was 4% of the 3000
athletes that competed in Soshi.
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00:05:49,763 --> 00:05:51,074
And it happened again in Rio
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and American athletes competed
for other nations as well,
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a lot of them.
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And it's sad, to think that
Jack if he was around today,
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he probably would be able
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00:06:02,085 --> 00:06:04,364
to compete in the
Olympics definitely.
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So, that's a hard
pill to swallow,
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00:06:06,814 --> 00:06:11,819
knowing what it meant to
him to skate on Olympic ice,
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to skate against a competitor
like Irving Jaffee.
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00:06:16,168 --> 00:06:19,689
And for Jack Brooks
to potentially end up
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00:06:19,724 --> 00:06:22,692
being the Olympic gold medalist,
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the Olympic champion,
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it's something that he was
never able to accomplish
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and,
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something that ate him alive
for the rest of his life.
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00:06:39,260 --> 00:06:41,470
The Olympics
held a different place
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00:06:42,471 --> 00:06:43,541
in American society
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00:06:43,575 --> 00:06:48,580
then in the 1920s and thirties,
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00:06:49,270 --> 00:06:50,824
as it does today.
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00:06:50,858 --> 00:06:54,966
It was more captured by a
blue blood establishment
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that sort of ran how it was
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00:06:57,140 --> 00:06:58,935
and they wanted
the Olympics to run
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00:06:58,970 --> 00:07:01,731
with a certain sort of class.
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00:07:01,766 --> 00:07:05,494
Also at this time, there's
a tremendous nativism
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00:07:05,528 --> 00:07:07,150
that's striking up in America.
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00:07:07,185 --> 00:07:08,945
It had already started
in the twenties
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00:07:08,980 --> 00:07:13,018
with the limitation on
immigration in 1924.
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00:07:13,053 --> 00:07:16,815
Partly because of the fear
that many of these Europeans
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00:07:16,850 --> 00:07:19,300
who were coming over
were likely radical.
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00:07:19,335 --> 00:07:22,994
Well, you don't want a
radical in sports either,
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00:07:23,028 --> 00:07:26,031
you want the right type
of person in sports.
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00:07:26,066 --> 00:07:28,275
You'd have to earn your
citizenship in the normal way,
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00:07:28,309 --> 00:07:30,622
you'd have to prove
that you are an American
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00:07:30,657 --> 00:07:33,660
before you could
compete for America.
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00:07:38,078 --> 00:07:40,114
The first winter
Olympics were held in 1924
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in Chamonix, France.
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And the star of the
US team that year
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00:07:44,049 --> 00:07:46,466
was a skater from New
York in Lake Placid
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00:07:46,500 --> 00:07:48,295
named Charles Jewtraw.
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00:07:48,329 --> 00:07:50,228
Who was actually the
first gold medalist ever
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00:07:50,262 --> 00:07:51,885
at a winter Olympics.
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00:07:51,919 --> 00:07:54,853
He won the 500 meter speed
skating event for the US.
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00:07:54,888 --> 00:07:58,201
And, he sort of started the
sport to become popular again
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00:07:58,236 --> 00:08:00,238
in the 1920s in that era.
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00:08:00,272 --> 00:08:02,171
And he was followed by a
guy named Irving Jaffee,
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00:08:02,205 --> 00:08:04,725
who was a Jewish speed skater.
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00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,003
Jaffee ended up
winning two gold medals
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00:08:07,038 --> 00:08:09,005
at the 1932 Olympics.
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00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,249
And he really
popularized the sport
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00:08:11,283 --> 00:08:12,526
and was the biggest
hero of speed skating
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00:08:12,561 --> 00:08:14,390
around New York
city in that era.
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He was always
proud to be a Jew
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00:08:17,945 --> 00:08:19,360
as far as I understand.
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00:08:19,395 --> 00:08:22,398
And he contributed to Jewish
causes Lifelong apparently.
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00:08:22,432 --> 00:08:25,505
What I do know in Lake Placid,
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there was overt antisemitism.
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Some of the other athletes
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00:08:29,301 --> 00:08:30,717
were making life
miserable for him.
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00:08:30,751 --> 00:08:34,514
And they were pouring water
on his mattress to make it wet
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so he couldn't sleep at night.
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Apparently, they would shine
bright lights in his eyes
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when he was trying to sleep.
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They were trying to
get him out of there
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and not let him compete.
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And so he went and spent
the night before the race
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with some friends so that
he could get some sleep
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00:08:56,052 --> 00:08:59,746
and he went back and he won
two races in Lake Placid.
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00:09:01,610 --> 00:09:06,028
Quite an accomplishment for Jews
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00:09:06,062 --> 00:09:09,721
and for the Olympics
and for Irving Jaffee.
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And I'm proud of that.
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00:09:12,310 --> 00:09:14,415
I am proud of that.
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00:09:23,355 --> 00:09:26,289
The games were organized by
a guy named him Godfrey Dewey.
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00:09:26,324 --> 00:09:29,603
And Dewey ran the
Lake Placid Club.
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00:09:29,638 --> 00:09:33,918
And he was actually
a rabid anti-Semite.
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Now he did not ha-
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Allowed Jews to be members
of the Lake Placid Club.
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00:09:38,439 --> 00:09:41,304
So this was a big
thing for a Jaffee
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00:09:41,339 --> 00:09:44,480
to go there and win gold
medals right in front of him.
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00:09:44,514 --> 00:09:46,516
I'm sure Dewey wasn't happy.
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00:09:46,551 --> 00:09:48,726
When Jews come to America,
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00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,350
they're often seen by
nativists and racists
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00:09:52,384 --> 00:09:54,455
as being unathletic.
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00:09:54,490 --> 00:09:57,286
Being Jewish was
regarded as a handicap.
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00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,288
And you had to
overcome that handicap,
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00:09:59,322 --> 00:10:02,360
in order to succeed you
had to be twice as smart,
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00:10:02,394 --> 00:10:05,294
twice as tough, twice as
good, twice as strong,
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00:10:05,328 --> 00:10:08,815
twice as committed,
twice as determined.
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00:10:08,849 --> 00:10:11,162
And many young Jews
of that generation
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00:10:11,196 --> 00:10:13,371
who wanted participate
in American society
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00:10:13,405 --> 00:10:16,305
understood that it wasn't
an even playing field
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00:10:16,339 --> 00:10:18,790
and they had to be
determined to get ahead.
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00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,345
Jews get involved
in basketball, baseball,
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00:10:22,380 --> 00:10:25,314
of course boxing, and
they move up the ladder.
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00:10:26,142 --> 00:10:27,454
But then there's an issue
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00:10:27,488 --> 00:10:31,561
of do we want Jews to
play for us as Americans?
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00:10:31,596 --> 00:10:34,185
We've done all
America's asked of us,
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00:10:34,219 --> 00:10:36,325
we've become Americanized,
we speak the language,
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00:10:36,359 --> 00:10:37,326
we played the games.
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00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,500
And yet at that point
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00:10:39,535 --> 00:10:42,124
there's a great deal of
discrimination against Jews
194
00:10:42,158 --> 00:10:45,334
in those arenas, those
arenas of sports.
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00:10:45,368 --> 00:10:47,819
Irving Jaffee, making
it in speed skating
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00:10:47,854 --> 00:10:49,821
was also astounding
197
00:10:49,856 --> 00:10:52,134
because speed skating
wasn't supposed
198
00:10:52,168 --> 00:10:53,445
to be an underclass sport.
199
00:10:54,895 --> 00:10:57,070
Speed skating was not
supposed to be something done
200
00:10:57,104 --> 00:11:02,006
by people who grew up in less
than privileged environments
201
00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,561
and it wasn't supposed
to be a Jewish sport.
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00:11:06,596 --> 00:11:08,081
What did
happen with Jaffee
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00:11:08,115 --> 00:11:10,324
was he won his two
gold medals in 1932.
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00:11:10,359 --> 00:11:13,017
And even though he was
still skating by 1936,
205
00:11:13,051 --> 00:11:14,501
he refused to go to
the Winter Olympics
206
00:11:14,535 --> 00:11:17,435
in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
in Germany,
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00:11:17,469 --> 00:11:20,162
because it was in Germany
during Hitler's era
208
00:11:20,196 --> 00:11:21,715
and he knew what Hitler
was doing with the Jews,
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00:11:21,750 --> 00:11:23,061
so he refused to skate.
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00:11:30,448 --> 00:11:32,381
I'd like to think that
winning an Olympic medal
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00:11:32,415 --> 00:11:35,418
is a pure endeavor and
to many athletes it is.
212
00:11:36,661 --> 00:11:40,527
Unfortunately it was impure
leading up to the 1936 Olympics,
213
00:11:40,561 --> 00:11:44,945
which were the most
polluted politically ever.
214
00:11:46,084 --> 00:11:48,121
Nazi Germany essentially paid
215
00:11:48,155 --> 00:11:51,400
to have the Olympics
in Berlin in Garmisch.
216
00:11:51,434 --> 00:11:52,608
And anybody who played a role
217
00:11:52,642 --> 00:11:54,886
in what happened
in Nazi Germany,
218
00:11:54,921 --> 00:11:57,889
should have gone away with
their head buried in some hole.
219
00:11:59,339 --> 00:12:01,030
And that didn't happen.
220
00:12:07,312 --> 00:12:12,248
A pre-Holocaust moment
takes place in 1936,
221
00:12:13,422 --> 00:12:15,562
when two outstanding
Jewish runners;
222
00:12:15,596 --> 00:12:18,289
Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller,
223
00:12:18,323 --> 00:12:22,120
are kept off the four
by 100 relay team
224
00:12:22,155 --> 00:12:27,160
because that event in the
Olympic stadium in Berlin
225
00:12:28,437 --> 00:12:31,612
was one of the signature
events in the Olympics.
226
00:12:31,647 --> 00:12:35,409
And it's been said
that the leaders
227
00:12:35,444 --> 00:12:39,448
of the American Olympic
Committee led by Avery Brundage,
228
00:12:40,518 --> 00:12:42,485
didn't want to
embarrass Adolf Hitler
229
00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:47,525
by having Jews stand
on the victory platform
230
00:12:48,457 --> 00:12:49,803
as winners in this race.
231
00:12:49,838 --> 00:12:53,669
Now, everyone knows that Jesse
Owens wins four gold medals.
232
00:12:53,703 --> 00:12:55,809
So why is an African-American
allowed to compete
233
00:12:55,844 --> 00:12:57,121
and a Jew isn't?
234
00:12:57,155 --> 00:13:00,780
Well, it goes to the
root of racial ideology.
235
00:13:00,814 --> 00:13:04,611
Jews are seen as
corruptors, as outsiders.
236
00:13:04,645 --> 00:13:07,614
Jesse Owens is viewed
as an auxiliary,
237
00:13:07,648 --> 00:13:11,549
as a hired hand who's who's
running for white Americans.
238
00:13:11,583 --> 00:13:13,447
Jesse Owens
to his credit said,
239
00:13:13,482 --> 00:13:16,450
"Let these guys run,
I've won enough."
240
00:13:16,485 --> 00:13:19,005
This great African-American
athlete Jesse Owens,
241
00:13:19,039 --> 00:13:23,319
won four gold medals, an
unprecedented four gold medals.
242
00:13:23,354 --> 00:13:25,977
And Hitler left the stadium
243
00:13:26,012 --> 00:13:29,981
before the golden medal was
presented to Jesse Owens,
244
00:13:30,016 --> 00:13:32,294
so he wouldn't have to
be seen with blacks,
245
00:13:32,328 --> 00:13:35,159
because blacks were
regarded as inferior.
246
00:13:44,030 --> 00:13:45,825
And after he wins
four gold medals
247
00:13:45,859 --> 00:13:47,550
and he comes back to New York,
248
00:13:47,585 --> 00:13:51,313
there's a victory celebration
at the Waldorf-Astoria
249
00:13:51,347 --> 00:13:54,730
and Owens is allowed
to participate,
except for one thing,
250
00:13:54,764 --> 00:13:56,836
he has to go up the
back service elevator
251
00:13:56,870 --> 00:13:58,492
to get to the ballroom.
252
00:13:58,527 --> 00:14:01,219
Community defined situation
through the world of sports.
253
00:14:01,254 --> 00:14:05,879
To me, Jesse Owens, he's
someone who was so courageous,
254
00:14:05,914 --> 00:14:09,434
who competed in such
a time of adversity.
255
00:14:09,469 --> 00:14:12,196
And for him to go out there
and really just be courageous
256
00:14:12,230 --> 00:14:16,890
and stand up for himself and
for a whole group of people,
257
00:14:16,925 --> 00:14:19,341
is just amazing and something
258
00:14:19,375 --> 00:14:21,550
that I feel like we
should never forget.
259
00:14:21,584 --> 00:14:24,691
He paved the way,
not just in sports,
260
00:14:24,725 --> 00:14:26,693
but for life.
261
00:14:26,727 --> 00:14:29,282
So I think that's amazing.
262
00:14:29,316 --> 00:14:32,009
The great athletes who are
African-Americans in our past,
263
00:14:32,043 --> 00:14:35,702
like Jesse Owens, Jackie
Robinson, Muhammad Ali,
264
00:14:35,736 --> 00:14:39,085
who got all the hate being
the discriminated against,
265
00:14:39,119 --> 00:14:42,951
so we like myself and
other African Americans
266
00:14:42,985 --> 00:14:44,607
don't have to be
discriminated against,
267
00:14:44,642 --> 00:14:46,471
don't have to be
called the N word
268
00:14:46,506 --> 00:14:48,197
when we're trying to perform.
269
00:14:48,232 --> 00:14:51,821
Or go to the restroom and
get jumped by white people.
270
00:14:51,856 --> 00:14:52,753
It's--
271
00:14:53,962 --> 00:14:54,928
I'm getting a little
emotional right now
272
00:14:54,963 --> 00:14:56,585
actually just thinking about it.
273
00:14:56,619 --> 00:15:00,589
It means a lot for those who
are our founding fathers,
274
00:15:01,624 --> 00:15:03,799
to set those example for us.
275
00:15:03,833 --> 00:15:05,076
For--
276
00:15:05,111 --> 00:15:07,251
Not only for me, but for
all African-Americans
277
00:15:07,285 --> 00:15:09,322
like me and after me.
278
00:15:09,356 --> 00:15:12,428
I think sports is
an incredible conduit
279
00:15:12,463 --> 00:15:14,948
for change in society.
280
00:15:14,983 --> 00:15:16,432
All the amount of propaganda
281
00:15:16,467 --> 00:15:17,917
that Hitler was
putting out there,
282
00:15:17,951 --> 00:15:21,851
was just silenced by this
four Olympic victories
283
00:15:21,886 --> 00:15:23,474
in all gold medals.
284
00:15:23,508 --> 00:15:27,512
It's like you can't get
more definitive than that.
285
00:15:27,547 --> 00:15:30,653
I think it takes merit
to be seen as an equal
286
00:15:30,688 --> 00:15:31,585
on the playing field.
287
00:15:31,620 --> 00:15:33,346
I mean, the numbers don't lie.
288
00:15:33,380 --> 00:15:35,279
I'm not saying it's
just that easy,
289
00:15:35,313 --> 00:15:40,318
racism and sexism and
prejudice have persisted
290
00:15:41,561 --> 00:15:44,322
even in the face of
excellent athletes.
291
00:15:45,530 --> 00:15:47,636
It has to do with the dignity,
292
00:15:47,670 --> 00:15:49,017
with which you carry yourself.
293
00:16:00,821 --> 00:16:03,617
In the state of
Georgia when I was a kid,
294
00:16:03,652 --> 00:16:06,206
the white kid got the favor.
295
00:16:06,241 --> 00:16:07,449
If it's the fighting club,
296
00:16:07,483 --> 00:16:09,554
the white kid was
gonna get the decision.
297
00:16:09,589 --> 00:16:10,831
The fact of the matter
298
00:16:10,866 --> 00:16:12,730
is things like that
happened to me all the time.
299
00:16:12,764 --> 00:16:15,043
I was always getting cheated.
300
00:16:15,077 --> 00:16:17,114
Matter of fact,
the kid be crying
301
00:16:17,148 --> 00:16:19,150
and he got the decision, he won.
302
00:16:20,048 --> 00:16:21,842
But for one thing, he own it,
303
00:16:21,877 --> 00:16:23,741
he don't wanna box no more,
304
00:16:23,775 --> 00:16:25,777
because you would turn him up.
305
00:16:26,709 --> 00:16:28,159
It was like that
for me all the time.
306
00:16:28,194 --> 00:16:30,886
Yeah, not so much
with white people,
307
00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,510
it's just discrimination
is just...
308
00:16:34,545 --> 00:16:36,754
The person got more
money than you,
309
00:16:36,788 --> 00:16:40,689
they family came a lot smarter,
310
00:16:40,723 --> 00:16:42,725
they speak a little different.
311
00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,694
Discrimination is in so
many different areas.
312
00:16:47,765 --> 00:16:50,768
I was that kid that
got a lot of trouble,
313
00:16:50,802 --> 00:16:54,392
but somehow I was
a good fighter.
314
00:16:54,427 --> 00:16:57,706
I fight good, why
did I fight good?
315
00:16:57,740 --> 00:16:59,742
I trained all the
time, I trained hard,
316
00:16:59,777 --> 00:17:02,193
regardless of how bad it
hurt, I just kept doing that,
317
00:17:02,228 --> 00:17:03,988
I kept doing it and
I kept doing it.
318
00:17:14,205 --> 00:17:15,793
I love the challenge
of working hard
319
00:17:15,827 --> 00:17:17,795
and I love to be successful.
320
00:17:17,829 --> 00:17:19,797
And somehow I--
321
00:17:19,831 --> 00:17:21,764
You can put the fires out.
322
00:17:21,799 --> 00:17:23,973
You know when I'm
sending peeps out.
323
00:17:24,008 --> 00:17:25,872
You will never do it
because you're poor,
324
00:17:25,906 --> 00:17:27,874
you never do it
because you black,
325
00:17:27,908 --> 00:17:30,049
you never do it because
you ain't got no money,
326
00:17:30,083 --> 00:17:33,052
you never get it in it 'cause
you're a father wasn't there.
327
00:17:33,086 --> 00:17:35,640
But life is not by advantage,
328
00:17:35,675 --> 00:17:37,884
it's by, are you gon' do it?
329
00:17:45,443 --> 00:17:48,757
My goal was to make the
Olympic team and I made it.
330
00:17:48,791 --> 00:17:52,071
When they called my
name everybody cheered,
331
00:17:52,105 --> 00:17:54,142
that has been the
thrill of my life.
332
00:17:54,176 --> 00:17:57,110
I'd never ever had
everybody on my side,
333
00:17:57,145 --> 00:18:00,079
but when I fought in
the Olympics I did.
334
00:18:12,988 --> 00:18:16,025
Do sports perpetuate
institutional racism?
335
00:18:16,060 --> 00:18:17,579
Of course they do.
336
00:18:17,613 --> 00:18:18,925
But American business is
built in institutional racism.
337
00:18:18,959 --> 00:18:20,754
Our entire nation was built
in institutional racism
338
00:18:20,789 --> 00:18:23,757
called slavery, that's
an institution, right?
339
00:18:23,792 --> 00:18:25,414
So there is--
340
00:18:25,449 --> 00:18:29,625
And our entire wealth of our
nation was built on slavery.
341
00:18:29,660 --> 00:18:34,320
Our success, quote unquote,
was built on slavery.
342
00:18:34,354 --> 00:18:36,494
The emergence of a nation,
343
00:18:36,529 --> 00:18:39,152
of an independent nation
was built on slavery.
344
00:18:39,187 --> 00:18:44,157
So the institutions of racism
are embedded in our system.
345
00:18:46,366 --> 00:18:48,334
For someone like a Evander,
346
00:18:48,368 --> 00:18:50,819
it seems like maybe it
gave him more strength.
347
00:18:52,165 --> 00:18:55,617
But if I'm sure, for many
kids it deflates the dream
348
00:18:55,651 --> 00:18:57,170
and those kids don't end up
349
00:18:57,205 --> 00:18:58,378
the heavyweight
champion of the world.
350
00:18:58,413 --> 00:18:59,690
Those kids might end
up in the street corner
351
00:18:59,724 --> 00:19:00,518
or might end up in prison
352
00:19:00,553 --> 00:19:01,726
or might end up--
353
00:19:01,761 --> 00:19:03,176
And sadly some of them are dead.
354
00:19:03,211 --> 00:19:05,730
So the fact that Evander
could overcome that
355
00:19:05,765 --> 00:19:08,285
is triumphant, but
doesn't necessarily mean
356
00:19:08,319 --> 00:19:11,219
that it's not happening anymore.
357
00:19:14,912 --> 00:19:16,741
The thing I admire
about Olympic athletes
358
00:19:16,776 --> 00:19:18,812
is the commitment and training.
359
00:19:18,847 --> 00:19:21,884
You have to have such
undying belief in yourself.
360
00:19:21,919 --> 00:19:24,024
An example would
be Aimee Mullins.
361
00:19:24,059 --> 00:19:26,648
Here's someone who has such
belief in her abilities
362
00:19:26,682 --> 00:19:28,305
and her talents as a runner,
363
00:19:28,339 --> 00:19:30,824
that even without
part of her legs,
364
00:19:30,859 --> 00:19:34,725
she persists and
does it with force.
365
00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:35,829
And that's the kind of thing
366
00:19:35,864 --> 00:19:39,108
that requires pure
belief in oneself.
367
00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:41,559
When I think about sport,
368
00:19:41,594 --> 00:19:44,942
I think about in a way
how it's the lost art.
369
00:19:44,976 --> 00:19:48,911
If we look at dance
and cinema and music,
370
00:19:48,946 --> 00:19:51,362
as these kinds of outlets
of creative expression
371
00:19:51,397 --> 00:19:55,953
that impact our society, and
I think sport also does that.
372
00:19:55,987 --> 00:19:59,059
These kinds of facing
your fears and self doubt
373
00:19:59,094 --> 00:20:02,994
or insecurity, testing your
will, testing your endurance,
374
00:20:03,961 --> 00:20:07,206
are things that are
intensely private
375
00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,415
and athletes do them
in a very public way.
376
00:20:09,449 --> 00:20:11,382
I think that's why
it's so infectious.
377
00:20:12,901 --> 00:20:16,870
My days of running in the NCAA
and running for Georgetown
378
00:20:16,905 --> 00:20:18,562
were really special for me.
379
00:20:18,596 --> 00:20:21,979
To be the first person in the
world on these Cheetah legs
380
00:20:22,013 --> 00:20:24,982
and to be a teenage
girl and to walk out
381
00:20:25,016 --> 00:20:27,295
and do a track meet
on Saturday morning
382
00:20:27,329 --> 00:20:31,230
with everybody staring at you
and kind of just inviting it.
383
00:20:32,817 --> 00:20:36,856
There's nowhere to hide
when you're wearing those.
384
00:20:38,202 --> 00:20:40,894
And I hadn't realized that
I had ever wanted to hide,
385
00:20:40,929 --> 00:20:43,103
but I think I certainly
didn't wanna be known
386
00:20:43,138 --> 00:20:45,934
as the girl with the legs.
387
00:20:45,968 --> 00:20:49,938
To be a teenager and really
kind of face that head-on,
388
00:20:49,972 --> 00:20:54,943
required a lot of kind of
emotional stamina on my part.
389
00:20:55,806 --> 00:20:57,186
For me, I was born that way.
390
00:20:57,221 --> 00:20:59,810
It just, it came
with the package.
391
00:21:00,707 --> 00:21:02,502
I was such a natural athlete,
392
00:21:02,537 --> 00:21:04,573
I was always very
comfortable in my body,
393
00:21:04,608 --> 00:21:08,750
but the randomness of being
born without fibula bones
394
00:21:08,784 --> 00:21:10,027
was such that...
395
00:21:10,061 --> 00:21:12,305
Yeah, there was a
period in my life
396
00:21:12,340 --> 00:21:15,964
where I really questioned
why it had happened.
397
00:21:15,998 --> 00:21:17,966
You kind of come up
with different things
398
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,417
to comfort yourself.
399
00:21:20,451 --> 00:21:23,868
If you think it's some
kind of divine will,
400
00:21:23,903 --> 00:21:25,801
you're being tested.
401
00:21:25,836 --> 00:21:27,009
My grandmother used to say
402
00:21:28,563 --> 00:21:31,600
that God doesn't give you
anything you can't handle.
403
00:21:31,635 --> 00:21:35,121
The fact that we just don't
know why certain things happen
404
00:21:35,155 --> 00:21:36,536
and
405
00:21:36,571 --> 00:21:39,298
we have to deal with it.
406
00:21:40,540 --> 00:21:43,785
My only real annoyance
was people who would,
407
00:21:43,819 --> 00:21:46,788
whether it was doctors
or even some teachers,
408
00:21:46,822 --> 00:21:49,342
that would sort of set
the bar really low.
409
00:21:49,377 --> 00:21:51,827
It wasn't like I innately
had something to prove
410
00:21:51,862 --> 00:21:56,315
because I knew I was
capable, really capable.
411
00:21:56,349 --> 00:21:57,833
And it just sort of annoyed me
412
00:21:57,868 --> 00:22:00,905
when people presumed I wasn't.
413
00:22:03,943 --> 00:22:05,841
When I look back at those days
414
00:22:05,876 --> 00:22:09,811
I'm thinking about lining up
in the blocks and doing it
415
00:22:09,845 --> 00:22:14,194
because I wanted to be the
fastest woman on prosthetics
416
00:22:14,229 --> 00:22:16,058
in the world.
417
00:22:16,093 --> 00:22:18,095
I still use it as a touchstone,
418
00:22:18,129 --> 00:22:23,031
I need to remember that
I was able to do that.
419
00:22:24,101 --> 00:22:24,998
Thank you.
420
00:22:30,072 --> 00:22:33,352
10 years after me there
were hundreds and hundreds
421
00:22:33,386 --> 00:22:37,079
of top tier athletes running
with prosthetic legs.
422
00:22:37,114 --> 00:22:40,151
But my experience of
competing when I did,
423
00:22:42,153 --> 00:22:45,294
it felt a lot of
times very lonely.
424
00:22:46,537 --> 00:22:49,022
The best thing I took
out of it was knowing
425
00:22:49,057 --> 00:22:52,440
I had done something that no
one could ever take from me.
426
00:22:53,751 --> 00:22:56,236
And it was a transformation
within myself
427
00:22:56,271 --> 00:23:01,034
that doesn't leave you and
it affects everything you do
428
00:23:01,069 --> 00:23:02,381
for the rest of your life.
429
00:23:04,175 --> 00:23:07,040
Sometimes I still can't
believe that I did it.
430
00:23:07,075 --> 00:23:10,872
It's an extraordinary
feeling to remember
431
00:23:10,906 --> 00:23:15,532
that you were able to
have this crazy dream
432
00:23:15,566 --> 00:23:19,052
ask for help, have the
discipline to follow through
433
00:23:19,087 --> 00:23:20,433
and get there.
434
00:23:20,468 --> 00:23:23,919
And whatever part
my story has played
435
00:23:23,954 --> 00:23:26,163
in the larger narrative of track
436
00:23:26,197 --> 00:23:28,614
and the even larger
narrative of the Olympics
437
00:23:28,648 --> 00:23:30,823
and ,then sport,
438
00:23:30,857 --> 00:23:35,862
I'm proud to have a little
line next to my name
439
00:23:37,968 --> 00:23:40,349
that says, world record setting.
440
00:23:50,014 --> 00:23:51,809
To be a woman's speed skater
441
00:23:51,844 --> 00:23:55,295
in kind of the era
that I grew up in,
442
00:23:55,330 --> 00:23:59,817
unfortunately, I didn't
have a lot of other females
443
00:23:59,852 --> 00:24:02,786
that were kind of right at
the same level that I was.
444
00:24:02,820 --> 00:24:04,960
I trained with the boys
445
00:24:04,995 --> 00:24:07,687
and even started racing
against some of the boys.
446
00:24:07,722 --> 00:24:09,275
And that kind of gave me
447
00:24:09,309 --> 00:24:12,278
that fuel for my fire,
so that when I got
448
00:24:12,312 --> 00:24:14,522
to those bigger
international competitions
449
00:24:14,556 --> 00:24:17,179
and would have to go
against those other women
450
00:24:17,214 --> 00:24:20,010
who were top notch
within our sport,
451
00:24:20,044 --> 00:24:24,152
I was ready for
those competitions,
physically, mentally,
452
00:24:24,186 --> 00:24:26,534
emotionally, everything
that went with it.
453
00:24:26,568 --> 00:24:29,191
I had some pretty good
friendly rivalries
454
00:24:29,226 --> 00:24:33,126
with two of the guys that
I skated with in my era.
455
00:24:33,161 --> 00:24:38,166
And it really gave me
that great nervous energy
456
00:24:38,994 --> 00:24:40,306
that I really wanted to have
457
00:24:40,340 --> 00:24:43,689
and be ready for it when it
came to those big competitions.
458
00:24:50,419 --> 00:24:51,662
One of the
things that I think
459
00:24:51,697 --> 00:24:54,320
it's really important
to also address in this,
460
00:24:54,354 --> 00:24:57,530
is the ways in which the
institution of sports
461
00:24:57,565 --> 00:24:59,670
seeks to masculinize
male athletes
462
00:24:59,705 --> 00:25:01,569
and feminize female athletes.
463
00:25:01,603 --> 00:25:06,263
So we see this in
very random ways.
464
00:25:06,297 --> 00:25:08,334
For instance, when
women's boxing
465
00:25:08,368 --> 00:25:09,680
was being introduced
in the Olympics,
466
00:25:09,715 --> 00:25:11,717
they were required
to or it was proposed
467
00:25:11,751 --> 00:25:13,339
that they were
gonna wear skirts,
468
00:25:13,373 --> 00:25:16,031
something that served
zero utility to the sport.
469
00:25:16,066 --> 00:25:19,241
Both men and women compete
in gymnastics at the floor,
470
00:25:19,276 --> 00:25:21,899
women compete to
music, the men do not.
471
00:25:21,934 --> 00:25:23,729
When you look at figure skating,
472
00:25:23,763 --> 00:25:28,078
the men disproportionately
get judged on athleticism,
473
00:25:28,112 --> 00:25:32,013
the women disproportionately
get judged on artistic merit.
474
00:25:32,047 --> 00:25:33,842
So again, there are
these weird ways
475
00:25:33,877 --> 00:25:35,706
in which this structure of sport
476
00:25:35,741 --> 00:25:38,398
tries to put men in
a masculine bucket
477
00:25:38,433 --> 00:25:40,366
and women in a feminine bucket.
478
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:42,230
What its all
connected to is this idea
479
00:25:42,264 --> 00:25:44,543
that somehow athleticism,
480
00:25:44,577 --> 00:25:47,200
which for men it's
always been argued,
481
00:25:47,235 --> 00:25:51,619
it gives men a sense
of leadership, of
strength, of control,
482
00:25:51,653 --> 00:25:54,207
that women who possess
those same attributes
483
00:25:54,242 --> 00:25:55,726
would challenge men for power,
484
00:25:55,761 --> 00:25:58,315
and you still have
that to this day.
485
00:25:58,349 --> 00:26:00,559
All the boys races, they're
always on on prime time,
486
00:26:00,593 --> 00:26:02,043
the ladies, they have
to go a little bit--
487
00:26:02,077 --> 00:26:03,389
They get showed a
little later at night.
488
00:26:03,423 --> 00:26:05,771
Which I heard from anybody
that watched my races
489
00:26:05,805 --> 00:26:07,635
would email me like,
"We watched the boys,
490
00:26:07,669 --> 00:26:09,257
they're on on prime time,
491
00:26:09,291 --> 00:26:10,603
but we had to stay up till
midnight to watch your race."
492
00:26:12,605 --> 00:26:15,332
The boys do attract a
bit bigger of a crowd.
493
00:26:15,366 --> 00:26:19,612
But I do think that any woman
with a strong personality,
494
00:26:19,647 --> 00:26:20,751
which I would say
most women in sports
495
00:26:20,786 --> 00:26:22,615
have a strong personality,
496
00:26:22,650 --> 00:26:24,962
And that's something that I
have to kind of struggle with
497
00:26:24,997 --> 00:26:27,275
in my work life to
make sure that...
498
00:26:27,309 --> 00:26:29,795
To get work done, you do,
you have to be assertive,
499
00:26:29,829 --> 00:26:32,107
see what you want and go
after what you need to get
500
00:26:32,142 --> 00:26:33,453
to make your job successful.
501
00:26:33,488 --> 00:26:35,283
But women aren't always
considered assertive,
502
00:26:35,317 --> 00:26:37,665
sometimes we go
straight to the B word.
503
00:26:42,635 --> 00:26:45,017
When sports became
professionalized and organized
504
00:26:45,051 --> 00:26:46,432
in the late 19th century,
505
00:26:46,466 --> 00:26:50,988
it was something that young
girls were just largely denied.
506
00:26:51,023 --> 00:26:52,611
The main reason why
we have any progress
507
00:26:52,645 --> 00:26:54,785
or could even speak about
progress in women's sports
508
00:26:54,820 --> 00:26:56,442
in any serious way,
509
00:26:56,476 --> 00:26:58,686
is because of the federal
legislation of Title IX.
510
00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:00,170
Like it's not
something that happened
511
00:27:00,204 --> 00:27:01,792
organically from below,
512
00:27:01,827 --> 00:27:04,277
it was something that is
part of the women's movement,
513
00:27:04,312 --> 00:27:06,452
that profoundly changed
the percentages of women
514
00:27:06,486 --> 00:27:08,350
who had access to sports.
515
00:27:08,385 --> 00:27:09,282
So what Title IX did,
516
00:27:09,317 --> 00:27:12,527
is it basically rebaked
part of the cake
517
00:27:12,561 --> 00:27:15,979
or baked a new cake
that's now on the table
518
00:27:16,013 --> 00:27:17,325
with the old sexist cake,
519
00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:19,707
but the old sexist
cake still exists
520
00:27:19,741 --> 00:27:22,399
and they're still
handing out pieces.
521
00:27:31,442 --> 00:27:32,789
Okay.
522
00:27:32,823 --> 00:27:34,376
So I'm gonna to just give
you some actions to do.
523
00:27:34,411 --> 00:27:36,482
And just do the first
thing that comes to mind.
524
00:27:36,516 --> 00:27:39,278
Show me what it looks
like to run like a girl.
525
00:27:41,832 --> 00:27:44,283
Oh, my hair, oh my God.
526
00:27:49,081 --> 00:27:51,877
Show me what it
looks like to fight like a girl.
527
00:27:52,740 --> 00:27:53,775
Stop, stop.
528
00:27:55,881 --> 00:27:57,468
Now
throw like a girl.
529
00:28:00,782 --> 00:28:01,610
Aah.
530
00:28:05,649 --> 00:28:08,031
My name is Dakota
and I'm 10 years old.
531
00:28:08,065 --> 00:28:10,861
Show me what it
looks like to run like a girl.
532
00:28:15,486 --> 00:28:16,453
Throw like a girl.
533
00:28:18,420 --> 00:28:19,490
Fight like a girl.
534
00:28:20,768 --> 00:28:24,185
What does it mean to you
when I say run like a girl?
535
00:28:24,219 --> 00:28:26,394
It means run fast as you can.
536
00:28:34,782 --> 00:28:36,300
Over
the last 100 years
537
00:28:36,335 --> 00:28:39,579
we've made remarkable progress
in closing the gender gap.
538
00:28:39,614 --> 00:28:42,134
Women have been able to
gain the right to vote,
539
00:28:42,168 --> 00:28:44,723
women have been able to gain
the right to an education,
540
00:28:44,757 --> 00:28:46,552
women have entered
the workforce.
541
00:28:46,586 --> 00:28:48,554
Still where we stand
today is not enough.
542
00:29:12,543 --> 00:29:15,443
What we're seeing today
is a renewed momentum.
543
00:29:15,477 --> 00:29:18,066
There's such a clear
understanding that
the world's economy
544
00:29:18,101 --> 00:29:19,965
cannot do without
the talents of women,
545
00:29:19,999 --> 00:29:22,795
that the world society
cannot do without the voices
546
00:29:22,830 --> 00:29:24,417
and opinions of women.
547
00:29:24,452 --> 00:29:25,694
There's
plenty of research now
548
00:29:25,729 --> 00:29:29,802
that shows that you cannot
underutilize 50% of your talent.
549
00:29:29,837 --> 00:29:32,115
All
American, Jeneva McCall,
550
00:29:33,668 --> 00:29:34,738
makes that throw.
551
00:29:36,636 --> 00:29:38,155
And McCall will
take the gold medal.
552
00:29:38,190 --> 00:29:40,606
You have a combination
of the efficiency argument,
553
00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,472
which is, your economies
will be more efficient.
554
00:29:45,714 --> 00:29:47,026
And then you've got
the equity argument,
555
00:29:47,061 --> 00:29:48,994
which is, "Hey, it's just fair."
556
00:29:49,028 --> 00:29:50,650
Change is a funny thing,
557
00:29:50,685 --> 00:29:53,205
it goes from the unthinkable,
558
00:29:53,239 --> 00:29:56,277
to the impossible,
to the inevitable,
559
00:29:56,311 --> 00:29:58,348
but you just gotta make
your way through that.
560
00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:23,925
It's great to have your
accomplishments recognized.
561
00:30:24,788 --> 00:30:27,756
And to me, it's a proud moment.
562
00:30:27,791 --> 00:30:30,518
And also really, just--
563
00:30:30,552 --> 00:30:32,589
I hope that it's an
example for younger people
564
00:30:32,623 --> 00:30:35,212
coming up as well, that you
can accomplish these things
565
00:30:35,247 --> 00:30:37,628
and you should strive for them.
566
00:30:40,804 --> 00:30:44,497
Being a minority on any team,
567
00:30:44,532 --> 00:30:47,915
whether it be an Olympics
or world championships,
568
00:30:49,054 --> 00:30:53,265
it really can set you apart.
569
00:30:56,716 --> 00:30:59,374
When I was diving, it was,
it's an individual sport
570
00:30:59,409 --> 00:31:01,860
and everybody's kind
of out for themselves.
571
00:31:03,275 --> 00:31:07,900
I definitely had more
supporters from the women's team
572
00:31:07,935 --> 00:31:09,626
than I had the men's team.
573
00:31:09,660 --> 00:31:13,112
And got a lot of snide comments
574
00:31:13,147 --> 00:31:18,048
of when I was at my first
Olympic games and I was 16.
575
00:31:20,775 --> 00:31:24,054
And all my other teammates
were college graduates
576
00:31:24,089 --> 00:31:26,608
and they were older, I
was still in high school.
577
00:31:26,643 --> 00:31:29,370
So I hung out with
the Soviet divers
578
00:31:29,404 --> 00:31:31,579
'cause they were
closer to my age.
579
00:31:31,613 --> 00:31:33,995
And so then I became
the commie fag.
580
00:31:36,791 --> 00:31:39,035
A lot of the people
in USA diving
581
00:31:39,069 --> 00:31:41,106
knew about my sexual identity.
582
00:31:42,624 --> 00:31:43,971
And then it was always an issue,
583
00:31:44,005 --> 00:31:46,456
we're a small team,
so it was like,
584
00:31:46,490 --> 00:31:48,768
"Okay, who's going in
the room with the fag?"
585
00:31:48,803 --> 00:31:52,393
And, I wasn't a part
of those conversations,
586
00:31:52,427 --> 00:31:54,671
but I learned about it later.
587
00:31:58,951 --> 00:31:59,848
The amount of things
588
00:31:59,883 --> 00:32:01,298
that you hear in a locker room
589
00:32:01,333 --> 00:32:03,300
that are extremely
homophobic, they just scar you
590
00:32:03,335 --> 00:32:06,821
and they slowly chip away at
you and chip away at your soul.
591
00:32:06,855 --> 00:32:08,927
The guys will be sitting next
to you in a full on discussion
592
00:32:08,961 --> 00:32:10,652
on like, "How could
someone even be gay?
593
00:32:10,687 --> 00:32:11,964
Like how disgusting is that?
594
00:32:11,999 --> 00:32:14,415
How can someone
love another man?"
595
00:32:14,449 --> 00:32:15,761
So it just makes you believe,
596
00:32:15,795 --> 00:32:18,246
like there's no way that I'd
be accepted in this atmosphere.
597
00:32:18,281 --> 00:32:19,972
So that's why you're so afraid
598
00:32:20,007 --> 00:32:21,318
and you think that
if you do come out,
599
00:32:21,353 --> 00:32:22,768
then you're gonna have
to get away from that.
600
00:32:22,802 --> 00:32:23,838
And that you just--
601
00:32:23,872 --> 00:32:25,460
I mean going back
into locker room,
602
00:32:25,495 --> 00:32:27,014
you think that they'll just
be like walking on eggshells,
603
00:32:27,048 --> 00:32:28,532
everyone would be silent,
604
00:32:28,567 --> 00:32:30,638
that people would be
whispering behind your back.
605
00:32:30,672 --> 00:32:32,260
I mean, those are the fears
that go through your mind
606
00:32:32,295 --> 00:32:33,606
because you hear
that kind of stuff.
607
00:32:33,641 --> 00:32:34,849
And then you do come out
608
00:32:34,883 --> 00:32:36,471
and those are same
guys that support you
609
00:32:36,506 --> 00:32:39,716
and you realize, that they're
not necessarily homophobic,
610
00:32:39,750 --> 00:32:40,993
but it's more of
that pack mentality
611
00:32:41,028 --> 00:32:42,512
where they kind of
feed off each other
612
00:32:42,546 --> 00:32:44,859
and say things that they
think the other wants to hear
613
00:32:44,893 --> 00:32:46,274
and it's a banter
going back and forth.
614
00:32:46,309 --> 00:32:48,000
So, it's really weird,
it was so strange to me
615
00:32:48,035 --> 00:32:50,140
that those people were saying
is that they'll support me
616
00:32:50,175 --> 00:32:51,728
and still a lot of
my best friends.
617
00:32:51,762 --> 00:32:53,040
And they would
send me texts like,
618
00:32:53,074 --> 00:32:54,696
"Oh, you know when I
said certain things,
619
00:32:54,731 --> 00:32:56,043
please forgive me.
620
00:32:56,077 --> 00:32:58,321
I didn't mean to hurt
anyone's feelings."
621
00:32:58,355 --> 00:33:00,185
And just to go back to
those times in my mind,
622
00:33:00,219 --> 00:33:02,670
I'm like, it's crazy that you
would say something like that.
623
00:33:02,704 --> 00:33:05,811
But I understand, it's again,
that athlete stereotype
624
00:33:05,845 --> 00:33:07,813
that guys wanna live up to.
625
00:33:15,027 --> 00:33:17,581
Growing up in Texas as a
gay football player, it was...
626
00:33:17,616 --> 00:33:18,824
It had its challenges.
627
00:33:18,858 --> 00:33:21,206
Because football
Thursday, football Friday,
628
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,656
football Saturday,
church on Sunday,
629
00:33:23,691 --> 00:33:25,417
then after church we'd
watch some more football.
630
00:33:25,451 --> 00:33:29,766
It is, that is our
life during the fall.
631
00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:34,805
And it was rough because if
you did not play football
632
00:33:35,806 --> 00:33:38,568
or any type of sport,
people would bully you
633
00:33:38,602 --> 00:33:39,603
or make fun of you.
634
00:33:39,638 --> 00:33:40,708
"Oh, you're not playing sports,
635
00:33:40,742 --> 00:33:42,710
you must be a
sissy or whatever."
636
00:33:42,744 --> 00:33:44,608
And, I had to--
637
00:33:44,643 --> 00:33:45,885
Knowing that I was different,
638
00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:50,752
I had to try to make
myself in a manly position,
639
00:33:52,099 --> 00:33:55,723
I had to play all sports and
do anything that's possible,
640
00:33:55,757 --> 00:33:57,759
people didn't think
that or assumed
641
00:33:57,794 --> 00:33:59,899
that I was a sissy or a gay.
642
00:34:04,283 --> 00:34:06,561
I don't know many people
if they'd know this
643
00:34:06,596 --> 00:34:10,117
about me or not, but sports
pretty much saved my life.
644
00:34:10,151 --> 00:34:11,739
And the reason why is,
645
00:34:11,773 --> 00:34:16,916
I was being bullied to a level,
646
00:34:18,021 --> 00:34:19,954
maybe it wasn't even
bullying, maybe it was just--
647
00:34:22,267 --> 00:34:23,613
I don't know, it was--
648
00:34:23,647 --> 00:34:24,924
I was not--
649
00:34:24,959 --> 00:34:27,306
I did not grow up in
a safe environment
650
00:34:27,341 --> 00:34:30,999
and I was always been
tortured and tormented
651
00:34:31,034 --> 00:34:33,105
by my older brothers.
652
00:34:33,140 --> 00:34:35,797
And they made my life a
living hell growing up.
653
00:34:35,832 --> 00:34:39,042
And sports, pretty much
and especially football,
654
00:34:39,870 --> 00:34:41,079
saved my life.
655
00:34:41,113 --> 00:34:43,357
And without it, I
wouldn't be here today.
656
00:34:45,876 --> 00:34:50,881
I don't know how much
of it was true homophobia
657
00:34:51,710 --> 00:34:54,264
or how much of it was jealousy.
658
00:34:54,299 --> 00:34:56,853
Because I've been in touch
with a lot of the divers
659
00:34:56,887 --> 00:34:58,130
that I used to dive against
660
00:34:58,165 --> 00:35:01,133
and they have no issue
with my sexual identity,
661
00:35:01,168 --> 00:35:03,929
but it was a way to
beat me off the board.
662
00:35:03,963 --> 00:35:05,862
If they can't beat
you on the board,
663
00:35:05,896 --> 00:35:10,901
then they'll try and take
jabs at you off the board.
664
00:35:12,213 --> 00:35:14,629
I was homophobic myself
and repressed that stuff.
665
00:35:14,664 --> 00:35:18,840
And dated girls, had girlfriends
or joining in the banter.
666
00:35:20,359 --> 00:35:22,879
I think as I got older, I
became more and more silent
667
00:35:22,913 --> 00:35:26,779
because I realized
that this is depressing
668
00:35:26,814 --> 00:35:29,610
and that this isn't for me.
669
00:35:29,644 --> 00:35:31,922
But definitely in
my teenage years,
670
00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:34,856
I was part of all that
671
00:35:34,891 --> 00:35:37,342
and tried to live up
to the stereotype.
672
00:35:37,376 --> 00:35:38,826
And I think a lot of gay men do
673
00:35:38,860 --> 00:35:40,483
and that's where a lot
of the shame comes in
674
00:35:40,517 --> 00:35:42,070
for a lot of gay men that
you hear they deal with.
675
00:35:42,105 --> 00:35:43,865
And I think a lot of
gay men deal with that
676
00:35:43,900 --> 00:35:45,626
for the rest of
their lives actually.
677
00:35:45,660 --> 00:35:48,007
Everything you think
that you are is bad,
678
00:35:48,042 --> 00:35:50,182
you're taught that
that's like evil.
679
00:35:50,217 --> 00:35:52,288
So, then when you're
also part of that banter
680
00:35:52,322 --> 00:35:53,151
and
681
00:35:56,050 --> 00:35:58,363
making jokes about someone
being gay or whatever,
682
00:35:58,397 --> 00:36:00,019
and you're part of
that and you hear that,
683
00:36:00,054 --> 00:36:01,849
it's like, it's the
worst thing in the world.
684
00:36:01,883 --> 00:36:05,508
You can imagine what that
does to your whole body.
685
00:36:05,542 --> 00:36:08,027
So as you get older
and you realize that,
686
00:36:08,062 --> 00:36:09,063
you get, you become more mature
687
00:36:09,097 --> 00:36:12,031
and you realize this
isn't the life for me,
688
00:36:12,066 --> 00:36:14,068
then you have to deal
with all those emotions.
689
00:36:14,102 --> 00:36:17,554
And, you remember all
those experiences.
690
00:36:17,589 --> 00:36:19,694
So again, like when
people say like,
691
00:36:23,042 --> 00:36:24,320
"Why was it so hard
for you to come out?"
692
00:36:24,354 --> 00:36:26,391
and is it--
693
00:36:26,425 --> 00:36:27,668
Why do people have to
even talk about it?
694
00:36:27,702 --> 00:36:28,945
It's like, Oh my gosh, please.
695
00:36:28,979 --> 00:36:30,912
It's the stupidest
question in the world.
696
00:36:30,947 --> 00:36:33,191
We talk about it because
there are no gay athletes.
697
00:36:33,225 --> 00:36:34,778
And there are no gay athletes
698
00:36:34,813 --> 00:36:36,953
because of the amount of
things that are being said
699
00:36:36,987 --> 00:36:38,230
in the locker room
700
00:36:38,265 --> 00:36:41,095
and the atmosphere that athletes
of the world has created.
701
00:36:42,441 --> 00:36:44,581
So it's just really damaging.
702
00:36:49,068 --> 00:36:51,692
I went to college at
University of Missouri,
703
00:36:51,726 --> 00:36:55,558
I played there
from 2009 to 2013.
704
00:36:57,111 --> 00:37:00,252
In 2013, I came
out to my teammates
705
00:37:00,287 --> 00:37:02,875
and we had a successful year.
706
00:37:02,910 --> 00:37:06,154
We had ended up having
a 12 in two record.
707
00:37:06,189 --> 00:37:08,536
Our second year in the SEC,
708
00:37:08,571 --> 00:37:10,918
I was voted a
unanimous All-American
709
00:37:10,952 --> 00:37:15,060
and also SEC defensive
player of the year.
710
00:37:15,094 --> 00:37:16,095
I was--
711
00:37:16,130 --> 00:37:17,373
And during that
time, I was picked
712
00:37:17,407 --> 00:37:19,098
to go in the top three
rounds in the draft.
713
00:37:20,997 --> 00:37:24,311
I came out to the world
in February nine, 2014.
714
00:37:24,345 --> 00:37:26,244
A standout college
football player
715
00:37:26,278 --> 00:37:29,074
may become the first
openly gay player
716
00:37:29,108 --> 00:37:30,593
in the National Football League.
717
00:37:30,627 --> 00:37:32,664
Michael Sam told
interviewer Sunday,
718
00:37:32,698 --> 00:37:34,942
that he is a proud gay man.
719
00:37:34,976 --> 00:37:37,738
Sam is an All-American
defensive lineman
720
00:37:37,772 --> 00:37:39,498
for the University of Missouri
721
00:37:39,533 --> 00:37:43,675
and 2013's SEC defensive
player of the year.
722
00:37:43,709 --> 00:37:47,299
The NFL draft takes place in
may as for Sam's prospects,
723
00:37:47,334 --> 00:37:50,820
every previous SEC
defensive player of the year
724
00:37:50,854 --> 00:37:53,132
has been prominently drafted.
725
00:37:53,167 --> 00:37:55,445
And the day of
my announcement,
726
00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:58,931
I instantly dropped
down in the draft.
727
00:37:58,966 --> 00:38:03,350
I wouldn't know how far I
dropped down until draft day.
728
00:38:03,384 --> 00:38:05,662
On draft day I found out
729
00:38:05,697 --> 00:38:08,286
that I dropped down
to the seventh round,
730
00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,116
pick 263, I believe.
731
00:38:11,150 --> 00:38:13,946
St. Louis Rams
select Michael Sam.
732
00:38:13,981 --> 00:38:15,603
No SEC
defensive player
733
00:38:15,638 --> 00:38:17,295
ever went that low but me.
734
00:38:18,572 --> 00:38:20,884
I got drafted to
the St. Louis Rams.
735
00:38:22,714 --> 00:38:23,853
I ended up having--
736
00:38:23,887 --> 00:38:26,511
Leading that team with Sachs,
737
00:38:26,545 --> 00:38:29,548
one of the top guys
and tackles that year.
738
00:38:30,756 --> 00:38:33,518
I was released at
the end of the camp.
739
00:38:33,552 --> 00:38:36,072
Michael Sam's NFL
dream is over for now.
740
00:38:36,106 --> 00:38:38,971
The first openly gay player
drafted by an NFL team
741
00:38:39,006 --> 00:38:41,353
was cut earlier this afternoon.
742
00:38:41,388 --> 00:38:44,183
And I then
went to Dallas Cowboys
743
00:38:44,218 --> 00:38:46,324
and for the remainder
of that year,
744
00:38:46,358 --> 00:38:48,360
I was with the Dallas Cowboys.
745
00:38:48,395 --> 00:38:50,535
But they too
unfortunately released me
746
00:38:50,569 --> 00:38:52,364
at the end of the year.
747
00:38:52,399 --> 00:38:54,124
When you have a
vision and you have it
748
00:38:55,367 --> 00:38:56,989
and you want
something to get done,
749
00:38:57,024 --> 00:38:59,923
you have to realize there
are gonna be some sacrifices.
750
00:39:01,408 --> 00:39:02,685
I was drafted
751
00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:06,102
as the first openly gay
football player in NFL.
752
00:39:06,136 --> 00:39:08,173
Right now, I'm
currently a free agent.
753
00:39:08,207 --> 00:39:11,832
And it shows that
progress takes time.
754
00:39:11,866 --> 00:39:13,178
The fact that he
was drafted so low,
755
00:39:13,212 --> 00:39:14,213
I do think had to do
with him being gay,
756
00:39:14,248 --> 00:39:15,111
I think a lot of
experts say that.
757
00:39:15,145 --> 00:39:16,354
We've had coaches info--
758
00:39:16,388 --> 00:39:17,113
Seventh round.
759
00:39:17,147 --> 00:39:18,356
Yes, seventh round.
760
00:39:18,390 --> 00:39:19,253
- But see I--
- Hold on, hold on.
761
00:39:19,287 --> 00:39:20,565
We've had coaches on the record
762
00:39:20,599 --> 00:39:22,187
and former coaches say,
"I would not draft him,
763
00:39:22,221 --> 00:39:23,222
I would not have him."
764
00:39:23,257 --> 00:39:25,604
Because he would be
a quote, distraction.
765
00:39:29,401 --> 00:39:31,783
Competing at such a high level
766
00:39:31,817 --> 00:39:36,684
and I had a very long
career and I won a lot,
767
00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:40,550
it's human nature to
root for the underdog
768
00:39:40,585 --> 00:39:44,209
and I was not the underdog.
769
00:39:44,243 --> 00:39:49,248
So there was this whole
beat the fag campaign
770
00:39:50,077 --> 00:39:51,078
at one of the competitions.
771
00:39:51,112 --> 00:39:56,083
And that was really a
motivating factor for me
772
00:39:58,085 --> 00:40:01,122
to prove myself that
I deserve to be there,
773
00:40:01,157 --> 00:40:03,435
that I deserved to do well.
774
00:40:03,470 --> 00:40:06,956
And for me doing well
was usually winning.
775
00:40:06,990 --> 00:40:08,820
I remember that one competition,
776
00:40:08,854 --> 00:40:11,236
I looked down into the crowd
777
00:40:11,270 --> 00:40:12,962
and there was this whole--
778
00:40:12,996 --> 00:40:15,585
I knew so many of
the individuals
779
00:40:15,620 --> 00:40:19,071
who were part of that
beat the fag campaign.
780
00:40:19,106 --> 00:40:24,111
And I looked down into the
audience and another diver
781
00:40:25,319 --> 00:40:27,977
who has always been
quietly supportive of me,
782
00:40:28,011 --> 00:40:30,807
she smiled up at me and
she gave me a thumbs up.
783
00:40:30,842 --> 00:40:34,432
And that was just enough to say,
784
00:40:34,466 --> 00:40:37,193
"Oh my God, I've got
somebody in my corner."
785
00:40:37,227 --> 00:40:40,230
And that is something
that is so valuable.
786
00:40:43,026 --> 00:40:45,270
I'm grateful that I've
been able to share
787
00:40:45,304 --> 00:40:48,618
that story with her, how
important that was to me
788
00:40:48,653 --> 00:40:50,931
at that moment in time.
789
00:40:50,965 --> 00:40:54,797
And I ended up winning
that competition.
790
00:41:06,015 --> 00:41:06,947
When I
realized I was gay
791
00:41:06,981 --> 00:41:08,327
and I was playing sports,
792
00:41:08,362 --> 00:41:09,328
I knew I had to either
stop playing the sport
793
00:41:09,363 --> 00:41:11,261
or I need to not be gay.
794
00:41:12,677 --> 00:41:14,402
So I decided to play the sport
795
00:41:14,437 --> 00:41:18,303
and just to completely hide
the other side of me and to--
796
00:41:18,337 --> 00:41:21,030
And even to myself, I
really kept that inside
797
00:41:21,064 --> 00:41:22,480
and didn't talk to
anyone about it.
798
00:41:22,514 --> 00:41:25,966
So, it's a scary place to be
and I think a lot of people
799
00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,175
will come to a place in
their life where they decide
800
00:41:28,209 --> 00:41:30,902
one way or the other and
I think that's not right.
801
00:41:34,940 --> 00:41:36,666
When I was 24 years old
and I moved to England,
802
00:41:36,701 --> 00:41:37,840
I was like, "I just--
803
00:41:37,874 --> 00:41:39,807
I can't do this
anymore, I'm depressed."
804
00:41:39,842 --> 00:41:42,189
Even winning championships
or going to Olympics
805
00:41:42,223 --> 00:41:43,224
or playing for
the national team,
806
00:41:43,259 --> 00:41:44,640
things that I all--
807
00:41:44,674 --> 00:41:45,675
And playing in Europe, all
things I dreamed of doing,
808
00:41:45,710 --> 00:41:47,366
I wasn't quite happy.
809
00:41:47,401 --> 00:41:50,715
And I couldn't quite be myself
around my friends, my family.
810
00:41:50,749 --> 00:41:52,993
And so I just couldn't imagine
my life being like this
811
00:41:53,027 --> 00:41:53,994
for the rest of my life.
812
00:41:54,028 --> 00:41:55,374
I mean, it just felt miserable.
813
00:41:55,409 --> 00:41:58,654
So, I got to a point
where I just decided
814
00:41:58,688 --> 00:42:02,450
that I need to come out and
tell my family at least,
815
00:42:02,485 --> 00:42:04,038
my friends.
816
00:42:04,073 --> 00:42:05,764
And if that meant that I
needed to stop playing soccer,
817
00:42:05,799 --> 00:42:07,076
then I need to
stop playing soccer
818
00:42:07,110 --> 00:42:08,767
and discover myself
away from that.
819
00:42:08,802 --> 00:42:09,561
So,
820
00:42:11,045 --> 00:42:12,391
it just showed
how fearful I was.
821
00:42:12,426 --> 00:42:14,359
'Cause I thought really
that my career was over.
822
00:42:25,750 --> 00:42:26,958
And the public
found out about it,
823
00:42:26,992 --> 00:42:29,270
then I realized that
now it is a possibility.
824
00:42:29,305 --> 00:42:32,757
Because I heard then from so
many people around the world,
825
00:42:32,791 --> 00:42:34,310
like, "Please continue to play."
826
00:42:34,344 --> 00:42:36,415
Like, "I love you
as a soccer player
827
00:42:36,450 --> 00:42:39,280
and I'll continue
to support you."
828
00:42:39,315 --> 00:42:41,144
And then it was also my
teammates and coaches
829
00:42:41,179 --> 00:42:42,560
that reached out to
me that supported me.
830
00:42:42,594 --> 00:42:44,113
And it made be like,
831
00:42:44,147 --> 00:42:46,149
"Okay, well, if these
guys are gonna support me
832
00:42:46,184 --> 00:42:48,393
and if they come on and
continue to play with me,
833
00:42:48,427 --> 00:42:51,430
then I can at least
try to do it."
834
00:42:51,465 --> 00:42:52,708
Even though it was scary.
835
00:42:52,742 --> 00:42:53,916
A few months after I came out
836
00:42:53,950 --> 00:42:55,400
I went back to playing
for the Galaxy,
837
00:42:55,434 --> 00:42:56,643
it was really scary for me.
838
00:42:56,677 --> 00:43:00,129
And I felt like I didn't
wanna let myself down,
839
00:43:00,163 --> 00:43:01,164
my family, my team,
840
00:43:01,199 --> 00:43:03,339
but also I felt a little bit of
841
00:43:03,373 --> 00:43:05,065
I didn't want to let
the LGBT community down.
842
00:43:05,099 --> 00:43:06,307
I was a little
nervous about that,
843
00:43:06,342 --> 00:43:08,275
it was because
there was no other,
844
00:43:08,309 --> 00:43:11,623
there were no other gay men in
sports and especially soccer.
845
00:43:11,658 --> 00:43:13,280
So it was like, I don't know,
846
00:43:13,314 --> 00:43:17,664
if I mess up, am I letting
you this community down?
847
00:43:17,698 --> 00:43:19,355
And finally,
848
00:43:19,389 --> 00:43:21,909
I wanna recognize what Robbie
Rogers of the Galaxy has done
849
00:43:21,944 --> 00:43:24,360
for a lot of people
by blazing a trail
850
00:43:24,394 --> 00:43:28,433
as one of professional sports
first openly gay players.
851
00:43:28,467 --> 00:43:29,952
My guess is that as an athlete,
852
00:43:29,986 --> 00:43:32,955
that Robbie wants to
win first and foremost,
853
00:43:32,989 --> 00:43:36,130
that's what
competition's all about.
854
00:43:36,165 --> 00:43:38,512
But Robbie, you've also
inspired a whole lot of folks
855
00:43:38,546 --> 00:43:41,204
here and around the world
and we are very proud of you.
856
00:43:41,239 --> 00:43:42,343
So, where is Robbie?
857
00:43:45,036 --> 00:43:46,865
When I realized
the impact that it had
858
00:43:46,900 --> 00:43:48,556
on so many people
around the world,
859
00:43:48,591 --> 00:43:50,179
that's when I realized that,
860
00:43:50,213 --> 00:43:51,767
oh my, I can go back and
kick a soccer ball around
861
00:43:51,801 --> 00:43:52,664
and help people.
862
00:43:52,699 --> 00:43:53,976
That--
863
00:43:54,010 --> 00:43:56,392
I'll get messages from
people still once a day
864
00:43:56,426 --> 00:43:59,360
or one every other day,
where someone's like,
865
00:43:59,395 --> 00:44:00,776
"You really like saved my life."
866
00:44:00,810 --> 00:44:02,847
Now, never did I ever
think when I came out
867
00:44:02,881 --> 00:44:04,469
that I would be doing that.
868
00:44:04,503 --> 00:44:05,504
Hopefully there's more
gay athletes that come out
869
00:44:05,539 --> 00:44:07,334
and then younger
men and women see
870
00:44:07,368 --> 00:44:09,681
that they can just be themselves
871
00:44:09,716 --> 00:44:11,165
and they can be out
and doing their thing
872
00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:12,339
and still have success.
873
00:44:14,548 --> 00:44:15,963
Here's
Robbie Keane now.
874
00:44:15,998 --> 00:44:16,723
Oh, its lovely.
875
00:44:16,757 --> 00:44:18,034
Robbie Rogers!
876
00:44:18,069 --> 00:44:18,863
Oh, yes!
877
00:44:21,555 --> 00:44:23,488
It's a special night for him,
878
00:44:23,522 --> 00:44:26,353
it's a special night for LA.
879
00:44:26,387 --> 00:44:29,356
And he's waited a long,
long time, Robbie Rogers.
880
00:44:30,771 --> 00:44:34,706
Going back to this trophy,
Cotton Bowl's trophy ceremony
881
00:44:34,741 --> 00:44:37,364
back in February of 2014,
882
00:44:37,398 --> 00:44:39,366
was something really
special to me.
883
00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:44,371
Seeing over 4,000 students
884
00:44:44,405 --> 00:44:47,892
and faculty and just
people in the community
885
00:44:49,410 --> 00:44:53,242
blockade these certain people
who are just full of hate.
886
00:44:53,276 --> 00:44:55,278
Westboro
Baptist Church members
887
00:44:55,313 --> 00:44:58,040
are known for their protests
at funerals of fallen soldiers
888
00:44:58,074 --> 00:45:00,870
because they believe God is
punishing the United States
889
00:45:00,905 --> 00:45:04,287
for tolerating homosexuality.
890
00:45:04,322 --> 00:45:07,359
This time the group targeted
openly gay football player,
891
00:45:07,394 --> 00:45:08,740
Michael Sam.
892
00:45:08,775 --> 00:45:10,880
Mizzou sophomores, Kelaney
Lakers and Alix Carruth,
893
00:45:10,915 --> 00:45:13,780
used Facebook to organize
a counter protest.
894
00:45:13,814 --> 00:45:17,611
Hundreds showed up and
created a silent human wall
895
00:45:17,645 --> 00:45:21,304
in solidarity to Sam
and their Mizzou family.
896
00:45:21,339 --> 00:45:25,032
And just seeing that and
showing that so much love for me
897
00:45:25,067 --> 00:45:28,311
and for my community,
it was heartwarming.
898
00:45:29,519 --> 00:45:33,731
And I know no one saw this,
but I was in the booth
899
00:45:33,765 --> 00:45:37,044
and I was just by
myself and I was just--
900
00:45:37,079 --> 00:45:39,495
I knew there was something
special about this school.
901
00:45:39,529 --> 00:45:40,807
And it was--
902
00:45:40,841 --> 00:45:43,257
And I had a little moment
to myself and I had--
903
00:45:43,292 --> 00:45:45,466
I cried a little
bit, but I was just--
904
00:45:45,501 --> 00:45:48,504
I felt loved, I felt loved.
905
00:46:07,799 --> 00:46:09,974
The reason why athletes
have had a hard time
906
00:46:10,008 --> 00:46:12,321
standing up for their beliefs
in professional sports
907
00:46:12,355 --> 00:46:13,253
is twofold.
908
00:46:13,287 --> 00:46:14,530
A, they won't become accepted
909
00:46:14,564 --> 00:46:16,359
and they'll be shunned
by either their peers
910
00:46:16,394 --> 00:46:18,983
and/or their
coaches or whatever.
911
00:46:20,674 --> 00:46:23,539
And then in sponsorship,
corporate America, right?
912
00:46:23,573 --> 00:46:27,439
A lot of times, unfortunately,
an athlete's well-being
913
00:46:27,474 --> 00:46:30,546
is being taken care of by those
types of corporate sponsors.
914
00:46:30,580 --> 00:46:33,342
And sometimes in those
corporate environments
915
00:46:33,376 --> 00:46:36,655
they're specific, very
conservative viewpoints
916
00:46:36,690 --> 00:46:39,003
on how they should
or they should not be
917
00:46:39,037 --> 00:46:41,039
expressing themselves
or conducting themselves
918
00:46:41,074 --> 00:46:42,316
in the professional spotlight.
919
00:46:42,351 --> 00:46:44,180
So, there is a
little bit of game
920
00:46:44,215 --> 00:46:45,664
I think the athlete has to play.
921
00:47:01,715 --> 00:47:03,406
The sports world,
particularly athletes,
922
00:47:03,441 --> 00:47:05,650
are heavily policed
and heavily censored
923
00:47:05,684 --> 00:47:07,514
by the people who run sports.
924
00:47:07,548 --> 00:47:11,345
Because most of them are
actually very right wing.
925
00:47:11,380 --> 00:47:13,727
Most of them are billionaires
926
00:47:13,761 --> 00:47:15,246
who are connected to hedge funds
927
00:47:15,280 --> 00:47:17,662
that are incredibly
hostile unions,
928
00:47:17,696 --> 00:47:21,321
incredibly hostile to any sort
of worker self-organization.
929
00:47:21,355 --> 00:47:25,256
And they do not like the idea
of their workers speaking out
930
00:47:25,290 --> 00:47:28,673
whether it's in an electric
factory in upstate New York,
931
00:47:28,707 --> 00:47:31,365
or whether it's in a sweat
shop in Southeast Asia
932
00:47:31,400 --> 00:47:33,609
or whether it's the athletes
on their basketball team.
933
00:47:33,643 --> 00:47:35,542
And when you couple
that with the ways
934
00:47:35,576 --> 00:47:37,613
in which the media, sports media
935
00:47:37,647 --> 00:47:41,548
traditionally has been
very older, very white,
936
00:47:41,582 --> 00:47:44,033
largely somewhat conservative,
937
00:47:44,068 --> 00:47:47,071
it creates a kind of
three-headed monster of people
938
00:47:47,105 --> 00:47:50,108
telling the young,
disproportionately poor
939
00:47:50,143 --> 00:47:51,351
at least from birth
940
00:47:51,385 --> 00:47:53,560
or disproportionately
people of color,
941
00:47:53,594 --> 00:47:55,873
athletes that they need
to just shut up and play
942
00:47:55,907 --> 00:47:58,703
and be grateful for the
opportunities that they have.
943
00:47:58,737 --> 00:48:02,224
It just shows to this day
like how difficult it is,
944
00:48:02,258 --> 00:48:05,434
especially when anything you do
945
00:48:05,468 --> 00:48:08,264
could get you labeled
a distraction.
946
00:48:08,299 --> 00:48:10,232
And if you're labeled
a distraction,
947
00:48:10,266 --> 00:48:13,373
then your earning potential
and your time in the pros
948
00:48:13,407 --> 00:48:15,789
becomes limited dramatically.
949
00:48:15,823 --> 00:48:17,825
Unfortunately,
one of the things
950
00:48:17,860 --> 00:48:19,966
that comes along with a
very corporate environment
951
00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:21,312
aside from big profits,
952
00:48:21,346 --> 00:48:23,279
is that they want it
to be very neutral,
953
00:48:23,314 --> 00:48:24,625
they don't want
to offend anyone.
954
00:48:24,660 --> 00:48:27,042
You don't wanna drive
away any consumers
955
00:48:27,076 --> 00:48:29,216
who might purchase your product.
956
00:48:29,251 --> 00:48:30,769
And so in the case of sports,
957
00:48:30,804 --> 00:48:32,840
it's unfortunate because
a lot of these teams,
958
00:48:32,875 --> 00:48:35,843
a lot of these
entities have this view
959
00:48:35,878 --> 00:48:39,261
that a gay player is going
to bring negative attention
960
00:48:39,295 --> 00:48:40,987
and it will drive people away.
961
00:48:41,021 --> 00:48:42,643
But that's not the case.
962
00:48:42,678 --> 00:48:44,162
People watch your sport
963
00:48:44,197 --> 00:48:46,682
because they wanna watch
someone do something very well.
964
00:48:46,716 --> 00:48:48,787
And yeah, you might
lose some people
965
00:48:48,822 --> 00:48:52,170
who don't agree with
LBGTQ individuals,
966
00:48:52,205 --> 00:48:54,241
who have whatever
their objections are,
967
00:48:54,276 --> 00:48:57,486
but at the same time that
will be offset by other people
968
00:48:57,520 --> 00:49:00,523
who say, "Hey, that's
fantastic, you let anyone play."
969
00:49:00,558 --> 00:49:03,630
It truly is about being
good at the sport.
970
00:49:03,664 --> 00:49:05,114
It is a meritocracy.
971
00:49:05,149 --> 00:49:08,807
And so, if any
corporations are listening,
972
00:49:08,842 --> 00:49:10,016
I would encourage you.
973
00:49:10,050 --> 00:49:11,707
Because--
974
00:49:11,741 --> 00:49:14,020
And this is actually true,
they found on Wall Street
975
00:49:14,054 --> 00:49:15,435
and in the banking industry
976
00:49:15,469 --> 00:49:18,196
that there's this huge
push for diversity,
977
00:49:18,231 --> 00:49:20,095
because it makes their
businesses better.
978
00:49:20,129 --> 00:49:21,786
They can appeal
to more customers,
979
00:49:21,820 --> 00:49:23,857
they can make more profits,
980
00:49:23,891 --> 00:49:25,617
they can provide
a better service
981
00:49:25,652 --> 00:49:27,619
because they have these
different viewpoints.
982
00:49:27,654 --> 00:49:30,726
And so the fact, you know that
from a business standpoint,
983
00:49:30,760 --> 00:49:33,280
the facts are diversity is
better for your business.
984
00:49:33,315 --> 00:49:36,559
And so, I would hope
that sports teams
985
00:49:36,594 --> 00:49:38,906
would take a look at
that and follow that lead
986
00:49:38,941 --> 00:49:40,460
and say, "You know,
987
00:49:40,494 --> 00:49:43,049
if we want to have better
athletes out there,
988
00:49:43,083 --> 00:49:44,671
if we want to have
a better product,
989
00:49:44,705 --> 00:49:46,500
then we need to encourage every
athlete to be who they are,
990
00:49:46,535 --> 00:49:47,881
no matter what that is."
991
00:49:53,714 --> 00:49:54,750
♪ Yo, yo, yo
992
00:49:54,784 --> 00:49:57,166
When people say sports
and politics don't mix,
993
00:49:57,201 --> 00:49:58,857
what they're usually saying,
994
00:49:58,892 --> 00:50:02,861
is that sports and a certain
kind of politics don't mix.
995
00:50:02,896 --> 00:50:04,380
Because they usually
have no problem
996
00:50:04,415 --> 00:50:07,383
with things like
hypernationalism, sexism,
997
00:50:07,418 --> 00:50:11,732
a football team in a certain
city named after a racial slur,
998
00:50:11,767 --> 00:50:13,251
they're fine with
all of that stuff.
999
00:50:13,286 --> 00:50:14,839
What they're not fine with
1000
00:50:14,873 --> 00:50:17,876
is athletes using their
hyper-exalted platform
1001
00:50:17,911 --> 00:50:19,671
to actually speak
about the world,
1002
00:50:19,706 --> 00:50:21,052
that's when you
usually hear people
1003
00:50:21,087 --> 00:50:25,194
come down with the, "Keep your
politics out of my sports."
1004
00:50:25,229 --> 00:50:27,231
Sports and politics
have always mixed.
1005
00:50:29,543 --> 00:50:32,512
The desegregation of
major league baseball
1006
00:50:32,546 --> 00:50:34,686
when Jackie Robinson became
the first black player
1007
00:50:34,721 --> 00:50:38,069
in major league
baseball was politics.
1008
00:50:38,104 --> 00:50:39,760
Even before that,
the Negro leagues
1009
00:50:39,795 --> 00:50:42,867
and segregating black
athletes was politics.
1010
00:50:42,901 --> 00:50:46,043
Not allowing black players to
play in the NBA was politics.
1011
00:50:46,077 --> 00:50:47,734
Not letting black players
play In the NFL was politics.
1012
00:50:47,768 --> 00:50:51,393
Jesse Owens and Hitler
refusing to shake his hand
1013
00:50:51,427 --> 00:50:52,739
was politics.
1014
00:50:52,773 --> 00:50:54,292
Muhammad Ali throwing
his gold medal
1015
00:50:54,327 --> 00:50:57,468
from 1960 Olympics
in Rome was politics.
1016
00:50:57,502 --> 00:50:58,779
Tommie Smith and John Carlos
1017
00:50:58,814 --> 00:51:00,264
raising their black
fist in the air
1018
00:51:00,298 --> 00:51:02,611
1968 Olympics in Mexico
city was politics.
1019
00:51:02,645 --> 00:51:05,614
I've always felt right that
this the sporting arena
1020
00:51:05,648 --> 00:51:10,170
is such a powerful place
to make a statement
1021
00:51:11,344 --> 00:51:13,898
about politics,
about social justice.
1022
00:51:13,932 --> 00:51:16,901
It's a level playing
field if you will,
1023
00:51:16,935 --> 00:51:19,938
in terms of the fans
who watch these sports.
1024
00:51:19,973 --> 00:51:21,940
The Republicans and the
Democrats, the independents,
1025
00:51:21,975 --> 00:51:24,115
people who hate politics, who
watch basketball and football
1026
00:51:24,150 --> 00:51:25,427
and baseball and tennis
1027
00:51:25,461 --> 00:51:28,740
and everyone comes
together in one space.
1028
00:51:28,775 --> 00:51:29,810
And,
1029
00:51:31,295 --> 00:51:33,262
when Eric Garner was killed
1030
00:51:34,539 --> 00:51:37,439
and there's a non-indictment
that came out,
1031
00:51:37,473 --> 00:51:39,130
we took to the
streets in protests.
1032
00:51:39,165 --> 00:51:40,821
And we were trying to figure out
1033
00:51:40,856 --> 00:51:42,823
what was the best way for
us to get the message out.
1034
00:51:42,858 --> 00:51:47,276
And the royal couple
of the United Kingdom
1035
00:51:47,311 --> 00:51:49,865
was on a trip here
visiting our country.
1036
00:51:49,899 --> 00:51:51,142
And they were going to...
1037
00:51:51,177 --> 00:51:52,868
It was actually a
Nets, Cavaliers game.
1038
00:51:52,902 --> 00:51:54,939
And we had LeBron James,
1039
00:51:54,973 --> 00:51:58,839
perhaps the biggest star on
the planet playing in Brooklyn.
1040
00:52:00,047 --> 00:52:01,842
And we had some connections.
1041
00:52:03,154 --> 00:52:05,846
My dear friend, Dream Hampton
who's a phenomenal writer
1042
00:52:05,881 --> 00:52:09,471
and activist and thought
leader and a friend of Jay Z,
1043
00:52:09,505 --> 00:52:10,886
who has a part--
1044
00:52:10,920 --> 00:52:14,061
At that time part
ownership of the team,
1045
00:52:15,580 --> 00:52:17,962
we reached out to them and
Dream and then to Jay Z,
1046
00:52:17,996 --> 00:52:19,481
and then, "Could we get
t-shirts into the arena
1047
00:52:19,515 --> 00:52:20,827
to get to the Nets?
1048
00:52:20,861 --> 00:52:22,173
And then could we
get one to LeBron
1049
00:52:22,208 --> 00:52:24,002
because Jay and LeBron
are good friends?"
1050
00:52:24,037 --> 00:52:26,626
And all of a sudden we
were printing t-shirts
1051
00:52:26,660 --> 00:52:28,214
at two o'clock in the afternoon.
1052
00:52:28,248 --> 00:52:30,906
And by five o'clock,
three hours later,
1053
00:52:30,940 --> 00:52:33,046
we were getting t-shirts
across the bridge
1054
00:52:33,080 --> 00:52:34,323
as fast as we can.
1055
00:52:34,358 --> 00:52:36,014
And ultimately they
got into the arena
1056
00:52:36,049 --> 00:52:37,499
and to the players'
locker rooms.
1057
00:52:37,533 --> 00:52:38,914
And we had no idea.
1058
00:52:38,948 --> 00:52:40,157
We had no idea
what would happen.
1059
00:52:40,191 --> 00:52:42,642
I happened to be on
TV that night on CNN.
1060
00:52:42,676 --> 00:52:47,094
And I was in the green
room with Russell Simmons
1061
00:52:47,129 --> 00:52:48,579
who I was working
for at the time,
1062
00:52:48,613 --> 00:52:52,824
who was also going on
television and Eric Garner Jr,
1063
00:52:52,859 --> 00:52:54,826
Eric Garner's son was there.
1064
00:52:54,861 --> 00:52:57,208
And we had to drive
the t-shirts off
1065
00:52:57,243 --> 00:52:58,382
and then all of a
sudden on the news,
1066
00:52:58,416 --> 00:53:01,178
there was the pregame
of LeBron James
1067
00:53:01,212 --> 00:53:03,939
wearing the, I can't
breathe t-shirt warming up,
1068
00:53:03,973 --> 00:53:05,354
making news.
1069
00:53:05,389 --> 00:53:07,114
And a remarkable scene
just unfolded moments ago
1070
00:53:07,149 --> 00:53:09,738
here in New York, at
tonight's MBA matchup
1071
00:53:09,772 --> 00:53:12,016
between the Brooklyn Nets
and the Cleveland Cavaliers,
1072
00:53:12,050 --> 00:53:15,399
with the Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge in attendance,
1073
00:53:15,433 --> 00:53:17,746
alongside Beyonce and Jay Z.
1074
00:53:17,780 --> 00:53:19,920
Calves' star, LeBron James
took the court for the warmups
1075
00:53:19,955 --> 00:53:22,923
in this t-shirt bearing the
words, "I can't breathe."
1076
00:53:22,958 --> 00:53:26,272
The ast words uttered by Eric
Garner and repeated 11 times
1077
00:53:26,306 --> 00:53:29,965
as he was subjected to the
police chokehold and restraint
1078
00:53:29,999 --> 00:53:31,518
that caused his death.
1079
00:53:31,553 --> 00:53:33,796
So myself and Eric
Garner Jr got into the car
1080
00:53:33,831 --> 00:53:36,972
and we went over to Barclays
arena where the Nets play
1081
00:53:37,006 --> 00:53:39,906
and stayed outside the
arena and in protest, right?
1082
00:53:39,940 --> 00:53:42,460
Of what was happening
in this city.
1083
00:53:42,495 --> 00:53:45,739
So, in the past few years
whether it was Trayvon Martin,
1084
00:53:45,774 --> 00:53:48,984
whether it was Eric Garner
1085
00:53:50,192 --> 00:53:54,645
or whether it was Tamir
Rice, folks are speaking out.
1086
00:53:55,853 --> 00:53:59,097
When I spoke out
for LBGTQ rights
1087
00:53:59,132 --> 00:54:02,653
and ended up losing
my job for it,
1088
00:54:02,687 --> 00:54:06,001
it wasn't so much
courage really,
1089
00:54:06,035 --> 00:54:08,279
as more recognizing the fact
1090
00:54:08,314 --> 00:54:10,074
that the society I wanna live in
1091
00:54:10,108 --> 00:54:12,249
is one where I'm free
to do what I want
1092
00:54:12,283 --> 00:54:13,457
and be who I wanna be.
1093
00:54:13,491 --> 00:54:16,736
And so in order for that
society to flourish,
1094
00:54:16,770 --> 00:54:18,427
when I'm in a position of power,
1095
00:54:18,462 --> 00:54:20,187
when I'm in a position
to say something,
1096
00:54:20,222 --> 00:54:22,155
then I need to speak up
for those who aren't,
1097
00:54:22,189 --> 00:54:24,675
because I'd want them
to do the same for me,
1098
00:54:24,709 --> 00:54:26,608
if the positions
were ever reversed.
1099
00:54:26,642 --> 00:54:31,302
And so it's almost more of a
kind of a self-serving position
1100
00:54:31,337 --> 00:54:32,614
in that you recognize,
1101
00:54:32,648 --> 00:54:34,443
if you want the freedom
to live your own life,
1102
00:54:34,478 --> 00:54:36,687
you have to make sure everyone
else has that freedom.
1103
00:54:36,721 --> 00:54:39,172
Otherwise, if it gets
taken away from one group,
1104
00:54:39,206 --> 00:54:41,485
it can just as easily be
taken away from another group.
1105
00:54:41,519 --> 00:54:42,934
And so the only way it works
1106
00:54:42,969 --> 00:54:45,420
is if everyone has
that same freedom.
1107
00:54:45,454 --> 00:54:47,525
Discriminating against
people based on skin color
1108
00:54:47,560 --> 00:54:49,044
or based on their gender
1109
00:54:49,078 --> 00:54:50,701
or based on their
sexuality is so silly.
1110
00:54:50,735 --> 00:54:53,773
Because at the end of
the day it boils down to,
1111
00:54:53,807 --> 00:54:55,706
can you help your team win?
1112
00:54:55,740 --> 00:54:57,328
Or can you put forward
the performance
1113
00:54:57,363 --> 00:54:58,295
that allows you to win?
1114
00:54:58,329 --> 00:55:00,331
If you're playing a solo sport.
1115
00:55:00,366 --> 00:55:03,955
And I think that people
need to understand that
1116
00:55:03,990 --> 00:55:06,475
and that really, from
the athlete perspective.
1117
00:55:06,510 --> 00:55:08,615
From those of us that
are playing the game,
1118
00:55:08,650 --> 00:55:11,618
we don't care what
you look like.
1119
00:55:11,653 --> 00:55:15,139
We don't care what
your sexuality is,
1120
00:55:15,173 --> 00:55:18,211
what we care about is can
you score a touchdown for us?
1121
00:55:18,245 --> 00:55:20,144
Can you catch that pass?
1122
00:55:20,178 --> 00:55:21,835
Can you save a goal?
1123
00:55:21,870 --> 00:55:23,216
Can you serve the
ball over the net?
1124
00:55:23,250 --> 00:55:25,391
And that's what matters
out on the sporting field.
1125
00:55:25,425 --> 00:55:27,013
And so, it's a very--
1126
00:55:27,047 --> 00:55:28,014
It's supposed to
be a meritocracy.
1127
00:55:28,048 --> 00:55:29,671
It's supposed to be the
ultimate meritocracy
1128
00:55:29,705 --> 00:55:31,155
that if you're good
enough to play,
1129
00:55:31,189 --> 00:55:32,190
if you're good enough
to reach that level,
1130
00:55:32,225 --> 00:55:33,399
that's the only
thing that matters
1131
00:55:33,433 --> 00:55:35,332
and it's the only thing
that should matter.
1132
00:55:35,366 --> 00:55:37,541
I really hadn't gotten involved
1133
00:55:37,575 --> 00:55:39,163
in a lot of stuff
before in the NFL,
1134
00:55:39,197 --> 00:55:41,165
because I didn't know
that I could get involved.
1135
00:55:41,199 --> 00:55:44,341
It never occurred to me
that this was something
1136
00:55:44,375 --> 00:55:46,343
or that there were issues
that I could speak out on,
1137
00:55:46,377 --> 00:55:47,896
that I could make
my voice heard.
1138
00:55:47,930 --> 00:55:50,070
And really, I didn't think
it was going to become
1139
00:55:50,105 --> 00:55:51,071
such a big deal as it became.
1140
00:55:51,106 --> 00:55:53,557
It was more, "Okay, I'm
going to help defeat
1141
00:55:53,591 --> 00:55:55,386
"this amendment in Minnesota."
1142
00:55:55,421 --> 00:55:57,699
An amendment that would have
banned same-sex marriage
1143
00:55:57,733 --> 00:55:59,390
enshrined it in the United
States constitution.
1144
00:55:59,425 --> 00:56:01,358
'Cause I was like,
"That's not a great idea."
1145
00:56:01,392 --> 00:56:04,222
I think discrimination in the
state constitution is bad.
1146
00:56:04,257 --> 00:56:05,776
And so a group approached me
1147
00:56:05,810 --> 00:56:07,950
and asked me if I was
willing to help defeat it.
1148
00:56:07,985 --> 00:56:08,710
I was like, "Sure."
1149
00:56:08,744 --> 00:56:10,125
That, I would love to.
1150
00:56:10,159 --> 00:56:12,403
This is an unnecessary
and restrictive amendment
1151
00:56:12,438 --> 00:56:14,578
that does not belong in
the state's constitution.
1152
00:56:14,612 --> 00:56:16,925
I'm Chris Kluwe, and I'm
urging you to vote no
1153
00:56:16,959 --> 00:56:18,444
on the voter
restriction amendment.
1154
00:56:18,478 --> 00:56:20,894
Let's punt this thing
back to the legislature.
1155
00:56:23,172 --> 00:56:25,554
As athletes, you were focused
on the game so much sometimes
1156
00:56:25,589 --> 00:56:27,591
that we forget that we
do have that platform,
1157
00:56:27,625 --> 00:56:29,040
that we can make that change.
1158
00:56:29,075 --> 00:56:32,147
And, it also comes
down to as athletes
1159
00:56:32,181 --> 00:56:33,562
are we willing to
make that change?
1160
00:56:33,597 --> 00:56:35,702
Because it's very easy to
just keep your mouth shut
1161
00:56:35,737 --> 00:56:37,083
and play the game and say,
1162
00:56:37,117 --> 00:56:39,154
"I just wanna be known for
what I do on the field."
1163
00:56:39,188 --> 00:56:41,639
And for a lot of guys, there's
nothing wrong with that,
1164
00:56:41,674 --> 00:56:42,951
like that's fine.
1165
00:56:42,985 --> 00:56:43,952
You just wanna be an
athlete, that's fine,
1166
00:56:43,986 --> 00:56:45,263
you just wanna be an athlete,
1167
00:56:45,298 --> 00:56:46,575
that's cool, that's
your life to live.
1168
00:56:46,610 --> 00:56:49,716
But, if you want to do
something more then you can.
1169
00:56:49,751 --> 00:56:51,546
And yeah, it might
come with some risks.
1170
00:56:51,580 --> 00:56:53,237
You might face some things
1171
00:56:53,271 --> 00:56:54,825
that you otherwise
wouldn't have faced,
1172
00:56:54,859 --> 00:56:57,172
but at the same time,
if at the end of the day
1173
00:56:57,206 --> 00:57:00,071
you've done something to
help out other people,
1174
00:57:00,106 --> 00:57:02,177
then I consider that a win.
1175
00:57:02,211 --> 00:57:04,317
Because there are many
things more important
1176
00:57:04,351 --> 00:57:06,284
than playing a children's
game for money.
1177
00:57:06,319 --> 00:57:07,424
And
1178
00:57:07,458 --> 00:57:09,805
the stable functioning
of society,
1179
00:57:09,840 --> 00:57:12,843
it ranks kind of above
that in my opinion.
1180
00:57:12,877 --> 00:57:14,189
My name
is Hudson Taylor,
1181
00:57:14,223 --> 00:57:17,468
I'm the founder and executive
director of Athlete Ally.
1182
00:57:17,503 --> 00:57:20,091
And we work to end homophobia
and transphobia in sports
1183
00:57:20,126 --> 00:57:23,440
and to educate and activate
athletic communities
1184
00:57:23,474 --> 00:57:25,476
to really exercise
their leadership
1185
00:57:25,511 --> 00:57:27,236
to champion LGBT equality.
1186
00:57:28,514 --> 00:57:30,826
So I was a three time
All-American wrestler
1187
00:57:30,861 --> 00:57:33,380
at the University of
Maryland and a theater major.
1188
00:57:33,415 --> 00:57:36,176
So I was sort of this
unique breed of athlete
1189
00:57:36,211 --> 00:57:38,282
who was in a locker
room every day,
1190
00:57:38,316 --> 00:57:41,319
hearing my teammates say
homophobic and sexist things.
1191
00:57:41,354 --> 00:57:44,357
And in the theater department
where I had LGBT friends
1192
00:57:44,391 --> 00:57:46,497
who were being
valued and respected
1193
00:57:46,532 --> 00:57:48,465
and appreciated
for who they were.
1194
00:57:48,499 --> 00:57:50,605
And I think that
context made me realize
1195
00:57:50,639 --> 00:57:52,469
that that was not what
I wanted with my sport,
1196
00:57:52,503 --> 00:57:55,989
of my team or the legacy that
I wanted to leave behind.
1197
00:57:56,024 --> 00:57:57,370
So in my senior year in college,
1198
00:57:57,404 --> 00:57:59,959
I was ranked number one in the
country in my weight class,
1199
00:57:59,993 --> 00:58:01,823
training to win
that national title.
1200
00:58:01,857 --> 00:58:04,308
And I realized that my
sort of cultural capital,
1201
00:58:04,342 --> 00:58:07,242
my voice as an athlete is
tied to my time as an athlete.
1202
00:58:07,276 --> 00:58:10,003
And so I wanted to use that
opportunity to speak out.
1203
00:58:10,038 --> 00:58:11,488
And so I started
my senior season
1204
00:58:11,522 --> 00:58:14,525
wearing that LGBT equality
sticker on my head gear
1205
00:58:14,560 --> 00:58:17,355
to use my platform,
to use my privilege,
1206
00:58:17,390 --> 00:58:19,392
to hopefully make a
positive difference.
1207
00:58:29,575 --> 00:58:34,234
They want freedom,
they wanna be free.
1208
00:58:34,269 --> 00:58:35,650
Whether you're black,
1209
00:58:35,684 --> 00:58:38,342
whether you're part of
the LGBTQ community,
1210
00:58:38,376 --> 00:58:40,102
whether you're a young woman,
1211
00:58:40,137 --> 00:58:41,345
whether you're a young immigrant
1212
00:58:41,379 --> 00:58:42,346
or the descendants of immigrants
1213
00:58:42,380 --> 00:58:44,348
or the parents of immigrants,
1214
00:58:44,382 --> 00:58:46,592
these young people
they wanna be free.
1215
00:58:46,626 --> 00:58:48,766
And they're willing
to risk their lives,
1216
00:58:48,801 --> 00:58:50,112
they're willing to
risk their bodies,
1217
00:58:50,147 --> 00:58:51,458
they're willing to
risk their reputations,
1218
00:58:51,493 --> 00:58:55,566
risk their careers
to get that freedom.
1219
00:58:55,601 --> 00:58:57,395
And it's hard for us white
people to understand that
1220
00:58:57,430 --> 00:58:59,536
because we're already free.
1221
00:58:59,570 --> 00:59:01,227
And so we don't get it.
1222
00:59:01,261 --> 00:59:02,849
So we don't say, "Why
are they so angry?"
1223
00:59:02,884 --> 00:59:04,851
or "Why they lie in the
middle of the road?"
1224
00:59:04,886 --> 00:59:06,301
Or "Why do they shut
down my highways?
1225
00:59:06,335 --> 00:59:07,889
I can't get home."
1226
00:59:07,923 --> 00:59:10,201
'Cause they don't wanna live
in fear from the police.
1227
00:59:10,236 --> 00:59:12,065
And they didn't want to live
in fear of going to school
1228
00:59:12,100 --> 00:59:15,068
and being bullied because they
think or they're not sure yet
1229
00:59:15,103 --> 00:59:17,312
whether it was the
right time to come out.
1230
00:59:17,346 --> 00:59:18,865
They don't want to live in fear
1231
00:59:18,900 --> 00:59:23,283
that they might have a
undocumented parent at home,
1232
00:59:24,353 --> 00:59:25,285
that parent's gonna be deported
1233
00:59:25,320 --> 00:59:26,977
because of bad immigration law.
1234
00:59:28,185 --> 00:59:29,566
They wanna live in freedom.
1235
00:59:29,600 --> 00:59:32,879
And we don't tell 'em to
shut up, we speak louder.
1236
00:59:32,914 --> 00:59:34,398
We raise our voices even louder.
1237
00:59:34,432 --> 00:59:35,744
If that means we gotta
go to jail for them,
1238
00:59:35,779 --> 00:59:37,401
that means we gotta
go to jail for them,
1239
00:59:37,435 --> 00:59:38,436
If that means we gonna lie
in the middle of the street,
1240
00:59:38,471 --> 00:59:39,955
means we just lie in
middle of the street.
1241
00:59:39,990 --> 00:59:40,887
If that means that you
loose some fans on Twitter,
1242
00:59:40,922 --> 00:59:42,233
we lose some fans on Twitter.
1243
00:59:42,268 --> 00:59:44,822
We know we on the right
side of history, we know it.
1244
00:59:44,857 --> 00:59:45,961
And they know it too.
1245
00:59:47,169 --> 00:59:49,309
They just have some
anger in their heart,
1246
00:59:49,344 --> 00:59:51,933
they have some pain
somewhere in their life
1247
00:59:51,967 --> 00:59:53,348
that prohibits them
from seeing the world
1248
00:59:53,382 --> 00:59:55,074
in a compassionate way.
1249
00:59:55,108 --> 00:59:57,248
So we don't judge
them, we're not.
1250
00:59:57,283 --> 00:59:59,423
We don't wanna
fight against them,
1251
00:59:59,457 --> 01:00:01,459
we're fighting for us.
1252
01:00:04,393 --> 01:00:05,671
I do feel a responsibility
1253
01:00:05,705 --> 01:00:10,365
to promote a message of
inclusiveness and equality,
1254
01:00:10,399 --> 01:00:12,747
especially because
of my background.
1255
01:00:12,781 --> 01:00:14,611
My family brought me to
the US when I was four,
1256
01:00:14,645 --> 01:00:17,199
it was a huge sacrifice
for my parents
1257
01:00:17,234 --> 01:00:19,339
to leave Mexico
and come to the US
1258
01:00:19,374 --> 01:00:22,101
in search for a better
opportunity for themselves
1259
01:00:22,135 --> 01:00:23,378
and also for us.
1260
01:00:23,412 --> 01:00:27,865
Sports for me was in a sense,
it was a way out for me.
1261
01:00:27,900 --> 01:00:29,453
As a child, you don't
know any better.
1262
01:00:29,487 --> 01:00:32,870
You think, you
live in the moment
1263
01:00:32,905 --> 01:00:35,286
and you make do
with what you have.
1264
01:00:35,321 --> 01:00:38,324
And sometimes as a child,
you don't really think
1265
01:00:39,532 --> 01:00:40,878
that you have it bad.
1266
01:00:40,913 --> 01:00:42,190
You--
1267
01:00:42,224 --> 01:00:43,536
I mean, I was always
a very happy child
1268
01:00:43,570 --> 01:00:45,365
and I was--
1269
01:00:47,574 --> 01:00:49,818
I think it wasn't until
later that I realized
1270
01:00:49,853 --> 01:00:51,578
that maybe that I didn't have
1271
01:00:51,613 --> 01:00:53,650
what all the other children had.
1272
01:00:53,684 --> 01:00:56,860
So I became a citizen right
after my 18th birthday.
1273
01:00:56,894 --> 01:00:58,655
So I hope that it is a very--
1274
01:00:58,689 --> 01:01:00,518
That it is a positive message.
1275
01:01:00,553 --> 01:01:04,971
And to kind of show
showing inaction
1276
01:01:05,006 --> 01:01:07,422
that there are many immigrants
1277
01:01:07,456 --> 01:01:09,527
or people from
immigrant backgrounds
1278
01:01:09,562 --> 01:01:13,808
that are here to contribute,
that they're not here to take,
1279
01:01:13,842 --> 01:01:16,914
that they're here
to give, to help
1280
01:01:16,949 --> 01:01:19,572
and they're here to work.
1281
01:01:19,606 --> 01:01:21,919
Fear is usually just--
1282
01:01:21,954 --> 01:01:26,441
You fear usually the unknown
or what's not common.
1283
01:01:26,475 --> 01:01:28,754
But we are all equal.
1284
01:01:28,788 --> 01:01:32,516
And the only thing
that does separate us
1285
01:01:32,550 --> 01:01:34,829
on that particular
day on race day,
1286
01:01:34,863 --> 01:01:38,522
is making sure and have
you done everything
1287
01:01:38,556 --> 01:01:42,112
that you were supposed to
do leading up to the race.
1288
01:01:42,146 --> 01:01:43,458
And that's it.
1289
01:01:58,507 --> 01:02:00,958
The one thing that I'm
really impressed with
1290
01:02:00,993 --> 01:02:03,374
is the Canadian Olympic team.
1291
01:02:03,409 --> 01:02:06,308
They started this
whole one team program
1292
01:02:06,343 --> 01:02:08,794
and that we're all one team.
1293
01:02:08,828 --> 01:02:13,246
It doesn't matter race,
religion, sexual orientation,
1294
01:02:13,281 --> 01:02:14,731
any of that.
1295
01:02:14,765 --> 01:02:19,736
And we also have it in the
IOC Charter in charter six
1296
01:02:21,289 --> 01:02:26,294
that Olympism does
not discriminate.
1297
01:02:27,467 --> 01:02:31,989
And it does state about
religion, race, sexual identity.
1298
01:02:33,128 --> 01:02:34,474
So I think that we've
come a long way,
1299
01:02:34,509 --> 01:02:37,892
I think that the athletes
have come a lot further
1300
01:02:37,926 --> 01:02:39,514
than the powers that be.
1301
01:02:39,548 --> 01:02:44,553
But I feel that they're
beginning to catch up
1302
01:02:45,554 --> 01:02:49,627
and be much more open
and much more accepting.
1303
01:02:50,628 --> 01:02:54,322
So I think we're in a
really positive path.
1304
01:02:55,495 --> 01:02:58,153
As athletes, from
everywhere in the world,
1305
01:02:58,188 --> 01:03:00,500
you wanna go at the
Olympics and perform.
1306
01:03:00,535 --> 01:03:03,849
For us, the COC, the
Canadian Olympic Committee,
1307
01:03:03,883 --> 01:03:08,854
was able to take all
those little things around
1308
01:03:10,062 --> 01:03:13,168
that are not performance
stuff away from us,
1309
01:03:13,203 --> 01:03:17,552
so we can think only about
going in the Olympics, skate
1310
01:03:19,209 --> 01:03:21,970
and get focused to win medals.
1311
01:03:22,005 --> 01:03:24,524
Anyone can come, can
go to the Olympics
1312
01:03:24,559 --> 01:03:26,457
and they will not have--
1313
01:03:26,492 --> 01:03:28,701
They will not be discriminated.
1314
01:03:29,667 --> 01:03:32,187
So I think it's
a good thing to--
1315
01:03:32,222 --> 01:03:37,227
When the Olympics is there,
you put all those things away
1316
01:03:38,400 --> 01:03:42,163
and let the athletes
play and do their best.
1317
01:03:42,197 --> 01:03:45,028
This specific culture is
evolving in the United States,
1318
01:03:45,062 --> 01:03:47,651
I'm not always accepted internationally.
1319
01:03:47,685 --> 01:03:49,342
It's definitely a
sensitive topic.
1320
01:03:49,377 --> 01:03:52,863
I'd love for there to be one
kind of global acceptance.
1321
01:03:52,898 --> 01:03:55,590
Unfortunately, that's just
not how the world works.
1322
01:03:55,624 --> 01:03:57,316
And I think we're moving in
the right direction though.
1323
01:03:57,350 --> 01:04:00,871
And I think we've seen,
especially lately,
1324
01:04:00,906 --> 01:04:04,564
larger countries who've
had previous political
1325
01:04:04,599 --> 01:04:06,843
and specific cultural beliefs,
1326
01:04:06,877 --> 01:04:09,397
are starting to really
make the progressive change
1327
01:04:09,431 --> 01:04:11,088
towards something
that is positive
1328
01:04:11,123 --> 01:04:12,676
and more liberal
and more accepting,
1329
01:04:12,710 --> 01:04:14,851
which I think is a
good thing overall.
1330
01:04:18,785 --> 01:04:22,272
We're given these moments
and these challenges
1331
01:04:22,306 --> 01:04:26,276
as really kind of a
test to our character.
1332
01:04:26,310 --> 01:04:30,245
And I think that if you can
go out and draw strength
1333
01:04:30,280 --> 01:04:32,213
and be able to overcome
those obstacles,
1334
01:04:32,247 --> 01:04:35,388
then you're gonna be stronger
as a person inside and out.
1335
01:04:35,423 --> 01:04:37,045
You don't necessarily
really know somebody
1336
01:04:37,080 --> 01:04:39,565
until you've walked
in their shoes.
1337
01:04:39,599 --> 01:04:43,465
And once you have, I think
you as a person or whoever
1338
01:04:43,500 --> 01:04:46,813
would probably understand
why they're there.
1339
01:04:46,848 --> 01:04:49,920
Many people don't choose to
be in a certain position,
1340
01:04:49,955 --> 01:04:51,784
sometimes things happen.
1341
01:04:51,818 --> 01:04:55,063
Whether we like them or not
certain situations just happen.
1342
01:04:55,098 --> 01:04:56,306
For the most part,
1343
01:04:56,340 --> 01:05:00,310
I think that the Latino
community in the US,
1344
01:05:00,344 --> 01:05:02,277
there has been a
lot of progress done
1345
01:05:02,312 --> 01:05:05,591
and they're still working
on doing more things.
1346
01:05:05,625 --> 01:05:08,663
And I think that the goal here
1347
01:05:08,697 --> 01:05:13,461
is to become better,
not only great people,
1348
01:05:13,495 --> 01:05:17,568
but great community leaders
1349
01:05:17,603 --> 01:05:20,571
or great teachers,
whatever it may be.
1350
01:05:20,606 --> 01:05:21,814
And I think that
that's the goal,
1351
01:05:21,848 --> 01:05:23,471
that's the goal for all of us
1352
01:05:23,505 --> 01:05:26,267
to continue bettering
ourselves in every way.
1353
01:05:27,682 --> 01:05:28,752
When I think about
1354
01:05:28,786 --> 01:05:30,271
the most memorable
sporting moments,
1355
01:05:30,305 --> 01:05:32,652
they are not world series
or Super Bowl games,
1356
01:05:32,687 --> 01:05:35,276
they're the moments
where social justice
1357
01:05:35,310 --> 01:05:37,140
intersected with sports.
1358
01:05:37,174 --> 01:05:41,938
There are those moments when
athletes went above and beyond
1359
01:05:41,972 --> 01:05:43,836
all the obstacles
standing in their way
1360
01:05:43,870 --> 01:05:45,527
and broke down barriers,
1361
01:05:45,562 --> 01:05:49,186
that's when we moved
societies forward.
1362
01:05:49,221 --> 01:05:54,226
There is tremendous,
tremendous, progress made
1363
01:05:54,916 --> 01:05:56,504
because of the Olympics
1364
01:05:56,538 --> 01:05:58,989
in terms of relationships
around the world and sport.
1365
01:05:59,024 --> 01:06:02,372
Ping-pong diplomacy, Richard
Nixon going to China.
1366
01:06:02,406 --> 01:06:03,649
And my first movie I ever made
1367
01:06:03,683 --> 01:06:05,340
was on Cuban baseball in 1999.
1368
01:06:05,375 --> 01:06:07,273
And seeing the president
just there last month,
1369
01:06:07,308 --> 01:06:10,552
attending a baseball
game with Tampa Bay Rays,
1370
01:06:10,587 --> 01:06:13,659
coming together with him
sitting next to Raul Castro
1371
01:06:13,693 --> 01:06:15,730
at the front seats
of the front row
1372
01:06:15,764 --> 01:06:19,044
of the Havana baseball
stadium, Estadio de Havana.
1373
01:06:20,666 --> 01:06:23,151
When you see athletes
can't compete
1374
01:06:23,186 --> 01:06:25,222
because of their religion,
whether it's Judaism,
1375
01:06:25,257 --> 01:06:27,638
the antisemitism
that was rampant
1376
01:06:27,673 --> 01:06:29,468
in the twenties and
thirties and forties
1377
01:06:29,502 --> 01:06:31,056
and certainly the Holocaust,
1378
01:06:31,090 --> 01:06:32,643
which was a result
of that hatred,
1379
01:06:32,678 --> 01:06:34,162
And they continue antisemitism
around the world today.
1380
01:06:34,197 --> 01:06:35,888
But you see it around the world
1381
01:06:35,922 --> 01:06:37,510
where there's Muslim countries
1382
01:06:37,545 --> 01:06:38,822
not allowing their athletes
to play in Olympic games.
1383
01:06:38,856 --> 01:06:42,377
Or whether it's corrupt
Olympic committees,
1384
01:06:42,412 --> 01:06:44,655
not allowing the
best to compete.
1385
01:06:44,690 --> 01:06:46,899
And so some never
get that potential
1386
01:06:46,933 --> 01:06:50,903
to be at the best sporting
event in the world.
1387
01:06:53,561 --> 01:06:54,527
It's sad.
1388
01:06:54,562 --> 01:06:56,046
It's sad and it's a disservice
1389
01:06:56,081 --> 01:06:59,567
to the journey we all
are on as human beings.
1390
01:07:00,775 --> 01:07:05,400
But when you do see
a Iranian soccer team
1391
01:07:06,091 --> 01:07:07,609
playing a US soccer team
1392
01:07:07,644 --> 01:07:08,886
and they can shake
hands at the end,
1393
01:07:08,921 --> 01:07:10,060
you know we're not enemies,
1394
01:07:11,786 --> 01:07:14,340
you know we just
have politicians who
wanna position us.
1395
01:07:14,375 --> 01:07:17,757
Or you see, as I saw
when I was in Cuba,
1396
01:07:17,792 --> 01:07:19,725
Cuban baseball players
and at that time,
1397
01:07:19,759 --> 01:07:22,348
the Baltimore Orioles,
American baseball players
1398
01:07:22,383 --> 01:07:24,799
playing catch on the field
together, laughing and joking
1399
01:07:24,833 --> 01:07:28,458
and slap each other high
five, we're not enemies.
1400
01:07:28,492 --> 01:07:30,977
And so sports has been an
incredible place for us
1401
01:07:31,012 --> 01:07:32,048
to realize that.
1402
01:07:33,118 --> 01:07:36,742
I hope these barriers of entry
1403
01:07:36,776 --> 01:07:39,986
on race or class or creed
or color or religion
1404
01:07:40,987 --> 01:07:43,369
are consistently knocked down
1405
01:07:43,404 --> 01:07:45,889
and continuously knocked down
1406
01:07:45,923 --> 01:07:48,616
no matter who you
are in this world
1407
01:07:48,650 --> 01:07:49,962
and everywhere you
live in this world.
1408
01:07:49,996 --> 01:07:54,449
Because there's great joy and
excitement for me at least
1409
01:07:55,278 --> 01:07:58,212
when I see our country compete
1410
01:07:58,246 --> 01:08:00,766
against someone who
we're told we don't like.
1411
01:08:00,800 --> 01:08:04,218
Or when you see young
Iraqis or young Afghanis
1412
01:08:04,252 --> 01:08:05,909
begin to compete in the Olympics
1413
01:08:05,943 --> 01:08:08,498
and begin to see a country
that they can be proud of
1414
01:08:08,532 --> 01:08:11,259
and wave the flag of which
maybe before they couldn't.
1415
01:08:13,330 --> 01:08:16,126
it's a beautiful,
beautiful thing.
1416
01:08:17,265 --> 01:08:18,956
Most athletes
would tell you,
1417
01:08:18,991 --> 01:08:20,786
it doesn't matter
where you come from,
1418
01:08:20,820 --> 01:08:24,134
what color your skin
is, what you believe,
1419
01:08:24,169 --> 01:08:27,137
who your God is,
you become friends.
1420
01:08:27,172 --> 01:08:30,140
And I think it's going through
those sort of experiences
1421
01:08:30,175 --> 01:08:32,177
of being an athlete and knowing
1422
01:08:32,211 --> 01:08:34,144
that he's training just
as hard as you are,
1423
01:08:34,179 --> 01:08:37,320
and you're going through
those same ups and downs,
1424
01:08:37,354 --> 01:08:39,598
it makes them
pretty strong bonds.
1425
01:08:39,632 --> 01:08:40,978
When I was a skater,
there's was this big thing,
1426
01:08:41,013 --> 01:08:43,188
you had the iron curtain,
there's the East Germans
1427
01:08:43,222 --> 01:08:44,879
or the Russians.
1428
01:08:44,913 --> 01:08:47,606
And I'm gonna tell you, some
of the Russians at that time
1429
01:08:47,640 --> 01:08:48,848
were some of my best friends.
1430
01:08:48,883 --> 01:08:50,885
I got some of my best friends
who were East Germans.
1431
01:08:50,919 --> 01:08:53,888
Those are guys that
I'll still talk to
1432
01:08:53,922 --> 01:08:55,683
and I can count on.
1433
01:08:55,717 --> 01:08:57,271
I think that's one of the
cool things about sports,
1434
01:08:57,305 --> 01:08:59,721
it sort of transcends
all that stuff.
1435
01:08:59,756 --> 01:09:02,345
At some point in time in life,
1436
01:09:02,379 --> 01:09:05,313
you gonna be them or not.
1437
01:09:05,348 --> 01:09:06,970
So you--
1438
01:09:07,004 --> 01:09:09,869
The way you treat somebody,
it gon' come back on you.
1439
01:09:09,904 --> 01:09:11,837
So either way it go,
1440
01:09:11,871 --> 01:09:15,392
it's that vicious
circle that go around.
1441
01:09:18,050 --> 01:09:21,053
There's still room to grow
in reaching equality in sports.
1442
01:09:22,019 --> 01:09:23,814
I think it's an
ongoing struggle,
1443
01:09:23,849 --> 01:09:26,334
but I would definitely say
that there's been progress.
1444
01:09:26,369 --> 01:09:27,542
And there's been people
1445
01:09:27,577 --> 01:09:29,889
who have been leading
the way in that.
1446
01:09:29,924 --> 01:09:31,650
And I hope that a lot
of the athletes now
1447
01:09:31,684 --> 01:09:35,516
are just adding to that and
that we can make change.
1448
01:09:35,550 --> 01:09:36,862
We live in a day and age
1449
01:09:36,896 --> 01:09:41,936
where antisemitism is not
as prevalent as it was
1450
01:09:43,938 --> 01:09:48,356
in the early stages of sport,
Jack Brooks, Irving Jaffee.
1451
01:09:49,530 --> 01:09:53,016
Individuals who have
had to truly understand
1452
01:09:53,050 --> 01:09:56,882
what passion for something
they believe in and want,
1453
01:09:56,916 --> 01:09:59,436
overcome and could
overcome anything,
1454
01:09:59,471 --> 01:10:02,128
any challenges from an
outside perspective.
1455
01:10:05,408 --> 01:10:06,754
I think to go forward,
1456
01:10:06,788 --> 01:10:08,963
it's often important
for us to look back
1457
01:10:08,997 --> 01:10:12,242
and understand where
the sport has come from,
1458
01:10:12,277 --> 01:10:13,968
who were some of
the key players,
1459
01:10:14,002 --> 01:10:16,039
who was performing and
what they had to do
1460
01:10:16,073 --> 01:10:17,454
to go through those
elements, right?
1461
01:10:17,489 --> 01:10:20,940
There's been no triumph
without immense struggle.
1462
01:10:20,975 --> 01:10:23,564
There's been no victory
without incredible obstacle.
1463
01:10:23,598 --> 01:10:27,084
And stories like that, I
think resonate within myself,
1464
01:10:27,119 --> 01:10:30,364
but also for our younger
generation, the next millennials
1465
01:10:30,398 --> 01:10:32,435
who are looking to
achieve their own dreams,
1466
01:10:32,469 --> 01:10:33,643
hopes and aspirations.
1467
01:10:34,989 --> 01:10:38,441
Well, I think what happened
to Jack Brooks was a travesty
1468
01:10:39,338 --> 01:10:42,824
to be denied your rightful spot.
1469
01:10:42,859 --> 01:10:43,963
It had to be devastating.
1470
01:10:43,998 --> 01:10:45,413
And there's no--
1471
01:10:45,448 --> 01:10:46,966
I have no way of--
1472
01:10:47,001 --> 01:10:51,108
There's nothing in my life
I couldn't even compare
1473
01:10:51,143 --> 01:10:56,113
to that type of feeling that
he must have experienced.
1474
01:10:57,114 --> 01:10:59,945
That kind of let down,
frustration, anger,
1475
01:10:59,979 --> 01:11:04,121
it's just something that I
hope never happens again.
1476
01:11:04,156 --> 01:11:07,953
And also something
that we have to give
1477
01:11:07,987 --> 01:11:11,991
a certain amount of respect
and acknowledgement,
1478
01:11:12,026 --> 01:11:13,027
that we should give more
1479
01:11:13,061 --> 01:11:15,512
to the guys who had
to experience this
1480
01:11:15,547 --> 01:11:16,996
in order for us to not have to.
1481
01:11:19,965 --> 01:11:20,966
Knowing
what they went through
1482
01:11:21,000 --> 01:11:22,312
is kind of inspiring to me,
1483
01:11:22,347 --> 01:11:26,005
'cause I hope that today
we can make a difference
1484
01:11:26,040 --> 01:11:28,145
in the sport and
hopefully in culture,
1485
01:11:28,180 --> 01:11:30,009
and realizing that if
you have struggles now,
1486
01:11:30,044 --> 01:11:32,805
it could make a difference
for generations to come.
1487
01:11:32,840 --> 01:11:34,186
Everybody should
have equal access
1488
01:11:34,220 --> 01:11:35,808
and opportunity to sports
1489
01:11:35,843 --> 01:11:38,846
and really, anything that
they're interested in life.
1490
01:11:38,880 --> 01:11:42,056
And whenever that
opportunity is being denied,
1491
01:11:42,090 --> 01:11:46,336
whenever an equally positive
experience is being denied,
1492
01:11:46,371 --> 01:11:49,028
that is probably one of the
saddest things in the world.
1493
01:11:49,063 --> 01:11:53,170
Jack Brooks wasn't able
to compete in the Olympics
1494
01:11:53,205 --> 01:11:54,724
because of who he was.
1495
01:11:54,758 --> 01:11:58,037
And I can have a little
parallel with him
1496
01:11:58,072 --> 01:12:01,834
not competing in the
NFL because of who I am.
1497
01:12:01,869 --> 01:12:05,148
And hopefully we can
all be like Jack Brooks
1498
01:12:05,182 --> 01:12:07,323
who just stand up for
what they believe in.
1499
01:12:08,876 --> 01:12:12,155
I really can't imagine what
Jack Brooks went through,
1500
01:12:12,189 --> 01:12:14,399
being denied his
rightful spot to compete.
1501
01:12:14,433 --> 01:12:18,472
I feel so blessed not to have
to face anything like that.
1502
01:12:18,506 --> 01:12:21,233
And really just grateful
for people like him
1503
01:12:21,267 --> 01:12:23,097
who have paved the way,
1504
01:12:23,131 --> 01:12:26,203
so that I can be afforded
the privilege to compete.
1505
01:12:26,238 --> 01:12:28,378
I can't even pretend
to know what that would be like
1506
01:12:28,413 --> 01:12:31,001
to have to go out there
under those conditions.
1507
01:12:31,036 --> 01:12:35,212
If people are against you
simply for being who you are.
1508
01:12:35,247 --> 01:12:37,698
And I'm a little actually
disappointed sometimes
1509
01:12:37,732 --> 01:12:40,908
because I don't think
all our athletes
1510
01:12:40,942 --> 01:12:43,082
know the history of our sport.
1511
01:12:43,117 --> 01:12:44,429
And it's--
1512
01:12:44,463 --> 01:12:46,431
I think it's so important
for any athlete in any sport
1513
01:12:46,465 --> 01:12:49,434
to know the history,
to know who--
1514
01:12:49,468 --> 01:12:53,023
The ones who were,
that came before.
1515
01:12:53,058 --> 01:12:55,405
And why are they there now?
1516
01:12:55,440 --> 01:12:57,959
They're there maybe a little
bit because I was there,
1517
01:12:57,994 --> 01:13:00,237
but I'm there very much so
1518
01:13:00,272 --> 01:13:03,137
because of those
that came before me.
1519
01:13:03,171 --> 01:13:04,794
Sports' come a long way,
1520
01:13:04,828 --> 01:13:08,798
but we have a lot of
people think for it.
1521
01:13:23,433 --> 01:13:25,124
In my great
grandfather's hundred years
1522
01:13:25,159 --> 01:13:28,196
on this earth, our world
changed for the better.
1523
01:13:29,025 --> 01:13:31,303
Our society became more equal,
1524
01:13:31,337 --> 01:13:33,754
our politics more humane,
1525
01:13:33,788 --> 01:13:35,480
our sport more inclusive.
1526
01:13:36,929 --> 01:13:40,277
But for many that
progress has come slowly,
1527
01:13:40,312 --> 01:13:42,314
sometimes not at all.
1528
01:13:43,591 --> 01:13:45,317
Athletes still hide in closets.
1529
01:13:45,351 --> 01:13:48,078
Others hide from
deportation, discrimination
1530
01:13:48,113 --> 01:13:50,460
or marginalization.
1531
01:13:50,495 --> 01:13:53,187
Some who are different,
who love differently
1532
01:13:53,221 --> 01:13:55,016
or worship differently,
1533
01:13:55,051 --> 01:13:57,674
are still sometimes
relegated to the sidelines.
1534
01:13:57,709 --> 01:13:59,883
Still cast off as
second stringers.
1535
01:14:01,126 --> 01:14:03,611
That's the unfinished
work of this generation,
1536
01:14:03,646 --> 01:14:06,303
to build a more just
and more equal world,
1537
01:14:07,822 --> 01:14:12,033
one sport and one
athlete at a time.
115102
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