1 00:00:03,437 --> 00:00:06,374 [percussion] 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:07,541 - I MAINTAIN 3 00:00:07,608 --> 00:00:10,111 THAT MY BOSTON CELTICS 4 00:00:10,178 --> 00:00:11,712 WERE THE GREATEST TEAM TO EVER PLAY BASKETBALL. 5 00:00:11,779 --> 00:00:13,481 COUPLE OF REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, 6 00:00:13,547 --> 00:00:15,149 WE WON THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP 7 00:00:15,183 --> 00:00:17,651 EIGHT STRAIGHT TIMES. 8 00:00:17,685 --> 00:00:21,155 AND TO START THAT STREAK, 9 00:00:21,189 --> 00:00:22,823 I HAD FOUR GUARDS, 10 00:00:22,856 --> 00:00:24,358 FOUR FORWARDS, AND TWO CENTERS. 11 00:00:24,392 --> 00:00:29,730 ALL FOUR OF MY GUARDS ARE IN THE HALL OF FAME. 12 00:00:29,730 --> 00:00:31,232 - WELL, YOU HAD A GREAT RUN, 13 00:00:31,299 --> 00:00:32,300 THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT, 14 00:00:32,333 --> 00:00:34,335 BUT NONE OF THOSE CELTICS TEAMS 15 00:00:34,402 --> 00:00:36,204 COULD HAVE BEATEN THE CHICAGO BULLS IN '95-'96. 16 00:00:36,237 --> 00:00:37,805 - EXCUSE ME. - YEAH. 17 00:00:37,838 --> 00:00:40,341 - THAT CHICAGO BULLS TEAM THAT WAS VERY GOOD? 18 00:00:40,408 --> 00:00:41,742 - IT WAS EXCELLENT. - THEY WERE VERY GOOD. 19 00:00:41,809 --> 00:00:43,577 - BEST OF ALL TIME. 20 00:00:43,644 --> 00:00:45,479 - WELL, I DON'T THINK SO. 21 00:00:45,546 --> 00:00:47,148 - REMEMBER, WE HAD THE BEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME. 22 00:00:47,181 --> 00:00:49,483 - I COULD MATCH HIM. 23 00:00:49,517 --> 00:00:50,851 I COULD MATCH HIM. 24 00:00:50,918 --> 00:00:52,420 [laughter] 25 00:00:52,486 --> 00:00:54,488 - WELL, YOU PROBABLY COULD HAVE MATCHED 26 00:00:54,555 --> 00:00:56,357 ANY MORTAL PLAYER. 27 00:00:56,390 --> 00:00:58,692 BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPERMAN HERE. 28 00:00:58,726 --> 00:01:01,162 I DON'T EVEN THINK THE GREAT BILL RUSSELL 29 00:01:01,195 --> 00:01:02,496 COULD HAVE MATCHED MICHAEL JORDAN. 30 00:01:02,530 --> 00:01:03,664 - OH, WRONG. 31 00:01:03,697 --> 00:01:06,700 [laughter] 32 00:01:06,767 --> 00:01:08,569 - YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN GUARDING ONE OF OUR MEDIOCRE CENTERS. 33 00:01:08,602 --> 00:01:09,903 - IN THE PLAYOFFS-- 34 00:01:09,937 --> 00:01:11,239 - THEY WERE VERY MEDIOCRE BACK WHEN. 35 00:01:11,272 --> 00:01:12,606 - LET ME ASK YOU THIS, BILL. 36 00:01:12,606 --> 00:01:14,108 WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT-- 37 00:01:14,175 --> 00:01:15,243 THE GREATEST TEAM, THE GREATEST PLAYER 38 00:01:15,276 --> 00:01:16,710 OR THE GREATEST-- GREATEST RECORDS? 39 00:01:16,777 --> 00:01:17,878 - NO, WE'RE TALKING THE GREATEST TEAM. 40 00:01:17,911 --> 00:01:19,747 - THE TEAM THAT HAS WON MORE GAMES 41 00:01:19,780 --> 00:01:21,782 THAN ANY OTHER TEAM IN THE WORLD, 42 00:01:21,849 --> 00:01:23,584 THAT'S THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS. 43 00:01:23,617 --> 00:01:24,618 YOU CAN'T DENY THAT, 44 00:01:24,718 --> 00:01:26,520 BECAUSE, ALL OVER THE WORLD, 45 00:01:26,554 --> 00:01:29,257 IT INTRODUCED THE GAME OF BASKETBALL REALLY 46 00:01:29,290 --> 00:01:30,624 TO THE WORLD ABOVE AND BEYOND 47 00:01:30,724 --> 00:01:32,560 THE UNITED STATES. 48 00:01:32,626 --> 00:01:34,528 SO THERE'S NO OTHER TEAM ANY GREATER 49 00:01:34,562 --> 00:01:35,896 THAN THE GLOBETROTTERS HAVE BEEN 50 00:01:35,929 --> 00:01:37,865 AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE. 51 00:01:37,898 --> 00:01:39,900 - I USED TO LOVE TO WATCH THE GLOBETROTTERS PLAY. 52 00:01:39,933 --> 00:01:41,535 I GREW UP IN A LITTLE TOWN IN WEST VIRGINIA, 53 00:01:41,569 --> 00:01:42,536 AND YOU USED TO GO TO CHARLESTON 54 00:01:42,570 --> 00:01:43,737 WHEN THEY CAME INTO TOWN. 55 00:01:43,771 --> 00:01:44,772 THEY WERE REALLY FUN TO PLAY, 56 00:01:44,805 --> 00:01:46,640 BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE-- 57 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,542 THE COACH OF THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS, RED KLOTZ, 58 00:01:48,609 --> 00:01:52,880 HE PROBABLY HAD THE WORST RECORD THAT EVER IN THE HISTORY-- 59 00:01:52,913 --> 00:01:54,748 [laughter] 60 00:01:54,782 --> 00:01:57,451 AND I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT MAYBE YOUR COMPETITION 61 00:01:57,485 --> 00:01:58,919 WASN'T AS GOOD. 62 00:01:58,952 --> 00:02:00,454 AND, BILL, YOUR CELTIC TEAMS WERE GREAT, 63 00:02:00,488 --> 00:02:03,791 JERRY, MICHAEL JORDAN IS AN INCREDIBLE PLAYER 64 00:02:03,824 --> 00:02:06,294 AND YOUR TEAM HAD A GREAT RUN, 65 00:02:06,327 --> 00:02:07,795 BUT MY CHOICE FOR THE GREATEST LAKER TEAMS 66 00:02:07,828 --> 00:02:10,498 WERE THE '80-'85 TEAMS. 67 00:02:10,564 --> 00:02:12,266 I THINK THEY'RE THE GREATEST TEAMS OF ALL TIME. 68 00:02:12,333 --> 00:02:14,502 THE EXPANSION DILUTED THE TALENT IN BASKETBALL. 69 00:02:14,568 --> 00:02:15,936 BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS LAKER TEAM, 70 00:02:16,003 --> 00:02:17,338 IT WAS AN ALL-STAR TEAM 71 00:02:17,405 --> 00:02:19,307 FROM ONE TO SEVEN. 72 00:02:19,340 --> 00:02:20,941 AND EVERY YEAR, IT SEEMED LIKE WE WOULD COME ALONG 73 00:02:21,008 --> 00:02:23,677 AND HAVE-- BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE SOMEONE 74 00:02:23,677 --> 00:02:25,413 THAT WOULD MAKE US BETTER. 75 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:27,248 YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BULLS CENTER. 76 00:02:27,281 --> 00:02:28,616 WHAT DID THEY CALLED IT? BY COMMITTEE? 77 00:02:28,682 --> 00:02:30,351 - THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. 78 00:02:30,351 --> 00:02:32,586 - WELL, LISTEN, THIS IS A ONE-HEADED MONSTER 79 00:02:32,653 --> 00:02:33,821 WOULD HAVE KILLED THREE OF THEM, OKAY? 80 00:02:33,854 --> 00:02:35,456 - [laughs] 81 00:02:35,489 --> 00:02:36,924 - AND, JAMES WORTHY-- 82 00:02:36,957 --> 00:02:38,626 SCOTTIE PIPPEN WAS A GREAT DEFENDER. 83 00:02:38,692 --> 00:02:40,661 HE COULD NOT GUARD JAMES WORTHY. THERE'S NO WAY. 84 00:02:40,694 --> 00:02:42,863 AND MAGIC JOHNSON, HE WAS GONNA DO HIS THING. 85 00:02:42,863 --> 00:02:44,665 - SCOTTIE GUARDED MAGIC JOHNSON PRETTY WELL. 86 00:02:44,698 --> 00:02:46,367 - WELL, HE DID IN THE PLAYOFF, BUT THIS WAS 87 00:02:46,467 --> 00:02:48,469 WHEN MAGIC JOHNSON WAS A LITTLE BIT OLDER 88 00:02:48,536 --> 00:02:50,804 AND DIDN'T HAVE THIS GENTLEMAN, MR. JABBAR HERE, WITH HIM. 89 00:02:50,838 --> 00:02:52,640 BUT THOSE ARE THE GREATEST TEAMS I'VE EVER SEEN. 90 00:02:52,673 --> 00:02:54,675 THEY COULD WIN ANY WAY, JUST AS A BULLS TEAM, 91 00:02:54,708 --> 00:02:55,976 JUST AS A CELTICS TEAM. 92 00:02:56,009 --> 00:02:58,479 HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE. 93 00:02:58,512 --> 00:02:59,680 - THEY WERE REALLY GOOD, OKAY? 94 00:02:59,713 --> 00:03:00,881 - THEY WERE REALLY GOOD. 95 00:03:00,981 --> 00:03:02,383 AND YOU GUYS WERE GOOD TOO, 96 00:03:02,450 --> 00:03:03,951 BECAUSE I KNEW YOU KICKED OUR ASSES 97 00:03:04,017 --> 00:03:05,519 ALL THE TIME. - THEY WERE REALLY GOOD. 98 00:03:05,553 --> 00:03:07,221 THAT'S THE ONLY TEAM THAT MADE ME NERVOUS. 99 00:03:07,288 --> 00:03:08,322 - HOW ARE YOU GONNA GUARD HIM? 100 00:03:08,389 --> 00:03:10,324 - LISTEN... [laughter] 101 00:03:10,358 --> 00:03:11,559 - I WANT TO HEAR THIS ONE. 102 00:03:11,625 --> 00:03:12,693 YOU KNOW, HE'S SITTING RIGHT HERE 103 00:03:12,726 --> 00:03:13,827 IN YOUR PRESENCE. - OKAY. 104 00:03:13,894 --> 00:03:14,895 - I WANT TO SEE THIS ONE. 105 00:03:14,895 --> 00:03:16,630 - I WOULD WATCH HIM PLAY. 106 00:03:16,697 --> 00:03:18,632 THE THIRD TIME I PLAYED HIM, I WOULD KNOW 107 00:03:18,666 --> 00:03:20,234 HOW TO GUARD HIM. 108 00:03:20,301 --> 00:03:21,569 - WELL, HE HAD THE GREATEST SHOT 109 00:03:21,635 --> 00:03:22,703 EVER IN BASKETBALL. - THE SKYHOOK? 110 00:03:22,736 --> 00:03:24,472 - NO, YOU COULD NOT BOTHER THAT. 111 00:03:24,538 --> 00:03:26,874 TRUST ME. AS GREAT AS YOU WERE, 112 00:03:26,907 --> 00:03:28,041 AS GREAT AS YOU WERE-- AND, LISTEN, 113 00:03:28,075 --> 00:03:29,843 YOU WERE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE-- 114 00:03:29,877 --> 00:03:32,012 - I WOULD NEVER BLOCK OVER SIX OF THOSE A GAME. 115 00:03:32,045 --> 00:03:33,481 - OH, YOU WOULD-- [laughter] 116 00:03:33,514 --> 00:03:34,548 HOLD ON NOW. 117 00:03:34,582 --> 00:03:36,350 YOU WOULD NOT TOUCH THAT SHOT. 118 00:03:36,417 --> 00:03:38,519 YOU WOULD NOT TOUCH THAT SHOT. 119 00:03:38,552 --> 00:03:39,553 THERE'S NO WAY. 120 00:03:39,587 --> 00:03:40,821 NO ONE BLOCKS HIS SHOT. 121 00:03:40,888 --> 00:03:42,323 - FORTUNATE FOR ME, 122 00:03:42,356 --> 00:03:43,491 I NEVER HAD TO PLAY HIM. 123 00:03:43,524 --> 00:03:44,525 - THANK GOD. 124 00:03:44,558 --> 00:03:46,394 [laughter] 125 00:03:46,427 --> 00:03:47,995 - IN SOME WAYS, I DO AGREE WITH JERRY. 126 00:03:48,061 --> 00:03:50,264 YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I'M TRUE BLUE LAKERS, 127 00:03:50,331 --> 00:03:52,533 AND WE HAD SOME WONDERFUL TEAMS. 128 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,603 BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT THE BEST TEAM 129 00:03:55,603 --> 00:03:56,837 YOU NEVER HEARD OF. 130 00:03:56,904 --> 00:03:58,739 * IT'S BASKETBALL SOUL 131 00:03:58,772 --> 00:04:00,908 * HARLEM, SON 132 00:04:00,941 --> 00:04:03,010 * SECOND TO NONE 133 00:04:03,076 --> 00:04:11,785 * 134 00:04:11,852 --> 00:04:14,388 * ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS * 135 00:04:14,455 --> 00:04:17,958 * COME ON 136 00:04:18,025 --> 00:04:19,860 * HARLEM, SON 137 00:04:19,927 --> 00:04:22,630 * SECOND TO NONE 138 00:04:22,696 --> 00:04:23,631 * COME ON 139 00:04:23,697 --> 00:04:28,402 * 140 00:04:28,469 --> 00:04:29,737 * SECOND TO NONE 141 00:04:29,770 --> 00:04:33,707 * 142 00:04:33,741 --> 00:04:36,410 * UPTOWN 143 00:04:36,477 --> 00:04:39,112 * SWINGING UP THE TOWN 144 00:04:39,146 --> 00:04:42,650 * COME ON 145 00:04:42,716 --> 00:04:45,052 * IT'S LIKE A JAZZ FORCE 146 00:04:45,085 --> 00:04:49,490 * 147 00:04:49,557 --> 00:04:50,891 * GET WRECKIN' 148 00:04:50,958 --> 00:04:52,760 [record needle scratching] 149 00:04:52,793 --> 00:04:53,761 * HIT ME 150 00:04:53,794 --> 00:04:58,632 * 151 00:04:58,666 --> 00:04:59,633 * UH 152 00:04:59,667 --> 00:05:02,736 * OUTSIDE THE STREET 153 00:05:02,770 --> 00:05:06,807 * 154 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,677 * GOAL 155 00:05:09,743 --> 00:05:11,445 * WHAT? 156 00:05:11,512 --> 00:05:12,580 * 157 00:05:12,613 --> 00:05:14,782 * BASKETBALL SOUL 158 00:05:14,848 --> 00:05:15,783 * FEELING GOLD 159 00:05:15,816 --> 00:05:17,585 * LET'S GO 160 00:05:17,618 --> 00:05:19,653 * ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS * 161 00:05:19,687 --> 00:05:22,122 THE STORY OF THE GREATEST TEAM YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF. 162 00:05:22,189 --> 00:05:23,691 * COME ON 163 00:05:23,691 --> 00:05:26,827 * 164 00:05:26,860 --> 00:05:30,531 - TODAY WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE SPORTS WITHOUT BLACK ATHLETES. 165 00:05:30,631 --> 00:05:32,600 NEARLY 79% OF PLAYERS 166 00:05:32,633 --> 00:05:34,802 WHO GIVE THE NBA ITS ENORMOUS STAR POWER 167 00:05:34,835 --> 00:05:37,371 ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR. 168 00:05:37,438 --> 00:05:39,106 BUT IN THE EARLY DAYS OF BASKETBALL, 169 00:05:39,139 --> 00:05:41,141 THE NUMBER OF BLACK PLAYERS ALLOWED TO COMPETE 170 00:05:41,208 --> 00:05:44,978 FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WAS ZERO. 171 00:05:45,012 --> 00:05:46,714 - * COME ON 172 00:05:46,780 --> 00:05:53,120 * 173 00:05:53,186 --> 00:05:54,988 - I FIND IT REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE 174 00:05:55,022 --> 00:05:57,725 THAT NBA PLAYERS TODAY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE FACT 175 00:05:57,791 --> 00:05:59,693 THAT THE NBA, WHEN IT STARTED, 176 00:05:59,727 --> 00:06:02,730 WAS SEGREGATED. [whistle blows] 177 00:06:02,796 --> 00:06:03,964 [cheers and applause] 178 00:06:04,031 --> 00:06:05,165 - THESE YOUNG GUYS THINK 179 00:06:05,198 --> 00:06:06,534 THEY MAKE $20 MILLION A YEAR 180 00:06:06,567 --> 00:06:07,901 'CAUSE THEY CAN PLAY. 181 00:06:07,968 --> 00:06:10,037 THEY WERE JUST BORN AT THE RIGHT TIME. 182 00:06:10,070 --> 00:06:13,140 - WHEN I CAME UP, THEY SAID YOU'RE GONNA BE 183 00:06:13,206 --> 00:06:16,910 THE FIRST BLACK GUY IN THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME. 184 00:06:16,977 --> 00:06:19,813 I WAS IMMENSELY INSULTED. 185 00:06:19,847 --> 00:06:22,015 BECAUSE ALL THE PLAYERS THAT PLAYED FOR THE RENS 186 00:06:22,049 --> 00:06:24,217 THAT I KNEW AND KNEW OF, 187 00:06:24,251 --> 00:06:28,155 THEY JUST BRUSHED 'EM ASIDE. 188 00:06:28,188 --> 00:06:30,190 SO TO ME, TO GO INTO A PLACE 189 00:06:30,257 --> 00:06:33,093 WHERE THEY HAD JUST BRUSHED THESE GREAT PLAYERS ASIDE 190 00:06:33,093 --> 00:06:34,862 AND SAID, "WELL, WE'LL ACCEPT YOU," 191 00:06:34,928 --> 00:06:37,598 WELL, I WON'T ACCEPT YOU. 192 00:06:37,598 --> 00:06:38,866 - I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT 193 00:06:38,932 --> 00:06:40,868 FOR TODAY'S PLAYERS 194 00:06:40,901 --> 00:06:43,070 TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS. 195 00:06:43,103 --> 00:06:48,576 - * WHOA, LORD 196 00:06:48,609 --> 00:06:50,678 * GIVE ME MORE TIME 197 00:06:50,744 --> 00:06:53,547 * TO PRAY 198 00:06:53,581 --> 00:06:55,749 - BLACKS WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SOCIAL LADDER. 199 00:06:55,783 --> 00:06:57,751 AND BEING FEWER IN NUMBER THAN WHITES, 200 00:06:57,785 --> 00:06:59,787 THEY WERE ALSO ISOLATED 201 00:06:59,887 --> 00:07:03,557 THROUGHOUT A VAST, MOSTLY WHITE COUNTRY. 202 00:07:19,907 --> 00:07:22,910 LYNCHING WAS STILL A POPULAR METHOD OF STOPPING 203 00:07:22,976 --> 00:07:25,779 ANY NOTION OF INTEGRATION. 204 00:07:25,813 --> 00:07:28,982 OVER 2,500 BLACKS HAD BEEN LYNCHED, 205 00:07:29,049 --> 00:07:32,820 MOSTLY IN SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES. 206 00:07:32,886 --> 00:07:34,988 - ONE OF MY FATHER'S FRIENDS 207 00:07:35,055 --> 00:07:36,924 WAS ACCUSED OF LOOKING THE WRONG WAY 208 00:07:36,990 --> 00:07:38,091 AT A WHITE WOMAN. 209 00:07:38,125 --> 00:07:40,628 NOW, THE CULTURE OF THE SOUTH 210 00:07:40,661 --> 00:07:44,732 IN THAT PERIOD WAS WHITE MEN HAD TO AVENGE 211 00:07:44,798 --> 00:07:47,801 THIS INSULTED WHITE WOMAN. 212 00:07:47,835 --> 00:07:50,804 SO THEY PICKED AT RANDOM 213 00:07:50,838 --> 00:07:53,607 ANY BLACK TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE. 214 00:07:53,674 --> 00:07:58,178 AND THEY LYNCHED MY FATHER'S GOOD FRIEND. 215 00:07:58,178 --> 00:08:00,681 THEY HAD A MASS CELEBRATION, 216 00:08:00,781 --> 00:08:03,250 WITH CHILDREN AND ALL, 217 00:08:03,283 --> 00:08:06,019 AND THEN THEY BURNED HIS BODY 218 00:08:06,086 --> 00:08:08,021 AND SOLD THE BONES OF THE BEAST. 219 00:08:08,088 --> 00:08:09,089 THAT WAS NOT UNUSUAL. 220 00:08:14,261 --> 00:08:16,196 - LYNCHINGS WERE HAPPENING, 221 00:08:16,263 --> 00:08:19,600 AND CHURCH BURNINGS WERE GOING ON. 222 00:08:19,633 --> 00:08:21,935 WE REALLY HAD NOTHING. 223 00:08:21,969 --> 00:08:24,304 - EVERYTHING YOU DID FROM DAWN TO DUSK, 224 00:08:24,371 --> 00:08:26,106 YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME ASPECT 225 00:08:26,139 --> 00:08:30,043 OF RACISM AND INSTITUTIONALIZED BIGOTRY 226 00:08:30,110 --> 00:08:31,111 CONSTRICTING YOUR LIFE. 227 00:08:31,178 --> 00:08:34,982 - THERE IS A SAYING THAT, 228 00:08:35,015 --> 00:08:37,317 IF YOU'RE LIGHT, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, 229 00:08:37,350 --> 00:08:39,820 IF YOU'RE BROWN, STICK AROUND, 230 00:08:39,853 --> 00:08:41,855 BUT IF YOU'RE BLACK, GET BACK, 231 00:08:41,889 --> 00:08:45,693 GET BACK, GET BACK. 232 00:08:45,726 --> 00:08:47,828 - BEFORE BLACK PEOPLE COULD PROVE THEIR WORTH 233 00:08:47,861 --> 00:08:49,329 IN ANY ARENA, INCLUDING SPORTS, 234 00:08:49,362 --> 00:08:52,866 THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND EACH OTHER, 235 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:54,868 AND THEY DID IT HERE. 236 00:08:54,902 --> 00:08:58,171 - FROM GENERATIONS OF POETS, 237 00:08:58,205 --> 00:09:00,073 THE FIRST TO THE LAST... 238 00:09:00,140 --> 00:09:01,975 - THAT'S RIGHT. - HARLEM HAS INSURED 239 00:09:02,042 --> 00:09:03,811 HER FUTURE FROM A GLORIOUS PAST. 240 00:09:03,844 --> 00:09:06,814 - WRITER WALLACE THURMAN SAID, "THE SIGHT OF HARLEM 241 00:09:06,847 --> 00:09:09,249 GIVES ANY NEGRO A FEELING OF GREAT SECURITY." 242 00:09:09,316 --> 00:09:10,751 IT WAS, IF NOT HEAVEN, 243 00:09:10,818 --> 00:09:12,986 THEN PRETTY DARN CLOSE... 244 00:09:13,020 --> 00:09:15,322 FROM HAMILTON HEIGHTS TO THE STRIVERS' ROW 245 00:09:15,355 --> 00:09:18,091 TO SUGAR HILL, WHERE THE HARLEM DICTIES LIVED. 246 00:09:20,828 --> 00:09:22,362 - WELL, HERE WE ARE 247 00:09:22,429 --> 00:09:25,365 COMING TO THAT WORLD-FAMOUS WHAT? 248 00:09:25,398 --> 00:09:27,100 SUGAR HILL. - SUGAR HILL. 249 00:09:27,167 --> 00:09:28,702 SUGAR HILL. - YUP. 250 00:09:28,769 --> 00:09:30,170 - OH, YEAH. 251 00:09:30,203 --> 00:09:33,607 - THIS WAS, LIKE, SOME PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAME 252 00:09:33,674 --> 00:09:35,709 TO SHOW THAT THEY HAD MADE IT. 253 00:09:35,776 --> 00:09:39,046 - OH, YES, BUT, NO, THIS WAS THE BLACK MIDDLE CLASS 254 00:09:39,079 --> 00:09:40,080 ACHIEVEMENT, ACCOMPLISHMENT, 255 00:09:40,113 --> 00:09:41,715 BLACK SOPHISTICATION, 256 00:09:41,782 --> 00:09:43,416 AND BLACK REFINEMENT. 257 00:09:43,450 --> 00:09:45,118 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. 258 00:09:45,185 --> 00:09:46,854 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. 259 00:09:51,091 --> 00:09:54,061 - HAVE YOU DUG THE SPILL OF SUGAR HILL? 260 00:09:54,094 --> 00:09:56,930 CAST YOUR GIMS ON THIS SEPIA THRILL: 261 00:09:56,964 --> 00:10:01,134 BROWN SUGAR LASS, CARAMEL TREAT, 262 00:10:01,201 --> 00:10:04,204 HONEY-GOLD BABY SWEET ENOUGH TO EAT. 263 00:10:04,271 --> 00:10:08,108 PEACH-SKINNED GIRL, COFFEE AND CREAM, 264 00:10:08,141 --> 00:10:10,043 CHOCOLATE DARLING OUT OF A DREAM. 265 00:10:10,077 --> 00:10:13,714 WALNUT TINTED, COCOA BROWN, 266 00:10:13,747 --> 00:10:16,917 POMEGRANATE PRIDE IN TOWN. 267 00:10:16,984 --> 00:10:21,822 RICH CREAM-COLORED, PLUM-TINTED BLACK, 268 00:10:21,822 --> 00:10:24,658 FEMININE SWEETNESS IS NOT HARLEM'S LACK. 269 00:10:24,725 --> 00:10:28,729 FROM THE GLOW OF THE QUINCE TO THE BLUSH OF THE ROSE. 270 00:10:28,762 --> 00:10:33,400 PERSIMMON BRONZE, CINNAMON TOES. 271 00:10:33,433 --> 00:10:39,106 GINGER, WINE-GOLD, PLUM-BLUE, BLACKBERRY, 272 00:10:39,139 --> 00:10:41,809 ALL FROM THE SPECTRUM HARLEM FOLKS VARY-- 273 00:10:41,842 --> 00:10:45,445 SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW BEAUTY'S RAINBOW-SWEET THRILL, 274 00:10:45,512 --> 00:10:49,182 STROLL WITH ME DOWN LUSCIOUS, HEY, DELICIOUS, 275 00:10:49,182 --> 00:10:52,686 HEY, FINE SUGAR HILL. 276 00:10:56,790 --> 00:11:00,027 - NEW YORK WAS NOT JUST 277 00:11:00,093 --> 00:11:02,029 A CITY LIKE ANY OTHER CITY. 278 00:11:02,095 --> 00:11:05,032 IT WAS THE MAJOR METROPOLIS 279 00:11:05,098 --> 00:11:07,968 OF THE COUNTRY. 280 00:11:08,035 --> 00:11:10,037 AND SO NOT ONLY DID YOU HAVE 281 00:11:10,037 --> 00:11:12,205 HUGE NUMBERS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS 282 00:11:12,272 --> 00:11:14,942 COMING NORTH AND SETTLING 283 00:11:15,008 --> 00:11:18,011 IN WHAT THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT AS REALLY THE MECCA, 284 00:11:18,045 --> 00:11:19,512 THE HEAVEN, 285 00:11:19,546 --> 00:11:21,849 THAT WAS HARLEM... 286 00:11:21,882 --> 00:11:25,385 - I THINK OF AN AREA OF ALMOST A UTOPIA OF BLACK AMERICA, 287 00:11:25,452 --> 00:11:27,187 YOU KNOW, BACK WHERE, MAN, 288 00:11:27,220 --> 00:11:28,388 IF YOU CAN GET TO HARLEM, 289 00:11:28,488 --> 00:11:29,322 THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES, 290 00:11:29,356 --> 00:11:32,826 SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH. 291 00:11:35,162 --> 00:11:37,497 AND FOR A RACE OF PEOPLE 292 00:11:37,564 --> 00:11:39,499 FOR SO LONG WHO HAD BEEN OPPRESSED 293 00:11:39,532 --> 00:11:41,534 AND HELD DOWN TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A PLACE 294 00:11:41,568 --> 00:11:43,536 WHERE WE CAN GO TO HAVE THESE OUTLETS, 295 00:11:43,570 --> 00:11:48,842 TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR SUCCEEDING... 296 00:11:48,876 --> 00:11:52,846 - IT DIDN'T SINK INTO ME THE IMPORTANCE OF HARLEM 297 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,215 AS A CENTER POINT TO BLACK CULTURE 298 00:11:55,248 --> 00:11:57,517 TILL WAY LATER AS A TEENAGER. 299 00:11:57,550 --> 00:11:59,419 AND YOU START LOOKING AT BUILDINGS DIFFERENT, 300 00:11:59,486 --> 00:12:03,156 AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, OH, MAN, THIS IS A OLD BUILDING. 301 00:12:03,223 --> 00:12:06,894 THIS WHOLE TERRITORY WAS THE CENTER OF THE BLACK UNIVERSE. 302 00:12:06,927 --> 00:12:10,330 - ARTISTIC EXPRESSION WAS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. 303 00:12:10,397 --> 00:12:13,033 THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF ARTISTS OUT THERE. 304 00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:14,267 THERE WERE ACTORS, THERE WERE MUSICIANS, 305 00:12:14,334 --> 00:12:15,502 THERE WERE SINGERS. 306 00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:17,070 THERE WAS SCULPTORS, PAINTERS, 307 00:12:17,104 --> 00:12:19,439 CHARLES GILPIN WAS ON BROADWAY... 308 00:12:19,506 --> 00:12:21,241 THE PRECURSOR TO WHO WE ARE NOW, 309 00:12:21,274 --> 00:12:23,210 ME AND DENZEL AND ALL THOSE OTHER PEOPLE. 310 00:12:28,081 --> 00:12:29,549 - FOR WHITE AMERICANS, 311 00:12:29,582 --> 00:12:32,419 IT WAS HOLLYWOOD, 312 00:12:32,452 --> 00:12:35,255 AND FOR US, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE IT, 313 00:12:35,288 --> 00:12:37,090 YOU HAD TO GET TO HARLEM. 314 00:12:44,965 --> 00:12:46,466 - THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE 315 00:12:46,566 --> 00:12:48,368 WAS ONE OF INTELLECTUAL BREAKTHROUGH, 316 00:12:48,401 --> 00:12:49,903 OF ARTISTIC BREAKTHROUGH, 317 00:12:49,970 --> 00:12:52,940 BUT ALSO ONE IN WHICH SPORTS WAS CENTRAL. 318 00:12:52,973 --> 00:12:54,407 - YES. - BECAUSE, SEE, THE HISTORY 319 00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:57,945 OF BLACK PEOPLE WAS SUCH THAT, FOR 244 YEARS, 320 00:12:57,978 --> 00:13:00,313 ALL WE HAD WAS OUR VOICES AND OUR BODIES. 321 00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:01,915 WE HAD NO LAND, NO TERRITORY, 322 00:13:01,982 --> 00:13:03,984 WE HAD NO RIGHTS, WE HAD NO LIBERTY. 323 00:13:03,984 --> 00:13:06,586 SO ALL OF OUR FREEDOM, ALL OF OUR SELF-DETERMINATION 324 00:13:06,653 --> 00:13:09,156 WAS IN OUR VOICES, IS ONE REASON WHY THE ANTHEM 325 00:13:09,156 --> 00:13:10,958 OF BLACK PEOPLE IS LIFT EVERY VOICE. 326 00:13:10,991 --> 00:13:12,993 AND WE HAD OUR BODIES. 327 00:13:13,093 --> 00:13:15,929 SO WE COULD USE OUR BODIES TO STYLIZE SPACE AND TIME-- 328 00:13:15,996 --> 00:13:17,497 THE WAY WE WALK, THE WAY WE TALK. 329 00:13:20,433 --> 00:13:22,135 - IT WAS TIME TO REDEFINE 330 00:13:22,169 --> 00:13:24,337 WHO WE ARE 331 00:13:24,404 --> 00:13:25,472 AS DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES 332 00:13:25,505 --> 00:13:27,340 STOLEN FROM MOTHER AFRICA. 333 00:13:27,407 --> 00:13:29,309 AND THIS IS HOW WE FIND OUT WHO WE ARE-- 334 00:13:29,342 --> 00:13:32,412 IN THE ART, IN MUSIC, 335 00:13:32,479 --> 00:13:34,447 IN LITERATURE... 336 00:13:34,481 --> 00:13:36,416 IN SPORTS. 337 00:13:51,331 --> 00:13:55,168 - CARIBBEAN IMMIGRANTS WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO ARRIVE. 338 00:13:55,202 --> 00:13:56,536 ONE WAS BOB DOUGLAS. 339 00:13:56,536 --> 00:13:58,605 A NATIVE OF THE BRITISH WEST INDIES, 340 00:13:58,671 --> 00:14:02,642 SMILING BOB WAS ONLY 19 WHEN HE ARRIVED IN NEW YORK 341 00:14:02,675 --> 00:14:04,511 IN 1901. 342 00:14:04,544 --> 00:14:06,646 HE TOOK A JOB AS A DOORMAN, 343 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,382 AND FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, HE WORKED 12 HOURS A DAY 344 00:14:09,449 --> 00:14:11,184 WAITING FOR HIS BIG BREAK. 345 00:14:11,218 --> 00:14:15,522 IN 1905, A COWORKER TOOK DOUGLAS TO VISIT AN UPSTAIRS GYM 346 00:14:15,555 --> 00:14:18,391 ON 52ND STREET AND 10TH AVENUE. 347 00:14:18,458 --> 00:14:21,161 - BOB DOUGLAS WAS INSPIRED BY BASKETBALL 348 00:14:21,228 --> 00:14:24,164 BECAUSE, IN A BASKETBALL GAME, 349 00:14:24,197 --> 00:14:26,399 YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE'S ATHLETIC ABILITY 350 00:14:26,466 --> 00:14:29,402 UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. 351 00:14:29,469 --> 00:14:30,971 - WHEN BOB WALKED INTO THAT GYM 352 00:14:31,004 --> 00:14:32,572 AND SAW HIS FIRST BASKETBALL GAME, 353 00:14:32,639 --> 00:14:35,242 HE KNEW HE HAD FOUND HIS PASSION. 354 00:14:35,308 --> 00:14:40,013 - WHEN IT'S PLAYED THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYED, 355 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,315 BASKETBALL HAPPENS IN THE AIR, FLYING, 356 00:14:42,349 --> 00:14:43,683 FLOATING, 357 00:14:43,750 --> 00:14:46,019 ELEVATED ABOVE THE FLOOR, 358 00:14:46,053 --> 00:14:48,655 LEVITATING THE WAY OPPRESSED PEOPLES OF THIS EARTH 359 00:14:48,688 --> 00:14:53,226 IMAGINE THEMSELVES IN THEIR DREAMS. 360 00:14:55,095 --> 00:14:56,429 NOW ALL HE NEEDED WAS A PLACE 361 00:14:56,429 --> 00:14:58,165 FOR HIS TEAM TO PLAY. 362 00:14:58,231 --> 00:15:00,067 AND HE FOUND IT RIGHT HERE 363 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:01,568 AT THIS RED BRICK BUILDING 364 00:15:01,601 --> 00:15:03,603 AT 138TH STREET AND 7TH AVENUE, 365 00:15:03,670 --> 00:15:06,006 THE RENAISSANCE CASINO AND BALLROOM. 366 00:15:08,208 --> 00:15:10,610 THE ONLY OBSTACLE THAT HE HAD TO OVERCOME 367 00:15:10,677 --> 00:15:13,013 WAS TO CONVINCE THE CASINO'S OWNER, 368 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,248 FELLOW CARIBBEAN IMMIGRANT HAL ROACH, 369 00:15:15,282 --> 00:15:16,716 THAT HAVING A BASKETBALL TEAM 370 00:15:16,783 --> 00:15:20,053 ON HIS DANCE FLOOR WAS A GOOD IDEA. 371 00:15:20,087 --> 00:15:21,621 - HE FINALLY MADE THE DEAL WITH ROACH, 372 00:15:21,688 --> 00:15:25,092 BUT HE HAD TO RENAME HIS TEAM THE RENAISSANCE BIG FIVE 373 00:15:25,125 --> 00:15:27,027 TO HELP ADVERTISE THE REN. 374 00:15:27,094 --> 00:15:29,296 [swing music] 375 00:15:29,362 --> 00:15:31,464 - IF THE RENS WERE PLAYING IN THE RENAISSANCE, 376 00:15:31,531 --> 00:15:35,302 THEN HE WAS THE MAN WHO DID THE FIRST NAMING RIGHTS DEAL. 377 00:15:35,368 --> 00:15:37,437 - SOME OF TODAY'S BIGGEST STADIUMS WERE INSPIRED 378 00:15:37,470 --> 00:15:41,241 BY THAT FIRST NAMING RIGHTS DEAL THAT BOB DOUGLAS PUT TOGETHER. 379 00:15:41,308 --> 00:15:42,575 - SO MUCH GOES BACK TO THE RENS 380 00:15:42,609 --> 00:15:43,776 BECAUSE THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, 381 00:15:43,810 --> 00:15:45,578 THEY WERE THE FOREFATHERS 382 00:15:45,612 --> 00:15:48,115 OF OUR ORGANIZED SPORT IN MANY WAYS. 383 00:15:48,148 --> 00:15:49,716 - THE NEW YORK RENAISSANCE, 384 00:15:49,749 --> 00:15:51,751 THEY HAD A BLACK OWNER, BOB DOUGLAS, 385 00:15:51,784 --> 00:15:54,421 THEY HAD A BLACK COACH, AND THEY HAD BLACK PLAYERS. 386 00:15:54,454 --> 00:15:56,123 THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY. 387 00:15:56,156 --> 00:15:58,491 - AFRICAN-AMERICAN BALL PLAYERS GROWING UP THINK 388 00:15:58,491 --> 00:16:00,493 THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM 389 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,229 IN BASKETBALL, 390 00:16:02,295 --> 00:16:03,796 AND THAT'S NOT TRUE. 391 00:16:03,830 --> 00:16:06,566 BOB DOUGLAS WAS REALLY AT THE HEART OF IT. 392 00:16:06,599 --> 00:16:08,301 IF NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION, 393 00:16:08,335 --> 00:16:09,669 HE HAD A LOT OF NECESSITY, 394 00:16:09,736 --> 00:16:11,571 AND HE INVENTED A LOT OF THINGS. 395 00:16:11,638 --> 00:16:13,240 - THIS IS ONE OF THE IRONIES. 396 00:16:13,273 --> 00:16:14,607 THESE DAYS WE GOT A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE 397 00:16:14,641 --> 00:16:17,644 WITH BIG MONEY, NO OWNERSHIP. 398 00:16:17,677 --> 00:16:21,348 - RIGHT. - BIG CASH, NO CONTROL. 399 00:16:21,414 --> 00:16:23,316 MAKE BIG MONEY IN ENTERTAINMENT, 400 00:16:23,350 --> 00:16:25,518 BUT WHO CAN GREEN-LIGHT A FILM? 401 00:16:25,585 --> 00:16:27,754 MAKE BIG MONEY IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY, 402 00:16:27,820 --> 00:16:29,489 BUT WHO CONTROLS THE MASTER? 403 00:16:29,522 --> 00:16:31,591 YOU KNOW, I THINK BOB DOUGLAS, 404 00:16:31,658 --> 00:16:34,527 CARIBBEAN BROTHER, 405 00:16:34,594 --> 00:16:37,197 PIONEER, PATH BLAZER, 406 00:16:37,264 --> 00:16:39,199 WHEN IT COMES TO OWNERSHIP, 407 00:16:39,266 --> 00:16:41,101 CONTROL, AND ACHIEVEMENT. 408 00:16:41,168 --> 00:16:42,669 - THEY FIGURED OUT A VISION 409 00:16:42,702 --> 00:16:44,471 THAT WAS WORTH PURSUING, 410 00:16:44,537 --> 00:16:47,207 WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF ALL GREAT THINGS. 411 00:16:47,274 --> 00:16:49,309 AND THEN THE TENACITY AND BUSINESS ACUMEN 412 00:16:49,376 --> 00:16:53,180 AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES TO PURSUE IT SUCCESSFULLY. 413 00:16:53,213 --> 00:16:54,647 - HE HAD A TEAM, HE BELIEVED IN IT, 414 00:16:54,681 --> 00:16:57,484 AND HE SHOWCASED 'EM. 415 00:16:59,486 --> 00:17:01,621 A LOT OF GUYS BUILD MONUMENTS TO THEIR INGENUITY, 416 00:17:01,654 --> 00:17:03,223 AND THAT WAS HIS MONUMENT. 417 00:17:05,558 --> 00:17:08,128 - THE RENNIE WAS ALREADY KNOWN FOR GREAT BANDS 418 00:17:08,161 --> 00:17:12,132 AND GREAT DANCING. 419 00:17:12,165 --> 00:17:14,134 NOW THEY PLACED BASKETS AT EITHER END. 420 00:17:14,167 --> 00:17:15,735 - THIS WAS A DANCE FLOOR. YOU SLID. 421 00:17:15,802 --> 00:17:16,536 AND WHEN THEY MOVED THE BALL AROUND, 422 00:17:16,569 --> 00:17:18,238 IT WAS A SHOW. 423 00:17:18,305 --> 00:17:20,573 PEOPLE JUST COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT. 424 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,142 - IT WAS SMALL FOR ME, 425 00:17:22,175 --> 00:17:24,344 BUT BECAUSE THEY PLAYED SUCH A, YOU KNOW, 426 00:17:24,411 --> 00:17:25,845 A BEAUTIFUL STYLE OF BASKETBALL, 427 00:17:25,878 --> 00:17:28,881 YOU WOULD ENTER THE PLAYER MOVEMENT 428 00:17:28,915 --> 00:17:31,684 RATHER THAN THE SIZE OF THE COURT. 429 00:17:31,718 --> 00:17:33,353 - YOU COULD SMELL THE ACTION. 430 00:17:33,386 --> 00:17:37,257 THEY SAY YOU COULD SMELL THE SWEAT. 431 00:17:37,324 --> 00:17:38,558 TWO GUYS GOING AGAINST EACH OTHER 432 00:17:38,591 --> 00:17:40,593 IN A CONFINED AREA. 433 00:17:40,660 --> 00:17:42,362 YOU'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE ACTION. 434 00:17:42,429 --> 00:17:45,398 - THE TEAM, WHEN THEY CAME OUT, 435 00:17:45,432 --> 00:17:48,901 IT WAS PANDEMONIUM IN THE RENAISSANCE. 436 00:17:48,935 --> 00:17:52,439 TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THE BOX SEATS, 437 00:17:52,439 --> 00:17:56,776 THESE WOMEN AND MEN ALL IN THEIR FINERIES, 438 00:17:56,876 --> 00:18:00,347 TO SEE THEM IDOLIZE THESE GUYS... 439 00:18:05,452 --> 00:18:07,187 - THEY WERE LIKE GODS 440 00:18:07,254 --> 00:18:09,756 WHEN THEY COME AROUND THE HARLEM COMMUNITY. 441 00:18:09,789 --> 00:18:12,292 AND EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW 442 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:13,693 THAT THEY WERE AROUND. 443 00:18:13,726 --> 00:18:15,762 EVERYBODY WANTED TO MEET THE BALL PLAYERS. 444 00:18:15,795 --> 00:18:17,897 - THEY REPRESENTED HARLEM. 445 00:18:17,964 --> 00:18:20,433 SEE, WE WEREN'T KNOWN AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS AT THAT TIME. 446 00:18:20,467 --> 00:18:23,603 WE WERE COLORED OR NEGROES 447 00:18:23,636 --> 00:18:24,637 AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, 448 00:18:24,637 --> 00:18:26,239 SO THEY REPRESENTED US. 449 00:18:26,306 --> 00:18:28,808 - NO MATTER WHERE YOU PLAYED 450 00:18:28,808 --> 00:18:31,878 OR WHAT YOU DID OUT THERE, 451 00:18:31,944 --> 00:18:33,613 IF YOU WERE ON THE RENAISSANCE, 452 00:18:33,646 --> 00:18:36,216 YOU WERE ON THE A-NUMBER-ONE TEAM. 453 00:18:41,288 --> 00:18:44,224 - AT THE END OF THE GAME, ABOUT 11:00 P.M., 454 00:18:44,257 --> 00:18:46,426 THE TWO PORTABLE BASKETS AT EITHER END OF THE COURT 455 00:18:46,493 --> 00:18:49,262 AND THE WOODEN CHAIRS FOR SPECTATORS WERE REMOVED. 456 00:18:49,296 --> 00:18:51,331 AND THEN THE ORCHESTRA BEGAN TO PLAY. 457 00:18:51,398 --> 00:18:53,833 [swing music] 458 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:55,902 - BOB DOUGLAS WOULD RUN ME OUT OF HIS OFFICE 459 00:18:55,935 --> 00:18:58,305 AND TELL ME GO PLAY, 460 00:18:58,338 --> 00:19:00,307 AND THERE WOULD BE DANCING BEFORE THE GAME 461 00:19:00,340 --> 00:19:02,175 AND ALSO AFTER THE GAME. 462 00:19:02,275 --> 00:19:04,577 - IT WAS FINGER-POPPING TIME, YOU KNOW. 463 00:19:04,611 --> 00:19:07,747 - IT WAS A NIGHT OF BASKETBALL AND JAZZ... 464 00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:10,350 ALL FOR 55 ADMISSION. 465 00:19:10,417 --> 00:19:11,918 WHICH I THOUGHT WAS SO COOL 466 00:19:11,951 --> 00:19:13,686 BECAUSE IT JUST REPRESENTED SUCH A CONFLUENCE 467 00:19:13,753 --> 00:19:15,288 OF BLACK CULTURE-- 468 00:19:15,355 --> 00:19:18,858 THIS CONFLUENCE OF DANCE AND ATHLETICISM-- 469 00:19:18,925 --> 00:19:22,195 ALL OF IT RIGHT THERE IN THAT ONE BUILDING. 470 00:19:31,371 --> 00:19:33,340 - I'VE SEEN THE PICTURES. 471 00:19:40,713 --> 00:19:44,617 I CANNOT BELIEVE THE SHAMBLES...IN WAS IN. 472 00:19:44,684 --> 00:19:46,386 AND THAT SHOULD BE... 473 00:19:46,453 --> 00:19:48,455 THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NATIONAL LANDMARK. 474 00:20:01,368 --> 00:20:03,370 THAT WAS REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO ME. 475 00:20:05,338 --> 00:20:07,006 - I PASS BY THE OLD RENAISSANCE BALLROOM 476 00:20:07,073 --> 00:20:08,808 EVERY SINGLE DAY. 477 00:20:08,841 --> 00:20:10,710 IN FACT, JUST THE OTHER DAY, I WAS LOOKING AT IT. 478 00:20:10,743 --> 00:20:12,412 AND I JUST WANTED TO VISUALI-- 479 00:20:12,512 --> 00:20:17,717 MAN, I WONDER WHAT IT WAS TO BE INSIDE THAT THING. 480 00:20:17,750 --> 00:20:19,586 - THE MEN WHO WERE INSIDE THAT THING 481 00:20:19,652 --> 00:20:21,654 WERE HARLEM. 482 00:20:50,049 --> 00:20:54,854 - HARLEM DID NOT HAVE A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM. 483 00:20:54,887 --> 00:20:57,890 DID NOT HAVE A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM. 484 00:20:57,957 --> 00:21:00,527 BUT IT DID HAVE A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM. 485 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,296 NOT JUST ANY OLD PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM. 486 00:21:03,363 --> 00:21:04,797 - THEY WERE LEGENDARY. 487 00:21:04,864 --> 00:21:06,766 YOU'D HEAR ABOUT THEM FROM THE OLD GUY. 488 00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:08,067 I WOULD SIT AROUND THE PARKS 489 00:21:08,134 --> 00:21:09,602 AND WATCH SOME OF THE TEAM, 490 00:21:09,636 --> 00:21:11,103 AND THE OLD GUY WOULD ALWAYS SAY, 491 00:21:11,137 --> 00:21:12,805 "YEAH, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THEM RENS." 492 00:21:12,872 --> 00:21:15,742 - WHAT MADE THE RENS SO INCREDIBLE? 493 00:21:15,808 --> 00:21:18,745 THOSE PLAYERS CAME FROM THE HEART 494 00:21:18,778 --> 00:21:20,947 OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE. 495 00:21:20,980 --> 00:21:23,816 AND NOT ONLY WERE THEY GREAT, 496 00:21:23,816 --> 00:21:25,618 YOU JUST HADN'T LIVED UNTIL YOU'D BEEN 497 00:21:25,652 --> 00:21:27,987 IN NEW YORK CITY. 498 00:21:28,087 --> 00:21:29,622 IF YOU CAME FROM THE SOUTH, IF YOU CAME FROM THE MIDWEST, 499 00:21:29,656 --> 00:21:31,624 YOU CAME FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE, 500 00:21:31,658 --> 00:21:33,593 UNTIL YOU'D SPENT TIME ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK 501 00:21:33,660 --> 00:21:35,428 AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, YOU HADN'T LIVED 502 00:21:35,462 --> 00:21:36,629 TILL YOU EXPERIENCED AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE 503 00:21:36,663 --> 00:21:38,431 IN NEW YORK. 504 00:21:38,498 --> 00:21:39,832 AND THE RENS KIND OF EMBODIED THAT EXCELLENCE. 505 00:21:39,832 --> 00:21:41,401 - I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT HARLEM'S 506 00:21:41,468 --> 00:21:43,470 THE HEART AND SOUL OF NEW YORK CITY. 507 00:21:43,503 --> 00:21:47,840 AND THESE CHARACTERS WERE THE HEART AND SOUL 508 00:21:47,940 --> 00:21:50,610 OF BASKETBALL. 509 00:21:50,677 --> 00:21:53,012 - THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE ON THE COURT 510 00:21:53,079 --> 00:21:55,081 THAT KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER 511 00:21:55,147 --> 00:21:59,118 AND KNOW HOW TO GET SOMETHING DONE AS A GROUP. 512 00:21:59,151 --> 00:22:01,454 AND THEY HAVE A CERTAIN FLAIR AND STYLE, 513 00:22:01,488 --> 00:22:03,823 WHICH WAS HARLEM. 514 00:22:03,856 --> 00:22:06,659 SO IT MADE PEOPLE FROM HARLEM FEEL PROUD 515 00:22:06,693 --> 00:22:08,828 BECAUSE THE STYLE OF THE RENS 516 00:22:08,861 --> 00:22:11,364 WAS THE STYLE OF HARLEM. 517 00:22:21,207 --> 00:22:23,976 - THEY WERE NOT ONLY GREAT PEOPLE ON THE COURT, 518 00:22:24,010 --> 00:22:27,113 THEY WERE GREAT PEOPLE OFF THE COURT. 519 00:22:27,146 --> 00:22:30,717 AND A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ADMIRED THEM. 520 00:22:30,783 --> 00:22:33,820 - WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE RENS WEARING HARLEM LIKE A DARE, 521 00:22:33,886 --> 00:22:37,524 I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAD A NO-NONSENSE APPROACH 522 00:22:37,557 --> 00:22:39,626 TO THE GAME, AND THEY PLAYED VERY, VERY TOUGH, 523 00:22:39,659 --> 00:22:42,795 SUFFOCATING KIND OF DEFENSE. 524 00:22:42,829 --> 00:22:46,165 AND IT WAS DEFYING THE OTHER TEAM TO FIGURE OUT 525 00:22:46,232 --> 00:22:47,834 A WAY TO BEAT THEM. 526 00:22:47,867 --> 00:22:49,869 BUT YOU HAD TO BEAT ALL OF 'EM. 527 00:22:49,902 --> 00:22:55,174 - YOU DIDN'T HAVE A TREMENDOUS ASSORTMENT OF SHOTS. 528 00:22:55,241 --> 00:22:57,910 SO I MEAN, BASICALLY, YOU HAD THE LAY-UP, 529 00:22:57,977 --> 00:23:01,581 YOU HAD A SET SHOT, 530 00:23:01,648 --> 00:23:04,050 AND SO THEY WERE VERY LOW-SCORING GAMES. 531 00:23:04,083 --> 00:23:06,686 I MEAN, IF YOU GOT IN THE 30s, 532 00:23:06,753 --> 00:23:09,922 YOU KNOW, THAT WAS-- THAT WAS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT. 533 00:23:09,989 --> 00:23:15,662 - BASKETBALL BEGAN AS A VERY ROUGH GAME, ACTUALLY, 534 00:23:15,728 --> 00:23:19,866 WHERE DEFENDERS WOULD MAUL OFFENSIVE PLAYERS. 535 00:23:19,899 --> 00:23:22,435 THE COACHES STARTED TO DEVISE SYSTEMS 536 00:23:22,502 --> 00:23:26,005 TO KEEP THE BALL MOVING AND AVOID THE DEFENSE. 537 00:23:26,072 --> 00:23:28,240 - THEY PLAYED TWO-HAND DRIBBLE. 538 00:23:28,274 --> 00:23:30,209 THIS IS UNHEARD OF, YOU KNOW. 539 00:23:30,242 --> 00:23:32,078 IN OTHER WORDS, YOU COULD GO LATERALLY 540 00:23:32,111 --> 00:23:33,546 AS MUCH AS YOU WANTED. 541 00:23:33,580 --> 00:23:35,081 YOU PUT THE BALL DOWN, YOU COULD DRIBBLE... 542 00:23:35,114 --> 00:23:36,616 AND THE REST OF US COULD READ NEWSPAPERS 543 00:23:36,616 --> 00:23:38,685 TILL YOU GOT TIRED. 544 00:23:38,751 --> 00:23:40,587 - BUT THERE WAS ALSO A PUSH TO SPEED UP THE GAME 545 00:23:40,620 --> 00:23:42,522 AND MAKE IT MORE ENTERTAINING. 546 00:23:42,589 --> 00:23:45,091 AND SO THE RENS, WITH THEIR PASSING GAME, 547 00:23:45,124 --> 00:23:47,727 WERE ABLE TO SORT OF MOVE A LITTLE QUICKER 548 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,597 AND PLAY A MORE FLUID STYLE OF GAME. 549 00:23:50,630 --> 00:23:53,900 - YOU WEREN'T PLAYING AGAINST ANY CLOCK. 550 00:23:53,933 --> 00:23:56,869 SO YOU COULD CONTROL THE BALL AS MUCH AS YOU WANTED TO 551 00:23:56,903 --> 00:23:58,871 UNTIL SOMEBODY KNOCKS YOU DOWN, 552 00:23:58,905 --> 00:23:59,939 AND THEN YOU GOT THE MESSAGE, 553 00:23:59,972 --> 00:24:01,073 DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE. 554 00:24:01,140 --> 00:24:03,142 - YOUR FEET HAVE TO DANCE. 555 00:24:03,209 --> 00:24:05,812 YOU CAN'T PLAY BALL IF YOU DON'T HAVE DANCING FEET. 556 00:24:05,878 --> 00:24:07,580 YOU HAVE BAD FEET, YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. 557 00:24:07,647 --> 00:24:10,817 - THEY MOVED. THEY WERE VERY QUICK, 558 00:24:10,883 --> 00:24:12,719 CUT SHARP, 559 00:24:12,785 --> 00:24:15,922 GOOD ELEVATION... 560 00:24:15,955 --> 00:24:18,290 BUT THEY PLAYED VERY WELL TOGETHER. 561 00:24:18,324 --> 00:24:20,760 THE BALL WAS ALWAYS AHEAD OF THE MAN. 562 00:24:20,793 --> 00:24:23,963 THAT'S A BIG THING IN BASKETBALL. 563 00:24:23,996 --> 00:24:25,131 YOU DON'T CATCH IT BEHIND YOU. 564 00:24:25,164 --> 00:24:27,500 WHAT THEY DID THEY DID WELL. 565 00:24:31,003 --> 00:24:34,006 - BACK THEN, FOR GUYS TO NOT PUT THE BALL ON THE GROUND, 566 00:24:34,073 --> 00:24:35,642 THAT'S HARD TO DO. 567 00:24:35,675 --> 00:24:38,077 EVEN NOW THAT'S HARD TO DO, TO MAKE FIVE PASSES 568 00:24:38,144 --> 00:24:39,746 WITHOUT THE BALL HITTING THE GROUND 569 00:24:39,779 --> 00:24:41,614 AND PEOPLE CUTTING THROUGH THE LANE 570 00:24:41,648 --> 00:24:42,815 WITHOUT THE BALL HITTING THE GROUND. 571 00:24:42,849 --> 00:24:43,950 THAT'S TOUGH. 572 00:24:44,016 --> 00:24:45,985 - STYLE CHANGES. 573 00:24:46,018 --> 00:24:48,921 GREATNESS DOES NOT GO AWAY. 574 00:24:48,955 --> 00:24:51,991 I'VE OFTEN THOUGHT THAT BASKETBALL IS THE PRETTIEST GAME 575 00:24:52,024 --> 00:24:53,660 TO WATCH WHEN THEIR PEOPLE ARE COORDINATED. 576 00:24:53,693 --> 00:24:56,128 IF YOU WATCH FIVE PEOPLE 577 00:24:56,195 --> 00:24:57,930 WHO ARE COORDINATED MENTALLY, 578 00:24:57,964 --> 00:25:01,634 IT'S LIKE FIVE BRAINS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER. 579 00:25:06,806 --> 00:25:08,875 - A LOT OF THOSE PLAYERS 580 00:25:08,941 --> 00:25:10,042 WHO PLAYED DURING THAT ERA, 581 00:25:10,109 --> 00:25:12,278 WHEN THEY REFLECT AND LOOK 582 00:25:12,344 --> 00:25:14,681 AT TODAY'S PLAYERS, THEY'LL SAY, 583 00:25:14,714 --> 00:25:16,182 "OH, WE WEREN'T AS GOOD AS THOSE PLAYERS, 584 00:25:16,215 --> 00:25:17,717 "BUT THERE'S ONE THING WE COULD DO BETTER. 585 00:25:17,784 --> 00:25:19,619 "WE COULD REALLY PASS THE BALL. 586 00:25:19,652 --> 00:25:21,821 WE KEPT THAT BALL MOVING LIKE IT WAS A HOT POTATO." 587 00:25:21,888 --> 00:25:23,189 - IF A GUY'S DRIBBLING THE BASKETBALL, 588 00:25:23,222 --> 00:25:25,057 HE'S NOT CONTROLLING THE BALL. 589 00:25:25,057 --> 00:25:26,292 HE'S ABOUT TO LOSE THE BALL. 590 00:25:26,358 --> 00:25:28,027 GET IF OFF YOUR WRIST, SUCKER. 591 00:25:28,060 --> 00:25:29,896 GET A BALL UP. 592 00:25:32,799 --> 00:25:34,166 - GET IT OFF YOUR WRIST. 593 00:25:34,233 --> 00:25:36,002 TREAT IT LIKE A HOT POTATO. 594 00:25:36,035 --> 00:25:37,570 MAKE IT HUM. 595 00:25:37,637 --> 00:25:39,205 GIVE AND GO. 596 00:25:39,238 --> 00:25:42,809 - WHEN A BALL IS MOVING, YOU GOT TO WATCH EVERYBODY. 597 00:25:42,875 --> 00:25:45,344 BUT IF THE BALL AIN'T MOVING AND THIS GUY DRIBBLING, 598 00:25:45,377 --> 00:25:47,313 THEY SAY, "GET IT OFF YOUR WRIST." 599 00:25:47,346 --> 00:25:48,681 - STOP DRIBBLING. PASS THE BALL. 600 00:25:48,748 --> 00:25:49,816 MOVE THE BALL. 601 00:25:49,849 --> 00:25:51,250 GET IT OFF YOUR WRIST. 602 00:25:51,317 --> 00:25:53,019 - IT WAS JUST A TEAM EFFORT. 603 00:25:53,085 --> 00:25:54,754 AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAD DIFFERENT ROLES. 604 00:25:54,754 --> 00:25:59,558 IT WAS LIKE AN ORCHESTRATION. 605 00:26:08,935 --> 00:26:12,171 - MY VIEW OF THE GAME, IN THAT ERA, 606 00:26:12,204 --> 00:26:14,907 THE PACE OF THE GAME CHANGED RAPIDLY. 607 00:26:14,941 --> 00:26:17,276 THE RULES WERE ADOPTED TO A GAME PLAYED MUCH SLOWER 608 00:26:17,343 --> 00:26:19,679 AND MUCH MORE METHODICAL. 609 00:26:19,712 --> 00:26:20,880 WHEN YOU CHANGE THE SPEED OF THE GAME, 610 00:26:20,913 --> 00:26:22,849 YOU ELIMINATE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM IT. 611 00:26:22,882 --> 00:26:25,384 AND WHEN THE SPEED CHANGED, THE RHYTHM CHANGED. 612 00:26:25,417 --> 00:26:28,087 AND THE NEED TO IMPROVISE BECAME PARAMOUNT. 613 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:32,058 AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS PLAYED THE GAME, FREELANCED. 614 00:26:32,124 --> 00:26:34,794 - BASKETBALL IN NEW YORK HAS BASICALLY 615 00:26:34,794 --> 00:26:37,797 BEEN VERY INDIVIDUALIZED. 616 00:26:37,864 --> 00:26:39,766 LIKE JAZZ-- THERE'S THAT CONNECTION. 617 00:26:39,799 --> 00:26:41,233 - IT'S LIKE ASKING WHAT DOES A BLACK CHURCH 618 00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:42,802 MEAN TO HARLEM. 619 00:26:42,869 --> 00:26:44,637 THERE'S A CONNECTION THERE. 620 00:26:44,704 --> 00:26:47,373 - AS LONG AS YOU TALK ABOUT JAZZ BEING PLAYED FREELANCE, 621 00:26:47,439 --> 00:26:50,777 AND THEY TRANSPORTED THE GAME FROM A STRUCTURED GAME 622 00:26:50,810 --> 00:26:53,379 TO RECORDED NOTES AND DIRECTIONS 623 00:26:53,412 --> 00:26:55,147 AND PLACES TO BE... 624 00:26:55,214 --> 00:26:58,150 [jazz music] 625 00:26:58,217 --> 00:26:59,786 * 626 00:26:59,819 --> 00:27:02,088 - MUSIC IS A PART OF CULTURE, 627 00:27:02,154 --> 00:27:04,223 AND CULTURE'S A GREAT THING FOR HUMAN BEINGS 628 00:27:04,256 --> 00:27:06,659 TO HAVE AS A LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE OPTION. 629 00:27:06,726 --> 00:27:09,128 SPORTS IS A GREAT LANGUAGE OPTION TOO. 630 00:27:10,730 --> 00:27:14,100 - BEING OF THE MOMENT DRAWS PARALLELS 631 00:27:14,166 --> 00:27:17,236 BETWEEN THE ARTISTIC SIDE 632 00:27:17,269 --> 00:27:19,305 AND THE ATHLETIC SIDE. 633 00:27:19,338 --> 00:27:23,009 - AND I THINK ALL THAT STAYS INSIDE YOUR MIND AND YOUR BODY. 634 00:27:23,075 --> 00:27:24,911 AND I THINK IT GIVES YOU RHYTHM. 635 00:27:24,944 --> 00:27:27,313 - THERE'S A THING WE HAVE WITH THAT RHYTHM, 636 00:27:27,346 --> 00:27:29,315 WHICH ALL COMES DOWN TO THE DRUM. 637 00:27:29,348 --> 00:27:32,184 * 638 00:27:32,251 --> 00:27:35,755 - JAZZ IS BASED ON IMPROVISING 639 00:27:35,822 --> 00:27:38,190 AND USING SYNCOPATION. 640 00:27:38,257 --> 00:27:39,692 EVERYTHING IS LAID OUT. 641 00:27:39,759 --> 00:27:40,993 YOU DRIBBLE THE BALL, WE CAN SEE 642 00:27:41,027 --> 00:27:42,094 WHAT THE FORM OF IT IS. 643 00:27:42,161 --> 00:27:43,696 THE OBJECTIVE IS TO SHOOT. 644 00:27:48,534 --> 00:27:50,169 EACH POSITION HAS A DIFFERENT ROLE. 645 00:27:50,202 --> 00:27:52,471 THE DRUMS POWER THE BAND. 646 00:27:52,504 --> 00:27:57,143 THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE POWER FORWARD OF A BASKETBALL TEAM. 647 00:27:57,176 --> 00:27:59,311 THAT'S LIKE AN ENFORCER, SOMEBODY WHO CAN BRING 648 00:27:59,345 --> 00:28:01,213 A LOT OF ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM 649 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:02,949 TO THE GAME. 650 00:28:10,022 --> 00:28:12,725 - THE RENS AT ONE TIME HAD A PLAYER NAMED WEE WILLIE SMITH 651 00:28:12,792 --> 00:28:14,727 THAT HAD US SCARED TO DEATH, I'LL SAY THAT. 652 00:28:14,794 --> 00:28:17,196 HE WAS ONLY I THINK AROUND 6'6" 653 00:28:17,229 --> 00:28:18,731 WITH BEAUTIFUL... [indistinct]. 654 00:28:18,798 --> 00:28:21,400 - THE BASS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE HARMONY. 655 00:28:21,467 --> 00:28:23,202 IT'S A PART OF THE STRING ORCHESTRA. 656 00:28:23,235 --> 00:28:24,904 IT PLAYS IN THE RHYTHM SECTION, 657 00:28:25,004 --> 00:28:26,839 SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE CENTER OF THE TEAM. 658 00:28:26,873 --> 00:28:29,341 EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH THE BASS. 659 00:28:29,375 --> 00:28:31,811 THE BASS IS THE FOUNDATION. 660 00:28:31,844 --> 00:28:33,079 - AND THEY HAD LEATHER BASKETBALLS, 661 00:28:33,145 --> 00:28:34,747 AS THEY WERE IN THOSE DAYS, 662 00:28:34,814 --> 00:28:36,315 IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD THAT BALL, 663 00:28:36,348 --> 00:28:38,851 AND HIS HANDS WERE SO LARGE, 664 00:28:38,918 --> 00:28:41,253 IT WAS VERY SIMPLE FOR HIM TO DO IT. 665 00:28:41,253 --> 00:28:44,423 - TARZAN COOPER WAS A BRUTE OF A PLAYER. 666 00:28:44,523 --> 00:28:47,393 HE WAS A TREMENDOUS REBOUNDER. 667 00:28:47,426 --> 00:28:49,028 BUT ALL OF THAT WAS DONE 668 00:28:49,095 --> 00:28:51,397 STRICTLY ON SKILL AND MUSCLE 669 00:28:51,430 --> 00:28:53,199 AND DETERMINATION. 670 00:28:53,232 --> 00:28:54,867 - AND GENERALLY, PIANO PLAYERS ARE CONDUCTORS. 671 00:28:54,901 --> 00:28:56,235 THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE POINT GUARD. 672 00:28:56,268 --> 00:28:58,104 PIANO PLAYERS ARE LIKE THAT IN A BAND. 673 00:28:58,170 --> 00:28:59,939 YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE VIBE OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON, 674 00:29:00,006 --> 00:29:01,173 THE PIANO PLAYER CAN START COMPING. 675 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:02,241 HE'S IN THE RHYTHM SECTION. 676 00:29:02,274 --> 00:29:03,442 WHEN YOU NEED POINTS, 677 00:29:03,442 --> 00:29:05,044 WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING, 678 00:29:05,111 --> 00:29:06,245 HE'S THE MAN THAT YOU CAN RELY ON. 679 00:29:06,278 --> 00:29:08,580 - FATS WAS A KIND OF ANCHOR. 680 00:29:08,614 --> 00:29:10,249 FATS JENKINS WAS NEVER LOST. 681 00:29:10,282 --> 00:29:12,785 HE WAS THE PASSER, THE CONTROL GUY. 682 00:29:12,852 --> 00:29:16,455 HE DID THE PASSING AND MORE OF A GUY 683 00:29:16,522 --> 00:29:18,390 THAT RAN THE TEAM, SO TO SPEAK, 684 00:29:18,457 --> 00:29:20,026 LIKE YOU WOULD SAY THE GUY THAT WOULD BE 685 00:29:20,059 --> 00:29:22,228 THE POINT GUARD TODAY. 686 00:29:24,897 --> 00:29:26,365 - YOU HAVE A STAR, KIND OF SOLOIST ROLE, 687 00:29:26,398 --> 00:29:27,366 THAT'S LIKE THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO TAKE 688 00:29:27,399 --> 00:29:29,268 A MAJORITY OF THE SHOTS. 689 00:29:29,301 --> 00:29:32,805 THAT WOULD BE LIKE A MILES DAVIS OR LIKE DIZZY GILLESPIE 690 00:29:32,905 --> 00:29:34,874 OR LIKE CHARLIE PARKER IN HIS OWN BAND. 691 00:29:34,907 --> 00:29:36,242 HE'S GONNA DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE SAY, 692 00:29:36,275 --> 00:29:38,044 "OOH, MAN, DID YOU SEE THAT?" 693 00:29:38,077 --> 00:29:40,312 - WELL, HE WAS LIKE A MICHAEL JORDAN OF HIS TIME. 694 00:29:40,379 --> 00:29:43,582 I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY-- 695 00:29:43,649 --> 00:29:46,585 ANYBODY ANYWHERE IN ALL MY EXPERIENCE 696 00:29:46,618 --> 00:29:50,957 HANDLE A BALL LIKE POP GATES. 697 00:29:50,990 --> 00:29:52,959 - IN THE JAZZ BAND, EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO SOLO, 698 00:29:52,992 --> 00:29:54,994 SO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE BANDS WHERE EVERYBODY'S THAT PERSON. 699 00:29:55,061 --> 00:29:57,263 AND BASKETBALL IS ALSO LIKE THAT. 700 00:29:57,329 --> 00:29:58,898 SO YOU CAN ADJUST YOUR OFFENSE 701 00:29:58,931 --> 00:30:00,599 SO THAT YOUR GET-OFF MAN ALWAYS CAN GET OFF. 702 00:30:00,666 --> 00:30:02,334 JAZZ BAND IS THAT WAY TOO. 703 00:30:02,401 --> 00:30:04,837 - ISAACS WAS UNBELIEVABLE. 704 00:30:04,904 --> 00:30:06,605 WHEN IT CAME TO THE BALL CONTROL, 705 00:30:06,672 --> 00:30:10,309 HE SHINED OUT IN EVERY GAME. 706 00:30:16,182 --> 00:30:18,350 - DOUGLAS'S STARTING FIVE COULDN'T COMPETE 707 00:30:18,450 --> 00:30:20,119 FOR A TITLE AGAINST WHITE TEAMS, 708 00:30:20,186 --> 00:30:22,188 BUT THEY COULD PLAY 709 00:30:22,188 --> 00:30:24,356 SO-CALLED EXHIBITION GAMES, AND THEY DID, 710 00:30:24,456 --> 00:30:27,960 PLAYING FOUR TO FIVE GAMES A WEEK EVERY WEEK. 711 00:30:27,994 --> 00:30:29,595 - YOU KNOW, NOW WE, YOU KNOW, 712 00:30:29,628 --> 00:30:30,296 SORRY TO SAY, WE COMPLAIN 713 00:30:30,329 --> 00:30:32,131 ABOUT PLAYING A BACK-TO-BACK, 714 00:30:32,164 --> 00:30:33,299 YOU KNOW, TWO GAMES. 715 00:30:33,332 --> 00:30:34,666 THEM GAMES PLAY EIGHT GAMES 716 00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:36,602 IN SEVEN DAYS. 717 00:30:36,635 --> 00:30:39,638 YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. 718 00:30:39,705 --> 00:30:42,341 - BUT NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE RENS WERE, 719 00:30:42,374 --> 00:30:44,110 THEY WERE JUST A COLORED TEAM 720 00:30:44,143 --> 00:30:46,145 WHO COULD NEVER COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP 721 00:30:46,212 --> 00:30:48,114 AGAINST THE BEST WHITE TEAMS, 722 00:30:48,147 --> 00:30:50,616 ESPECIALLY NOT THE BEST WHITE TEAM OF ALL, 723 00:30:50,649 --> 00:30:53,552 THE ORIGINAL CELTICS. 724 00:30:56,555 --> 00:31:00,359 - THE ORIGINAL CELTICS WERE THE NEW YORK YANKEES 725 00:31:00,392 --> 00:31:01,961 OF PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL. 726 00:31:01,994 --> 00:31:03,462 THEY SET THE STANDARD. 727 00:31:03,495 --> 00:31:05,364 - NAMES LIKE NAT HOLMAN 728 00:31:05,397 --> 00:31:07,033 AND DUTCH DEHNERT 729 00:31:07,066 --> 00:31:10,536 WERE ALREADY PART OF BASKETBALL LEGEND. 730 00:31:10,569 --> 00:31:13,672 AS WAS 6'5" JOE LAPCHICK. 731 00:31:13,739 --> 00:31:15,241 - THE RENS WERE THE UP-AND-COMING TEAM. 732 00:31:15,241 --> 00:31:17,243 THE ORIGINAL CELTICS WERE THE ESTABLISHED TEAM. 733 00:31:17,343 --> 00:31:18,677 JOE LAPCHICK, THEIR CENTER, 734 00:31:18,710 --> 00:31:20,479 WROTE QUITE FREQUENTLY 735 00:31:20,512 --> 00:31:22,514 ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD ALL GET TOGETHER 736 00:31:22,581 --> 00:31:24,216 AND JUST SORT OF BRAINSTORM 737 00:31:24,250 --> 00:31:26,518 ABOUT HOW THEY COULD DEVELOP UNIQUE PLAYS. 738 00:31:26,552 --> 00:31:28,520 - MY FATHER'S GOAL IN LIFE 739 00:31:28,554 --> 00:31:30,222 AND EVERYTHING ABOUT BASKETBALL 740 00:31:30,256 --> 00:31:31,657 WAS TO WIN BASKETBALL GAMES. 741 00:31:31,723 --> 00:31:33,492 HE COACHED TO WIN, HE PLAYED TO WIN. 742 00:31:33,525 --> 00:31:35,527 HE WAS DETERMINED 743 00:31:35,594 --> 00:31:38,230 TO MOTIVATE HIS TEAMMATES WHEN HE WAS A PLAYER 744 00:31:38,264 --> 00:31:40,066 AND HIS PLAYERS WHEN HE WAS A COACH 745 00:31:40,099 --> 00:31:42,401 TO WANT TO ACHIEVE THAT ULTIMATE GOAL 746 00:31:42,434 --> 00:31:44,070 BECAUSE HE LOVED THE CONCEPT OF TEAMWORK. 747 00:31:49,341 --> 00:31:52,178 - SO THE ORIGINAL CELTICS WERE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TEAM 748 00:31:52,244 --> 00:31:55,014 IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BASKETBALL STRATEGY. 749 00:31:55,047 --> 00:31:56,682 - AND THAT STRATEGY WORKED. 750 00:31:56,715 --> 00:31:58,117 IN JUST ONE SEASON, 751 00:31:58,184 --> 00:32:01,220 THE CELTICS WON 94 OF 100 GAMES. 752 00:32:01,287 --> 00:32:03,122 - PLAYING AGAINST THE CELTICS-- 753 00:32:03,189 --> 00:32:05,424 THAT WAS AN EDUCATION PLAYING AGAINST THEM. 754 00:32:05,457 --> 00:32:06,959 WHEN I GOT TO THE RENS, I SAID, 755 00:32:07,026 --> 00:32:09,628 "OOH, OH, OH, OH. 756 00:32:09,695 --> 00:32:12,198 "WE HAVE TO STOP THIS MUSCLE BASKETBALL. 757 00:32:12,264 --> 00:32:15,134 WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START THE PLAYING UP HERE." 758 00:32:15,201 --> 00:32:19,571 I SAID, "OTHERWISE THE CELTICS PLAY GIVE-AND-GO ALL NIGHT." 759 00:32:19,638 --> 00:32:22,274 - THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, 760 00:32:22,308 --> 00:32:24,076 DEFENSIVE MANEUVERS TO TRY 761 00:32:24,110 --> 00:32:26,112 TO GET THE BALL AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. 762 00:32:26,145 --> 00:32:28,214 THERE WAS GREAT PASSING ON BOTH TEAMS. 763 00:32:28,247 --> 00:32:30,716 THEY WERE BOTH QUICKER THAN THE OTHER TEAMS. 764 00:32:30,749 --> 00:32:32,618 - THEY DIDN'T LIKE FOR YOU TO RUN. 765 00:32:32,651 --> 00:32:34,620 AND I SAID, "NOW WE HAVE TO RUN THESE FELLAS. 766 00:32:34,653 --> 00:32:35,587 "THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO RUN. 767 00:32:35,654 --> 00:32:37,289 WE HAVE TO RUN THEM." 768 00:32:37,323 --> 00:32:39,258 AND WE RAN 'EM AND RAN 'EM. 769 00:32:39,291 --> 00:32:41,260 ON THE NIGHTS THAT WE HAD GOOD SHOOTING NIGHTS, 770 00:32:41,293 --> 00:32:44,296 THEY WOULD SAY, "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, KILL THE GAME?" 771 00:32:44,330 --> 00:32:45,731 I SAID, "WE NEVER COMPLAIN 772 00:32:45,797 --> 00:32:47,133 WHEN YOU HAD YOUR GOOD SHOOTING NIGHT." 773 00:32:47,166 --> 00:32:49,068 JUST HAD A NIGHT WHERE EVERYTHING-- 774 00:32:49,101 --> 00:32:50,602 IF YOU FELL ON YOUR HEAD AND THREW IT UP, 775 00:32:50,669 --> 00:32:52,304 IT WOULD GO IN. 776 00:32:54,506 --> 00:32:56,008 - BOTH TEAMS INVENTED PLAYS 777 00:32:56,075 --> 00:32:58,410 AND WEREN'T GIVEN CREDIT FOR CHANGING 778 00:32:58,444 --> 00:33:00,146 THE WAY THE GAME WAS PLAYED. 779 00:33:00,179 --> 00:33:01,747 I THINK EVEN THEN THEY WERE BREAKING STEREOTYPES. 780 00:33:01,813 --> 00:33:03,515 AN ATHLETE SIMPLY ISN'T SOMEBODY 781 00:33:03,582 --> 00:33:05,017 WHO HAS A BODY THAT CAN LET HIM DO SOMETHING 782 00:33:05,084 --> 00:33:07,353 BUT A MIND THAT CAN LET HIM FIGURE OUT 783 00:33:07,419 --> 00:33:09,021 HOW TO DO THINGS BETTER. 784 00:33:09,088 --> 00:33:11,290 - ALONG THE WAY, THE RENS AND THE CELTICS 785 00:33:11,357 --> 00:33:13,492 DID MANAGE TO PLAY SOME EXHIBITION GAMES. 786 00:33:13,525 --> 00:33:14,826 AND THE RENS WERE BEGINNING 787 00:33:14,860 --> 00:33:16,528 TO LOOK LIKE REAL CONTENDERS. 788 00:33:16,528 --> 00:33:17,796 - THEY LIKED TO DRINK. 789 00:33:17,863 --> 00:33:20,032 THEY DRANK BEER. THEY DRANK TEQUILA. 790 00:33:20,099 --> 00:33:23,102 DUTCH DEHNERT, YOU KNOW, HE POURED IT, 791 00:33:23,135 --> 00:33:25,037 AND HIS HAND HAS NEVER LOST ITS TOUCH. 792 00:33:25,104 --> 00:33:27,273 SO THE FIRST THING YOU DID ON THE FIRST JUMP-OFF, 793 00:33:27,339 --> 00:33:30,509 BAM, RIGHT IN HIS STOMACH. 794 00:33:30,542 --> 00:33:33,212 YOU HAD NO MORE PROBLEM WITH HIM THE REST OF THE NIGHT, YOU KNOW. 795 00:33:33,279 --> 00:33:37,549 - IN THE RENS' OWN 1928 AND 1929 SEASON, 796 00:33:37,616 --> 00:33:41,187 THEY WON 95 OF 107 GAMES. 797 00:33:41,220 --> 00:33:45,291 DOUGLAS'S HOPE WAS TO PIT HIS RENS AGAINST THE CELTICS 798 00:33:45,357 --> 00:33:47,693 IN AN UNOFFICIAL, HIGHLY PUBLICIZED, 799 00:33:47,726 --> 00:33:49,561 POST-CHAMPIONSHIP DUEL, 800 00:33:49,628 --> 00:33:51,463 A BEST-OF-THREE SERIES. 801 00:33:51,530 --> 00:33:54,466 EVEN THOUGH IT WOULDN'T COUNT PROFESSIONALLY, 802 00:33:54,500 --> 00:33:56,702 A RENS WIN MEANT THAT A LOCAL BLACK TEAM 803 00:33:56,735 --> 00:33:59,638 HAD BEATEN THE REIGNING WORLD CHAMPIONS. 804 00:33:59,705 --> 00:34:03,375 BUT ON GAME DAY, THE RENS JUST COULDN'T KEEP UP. 805 00:34:03,409 --> 00:34:05,411 IN GAME TWO, NAT HOLMAN, 806 00:34:05,477 --> 00:34:07,213 DUTCH DEHNERT, JOE LAPCHICK, 807 00:34:07,246 --> 00:34:10,549 AND PETE BARRY LED THE TEAM TO A 30-25 VICTORY 808 00:34:10,582 --> 00:34:12,651 OVER THE RENS. 809 00:34:12,718 --> 00:34:14,553 A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CELTICS DEFEATED THE RENS 810 00:34:14,586 --> 00:34:16,588 A THIRD TIME, 26-23. 811 00:34:16,655 --> 00:34:17,823 [buzzer blares] 812 00:34:17,889 --> 00:34:20,092 ALL THE CHEERING HAD COME TO NOTHING. 813 00:34:20,159 --> 00:34:22,394 THE RENS, THE HOPE OF HARLEM, 814 00:34:22,428 --> 00:34:25,664 HAD LOST. 815 00:34:25,731 --> 00:34:28,700 [bluesy music] 816 00:34:28,734 --> 00:34:33,071 * 817 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:45,584 THE RENS WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES TO EXPERIENCE LOSS. 818 00:34:45,617 --> 00:34:47,519 BY THE LATE 1920s, 819 00:34:47,586 --> 00:34:50,422 THE COUNTRY ITSELF WAS LOSING MOMENTUM. 820 00:34:50,456 --> 00:34:53,625 THERE WOULD BE BAD TIMES AHEAD. 821 00:35:02,734 --> 00:35:05,704 THE RENS PLAYED ALMOST EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK 822 00:35:05,737 --> 00:35:07,539 JUST TO KEEP AFLOAT. 823 00:35:07,573 --> 00:35:10,276 THE RENAISSANCE CASINO AND BALLROOM WAS NEARLY BANKRUPT 824 00:35:10,309 --> 00:35:11,910 DUE TO POOR MANAGEMENT. 825 00:35:11,977 --> 00:35:13,812 SO BOB DOUGLAS DID TWO THINGS-- 826 00:35:13,879 --> 00:35:16,415 HE TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE RENNIE, 827 00:35:16,482 --> 00:35:18,650 AND THE RENS TOOK THEIR TALENT ON THE ROAD. 828 00:35:20,986 --> 00:35:22,488 - IN THE EARLY DAYS OF BASKETBALL, 829 00:35:22,554 --> 00:35:23,889 THERE WAS NO LEAGUE. 830 00:35:23,955 --> 00:35:25,457 LIKE, IT DIDN'T ORGANIZE ITSELF THE WAY 831 00:35:25,491 --> 00:35:27,459 THAT FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL WERE ORGANIZED. 832 00:35:27,493 --> 00:35:28,827 SO PEOPLE WERE BARNSTORMERS. 833 00:35:28,827 --> 00:35:30,396 THEY'D GET A GOOD TEAM TOGETHER, 834 00:35:30,462 --> 00:35:31,797 AND THERE'D BE LIKE A STAR PLAYER, 835 00:35:31,830 --> 00:35:32,831 AND THEY WOULD GO AND THEY WOULD PLAY 836 00:35:32,898 --> 00:35:33,932 OTHER PEOPLE'S GOOD TEAMS. 837 00:35:33,999 --> 00:35:35,767 - IT WAS A BARNSTORMING KIND OF TEAM 838 00:35:35,801 --> 00:35:37,769 WHO WENT FROM TOWN TO TOWN 839 00:35:37,803 --> 00:35:39,438 AND COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY 840 00:35:39,471 --> 00:35:41,973 TAKING ON WHOEVER WOULD HAVE THE GUTS 841 00:35:42,007 --> 00:35:43,675 TO GET ON THE COURT WITH THEM. 842 00:35:48,847 --> 00:35:52,618 - THE RENS DIDN'T TRAVEL IN FULLY-CATERED CHARTER JETS 843 00:35:52,684 --> 00:35:53,952 EQUIPPED WITH SLEEPER SEATS 844 00:35:53,985 --> 00:35:57,656 TO ACCOMMODATE SEVEN-FOOT PLAYERS. 845 00:35:57,689 --> 00:35:59,325 - YOU KNOW, NOW WE FLY PRIVATE JETS. 846 00:35:59,358 --> 00:36:01,427 THE OWNERS HAVE THEY OWN TEAM PLANES. 847 00:36:01,493 --> 00:36:03,829 YOU GOT CATERED FOOD, YOU KNOW, ON THE PLANES. 848 00:36:03,862 --> 00:36:05,364 YOU GOT MEALS WHEN YOU GET 849 00:36:05,464 --> 00:36:07,433 TO THE HOTELS, MEALS BEFORE THE GAMES. 850 00:36:07,466 --> 00:36:08,834 BACK THEN, YOU DIDN'T HAVE NONE OF THAT. 851 00:36:08,867 --> 00:36:10,836 YOU DIDN'T HAVE NO PRIVATE PLANES. 852 00:36:10,869 --> 00:36:12,871 YOU DIDN'T HAVE NO CATERERS. YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT. 853 00:36:12,971 --> 00:36:15,674 - ALL THEY HAD WAS THE BLUE GOOSE. 854 00:36:15,707 --> 00:36:17,376 [kaluga horn blasts] 855 00:36:17,443 --> 00:36:18,610 IT WAS MORE THAN A BUS. 856 00:36:18,677 --> 00:36:21,880 IT WAS A SANCTUARY. 857 00:36:21,947 --> 00:36:25,817 - SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, $37 A WEEK 858 00:36:25,884 --> 00:36:27,886 TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY 859 00:36:27,886 --> 00:36:29,855 WHETHER IT WAS STORMING 860 00:36:29,888 --> 00:36:31,390 OR WHETHER IT WASN'T STORMING, 861 00:36:31,457 --> 00:36:34,326 UP NORTH, DOWN SOUTH, 862 00:36:34,393 --> 00:36:37,396 AND ALL THE THINGS YOU HAD TO CONTEND WITH TRAVELING. 863 00:36:37,396 --> 00:36:38,897 WE'RE ALL RIDING AROUND. 864 00:36:38,964 --> 00:36:40,399 THERE'S ONLY EIGHT OF US. 865 00:36:40,466 --> 00:36:41,667 BUT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS, 866 00:36:41,733 --> 00:36:44,336 IF YOU HAD 150 MILES TO DO 867 00:36:44,370 --> 00:36:45,737 TO GO PLAY A GAME, 868 00:36:45,804 --> 00:36:47,673 YOU STILL HAD THAT 150 TO RIDE BACK 869 00:36:47,739 --> 00:36:49,341 IF YOU WANTED TO SLEEP. 870 00:36:49,375 --> 00:36:51,710 - THEY PLANNED HOW THEY WERE GONNA LIVE 871 00:36:51,743 --> 00:36:53,645 AROUND THAT BUS IN TERMS OF MEALS, 872 00:36:53,712 --> 00:36:55,347 IN TERMS OF ACCOMMODATIONS, 873 00:36:55,381 --> 00:36:57,483 BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE 874 00:36:57,516 --> 00:36:59,017 A LOT OF PLACES THAT THEY WERE GONNA TRAVEL TO 875 00:36:59,050 --> 00:37:01,052 THAT THEY WEREN'T GONNA BE WELCOME. 876 00:37:01,086 --> 00:37:04,756 - AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERED 877 00:37:04,823 --> 00:37:07,493 BY LAW INFERIOR, 878 00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:10,996 IT TOOK EFFORT TO SAY, "I'M BLACK, AND I'M PROUD." 879 00:37:11,029 --> 00:37:13,765 IT TOOK EFFORT TO KEEP CONVINCING YOURSELF 880 00:37:13,832 --> 00:37:16,702 AND OTHERS THAT YOU WERE NOT INFERIOR, 881 00:37:16,768 --> 00:37:18,737 THAT YOU WERE WORTHY. 882 00:37:18,770 --> 00:37:22,708 - MANY TIMES, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET INTO HOTELS. 883 00:37:22,741 --> 00:37:24,042 A LOT OF TIMES THEY STAYED IN JAILS 884 00:37:24,075 --> 00:37:25,844 BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SAFEST PLACE 885 00:37:25,877 --> 00:37:27,613 THEY COULD STAY. 886 00:37:27,679 --> 00:37:30,882 - THEY HAD TO ENDURE JUST HARSH TREATMENT. 887 00:37:30,949 --> 00:37:35,454 THEY WERE NOT VIEWED UPON AS EQUAL CITIZENS. 888 00:37:35,521 --> 00:37:37,856 - WHAT WOULD BE MY MINDSET 889 00:37:37,923 --> 00:37:41,427 IF I HAD TO PLAY UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES? 890 00:37:41,460 --> 00:37:43,629 I COULD IMAGINE I WOULD HAVE BEEN AFRAID, 891 00:37:43,629 --> 00:37:45,697 KNOWING THAT I WAS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE 892 00:37:45,764 --> 00:37:47,599 AND KNOWING THAT I WAS HATED 893 00:37:47,633 --> 00:37:52,638 AND NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE WAS SO MUCH HATE. 894 00:37:52,704 --> 00:37:56,375 - IT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY ENRAGED PEOPLE 895 00:37:56,442 --> 00:37:59,110 AND MADE THEM FEEL THAT NOTHING EVER WOULD CHANGE. 896 00:37:59,144 --> 00:38:02,448 - I CAN'T IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO GO 897 00:38:02,481 --> 00:38:05,384 TO A CERTAIN HOTEL, NOT BE ABLE TO SIT 898 00:38:05,417 --> 00:38:07,953 IN A CERTAIN SECTION OF RESTAURANTS. 899 00:38:07,986 --> 00:38:10,422 - WHERE, AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, IF YOU WERE WALKING 900 00:38:10,489 --> 00:38:11,790 ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET, 901 00:38:11,823 --> 00:38:13,459 IF YOU SAID THE WRONG THING, 902 00:38:13,492 --> 00:38:14,893 IF YOU LOOKED SOMEBODY IN THE EYE 903 00:38:14,926 --> 00:38:15,961 WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK DOWN-- 904 00:38:15,994 --> 00:38:17,829 ANYTHING COULD TRIGGER SOMETHING 905 00:38:17,929 --> 00:38:19,731 THAT WOULD END IN YOU GETTING ARRESTED 906 00:38:19,765 --> 00:38:21,467 OR GETTING KILLED OR GETTING LYNCHED, 907 00:38:21,500 --> 00:38:24,002 AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. 908 00:38:24,069 --> 00:38:26,905 - I WASN'T AN EARLY PIONEER, 909 00:38:26,938 --> 00:38:28,774 BUT I EXPERIENCED IN THE '50s 910 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:31,843 AMD IN THE '60s, AS A YOUNG ATHLETE, 911 00:38:31,843 --> 00:38:34,613 BEING CALLED THE "N" WORD, 912 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:35,847 YOU KNOW, BEING TAUNTED. 913 00:38:35,847 --> 00:38:38,016 A LOT OF THINGS THAT GET DISCUSSED 914 00:38:38,083 --> 00:38:40,118 ALONG THE LINES OF AMERICA'S HISTORY 915 00:38:40,185 --> 00:38:42,020 SOMETIMES FALLS ON DEAF EARS. 916 00:38:42,020 --> 00:38:44,423 THERE ARE SOME GUYS WHO JUST DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT. 917 00:38:44,490 --> 00:38:48,126 - IMAGINE BARNSTORMING IN THE SOUTH 918 00:38:48,159 --> 00:38:51,630 AND HAVING WHITE PEOPLE PRICK YOU WITH HAT PINS, 919 00:38:51,663 --> 00:38:55,434 PUT LIT CIGARS OUT ON YOU, 920 00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:59,137 CALLING YOU NAMES, THROWING BOTTLES AT YOU, 921 00:38:59,204 --> 00:39:04,009 AND STILL PLAYING EXCELLENT BASKETBALL 922 00:39:04,042 --> 00:39:06,878 WITH CLASS. 923 00:39:06,878 --> 00:39:08,547 - THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN THE RENS 924 00:39:08,614 --> 00:39:10,048 WOULD COME ON THE COURT WITH KNIVES 925 00:39:10,115 --> 00:39:12,451 PACKED IN THEIR SOCKS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES 926 00:39:12,484 --> 00:39:13,852 FROM FANS WHO MIGHT STORM THE COURT. 927 00:39:13,885 --> 00:39:15,521 - ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE BACKDROP 928 00:39:15,554 --> 00:39:18,724 OF THE PLAYERS BEING FATIGUED, BEING INSULTED, 929 00:39:18,824 --> 00:39:21,793 OFTENTIMES TRYING TO FIND A BATHROOM TO GO TO, 930 00:39:21,827 --> 00:39:24,062 PLACES TO EAT, AND THE RIGORS OF TRAVELING 931 00:39:24,129 --> 00:39:25,831 IN THE RURAL PART OF THIS COUNTRY. 932 00:39:25,897 --> 00:39:30,201 - THEY HAD A PHILOSOPHY THAT, IF THINGS TURNED NEGATIVE, 933 00:39:30,235 --> 00:39:32,471 THEY WOULD GO BACK-TO-BACK, 934 00:39:32,504 --> 00:39:33,972 AND THEY'D HAVE TO FIGHT THEIR WAY OUT. 935 00:39:34,005 --> 00:39:36,408 - THE GREATEST FIGURES WEREN'T JUST GREAT 936 00:39:36,475 --> 00:39:38,510 AT WHAT THEY DID IN TERMS OF TALENT, 937 00:39:38,577 --> 00:39:40,579 BUT THEY EMBODIED DIGNITY 938 00:39:40,579 --> 00:39:42,814 IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION, 939 00:39:42,881 --> 00:39:45,016 DIGNITY IN THE FACE OF INDIGNITIES. 940 00:39:45,050 --> 00:39:46,852 - COMPETITION IS TOUGH ENOUGH. 941 00:39:46,885 --> 00:39:48,987 AND NOW YOU GOT ALL THESE EXTERNAL FACTORS 942 00:39:49,020 --> 00:39:51,189 THAT YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH, 943 00:39:51,256 --> 00:39:52,691 WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. 944 00:39:52,724 --> 00:39:55,026 - BUT THE GAME OF BASKETBALL WAS SO COMPELLING 945 00:39:55,060 --> 00:39:57,496 THAT THE PLAYERS WERE SO MOTIVATED 946 00:39:57,529 --> 00:39:58,597 THAT THEY DID IT, AND THEY DID IT IN FASHION. 947 00:39:58,664 --> 00:40:00,499 [train whistle blows] 948 00:40:00,566 --> 00:40:03,034 - THEY HAD A GAME IN ATLANTA, 949 00:40:03,068 --> 00:40:04,936 AND JOHN GOT SICK, 950 00:40:05,003 --> 00:40:07,105 SO HE MISSED THE BLUE GOOSE, 951 00:40:07,172 --> 00:40:09,174 SO HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE A TRAIN 952 00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:10,008 THE NEXT DAY AND MEET UP WITH THE TEAM, 953 00:40:10,041 --> 00:40:12,578 SO HE GOES TO THE TRAIN STATION, 954 00:40:12,611 --> 00:40:15,881 AND THEY HAVE A LINE THAT SAYS, "WHITES THIS LINE, 955 00:40:15,947 --> 00:40:19,451 COLORED THIS LINE." 956 00:40:19,518 --> 00:40:21,520 SO JOHN, HE DOESN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION. 957 00:40:21,553 --> 00:40:23,722 HE GOES IN THE WHITE LINE. 958 00:40:23,755 --> 00:40:26,257 - I SAID, "MAY I HAVE A TICKET TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA?" 959 00:40:26,291 --> 00:40:28,126 PUT MY MONEY UP THERE, 960 00:40:28,193 --> 00:40:30,562 AND THE NEXT VOICE I HEARD WAS, 961 00:40:30,629 --> 00:40:32,130 "WHAT IS IT YOU WANT, BOY?" 962 00:40:32,130 --> 00:40:34,199 I SAID, "DO I LOOK LIKE A BOY? 963 00:40:34,265 --> 00:40:36,602 I'M AN ADULT JUST LIKE YOU." 964 00:40:36,635 --> 00:40:40,238 NEXT VOICE, "YOU MUST BE FROM UP NORTH." 965 00:40:40,271 --> 00:40:42,207 I SAID, "YES, I'M FROM UP NORTH." 966 00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:45,076 HE SAID, "WELL, BY GOD, WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY DOWN HERE." 967 00:40:45,110 --> 00:40:46,945 NEW YORK'S TALKING AGAIN. 968 00:40:46,978 --> 00:40:48,714 "WELL, BY GOD, YOU OUGHT TO CHANGE." 969 00:40:48,747 --> 00:40:50,582 - SO HE GOES OUT THE DOOR, 970 00:40:50,649 --> 00:40:53,752 HE GOES OVER TO WHERE IT SAYS, "COLORED," 971 00:40:53,785 --> 00:40:55,153 HE GOES OVER TO THE COUNTER, 972 00:40:55,220 --> 00:40:57,088 AND THE SAME GUY JUST SHIFTS OVER 973 00:40:57,155 --> 00:41:00,258 AND SAYS, "CAN I HELP YOU?" AND JOHN READ HIM THE RIOT ACT. 974 00:41:00,291 --> 00:41:01,827 BUT HE GOT HIS TICKET. 975 00:41:07,065 --> 00:41:10,235 - ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, 976 00:41:10,268 --> 00:41:11,937 THE WHITE SUPREMACY, 977 00:41:12,003 --> 00:41:14,606 A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO ENFORCE IT 978 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:16,775 IN THE GAMES THAT THE RENS PLAYED. 979 00:41:16,808 --> 00:41:20,612 SO THEY ENDED UP WHERE THEY SAW THEMSELVES 980 00:41:20,646 --> 00:41:23,148 AS JUST ONE LITTLE UNIT AGAINST THE WORLD. 981 00:41:23,181 --> 00:41:25,116 THE REFEREES AND TIMEKEEPERS 982 00:41:25,150 --> 00:41:26,652 IN THE GAMES THAT THEY PLAYED 983 00:41:26,685 --> 00:41:28,520 WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE THEM LOSE. 984 00:41:28,587 --> 00:41:31,256 AND THAT WAS JUST ONE MORE OBSTACLE 985 00:41:31,289 --> 00:41:32,791 FOR THEM TO OVERCOME. 986 00:41:36,995 --> 00:41:39,130 - WHEN WE WENT OUT ON THE FLOOR, 987 00:41:39,164 --> 00:41:42,300 WE BELIEVED THAT WE WERE PLAYING, NOT FIVE GUYS, 988 00:41:42,333 --> 00:41:46,104 BUT SEVEN-- THE REFEREE AND THE TIMEKEEPER. 989 00:41:46,137 --> 00:41:48,640 SO WE HAD TO PLAY HARDER 990 00:41:48,674 --> 00:41:50,709 AND STAY FURTHER IN FRONT. 991 00:41:50,776 --> 00:41:53,612 - IT WAS A WHITE GAME. 992 00:41:53,679 --> 00:41:55,213 WHEN YOU PLAY AGAINST WHITE BALL CLUBS, 993 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:57,115 WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO IN THAT ERA? 994 00:41:57,148 --> 00:41:58,617 DO YOU THINK THAT THEY'RE GONNA JUST PLAY BASKETBALL? 995 00:41:58,650 --> 00:42:00,151 THEY WANT TO KILL YOU. 996 00:42:00,218 --> 00:42:01,987 YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, HARM YOU A LITTLE BIT 997 00:42:02,020 --> 00:42:05,056 IF THEY CAN. 998 00:42:05,123 --> 00:42:08,627 - THE RENS OFTEN PLAYED TWO OR THREE GAMES A DAY, 999 00:42:08,694 --> 00:42:13,832 130 GAMES AND 38,000 MILES PER SEASON. 1000 00:42:13,865 --> 00:42:16,902 AND TO SAY THEY DOMINATED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. 1001 00:42:16,968 --> 00:42:18,837 IN JUST ONE YEAR, 1002 00:42:18,904 --> 00:42:22,641 THE '32-'33 SEASON, THEY WON 88 GAMES IN A ROW, 1003 00:42:22,674 --> 00:42:25,977 WHICH INCLUDED GAMES AGAINST THE ORIGINAL CELTICS. 1004 00:42:26,011 --> 00:42:28,179 - GROWING UP, ALL OF THE SPORTS WRITERS WOULD SAY, 1005 00:42:28,246 --> 00:42:30,015 "OH, YOUR DAD PLAYED FOR THE GREATEST TEAM 1006 00:42:30,048 --> 00:42:32,017 OF ALL TIME," AND EVERY SINGLE TIME 1007 00:42:32,050 --> 00:42:33,985 THAT MY FATHER HEARD THAT, HE WOULD PULL ME ASIDE 1008 00:42:34,019 --> 00:42:36,354 AND SAY, "I DIDN'T PLAY FOR THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME. 1009 00:42:36,387 --> 00:42:39,057 WE HAD A TEAM THAT COULD BEAT US EVEN ALL THE TIME, THE RENS." 1010 00:42:39,090 --> 00:42:42,027 - AND AS THEY ENCOUNTERED EACH OTHER AGAIN AND AGAIN, 1011 00:42:42,093 --> 00:42:43,862 THE RENS AND THE ORIGINAL CELTICS 1012 00:42:43,895 --> 00:42:45,731 BECAME FRIENDS. 1013 00:42:45,764 --> 00:42:48,233 BUT THEY KEPT THE RIVALRY GOING TO SELL TICKETS 1014 00:42:48,266 --> 00:42:51,937 SINCE BLACK VERSUS WHITE GAMES OUTSOLD BLACK ON BLACK 1015 00:42:51,937 --> 00:42:54,272 AND WHITE ON WHITE BY A LONG SHOT. 1016 00:42:54,372 --> 00:42:56,374 - THEY BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND 1017 00:42:56,407 --> 00:42:58,710 ABOUT THE LIVES OF EACH OTHER 1018 00:42:58,744 --> 00:43:00,211 AND THE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR LIVES. 1019 00:43:00,245 --> 00:43:01,747 I KNOW FROM MY FATHER, 1020 00:43:01,780 --> 00:43:04,115 HE FELT THAT HE BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND 1021 00:43:04,115 --> 00:43:05,751 WHAT RACISM REALLY MEANT 1022 00:43:05,784 --> 00:43:08,754 BY WATCHING THE EFFECTS OF RACISM ON THE RENS. 1023 00:43:08,787 --> 00:43:10,255 THREE TIMES THEY LEFT TOWN IN TANDEM, 1024 00:43:10,288 --> 00:43:12,724 AND THE CELTICS PULLED UP 1025 00:43:12,791 --> 00:43:14,292 IN THEIR STUTZ BEARCATS BEHIND THE RENS' BUS 1026 00:43:14,292 --> 00:43:16,127 TO SEE THE OWNER OF THE GAS STATION 1027 00:43:16,194 --> 00:43:18,764 COME OUT WITH A RIFLE, CHASING AWAY THE RENS 1028 00:43:18,797 --> 00:43:20,799 FROM HIS GAS STATION BECAUSE HE WASN'T ABOUT 1029 00:43:20,866 --> 00:43:22,868 TO SERVE THIS GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN PLAYERS 1030 00:43:22,934 --> 00:43:24,970 FROM HIS LILY-WHITE PUMPS. 1031 00:43:25,036 --> 00:43:26,772 IN FIVE OF THE GAMES THAT THEY PLAYED AGAINST EACH OTHER, 1032 00:43:26,805 --> 00:43:28,406 THERE WERE ACTUALLY RACE RIOTS THAT TOOK PLACE 1033 00:43:28,473 --> 00:43:30,275 DURING THE GAMES, ANGRY FANS STORMING THE COURTS 1034 00:43:30,308 --> 00:43:32,077 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE BLACK PLAYERS 1035 00:43:32,110 --> 00:43:35,413 AND WHITE PLAYERS MIXING ON THE SAME--IN THE SAME ARENA. 1036 00:43:35,446 --> 00:43:37,783 - THE FANS IN SOME OF THE PLACES 1037 00:43:37,816 --> 00:43:39,751 WE WENT TO, THEY WERE RIDICULOUS. 1038 00:43:39,818 --> 00:43:41,787 I'D RUN BY, AND THEY'D TAKE AN UMBRELLA, 1039 00:43:41,820 --> 00:43:44,389 THE HANDLE WOULD HOOK IN YOUR LEG, 1040 00:43:44,422 --> 00:43:46,391 AND YOU'D GO SLIDING ALONG THE FLOOR. 1041 00:43:46,424 --> 00:43:48,927 - WITH DOUGLAS MANAGING THE RENNIE, 1042 00:43:48,994 --> 00:43:52,798 ERIC ILLIDGE BECAME THE RENS' FINANCIAL MANAGER. 1043 00:43:52,831 --> 00:43:55,433 - ON THE ROAD, MR. DOUGLAS, HE LEFT EVERYTHING 1044 00:43:55,466 --> 00:43:57,402 UP TO ONE PERSON, ERIC ILLIDGE. 1045 00:43:57,435 --> 00:43:58,804 HE WAS THE ROAD MANAGER. 1046 00:43:58,837 --> 00:44:01,006 - HE WAS THE GUY-- HIS SOLE JOB 1047 00:44:01,106 --> 00:44:02,908 WAS TO GET THE MONEY. 1048 00:44:02,941 --> 00:44:06,845 - SOMETIMES SHYSTER PROMOTERS WOULD WANT TO GET OUT 1049 00:44:06,912 --> 00:44:10,081 WITH ALL THE MONEY AND LEAVE THE RENS HIGH AND DRY. 1050 00:44:10,115 --> 00:44:12,984 - THE OWNERS WOULD CONSISTENTLY TRY TO GIVE THE RENS CHECKS, 1051 00:44:13,018 --> 00:44:14,786 EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A CASH GUARANTEE, 1052 00:44:14,853 --> 00:44:17,455 IF THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CASH AROUND MAYBE, 1053 00:44:17,488 --> 00:44:19,324 AND GIVE THE CELTICS THE CASH. 1054 00:44:19,357 --> 00:44:20,992 - THE GUY WHO BOOKED THE GAME COMES UP 1055 00:44:21,026 --> 00:44:23,461 AND SAYS, "COACH LAPCHICK, HERE'S YOUR PAYMENT," 1056 00:44:23,494 --> 00:44:28,333 AND GAVE HIM $500 IN CASH. 1057 00:44:28,366 --> 00:44:31,169 HERE COMES BOB DOUGLAS, HE GIVES HIM A CHECK. 1058 00:44:31,202 --> 00:44:33,304 - AND MY FATHER KNEW OR ASSUMED 1059 00:44:33,338 --> 00:44:34,873 WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE 1060 00:44:34,940 --> 00:44:36,174 WAS THAT THE RENS WOULD NEVER GET PAID. 1061 00:44:36,207 --> 00:44:37,475 - HE SAID, "NO, NO, WAIT A MINUTE. 1062 00:44:37,542 --> 00:44:39,878 "GIVE BOB THE CASH. 1063 00:44:39,878 --> 00:44:42,447 I CAN ALWAYS CASH MY CHECK." 1064 00:44:42,513 --> 00:44:44,816 ASIDE FROM BASKETBALL, 1065 00:44:44,850 --> 00:44:46,317 THAT SHOWS THE HUMANITY, 1066 00:44:46,351 --> 00:44:50,021 THE CARE, BUT THE WAY THINGS WERE. 1067 00:44:50,055 --> 00:44:52,858 - TODAY, SEEING BLACK AND WHITE PLAYERS 1068 00:44:52,891 --> 00:44:56,361 ON A COURT IS A GIVEN. 1069 00:44:56,394 --> 00:44:59,230 AND EVEN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION 1070 00:44:59,230 --> 00:45:01,900 BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE PLAYERS ARE COMMONPLACE. 1071 00:45:05,470 --> 00:45:08,907 BUT BACK THEN, IT WAS SHOCKING. 1072 00:45:08,974 --> 00:45:12,744 - IN LOUISVILLE, MY DAD WENT ON THE COURT 1073 00:45:12,811 --> 00:45:15,180 AND WENT UP TO TARZAN COOPER AND KISSED HIM ON THE CHEEK, 1074 00:45:15,246 --> 00:45:16,514 AND, WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL 1075 00:45:16,547 --> 00:45:18,416 THAT THE CELTICS WERE STAYING AT, 1076 00:45:18,483 --> 00:45:20,385 THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD BEEN EVICTED FROM THE HOTEL 1077 00:45:20,418 --> 00:45:22,253 AND THAT THE GAME THE NEXT NIGHT HAD BEEN CANCELED. 1078 00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:24,756 - WHEN WE GOT READY TO LEAVE, 1079 00:45:24,823 --> 00:45:29,094 THEY HAD TO BACK A PADDY WAGON UP FLAT UP AGAINST THE DOOR. 1080 00:45:29,160 --> 00:45:30,996 "BRING YOUR CLOTHES WITH YOU. 1081 00:45:31,062 --> 00:45:32,230 "DON'T BOTHER TO GET DRESSED. 1082 00:45:32,263 --> 00:45:33,498 "JUST BRING YOUR CLOTHES WITH YOU 1083 00:45:33,564 --> 00:45:35,200 AND GET IN THE PADDY WAGON." 1084 00:45:35,233 --> 00:45:36,367 GOOD THING WE LEFT OUR BUS, 1085 00:45:36,401 --> 00:45:39,070 LIKE, THREE BLOCKS AWAY. 1086 00:45:41,106 --> 00:45:44,776 - ERIC ILLIDGE CARRIED A PISTOL EVERYWHERE HE WENT. 1087 00:45:44,843 --> 00:45:50,215 HE SAID WE WERE NOT GOING TO LET ANYONE 1088 00:45:50,281 --> 00:45:54,886 PREVENT US FROM MAKING A LIVING. 1089 00:45:59,124 --> 00:46:04,029 - I MEAN, THE BACKDROP IS THAT TO BE BLACK IN AMERICA 1090 00:46:04,062 --> 00:46:07,565 FOR 350 YEARS WAS TO TRY TO PRESERVE 1091 00:46:07,632 --> 00:46:09,801 YOUR SANITY, DIGNITY, AND INTEGRITY 1092 00:46:09,868 --> 00:46:14,239 IN THE FACE OF BEING TERRORIZED, TRAUMATIZED, 1093 00:46:14,305 --> 00:46:16,107 AND STIGMATIZED. 1094 00:46:16,141 --> 00:46:19,377 AND NO OTHER PEOPLE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH TERROR 1095 00:46:19,410 --> 00:46:21,246 ON THE PLANTATION, 1096 00:46:21,312 --> 00:46:23,081 TERROR HANGING FROM THE TREES, 1097 00:46:23,114 --> 00:46:26,051 TRAUMATIZED BECAUSE, EARLY ON, 1098 00:46:26,084 --> 00:46:27,318 YOU'RE TOLD YOU'RE LESS BEAUTIFUL, YOU'RE LESS MORE, 1099 00:46:27,385 --> 00:46:28,920 YOU'RE LESS INTELLIGENT. 1100 00:46:28,987 --> 00:46:31,990 AND THEN STIGMATIZED-- KEEP TRACK OF 'EM. 1101 00:46:32,057 --> 00:46:35,160 YOU GOT THAT BADGE OF BLACKNESS, YOU SEE. 1102 00:46:46,404 --> 00:46:48,473 - THEN JOE LOUIS CAME ALONG. 1103 00:46:48,506 --> 00:46:50,842 MY LORD. 1104 00:46:54,112 --> 00:46:55,947 AND WHAT IT MEANT IN A LITTLE VILLAGE 1105 00:46:56,014 --> 00:46:59,417 IN ARKANSAS AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S STORE... 1106 00:46:59,450 --> 00:47:02,287 WHEN ALL THE BLACKS SAT AROUND THE STORE 1107 00:47:02,353 --> 00:47:04,589 AND MADE LUNCHES, CHEESE SANDWICHES. 1108 00:47:04,622 --> 00:47:06,457 THEN THE RADIO WOULD COME ON. 1109 00:47:06,524 --> 00:47:09,094 - THE DETROIT BROWN BOMBER. 1110 00:47:09,127 --> 00:47:10,461 - AND THIS VOICE WOULD SAY, 1111 00:47:10,528 --> 00:47:14,499 "AND NOW JOE LOUIS..." [muttering] 1112 00:47:14,532 --> 00:47:17,035 AND, I MEAN, HE WAS FIGHTING SCHMELING. 1113 00:47:17,102 --> 00:47:20,438 - ALWAYS A GREAT CREDIT TO HIS CHOSEN PROFESSION 1114 00:47:20,505 --> 00:47:23,341 AND THE RACE HE REPRESENTS, 1115 00:47:23,374 --> 00:47:26,544 THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, 1116 00:47:26,644 --> 00:47:28,013 JOE LOUIS. 1117 00:47:28,046 --> 00:47:30,115 - AND SCHMELING JUST HIT HIM-- 1118 00:47:30,181 --> 00:47:31,182 OH, THE PEOPLE WOULD GROAN. 1119 00:47:31,216 --> 00:47:33,118 GROAN. 1120 00:47:33,184 --> 00:47:34,886 IT WAS OUR PEOPLE FALLING. 1121 00:47:34,953 --> 00:47:37,055 IT WAS BACK IN SLAVERY. 1122 00:47:37,122 --> 00:47:39,457 IT WAS THE END OF EVERYTHING. 1123 00:47:39,490 --> 00:47:41,960 AND THEN HE SAID, 1124 00:47:41,993 --> 00:47:43,494 "LOUIS IS UP, "AND HE'S HIT HIM. 1125 00:47:43,561 --> 00:47:44,996 "HE'S HIT HIM WITH A LEFT. 1126 00:47:45,030 --> 00:47:46,397 "AND THERE HE IS WITH A RIGHT. 1127 00:47:46,464 --> 00:47:47,899 "AND HE'S-- AND HE'S GOING DOWN, 1128 00:47:47,966 --> 00:47:49,400 "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. HE'S GOING DOWN. 1129 00:47:49,467 --> 00:47:52,537 AND HERE IT IS. ONE, TWO..." 1130 00:47:52,570 --> 00:47:54,472 AND ALL THE PEOPLE SHOUTED. 1131 00:47:54,539 --> 00:47:58,409 - FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT... 1132 00:47:58,476 --> 00:48:00,311 - AND HE HELD UP HIS HAND 1133 00:48:00,345 --> 00:48:02,513 AND HE SAID, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, 1134 00:48:02,580 --> 00:48:06,484 THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD." 1135 00:48:06,517 --> 00:48:08,186 [cheers and applause] 1136 00:48:08,253 --> 00:48:09,687 "CHAMPINE." - JOE LOUIS! 1137 00:48:09,720 --> 00:48:11,990 - JOE LOUIS! 1138 00:48:12,023 --> 00:48:13,992 AND THE PEOPLE CRIED, 1139 00:48:14,025 --> 00:48:16,694 AND I CAN CRY NOW. 1140 00:48:16,761 --> 00:48:20,398 AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED TOO FAR AWAY 1141 00:48:20,431 --> 00:48:22,500 STAYED, SLEPT. 1142 00:48:22,533 --> 00:48:24,235 WE MADE PALLETS FOR THEM 1143 00:48:24,269 --> 00:48:25,937 ON THE PORCH 1144 00:48:26,004 --> 00:48:28,006 AND INSIDE THE STORE. 1145 00:48:28,039 --> 00:48:30,575 BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS FOR ANY BLACK MAN 1146 00:48:30,608 --> 00:48:33,611 TO BE ON A DIRT ROAD 1147 00:48:33,678 --> 00:48:36,447 ON A NIGHT WHEN JOE LOUIS HAD JUST PROVED 1148 00:48:36,514 --> 00:48:41,119 WE WERE THE STRONGEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. 1149 00:48:41,186 --> 00:48:46,357 [cheers and applause] 1150 00:48:46,424 --> 00:48:48,459 - THE STRONGEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD 1151 00:48:48,526 --> 00:48:50,561 STILL HAD TO MAKE A LIVING, 1152 00:48:50,628 --> 00:48:54,099 EVEN IN RACIST STATES LIKE INDIANA. 1153 00:48:54,132 --> 00:48:56,467 - YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT ALABAMA 1154 00:48:56,534 --> 00:48:59,070 AND THE SOUTH AND THE LYNCHINGS. 1155 00:48:59,137 --> 00:49:01,139 I DON'T THINK ANYTHING COULD HAVE TOPPED 1156 00:49:01,139 --> 00:49:03,141 THE STATE OF INDIANA 1157 00:49:03,208 --> 00:49:05,543 'CAUSE IT WAS THE BIRTH OF THE KU KLUX KLAN. 1158 00:49:05,576 --> 00:49:06,744 BUT THE RENS PLAYED THERE. 1159 00:49:06,777 --> 00:49:08,113 THEY PLAYED THERE A LOT. 1160 00:49:08,146 --> 00:49:09,447 - THERE, THEY WERE DESTINED 1161 00:49:09,480 --> 00:49:11,249 TO MEET A COMPETITOR 1162 00:49:11,282 --> 00:49:13,618 WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME KNOWN SIMPLY AS COACH, 1163 00:49:13,651 --> 00:49:15,653 THE LEGENDARY JOHN WOODEN. 1164 00:49:15,720 --> 00:49:17,555 - MY COLLEGE COACH JOHN WOODEN 1165 00:49:17,588 --> 00:49:19,657 PLAYED AGAINST THE RENS OFTEN 1166 00:49:19,724 --> 00:49:21,659 WHEN THEY BARNSTORMED IN THE MIDWEST. 1167 00:49:21,726 --> 00:49:24,429 AND HE WILL TELL YOU 1168 00:49:24,495 --> 00:49:26,731 THAT THEY WERE THE BEST TEAM THAT HE EVER SAW PLAY. 1169 00:49:26,764 --> 00:49:29,667 - WHEN WE GOT TO PLAY 'EM, IT WAS REALLY A TREAT. 1170 00:49:29,734 --> 00:49:34,239 BUTLER FIELDHOUSE, WHICH SEATED MAYBE 18,000, 1171 00:49:34,272 --> 00:49:35,673 THEY'D BE TURNING 'EM AWAY. 1172 00:49:35,740 --> 00:49:38,676 - HIS PRESS WAS PART OF WHAT HE HAD LEARNED 1173 00:49:38,743 --> 00:49:41,079 PLAYING AGAINST THE RENS. 1174 00:49:41,112 --> 00:49:44,782 PRESSURE DEFENSE AND NOT GIVING ANYBODY A CHANCE 1175 00:49:44,849 --> 00:49:48,819 TO--TO FREELY ROAM AROUND THE COURT. 1176 00:49:48,853 --> 00:49:51,522 - MOST OF THE TIMES WE PLAYED THE RENS, 1177 00:49:51,589 --> 00:49:54,159 YOU COULD SAY THAT THEY'RE GONNA BEAT US. 1178 00:49:54,192 --> 00:49:56,427 BUT IT'LL ONLY BE BY TWO OR THREE POINTS. 1179 00:49:56,494 --> 00:49:59,297 - I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREDIBLE CROWDS 1180 00:49:59,330 --> 00:50:03,168 TO SEE THIS BLACK BASKETBALL TEAM 1181 00:50:03,201 --> 00:50:06,504 THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTED IN HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, 1182 00:50:06,537 --> 00:50:09,207 PROBABLY IN THE TOWNS THEY WERE PLAYING IN, 1183 00:50:09,307 --> 00:50:12,477 AND YET EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD THE EXCELLENCE. 1184 00:50:12,543 --> 00:50:15,546 EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD 1185 00:50:15,546 --> 00:50:18,649 HOW SMOOTH THEY WERE. 1186 00:50:18,716 --> 00:50:20,818 - WHILE THE RENS CONTINUED TO PERFECT 1187 00:50:20,851 --> 00:50:23,054 THEIR AGGRESSIVE GAME AND ATTITUDE, 1188 00:50:23,121 --> 00:50:25,523 THERE WAS ANOTHER BLACK TEAM THAT HAD FOUND 1189 00:50:25,556 --> 00:50:27,125 A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY TO PLAY. 1190 00:50:27,192 --> 00:50:28,793 - COMING TO YOU FROM THE COTTON CLUB IN HARLEM... 1191 00:50:28,826 --> 00:50:31,462 - THEY REFLECTED ANOTHER HARLEM. 1192 00:50:31,496 --> 00:50:34,065 [upbeat jazz music] 1193 00:50:34,132 --> 00:50:36,134 ONE THAT CATERED TO A WHITE AUDIENCE, 1194 00:50:36,167 --> 00:50:39,737 PRESENTING A MORE AGREEABLE IMAGE OF BLACKS. 1195 00:50:39,804 --> 00:50:46,644 * 1196 00:50:46,711 --> 00:50:49,214 - WHITE BROTHERS AND SISTERS COME UPTOWN 1197 00:50:49,247 --> 00:50:53,151 AND SEE BLACK PEOPLE AS EXOTIC, AS PRIMITIVE, 1198 00:50:53,184 --> 00:50:56,521 AS PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR THEM 1199 00:50:56,587 --> 00:51:00,225 AND NOT DIGGING DEEP INTO THE RICH HUMANITY OF BLACK PEOPLE. 1200 00:51:00,258 --> 00:51:02,560 SO BLACK PEOPLE ON THE ONE HAND 1201 00:51:02,593 --> 00:51:04,895 CELEBRATING OUR HUMANITY, 1202 00:51:04,929 --> 00:51:06,764 MOST OF THE WHITE BROTHERS AND SISTERS 1203 00:51:06,764 --> 00:51:09,334 ON THE OTHER WANTING BLACK PEOPLE 1204 00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:10,601 TO BE ALMOST MINSTREL-LIKE, 1205 00:51:10,668 --> 00:51:12,603 WANTING BLACK PEOPLE TO TITILLATE 1206 00:51:12,670 --> 00:51:15,240 AND STIMULATE THEM, WANTING BLACK PEOPLE 1207 00:51:15,273 --> 00:51:17,875 TO TAKE THEM CLOSER TO NATURE BECAUSE, OF COURSE, 1208 00:51:17,942 --> 00:51:19,877 PART OF RACISM, PART OF THE LEGACY 1209 00:51:19,910 --> 00:51:21,379 OF WHITE SUPREMACY IS THIS NOTION 1210 00:51:21,412 --> 00:51:23,248 THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE CLOSER TO NATURE 1211 00:51:23,281 --> 00:51:25,583 AND FAR REMOVED FROM INTELLIGENCE. 1212 00:51:25,616 --> 00:51:29,454 - THE GLOBETROTTERS PRESENTED A MORE DOCILE, 1213 00:51:29,554 --> 00:51:32,223 LESS THREATENING IMAGE OF THE BLACK PLAYER 1214 00:51:32,290 --> 00:51:33,624 THAN THE RENS DID, 1215 00:51:33,624 --> 00:51:36,594 INCORPORATING TRICKS AND COMIC ROUTINES 1216 00:51:36,627 --> 00:51:38,229 INTO THEIR ACT. 1217 00:51:38,296 --> 00:51:40,598 EVEN THEIR NAME, THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS, 1218 00:51:40,631 --> 00:51:42,767 WAS NOT QUITE REAL, 1219 00:51:42,800 --> 00:51:46,604 IN THAT THEY DIDN'T TROT THE GLOBE OR COME FROM HARLEM. 1220 00:51:46,637 --> 00:51:47,905 THEY WERE FROM CHICAGO. 1221 00:51:47,938 --> 00:51:50,375 BUT THEIR OWNER ABE SAPERSTEIN 1222 00:51:50,408 --> 00:51:52,310 WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNEW 1223 00:51:52,377 --> 00:51:53,544 THEY WERE BLACK. 1224 00:51:53,578 --> 00:51:55,146 - WHEN I WAS A KID, I THOUGHT 1225 00:51:55,213 --> 00:51:57,215 THE GLOBETROTTERS WERE FROM HARLEM. 1226 00:51:57,248 --> 00:51:58,749 I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE FROM CHICAGO. 1227 00:51:58,816 --> 00:52:01,586 I WAS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE BEFORE I REALIZED 1228 00:52:01,619 --> 00:52:04,589 THAT THE GLOBETROTTERS WERE FROM ILLINOIS. 1229 00:52:04,622 --> 00:52:06,291 - ABE KNEW THAT, WHEN HE WENT INTO THE TOWNS, 1230 00:52:06,324 --> 00:52:08,659 THE SMALL TOWNS LIKE WATERLOO, IOWA, 1231 00:52:08,726 --> 00:52:11,596 OR SOMEPLACE, THAT HE HAD TO PREANNOUNCE 1232 00:52:11,662 --> 00:52:14,499 THE TEAM COMING IN WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEAM. 1233 00:52:14,565 --> 00:52:15,766 AND THE WAY HE DID THAT 1234 00:52:15,833 --> 00:52:17,668 WITHOUT A LOT OF FANFARE 1235 00:52:17,735 --> 00:52:20,438 WAS PUT THE NAME--ATTACH HARLEM TO THE FRONT OF THE NAME. 1236 00:52:20,505 --> 00:52:21,772 AND WHEN THEY'D SHOW UP IN A CITY, 1237 00:52:21,806 --> 00:52:23,308 PEOPLE EXPECTED TO SEE A TROUPE 1238 00:52:23,341 --> 00:52:25,443 OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTERTAINERS COME IN. 1239 00:52:25,510 --> 00:52:27,478 NO ONE WAS SHOCKED. 1240 00:52:27,512 --> 00:52:29,614 THE ONLY THING THEY WERE SHOCKED ABOUT WAS HOW GOOD THEY WERE. 1241 00:52:29,647 --> 00:52:31,249 BUT HE WOULD SOFTEN THAT A BIT 1242 00:52:31,282 --> 00:52:32,917 BY PUTTING ON THE ENTERTAINMENT PIECE. 1243 00:52:32,950 --> 00:52:36,954 - AND THEIR COACHES TOO HAD WILDLY DIFFERENT STYLES. 1244 00:52:37,021 --> 00:52:40,258 THE BLACK PRESS WAS MOSTLY IN SMILIN' BOB'S CAMP, 1245 00:52:40,291 --> 00:52:42,493 CALLING HIM THE FATHER OF BLACK BASKETBALL 1246 00:52:42,527 --> 00:52:44,495 OR THE CAGER KING, 1247 00:52:44,529 --> 00:52:47,798 WHILE ABE WAS CALLED SQUAT, PUDGY, 1248 00:52:47,865 --> 00:52:50,768 ROLY-POLY, OR EVEN THE BOWLING BALL. 1249 00:52:50,801 --> 00:52:53,971 AND SMILING BOB'S PLAYERS LOVED HIM. 1250 00:52:54,038 --> 00:52:55,873 - HE WAS A TRULY HONEST MAN. 1251 00:52:55,940 --> 00:52:57,442 HE WAS NOT A POLITICIAN. 1252 00:52:57,475 --> 00:53:00,311 - HE WAS A MAN OF HIGH INTEGRITY, 1253 00:53:00,378 --> 00:53:02,380 A MAN WHO WAS VERY, VERY SMART. 1254 00:53:02,447 --> 00:53:06,517 HE KNEW BUSINESS LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND, 1255 00:53:06,551 --> 00:53:08,519 AND HIS WORD WAS HIS BOND. 1256 00:53:08,553 --> 00:53:10,288 - AND THEY WERE VERY PROUD IN NEW YORK 1257 00:53:10,355 --> 00:53:12,357 AND BALTIMORE AND BOSTON 1258 00:53:12,390 --> 00:53:15,493 TO SAY I'M PART OF BOB DOUGLAS'S ORGANIZATION. 1259 00:53:15,560 --> 00:53:17,695 HE WAS A MAN THAT PEOPLE IDOLIZED 1260 00:53:17,728 --> 00:53:19,464 AND LOOKED UP TO AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN 1261 00:53:19,497 --> 00:53:21,499 WHO HAD DONE WELL, BUT ALSO A VERY LOYAL LEADER. 1262 00:53:21,532 --> 00:53:23,901 I THINK HIS LEADERSHIP CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED. 1263 00:53:23,968 --> 00:53:25,970 - ABE'S PLAYERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, 1264 00:53:26,036 --> 00:53:27,905 WEREN'T AS KIND. 1265 00:53:27,972 --> 00:53:30,875 - ABE SAPERSTEIN IS ABOUT THE MONEY 1266 00:53:30,908 --> 00:53:32,810 AND HE'S ABOUT KEEPING YOU IN YOUR PLACE. 1267 00:53:32,877 --> 00:53:34,044 HE WAS GOD. 1268 00:53:34,078 --> 00:53:35,913 - HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE. 1269 00:53:35,913 --> 00:53:37,915 IF YOU'RE ON A TEAM THAT'S A TOP TEAM 1270 00:53:38,015 --> 00:53:41,386 AND YOU'RE LIKE THE YANKEES, YOU'RE GONNA GO FIRST CLASS, 1271 00:53:41,419 --> 00:53:43,020 YOU'RE GONNA BE A BETTER TEAM, RIGHT? 1272 00:53:43,087 --> 00:53:45,055 ABE WASN'T LIKE THAT. 1273 00:53:45,089 --> 00:53:47,725 THEY WERE UNDERPAID. 1274 00:53:47,758 --> 00:53:49,394 THEY WEREN'T TREATED RIGHT. 1275 00:53:49,427 --> 00:53:51,028 - HE'D NEVER GIVE HIS WORD, YOU KNOW. 1276 00:53:51,061 --> 00:53:54,365 HE WANTED TO KEEP YOU HUMBLE. 1277 00:53:54,399 --> 00:53:58,403 I NEVER CALLED HIM MR. SAPERSTEIN OR SKIP. 1278 00:53:58,436 --> 00:54:00,338 THE MANAGERS AND THE COACHES, 1279 00:54:00,371 --> 00:54:01,872 THEY WERE ALL SCARED OF ABE. 1280 00:54:01,939 --> 00:54:03,874 THEY WANTED THEIR JOB. 1281 00:54:03,908 --> 00:54:05,410 I CALLED HIM ABE. 1282 00:54:05,443 --> 00:54:07,011 - ABE REPRESENTED TO ME 1283 00:54:07,077 --> 00:54:10,781 A PERSON WHO, "A", WAS AN OPPORTUNIST, 1284 00:54:10,848 --> 00:54:13,384 AND "B", WAS INDIFFERENT 1285 00:54:13,451 --> 00:54:15,620 TO THE ISSUE OF RACE WHEN IT CAME TO MARKETING 1286 00:54:15,620 --> 00:54:16,954 AND PROMOTION. 1287 00:54:17,054 --> 00:54:20,057 HE ALSO WAS A PERSON OF GREAT VISION. 1288 00:54:20,124 --> 00:54:23,628 AND I TOLD THE STORY THAT ABE ONCE TOLD ME 1289 00:54:23,628 --> 00:54:25,696 THAT THE GAME OF BASKETBALL 1290 00:54:25,763 --> 00:54:27,598 WAS A BLACK MAN'S GAME. 1291 00:54:27,632 --> 00:54:29,434 HE BELIEVED THE DISENFRANCHISED TOOK THIS GAME UP 1292 00:54:29,467 --> 00:54:31,569 BECAUSE IT WAS EASY TO PLAY, 1293 00:54:31,602 --> 00:54:33,604 THE ECONOMICS WERE THERE, 1294 00:54:33,638 --> 00:54:36,307 AND IT WAS A GAME THAT YOU COULD ADOPT TO YOUR LIFESTYLE. 1295 00:54:40,978 --> 00:54:43,314 - THE GLOBETROTTERS WERE WINNING 1296 00:54:43,381 --> 00:54:46,717 AN IMPRESSIVE 90% OF THEIR GAMES. 1297 00:54:46,751 --> 00:54:49,787 - THEY WOULD PUT THEIR SHOW ON IF YOU WERE BEING DEFEATED, 1298 00:54:49,820 --> 00:54:50,888 BUT IF YOU WERE CLOSE TO THEM, 1299 00:54:50,955 --> 00:54:52,790 THEY WOULDN'T PUT THEIR SHOW ON. 1300 00:54:52,823 --> 00:54:53,924 THEY'D PLAY THEIR STRAIGHT BASKETBALL. 1301 00:54:53,991 --> 00:54:55,793 - BUT THEY WERE STILL CONSIDERED 1302 00:54:55,826 --> 00:54:57,495 A NOVELTY ACT. 1303 00:54:57,495 --> 00:55:00,331 - THEY WERE A FIRST-RATE, WORLD-CLASS TEAM, 1304 00:55:00,431 --> 00:55:02,900 BUT I THINK THEIR WILLINGNESS TO CATER 1305 00:55:02,933 --> 00:55:06,904 TO NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES WAS UNFORTUNATE. 1306 00:55:06,937 --> 00:55:10,475 - THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY ON THE PLANTATION 1307 00:55:10,508 --> 00:55:12,910 WHO'S SENT UP TO THE BIG HOUSE. 1308 00:55:12,977 --> 00:55:14,779 THEY GIVE HIM THAT BANJO 1309 00:55:14,812 --> 00:55:17,482 OR DO A JIG, 1310 00:55:17,515 --> 00:55:21,786 AND...THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH, 1311 00:55:21,852 --> 00:55:23,654 BECAUSE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE-- 1312 00:55:23,688 --> 00:55:25,790 PEOPLE LAUGHING WITH YOU 1313 00:55:25,823 --> 00:55:28,526 AND PEOPLE LAUGHING AT YOU. 1314 00:55:28,593 --> 00:55:30,461 - NOW THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE STREET WOULD SAY, 1315 00:55:30,528 --> 00:55:32,497 "WE LIKE THE GLOBETROTTERS. THEY'RE A LOT OF FUN, 1316 00:55:32,530 --> 00:55:33,998 "BUT THAT'S A WHITE PERSON'S ORGANIZATION AND SHILL, 1317 00:55:34,031 --> 00:55:35,700 A WHITE LEADER AND ALL." 1318 00:55:35,700 --> 00:55:38,469 THEY MAY ALSO BE OFFENDED BY THE ENTERTAINMENT ASPECT, 1319 00:55:38,536 --> 00:55:40,438 THE FACT THAT THEY WERE REMINDED 1320 00:55:40,471 --> 00:55:41,972 OF THE MINSTREL SHOWS OF STEPIN FETCHIT 1321 00:55:42,039 --> 00:55:43,708 AND THAT KIND OF STUFF... 1322 00:55:43,708 --> 00:55:47,812 WHERE THE RENS WERE PORTRAYED AS HARDCORE WARRIORS. 1323 00:55:47,878 --> 00:55:48,879 HARDCORE WARRIORS. 1324 00:55:48,946 --> 00:55:50,481 - DOUGLAS USED THE TERM, 1325 00:55:50,548 --> 00:55:51,849 PARTICULARLY IN THE LATER YEARS, 1326 00:55:51,882 --> 00:55:53,384 THEY WERE NOT BURLESQUE BASKETBALL. 1327 00:55:53,451 --> 00:55:55,620 HE WOULDN'T GO THE ROUTE OF SAPERSTEIN 1328 00:55:55,686 --> 00:55:59,056 AND THE GLOBETROTTERS AS JUST AN ENTERTAINMENT ASPECT. 1329 00:55:59,123 --> 00:56:00,625 IT HAD TO BE BASKETBALL. 1330 00:56:00,691 --> 00:56:04,529 - THE GLOBETROTTERS CARRIED THE BURDEN 1331 00:56:04,562 --> 00:56:07,732 OF TRYING TO EMULATE THE RENS 1332 00:56:07,832 --> 00:56:10,134 IN LIFESTYLE AND IN REPUTATION 1333 00:56:10,167 --> 00:56:13,137 AS WELL AS TRYING TO ENTERTAIN 1334 00:56:13,170 --> 00:56:15,172 AND MAKE THEMSELVES NON-THREATENING TO WHITES. 1335 00:56:15,239 --> 00:56:18,576 BOB DOUGLAS DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THAT. 1336 00:56:18,576 --> 00:56:20,811 BOB DOUGLAS'S TEAM WAS ON THE COURT TO PLAY 1337 00:56:20,878 --> 00:56:21,812 AND TO WIN. 1338 00:56:21,846 --> 00:56:23,581 AND WIN THEIR WAY. 1339 00:56:23,648 --> 00:56:27,017 - IN PUBLIC, SAPERSTEIN WOULD CHALLENGE THE RENS 1340 00:56:27,084 --> 00:56:29,186 TO COMPETE AGAINST HIS GLOBETROTTERS. 1341 00:56:29,219 --> 00:56:30,988 AND DOUGLAS AND HIS TEAM SAID THEY WERE READY. 1342 00:56:31,021 --> 00:56:32,923 BUT BEHIND SCENES, 1343 00:56:32,990 --> 00:56:35,493 SAPERSTEIN DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH. 1344 00:56:35,526 --> 00:56:38,195 THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THE RENS AND THE GLOBETROTTERS 1345 00:56:38,228 --> 00:56:40,865 HAD COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLES. 1346 00:56:40,898 --> 00:56:45,870 IN 1939, SAPERSTEIN MADE THIS BOLD PUBLIC STATEMENT-- 1347 00:56:45,903 --> 00:56:48,873 - "I'VE BEEN CHALLENGING THE RENAISSANCE BIG FIVE 1348 00:56:48,906 --> 00:56:50,908 "FOR FOUR YEARS. FOUR YEARS! 1349 00:56:50,941 --> 00:56:53,243 "THEY ARE TERRIFIED TO PLAY US 1350 00:56:53,277 --> 00:56:57,848 BECAUSE WE ARE THE STRONGER TEAM." 1351 00:56:57,882 --> 00:56:59,717 - ROAD MANAGER ERIC ILLIDGE 1352 00:56:59,784 --> 00:57:01,251 BLEW A FUSE. 1353 00:57:01,285 --> 00:57:03,621 "AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED," HE SAID, 1354 00:57:03,688 --> 00:57:06,123 "THE GLOBETROTTERS ARE NOTHING BUT CLOWNS OF THE COURT. 1355 00:57:06,190 --> 00:57:08,025 "WE WILL PLAY THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 1356 00:57:08,058 --> 00:57:10,127 ANYTIME, ANYWHERE." 1357 00:57:10,194 --> 00:57:13,764 EVEN THE PRESS WANTED THIS PRETEND RIVALRY SETTLED. 1358 00:57:26,977 --> 00:57:28,946 ABE SAPERSTEIN NEVER DID ANSWER. 1359 00:57:28,979 --> 00:57:31,248 BUT HE AND SMILING BOB DOUGLAS 1360 00:57:31,315 --> 00:57:34,251 WERE TO HAVE THEIR SHOWDOWN AFTER ALL, 1361 00:57:34,284 --> 00:57:36,921 THOUGH NOT IN THE WAY THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED 1362 00:57:36,954 --> 00:57:39,289 IN THEIR WILDEST DREAMS. 1363 00:57:39,323 --> 00:57:41,926 OUT OF THE BLUE, AN INVITATION ARRIVED 1364 00:57:41,959 --> 00:57:43,728 TO THE FIRST-EVER 1365 00:57:43,761 --> 00:57:46,597 INTEGRATED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF BASKETBALL. 1366 00:57:46,664 --> 00:57:49,133 ONLY TWO BLACK TEAMS WERE INVITED TO CHICAGO 1367 00:57:49,166 --> 00:57:50,267 TO PARTICIPATE. 1368 00:57:50,300 --> 00:57:52,269 ONE WAS THE RENS. 1369 00:57:52,302 --> 00:57:54,805 THE OTHER, THE GLOBETROTTERS. 1370 00:57:54,839 --> 00:57:56,807 - ABE WANTED TO BE THOUGHT OF, AS HIS PLAYERS DID, 1371 00:57:56,841 --> 00:57:58,843 AS BEING THE GREATEST BASKETBALL TEAM IN THE COUNTRY. 1372 00:57:58,843 --> 00:58:00,277 BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS THE QUESTION, 1373 00:58:00,344 --> 00:58:01,646 ARE YOU BETTER THAN THE RENS? 1374 00:58:01,679 --> 00:58:03,013 HE REALLY RESENTED THAT. 1375 00:58:03,080 --> 00:58:04,582 THE SECOND THING HE RESENTED 1376 00:58:04,615 --> 00:58:06,651 WAS THE FACT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS 1377 00:58:06,684 --> 00:58:09,520 OVERWHELMINGLY HAD ADOPTED THE RENS 1378 00:58:09,587 --> 00:58:10,788 AS THEIR FAVORITE BASKETBALL TEAM. 1379 00:58:10,855 --> 00:58:12,690 EVEN IN CHICAGO. 1380 00:58:16,961 --> 00:58:20,164 - THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME BOTH BLACK AND WHITE TEAMS 1381 00:58:20,197 --> 00:58:24,535 WOULD COMPETE FOR THE TITLE WORLD'S BEST BASKETBALL TEAM. 1382 00:58:24,635 --> 00:58:27,037 THE RENS DIDN'T HAVE TO PLAY THE OPENING ROUND, 1383 00:58:27,104 --> 00:58:29,807 WHICH MEANT THE GLOBETROTTERS WOULD HAVE TO WIN TWO GAMES 1384 00:58:29,874 --> 00:58:32,677 ON SUNDAY FOR THEIR ONE SHOT AT THE RENS. 1385 00:58:32,710 --> 00:58:35,045 SOMETIMES A GAME IS JUST A GAME. 1386 00:58:35,112 --> 00:58:37,948 BUT SOMETIMES, SUCH AS THIS TIME, 1387 00:58:38,015 --> 00:58:40,184 IT WAS SO MUCH MORE. 1388 00:58:40,217 --> 00:58:42,553 - THERE WAS A BUZZ 1389 00:58:42,620 --> 00:58:44,221 ABOUT THE PLAYERS WHO WERE ON THE RENS, 1390 00:58:44,288 --> 00:58:46,190 AND THEY KNEW THERE WAS AN EMERGING TEAM 1391 00:58:46,223 --> 00:58:48,626 CALLED THE GLOBETROTTERS THAT PEOPLE HAD TAKEN FOR GRANTED 1392 00:58:48,693 --> 00:58:50,360 AS BEING JUST ENTERTAINERS, CLOWNS. 1393 00:58:50,394 --> 00:58:53,698 THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS DISCUSSION GOING ON, 1394 00:58:53,731 --> 00:58:55,232 THERE WAS MONEY ON THE TABLE, 1395 00:58:55,232 --> 00:58:56,300 SIDE BETS LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, 1396 00:58:56,366 --> 00:58:59,036 HAPPENING AROUND CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1397 00:58:59,069 --> 00:59:01,138 ABOUT THESE TWO TEAMS. 1398 00:59:01,205 --> 00:59:04,141 MOST THOUGHT, FRANKLY, 1399 00:59:04,174 --> 00:59:06,844 THAT THE RENS WERE HEAD AND SHOULDER BETTER. 1400 00:59:06,911 --> 00:59:09,046 AND I THINK ABE AND HIS PLAYERS 1401 00:59:09,079 --> 00:59:11,381 PROBABLY THOUGHT 1402 00:59:11,415 --> 00:59:13,317 THE WORLD WAS WRONG, 1403 00:59:13,350 --> 00:59:14,919 THAT THEY COULD BEAT THE RENS EASILY. 1404 00:59:14,985 --> 00:59:17,021 THE WORLD KNEW AT THAT MOMENT THEY WERE SEEING 1405 00:59:17,087 --> 00:59:19,156 THE TWO BEST BASKETBALL TEAMS IN THE WORLD COMPETE. 1406 00:59:19,189 --> 00:59:22,026 - AMERICA'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS GATHER IN CHICAGO TO PRY THE LID 1407 00:59:22,092 --> 00:59:23,728 OFF THE FIRST WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP 1408 00:59:23,761 --> 00:59:24,762 FOR PROFESSIONAL TOSSERS. 1409 00:59:24,762 --> 00:59:26,263 - IT WAS THE BIGGEST ARENA 1410 00:59:26,330 --> 00:59:28,265 THE GAME OF BASKETBALL HAD EVER SEEN. 1411 00:59:28,332 --> 00:59:32,002 8,000 FANS CROWDED THE STADIUM. 1412 00:59:32,036 --> 00:59:35,740 FINALLY, AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF PUBLICLY TAUNTING EACH OTHER, 1413 00:59:35,773 --> 00:59:38,943 THE RENS AND GLOBETROTTERS WERE FACE-TO-FACE. 1414 00:59:39,009 --> 00:59:41,779 - IT WAS A THRILLING GAME TO SEE 1415 00:59:41,846 --> 00:59:46,250 TWO BLACK TEAMS PLAYING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, 1416 00:59:46,283 --> 00:59:49,019 BOTH OF THEM, IN OUR OPINION, 1417 00:59:49,086 --> 00:59:52,389 IN OUR TEENAGE OPINION, BEING CAPABLE 1418 00:59:52,422 --> 00:59:54,258 OF BEATING ANY OTHER TEAM. 1419 00:59:54,291 --> 00:59:56,426 - EVERYBODY SEEMS TO THINK THAT THEY WERE PUT 1420 00:59:56,460 --> 00:59:57,795 IN THE SAME BRACKET SO THERE COULDN'T BE 1421 00:59:57,795 --> 00:59:59,363 TWO BLACK TEAMS IN THE FINALS. 1422 00:59:59,429 --> 01:00:01,131 - SO THEY HAD TO EARN THAT-- 1423 01:00:01,198 --> 01:00:02,800 THAT KIND OF LIKE COMING TOGETHER, RIGHT? 1424 01:00:02,867 --> 01:00:04,869 - RIGHT. AND THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT 1425 01:00:04,935 --> 01:00:06,236 WHICH WAS THE BEST BLACK TEAM. 1426 01:00:06,270 --> 01:00:07,805 - WOW. 1427 01:00:07,872 --> 01:00:09,640 - THAT WAS GONNA GET A CHANCE 1428 01:00:09,707 --> 01:00:11,208 TO GO AGAINST THE BEST WHITE TEAM. 1429 01:00:11,241 --> 01:00:13,944 - AND I CAN SEE FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE 1430 01:00:13,978 --> 01:00:15,946 SITTING AROUND THE TABLE SAYING, "WE GOT TO MAKE SURE 1431 01:00:15,980 --> 01:00:18,382 THE FINALS DOES NOT END UP WITH TWO BLACK TEAMS." 1432 01:00:18,448 --> 01:00:20,951 - NOW I THINK WHITE AMERICANS 1433 01:00:20,985 --> 01:00:23,821 ACKNOWLEDGE THE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS 1434 01:00:23,821 --> 01:00:25,923 THAT BLACK ATHLETES HAVE PLAYED IN SPORTS. 1435 01:00:25,990 --> 01:00:28,826 WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR INCREDIBLE SKILLS. 1436 01:00:28,826 --> 01:00:30,294 BACK IN THE '30s AND '40s, 1437 01:00:30,327 --> 01:00:32,129 WE WEREN'T ACKNOWLEDGING ANYTHING. 1438 01:00:32,162 --> 01:00:34,298 WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP US AS THE BEST IN EVERYTHING, 1439 01:00:34,331 --> 01:00:35,766 MEANING PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME. 1440 01:00:35,833 --> 01:00:37,267 [whistle blows] 1441 01:00:37,301 --> 01:00:39,804 - THE REF CALLED THE TEAMS TO CENTER COURT. 1442 01:00:39,837 --> 01:00:41,305 THE BALL WENT UP, 1443 01:00:41,338 --> 01:00:43,841 AND EVERYONE SCRAMBLED. 1444 01:00:43,908 --> 01:00:45,743 - FIRST THREE QUARTERS, 1445 01:00:45,776 --> 01:00:47,277 THE 'TROTTERS COULDN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT. 1446 01:00:47,344 --> 01:00:51,816 THE RENS GO OFF TO AN 11-2 POINT LEAD. 1447 01:00:51,849 --> 01:00:54,151 SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NINE POINTS AHEAD 1448 01:00:54,184 --> 01:00:56,353 WHEN THERE'S NO LIMIT ON HOW LONG 1449 01:00:56,420 --> 01:00:57,855 YOU CAN HOLD THE BALL AND NO SHOT CLOCK. 1450 01:00:57,922 --> 01:00:59,456 IT'S ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE. 1451 01:00:59,523 --> 01:01:01,358 ALL OF A SUDDEN, IN THE LAST QUARTER, 1452 01:01:01,358 --> 01:01:03,928 THINGS START TO CHANGE. 1453 01:01:03,994 --> 01:01:05,996 THE GLOBETROTTERS START HITTING SOME SHOTS. 1454 01:01:06,030 --> 01:01:07,965 AND THE RENS' LEAD SHRINKS, 1455 01:01:08,032 --> 01:01:09,366 SHRINKS. 1456 01:01:09,366 --> 01:01:10,968 IT'S DOWN TO FOUR POINTS. 1457 01:01:11,035 --> 01:01:12,703 IT'S DOWN TO TWO POINTS, 1458 01:01:12,770 --> 01:01:14,705 BUT IT'S UNDER TWO MINUTES TO PLAY. 1459 01:01:14,772 --> 01:01:16,807 THE RENS ARE HOLDING ONTO THE BALL. 1460 01:01:16,874 --> 01:01:18,508 AND THEY'RE JUST PLAYING KEEP-AWAY. 1461 01:01:18,542 --> 01:01:20,044 THEY GOT FOUR GUYS IN THE CORNERS, 1462 01:01:20,044 --> 01:01:21,712 TARZAN COOPER IN THE CENTER. 1463 01:01:21,812 --> 01:01:23,848 EVENTUALLY, THE GUY GUARDING 1464 01:01:23,881 --> 01:01:25,315 TARZAN COOPER, WHO IS THE CENTER, 1465 01:01:25,382 --> 01:01:28,218 GETS BETWEEN HIM AND THE BALL. 1466 01:01:28,218 --> 01:01:29,987 THERE'S NOBODY, AT THAT POINT, 1467 01:01:30,054 --> 01:01:31,989 BETWEEN TARZAN AND THE BASKET. 1468 01:01:32,022 --> 01:01:33,824 AND THE GUY'S PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON 1469 01:01:33,858 --> 01:01:36,026 WITH THE BALL AND NOT KEEPING AN EYE ON TARZAN COOPER. 1470 01:01:36,060 --> 01:01:38,162 TARZAN COOPER RECOGNIZES THIS, 1471 01:01:38,228 --> 01:01:39,830 HIS TEAMMATE SEES HIM, FEEDS HIM A PASS, 1472 01:01:39,864 --> 01:01:41,331 HE'S UNDER THE BASKET ALL ALONE, 1473 01:01:41,365 --> 01:01:43,033 HITS THE LAY-UP, 1474 01:01:43,067 --> 01:01:44,401 THE RENS ARE AHEAD BY FOUR POINTS, 1475 01:01:44,501 --> 01:01:46,203 THERE'S LESS THAN 20 SECONDS TO GO. 1476 01:01:46,236 --> 01:01:49,406 IT'S A WRAP. GAME'S OVER. 1477 01:01:49,506 --> 01:01:51,742 - IF YOU COULD GO 30,000 FEET UP 1478 01:01:51,809 --> 01:01:54,244 AND LOOK AT THE WORLD AS IT EVOLVES, 1479 01:01:54,311 --> 01:01:56,180 THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE EVOLUTION 1480 01:01:56,246 --> 01:02:00,350 OF A MAJOR, MAJOR CULTURAL IMPACT, THE GAME OF BASKETBALL. 1481 01:02:00,384 --> 01:02:02,753 TO THINK THAT TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEAMS 1482 01:02:02,820 --> 01:02:04,521 WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT EVOLUTION 1483 01:02:04,588 --> 01:02:06,256 TAKING PLACE. 1484 01:02:06,323 --> 01:02:08,926 NOW, NO OTHER ATHLETE CAN SAY 1485 01:02:08,993 --> 01:02:11,228 THAT THEY STARTED THAT KIND OF CULTURAL 1486 01:02:11,261 --> 01:02:13,864 AND ECONOMIC REVOLUTION ON THE FRONT END. 1487 01:02:13,931 --> 01:02:15,565 AND THOSE TWO TEAMS REALLY, 1488 01:02:15,599 --> 01:02:17,101 BECAUSE OF WHERE BASKETBALL IS TODAY, 1489 01:02:17,101 --> 01:02:18,335 WERE ON THE FRONT END OF THAT. 1490 01:02:18,402 --> 01:02:19,904 THEY CHANGED THE GAME. 1491 01:02:19,937 --> 01:02:21,538 THEY CHANGED HOW THE WORLD SAW THE GAME. 1492 01:02:21,605 --> 01:02:23,841 THEY MADE IT A GAME FOR THE MASSES. 1493 01:02:23,874 --> 01:02:27,044 - BUT THERE WAS STILL ONE GAME TO GO. 1494 01:02:27,077 --> 01:02:30,080 ON MARCH 28, 1939, 1495 01:02:30,114 --> 01:02:32,783 A GROUP OF YOUNG BLACK MEN FROM HARLEM 1496 01:02:32,883 --> 01:02:35,052 STOOD ON THE POLISHED WOODEN FLOOR 1497 01:02:35,119 --> 01:02:37,287 FACING A GROUP OF YOUNG WHITE MEN 1498 01:02:37,287 --> 01:02:39,957 IN THE FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF THE FIRST-EVER 1499 01:02:40,057 --> 01:02:42,192 WORLD PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. 1500 01:02:42,226 --> 01:02:44,895 - OH, THE ATMOSPHERE WAS UNBELIEVABLE. 1501 01:02:44,929 --> 01:02:48,899 20,000 PEOPLE THERE IN THE STANDS. 1502 01:02:48,933 --> 01:02:53,237 IT WAS BUILT UP TO A BIG CRESCENDO. 1503 01:02:53,270 --> 01:02:56,606 THE OFFICIALS WERE TWO TOP-NOTCH OFFICIALS. 1504 01:02:56,640 --> 01:02:59,409 AT THAT TIME, IT WAS TWO OFFICIALS. 1505 01:02:59,443 --> 01:03:01,578 AND YOU KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE A FANTASTIC GAME. 1506 01:03:01,611 --> 01:03:03,613 - OSHKOSH ALL-STARS PLAYED AGAINST THE NEW YORK RENS 1507 01:03:03,647 --> 01:03:06,383 33 TIMES, AND 17 OF THOSE TIMES 1508 01:03:06,416 --> 01:03:08,318 ALL-STARS WON. 1509 01:03:08,385 --> 01:03:11,956 SO IN THE MINDS OF EVERY PLAYER ON THE RENS, 1510 01:03:11,989 --> 01:03:14,124 THAT WAS PROBABLY THE TOP TEAM TO BEAT. 1511 01:03:14,158 --> 01:03:16,927 AND THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT 1512 01:03:16,994 --> 01:03:21,165 FOR OSHKOSH THAT THE RENS WERE EQUALLY AS COMPETITIVE 1513 01:03:21,231 --> 01:03:23,067 AND A CHALLENGING TEAM TO PLAY. 1514 01:03:23,133 --> 01:03:25,302 - IN '37, THE RENS HAD BEEN REJECTED 1515 01:03:25,335 --> 01:03:27,137 BY THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE. 1516 01:03:27,171 --> 01:03:31,241 BOB DOUGLAS'S TEAM HAD BEEN DENIED FOR 16 LONG YEARS. 1517 01:03:31,275 --> 01:03:33,443 DOUGLAS SAID, "IF WE LOSE NOW, 1518 01:03:33,477 --> 01:03:37,147 WHO KNOWS WHEN WE WILL EVER GET THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN?" 1519 01:03:37,181 --> 01:03:39,116 - SO THE RENS JUMP OUT TO A LEAD, 1520 01:03:39,183 --> 01:03:41,651 AND THEY JUST KEPT RUNNING THE FAST BREAK. 1521 01:03:41,685 --> 01:03:44,354 THEY HAD BOTH OF THEIR BIG MEN, 1522 01:03:44,354 --> 01:03:47,191 TARZAN COOPER AND WEE WILLIE SMITH, 1523 01:03:47,291 --> 01:03:49,126 THEY FOULED OUT OF THE GAME. - MM. 1524 01:03:49,159 --> 01:03:51,996 - BUT THEY HAD SO MUCH SPEED ON THE COURT 1525 01:03:52,029 --> 01:03:54,164 AND THEIR PASSING GAME WAS SO EFFECTIVE 1526 01:03:54,198 --> 01:03:56,266 THAT OSHKOSH REALLY COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THEM. 1527 01:03:56,300 --> 01:03:58,302 - OSHKOSH, WE PLAYED THEM OFTEN ENOUGH, 1528 01:03:58,368 --> 01:04:00,437 BUT THEY WERE ALSO BIG, 1529 01:04:00,470 --> 01:04:01,939 BUT THEY COULDN'T JUMP WITH US, 1530 01:04:01,972 --> 01:04:03,473 AND THAT WAS THE UNFORTUNATE PART ABOUT IT. 1531 01:04:03,540 --> 01:04:05,475 AND THEY COULDN'T PASS WITH US. 1532 01:04:05,509 --> 01:04:07,177 BUT THEY WOULD ROLL YOU OVER 1533 01:04:07,211 --> 01:04:09,213 IF YOU GOT IN THEIR WAY, YOU KNOW. 1534 01:04:09,279 --> 01:04:11,348 SO WE MADE SURE THAT WE'D PASS AND GO THROUGH 1535 01:04:11,381 --> 01:04:12,883 OR PASS AND GO AWAY, 1536 01:04:12,950 --> 01:04:15,319 AND THEN KEEP THE BALL OFF THE FLOOR 1537 01:04:15,385 --> 01:04:18,055 BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULDN'T... 1538 01:04:18,055 --> 01:04:19,523 AND EVERYBODY'D BE ON THE FLY PATTERN, 1539 01:04:19,556 --> 01:04:21,491 AND BASICALLY THAT WAS IT. 1540 01:04:21,558 --> 01:04:24,962 - THE RENS ARE THE WONDER TEAM ON [indistinct] HARDWOODS. 1541 01:04:24,995 --> 01:04:27,364 THE CLUB THAT GOT ITS NAME BY ACCIDENT 16 YEARS AGO 1542 01:04:27,397 --> 01:04:30,634 NOW RANKS AS BEST IN U.S. BASKETBALL. 1543 01:04:30,700 --> 01:04:33,670 - AT THAT POINT, WHEN THE RENS WIN 1544 01:04:33,703 --> 01:04:36,173 THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF BASKETBALL 1545 01:04:36,206 --> 01:04:38,642 THAT IS OPEN TO ALL TEAMS... - RIGHT. 1546 01:04:38,675 --> 01:04:41,678 - THE WHITE PRESS DECIDES THAT THEY'RE GONNA IGNORE THAT. 1547 01:04:41,711 --> 01:04:43,580 THEY'RE GONNA ACT LIKE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. 1548 01:04:43,647 --> 01:04:45,315 - WOW. 1549 01:04:45,349 --> 01:04:47,417 SO, WHAT, IT WAS A SMALL FOOTNOTE IN THE BACK 1550 01:04:47,484 --> 01:04:48,685 OF THE SPORTS PAGES? 1551 01:04:48,752 --> 01:04:51,021 - IF IT GOT ON THERE AT ALL. 1552 01:04:51,055 --> 01:04:52,556 BUT IN BLACK AMERICA, 1553 01:04:52,589 --> 01:04:54,491 BLACK AMERICANS UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAD HAPPENED. 1554 01:04:54,524 --> 01:04:56,526 - AS HISTORY HAS BEEN WRITTEN AND REWRITTEN 1555 01:04:56,593 --> 01:04:58,662 BY PEOPLE OTHER THAN AFRICAN-AMERICANS, 1556 01:04:58,695 --> 01:05:02,366 I THINK THAT YOU DON'T GET A SENSE OF THE GLORY. 1557 01:05:02,399 --> 01:05:04,501 YOU DON'T GET A SENSE OF THE POWER. 1558 01:05:04,534 --> 01:05:05,702 YOU DON'T GET A SENSE OF THE MAJESTY. 1559 01:05:05,735 --> 01:05:06,937 - 37-23. 1560 01:05:07,004 --> 01:05:09,439 - THAT GAME EXEMPLIFIES, I THINK, 1561 01:05:09,506 --> 01:05:11,441 THE POWER AND THE MAJESTY OF THE RENS. 1562 01:05:11,508 --> 01:05:13,410 IT SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE RENS. 1563 01:05:13,443 --> 01:05:15,112 - THERE WERE RESERVATIONS 1564 01:05:15,179 --> 01:05:17,014 OF WHETHER THE RENS WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY 1565 01:05:17,081 --> 01:05:19,083 AGAINST THE GREAT WHITE BALL PLAYERS. 1566 01:05:19,116 --> 01:05:21,718 THEY WEREN'T DISCIPLINED ENOUGH WHEN THE CHIPS WERE DOWN. 1567 01:05:21,751 --> 01:05:23,720 DID THEY GET A WAKEUP CALL IN 1939 1568 01:05:23,753 --> 01:05:25,956 LIKE THEY'D NEVER HAD BEFORE. 1569 01:05:26,023 --> 01:05:27,224 - IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EQUIVALENT 1570 01:05:27,291 --> 01:05:31,561 OF THE BLACK YANKEES BEATING THE YANKEES 1571 01:05:31,595 --> 01:05:34,398 FOR A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. 1572 01:05:34,431 --> 01:05:36,566 AND IT'S IN '39, OKAY? 1573 01:05:36,600 --> 01:05:40,204 SO IT'S AHEAD 1574 01:05:40,237 --> 01:05:42,739 OF JACKIE ROBINSON BREAKING INTO THE LEAGUE. 1575 01:05:42,772 --> 01:05:45,109 AND IT'S A TEAM AGAINST A TEAM. 1576 01:05:45,142 --> 01:05:51,148 IT'S NOT AN INDIVIDUAL GETTING ON A WHITE TEAM. 1577 01:05:51,215 --> 01:05:52,582 - BLACK AMERICANS KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. 1578 01:05:52,649 --> 01:05:55,752 THEY TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT. 1579 01:05:55,785 --> 01:06:01,458 AND, AT THAT POINT, THAT WAS ANOTHER SERIOUS 1580 01:06:01,491 --> 01:06:07,497 MILESTONE IN BLACK AMERICANS ACHIEVING EQUALITY. 1581 01:06:07,597 --> 01:06:10,234 - IT'S AN ELUSIVE BUTTERFLY. 1582 01:06:10,267 --> 01:06:12,136 EVERYONE THINKS IT'S EASY TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP. 1583 01:06:12,169 --> 01:06:14,138 IT'S NOT. IT TAKES AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT 1584 01:06:14,171 --> 01:06:16,506 OF GOOD FORTUNE, THE RIGHT BALANCE-- 1585 01:06:16,573 --> 01:06:18,442 AND PEOPLE SAY YOU MAKE YOUR OWN BALANCE. 1586 01:06:18,508 --> 01:06:22,512 THAT'S NOT TRUE. IT'S JUST NOT TRUE. 1587 01:06:22,579 --> 01:06:24,414 IT'S A PRIDEFUL THING. 1588 01:06:24,481 --> 01:06:26,616 YOU WANT TO BE A CHAMPION. 1589 01:06:26,650 --> 01:06:28,152 - SMILING BOB DOUGLAS 1590 01:06:28,185 --> 01:06:31,421 ARRANGED A DINNER FOR HIS TEAM. 1591 01:06:31,488 --> 01:06:33,490 - HE GAVE THEM THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP JACKETS. 1592 01:06:33,523 --> 01:06:35,359 THEY DIDN'T HAVE RINGS IN THOSE DAYS. 1593 01:06:35,425 --> 01:06:38,362 AND ON THE JACKET, IT SAID, "WORLD'S COLORED CHAMPIONS." 1594 01:06:38,428 --> 01:06:43,433 'CAUSE BOB DOUGLAS HAD HAD COLORED PUT ON THE JACKETS 1595 01:06:43,500 --> 01:06:45,669 JUST BECAUSE HE WAS STILL DEALING WITH THE OLD FRAME 1596 01:06:45,702 --> 01:06:48,038 OF REFERENCE. - RIGHT. 1597 01:06:48,105 --> 01:06:49,506 - BUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAD HAPPENED. 1598 01:06:49,539 --> 01:06:51,141 YOU KNOW, THEY BEAT THE BEST OF THE BEST. 1599 01:06:51,208 --> 01:06:53,177 THEY BEAT THE BEST OF ALL THE BASKETBALL TEAMS 1600 01:06:53,210 --> 01:06:54,844 IN THE COUNTRY. 1601 01:06:54,878 --> 01:06:56,780 IT WASN'T JUST BLACK TEAMS THAT THEY HAD BEATEN. 1602 01:06:56,813 --> 01:06:59,816 SO THEY ACTUALLY WERE THE WORLD'S CHAMPS. 1603 01:06:59,883 --> 01:07:03,453 - I WENT INTO HIS OFFICE, I SAID, "HI, MR. DOUGLAS. 1604 01:07:03,487 --> 01:07:05,722 MAY I BORROW A RAZORBLADE?" 1605 01:07:05,789 --> 01:07:08,792 AND EVERY THREAD THAT SAID COLORED, 1606 01:07:08,825 --> 01:07:11,528 I CUT IT, TOOK THE COLORED OFF, 1607 01:07:11,561 --> 01:07:13,130 AND THREW IT ON THE FLOOR. 1608 01:07:13,197 --> 01:07:14,664 "IT SAYS WORLD CHAMPION," I SAID, 1609 01:07:14,698 --> 01:07:16,633 "BECAUSE THIS IS WHO WE ARE. 1610 01:07:16,666 --> 01:07:19,569 "AND IT CAN'T BE ANY WORLD COLORED CHAMPION 1611 01:07:19,636 --> 01:07:21,238 BLAH BLAH BLAH." 1612 01:07:21,305 --> 01:07:22,706 I SAID, "NO, NO, NO. WE CUT IT OFF." 1613 01:07:22,739 --> 01:07:23,807 EVERYBODY LOOKED AT ME AND SAID... 1614 01:07:23,873 --> 01:07:25,542 EVEN DOUGLAS CAME OUT. 1615 01:07:25,575 --> 01:07:26,743 HE SAID, "YOU RUINED THE JACKET." 1616 01:07:26,743 --> 01:07:28,145 I SAID, "NO, I MADE IT REAL." 1617 01:07:28,212 --> 01:07:30,880 - I JUST THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WAY 1618 01:07:30,914 --> 01:07:33,417 OF SAYING, "I'M A CHAMPION... 1619 01:07:33,483 --> 01:07:36,153 "NO MATTER WHAT. NO MATTER THE COLOR OF MY SKIN. 1620 01:07:36,220 --> 01:07:37,687 "I PERFORMED. I DID THE JOB. 1621 01:07:37,721 --> 01:07:39,723 I DID THE DUTY." 1622 01:07:39,756 --> 01:07:41,691 AND I THINK IT WAS A STRONG STATEMENT 1623 01:07:41,725 --> 01:07:44,428 DURING A TIME WHERE WE HAD COLORED FOUNTAINS 1624 01:07:44,494 --> 01:07:46,163 AND WHITE FOUNTAINS. 1625 01:07:46,230 --> 01:07:47,731 IT WAS ALMOST COMPATIBLE 1626 01:07:47,764 --> 01:07:49,599 TO THE JANE PITTMAN STORY 1627 01:07:49,666 --> 01:07:51,601 WHEN SHE HAD TO DRINK 1628 01:07:51,668 --> 01:07:52,702 FROM THE WHITE FOUNTAIN. 1629 01:07:52,769 --> 01:07:54,438 THERE WAS NO COLOR. 1630 01:07:54,438 --> 01:07:56,240 IT WAS JUST WATER COMING OUT OF THERE. 1631 01:07:56,273 --> 01:08:00,410 [cheers and applause] 1632 01:08:00,444 --> 01:08:02,846 - IT IS IN SOME WAYS URGENT 1633 01:08:02,912 --> 01:08:06,116 FOR NBA PLAYERS TO UNDERSTAND 1634 01:08:06,183 --> 01:08:08,718 HOW THE GAME HAS DEVELOPED AND HOW THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM 1635 01:08:08,785 --> 01:08:11,588 HAVE DEVELOPED. 1636 01:08:11,621 --> 01:08:15,459 - WE WERE THE STRONGEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. 1637 01:08:15,525 --> 01:08:18,428 - TO COME AS FAR AS IT HAS COME 1638 01:08:18,462 --> 01:08:21,298 IS ACTUALLY A TRIBUTE AND A TESTAMENT 1639 01:08:21,365 --> 01:08:23,600 TO THE GAME OF BASKETBALL, THE SPORT OF BASKETBALL. 1640 01:08:23,633 --> 01:08:26,770 - OUR BLACK ATHLETES, YEARS AGO, 1641 01:08:26,803 --> 01:08:28,472 THEY NEVER GOT THE CREDIT THEY DESERVED, 1642 01:08:28,538 --> 01:08:30,140 NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY. 1643 01:08:30,207 --> 01:08:32,442 AND I'M SURE THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL 1644 01:08:32,476 --> 01:08:35,645 COULD BE REVISED 1645 01:08:35,712 --> 01:08:37,881 IF SOME OF THOSE YOUNG MEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY 1646 01:08:37,947 --> 01:08:40,150 TO PLAY AT THE LEVEL THAT THE PLAYERS PLAY TODAY. 1647 01:08:41,951 --> 01:08:43,787 - THE MORE ATHLETES UNDERSTOOD 1648 01:08:43,820 --> 01:08:45,755 THE STORIES OF THE RENS, 1649 01:08:45,789 --> 01:08:48,758 THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT CREATED 1650 01:08:48,792 --> 01:08:50,660 THE PATH THAT THEY'RE ON, 1651 01:08:50,727 --> 01:08:52,929 IT WOULD MAKE THEM, "A", MORE RESPONSIBLE 1652 01:08:52,996 --> 01:08:54,598 AND CONSCIENTIOUS, 1653 01:08:54,631 --> 01:08:55,732 BECAUSE THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND 1654 01:08:55,765 --> 01:08:57,767 WHAT WAS INVESTED IN THEM, 1655 01:08:57,801 --> 01:08:59,236 AND IT WOULD MAKE THEM 1656 01:08:59,269 --> 01:09:02,272 ALSO NOT COWER SO EASILY TO CHALLENGES. 1657 01:09:02,306 --> 01:09:04,808 - THE RENS ARE KIND OF LOST TO HISTORY, 1658 01:09:04,841 --> 01:09:06,176 UNLESS YOU READ ABOUT IT. 1659 01:09:06,276 --> 01:09:07,477 AND WE'RE IN A CULTURE 1660 01:09:07,511 --> 01:09:09,413 WHERE PEOPLE READ LESS AND LESS. 1661 01:09:09,479 --> 01:09:12,349 IF IT ISN'T ON THE TUBE, THEN IT'S LARGELY FORGOTTEN. 1662 01:09:12,416 --> 01:09:14,351 - WE'RE ALL VERY FORTUNATE 1663 01:09:14,418 --> 01:09:16,620 AND BLESSED TO PLAY THIS GAME 1664 01:09:16,686 --> 01:09:19,189 AND TO LIVE THE KIND OF LIFESTYLE 1665 01:09:19,256 --> 01:09:21,858 AND HAVE THE KIND OF SECURITY FINANCIALLY THAT WE HAVE. 1666 01:09:21,925 --> 01:09:23,527 THE HARLEM RENS, WHO DID NOT HAVE THAT 1667 01:09:23,593 --> 01:09:25,695 AND WHO SORT OF PAVED THE WAY... 1668 01:09:25,762 --> 01:09:27,464 AND I THINK WITH THE WAY 1669 01:09:27,531 --> 01:09:29,366 THEY WERE ABLE TO PLAY, THE INNOVATION 1670 01:09:29,433 --> 01:09:30,700 THAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, 1671 01:09:30,767 --> 01:09:32,302 THE PROFESSIONALISM, 1672 01:09:32,369 --> 01:09:33,837 I THINK HELPED OPEN DOORS. 1673 01:09:36,306 --> 01:09:38,208 - THE RENS DIDN'T FARE MUCH BETTER 1674 01:09:38,275 --> 01:09:39,476 THAN THE RENAISSANCE CASINO. 1675 01:09:39,543 --> 01:09:41,678 WHILE THE GLOBETROTTERS WENT ON 1676 01:09:41,711 --> 01:09:43,680 TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TEAMS 1677 01:09:43,713 --> 01:09:47,384 IN THE WORLD TODAY, THE RENS FADED FROM VIEW. 1678 01:09:49,553 --> 01:09:54,023 WEE WILLIE SMITH BECAME A SCHOOL JANITOR. 1679 01:09:54,057 --> 01:09:56,460 TARZAN COOPER, WHO HAD SUNK THE WINNING SHOT, 1680 01:09:56,493 --> 01:09:59,863 TOOK UP HOUSE PAINTING AS HIS ONLY MEANS TO EARN A LIVING. 1681 01:09:59,896 --> 01:10:02,732 ROBERT "SMILING BOB" DOUGLAS, 1682 01:10:02,799 --> 01:10:04,401 WHO DIED IN 1979, 1683 01:10:04,468 --> 01:10:07,471 WAS INDUCTED INTO THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME 1684 01:10:07,537 --> 01:10:09,406 IN 1972. 1685 01:10:09,473 --> 01:10:11,541 HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK INDIVIDUAL 1686 01:10:11,575 --> 01:10:13,543 TO BE INDUCTED. 1687 01:10:13,577 --> 01:10:15,845 - MY DAD AND BOBBY DOUGLAS WENT 1688 01:10:15,912 --> 01:10:18,382 TO THE PREDECESSOR OF THE NBA 1689 01:10:18,415 --> 01:10:20,684 TO TRY AND GET THE RENS ADMITTED AS A TEAM. 1690 01:10:20,717 --> 01:10:23,353 AND THEY MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS 1691 01:10:23,387 --> 01:10:25,522 OF--I THINK IT WAS CALLED THE B.A.A. 1692 01:10:25,555 --> 01:10:27,524 AND THEY WERE PRETTY SURE 1693 01:10:27,557 --> 01:10:30,394 THAT THEY HAD A GOOD SHOT AT GETTING THE RENS IN. 1694 01:10:30,427 --> 01:10:33,397 NED IRISH WAS THE OWNER OF THE KNICKS AT THE TIME, 1695 01:10:33,430 --> 01:10:34,564 AND HE CAME BACK OUT 1696 01:10:34,598 --> 01:10:36,400 AND TOLD MY FATHER AND BOBBY 1697 01:10:36,433 --> 01:10:38,902 THAT THEY DECIDED NOT TO ADMIT THE RENS. 1698 01:10:38,935 --> 01:10:40,737 AND MY DAD TOLD BOBBY DOUGLAS 1699 01:10:40,770 --> 01:10:43,273 THAT HE WAS GONNA RESIGN AS THE COACH OF THE KNICKS, 1700 01:10:43,340 --> 01:10:44,508 THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN A LEAGUE 1701 01:10:44,574 --> 01:10:46,843 THAT WOULD MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS. 1702 01:10:46,876 --> 01:10:49,779 AND BOBBY DOUGLAS INSISTED THAT, "YOU NEED TO STAY THERE, JOE. 1703 01:10:49,846 --> 01:10:51,348 "SOMEDAY YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY 1704 01:10:51,415 --> 01:10:53,450 TO DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN THIS LEAGUE." 1705 01:10:53,517 --> 01:10:54,884 AND OF COURSE HE DID STAY 1706 01:10:54,951 --> 01:10:57,387 AND THREE YEARS LATER SIGNED CLIFTON. 1707 01:10:59,523 --> 01:11:03,026 - SWEETWATER CLIFTON GOING ALL THE WAY. 1708 01:11:03,092 --> 01:11:05,395 - GUYS LIKE SWEETWATER CLIFTON, 1709 01:11:05,429 --> 01:11:07,397 ALL THE OLDER GUYS, WE COULDN'T THANK THEM, 1710 01:11:07,431 --> 01:11:09,466 YOU KNOW, ENOUGH FOR WHAT THEY DID. 1711 01:11:09,533 --> 01:11:11,735 - AND FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, 1712 01:11:11,801 --> 01:11:14,371 JOHN "BOY WONDER" ISAACS 1713 01:11:14,404 --> 01:11:16,806 SPENT HIS LAST 30 YEARS COACHING KIDS' BASKETBALL 1714 01:11:16,873 --> 01:11:20,877 AT THE BOYS and GIRLS CLUB IN THE BRONX. 1715 01:11:20,910 --> 01:11:22,712 - FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T CARE 1716 01:11:22,746 --> 01:11:25,081 HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL YOU ARE-- 1717 01:11:25,114 --> 01:11:28,652 YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE BALL. 1718 01:11:28,718 --> 01:11:31,054 SECONDLY, 1719 01:11:31,120 --> 01:11:33,623 YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE AN ADEQUATE PASSER. 1720 01:11:33,657 --> 01:11:34,958 OH, YES, 1721 01:11:34,991 --> 01:11:37,661 YOU DO HAVE TO PLAY DEFENSE. 1722 01:11:37,727 --> 01:11:40,830 HE WAS NOMINATED FOR INCLUSION INTO THE HALL OF FAME 1723 01:11:40,897 --> 01:11:42,732 BUT NEVER INDUCTED. 1724 01:11:42,766 --> 01:11:47,404 JOHN ISAACS DIED ON JANUARY 26, 2009. 1725 01:11:47,437 --> 01:11:49,406 HE NEVER SAW THE COVETED INDUCTION 1726 01:11:49,439 --> 01:11:52,442 OR THIS DOCUMENTARY HONORING THE RENS. 1727 01:11:52,476 --> 01:11:55,512 - WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED, 1728 01:11:55,579 --> 01:11:57,681 THE FACT THAT, AT THE END, 1729 01:11:57,747 --> 01:12:00,784 THEY WIN 2,318 GAMES 1730 01:12:00,850 --> 01:12:03,953 AND THEY ONLY LOSE 381... 1731 01:12:03,987 --> 01:12:05,855 - THEY WERE DESTINED TO BE GREAT ATHLETES, 1732 01:12:05,922 --> 01:12:07,691 AND GREAT BALL PLAYERS IS WHAT THEY WERE. 1733 01:12:07,757 --> 01:12:10,093 THE FACT THAT THEY GOT MONEY MADE IT REALLY NICE. 1734 01:12:10,159 --> 01:12:12,996 IT BECAME AN ASPIRATION FOR OTHERS. 1735 01:12:13,029 --> 01:12:16,466 BUT THE ORIGINAL GUYS WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR NOTHING. 1736 01:12:16,500 --> 01:12:17,967 IT WAS ABOUT THE GAME. 1737 01:12:18,001 --> 01:12:19,703 THEY REALLY LOVED THE GAME. 1738 01:12:26,610 --> 01:12:29,379 Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com 1739 01:12:41,658 --> 01:12:44,628 [jazz music] 1740 01:12:44,661 --> 01:12:52,469 * 1741 01:13:00,243 --> 01:13:01,911 - * PEOPLE GATHER AROUND 1742 01:13:01,978 --> 01:13:04,147 * WE'LL BE STOMPING INTO YOUR TOWN * 1743 01:13:04,213 --> 01:13:05,715 * ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS * 1744 01:13:05,749 --> 01:13:09,018 [continues singing] 1745 01:13:09,052 --> 01:13:11,521 - * OH YEAH 1746 01:13:11,555 --> 01:13:15,592 * 1747 01:13:15,659 --> 01:13:18,428 [scatting] 1748 01:13:18,495 --> 01:13:20,530 * WE'RE STOMP STOMP STOMPING * 1749 01:13:20,597 --> 01:13:22,499 * STOMPING IN YOUR TOWN, TOWN * 1750 01:13:22,532 --> 01:13:23,867 * PEOPLE JUST GATHER AROUND * 1751 01:13:23,933 --> 01:13:25,669 * ROUND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS * 1752 01:13:25,702 --> 01:13:27,871 * AND WE GOTTA ALLOW HERBIE HANCOCK PLAYING * 1753 01:13:27,904 --> 01:13:30,874 [jazzy music] 1754 01:13:30,907 --> 01:13:38,915 * 1755 01:13:43,620 --> 01:13:46,089 [scatting] 1756 01:13:46,122 --> 01:13:47,957 - * YEAH 1757 01:13:47,957 --> 01:13:50,226 - * JAZZ, HIP-HOP, BE-BOP RHYTHM AND BLUES * 1758 01:13:50,293 --> 01:13:52,529 * OOZES ON HIS HORN SO EFFORTLESS * 1759 01:13:52,562 --> 01:13:54,898 * WITH NO EFFORT, IT'S QUITE SIMPLE * 1760 01:13:54,931 --> 01:13:57,534 * ANY TUNE OR RHYTHM, THIS GIFT WAS GIVEN * 1761 01:13:57,567 --> 01:13:59,736 * HANDED DOWN FROM HARMONIOUS MONKS * 1762 01:13:59,769 --> 01:14:02,071 * MILES AND CHARLIE, THELONIOUS MONK * 1763 01:14:02,105 --> 01:14:03,973 * COLTRANE WILL MAKE YOU DIZZY * 1764 01:14:04,040 --> 01:14:05,709 * THE LIPS OF LOUIS AND BILLIE * 1765 01:14:05,775 --> 01:14:07,811 * MAKE A HOLIDAY FOR MISSISSIPPI * 1766 01:14:07,877 --> 01:14:10,547 * NEW ORLEANS, LET'S CELEBRATE THE CITY * 1767 01:14:10,614 --> 01:14:12,949 * TOAST TO THE GREAT SIMONE AND BLAKEY * 1768 01:14:12,982 --> 01:14:15,652 * JONES FOR THE JUKE JOINT WORDS ABOUT OUR TECHNIQUE * 1769 01:14:15,719 --> 01:14:17,587 * TAKIN' OFF LIKE NOW 1770 01:14:17,654 --> 01:14:19,623 * 1771 01:14:19,656 --> 01:14:21,825 YOU KNOW THAT SONG. - I KNOW THAT SONG. 1772 01:14:21,825 --> 01:14:23,727 - YOU KNOW THAT SONG. 1773 01:14:23,793 --> 01:14:26,763 [scatting] 1774 01:14:26,796 --> 01:14:34,771 * 1775 01:14:34,804 --> 01:14:36,606 - * YEAH...AH 1776 01:14:36,640 --> 01:14:44,614 * 1777 01:14:55,091 --> 01:14:57,627 * YEAH 1778 01:14:57,694 --> 01:14:59,963 * YEAH 1779 01:14:59,996 --> 01:15:01,998 * YEAH 1780 01:15:02,031 --> 01:15:03,967 * WILL.I.AM IN THE HOUSE 1781 01:15:04,033 --> 01:15:08,772 * YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH - [scatting] 1782 01:15:08,805 --> 01:15:12,275 [scatting] - * YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH 1783 01:15:12,275 --> 01:15:14,611 - [scatting] - * YEAH