>>> AN HOUR SOUTHWEST OF LAS
VEGAS IN THE GUTS OF THE MOE
MARIE SITS THE ONLY ACTIVE RARE
EARTH MINE IN THE U.S. THE ONLY
BATTLEFIELD IN OUR TRADE WAR
WITH CHINA.
WHEN BEIJING CHOKED OFF
SUPPLIES LAST YEAR.
JAMES AND HIS COMPANY GOT THE
CALL.
>> WE GOT CALLED INTO THE
PENTAGON AND-CLEAR THAT THERE
WAS A DIRECTIVE FROM THE
PRESIDENT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>>> ON ANCIENT YESTERDAY IN
LONDON, A VERY MODERN BATTLE IS
BREWING.
>> IF WE DO A LEFT HERE.
>> BLACK CABS WILL SOON BE
COMPETING WITH ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE POWERED AUTONOMOUS
TAXIS BUT LONDON’S CABBIES
AREN’T ABOUT TO HAND OVER THEIR
KEYS.
YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS BETTER THAN
WHAT A GOOGLE MAP WILL TELL YOU
TO GO.
>> DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH.
SERIOUSLY YOU KNOW.
IT’S LIKE COMPARING A HOT DOG
VENDOR TO GORDON RAMSAY.
>>> IT LOOKS LIKE BASEBALL.
>> TAKES OFF FOR SECOND.
>> AND FEELS LIKE BASEBALL.
>> NOT IN TIME.
>> BUT THEN -- THERE’S THIS.
AN UMPIRE FEELING THE MUSIC?
A BATTER ON NO, STILTS?
GYMNASTICS IN THE OUTFIELD?
AND ON THE WAY HOME.
LONG TIME BASEBALL WRITER TIM
KURKJIAN CAME TO THE GAME AND
SAID THIS IS THE STUPIDEST
THING I HAVE EVER SEEN.
I LOVED IT.
I’M LESLEY STAHL.
>> I’M JOHN WERTHEIM.
>> I’M ANDERSON COOPER.
>> I’M BILL WHITAKER, THOSE
STORIES TONIGHT ON "60
MINUTES." MINUTES."
>>> IN MAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP
TRAVELED TO BEIJING FOR A
SUMMIT WITH HIS CHINESE
COUNTERPART XI JINPING.
ONE AGENDA ITEM THAT FIGURED
PROMINENTLY, RARER ELEMENTS.
RIGHT NOW, CHINA HOLDS A NEAR
MONOPOLY OVER THESE STRATEGIC
METALS THAT ARE KEY COMPONENTS
IN SO MUCH THAT MAKES THE
MODERN WORLD GO.
SMART PHONES, ROBOTICS, EVs,
ALSO FIGHTER JETS, DRONES AND
RADAR TECHNOLOGY.
THAT IS, CHINA CONTROLS
MATERIALS ESSENTIAL TO
AMERICA’S ABILITY TO WAGE WAR.
BUT TONIGHT, THE STORY OF THE
AMERICAN COMPANY CONFRONTING
THIS ELEMENTAL CRISIS.
IT MINES RARE EARTH ELEMENTS,
PROCESSES THEM, AND MAKES THEM
INTO SUPERPOWERED MAGNETS.
AND AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN
MARCH, IT’S PART OWNED BIASES.
AMERICAN TAXPAYERS IN AN
UNUSUAL DEAL CRAFTED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IN OUR SOUTHWEST OF LAS VEGAS,
IN THE GUTS OF THE DESERT,
MOUNTAIN PASS, CALIFORNIA MIGHT
BE THE ULTIMATE FRONT OF OUR
TRADE WAR WITH CHINA.
THIS MASSIVE CAVITY IN THE
GROUND BEHOLD THE ONLY ACTIVE
RARE EARTH MINE IN THE U.S.
THIS IS AN UNLUKELY
BATTLEGROUND.
ARE WE STEPPING ON RARE EARTHS
AS WE SPEAK?
>> YES.
EVERYONE WHERE YOU LOOK, IT’S
RARE EARTHS.
>> IN MICHAEL ROSENTHAL AND
JAMESLY TIN SKI ARE THE
UNLIKELY MEN IN CHARGE.
TWO FLORIDIANS IN THE SNOW, TWO
FINANCE TYPES SUDDENLY
TRAFFICKING IN MINING AND METAL
YOU ARE JOY.
YOU HAVE NO BACKGROUND IN
GEOLOGY.
AND NOW YOU ARE RUNNING THE
BIGGEST RARE EARTH MINE IN THE
U.S.
>> THIS IS JUST SUCH AN
IMPORTANT SITE AND THE IDEA
THAT THIS ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN
WAS, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE WORLD IN CHINA, IT
JUST OCCURRED TO US THAT
SOMEONE HAD TO HELP FIX THIS
PROBLEM.
>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS
KEENLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF
CHINA’S RARE EARTH DOMINANCE.
FLUSH DOUG BURGUM IS SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR.
>> IF YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE,
HAVE A LAPTOP, IF YOU DRIVE A
CAR, THEN YOU ARE TOUCHING RARE
EARTH MINERALS AND NAG NETS.
IT’S ESSENTIAL TO EVERYDAY LIFE
BUT ALSO ESSENTIAL TO AEROSPACE
AND TELECOM AND DEFENSE
SYSTEMS.
>> YES, DEFENSE SYSTEMS.
ACCORDING TO THE MILITARY, ONE
F-35 FIGHTER JET CONTAINS ABOUT
100 POUNDS OF RARE EARTHS
INCORPORATED INTO ITS VARIOUS
PARTS.
JUST TO BE CLEAR THE U.S.
DEFENSE INDUSTRY IS SUBJECT TO
THE WHIMS OF CHINA AND XI
JINPING FOR -- MILITARY
TECHNOLOGY?
>> WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY PRESIDENT TRUMP
TRADED THE NATIONAL ENERGY
DOMINANCE COUNCIL WITH THE
BROAD SET OF OBJECTIVES.
ONE OF THOSE WAS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAD SECURE SUPPLY
CHAINS FOR CRITICAL AND RARE
EARTH MINERALS.
>> RIGHT NOW WE DON’T HAVE
SECURE SUPPLY CHAINS OF RARE
EARTHS.
BECAUSE CHINA HAS CORNERED THE
MARKET.
>> THEY ALSO WEAPONIZE IT
BECAUSE IF ANYBODY IN THE REST
OF THE FREE WORLD SAID HEY
WE’RE GOING TO START MINING AND
START REFINING, THEY WOULD
TARGET THAT PARTICULAR MINERAL
AND DUMP A QUANTITY ON THE
MARKET AND DRIVE THE PRICE
DOWN.
>> AND COMPANIES INCLUDING U.S.
COMPANIES THAT WERE PROFITABLE
WERE UNPROFITABLE SUDDENLY.
>> BEFORE WE PROCEED LET’S
DISPENSE THE MISNOMER.
RARE EARTHS AREN’T RARE.
HERE’S WHAT’S RARE.
SIGHTS WITH HIGH ENOUGH
CONCENTRATIONS OF RARE EARTHS
AND ACCESSIBLE ENOUGH LOCATIONS
TO MAKE EXTRACTION WORTHWHILE.
IN THEIR PUREST FORM, RARE
EARTHS AREN’T ROCKS.
BUT ELEMENTAL METALS.
DEEP CUTS ON THE PERIODIC TABLE
NUMBERS 57 THROUGH 71 AND TWO
OTHERS FOR THOSE SCORING AT
HOME.
>> SOME AREA.
>> JULIE K LINGER IS A
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN MADISON AND A RARE
EARTHS EXPERT WHO’S VISITED
MINES WORLDWIDE AND WRITTEN
EXTENSIVELY ON THE SUBJECT.
WHAT ARE THEIR QUALITIES.
>> THE THING THAT DISTINGUISHES
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS ARE THEIR
FANTASTIC MAGNETIC CONDUCTIVE
AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES.
SO THEY’RE USED OFTEN THE WAY
YOU MIGHT USE SPICES IN
COOKING.
BECAUSE IF YOU ADD JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF A CERTAIN RARE
EARTH ELEMENT TO SAY TO A
MAGNET, THAT ENABLES THAT
MAGNET TO BE ABLE TO VERY SMALL
AND VERY POWERFUL.
>> GEOLOGISTS FOUND RARE EARTHS
AT MOUNTAIN PASS IN 1949.
BY THE ’60s INDIVIDUAL RARE
EARTHS WERE BEING MINED,
SEPARATED AND UTILIZED NOT
LEAST YOUR OPEN RUM WHICH
ENHANCED THE COLOR RED IN EARLY
IT’S SETS.
>> CBS PRESENTS THIS PROGRAM IN
COLOR.
>> THEN IN 1982, RESEARCHERS
FOUND THAT ANOTHER STRENGTHENS
MAGNETS.
>> THESE SUPERHIGH POWERED
MAGNETS ARE USED IN EVERYTHING
FROM, YOU KNOW, MAKING YOUR
CELL PHONE BUZZ TO THE
NAVIGATION COMPONENTS FOR
DRONES AND SENATOR BOMBS TO
HIGH -- SMART BOMBS TO HIGH
SPEED RAIL AND ELECTRIC
VEHICLES.
>> FOR DECADES, MOUNTAIN PASS
WAS THE WORLD’S RARE EARTH
MINE.
BUT GRADUALLY THEN SUDDENLY,
MINING AND MAGNET MAKING BEGAN
MOVING OFFSHORE.
FAMILIAR STORY.
CHINA COULD DO IT CHEAPER.
THE U.S. DISINVESTED IN RARE
EARTHS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHY?
>> IT’S A DIRTY BUSINESS.
IT’S A RISKY BUSINESS.
IT’S A DIFFICULT BUSINESS TO
REALLY BREAK EVEN.
>> IN THE 1990s, MOUNTAIN PASS
FELL VICTIM TO ECONOMICS AND TO
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS.
AFTER RADIOACTIVE WATER LEAKED
INTO THE DESERT.
THE MINE LANGUISHED FOR A
DECADE.
UNTIL A NEW COMPANY, MOLYCORP
TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO COMPETE
WITH CHINA AND REVIVE THE
BUSINESS.
JAMES LIT TIN SKI WAS RUNNING.
WHEN THEY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY
IN 2015 HE GLIMPSED
OPPORTUNITY..
>> WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING A HEDGE
FUNDS I MADE THE MISTAKE OF
GOING OUT AND LOOKING AT SITE
AND ACTUALLY SEEING IT -- YES,
YES.
AND I WAS -- JUST BLOWN AWAY BY
THE SCALE OF THE ASSETS.
>> THE ASSETS?
THIS MASSIVE OPEN PIT.
THESE CONSENTIC CIRCLES.
A MINE 3,000 FEET ACROSS, 600
FEET DEEP.
WITH ONE OF THE WORLD’S RICHEST
DEPOSITS.
HE TURNED TO MICHAEL ROSENTHAL
THEN WORKING FOR A NEW YORK
HEDGE FUND.
THE TWO WERE CLOSE FRIENDS
GROWING UP AND THEY DECIDED TO
PARTNER.
YOU APPRECIATE THE ABSURDITY OF
THE STORY.
>> FOR SURE.
TWO HEDGE FUND GUYS BUY A MINE.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
>> FOR A WHILE, PLENTY.
IT WAS UNDERWATER IN 2017.
FINANCIALLY AND LITERALLY.
30MILLION GALLONS HAD PUDDED AT
THE BOTTOM.
THERE WERE ONLY EIGHT
EMPLOYEES.
THEY CALLED THEIR NEW COMPANY
MT MATERIALS AND GOT THE MINE
BACK UP AND RUNNING.
BLASTING EARTH, THEN CRUSHING
ROCKS INTO GRAVEL, THEN MILLING
IT INTO FINE POWDER.
HE TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS AS
CEO.
WHILE ROSENTHAL SPENT LONG DAYS
ON SITE BECOMING AN EXPERT ON
RARE EARTH MINING AND REFINING.
HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE THE
DIVISION OF LABOR HERE.
>> I GET DIRTY AND JIM EXPLAINS
WHAT WE’RE DOING.
>> TODAY MOUNTAIN PASS EMPLOYS
MORE THAN 700.
ROSENTHAL MANAGES THE
OPERATION.
I CAN’T GET OVER HOW EXTENSIVE
AND INTENSIVE ALL OF THIS
PROCESS IS ONCE YOU ARE DONE
WITH THE ACTUAL MINING.
>> YEAH.
THE MINING IS REALLY THE
EASIEST PART.
>> THE HARD PART?
SEPARATING THE RARE EARTHS FROM
THE ROCK AND THEN EACH OTHER.
THREE YEARS AGO, MP REACHED A
MILESTONE.
AFTER INVESTING HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, IT WAS
ABLE TO REFINE TWO OF THE
ELEMENTS TO 99.9% PURITY.
THIS IS THE REFINED PRODUCT.
>> THIS IS THE MONEY ROOM.
>> THIS IS IT.
>> EACH BAG WAS WORTH AROUND
$120,000.
THERE WERE 300 BAGS ROUGHLY $36
MILLION IN INVENTORY WHEN WE
VISITED.
SO THIS FINE POWDER WILL END UP
--
>> COULD END UP IN YOUR POCKET.
>> COULD END UP IN THE IPHONE.
>> MP NEEDED ONE LAST LINK TO
BYPASS CHINA AND RECLAIM THE
SUPPLY CHAIN.
MAKING THE FINAL PRODUCT THOSE
HIGH POWERED RARE EARTH
MAGNETS.
SO IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, MP
BUILT THIS FACILITY WHERE PURE
RARE EARTH POWDER GETS MELTED
AND COOLED AND COMPRESSED AND
DICED AND EVENTUALLY TURNED
INTO WELL, THESE.
IN A MATTER OF MONTHS MILLIONS
WILL BE GOING INTO GM CARS INTO
APPLE PRODUCTS START NEXT YEAR.
THEY WERE FULFILLING THEIR
BUSINESS PLAN TAKING RARE
EARTHS FROM MINE TO MAGNETS.
IN THE SPRING OF 2025, IT CAME
FROM A VERTICALLY INTEGRATED
BUSINESS INTO A PIVOTAL PLAYER
IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
>> WE WILL SUPERCHARGE OUR
DOMESTIC INDUSTRIAL BASE.
>> LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT TRUMP
UNVEILED HIS GLOBAL TARIFFS
PLAN.
SO-CALLED LIBERATION DAY.
CHINA RETALIATED TO DEVASTATING
EFFECT.
CHOKING OFF RARE EARTHS TO THE
U.S.
FORD MOTORS FOR ONE SUDDENLY
WITHOUT MAGNETS HAD TO
TEMPORARILY STOP MAKING
EXPLORER SUVs.
AFTER A SERIES OF TRADE TRUCES
BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA, THE
RARE EARTHS SPIGOT CAME BACK
ON.
HE SAYS FEW REALIZE HOW CLOSE
WE WERE TO ECONOMIC
CATASTROPHE.
>> THERE WERE MAJOR
MANUFACTURERS THAT DIDN’T EVEN
REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE RARE
EARTH MAGNETS THAT THEY HAD IN
THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN.
WE WERE SEEING THE ECONOMY ON
THE VERGE OF SHUTDOWN.
>> WITH MARKETS REELING, SENIOR
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
SOME SUMMONED THEM TO
WASHINGTON.
>> WE GOT CALLED INTO THE
PENTAGON.
AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS
A DIRECTIVE FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> WHAT DID THE GOVERNMENT WANT
FROM YOU?
>> THE PENTAGON WANTED A
MANHATTAN STYLE PROJECT TO
ACCELERATE THE ENTIRE SUPPLY
CHAIN OF RARE EARTH MAGNETICS
IN THE COUNTRY.
>> THAT’S THE ANALOGY.
>> EXACT WORDS WERE USED.
MANHATTAN PROJECT OR OPERATION
WARP SPEED.
WE’VE GOT TO WORK TO SCALE UP
EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING
AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
>> A MANHATTAN PROJECT FOR RARE
EARTHS RESULTED IN AN UNUSUAL
DEAL.
THE PENTAGON AGREED TO INJECT
$400 MILLION INTO MP MATERIALS
AND TOOK A 15% OWNERSHIP STAKE.
SO WE, AMERICANS ARE ALL IN THE
RARE EARTH BUSINESS NOW.
PLUS, CRITICALLY, THE DEAL CAME
WITH A GUARANTEED TEN YEAR
PRICE FLOOR FOR RARE EARTHS.
SO EVEN IF CHINA TRIES TO FLOOD
THE MARKET AGAIN, DRIVING DOWN
PRICES, MP IS COVERED.
HAS THERE EVER BEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.
>> EXACTLY LIKE THIS.
MAYBE NOT BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK,
THERE’S ACTUALLY A LONG
TRADITION OF REALLY CRITICAL
INDUSTRIES WHERE OUR COUNTRY
NEEDS TO BRING ONLINE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND I THINK THIS
IS ONE OF THOSE INDUSTRIES.
>> AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD ONE
MORE STIPULATION FOR MP.
RAMP UP RARE EARTH MAGNET
PRODUCTION TENFOLD.
TO DO SO, MP IS BUILDING AN
EVEN BIGGER RARE EARTH MAGNET
FACTORY ALSO IN TEXAS.
THAT IT SAYS COULD PRODUCE
ENOUGH TO MEET THE COUNTRY’S
NEEDS.
IT’S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE IN
2028.
STILL --
>> AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLD’S RARE
EARTH MAGNETS ARE MADE IN
CHINA?
>> WELL NORTH OF 90%.
>> SO -- CHINA IN EFFECT CAN
STILL HOLD THE WORLD HOSTAGE
HERE.
>> THEY CURRENTLY DO?
BACK IN WASHINGTON SECRETARY
BURGUM HAS BEEN A VOCAL
SUPPORTER OF STOCKPILING
AMERICA’S CRITICAL MINERALS.
>> HE DEFENDS THE MP DEAL EVEN
IF IT STRAYS FROM THE
PRINCIPLES OF MARKET
CAPITALISM.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY
POSITIONS AND PRIVATE COMPANIES
AND PRICE FLOORS AND IN THIS
CASE, A DEMAND THAT PRODUCTION
INCREASES TENX.
TENFOLD.
WAIT A SECOND, THAT HAS THE
WHIFF OF SOCIALISM.
>> I WOULDN’T CALL IT
SOCIALISM.
CERTAINLY CALL IT PRAGMATISM
BECAUSE -- FREE MARKETS WORK.
BUT THEY DON’T WORK IF YOU HAVE
AN ADVERSARY THAT CONTROLS THE
MONOPOLY THAT CONTROLSED THE
PRICE.
>> YOU ARE TALKING CHINA.
>> I’M TALKING ABOUT CHINA.
THERE’S NO MARKET SETTING THE
PRICE.
IT’S CHINA SETTING THE PRICE.
TO GET THIS INDUSTRY STARTED
AGAIN, WE HAVE TO DO SOME
THINGS TO KICK START THE
PRIVATE CAPITAL.
>> THIS KIND OF INDUSTRIAL
POLICY YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT,
DOES THIS HAPPEN BUT FOR
CHINA’S RETALIATION TO LAST
APRIL?
>> I THINK IT WAS A -- IT WAS A
CATALYST.
>> FRANKLY, WE PROBABLY NEEDED
A CRISIS TO WAKE UP.
AND SO I THINK IF THERE’S A
SILVER LINING IN THE SENSE,
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, WAS A
BIG TIME CRISIS THAT WE NEEDED.
>> I’M STRUCK BY HOW QUICKLY
THE ECONOMICS BLEED INTO
GEOPOLITICS.
IF CHINA SAYS LISTEN, WE’RE
GOING TO GO INVADE TAIWAN.
AND IF YOU STAND IN OUR WAY,
WE’RE SHUTTING OFF OUR RARE
EARTH MAGNETS.
>> THAT’S THE RISK.
AS IT STANDS TODAY WE NEED
PERMISSION FROM THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THINGS.
WE NEED PERMISSION FROM THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE
MILITARY THINGS.
AND THE PRACTICAL REALITY IS
THAT IT’S NOT AN ACCEPTABLE
CONDITION AND SO WE HAVE TO
CHANGE THIS DYNAMIC.
>> THE CURRENT U.S. AND CHINA
TRADE TRUCE WILL EXPIRE IN
NOVEMBER.
ABSENT A NEW DEAL, OUR RARE
EARTH SUPPLY SHORT TERM ANYWAY,
REMAINS VULNERABILITY.
VULNERABILITY -- VULNERABLE. VULNERABILITY -- VULNERABLE.
>>> ON ANCIENT ROADS AND IN
MEDS EVALALLEYWAYS IN LONDON, A
VERY MODERN BATTLE IS BREWING.
BLACK CABS WHICH ARE AS
SYNONYMOUS WITH THAT CITY AS
BUCKINGHAM PALACE WILL SOON BE
COMPETING WITH ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE POWERED AUTONOMOUS
TAXIS.
TECH COMPANIES PROMISE THESE AI
INVENTIONS SOME OF WHICH ARE
ALREADY OPERATING IN SEVERAL
AMERICAN CITIES, ARE SAFER AND
SMARTER THAN HUMAN DRIVERS.
BUT AS WE FIRST TOLD YOU
EARLIER THIS YEAR, LONDON’S
CABBIES AREN’T ABLE TO HAND
OVER THEIR KEYS.
AFTER ALL, JUST TO GET A
LICENSE, THEY’RE ALREADY PROVEN
THEIR OWN KIND OF INTELLIGENCE.
STUDYING OFTEN FOR YEARS TO
PASS 161-YEAR-OLD TEST CALLED
THE KNOWLEDGE.
NOTHING ARTIFICIAL ABOUT.
THEY HAVE TO MEMORIZE 25,000
STREETS AND THOUSANDS OF
LANDMARKS AND BUSINESSES AND
KNOW THE SHORTEST ROUTES
BETWEEN THEM ALL.
>> WE’RE THE OLDEST FORM OF
TRANSPORT IN THE WORLD.
FACT.
WE COME BEFORE BUSES AND TRAINS
AND STUFF.
YEAH, WE ARE THE ICONS OF
LONDON.
IF WE DO A LEFT HERE, THE
GOLDSMITHS’ HALL.
>> WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST REQUEST
YOU HAVE GOTTEN FROM A
PASSENGER?
>> WHAT, THIS WEEK?
OR --
>> YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE.
THERE’S A GUY IT’S A REGULAR
RIDE, AND HE’S GOT AN IRISH
WOLF HOUND.
DOG.
BECAUSE -- WHERE THE DOG LIVES.
DOG JUMPS IN THE BACK.
ONE OF THE BEST CUSTOMERS I
HAVE GOT AND NEVER SAYS A WORD.
NEVER COMPLAINS ABOUT IT RIGHT?
BUT WE GET PEOPLE I UNDERSTAND
MOANING -- TO SCHOOL.
NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE IN MY
LIFE AND PROBABLY NEVER SEE ME
AGAIN.
THAT’S THE TRUST WE GET.
>> THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN
CABBIES HERE DATES BACK TO
1865.
WHEN THE KNOWLEDGE EXAM WAS
FIRST INTRODUCED TO LONDON’S
HORSE DRAWN CABMEN.
DO YOU HAVE RIDERS TESTING YOUR
KNOWLEDGE.
>> EVERY RIDE.
GOOGLE SAYS THIS AND GOOGLE
SAYS THAT.
YOU NEVER GOING TO BEAT THE
KNOWLEDGE.
>> YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS BETTER
THAN WHAT A GOOGLE MAP WILL
TELL YOU TO GO.
>> OH, DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH
SERIOUSLY YOU KNOW.
IT’S LIKE COMPARING A HOT DOG
VENDOR TO GORDON RAMSAY.
>> AT THE TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
OFFICE, NERVOUS ASPIRING
CABBIES DRESS UP IN SUNDAY BEST
TO TAKE A SERIES OF ORAL EXAMS
KNOWN AS APPEARANCES.
WHENEVER YOU ARE READY SIR
WE’LL GO FROM SOHO HOUSE TO THE
CHANCERY ROAD.
>> CANDIDATES ARE QUIZZED ON
HOW TO GET BETWEEN TWO RANDOM
POINTS.
>> LEFT GREEK STREET.
RIGHT AVENUE AND LEFT GREAT
WINDMILL STREET AND FORWARD HEY
MARKET.
>> EXAMINERS MEASURE THE
DISTANCE ENSURING THEY’RE
CALLING THE SHORTEST ROUTE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY SIR I CAN’T
SCORE YOU TODAY.
>> HE FAILED THIS ROUND BUT FOR
THOSE WHO DO PASS THE
KNOWLEDGE, THIS MEMORIZATION
HAS PROVEN TO BE SO CHALLENGING
IT CAN CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF
THEIR BRAINS.
A STUDY FROM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
LONDON FOUND CAB DRIVERS
POSTERIOR HIPPOCAMPI LINKED TO
MEMORY GOT BIGGER THROUGHOUT
THEIR CAREERS.
>> EVERYONE IN THEIR PROFESSION
HAS HAD TO TRAIN THEIR SELF
WITH KNOWLEDGE TO BE THE BEST
THEY ARE AND ASK THAT’S WHAT
WE’RE DOING.
>> STEVEN FAIRBRASS HAS BEEN
TRYING TO PASS FOR TEN YEARS.
ANSHU MOORJANI FOR FIVE.
THEY SHOWED US THE BLUE BOOK.
>> POINTS OF INTEREST.
>> ANY PAYING CUSTOMER -- WOULD
WANT YOU TO TAKE THEM TO.
>> I MEAN, THERE’S THOUSANDS OF
THEM.
>> YES.
6,000 OF THEM.
>> I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS.
THE LAST JUDGMENT, THE LAW
SOCIETY HALL.
THE LONDONER HOTEL.
THE MARQUEE, THE MON HIGH BAY
AREA.
THIS IS CRAZY THAT YOU HAVE TO
KNOW ALL THIS.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN INDIVIDUAL
RESTAURANTS?
>> INDIVIDUAL RESTAURANTS.
>> PUBLIC HOUSES.
>> WHATEVER RESTAURANT GOES OUT
OF BUSINESS.
>> IT CHANGES NAMES AND THEN
YOU LEARN A NEW NAME IT.
>> COMES ON THE LIST.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> COMES ON THE LIST.
>> GOES ON THE LIST.
>> NOW THEIR KNOWLEDGE IS BEING
TESTED LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES HAVEN’T
BEEN APPROVE TODAY PICK UP
PASSENGERS IN LONDON YET.
BUT SEVERAL COMPANIES ARE
ALREADY TRYING OUT THEIR CARS
HERE.
WAYVE A BRITISH START-UP BACKED
BY NVIDIA AND MICROSOFT HOPES
TO BE IN OPERATION THIS YEAR AS
DOES WAYMO WHICH IS OWNED BY
GOOGLE’S PARENT COMPANY
ALPHABET.
TEKEDRA SAYS PUTTING MORE OF
THE ROBO TAXIS ON THE ROAD CAN
SAVE LIVES EACH YEAR.
YOU BELIEVE DRIVERLESS CARS ARE
SAFER THAN A HUMAN DRIVEN
VEHICLE.
>> IN THE CASE OF WAYMO, WE
ACTUALLY HAVE THE DATA SHOWS US
THAT WE’RE FIVE TIMES SAFER
THAN A HUMAN DRIVER.
>> WAYMO HAS ALREADY MADE
SIGNIFICANT INROADS IN THE U.S.
IT FIRST BEGAN OFFERING RIDES
TO CUSTOMERS IN A PHOENIX
SUBURB IN 2020.
NOW MILLIONS OF RIDERS ACROSS
11 MAJOR U.S. CITIES ARE BEING
DRIVEN BY WAYMOS EVERY MONTH.
>> SEND THE LAST EMAIL THEY
DIDN’T GET TO SEND AND CHECK ON
THE KID THAT’S SCREAMING BUT
WE’RE TRYING TO DRIVE AND DO
THAT.
THIS GIVES THE CHANCE TO TAKE
CARE OF THE THINGS AND LET THE
WAYMO DRIVER GET YOU FROM POINT
A. TO POINT B.
>> YOU CALL IT A DRIVER BUT
THERE’S NO DRIVER.
>> WE THINK OF IT AS IMPORTANT
IT’S TO THINK THERE’S A DRIVER.
THIS DRIVER IS THE MOST
EXPERIENCED IN THE WORLDS.
WE TRAVEL OVER 2 MILLION-MILES
A WEEK.
HUMANS DRIVE ABOUT 700,000
MILES IN A LIFETIME.
THIS IS ALMOST THREE LIFETIMES
PER WEEK THAT OUR FLEET IS
DRIVING.
>> BECAUSE IT’S BEEN TRAINED ON
EVERY OTHER RIDE THAT WAYMO HAS
GIVEN.
>> THE WHOLE FLEET, YES.
>> WAYMO’S AI ALSO DRIVEN
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
SIMULATIONS.
TO TRAIN FOR THE COUNTLESS RARE
SCENARIOS IT MIGHT FACE ON
ROADS.
LIKE SNOW ON THE GOLDEN GATE
BRIDGE OR EVEN THE ELEPHANT
STOPPING TRAFFIC.
>> START THE RIDE WHENEVER YOU
ARE READY.
>> IN SAN FRANCISCO, WE TOOK A
TRIP IN ONE OF ITS ROBO TAXIS
WITH PRODUCT MANAGER CHRIS
LUDWICK.
>> HAPPY FRIDAY.
>> IT’S A LITTLE FREAKY NOT TO
TO HAVE A DRIVER.
>> YOU HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME.
BUT LIKE I’M WATCHING THE WHEEL
VERY, VERY CAREFULLY.
>> AFTER FEW MINUTES, THE RIDE
FELT STRANGELY NORMAL.
>> FEELS LIKE A VERY CAREFUL
DRIVER.
>> OUR GOAL IS KIND OF
BLISSFULLY BORING.
>> THE CAR’S OUTFELTED WITH 29
CAMERAS AND SIX RADARS AND FIVE
SENSORS WHICH ALWAYS PULSE TO
MEASURE DISTANCES AND OBJECTS
AND PEOPLE AS FAR AS THREE
FOOTBALL FIELDS AWAY.
INSIDE, A SCREEN SHOWS RIDERS
WHAT THE CAR IS SEEING.
IT SEES AN INTERSECTION AND I
DON’T KNOW 300 FEET AWAY.
BUT BECAUSE THERE’S OTHER CARS
I CAN’T SEE IT.
BUT IT SEES AROUND THESE OTHER
CARS.
>> THAT’S RIGHT.
AND THAT’S PARTLY THE DESIGN OF
THE PLACEMENT OF THE SENSORS.
MAKES IT SUPER HUMAN COMPARED
TO WHAT A HUMAN WOULD BE ABLE
TO DO.
>> WAYMO SAYS THE DATA GATHERED
FROM THE SENSORS ENABLES THE AI
TO RESPOND FASTER THAN A HUMAN.
WE SAW THIS WHEN A WOMAN
TALKING ON HER PHONE CROSSED
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
IT’S KIND OF CRAZY TO -- SEE A
PERSON CHANGE THEIR MIND AND
HOW QUICKLY THE WAYMO RESPONDED
TO LIKE -- SLIGHT MOTION OF
THEM MOVING FORWARD.
>> EXACTLY.
THE SYSTEM HAS LEARNED TO REACT
TO THOSE SALT L CUES BECAUSE
THAT’S WHAT’S NECESSARY.
>> WAYMO’S AI MAY HAVE A LOT OF
TRAINING, BUT IT’S STILL MAKING
SOME ROOKIE MISTAKES.
>> OH MY GOD.
WHAT THE [ BLEEP ] IS THAT
WAYMO DOING.
>> IN LOS ANGELES, A WAYMO
DROVE THROUGH AN ACTIVE POLICE
SCENE.
>> WAYMO.
COME ON.
>> THERE IS ALSO BEEN INCIDENTS
OF THE ROBO TAXIS GETTING IN
THE WAY OF EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
AND ILLEGALLY PASSING STOPPED
SCHOOL BUSES LEADING TO A
SOFTWARE RECALL AND A FEDERAL
INVESTIGATION.
BACK IN LONDON, WAYMO’S ROBO
TAXIS HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE
STREETS TO BUILD A DETAILED 3D
MAP TO TRAIN ITS AI.
THE COMPANY STANDARD BEFORE
OPERATING IN A NEW AREA.
BUT IT DOES HAVE COMPETITION.
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR AI
UNDERSTANDS EVERY CONCEPT IT
AND MIGHT FIND.
>> AT EXDEN CAL IS WAYVE’S CEO.
UNLIKE WAYMOS HIS ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE DOESN’T MAP OUT A
CITY BEFORE DRIVING IN IT.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE YOU DON’T
NEED TO MAP A CITY ENTIRELY
BEFORE GETTING THE VEHICLES TO
DRIVE AUTONOMOUSLY IN IT?
>> WELL, THINK ABOUT HOW YOU
AND I LEARN HOW TO DRIVE.
LEARN HOW TO GO THROUGH A FEW
TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND THAT --
TAUGHT ME HOW THE CONCEPT OF
TRAFFIC LIGHTS WORKS.
AND A SIMILAR WAY, THAT’S HOW
OUR AI LEARNS, WE TRAIN IT ON
MILLIONS OF HOURS OF EXPERIENCE
DRIVING ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
IT’S NEVER SEEN BEFORE OR NEVER
BEEN MAPPED IT CAN UNDERSTAND
WHAT’S IN FRONT OF IT AND MAKE
DECISIONS IN REALTIME.
>> WAYVE’S ROBO TAXIS ARE STILL
IN TESTING AND NOT YET
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> THE PRODUCTS THAT WE’RE
BUILDING WILL USE INBUILT
SENSORS.
>> KENDALL BELIEVES THE AI WILL
BE ABLE TO MORE EASILY ADAPT TO
NEW ENVIRONMENTS.
LET’S GO FOR A DRIVE.
>> OKAY.
>> HE TOOK US TO WESTMINSTER.
A DISTRICT IN LONDON THAT’S
HOME SOME OF THE CITY’S MOST
HISTORIC LANDMARKS TO SHOW US
WHERE HE’S BEEN TRAINING HIS
FLEET SINCE WAYVE’S EARLY DAYS
IN 2019.
GROW FOOT IS NOT --
>> I’M NOT TOUCHING CONTROLS.
THE AI IS CONTROLLING THE
STEERING AND THE SPEED AND
INDICATORS AND THE BRAKE.
>> UNTIL ROBO TAXIS ARE
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT
HERE, A HUMAN HAS TO SIT IN THE
DRIVER SEAT FOR SAFETY.
>> HERE’S ONE OF THE BUSIER
ROUNDABOUTS IN FRONT OF
WESTMINSTER.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT.
LOTS OF TOURISTS AROUND AND
DIFFERENT VEHICLES.
>> THIS GUY JUST CROSSED INTO
-- OUR LANE.
>> NOW BACK TO ANOTHER LANE.
AS A BIKE THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT
FOR BEFORE MAKING THE LANE
CHANGE.
JUST SUCH A LONG LIST OF THINGS
THAT CAN HAPPEN ON THE ROAD.
I THINK THAT’S THE MAIN
ADVANTAGE OF AN AI DRIVER HERE
IS THAT IT CAN HAVE THE
INTELLIGENCE TO DEAL WITH
THINGS THAT YOU MAY NEVER
EXPECT ON THE ROADS.
>> I’LL GO --
>> ASPIRING CABBIE STEVEN
FAIRBRASS DIDN’T SEEM TOO
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE
OF THIS?
YOU KNOW, AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
DRIVING AROUND?
>> NO.
>> WHY DON’T YOU WORRY?
>> TO ME, THE HUMAN BRAIN WILL
ALWAYS BE THE STRONGEST TOOL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE YOU ARE TRYING
TO HOLD DOWN A VEHICLE WITH NO
DRIVER IN IT?
YOU ARE STANDING THERE IN THE
RAIN, TRYING TO GET HOME.
AND THAT VEHICLE JUST DRIVES
STRAIGHT PAST YOU BECAUSE IT
HASN’T GOT A SENSOR OR A HUMAN
BRAIN OR AN EYE TO TURN.
SO TO ME, HUMAN BEINGS DRIVERS,
ALWAYS GOING TO BE NEEDED.
ALWAYS.
>> ANSHU MOORJANI HOWEVER
DIDN’T SEEM SO SURE.
>> EVERY -- PROFESSION IS BEING
AFFECTED BY AI.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT’S GOING TO
DO IN NEAR FUTURE.
AND BUT IT’S ALWAYS THERE ON
YOUR MIND THAT YES.
YOU ARE -- YOU CARRY INTO A
CAREER NOT KNOWING WHAT.
>> Reporter: THE FUTURE IS.
>> THE FUTURE IS.
>> OVER THE LAST DECADES,
LONDON’S BLACK CAB INDUSTRY HAS
SEEN A STEEP DECLINE.
THE NUMBER OF DRIVERS HAS
FALLEN FROM 25,000 TO 16,000
TODAY.
SO HAS THEIR INCOME.
AS UBER AND OTHER RIDE HAILING
COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CUTTING
INTO THEIR BUSINESS.
>> MR. FAIRBRASS.
>> EVEN SO.
>> THERE YOU GO SIR.
PASS.
>> THIS WAS STEVEN FAIRBRASS’
20th
ATTEMPT.
>> GOING TO GO TO THE RIGHT ON
HOUSE CAFE SIR.
>> THAT’S ON GREAT TITCHFIELD
STREET SIR.
>> OKAY SIR.
GO RIGHT INTO -- MORTIMER
STREET RIGHT INTO -- LEFT INTO
THE STREET.
LEFT INTO -- PORTLAND PLACE.
I SAID THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
SORRY SIR.
I CAN’T REMEMBER THAT OTHER
NAME OF THE PORTLAND PLACE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CALM DOWN.
OKAY?
DEEP BREATHS.
YEAH?
>> FAIRBRASS FAILED THIS ROUNDS
AND WILL HAVE TO TRY AGAIN.
FOR ANSHU MOORJANI.
THIS WAS HIS 41st TRY.
>> LADY BIRD STATION PLEASE.
>> LEFT ADELAIDE AVENUE.
COME DOWN -- LADYWELL ROAD AND
RIGHT --
>> UH-HUH.
TODAY I’M GOING TO SCORE YOU.
OKAY?
>> OH, THANK YOU SIR.
>> HE PASSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IN MAY -- DELL DELL [ BELL
DINGING ] AFTER FIVE YEARS OF
TRYING, MOORJANI FINALLY
COMPLETED THE KNOWLEDGE.
HE’LL NOW EARN HIS LICENSE.
THERE’S PROBABLY SOME PEOPLE
GOING TO BE WATCH WHO CAN THINK
YOU KNOW, WHY SPEND YEARS OF
YOUR LIFE STUDYING FOR THE EXAM
WHEN YOU CAN BE UBER DRIVERS
MUCH FASTER.
>> DO YOU WANT TO DRIVE AROUND
IN ONE OF THEM FAMOUS CABS OUT
THERE?
IT MEANS A LOT TO PEOPLE OF
LONDON.
IT’S LIKE LONDON WITHOUT THE
QUEEN I’D SAY.
>> YOU CAN’T HAVE A LONDON
WITHOUT A KING OR QUEEN.
NOT WITHOUT A BLACK CAB.
>> CORRECT.
>> IMPOSSIBLE. >> IMPOSSIBLE.
>>> THERE’S BEEN SOMETHING
UNUSUAL GOING ON IN A WHOLE LOT
OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
STADIUMS LATELY AND IT’S NOT
BASEBALL.
WELL, AT LEAST NOT EXACTLY.
IT’S BANANA BALL.
AND IF YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF
IT, GET READY FOR SOMETHING,
WELL, BANANAS.
AS WE FIRST REPORTED LAST YEAR,
IT’S A CLASSIC AGAINST THE ODDS
STORY THAT STARTED WITH A
SCRAPPY COLLEGE SUMMER LEAGUE
BASEBALL TEAM IN SAVANNAH,
GEORGIA LOVINGLY NAMED THE
SAVANNAH BANANAS WITH
UNORTHODOX OWNER WHO DREAMED OF
MAKING AMERICA’S PASTIME
LIVELIER AND MORE FUN.
WITH DANCING PLAYERS, TRICK
PLAYS, AND NONSTOP
ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE FANS.
THINK HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS,
ONLY MORE SO.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> DAN OBERST, THAT ONE CHOPPED
UP THE MIDDLE.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE BASEBALL.
>> TAKES OFFS FOR SECOND.
>> AND FEELS LIKE BASEBALL.
BUT THEN -- ♪ ♪
THERE’S THIS.
AN UMPIRE FEELING THE MUSIC?
A BATTER ON -- NO, STILTS?
GYMNASTICS IN THE OUTFIELDS.
>> CATCHES THE BALL.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
>> AND ON THE WAY HOME.
>> THE BANANAS HAVE WON THE
INNING.
>> BANANA-BALL IS THE CREATION
OF JESSE COLE WHO DRESSES IN
BANANA YELLOW DAILY.
>> GOT THOSE HANDS.
HERE WE GO.
>> HE’S THE OWNER AND
RINGMASTER OF THIS CIRCUS.
IT’S NOT BASEBALL.
OR IS IT BASEBALL?
>> OBVIOUSLY IT STARTED FROM
THE IDEA OF BASEBALL.
BUT NOW LET’S JUST TURN IT UP A
LITTLE BIT.
>> HEY, HEY BABY.
>> TURNING IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
SAVANNAH BANANA STYLE.
MINES THE SHOW STARTS HOURS
BEFORE THE GAME WITH FANS AND
PLAYERS DANCING OUTSIDE BEFORE
THE DOORS OPEN.
THEN ON THE FIELD, GYMNASTS,
THE BANANA SPLITZ.
A DANCE TEAM MADE UP SOFT
GRANDMAS.
THE BANANA-NANAS.
AND INSTEAD OF CHEERLEADERS,
THESE GUYS, THE MAN-NANAS.
>> IT’S ALL INTENTIONAL SO THIS
IS THE SCRIPT.
>> YOU HAVE A SCRIPT?
>> THERE’S ALMOST 50 THINGS
THAT HAPPEN BEFORE THE GAME
STARTS.
>> THE IDEA IS TO HAVE
SOMETHING ENTERTAINING FOR
EVERYONE LIKE THE 6-YEAR-OLD
LEADING A CROWD WARM-UP.
TO APPEAL TO ALL AGES.
BASEBALL FANS OR NOT.
HOW LONG IN THE CAR?
>> TEN HOURS.
>> YOU DROVE HERE FOR TEN
HOURS?
THE GAME ITSELF, BETWEEN THE
BANANAS AND THEIR MAIN BANANA
BALL RIVALS, THE PARTY ANIMALS,
ALSO OWNED BY COLE, IS A REAL
BASEBALL COMPETITION.
WITH SOME RULE TWISTS.
THERE’S A TWO HOUR TIME LIMIT.
NO MOUND VISITS.
NO WALKS OR BUNTS.
AND IF A FAN CATCHES A FOUL
BALL IT’S AN OUT.
>> WHAT A SNAG BY THAT GUY.
>> TRICK PLAYS LIKE BETWEEN THE
LEG THROWS TO MAKE AN OUT AND
BACK FLIP CATCHES ARE
ENCOURAGED.
AND A FEW TIMES A GAME, PLAYERS
GO TO BAT WITH LIP SYNCED,
CHOREOGRAPHED PRODUCTIONS LIKE
THIS ONE FEATURING INFIELDER
JACKSON OLSON.
LONGTIME BASEBALL WRITER TIM
KURKJIAN CAME TO THE GAME AND
HE SAID THIS IS THE STUPIDEST
THING I HAVE EVER SEEN.
I LOVED IT.
>> SO GRATEFUL HE FINISHED WITH
THE I LOVE IT.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO WOULD BE OFFENDED THAT YOU
ARE CHANGING BASEBALL.
>> I BELIEVE IF YOU ARE NOT
GETTING CRITICIZED YOU ARE
PLAYING IT TOO SAFE.
>> SAFE IS NOT HIS STYLE.
HIS EARLY DREAMS OF PLAYING FOR
THE HOMETOWN RED SOX ENDED WITH
A SHOULDER INJURY IN COLLEGE
THAT SENT HIM INTO COACHING AND
A DISCOVERY HE WAS NOT
EXPECTING.
>> I’M SITTING IN THE DUGOUT
AND I REALIZED SOMETHING.
I’M BORED OUT OF MY MIND.
AND IF I’M BORED, THERE’S GOT
TO BE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE
PROBABLY BORED WITH BASEBALL AS
WELL.
>> HE GOT A JOB MANAGING A
FAILING COLLEGE SUMMER LEAGUE
TEAM IN GASTONIA, NORTH
CAROLINA CALLED THE GRIZZLIES.
WHERE HE STARTED SHAKING THINGS
UP.
WITH DANCING AND SILLINESS.
>> THE FIRST TIME I SAW JESSE,
HE’S THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE
TEAM.
KEEP IN MIND.
>> EMILY McDONALD WAS WORKING
FOR A MINOR LEAGUE TEAM IN
AUGUSTA AT THE TIME.
>> HE IS ON THE FIELD.
TEACHING HIS PLAYERS HOW TO DO
THE THRILLER DANCE.
>> YOU GET THE ARMS INTO IT AND
THE HEAD.
>> YOU SAID OH, THAT GUY IS FOR
ME.
>> WE NAILED THAT DANCE.
WE NAILED THAT DANCE.
>> EMILY JOINED THE GRIZZLIES
AND THREE YEARS LATER.
>> WILL YOU MAKE ME THE
LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD AND
WILL YOU MARRY ME, EMFULLY.
>> JOINED JESSE, PERMANENTLY
AND YES HE WAS ALREADY WEARING
THAT YELLOW TUX INSPIRED BY HIS
IDOLS SHOWMEN PT BARNUM AND
WALT DISNEY.
>> SOMETHING I BELIEVE IN.
IT’S STANDING OUT AND BEING
DIFFERENT AND IF YOUR OWNER IS
DRESSED UP IN A YELLOW TUXEDO
THAT GIVES PERMISSION TO
EVERYONE ELSE TO HAVE FUN.
>> WERE YOU ABLE TO TURN THE
GRIZZLIES AROUND?
>> THE TEAM THAT WAS PROBABLY
THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY IN
ATTENDANCE WE CLIMBED UP TO BE
FOURTH IN THE COUNTRY IN
ATTENDANCE.
>> WHAT ABOUT PLAYING?
>> OH.
WE WON CHAMPIONSHIPS.
WHEN YOU HAVE FUN, YOU PLAY
BETTER.
>> IN 2015, THE NEWLYWEDS
LAUNCHED THE BANANAS AS A NEW
COLLEGE SUMMER LEAGUE TEAM IN
SAVANNAH.
BUILDING FANS WITH ALL YOU CAN
EAT FOOD AND ALWAYS UPPING THE
FUN.
THEY WON TITLES, BUT SOMETHING
KEPT GNAWING AT JESSE.
SOME FANS WERE LEAVING THE
STADIUM BEFORE THE GAME WAS
OVER.
EVEN WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON?
>> IT WAS EATING ME UP INSIDE.
BUT THEN I REALIZED THAT MEANS
THERE’S A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
WITH THE ACTUAL GAME.
>> HE BEGAN VIDEOTAPING THE
CROWD AND STUDYING.
>> WHEN ARE FANS LOOKING AT
THEIR PHONE?
MOUND VISITS, BATTERS STEPPING
OUT TAKING FOREVER.
ALL RIGHT IF YOU STEP OUT.
>> I HATE THAT THEY PLAY WITH
THEIR GLOVES AND --
>> WE SAID WHAT ARE ALL THE
NORMAL RULES OF A BASEBALL
GAME?
WHAT WOULD BE THE EXACT
OPPOSITE.
>> STARTED STREAMING UP IDEAS
FOR A FASTER, MORE EXCITING
GAME.
>> THINK ABOUT THIS IN A
BASEBALL GAME THERE’S A PLAY
CALLED A WALK.
IT’S CALLED A WALK.
SO WE SAID WHAT WOULD BE THE
EXACT OPPOSITE?
A SPRINT.
>> AND SO WAS BORN THE BALL 4
SPRINT WHERE THE BATTER TAKES
OFF AND CAN’T BE TAGGED OUT
UNTIL EVERY FIELDER HAS TOUCHED
THE BALL.
>> HE’S GOING TO BE REWARDED
WITH TWO BASES.
>> SO NOW A WALK BECOMES ONE OF
THE MOST EXCITING PLAYS IN
SPORTS WHAT ABOUT BUNTING.
>> I KNOW THIS IS
CONTROVERSIAL.
BUT IF YOU BUNT IN BANANA BALL
YOU ARE THROWN OUT OF THE GAME.
>> WHAT’S WRONG WITH BUNTING.
>> NO BUNTING.
>> I LIKE BUNTING.
>> SOME TRADITIONALISTS DO.
AT THE PLATE THE FIRST TIME AS
A 35-YEAR-OLD MY DAD SAID JUST
SWING HARD IN CASE YOU HIT AND
I BELIEVE IN BASEBALL, BANANA
BALL, COME UP AND SWING THE BAT
TRY TO YET SOMETHING REALLY
SPECIAL INSTEAD OF THE BUNT.
>> COACHES ADAM AND TYLER
HELPED CREATE THE NEW GAME AND
RECRUIT PLAYERS TO TRY IT OUT.
YOU WERE LOOKING FOR REALLY
STRONG BASEBALL PLAYERS.
>> EXCLUSIVELY.
>> I WAS PUSHING A WHEELBARROW
FULL OF CONCRETE AND MY PHONE
WENT OFF AND IT WAS MY MAMA.
>> DAKOTA ALBRITTON PLAYED HIGH
SCHOOL BASEBALL IN HIS GEORGIA
HOMETOWN, THEN GOT A JOB IN
CONSTRUCTION.
>> SHE SAID HEY WE HAVE A
BASEBALL TRYOUT THIS WEEKEND.
I SAID HYDE DOUGH THAT?
YOU KNOW, I AIN’T PLAYED BALL
IN TWO YEARS AND SHE SAID I
TOLD THEM YOU COULD WALK ON
STILTS.
I ASKED HER AGAIN, WHY DID YOU
DO THAT?
I HADN’T DONE THAT IN TEN
YEARS.
>> YOU HADN’T WALKED ON STILTS
IN TEN YEARS?
IN TEN YEARS.
>> THEY’D BEEN A CHRISTMAS
PRESENT WHEN HE WAS 10.
>> AS A MATTER OF FACT I
REALIZED THE STRAPS THAT HELD
THEM ON MY LEGS WERE DRY ROTTED
AND WE STOPPED BY TRACTOR
SUPPLY AND GOT DOG COLLARS.
[ LAUGHTER ] THEY WERE HELD ON
THE LEG BY DOG COLLARS.
>> PROBABLY WASN’T GOING TO
MAKE THE TEAM.
HE SAID I BROUGHT THE STILTS.
DO YOU WANT ME TO WEAR THEM?
I SAID NO, UNLESS YOU CAN HIT
IN THEM.
>> I GOT UP THERE -- I HAD NO
IDEA I COULD DO IT.
BUT I WAS NOT GOING TO BACK
DOWN FROM A CHALLENGE.
>> THE ENTIRE TRYOUT STOPS.
>> I WONDER WHY?
>> IT’S DEAD QUIET.
>> DID YOU HIT THE BALL?
>> I DID.
I SURPRISED MYSELF JUST AS MUCH
AS I SURPRISED EVERYBODY ELSE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THE COACHES WERE STILL GOING
TO CUT HIM TILL JESSE
INTERVENED.
>> HE SAYS BY THES YOU TONIGHT
SEE THE VISION.
THE VISION IS -- THINGS BEING
DONE ON A BASEBALL FIELD NOBODY
HAS EVER SEEN.
>> OTHER PLAYERS LIKE
ROBERTANTHONY CRUZ RAC FOR
SHORT JOINED THEM WITH STRONGER
CREDENTIALS.
HE’D BEEN SIGNED BY WASHINGTON
NATIONALS.
THIS VIDEO OF HIM SHARING THE
NEWS WITH HIS DAD --
>> OH MY GOD.
CONGRATULATIONS SON.
>> WENT VIRAL.
BUT AS WITH SO MANY PLAYERS.
>> ONE YEAR LATER, I GOT
RELEASED BY THE NATIONALS.
AND MY WIFE AND I MOVED BACK IN
WITH MY PARENTS.
>> BANANAS PLAYERS TOLD US
THEY’D ALL DREAMED OF PLAYING
IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.
RAISE YOUR HAND WHEN BASEBALL
DIDN’T WORK, DID YOU ALL THINK
YOU WERE DONE?
>> YEAH.
>> BIG TIME.
>> 100%.
>> THEY SAY BANANA BALL IS A
SECOND LIFE AND THEY’RE STILL
PRACTICING THAT OLD GAME.
PLUS ONE UPPING EACH OTHER ON
COOL TRICKS.
AND SMOOTH MOVES.
THAT ELABORATE BATTER WALK UP
ROUTINE?
ALSO PART OF AFTERNOON
PRACTICE.
>> I LITERALLY -- LIKE FOUR
HOURS BEFORE THE GAME.
>> OH MY GOD.
>> HEY.
>> SO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
AFTERNOON, THEY ARE LEARNING A
DANCE FOR THAT NIGHT FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
>> I MEAN PLAYERS THE TALENT
LEVEL.
THEY LEARN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF STEPS FOR ABOUT 20, 30
MINUTES OF REHEARSAL AND THEN
DOING IT IN FRONT OF THE
SOLDOUT CROWD.
>> SOMETIMES PRACTICING IN
FRONT OF THE CROWD.
>> YOU WERE DOING THE DANCE TOO
AND TRYING TO LEARN IT.
ALL TRYING TO LEARN THIS STUFF
DURING THE GAME.
>> FRESH.
>> BANANA BALLPLAYERS HAVE FOUR
YEAR CONTRACTS AND PAID
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN MOST
MINOR LEAGUERS.
THE SALARIES HAVE RISEN EVERY
YEAR AS HAS THEIR FAN BASE.
THIS WAS THE HOME STADIUM OF
THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES ON A
SATURDAY NIGHT IN SEPTEMBER
2024.
A COMPLETELY SOLD OUTSTANDING
ROOM ONLY CROWD OF 45,000.
IT WAS ONE OF SIX MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL STADIUMS THE BANANAS
SOLD OUT THAT SEASON.
INCLUDING FENWAY PARK.
WITH CLIPS OF DANCES LIKE THIS
GOING VIRAL, THE BANANAS NOW
HAVE MORE TIKTOK FOLLOWERS THAN
ALL 12 OF LAST YEAR’S MLB
PLAYOFF TEAMS COMBINED.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> AS IN SAVANNAH, CROWDS
GATHER HOURS EARLY AND BANANA
BALL IS NOW A MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR PRIVATE BUSINESS.
JESSE TURNS AWAY INVESTORS TO
BUILD FANS, HE REINVESTS AND
KEEPS TICKET PRICES LOW, $60
MAX, AND BROADCASTS ALL GAMES
FREE ON YOUTUBE.
PLAYING IN AN MLB STADIUM
PLAYERS TOLD US, IS THRILLING.
EVEN FOR SOMEONE ALREADY TEN
FEET TALL.
>> JUST THIS SECTION RIGHT HERE
AS BIG AS MY WHOLE ENTIRE
HOMETOWN.
>> STILTS TOLD US HE’D BE
PITCHING THIS GAME.
DO YOU REALLY THROW STRIKES.
>> OH ABSOLUTELY.
IT COMING STRAIGHT DOWN LIKE
THAT, THEY HAVE TO HIT IT JUST
PERFECT THEY’RE GOING TO GROUND
OUT OR POP UP.
>> SURE ENOUGH?
>> THE WORLD’S TALLEST PITCHER.
>> IN THE TOP OF THE SIXTH,
FACING THE PARTY ANIMALS’
VERSION OF A SWITCH-HITTER.
>> GOING TO SHOW OFF HIS SWITCH
HITTING SKILLS.
>> THERE WAS ONE OF THOSE
STRIKE.
WITH THE PRESSURE ON.
>> BOUNCER, GRABBED, 3-6. THE
OLSON, BOUNCES IT TO FIRST.
>> GOT THE THIRDS OUT.
>> STILTS CONTINUES TO SHINE.
>> THEN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE
CENTER -- WITH A RUNNER ON
FIRST, AND THE BANANAS DOWN BY
ONE.
JACKSON OLSON TOOK OFF ON A
BALL FOUR SPRINT.
THEN WITH MEN ON THE CORNERS,
THE FORMER NATIONALS’ SIGNEE
RAC WAS UP.
>> SEE YOU LATER.
CRUZ.
>> A THREE RUN HOMER.
AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE, NOBODY
LEFT EARLY.
LAST SEASON, BANANA BALL
OFFICIALLY BECAME A LEAGUE WITH
TWO MORE TEAMS.
AND THEY WERE SET TO PLAY NOT
JUST AT 17 MLB STADIUMS, BUT AT
THREE NFL FOOTBALL STADIUMS AS
WELL.
WILL YOU FILL THOSE STADIUMS?
>> THEY’RE SOLD OUT.
>> ALREADY.
>> IT’S CRAZY.
>> ALL OF IT IS CRAZY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> SOME MIGHT EVEN SAY
-- BANANAS.
THIS SEASON, THE BANANAS SIGNED
A BROADWAY MUSICAL STAR AS A
SINGING PITCHER.
AND UPPED THE NUMBER OF BANANA
BALL TEAMS TO SIX.
THEY’LL PLAY IN 75 STADIUMS
INCLUDING TWO THAT SEAT MORE
THAN 100,000 FANS.
>>> SEE HOW BANANAS FOSTER
CELEBRATES FOSTER FAMILIES.
>> THERE’S SO >> THERE’S SO
>>> I’M LESLEY STAHL.
WE’LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH
ANOTHER EDITION OF "60
MINUTES."