♪ ♪
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING IS A
PRESENTATION OF HBO SPORTS.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: TONIGHT, ON
"REAL SPORTS":
FOR SEVERAL FORMER NBA STARS,
LEGALIZED MARIJUANA HAS BECOME A
GROWTH INDUSTRY THAT FITS THEM
JUST FINE.
>> Al: WHEN I SEE A ROOM LIKE
THIS, I LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT THESE PLANTS CAN HELP AND
WILL HELP.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE MOST
MAGNIFICENT PLANT IN THE WORLD.
>> Bryant: BY PUTTING CRITTERS
IN THEIR CROSSHAIRS, SOME
AMERICAN HUNTERS ARE NOW
COMPETING FOR PRIZES TO PURGE
UNWANTED ANIMALS.
>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND
GO HUNT THE ONES THAT ARE OUT
THERE THAT ARE CAUSING ALL THE
DAMAGE.
TEACH YOU WHAT CAN THE FIRST
PLACE WINNER WHEN?
>> Bryant: JUST 2 YEARS AGO,
THIS NIGERIAN REFUGEE WAS IN A
HOMELESS SHELTER.
YET TODAY HE'S A RISING STAR IN
THE WORLD OF CHESS.
>> THERE IS NOTHING THAT MAKES
ME MORE HAPPY THAN TO MOVE A
CHESS PIECE.
YOU CAN'T TRASH TALK IF YOU ARE
GETTING CHECKMATED LIKE THIS.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
>> Bryant: BEING FREED OF A
WHEELCHAIR ISN'T JUST A PIPE
DREAM, IT'S THE TEMPLATE FOR A
VERY SPECIAL PARAGLIDING OUTFIT.
>> COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT THE
WHEELCHAIR AND YOUR LEGS WHILE
YOU ARE OUT THERE?
>> LET ME TELL YOU, I WAS JUST,
LIKE, FREE AT LAST.
FREE AT LAST.
♪ ♪
>> Announcer: AND NOW, FROM
THE HBO "REAL SPORTS" STUDIO IN
NEW YORK, YOUR HOST,
BRYANT GUMBEL.
>> Bryant: GOOD EVENING, AND
WELCOME TO "REAL SPORTS," WHERE
WE'VE OFTEN DONE STORIES ABOUT
ATHLETES AND DRUGS.
BUT UNTIL TONIGHT WE'VE NEVER
AIRED ONE FEATURING FORMER
PLAYERS IN THE BUSINESS OF DRUG
USE, AND IT'S ALL LEGAL.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, 18 STATES HAVE
ALREADY LEGALIZED THE USE OF
MARIJUANA.
SINCE MANY MORE ARE EXPECTED TO
SOON FOLLOW, CANNABIS THESE DAYS
IS BEING WIDELY VIEWED AS ONE OF
THIS COUNTRY'S FASTEST GROWING
INDUSTRIES.
IT'S BEEN CALLED THE GREEN GOLD
RUSH.
AND IN IT, MANY FORMER NBA
PLAYERS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE LONG
HAD A "PRIVATE" RELATIONSHIP
WITH WEED, ARE NOW SEEING
FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY.
NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR
THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
OUR DAVID SCOTT HAS THE STORY.
>> FOR 16 YEARS, AL HARRINGTON
WORKED THE NBA HARDWOOD.
>> OH, AL HARRINGTON.
>> DUNKING AND REBOUNDING HIS
WAY TO NEARLY $100 MILLION IN
CAREER EARNINGS IN THE SPORT HE
LOVED.
BUT NOW HE'S WORKING IN AN
ENTIRELY NEW FIELD.
TENDING TO A NEW PASSION, THAT
COULD BE EVEN MORE LUCRATIVE.
LEGAL CANNABIS.
>> David: SOME GUYS, YOU KNOW,
LEAVE THE GAME.
THEY GO INTO COACHING.
FOR YOU, IT'S THESE PLANTS.
>> Al: WHEN I SEE A ROOM LIKE
THIS, I LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT THESE PLANTS CAN HELP AND
WILL HELP.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE MOST
MAGNIFICENT PLANT IN THE WORLD.
>> THIS IS HARRINGTON'S
MARIJUANA GROW ROOM IN DETROIT.
JUST ONE PIECE OF A LARGER
ENTERPRISE HE STARTED AT THE
TAIL END OF HIS BASKETBALL DAYS,
JUST BEFORE THE LEGAL CANNABIS
INDUSTRY EXPLODED.
>> Al: WHEN I DID THIS TEN YEARS
AGO, IT WASN'T POPULAR.
SO I REALLY TOOK A RISK.
BUT I TOOK A RISK BECAUSE I FELT
LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS IN
FRONT OF ME WAS AN OPPORTUNITY
THAT WAS WAY BIGGER THAN
ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY
LIFE.
>> AND NOW, HAVING GOTTEN IN ON
THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE NEW
GREEN GOLD RUSH IN AMERICA,
HARRINGTON'S IN A POSITION TO
CASH IN, BIG TIME.
>> David: HOW MANY DISPENSARIES?
>> Al: ONE DISPENSARY OPEN.
AND WE'RE ABOUT TO OPEN UP FOUR
MORE.
>> David: GROW FACILITIES?
>> Al: WE HAVE THREE GROW
FACILITIES.
>> David: TOTAL REVENUE?
>> Al: TOTAL REVENUE THIS YEAR
SHOULD BE ABOUT $26 MILLION.
>> BUT HARRINGTON ISN'T THE ONLY
FORMER NBA PLAYER LOOKING TO ADD
TO HIS FORTUNE BY BECOMING A
MARIJUANA MOGUL.
MATT BARNES HAS ALSO BASED HIS
SECOND ACT ON POT, A DRUG HE
ENJOYED DURING HIS PLAYING DAYS.
>> Matt: I WAS SOMEONE WHO
SMOKED BEFORE I PLAYED IN NBA
GAMES.
SOMEONE WHO SMOKED AFTER GAMES.
IT WAS JUST REALLY A PART OF WHO
I AM AND MY LIFESTYLE.
>> NOW, BARNES IS GETTING PAID
HANDSOMELY TO DISCUSS HIS
LIFESTYLE, IN A POPULAR PODCAST
AND TV SHOW CALLED "ALL THE
SMOKE."
>> Matt: WHAT ARE TOP FIVE
SNACKS WHEN YOU'RE HIGH?
>> AND MANY OF BARNES'S GUESTS
ON THE SHOW ARE YET OTHER FORMER
NBA PLAYERS WHO, YES, ARE ALSO
NOW IN THE WEED GAME.
LIKE PAUL PIERCE, WHO'S
DEVELOPING A LINE OF POT
PRODUCTS CALLED "TRUTH."
AND CHRIS WEBBER, ANOTHER HALL
OF FAMER, WHO'S RAISED $100
MILLION DOLLARS FROM INVESTORS
TO HELP START UP CANNABIS
BUSINESSES.
AND, OF COURSE, AL HARRINGTON
HIMSELF, THE GODFATHER OF THE
MOVEMENT.
>> Matt: YOU'RE DOING SOME
AMAZING SHIT ACROSS THE BOARD,
MAN.
SO I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE
YOU, MAN.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I'M LOOKING UP TO YOU IN
THIS SPACE BECAUSE I'M IN THIS
SPACE AS WELL.
>> THE TREND SEEMS TO REFLECT
THE FACT THAT MARIJUANA IS
DEEPLY INGRAINED IN THE CULTURE
OF THE NBA.
HARRINGTON SAYS ITS USE IS
OVERWHELMING.
>> Al: I BELIEVE EIGHT OUT OF
EVERY TEN PLAYERS USE CANNABIS
IN SOME SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION.
>> SO PREVALENT IS THE USE OF
THE DRUG ACROSS THE LEAGUE THAT,
ACCORDING TO MATT BARNES, NEARLY
HALF OF THE NBA'S PLAYERS AT ONE
POINT TESTED POSITIVE FOR
MARIJUANA, QUIETLY LANDING THEM
IN THE LEAGUE'S INTERNAL DRUG
PENALTY PROGRAM.
>> Matt: I KINDA KNEW THE GUYS
RUNNING THE PROGRAM, AND WE WERE
JUST KINDA TALKING ONE DAY.
AND I WAS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW,
"HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THIS
PROGRAM FOR CANNABIS?"
AND HE'S JUST LIKE, "A LITTLE
BIT OVER 200."
AND I WAS LIKE, "WHAT?"
>> David: 200 OF THE 450 --
>> Matt: RIGHT.
OF THE 450 PLAYERS IN THE
LEAGUE.
IT BLEW MY MIND WHEN I HEARD
THAT.
>> FOR SOME PLAYERS, LIKE
BARNES, WHO BEGAN USING AT AGE
14, MARIJUANA HAS LONG BEEN A
PART OF THEIR LIVES.
OTHERS, LIKE HARRINGTON,
ACTUALLY AVOIDED THE DRUG FOR
YEARS.
THAT CHANGED FOR HARRINGTON ONE
DAY IN 2011, WHEN HE WITNESSED
HIS GRANDMOTHER VIOLA, WHO WAS
79 AND GOING BLIND FROM
GLAUCOMA, TRY CANNABIS AS A LAST
RESORT CURE FOR HER EYES.
>> Al: SO SHE DOES IT.
AND SHE HITS IT, LIKE, THE FIRST
TIME.
AND SHE JUST BLOWS IT OUT HER
NOSE.
RIGHT?
SO I LOOK AT HER.
AND SHE HITS IT AGAIN.
BLOW IT OUT HER NOSE.
THIRD TIME.
SO I LOOK AT HER AND I SAID,
"GRANDMA," I WAS LIKE, "YOU SURE
YOU NEVER SMOKED WEED BEFORE?"
'CAUSE I WAS EXPECTING HER TO,
LIKE, COUGH AND --
>> David: CAME A LITTLE TOO
NATURALLY.
>> Al: YEAH, YEAH, AND HER EYES
START GETTING A GLASSY.
AND SHE HIT IT ONE MORE TIME.
AND I WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT,
GRANDMA, I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH."
>> AFTER LEAVING VIOLA ALONE FOR
90 MINUTES, HARRINGTON RETURNED
AND FOUND HER READING HER BIBLE.
>> Al: I'M LIKE, "GRANDMA, HOW
YOU DOIN'?"
AND LITERALLY, SHE TURNED AROUND
AND SHE WAS CRYIN' TEARS.
SHE WAS, LIKE, BAWLING.
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "I'M HEALED."
SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO READ THE WORDS OF
MY BIBLE IN OVER THREE YEARS.
AND I SAID, "WHAT?"
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "EVERYTHING IS
SO BRIGHT."
LIKE, EVERY...
"I CAN SEE AGAIN."
SHE'S LIKE, "GOD GAVE ME MY
SIGHT BACK."
SEEING CANNABIS CURE IT AND
WATCHING HER CRY, SHE MADE ME.
>> INSPIRED, HARRINGTON BEGAN
USING MARIJUANA TOO, AS MEDICINE
FOR HIS BODY, WHICH WAS ACHING
FROM A LONG CAREER THAT INCLUDED
14 SURGERIES.
HE INSTANTLY BECAME A POT
CONVERT, AND DECIDED TO LAUNCH A
WEED COMPANY, WHICH HE NAMED
VIOLA FOR HIS GRANDMOTHER.
THAT WAS TEN YEARS AGO.
EVER SINCE, HE'S BEEN GETTING
OTHER NBA PLAYERS TO INVEST IN
CANNABIS WITH HIM, BEGINNING
WITH HIS FORMER TEAMMATE, WILSON
CHANDLER.
>> Al: HE WAS MY VERY FIRST
INVESTOR.
>> David: THE VERY FIRST?
>> Al: THE VERY FIRST.
SOMETIMES IS STARTS WITH ONE.
THEN IT WENT FROM WILSON TO
KENYON MARTIN.
FROM KENYON MARTIN TO
J.R. SMITH.
J.R. SMITH TO JOSH CHILDRESS.
TO BEN GORDON.
THIS IS A BROTHERHOOD.
>> SOON, CHANDLER WILL BE
OPENING HIS OWN DISPENSARY WITH
HARRINGTON'S HELP.
>> Wilson: HIS COMPANY IS THE
BIG BROTHER, SO I'VE HAD HIM AND
HIS TEAM BEHIND ME, YOU KNOW,
THE WHOLE WAY.
>> OF COURSE, HARRINGTON AND HIS
DISCIPLES HAVE MORE IN COMMON
THAN JUST THEIR NBA LINEAGE AND
AN INTEREST IN MARIJUANA.
THEY'RE ALSO, LIKE MUCH OF THE
LEAGUE, BLACK, AND MANY SAY THEY
WANT TO USE THIS NEW INDUSTRY TO
HELP THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
>> Al: MY MISSION IS TO CREATE A
HUNDRED BLACK MILLIONAIRES, YOU
KNOW, THROUGH CANNABIS.
>> David: A HUNDRED BLACK
CANNABIS MILLIONAIRES?
>> Al: CORRECT.
>> David: IT SOUNDS AMBITIOUS.
DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE?
>> Al: I DEFINITELY THINK...
I KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE.
THERE'S DIFFERENT LAYERS, YOU
KNOW, TO THIS ONION, FOR SURE.
BUT ONE OF THEM THAT'S AT THE
CORE OF MY HEART IS DIVERSITY IN
THE CANNABIS SPACE.
>> BUT DIVERSITY IN CANNABIS
OWNERSHIP HAS BEEN LIMITED SO
FAR, AS A RECENT SURVEY FOUND
THAT JUST FOUR PERCENT OF POT
BUSINESSES ARE BLACK OWNED.
FACT IS, IT'S AN INDUSTRY WITH
VERY HIGH BARRIERS TO ENTRY,
INCLUDING THE OFTEN-PROHIBITIVE
COSTS OF BUILDING GROW
FACILITIES, OPENING
DISPENSARIES, AND SECURING
LICENSES TO DO IT ALL.
>> Al: IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY
EXPENSIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
AND A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE JUST
DON'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES.
>> Matt: THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO
DO OUR PART AS PEOPLE WHO'VE
BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT
OF MONEY.
TO CONTINUE TO USE OUR RESOURCES
AND OUR PLATFORM TO HELP OUR
PEOPLE GET IN THE SPACE.
>> HARRINGTON AND BARNES SAY
THAT BLACK OWNERSHIP IN THE POT
BUSINESS IS A MATTER OF JUSTICE,
GIVEN THAT WHEN MARIJUANA WAS
WIDELY CRIMINALIZED IN AMERICA,
IT WAS THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT
FELT THE IMPACTS MOST SEVERELY.
FOR YEARS, BLACK AND BROWN POT
USERS WERE ARRESTED AND
INCARCERATED AT A FAR HIGHER
RATE THAN OTHER POT USERS IN
AMERICA.
>> Matt: PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR,
YOU KNOW, THEIR FREEDOMS OVER
IT.
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
OVER THIS PLANT THAT WAS REALLY
PUT HERE TO HELP US.
>> Al: IT'S NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE IN JAIL.
BUT IT'S ALSO ALL THE PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS AFFECTED
AS WELL.
OUR PEOPLE JUST REALLY DESERVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
>> David: YOU'RE NOT PREPARED TO
SETTLE FOR JUST JOBS.
>> Al: NO.
WE WANT OWNERSHIP THIS TIME
AROUND.
YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT ALL
THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT
WILL BE GENERATED IN CANNABIS.
THE GOAL IS FOR US TO HAVE
ENOUGH OF IT THAT WE CAN GO BACK
AND REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> COMMUNITIES LIKE WATTS, IN
LA, WHERE ILLEGAL POT USE, AND
ARRESTS FOR IT, WERE PART OF
EVERYDAY LIFE FOR MORE THAN A
GENERATION.
THAT'S THE WORLD IN WHICH
TRAYANNA ENRIQEUZ WAS BORN.
BACK THEN, SELLING WEED WAS A
HIGH-RISK JOB, AS ENRIQUEZ
KNOWS, BECAUSE HER GRANDMOTHER
WAS THE KINGPIN OF THE LOCAL
ILLEGAL POT MARKET.
>> Trayanna: MY GRANDMOTHER, SHE
ACTUALLY HAD HER OWN MARIJUANA
BUSINESS.
AND SHE RAN IT LIKE ANY OTHER
FORTUNE 500 COMPANY WOULD.
>> David: HER TRADE WAS THE KIND
OF CENTER OF THE FAMILY ECONOMY?
>> Trayanna: ABSOLUTELY.
SHE HAD SEVERAL KIDS THAT SHE
HAD TO TAKE CARE OF AND SHE WAS
VERY FAMILY ORIENTED SO SHE
WOULD, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT
SHE HAD ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR
EVERYONE BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER
WASN'T IN THE PICTURE.
>> BUT WITH THE UPSIDE CAME THE
DOWNSIDE.
ENRIQUEZ SAYS WHEN SHE WAS
GROWING UP, SEVEN OF HER FAMILY
MEMBERS WERE JAILED AT TIMES ON
MARIJUANA-RELATED CHARGES.
THE FAMILY ALSO LIVED IN FEAR
FOR THEIR LIVES.
>> Trayanna: PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT KNEW ABOUT HER
ESTABLISHMENT.
AND THEY WANTED A PIECE OF THE
PIE.
SO THEY WOULD ROB US AT TIMES
AND, YOU KNOW, AT GUNPOINT.
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS SHOT THROUGH
THE CHEST.
MY UNCLES WERE SHOT.
IT'S
>> David: SO IT DID ATTRACT
VIOLENCE.
>> Trayanna: IT DID ATTRACT
VIOLENCE.
>> BUT IN RECENT YEARS, WITH
CANNABIS MORPHING INTO A LEGAL
INDUSTRY, ENRIQUEZ BEGAN TO
SENSE AN OPPORTUNITY, TO REBUILD
HER GRANDMOTHER'S BUSINESS, ONLY
THIS TIME WITH THE SUPPORT OF
THE LAW.
ALL SHE'D NEED WAS MONEY AND
GUIDANCE.
FORTUNATELY, HER HUSBAND KNEW A
MAN WILLING TO PROVIDE BOTH: AL
HARRINGTON, WHO'S NOW WORKING
WITH ENRIQUEZ TO BUILD A
DISPENSARY AND SECURE A LICENSE
TO SELL MARIJUANA.
>> Al: WHAT YOU SEE IN HERE IS
PROBABLY ABOUT $200,000 WORTH OF
WORK.
BUT WE GOT ANOTHER 400, 500 TO
GO BEFORE IT'S DONE.
>> David: IS IT HARD FOR YOU,
AL, TO LOOK AT THIS AND NOT SEE
A MONEY PIT?
>> Al: I DON'T SEE A MONEY PIT.
I JUST SEE A TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE GONNA SELL A SHITLOAD OF
BUD OUT HERE.
>> David: WHAT'S IT LIKE TO WALK
THROUGH THERE AND KNOW THAT
WITHIN, WHAT, A MATTER OF
MONTHS, IT'S GOING TO BE AN
ACTIVE, OPEN BUSINESS, AND
UNLOCK THE KEY TO YOUR FINANCIAL
FUTURE?
>> Trayanna: IT FEELS UNREAL.
IT'S LIKE, WOW, LIKE TO JUST
ACTUALLY SEE EVERYTHING COMING
TOGETHER, AND HAVING SOMEBODY
BELIEVE IN YOU.
AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S
LIVES AND IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S
JUST, LIKE, MY GRANDMOTHER'S NOT
HERE ANYMORE, BUT I GET TO
FOLLOW IN HER FOOTSTEPS, IN A
SENSE.
AND DO IT LEGALLY, AND NOT HAVE
TO WORRY THAT I'M GONNA BE
ARRESTED OR SOMEBODY'S COMING TO
ROB ME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> David: WHAT WOULD YOUR
GRANDMOTHER SAY IF SHE COULD SEE
WHAT WAS UNFOLDING NOW?
>> Trayanna: SHE WOULD BE SO
PROUD.
I KNOW SHE WOULD TELL ME, "JUST
YOU KNOW, STAY -- JUST STAY
KIND, STAY GENUINE, STAY
SINCERE, AND DON'T TAKE ANY
SHIT."
>> ONCE ENRIQUEZ'S STORE IS
FULLY BUILT, ASSUMING THE CITY
GRANTS HER A FINAL LICENSE, IT
WILL HAVE A MARKET VALUE OF $3
MILLION, WITH ENRIQUEZ OWNING 51
PERCENT OF IT, AND HARRINGTON'S
VIOLA BRAND OWNING THE REST.
IN FACT, IF HARRINGTON CAN REACH
HIS GOAL AND MINT A HUNDRED
BLACK MILLIONAIRES, HE'LL MAKE
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
HIMSELF.
BUT WHILE THERE'S NO DOUBTING
THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO
HARRINGTON AND OTHERS IN ON THE
GREEN GOLD RUSH, WHAT'S LESS
CLEAR IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF
A LEGAL CANNABIS TRADE ON A
COMMUNITY THAT'S LONG BEEN
RAVAGED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
>> David: IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT
THOSE KINDS OF RESOURCES
TOGETHER, TO BRING BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TO THE COMMUNITY WHY
CANNABIS?
WHY NOT CREDIT UNIONS?
YOU KNOW, WHY NOT 100 OTHER
THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS
JUST AS BADLY?
>> Al: THE THING ABOUT IT IS WE
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
GENERATE REVENUE TO DO ANY OF
THAT STUFF.
RIGHT?
AND THAT'S WHERE WE FALL SHORT
SOMETIME IS THE OPPORTUNITY.
CANNABIS IS ONE OF THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> David: KIDS.
MANY OF WHOM WILL LOOK UP TO YOU
AND LOOK TO YOUR EXAMPLE.
AND THEY MAY SEE IN IT LICENSE
FOR THEIR OWN USE AT YOUNG AGES.
IS THAT AN ISSUE FOR YOU?
>> Al: PARENTS HAVE TO BE
PARENTS.
I DIDN'T HAVE YOUR CHILD.
I UNDERSTAND HE LOOKS UP TO ME.
I UNDERSTAND I'M A ROLE MODEL.
BUT THAT'S YOUR CHILD.
I SAY THAT TO SAY I HAVE VERY
REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH MY KIDS.
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHY I DO IT.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF
CANNABIS.
>> David: THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO INTO
BUSINESS TO HELP THE BLACK
COMMUNITY.
WHY CANNABIS?
>> Matt: WHY NOT?
THAT'S MORE MY QUESTION, NOT WHY
WEED, LIKE WHY NOT WEED?
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A PART OF
OUR LIFESTYLE ALREADY.
AND IF WE CAN TURN THAT INTO AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS, WHY NOT.
>> BARNES SAYS HE'S NOW WORKING
TO GROW BLACK OWNERSHIP IN
CANNABIS IN HIS HOMETOWN OF
SACRAMENTO.
MEANWHILE, HARRINGTON SAYS HE'S
CREATED EIGHT BLACK CANNABIS
MILLIONAIRES ON PAPER SO FAR.
HE'S GOT A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET
TO A HUNDRED, BUT SAYS HE'S JUST
GETTING STARTED.
>> Al: THIS IS GONNA BE MY
LIFE'S WORK.
I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER GET TO
THE POINT WHERE I'M LIKE, "I'M
DONE," AND KICK BACK.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S
JUST GONNA CONSUME ME, YOU KNOW,
UNTIL I GET TO THE NEXT LIFE.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: DAVID, AL
HARRINGTON'S COMMITMENT IS VERY
IMPRESSIVE, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW MUCH MONEY HE HAS INVESTED
IN VIOLA?
>> David: I DON'T HAVE A HARD
FIGURE, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS,
SURE.
>> Bryant: DOES HE HAVE
PARTNERS?
>> David: HAS MANY, MANY
INVESTMENT PARTNERS.
>> Bryant: HIS STATED GOAL OF
CREATING 100 AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MILLIONAIRES, ALL BY EFFECTIVELY
FRANCHISING VIOLA, IS THAT IT?
>> David: ESSENTIALLY AND I
THINK HE GETS TO THAT BY
CALCULATING THE MARKET VALUE OF
A LICENSE DISPENSARY WHICH IN
CALIFORNIA COULD BE ABOUT
$3 MILLION.
AND WHILE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
VERY STEEP BARRIERS TO ENTRY, IT
CAN COST A MILLION DOLLARS TO
ROLL ONE OUT, SOME OF THEM CAN
DO SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND,
EVEN A MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK IN
REVENUE.
>> Bryant: I LOOKED IT UP INTO
THE HEART OF HIS HARRINGTON
GROUP BESIDES VIOLA HE HAS
HARRINGTON WELLNESS AND
SOMETHING CALLED BUTTER BABY,
NOT BAD FOR A GUY WHO AS I
UNDERSTAND IT DIDN'T GO TO
COLLEGE, HAS HE A BUSINESS
MENTOR?
>> David: THIS GUY HAS FIGURED
OUT HOW TO VERTICALLY INTEGRATE
HIS BUSINESSES, HE'S GOT
DISPENSARIES, GROWTH FACILITIES
AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES SO
THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE TRIFECTA
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
>> Bryant: DAVID, THANKS.
>> David: THANK YOU, SIR.
>> Bryant: WE MOVE ON, TO A
TREND OF A VERY DIFFERENT SORT.
THIS ONE INVOLVING THE
EVER-COMBUSTIBLE MIX OF GUNS,
AND MONEY.
IN RECENT YEARS, AN INCREASING
NUMBER OF REGIONS IN THIS
COUNTRY HAVE BEEN STAGING
HUNTING CONTESTS, OFFERING MONEY
TO ANYONE WILLING TO HELP RID
THEIR COMMUNITIES OF UNWANTED
WILDLIFE.
CRITICS UNDERSTANDABLY QUESTION
THE ETHICS OF BOUNTIES FOR
BLOOD, AS WELL AS THE NOTION
THAT THESE CONTESTS EVEN ADDRESS
THE PROBLEM.
BUT AS SOLEDAD O'BRIEN REPORTS,
THAT HASN'T DIMMED THE
ENTHUSIASM OF THE ORGANIZERS OR
THE HUNTERS.
♪ ♪
>> ONCE A YEAR, HUNDREDS OF
SPORTSMEN DESCEND ON THE FLORIDA
EVERGLADES, SCOURING THE REGION
BY LAND, AND SEA, TO TAKE PART
IN WHAT THEY CONSIDER THEIR
SUPER BOWL.
IT'S AN EVENT THAT DOESN'T
HAPPEN ON A MANICURED FIELD, BUT
OUT IN THE WILD.
THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO CATCH THE
BIGGEST, LONGEST AND LARGEST
NUMBER OF SNAKES, WHICH IS WHY
THEY CALL IT THE PYTHON BOWL.
THE COMPETITORS INCLUDE MEN LIKE
TOM RAHILL AND HIS TEAM, WHO,
OVER THE YEARS, HAVE CAPTURED
MORE THAN A THOUSAND PYTHONS IN
THE EVERGLADES, WITH THEIR BARE
HANDS.
LIKE THIS 60-POUNDER THEY BAGGED
AT LAST YEAR'S PYTHON BOWL,
WHICH THRILLED RAHILL, IF NOT
THE SNAKE ITSELF.
>> JESUS CHRIST!
>> THAT'S WHY WE DOUBLE BAG IT.
>> SHE TRIED TO BITE ME!
>> Soledad: SHE'S PISSED, HUH?
>> Tom: SHE KNOWS IT'S ME
>> Soledad: SHE'S BUILDING UP TO
GRAB YOU.
>> Soledad: SO, WHAT WERE THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF FINDING HER?
I MEAN, WHERE WAS SHE?
>> Tom: SHE WAS IN THE WATER,
MAYBE ABOUT TWO OR THREE FEET
FROM THE TOE OF THE LEVEE WHERE
THE LEVEE MEETS THE WATER.
>> Soledad: DO YOU THINK YOU
COULD WIN?
SHE LOOKS MASSIVE TO ME.
>> Tom: THE LONGEST SNAKE?
IT'S POSSIBLE.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS
CAUGHT A LONGER SNAKE.
>> IF HE'S RIGHT, RAHILL AND HIS
TEAM STAND TO WIN THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS, PRIZE MONEY THAT COMES
FROM A SOURCE THAT MIGHT
SURPRISE YOU: THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.
BECAUSE THIS IS NO ORDINARY
HUNTING COMPETITION.
THE PYTHON BOWL WAS SET UP TO
TRY TO SAVE THE EVERGLADES FROM
AN ANIMAL THAT IS DESTROYING THE
REGION AN ANIMAL THAT WAS NEVER
SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO BEGIN
WITH, THE BURMESE PYTHON, WHICH,
AS ITS NAME SUGGESTS, IS
SUPPOSED TO BE ACROSS THE WORLD
IN BURMA.
IN FACT, FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS
THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE IT COULD
BE FOUND.
THEN CAME THE 1980S.
THAT'S WHEN SOUTH FLORIDA
BECAME, AT LEAST IN POP CULTURE,
ONE LONG, LOUD PARTY, WITH
MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES LIKE
EXOTIC CARS, EXOTIC BOATS, AND,
YES, EXOTIC PETS.
SOON WANNABES ACROSS MIAMI WERE
IMPORTING PYTHONS FROM THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE WORLD AND WEARING
THEM LIKE THE LATEST STYLES.
BUT WHEN THE PARTY ENDED, THE
PYTHONS GOT DUMPED, LITERALLY,
INTO THE WATERS OF THE
EVERGLADES, WHERE FOR THE LAST
30 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN
MULTIPLYING OUT OF CONTROL, AND
EATING EVERY OTHER ANIMAL IN
SIGHT, TO THE DISMAY OF LOCALS
LIKE RAHILL.
>> Tom: THE EVERGLADES USED TO
BE THIS FANTASY MOVIE, THIS
ANIMATED SPECIAL OF LIKE A
PRINCESS SKIPPING ALONG WITH
BIRDS SINGING AND RABBITS COMING
OUT TO NO MORE.
IT'S EERILY QUIET.
>> Soledad: AND THAT'S BECAUSE
OF THE PYTHON.
>> Tom: 100%.
>> Alligator Ron: THERE'S AREAS
IN THE EVERGLADES WHERE 90% OF
THE RABBITS AND THE RACOONS AND
THE OPOSSUMS, THE DEER ARE GONE.
>> RON BERGERON, A FORMER
COMMISSIONER AT FLORIDA'S FISH &
WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, HELPED
CREATE THE PYTHON BOWL TO TRY TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
>> Soledad: IS TURNING TO
HUNTERS THE BEST STRATEGY YOU
THINK FOR DEALING WITH THE
PYTHON?
>> Alligator Ron: YES,
ABSOLUTELY.
>> BUT THE EVERGLADES IS FAR
FROM THE ONLY PLACE WRESTLING
WITH AN OVERABUNDANCE OF
UNWANTED VISITORS.
IN FACT, SINCE THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC, WITH HUMANS, AND
HUNTERS, STUCK AT HOME, ANIMALS
HAVE BEEN MAKING THEMSELVES
COMFORTABLE, IN PLACES THEY'RE
NOT WELCOME.
FROM PEACOCKS SPREADING THEIR
WINGS IN THE HEART OF LOS
ANGELES, TO GOATS GRAZING IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
BUT ITS ALL OLD HAT FOR PEOPLE
IN TEXAS, WHERE FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS, WILD HOGS HAVE
BEEN, WELL, RUNNING WILD, OVER
TWO MILLION OF THEM.
>> YOU CAN SEE HERE WHERE THEY
TORE UP THE MULCH, AND OVER HERE
YOU CAN SEE THEIR HOOFPRINTS IN
THE MUD.
>> THOSE HOGS ARE SAID TO CAUSE
NEARLY HALF A BILLION DOLLARS A
YEAR IN DAMAGE ACROSS THE STATE,
WHICH IS WHY TWO TEXAS HUNTERS,
TREY HAWKINS AND TRES POYNER,
STARTED A HUNTING CONTEST OF
THEIR OWN.
>> Trey: WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET
OUT, GO HUNT THE ONES THAT ARE
OUT THERE, THAT ARE CAUSING ALL
THE DAMAGE, SHOOT THOSE, THEN
BRING 'EM TO US FOR THE CONTEST.
>> Soledad: WHAT CAN THE FIRST
PLACE WINNER WIN?
>> Tres: A LITTLE OVER $30,000.
>> Soledad: THAT'S AROUND THE
MEDIAN INCOME HERE.
>> Tres: YEAH, FOR A STINKIN'
HOG.
>> AT LAST YEAR'S CONTEST, WE
EMBEDDED WITH ONE TEAM OF
HUNTERS LOOKING TO HIT THE
JACKPOT.
>> THE COMPETITION IS IN THE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY IS WHOEVER
WINS THE BIGGEST HOG WINS THE
POT.
>> THE HUNT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT
NIGHT, UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS,
A PROBLEM FOR THE HOGS, BUT NOT
FOR THE HUNTERS, WHO WERE
OUTFITTED WITH THERMAL IMAGING
GOGGLES THAT LET THEM SEE LIKE
THIS.
>> DO YOU SEE THEM?
>> I GOT THE ONE ON THE LEFT.
>> IT DIDN'T TAKE THE TEAM LONG
TO FIND A MASSIVE HOARD OF HOGS
MADE UP OF ADULTS AND THEIR
YOUNG.
>> 3, 2, 1.
[GUNSHOTS]
>> THE HOGS SCATTERED AND FLED
INTO THE WOODS, EXCEPT, THAT IS,
FOR A FEW UNLUCKY ONES.
[GUNSHOTS]
ONE OF THE KILLS WAS BIG, BUT
NOT BIG ENOUGH.
>> SO HE'S STILL A HUNDRED
POUNDS SHY OF WHAT'S IN THE LEAD
RIGHT NOW.
>> ANOTHER WAS SMALL, A YOUNG
FEMALE, WHICH TO YOU MIGHT LOOK
INNOCENT, BUT TO THE HUNTERS
HERE LOOKED LIKE A MENACE.
>> I AM NOT GOING TO NOT SHOOT
THESE, BECAUSE IN A MATTER OF
MONTHS, THIS ONE WILL BE READY
TO BE BREEDING.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TO DO WE SEE
THESE AS NO DIFFERENT THAN A
COCKROACH INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE.
>> BUT IF YOU'RE FINDING THIS
ALL A LITTLE HARD TO STOMACH,
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
ANIMAL HUNTING CONTESTS HAVE
THEMSELVES STARTED TO COME UNDER
FIRE, FROM THOSE WHO THINK THAT
WHATEVER THE PROBLEM, THIS IS NO
WAY TO SOLVE IT.
>> Deborah: HAVING A CONTEST
THAT IS INTENDED TO KILL THE
LARGEST NUMBER OF A PARTICULAR
SPECIES IS A DISTASTEFUL WAY TO
GO ABOUT DEALING WITH WHAT YOU
VIEW AS A PEST SPECIES.
>> DEBORAH GLICK IS A POLITICIAN
FROM NEW YORK WHO WANTS TO BAN
ANIMAL HUNTING CONTESTS IN HER
STATE.
TO GLICK, THE GROWING TREND IS
BARBARIC.
TO HER CRITICS, SHE'S A CITY
SLICKER WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO
ACTUALLY LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM.
>> Deborah: I UNDERSTAND THAT I
HAVE A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE THAT
IS NOT NECESSARILY EMBRACED BY
PEOPLE WHO THINK I'M JUST FROM
NEW YORK CITY, AND THEREFORE I
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> Soledad: ARE THERE SOME
SPECIES THAT YOU THINK JUST
LITERALLY ARE NUMERICALLY PESTS
I ASSUME IF A RAT CAME RUNNING
ACROSS THIS ROOM, BOTH YOU AND I
WOULD CALL SOMEONE.
AND WE'D PAY 'EM MONEY TO KILL
THE RAT.
>> Deborah: YEAH, I WOULD SAY
THE BUILDING SHOULD GET A COUPLE
OF CATS.
>> Soledad: IS THERE SOMETHING
GROSS ABOUT GIVING $30,000 PRIZE
FOR KILLING AN ANIMAL?
>> Tres: NOT TO ME.
I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY, MONEY
MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND, AND
EVERYBODY LIKES TO GET PAID.
>> Dwayne: YOU KNOW, ANIMAL
LOVERS, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE AGAINST HUNTING AND KILLING
JUST ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN
ATTACK US, THEY'RE GONNA USE IT.
>> DWAYNE CARTER, A HUNTER IN
OKLAHOMA, COMPETES IN WHAT MAY
BE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL KIND
OF ANIMAL HUNTING CONTEST,
TARGETING THE COYOTE, THE CLOSE
COUSIN OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE
ANIMAL, THE DOG.
THESE CONTESTS HAVE RAISED THE
IRE OF ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS,
WHICH MAY EXPLAIN WHY FEW WERE
WILLING TO WELCOME OUR CAMERAS.
>> Soledad: WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
CHALLENGES GETTING COYOTE
COMPETITIONS TO LET US COME IN
AND FILM.
>> Dwayne: YEAH.
>> Soledad: THAT SURPRISE YOU?
>> Dwayne: NO.
WE WANNA PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE.
>> Soledad: SO BRINGING MEDIA
ATTENTION TO IT MIGHT HURT IT.
>> Dwayne: IT COULD.
AND WE'RE GONNA CATCH SOME
FEEDBACK FROM THIS.
IT'S A BIG PILE OF COYOTES AND
IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY APPEALING,
BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE
DAY WE'RE DOING IT FOR A REASON.
>> THEY'RE DOING IT, THEY SAY,
BECAUSE COYOTES HAVE EXPLODED IN
NUMBER, AND ARE NOW DECIMATING
FARMS ACROSS THE MIDWEST,
KILLING AND EATING MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS WORTH OF LIVESTOCK A
YEAR.
>> Dwayne: THEY KILL CALVES,
GOATS.
CHICKENS.
>> Soledad: DO THE FARMERS LIKE
HAVING YOU ON THEIR LAND?
>> Dwayne: OH, ABSOLUTELY
>> BUT IF FARMERS AND HUNTERS
ALIKE EMBRACE THESE COYOTE
KILLING CONTESTS, THERE MAY BE
ONE SMALL PROBLEM WITH THEM:
THEY MAY NOT WORK.
>> Dr. Crabtree: KILLING
CONTESTS JUST IGNITES THE FIRE,
OPENS UP PANDORA'S BOX AND
OFTEN MAKES THE PROBLEM
WORSE.
>> DR. ROBERT CRABTREE IS A
WILDLIFE ECOLOGIST IN MONTANA,
AND SAYS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO
COYOTES, THESE CONTESTS CAN
ACTUALLY BACKFIRE, BECAUSE WHEN
BIG COYOTES ARE KILLED FOR BIG
PRIZES, MORE PUPPIES GAIN ACCESS
TO FOOD AND GROW INTO ADULTS,
WHICH, IN THE END, MEANS MORE
COYOTES THAN EVER BEFORE.
>> Soledad: IF YOU REALLY WANTED
TO GO AFTER A POPULATION, YOU'D
WANNA KILL THE PUPS, THE BABIES?
>> Dr. Crabtree: YES.
>> Soledad: WHEN WE GO TO THESE
COMPETITION, AS EFFECTIVE AS IT
WOULD BE TO KILL THE PUPS,
NOBODY'S GETTING A TROPHY FOR
KILLING PUPS.
>> Dr. Crabtree: [LAUGHS]
NO.
I WOULDN'T WANT THAT TROPHY.
>> FOR THESE CONTESTS TO
ACTUALLY REDUCE THE COYOTE
POPULATION, CRABTREE SAYS,
THEY'D NOT ONLY HAVE TO REWARD
THAT RATHER UNSPORTSMANLIKE
PURSUIT, BUT THEY'D ALSO NEED TO
KILL OFF AN IMPOSSIBLY LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL
POPULATION.
>> Dr. Crabtree: IT'S INCREDIBLY
HIGH.
IT'S AT LEAST 70%.
>> Soledad: YOU WOULD HAVE TO
KILL 70% OF THE COYOTES EVERY
SINGLE YEAR IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY
MAKE THAT POPULATION GO DOWN?
YEAR, AFTER, YEAR, AFTER YEAR?
>> Dr. Crabtree: YES.
IF YOU REDUCE THEIR NUMBERS
THEY'RE GONNA COMPENSATE.
THEY'RE GONNA INCREASE THEIR
SURVIVAL RATES.
THEY'RE GONNA INCREASE THEIR
REPRODUCTIVE RATES.
THEIR ABILITY TO REBOUND OR
COMPENSATE AFTER BEING KILLED IS
INCREDIBLE.
AND ITS SO IMMEDIATE SOMETIMES
THAT EVEN AFTER A FEW MONTHS,
YOU'LL HAVE THE SAME NUMBERS.
>> Soledad: IS THERE A NUMBER
FOR WILD PIGS IN TEXAS?
>> Dr. Crabtree: PROBABLY JUST
AS HIGH AS COYOTES, OR HIGHER.
'CAUSE IF YOU ASK THE QUESTION,
"WHAT MAMMAL ON EARTH THE SIZE
OF A COYOTE CAN PRODUCE THAT
MANY YOUNG PER YEAR?"
THERE'S ONLY ONE SPECIES THAT'S
BETTER AT IT.
PIGS.
>> BUT THE PIG HUNTING CONTEST
WE VISITED IN TEXAS ONLY
ELIMINATES ABOUT 600 PIGS A
YEAR.
>> Soledad: DO YOU THINK THIS
CONTEST IS HELPING WITH THE HOG
POPULATION?
EVEN AT JUST 600 HOGS?
>> Trey: WELL, LET'S SEE, IF WE
-- MY MATH IS HORRIBLE, BUT YOU
KILL 600 HOGS, SAY HALF OF THOSE
ARE SOWS THAT ARE GONNA HAVE
POSSIBLY 15 BABIES THREE TIMES A
YEAR.
YES, ABSOLUTELY IT'S GOING TO --
ESPECIALLY IN THE LOCAL AREA
WHEREVER THEY'RE KILLED.
>> RIGHT OR WRONG, THIS MUCH
SEEMS CLEAR: MAN AND WILDLIFE
WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO ENCROACH
ON ONE ANOTHER'S TURF, POSING A
PROBLEM WITH NO SIMPLE SOLUTION.
AND UNTIL ONE IS FOUND, THESE
HUNTING CONTESTS WILL, LIKE THE
ANIMALS THEMSELVES, ONLY
CONTINUE TO MULTIPLY.
DOWN IN FLORIDA, OFFICIALS
CONTINUE TO OFFER LARGE CASH
PRIZES FOR CATCHING PYTHONS,
EVEN THOUGH FOUR YEARS' WORTH OF
PYTHON BOWLS HAVE NOT YET PUT A
DENT IN THE MASSIVE PYTHON
POPULATION.
>> Soledad: EVEN IF YOU HAVE AN
AMAZING DAY AND YOU CATCH 10
PYTHON AND 50 EGGS THAT'S NOT
EVEN A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
>> Alligator Ron: AS A MAN THAT
WAS RAISED OUT THERE IN THAT
SWAMP, WE HAVE TO TRY TO CONTROL
IT, WHETHER WE CAN ERADICATE
EVERY ONE, THAT WOULD BE
PROBABLY QUITE DIFFICULT.
>> SO THE PYTHON BOWL CONTINUES,
AND THE HUNT GOES ON, FOR
SNAKES, AND MONEY.
AND AT LAST YEAR'S EVENT, THAT
MEANT BIG BUCKS FOR TOM RAHILL
AND HIS TEAM.
REMEMBER THAT PYTHON WHO DIDN'T
SEEM HAPPY TO MEET ME?
TURNED OUT, SHE WON A TOP PRIZE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: SOLEDAD, IF ONLY
BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE ANIMOSITY
THAT YOUR PRESENCE WOULD
ENGENDER, DID THE HUNTERS -- NO,
NO, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BY
PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THIS, DID
THEY RESENT YOU BEING THERE?
>> Soledad: THEY COULD NOT
HAVE BEEN NICER.
THE NEGOTIATION TO GET IN WAS A
DIFFERENT STORY BUT ONCE WE WERE
THERE THE PEOPLE WERE HAPPY TO
HAVE ME.
>> Bryant: PYTHONS, PIGS,
COYOTES, WHAT OTHER ANIMALS ARE
IN THE CROSSHAIRS?
>> Soledad: ANY OTHER THING
PEOPLE THINK ARE BIG PESTS,
SQUIRRELS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK,
ANYTHING YOU THINK IS EATING OR
DESTROYING SOMETHING AS A FARMER
OR LANDOWNER.
>> Bryant: I LIKE THE LOGIC OF
"THE REALLY ISN'T DOING ANY
GOOD."
IF WE ASSUME THESE CRITTERS ARE
BEING A PROBLEM AND SOMETHING
NEEDS TO BE DONE, WHAT WOULD
WORK?
>> Soledad: AT THE END OF THE
DAY, YOU CAN'T JUST GET THE
BIGGEST MALES WHICH IS KIND OF
WHAT YOU WIN PRIZES FOR THE
CONTEST, YOU HAVE TO GET RID OF
THE PUPPIES, YOU HAVE TO GET RID
OF THE LETTERS.
SO SUDDENLY YOUR CONTEST BECOMES
PUPPIES, LITTLE PIGLETS.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SELL AS A CONTEST?
>> Bryant: THIS MAYBE UNFAIR
AREA BUT YOU CAME AWAY FROM THIS
FEELING WHAT?
>> Soledad: I REALLY HATE
PYTHONS.
FAIR AND TRUE.
>> Bryant: GOOD TO SEE YOU,
SOLEDAD.
>> Soledad: LIKEWISE.
>> Bryant: WE TURN NOW TO THE
STORY OF A PROMISING YOUNG STAR
IN THE GAME OF CHESS.
HIS NAME IS TANI ADEWUMI, HE'S
JUST 10 YEARS OLD, AND WHILE
WHAT HE'S ABLE TO DO AT A
CHESSBOARD IS REMARKABLE IN
ITSELF.
IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO THE
STORY OF HOW HE DISCOVERED THE
GAME, AND WHAT HE AND HIS FAMILY
HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME JUST TO
REACH THIS POINT.
MARY CARILLO PROFILES A
YOUNGSTER WHO'S BOTH A PRODIGY
AND A SURVIVOR.
>> IF THERE'S SUCH A THING AS
STREET CRED IN THE WORLD OF
CHESS, THIS IS WHERE IT'S
EARNED, IN NEW YORK CITY'S
WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK, WHERE
FOR DECADES PLAYERS HAVE
GATHERED TO TEST THEIR SKILLS,
FROM LOCAL HUSTLERS TO ELITE
GRANDMASTERS.
BUT ON ONE RECENT AFTERNOON, IT
WAS A LITTLE BOY WHO WAS HOLDING
COURT HERE.
>> Tani: IF THIS ISN'T WINNING,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
HE'S NOT EVEN FIVE FEET TALL,
BUT HE WAS MAKING HIS PRESENCE
KNOWN.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
>> FEW KNEW THAT THIS TEN-YEAR
OLD IS AMERICA'S YOUNGEST CHESS
MASTER.
>> SHE BLUNDERED, LET'S GO!
>> Tani: I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING
THAT MAKES ME MORE HAPPY THAN TO
MOVE A CHESS PIECE.
IT'S LIKE, YOU HAVE THE PIECE,
AND YOU PUT IT ON A SQUARE, AND
LIKE, TAKE THE OTHER PIECE,
LIKE, CIAO.
IF FEELS SO RELIEVING, IT'S LIKE
YEAH.
TANITOLUWA ADEWUMI, WHO GOES BY
TANI, MAY BE THE NEXT BIG THING
IN THE SPORT OF CHESS.
HE'S A FEARLESS PLAYER, WHEREVER
HE COMPETES.
FROM TAKING ON AND CALLING OUT
OTHER EXPERTS IN THE PARK --
>> Tani: I MEAN, YOU CAN'T TRASH
TALK IF YOU'RE GETTING
CHECK-MATED LIKE THIS, LIKE I'M
SORRY, IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.
>> TO MAJOR TOURNAMENTS, TO
ONLINE COMPETITIONS, IN MATCHES
STREAMED TO CHESS FANS AROUND
THE WORLD.
>> WE'VE GOT THE YOUNGEST MASTER
IN THE COUNTRY ON THE STREAM.
IT'S YOUR BOY TANI ADEWUMI!
>> Mary: WHY IS CHESS SO MUCH
MORE INTERESTING TO YOU THAN
SPORTS THAT A LOT OF KIDS PLAY?
>> Tani: BECAUSE SPORTS IS JUST
-- IT'S ALMOST ABOUT LUCK.
WHEN YOU SHOOT A BASKETBALL HOOP
YOU'RE HOPING TO MAKE IT.
YOU CAN'T PERFECTLY DIRECT IT.
THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS SHOOT THE
BALL.
BUT THEN IT'S ALL THE REST TO
THE SKY, HOW THE WIND IS, LIKE,
IF IT'S A HOT DAY, LIKE, HOW THE
BALL IS FEELING.
LIKE, THE BALL HAS A LIFE TOO.
>> Mary: THAT'S A VERY
PHILOSOPHICAL ATTITUDE FOR
SOMEBODY WHO'S ONLY BEEN ON
PLANET EARTH FOR TEN YEARS.
YOU MEAN CHESS, IT'S MORE
CONTROLLABLE.
>> Tani: YEAH.
IN MOSTLY ANY OTHER SPORT IT'S
-- YOU HAVE TO HOPE IT WORKS.
IN TENNIS, YOU HIT THE BALL, YOU
HAVE TO HOPE YOUR OPPONENT
DOESN'T GET IT.
YEAH, EXACTLY.
THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE.
>> TANI WAS TRYING TO HELP ME
UNDERSTAND THE GAME, BUT THE
TRUTH WAS I COULDN'T KEEP UP.
BETWEEN THE SPEED, AND THE
SOUNDS.
>> Tani: IF THEY GO KNIGHT G4,
YOU JUST GO BACK TO D2 AND THEN
THEY WASTE ANOTHER TEMPO, SO
YOU'RE BASICALLY UP TWO TEMPOS
AT THIS POINT.
I WAS LOST.
BUT TANI CAN'T GET ENOUGH.
HE SPENDS OVER SEVEN HOURS A DAY
SHARPENING HIS SKILLS.
>> Mary: SO HOW MANY MOVES CAN
YOU SEE IN ADVANCE?
>> Tani: IT DEPENDS ON THE
POSITION BUT SOMETHING ABOVE 20.
>> Mary: WHERE DO YOU KEEP THAT
IN YOUR BRAIN PAN?
>> Tani: SO BASICALLY, I HAVE A
CHESS BOARD IN MY HEAD, THE
IT'S
EXACT SAME POSITION, I MAKE ONE
MOVE, AND THEN THERE'S LIKE
THREE OR FOUR, FIVE DIFFERENT
COMBINATIONS, THEN I HAVE FIVE
BOARDS IN MY HEAD, AND I'M
PLAYING IT ON EACH BOARD,
BASICALLY.
>> Kayode: HE SAY THAT IF
THERE'S NO PLAY CHESS, THAT DAY
IS NOT COMPLETE.
>> Mary: A DAY WITHOUT CHESS
ISN'T A COMPLETE DAY.
>> Oluwatoyin: I DON'T THINK HE
CAN DO WITHOUT IT.
>> Kayode: I DON'T THINK SO.
>> Mary: WOW.
IT'S PART OF HIS BEATING HEART.
>> Kayode: YES.
>> KAYODE AND OLUWATOYIN ARE
TANI'S PARENTS.
>> Mary: I ASSUME YOU BOTH PLAY
CHESS.
>> Kayode: NO.
>> Mary: NOTHING?
>> Oluwatoyin: NO.
>> Mary: NOT EVEN A LITTLE?
>> Kayode: I TRY TO LEARN, BUT
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME
BECAUSE MY BRAIN IS ALREADY IN
MANY PLACES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> WITH TANI'S PARENTS STRANGERS
TO THE GAME, HE VERY NEARLY
NEVER LEARNED IT HIMSELF.
IN FACT, THE STORY OF HOW TANI
DISCOVERED HIS HIDDEN GIFT IS AS
REMARKABLE AS THE GIFT ITSELF.
HE'S LIVING HIS DREAM ONLY
BECAUSE HIS FAMILY SURVIVED A
NIGHTMARE.
THE STORY BEGINS FOUR YEARS AGO
AND FIVE THOUSAND MILES AWAY, IN
NIGERIA.
THERE THE ADEWUMIS WERE LIVING A
COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY LIFE WITH
TANI AND HIS OLDER BROTHER
AUSTIN.
BUT THEIR LIVES CHANGED ONE DAY
WHEN KAYODE, WHO OWNED A
PRINTING SHOP, SAYS HE WAS
APPROACHED BY A COUPLE OF MEN
WHO ASKED HIM TO PRINT 25,000
POSTERS.
KAYODE SAYS IT WASN'T THE SIZE
OF THE ORDER THAT WORRIED HIM,
IT WAS WHO HAD PLACED IT.
>> BOKO HARAM HAS BEEN
TERRORIZING NIGERIA'S CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY FOR YEARS NOW,
VICTIMIZING THOSE WHO WOULD
STAND IN THE GROUP'S WAY OF
CREATING AN ISLAMIC STATE.
>> BOKO HARAM IS AN ISLAMIC
TERRORIST GROUP KNOWN FOR ITS
BRUTAL TACTICS, FROM FORCED
AMPUTATIONS TO MASS MURDERS.
THE GROUP'S PHILOSOPHY WAS
SPELLED OUT IN THE POSTERS THEY
WANTED KAYODE TO PRINT:
>> Kayode: KILL ALL THE
CHRISTIAN.
THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR --
>> WESTERN EDUCATION.
>> Kayode: I THOUGHT "IT'S NOT A
GOOD THING FOR ME TO PRINT."
>> KAYODE, A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN,
SAYS HE TOLD THE MEN HE COULD
NOT PRINT THE POSTERS.
HE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE POTENTIAL
CONSEQUENCES.
>> Kayode: THOSE PEOPLE KILL.
THEY KILL WOMEN.
THEY KILL KIDS.
THEY BOMB ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO
BOMB.
>> Mary: THEY CAN GET TO
ANYBODY.
>> ANYBODY.
>> THE MEN LEFT THE PRINT SHOP,
BUT DAYS LATER PAID THE FAMILY A
VISIT.
OLUWATOYIN WAS ALONE WITH HER
SONS WHEN STRANGERS ENTERED HER
HOUSE.
>> Oluwatoyin: ONE OF THEM JUST
SAY THEY SHALL USE ME AS A
MESSAGE TO MY HUSBAND.
THE OTHER ONE JUST POINTS GUN AT
ME.
>> OLUWATOYIN SAYS SHE TRIED
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SAVE HER
LIFE, SHE SAID A PRAYER OUT
LOUD, IN ARABIC.
>> Oluwatoyin: ONE OF THEM ASKED
ME THAT, "ARE YOU A MUSLIM?"
SO I HAVE TO LIE.
I SAID YES.
>> Mary: WOW.
>> Oluwatoyin: THAT WAS HOW I
WAS SAVED FOR THAT NIGHT.
>> Kayode: I NOW BELIEVE THAT
THERE IS NO PLACE SAFE IN THE
COUNTRY FOR US.
"WE SHOULD LEAVE THE COUNTRY."
>> Mary: HOW MUCH DID YOU LEAVE
BEHIND?
>> Kayode: WE LEFT EVERYTHING.
>> THE FAMILY FLED TO NEW YORK,
WHERE, AS REFUGEES, THEY WERE
PLACED IN TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR
THE HOMELESS.
NOW, HAVING ABANDONED HIS
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS BACK HOME,
KAYODE HAD TO DO WHATEVER HE
COULD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
>> Mary: SO YOU WERE SPENDING
DAYS AND NIGHTS WASHING DISHES?
>> Kayode: YEAH.
>> Mary: HOW MUCH WERE YOU
MAKING AN HOUR?
>> Kayode: THEY GIVE US ABOUT
$6.
>> Mary: $6 AN HOUR?
>> Kayode: YES.
WE USE THAT MONEY TO EAT.
>> Mary: YOU WERE A SUCCESSFUL
FAMILY IN NIGERIA.
YOU HAD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
DID IT EMBARRASS YOU TO HAVE TO
BE LIVING IN A SHELTER?
>> Kayode: YES.
BUT ONE THING I KNOW IS SAFETY
FIRST.
>> Mary: SAFETY FIRST.
>> Kayode: AND I HAVE A VERY
STRONG BELIEF THAT TOMORROW WILL
SURELY BETTER.
>> BUT THE FAMILY HAD NO IDEA
HOW QUICKLY THEIR LIVES WOULD
CHANGE, WHEN TANI, FRESHLY
ENROLLED IN A NEW YORK CITY
SCHOOL, WAS INTRODUCED TO
SOMETHING NEW: A GAME CALLED
CHESS.
>> Shawn: I REMEMBER I HAD TO
SIT ON THE CLASSROOM FLOOR AND
JUST SHOW HIM HOW TO MOVE THE
PIECES, AND HE -- THE VERY NEXT
WEEK WAS THE MOST EXCITED
STUDENT TO SEE ME HE WAS LIKE
"YOU GOTTA TEACH ME THE REST."
AND I WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT."
>> SHAWN MARTINEZ WAS A COACH AT
THE SCHOOL'S CHESS PROGRAM, AND
WAS SOON FORCED TO WORK OVERTIME
TO KEEP UP WITH HIS NEW STUDENT.
>> Shawn: IT WAS LIKE, "ONE MORE
GAME.
ONE MORE GAME."
IT WAS LIKE, "TANI, COME ON.
IT'S 5:00 ALREADY.
WE GOTTA GO."
>> Tani: I WANTED TO BE THERE,
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY THING
THAT REALLY GAVE ME THAT BULB,
THAT LIGHT BULB IN MY HEAD.
>> Mary: IF YOU GIVE HIM
HOMEWORK.
>> Shawn: IT WAS, LIKE, "HEY, DO
50 PUZZLES FOR THE WEEK."
HE WAS COMING BACK WITH 500.
AND THIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION.
>> MARTINEZ SAYS IT WAS SOON
CLEAR: TANI WAS THE KIND OF
PUPIL MOST COACHES DREAM OF, BUT
NEVER GET, A GENUINE PRODIGY.
>> Shawn: HE WAS LIKE, "COACH
SHAWN, I WANT TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING."
HE PULLS OUT THE BOARD AND HE
SHOWS ME AN ENTIRE GAME THAT HE
LOOKED UP OF MY FAVORITE PLAYER
IN CHESS, WHICH IS PAUL MORPHY.
>> Mary: HE SHOWED YOU THAT HE
HAD MEMORIZED EVERY MOVE?
>> Shawn: HE MEMORIZED THE
ENTIRE GAME, MOVE BY MOVE, TO
THE END, TILL THE CHECKMATE
HAPPENED.
I WAS, LIKE, "HOW DID YOU DO
THAT?"
>> Mary: MOST SEVEN-YEAR-OLDS
CAN'T DO THAT?
>> Shawn: I WOULD SAY NO.
>> AND TANI'S OBSESSION DIDN'T
END WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY DID.
AT NIGHT, HE FOUND A NEW
SPARRING PARTNER.
>> Austin: WE PLAYED A LOT.
AND NO OFFENSE BUT I GOT BORED.
>> AUSTIN IS TANI'S OLDER
BROTHER.
>> Austin: HE ALWAYS ASKED.
HE WANTED TO PLAY.
I'M LIKE, "NOT INTERESTED."
>> Mary: "AUSTIN.
LET'S PLAY AGAIN."
WAS THERE A LOT OF THAT?
>> Austin: YEAH.
>> Kayode: AROUND 11 I JUST DASH
TO THEIR ROOM.
SEE THESE BOYS PLAY CHESS.
>> Mary: IT'S EVERY PARENTS'
NIGHTMARE.
>> Kayode: I WOULD SAY, "GO AND
SLEEP."
HE WOULD BE THERE PERMANENTLY,
PRACTICING.
TANI'S FOCUS SOON PAID OFF.
JUST ONE YEAR AFTER LEARNING THE
GAME, HE WON THE NEW YORK STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP IN HIS AGE GROUP.
>> Shawn: AND I TELL HIM, LIKE,
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU JUST DID?"
AND HE'S LIKE, "NO."
I'M LIKE, "YOU'RE THE NEW YORK
STATE CHAMPION IN K-3."
AND THE ROOM WENT WILD.
>> Tani: THEY WERE SCREAMING,
THEY WERE -- EVERY SINGLE GLASS
COULD'VE BROKEN AT
THAT POINT.
>> TANI WENT HOME WITH A TITLE
AND SOME HARDWARE.
>> Tani: I WAS WALKING DOWN THE
STREET WITH THIS TROPHY.
AND PEOPLE WERE LIKE, "OH, IT
MUST BE A BASKETBALL TROPHY."
AND WHEN I GOT HOME, LIKE, THE
ROOM WAS, LIKE, A BIT SMALL,
LIKE, SO SMALL.
THIS FIT THE WHOLE ROOM.
>> THE ADEWUMI FAMILY HAD NO
IDEA THAT TANI'S NEW CHESS TITLE
WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
THE MEDIA GOT WIND OF TANI'S
STORY, AND HIS CHESS COACHES
STARTED A GOFUNDME PAGE FOR THE
ADEWUMI FAMILY.
WITHIN DAYS, IT RAISED OVER
$200,000 AND SOON STRANGERS WERE
REACHING OUT, WANTING TO HELP
THE FAMILY IN ANY WAY THEY
COULD.
SOMEONE DONATED A CAR, ANOTHER
PERSON RENTED AN APARTMENT FOR
THE FAMILY FOR A FULL YEAR.
>> Kayode: IT'S A PURELY
MIRACLE.
>> Mary: YOU WALK INTO THAT
APARTMENT.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> Kayode: EVERYTHING IS SET.
>> Mary: EVERYTHING IS THERE.
>> Kayode: VERY BEAUTIFUL.
>> Oluwatoyin: WE WERE JUST
ROLLING ON THE FLOOR.
THANKING GOD.
>> Kayode: PRAISING GOD.
>> Mary: WHO WAS ROLLING ON THE
FLOOR?
>> WE!
>> Mary: ALL FOUR OF YOU WERE
ROLLING AROUND?
>> Oluwatoyin: YES.
YES.
>> TANI COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS NEW
'
HOME EITHER.
>> Tani: THERE WAS SO MUCH
SPACE.
I SAW A AIR CONDITION.
I WAS JUST PRESSING BUTTONS.
I WAS, LIKE, "WHAT IS THIS?"
LIKE, "WHAT IS THIS COLD AIR?
LIKE, OH, THIS FEELS SO GOOD."
>> Mary: LOOK WHAT CHESS HAS
GIVEN YOU.
>> Tani: YEAH.
A HOME.
>> Mary: THAT'S A LOT, MAN.
>> Tani: YEAH.
>> Shawn: THEY HAD A PLACE TO
LIVE, AND THEIR LIFE WAS GOING
ON THE UP AGAIN.
IT'S HARD TO REALLY PUT INTO
WORDS EVERYTHING, BUT IT WAS
MAGICAL.
THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
I TELL PEOPLE I EXPERIENCED A
MIRACLE FIRSTHAND.
>> TODAY THE FAMILY CONTINUES TO
LIVE OUT THEIR AMERICAN DREAM.
THEY HAVE A HOME OF THEIR OWN ON
LONG ISLAND.
KAYODE NOW WORKS AS A REAL
ESTATE AGENT.
THE BOYS ENJOY BROTHERLY
BATTLES, ON THE COURT, AND ON
THE BOARD.
TANI IS NOW THE TOP RANKED
10-YEAR-OLD IN THE COUNTRY, AND
HAS OUTGROWN HIS OLD COACH,
SHAWN MARTINEZ.
>> YOU'RE STUCK!
>> THESE DAYS HE TRAINS ONLINE
WITH A DECORATED GRANDMASTER,
GIORGI KACHEISHVILI, WHO GREW UP
PLAYING CHESS IN THE FORMER
SOVIET UNION, HOME TO MANY OF
THE SPORT'S ALL-TIME LEGENDS.
TANI IS HOPING TO ONE DAY BE
AMONG THEM.
>> IS IN HIS PLAN GOING TO PUSH
E5 OR SOMETHING?
I SEE, I SEE.
>> IT'S ALL PART OF HIS MASTER
PLAN.
AND HE SAYS HE WON'T STOP UNTIL
HE GETS THERE.
>> Tani: YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING.
LIKE, YOU'RE NOT LIKE -- YOU'RE
NOT A GRANDMASTER YET.
LIKE, YOU'RE NOT A WORLD
CHAMPION YET.
YOU'RE NOT THE GREATEST PLAYER
OF ALL TIME YET.
>> Mary: THERE'S NO FINISH LINE?
>> Tani: NO.
YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP MOVING
FORWARD.
YOU CAN'T LOOK BACK ON WHAT HAS
HAPPENED.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE FUTURE.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: MARY CARILLO IS
JOINING US FROM JAPAN WHERE SHE
IS COVERING THE TOKYO GAMES.
HEY, MARY, HOW ARE YOU HOLDING
UP?
>> Mary: I'M DOING ALL RIGHT,
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Bryant: IS TANI AS A
MENTALLY ADEPT AT EVERYTHING HE
TRIES OR JUST WHERE CHESS IS
CONCERNED?
>> Mary: NO, HE IS SO BRIGHT
AND SO CURIOUS.
THE FIRST DAY I WAS WITH HIM, HE
WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MY TENNIS
AND BY THE NEXT DAY HE HAD
LOOKED UP A WHOLE BUNCH OF
TENNIS STUFF AND WANTED TO TALK
TO ME ABOUT IT, HE'S THAT KIND
OF A KID.
THERE'S A PLAYFULNESS TO IT AS
WELL, YOU KNOW?
HE KNOWS HOW SMART HE IS AND HE
LIKES...
THERE IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE
SWAGGER TO HIM.
>> Bryant: YOU MENTION A LOT
OF PEOPLE GO ONLINE TO WATCH HIM
PLAY, CAN HE MONETIZE THAT?
>> Mary: I DON'T KNOW IF HE
GETS PAID FOR THAT BUT I WILL
TELL YOU THAT HE'S WRITTEN AN
ADULT BOOK AND A CHILDREN'S BOOK
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A HOLLYWOOD
STORY.
IT WILL BE.
PARAMOUNT HAS BOUGHT THE RIGHTS
TO HIS STORY, AND I TALKED TO
HIS PARENTS, I SAID, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE GOING TO WANT DENZEL TO
PLAY HIM.
>> Bryant: WE'VE HEARD A LOT
OF HORROR STORIES COMING OUT OF
TOKYO, HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE
BEEN SO FAR?
>> Mary: IT'S STRESSFUL, I
HAVE COVERED EVERY OLYMPICS
SINCE 1992 AND I'VE BOUNCED
AROUND AND SEEN A LOT OF STUFF,
I'VE ONLY BEEN TO ONE VENUE, THE
PROTOCOLS AT NBC ARE STRESSED, I
GO FROM THIS ROOM TO EAT
DOWNSTAIRS TO A BUS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST CENTER.
IT'S...
BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE, I WAS
TALKING TO MICHAEL PHELPS AT
BREAKFAST THIS MORNING AND BACK
HOME I CAN GO WEEKS WITHOUT
TALKING TO MICHAEL PHELPS AT
BREAKFAST.
>> Bryant: THANKS FOR TALKING
WITH US.
MARY, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
WILL YOU?
STAY SAFE.
>> Mary: I WILL.
>> Bryant: FOR OUR LAST STORY
THIS EVENING, WE'VE AN UPDATE TO
A PIECE WE FIRST AIRED THREE
YEARS AGO.
IT'S ABOUT A PROGRAM CALLED
PROJECT AIRTIME THAT GIVES
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T WALK THE CHANCE
TO FLY, OFFERING THEM JOY,
EXHILARATION, AND THE KIND OF
PHYSICAL FREEDOM THEY CAN'T FIND
ON THE GROUND.
TURNS OUT, THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN
DRAMATICALLY IN THE YEARS SINCE
OUR FIRST REPORT, LITERALLY
REACHING GREATER HEIGHTS, AFTER
ONE OF THE PROJECT'S FLIERS
DECIDED TO PAY IT FORWARD.
JON FRANKEL HAS THE STORY.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE A PARADE IN
MID-AIR, DOZENS OF PARACHUTES,
IN A RAINBOW OF COLORS, MARCHING
THROUGH THE SKY.
BUT HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF
UTAH, JUST OUTSIDE SALT LAKE
CITY, THIS IS NOT A SPECIAL
SPECTACLE.
IT'S A DAILY EVENT.
EVERY MORNING, PEOPLE GATHER ON
THESE CLIFFS, STRAP ON THEIR
WINGS, AND TAKE OFF INTO THE
BLUE.
>> Matt: YOU'RE FLYING.
YOU'RE LITERALLY FLYING WITH
NOTHING AROUND YOU.
YOU'RE -- YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE A
BIRD.
I MEAN, YOU FEEL LIKE SUPERMAN.
>> MATT THOMAS IS A PARAGLIDER,
ADDICTED, HE SAYS, TO THE
FEELING OF FREEDOM.
BUT HIS LOVE OF FLIGHT IS NOT
THE ONLY THING HE SHARES WITH
MANY OF THE GLIDERS HERE.
THOMAS IS PARALYZED, UNABLE TO
MOVE FROM THE CHEST DOWN.
HE PARAGLIDES FOR A SIMPLE
REASON.
>> PERFECT, MATTY!
>> THE CHANCE TO FEEL WHOLE
AGAIN.
>> Matt: I CAN ATTAIN A LITTLE
BIT OF FREEDOM BY PARAGLIDING.
I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT PARALYSIS
OR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS I'M JUST
DOING ME.
AS A YOUNGER MAN, LIMITATIONS
WERE THE LAST THING ON THOMAS'S
MIND.
HE WAS AN ABLE-BODIED ADVENTURE
SPORTSMAN, WHO COULD DO
ANYTHING, AND DID.
THAT ALL ENDED WHEN THOMAS
ATTEMPTED A JUMP ON HIS MOUNTAIN
BIKE, AND WOUND UP IN A
HOSPITAL, ASKING A DOCTOR IF
HE'D EVER WALK AGAIN.
>> Matt: I REMEMBER ASKING HIM
"AM I GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE MY
LEGS?"
AND KIND OF GRUFFLY SAID, "YOU
KNOW, IF WE DON'T DO SURGERY
RIGHT AWAY, YOUR LEGS ARE GONNA
BE THE LEAST OF YOUR PROBLEMS."
I REMEMBER JUST HAVING THE VERY
DISTINCT THOUGHT THAT, "IF I
CAN'T MOVE MY LEGS, I JUST -- I
HOPE I DON'T EVEN WAKE UP FROM
THIS."
AND --
>> Jon: YOU DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE
UP?
>> Matt: NO.
>> Jon: IF YOU KNEW YOU WERE
GONNA BE PARALYZED --
>> Matt: YEAH, I'D RATHER NOT
EVEN BE ALIVE.
>> HE DIDN'T GET HIS WISH, AND
WHEN HE AWOKE FROM SURGERY,
THOMAS WAS FACED WITH A DAUNTING
CHALLENGE, FINDING A SPORT THAT
WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL LIKE THE MAN
HE USED TO BE.
THAT'S WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT A
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GET DISABLED
PEOPLE NOT JUST ON THEIR FEET,
BUT UP OFF THE GROUND.
THOMAS TRAVELED TO UTAH AND
BECAME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF WHAT
THEY CALL PROJECT AIRTIME.
>> Jon: COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT
THE WHEELCHAIR AND YOUR LEGS
WHILE YOU WERE UP THERE?
>> Matt: OH, YEAH.
LET ME TELL YOU BEING PARALYZED
IS BEING LIKE CONFINED TO A
PRISON.
AND THAT FIRST SOLO FLIGHT WAS
LIKE BEING PARDONED AFTER A
SENTENCE OF A LIFELONG
IMPRISONMENT.
AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "FREE AT
LAST! FREE AT LAST!"
>> Chris: THESE PEOPLE TAKE THIS
THERAPEUTIC FLIGHT EXPERIENCE,
AND THEY TAKE THE ENERGY, AND
THEY USE IT.
AND IT GIVES THEM THAT LIFT.
IT GIVES THEM THAT BOOST.
AND IT WORKS.
>> THE FOUNDER OF PROJECT
AIRTIME IS CHRIS SANTACROCE, OR
"SANTA" AS HE'S AFFECTIONATELY
KNOWN AROUND HERE, FITTING,
BECAUSE HE GIVES THE GIFT OF
FLIGHT LITERALLY EVERY DAY.
YES, 365 DAYS A YEAR, SANTA AND
HIS HELPERS SHOW UP ON THE
CLIFFSIDE IN UTAH WITH
PARAGLIDING EQUIPMENT, AND HELP
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPREAD THEIR
WINGS, ALL OF IT FREE OF CHARGE,
THE COSTS COVERED BY DONORS.
SOME CAN'T FLY ON THEIR OWN, SO
SANTA WILL TAKE THEM ON HIS
SLEIGH.
OTHERS LONG TO GO IT ALONE, SO
SANTA WILL GIVE THEM THAT EXTRA
PUSH.
>> PUMP!
>> Chris: THE EMPTY WHEELCHAIR
ON THE GROUND IS SYMBOLIC.
THEY'RE LEAVING THAT WORLD
BEHIND.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO ANOTHER
ONE.
AND THE CHAIR GETTING LEFT
BEHIND IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS IT'S ALWAYS RIGHT THERE.
AND TO JUST LEAVE IT THOUSANDS
OF FEET BELOW YOU AND TO FORGET
ABOUT IT IS, LIKE, ONE OF THE
MOST AMAZING THINGS ABOUT WHAT
WE DO.
>> FOR SANTACROCE, THOSE
WHEELCHAIRS ALSO SERVE AS A
CONSTANT REMINDER OF WHAT COULD
HAVE BEEN, A LIFE HE HIMSELF
NARROWLY AVOIDED.
IN HIS PAST LIFE SANTACROCE
DIDN'T RUN A CHARITY, HE WAS AN
ADRENALINE JUNKIE AND A
PROFESSIONAL DAREDEVIL, GETTING
PAID TO DO STUNTS LIKE THIS.
AND THIS.
>> Chris: I WAS DOIN' MY
SIGNATURE MOVE, THEY CALLED IT A
DEATH SPIRAL.
AND THE WINGTIP GRABBED JUST A
LITTLE.
AND I JUST HIT MY BUTT ON THE
GROUND JUST WRONG.
BUT I KNEW THAT I HAD BROKEN MY
BACK.
>> THE DOCTORS WERE BLUNT.
>> Chris: THEY SAID, "GET USED
TO YOUR WHEELCHAIR."
THEY SAID, "MANAGE YOUR
EXPECTATIONS.
YOUR LIFE'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT
NOW."
>> BUT SANTACROCE WASN'T WILLING
TO ACCEPT HIS DIAGNOSIS.
>> VERY GOOD.
>> AFTER THREE MONTHS OF
GRUELING REHAB, HE WAS ABLE TO
WALK AND WOULD MAKE A FULL
RECOVERY.
STILL, SANTACROCE SAYS HE DIDN'T
FEEL LIKE HIMSELF UNTIL HE
RETURNED TO HIS FAVORITE
ADVENTURE SPORT, PARAGLIDING.
>> Chris: GETTING BACK IN THE
AIR, FOR ME, WAS THE BEST THING
THAT -- THAT COULD'VE HAPPENED,
IN LIGHT OF MY EXPERIENCE.
>> Jon: WAS IT HEALING FOR YOU?
>> Chris: TRULY, TRULY.
YEAH, AND SO THE QUESTION WAS,
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT?
AND THE ANSWER WAS, TAKE IT.
AND TAKE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET IN
THE AIR OTHERWISE.
AND SHARE IT WITH 'EM.
>> MORE THAN A DECADE LATER,
SANTACROCE IS STILL AT IT,
INVITING ANYONE WHO MIGHT NEED
HIS HELP TO COME TO UTAH AND
TAKE TO THE SKIES, PEOPLE LIKE
JOE STONE.
FOR YEARS, STONE WAS AN
ABLE-BODIED PARAGLIDER, WHO'S
FAVORITE PLACE TO BE WAS SOARING
THROUGH THE AIR.
>> Joe: IT CONSUMED ME.
IT CONSUMED MY MIND, MY BODY, MY
SOUL, EVERYTHING.
>> BUT STONE'S GREATEST LOVE,
ALMOST TOOK HIS LIFE.
A DECADE AGO, HE WAS GLIDING AT
NEARLY 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HE
CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A
MOUNTAIN.
HE BARELY SURVIVED AND WASN'T
SURE IF HE EVEN WANTED TO.
>> Joe: I WOULD OF RATHER HAVE
BEEN DEAD AT THE TIME THAN
LIVING IN THIS SITUATION.
I THOUGHT PEOPLE LIVING WITH
DISABILITIES CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
I 100 % THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE
COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON
EVERYBODY AROUND ME AND SPENDING
THE REST OF MY LIFE IN A NURSING
HOME, STARTING AT 25 YEARS OLD.
>> AFTER HIS ACCIDENT, STONE HAD
TO RELEARN HOW TO DO EVERYTHING,
EVEN HOW TO GET HIMSELF UP OFF
THE GROUND.
BUT HE STILL LONGED TO RETURN TO
THE AIR.
>> Jon: DID YOU SAY "I WANT TO
FLY AGAIN?"
>> Joe: I DEFINITELY WANTED TO
FLY AGAIN.
I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE ABLE TO.
>> UNTIL STONE HEARD ABOUT
PROJECT AIRTIME.
HE CAME HERE TO UTAH AND FOUND
SALVATION AT A THOUSAND FEET.
>> Joe: IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
SINCE MY ACCIDENT THAT I FELT
NORMAL.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'M DOING
THE SAME THING AND NOBODY'S
HAVING TO, LIKE, WAIT FOR ME
BECAUSE I'M SLOWER.
>> Jon: ALL THAT DISAPPEARED --
>> Joe: 100%.
>> Chris: YOU GOT THIS.
>> BEHIND STONE EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY, WAS CHRIS SANTACROCE.
>> Jon: IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT
CHRIS IS CHANGING LIVES,
RECALIBRATING LIVES?
>> Joe: HE'S DEFINITELY CHANGING
LIVES.
HE'S CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER.
I -- THAT DUDE HAD -- I DON'T
KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT HIM.
CHRIS GAVE ME MY LEGS.
JUST IN WINGS.
HE GAVE ME WHAT I NEEDED, WHICH
WAS FREEDOM.
>> IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE
WE FIRST TOOK OFF WITH PROJECT
AIRTIME, AND THE GLIDERS ARE
STILL A DAILY SIGHT IN THE
MOUNTAINS OF UTAH.
BUT ONE THING HAS CHANGED.
THE PROJECT HAS SPREAD ITS
WINGS, AS A NEW CROP OF GLIDERS
IS FLYING EACH DAY HERE, ABOVE
THE PICTURESQUE TOWN OF JACKSON,
WYOMING.
AND THEY'RE FLYING UNDER THE
WATCHFUL EYE OF JOE STONE.
>> Joe: BEST VIEW YOU'RE GONNA
GET WHILE YOU'RE IN TOWN.
>> WHO IN THE PAST THREE YEARS
HAS GONE FROM PROJECT AIRTIME
STUDENT TO TEACHER.
>> Joe: SWEET DUDE.
HAVE A GREAT ONE.
SMILE THE WHOLE WAY.
>> Jon: IS GIVING THE GIFT OF
FLIGHT YOUR LIFE'S MISSION NOW?
>> Joe: SHARING IT IS, FOR SURE.
IF YOU CAN GET SOMEONE WHO'S IN
A ROUGHER, DARKER SPOT IN THEIR
MIND TO SHIFT THEIR PERSPECTIVE
A LITTLE BIT, SHINE SOME LIGHT
IN THERE I MEAN, THAT'S THE
MAGIC.
>> YEAH, LOOK WHO'S FLYING!
>> OVER TWO DAYS LAST MONTH, WE
WITNESSED A NEW CLASS OF
DISABLED PARAGLIDERS, ALL
RECRUITED BY STONE, TAKE FLIGHT
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AMONG THEM WAS 12-YEAR-OLD
MALEAH MCCUNE, WHO WAS BORN WITH
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.
>> Jon: MALEAH, DO YOU THINK
YOU'D GO AGAIN?
>> Maleah: YEAH.
[LAUGHTER]
>> LIZ ACOSTA-MCCUNE IS MALEAH'S
MOTHER.
>> Jon: LIZ, HOW IMPORTANT WAS
THIS TO GIVE MALEAH THIS
OPPORTUNITY?
>> Liz: SHE'S HAD A REALLY
INTENSE YEAR.
AND SHE'LL BE FACING SOME NEW
CHALLENGES AND SURGERIES IN THE
YEAR TO COME.
SO TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS
SUCH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.
LEADING UP TO THIS HAS BEEN SO
EXCITING AND SO REWARDING TODAY,
I COULD TELL.
>> Jon: MALEAH, WAS IT
EVERYTHING YOU IMAGINED IT TO BE
OR EVEN BETTER?
>> Maleah: IT'S EVEN BETTER.
>> HOLD YOUR ARMS RIGHT HERE,
OK?
>> TO GET ALL THIS OFF THE
GROUND, STONE HAS PARTNERED WITH
LOCAL OUTFITTERS AND EXPERT
GLIDERS, NEW PROJECT AIRTIME
TEAMMATES, WHO HE RELIES ON TO
SAFELY MANAGE AND FACILITATE THE
FLIGHTS.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST NEW FACES
HERE.
SOME FAMILIAR ONES COME TO FLY
TOO.
RECENTLY, STONE'S OLD MENTOR AND
PROJECT AIRTIME'S FOUNDER, CHRIS
SANTACROCE, MADE HIS FIRST VISIT
FROM UTAH TO CHECK IN ON HIS
PUPIL, AND SEE THE NEW HEIGHTS
HE'S HAS REACHED.
>> Chris: HE'S PRO.
I MEAN, HE'S JUST BEEN WORKING
ON THIS FOR YEARS.
>> Jon: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE
WAY YOU STARTED THIS, ABLE
BODIED PEOPLE HELPING THOSE WHO
COULDN'T, AND NOW YOU'VE GOT
SOMEBODY WHO'S IN A CHAIR
HELPING OTHERS WHO CAN'T.
IT'S COME PRETTY FAR.
I MEAN, THAT'S SOME ARC.
>> Chris: YEAH.
JOE IS A LEADER IN A WORLD WHERE
WE DON'T ALWAYS FIND GREAT
LEADERS, YOU KNOW?
>> Joe: IF THERE'S ANY ONE
SINGLE PERSON THAT I WANT HERE
TO WITNESS THIS AND BE A PART OF
IT, YEAH, IT WAS CHRIS.
>> Jon: IT BRINGS IT FULL
CIRCLE.
>> Joe: YEAH.
I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE HE'LL LOOK BACK AND
SAY, LIKE, "THE MOVEMENT'S
CONTINUING."
AND IT'S DOING GOOD WORK.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: ONE QUICK POSTSCRIPT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT NEW CHAPTER
WE SAW IN JACKSON, WYOMING,
PROJECT AIRTIME HAS NOW LAUNCHED
ADAPTIVE PARAGLIDING CHAPTERS IN
ABOUT A HALF DOZEN OTHER STATES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
IN REGIONS STRETCHING FROM
WASHINGTON STATE ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO FLORIDA, AND ALL THE
FLIGHTS ARE OF COURSE FULLY
FUNDED BY CHRIS SANTACROCE AND
HIS ANONYMOUS DONORS.
AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS
EVENING.
FOR ALL THE GOOD FOLKS HERE AT
"REAL SPORTS," I'M BRYANT
GUMBEL.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US.
PLEASE STAY SAFE.
GOOD NIGHT.
♪ ♪