♪ ♪
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING IS A
PRESENTATION OF HBO SPORTS.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: TONIGHT, ON
"REAL SPORTS," THE NFL'S BRIGHT
AND SHINY NEW STADIUM IN
LAS VEGAS REPRESENTS A TRIUMPH
FOR RAIDERS BOSS MARK DAVIS, A
MAN WHO'S OFTEN VIEWED AS LITTLE
MORE THAN THE BUTT END OF A
JOKE.
>> NOW THAT IS A SUPER BOWL.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Andrea: DO YOU REALIZE THAT
IF YOU PROBABLY TOOK A POLL OF
NFL OWNERSHIP, NOBODY WOULD HAVE
EVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD BE
ABLE TO GET THIS DONE?
>> I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO
UNDERESTIMATE ME.
[LAUGHS]
>> Bryant: THE AMERICAN WEST
IS ONCE AGAIN BEING RAVAGED BY
WILDFIRES, ON THE BATTLE LINE OF
THOSE FIRES IS A STRANGE PLACE
TO FIND ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S
TOP ULTRAMARATHONERS.
>> Jon: WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT THERE,
YOU'RE FACING A WALL OF FIRE,
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
>> IT'S INTENSE.
THE SMOKE'S BLOWING, IT'S
GETTING IN YOUR EYES, YOU FEEL
LIKE, IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS,
I'M GOING TO GET BURNED UP RIGHT
HERE.
>> Bryant: ADAM SCHEFTER IS THE
BEST-KNOWN NFL NEWS REPORTER ON
TELEVISION, BUT IT'S HIS
PERSONAL STORY THAT HAS MADE THE
PAST MONTH ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT.
SPEAK OF THE TWO WEEKS LEADING
UP TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF
9/11 WERE AS DIFFICULT AS ANY I
COULD REMEMBER.
BECAUSE THE MESSAGING
OF THE ANNIVERSARY AND THE
COMMEMORATION OF IT WAS SO
PREVALENT.
>> Bryant: AND AS LEAGUES,
TEAMS, ARENAS, AND STADIUMS
CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH
COVID-19, WE'LL TALK SPORTS AND
PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS WITH
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI.
WE'VE BEEN AT THIS BATTLE FOR 18
MONTHS NOW.
IF THIS WAS A BALL GAME, GIVE ME
AN IDEA OF WHAT INNING WE ARE
IN?
>> IF IT WAS A BASEBALL GAME,
BRYANT, I HOPE WE ARE IN THE
SEVENTH INNING, COMING TO THE
END.
♪ ♪
>> Announcer: AND NOW, FROM THE
HBO "REAL SPORTS" STUDIO IN
NEW YORK, BRYANT GUMBEL.
>> Bryant: GOOD EVENING AND
WELCOME TO "REAL SPORTS," WHERE
WE'VE GOT THE PANDEMIC, THE WEST
COAST WILDFIRES, AND THE RECENT
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 ALL IN
OUR STORY LINEUP TONIGHT, BUT WE
BEGIN WITH THE NFL.
THE LEAGUE'S SHINIEST NEW
STADIUM THESE DAYS IS IN
LAS VEGAS, HOME NOW TO A
RAIDERS' FRANCHISE THAT'S BEEN
TRANSITORY FOR DECADES.
MARK DAVIS IS THE 66-YEAR-OLD
BOSS OF THE RAIDERS, AND THE SON
OF THE TEAM'S LEGENDARY FORMER
BOSS, AL DAVIS.
IN GETTING TO VEGAS, AND
BUILDING A NEW STADIUM, MARK HAS
SUCCEEDED WHERE AL NEVER COULD,
YET HE REMAINS IN HIS FATHER'S
SHADOW.
BETWEEN HIS TRACK RECORD, HIS
ODDBALL QUIRKS, AND HIS UNUSUAL
HAIRSTYLE, MARK DAVIS IS STILL
THE NFL'S RODNEY DANGERFIELD,
EVER IN SEARCH OF RESPECT.
ANDREA KREMER HAS HIS STORY.
>> Andrea: IT'S 100 DEGREES IN
LAS VEGAS, BUT THE HOTTEST PLACE
ON THE STRIP IS INSIDE.
UNDER THE DOME OF
ALLEGIANT STADIUM, HOME OF THE
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS.
BECAUSE THE CURTAIN IS FINALLY
ABOUT TO RISE ON THE MOST
ANTICIPATED NEW SHOW IN THE
ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE
WORLD.
TOMORROW, THIS PLACE IS GOING TO
BE FULL.
>> YEAH.
I GET TO GO.
>> Narrator: MARK DAVIS HAS BEEN
WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR A
LONG TIME.
WHILE THE STADIUM HAS BEEN
OPERATIONAL FOR A YEAR, IT'S
NEVER HOSTED FANS FOR AN NFL
GAME, AS COVID RESTRICTIONS LEFT
THEM LOCKED OUT ALL LAST SEASON.
AND IN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY,
DAVIS, THE OWNER OF THE TEAM,
LOCKED HIMSELF OUT AS WELL.
>> I SAT OUT ALL LAST YEAR.
I WATCHED IT ON TV, YOU KNOW,
WATCH THIS EMPTY STADIUM HAVING
FOOTBALL GAMES IN IT.
AND IT DROVE ME CRAZY.
>> Narrator: SO DAVIS HAS CUT NO
CORNERS ON HIS BIG PREMIERE.
>> MIC CHECK, ONE, TWO.
>> Narrator: WE WATCHED AS THE
FINAL PREPARATIONS WERE MADE,
INCLUDING A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR
THE GAME'S HALFTIME ACT,
CARLOS SANTANA, WHO CAME ACROSS
THE STREET FROM HIS RESIDENCY AT
THE MANDALAY BAY TO GRACE THE
STAGE HERE.
THEN, FINALLY, IT WAS TIME FOR
DAVIS TO OPEN THE SHOW.
>> RAIDER NATION, WELCOME HOME!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Narrator: THE REST OF THE
NIGHT WAS A CELEBRATION, OF
RAIDERS FANS FINALLY COMING
TOGETHER IN THEIR NEW CITY AND
THEIR NEW STADIUM, AND OF THE
MAN WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE.
>> WE LOVE YOU!
>> LOVE YOU GUYS, TOO.
>> Narrator: A MAN WHOM MANY
AROUND THE LEAGUE DOUBTED WAS
CAPABLE OF PULLING THIS OFF.
OR, FRANKLY, DOING ANYTHING
NOTEWORTHY AT ALL.
>> Andrea: DO YOU REALIZE THAT
IF YOU PROBABLY TOOK A POLL OF
NFL OWNERSHIP, NOBODY WOULD HAVE
EVER THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD BE
ABLE TO GET THIS DONE?
>> I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO
UNDERESTIMATE ME.
[LAUGHS]
>> Narrator: FOR MUCH OF HIS
LIFE, DAVIS HAS BEEN REGARDED
NOT AS A POWER BROKER, BUT AS A
PUNCHLINE.
A MAN WHO MERELY INHERITED HIS
TEAM, AND HIS WEALTH, FROM HIS
FATHER, AND INDULGED IN STRANGE
HABITS.
FOR YEARS, HE WAS LAMPOONED FOR
DRIVING A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN,
AND, DESPITE HIS MILLIONS,
DINING ALL THE TIME AT THE SAME
CHAIN RESTAURANT, P.F. CHANG'S.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S THE
HAIR.
>> NOW THAT IS A SUPER BOWL.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Andrea: WHEN PEOPLE KNEW THAT
I WAS DOING THIS STORY ON YOU,
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FIRST
THING THAT THEY SAID TO ME?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA.
>> Andrea: "WHAT'S WITH THE
HAIR?"
>> OH.
WHICH ONE?
>> Andrea: ALL OF THEM.
>> OH, ALL OF THEM.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY I CUT IT.
>> Andrea: WHAT DO YOU LIKE
ABOUT IT?
>> I JUST BLOW-DRY IT.
AND IT ENDS UP PRETTY MUCH
HANGING LIKE THIS.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE TO COMB IT.
>> Andrea: DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL
BARBER THAT YOU GO TO?
>> WELL, THERE'S ONE IN PALM
DESERT NOW BUT IT'S NOT HER
FAULT WITH THE HAIR, IT'S ME.
I FORCE HER TO DO IT.
>> Andrea: DO YOU HAVE THIS KEEN
ABILITY TO JUST LAUGH AT
YOURSELF AND JUST NOT TAKE
YOURSELF THAT SERIOUSLY?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
PEOPLE ASK WHERE I GREW UP, AND
I SAY, "I HAVEN'T."
[LAUGHS]
>> Andrea: YOU HAVEN'T GROWN UP
YET, HUH?
>> NO.
NOPE, NEVER WANT TO.
WHAT I SAY IS, "I WAS RETIRED
THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF MY LIFE,
AND NOW I'VE GOT A JOB."
>> Narrator: FOR THOSE FIRST 50
YEARS OF HIS LIFE, MARK DAVIS
WAS SELDOM SEEN OR HEARD FROM,
AS HE GREW UP IN THE SHADOW OF
ONE OF THE GIANTS OF NFL
HISTORY: HIS FATHER, THE
LEGENDARY OWNER OF THE
THEN-OAKLAND RAIDERS, AL DAVIS.
>> THIS IS THE FINEST HOUR IN
THE HISTORY OF THE OAKLAND
RAIDERS.
>> Narrator: DAVIS WAS KNOWN FOR
HIS SINGULAR FOCUS ON VICTORY.
>> JUST WIN, BABY!
>> Narrator: AND LESS SO FOR HIS
FOCUS ON FAMILY.
WHILE NFL OWNERS OFTEN INVITE
THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO HELP
THEM MANAGE THEIR TEAMS, AL
OPTED TO DO IT ALONE.
>> Andrea: YOUR DAD OBVIOUSLY
SPENT A LOT OF TIME PAYING
ATTENTION TO FOOTBALL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Andrea: HOW MUCH TIME DID HE
SPEND PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU?
>> I WAS ALLOWED TO BE AROUND
ANY TIME I WANTED.
>> Andrea: BUT JERRY JONES'
KIDS, ROBERT KRAFT'S KIDS, LAMAR
HUNT'S KIDS, JUST FOR STARTERS,
ALWAYS INTEGRALLY INVOLVED.
AND I HAD ONE PERSON WHO WAS
COVERING FOOTBALL BACK THEN AND
THEY SAID TO ME, "I NEVER KNEW
THAT AL DAVIS HAD A SON UNTIL
AL DAVIS PASSED AWAY."
>> YEAH.
I KNEW WHAT HIS DREAM WAS, AND
THAT WAS TO BUILD THE GREATEST
ORGANIZATION IN SPORTS.
AND I JUST FELT THAT WOULD BE
SELFISH OF ME TO ACTUALLY EXPECT
HIM TO TEACH ME ALONG THE WAY.
>> Narrator: OTHERS WHO WORKED
FOR THE TEAM REMEMBER IT THE
SAME WAY.
>> MY RELATIONSHIP WITH AL DAVIS
WAS DAILY, NIGHTLY, ALL THE
TIME.
I NEVER REALLY SAW MARK MUCH.
>> Narrator: JON GRUDEN WAS
HIRED BY AL DAVIS TO COACH THE
SILVER AND BLACK IN 1998, AND
SOON LEARNED HIS BOSS WAS ONLY
CONCERNED WITH ONE THING.
>> ALL HE DID ALL DAY WAS STUDY
FOOTBALL: FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND
FOOTBALL SCHEMES.
ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, AROUND THE
CLOCK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
>> Narrator: GRUDEN, WHOM I
INTERVIEWED IN A MASK, PER THE
RAIDERS' HEALTH PROTOCOLS, SAID
THAT DAVIS ACTUALLY TAUGHT HIM A
BIT ABOUT FOOTBALL, AND THE TWO
DEVELOPED A FATHER-SON-LIKE
BOND.
>> HE WAS LIKE A DAD SOMETIMES.
HE'D YELL AT ME, DISCIPLINE ME.
[LAUGHS]
YOU KNOW?
HE WAS TOUGH ON ME SOMETIMES.
BUT I THINK AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS
APPROACH WAS THE RAIDERS AND --
MAKING US BETTER.
>> Narrator: BUT FOR AL DAVIS,
THAT MEANT GETTING RID OF ANYONE
WHO WASN'T GETTING THE JOB DONE,
AND AFTER A FEW YEARS, GRUDEN
HIMSELF WAS SENT PACKING.
IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT GRUDEN
LOOKED TO HIM AS A FATHER
FIGURE.
IN FACT, EVEN HAVING AL DAVIS AS
YOUR ACTUAL FATHER DIDN'T CHANGE
THINGS.
>> I WAS FIRED ONCE.
>> Andrea: "FIRED" BY?
>> MY DAD.
OVER SPOTTING THE FOOTBALL.
>> Andrea: HOW OLD ARE YOU?
>> PROBABLY 14.
>> Andrea: OKAY, SO YOU'RE THE
BALL BOY, AND YOU'RE SPOTTING
THE BALL AT A PRACTICE?
>> YEAH.
AND I PUT IT TOO CLOSE TO THE
LINE.
AND HE SAID "I DON'T WANT IT BY
THE LINE, I WANT IT 4 YARDS OFF
THE LINE."
AND I TALKED BACK, I THINK.
AND SO HE TOLD ME TO GET MY ASS
IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND GET READY
TO GO HOME.
>> Andrea: HOW WOULD YOU
CHARACTERIZE THE WAY YOUR DAD
TREATED YOU?
>> HE TREATED ME LIKE HE TREATED
EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> Andrea: WHICH WAS WHAT?
>> "DO YOUR JOB.
BE A RAIDER."
>> Narrator: FOR MARK, DOING HIS
JOB SOMETIMES MEANT PROVIDING
ENTERTAINMENT TO THE PLAYERS.
>> AT TRAINING CAMP, THEY'D TAPE
ME UP -- TAPE MY LEGS TOGETHER,
TAPE MY ARMS BEHIND MY BACK, AND
LEFT ME OUT ON THE FIELD IN THE
SPRINKLERS.
THEY SHAVED MY HEAD BALD.
>> Andrea: HOW'D YOUR DAD REACT?
>> I DON'T THINK IT BOTHERED
HIM.
>> Narrator: DAVIS SAYS IT MADE
HIM FEEL ACCEPTED AS ONE OF THE
GUYS, SO HE CONTINUED TO HANG
AROUND HIS FATHER'S TEAM, WHERE
HE FELT HE WAS NEEDED, IF NOT IN
THE CONFERENCE ROOM, THEN AT
LEAST IN THE EQUIPMENT ROOM.
>> WORKING IN THERE AND CLEANING
UP JOCKS, SOCKS, T-SHIRTS --
RUNNING WATER, LINING THE
FIELDS, AND I WAS ALWAYS TRYING
TO PICK UP ON THINGS.
>> Narrator: HIS GREATEST
CONTRIBUTION TO THE NFL WHEN HE
WAS A YOUNG MAN?
INVENTING THE MUFF-STYLE
HAND WARMER THAT EVENTUALLY
BECAME STANDARD GEAR FOR NFL
QUARTERBACKS.
OVER TIME, DAVIS DEVELOPED A
CLOSE BOND WITH THE TEAM'S
PLAYERS, TO THE POINT THAT, WHEN
STAR WIDE RECEIVER CLIFF BRANCH
WAS RESIGNING WITH THE TEAM,
DAVIS ACTUALLY TOOK HIS SIDE,
REPRESENTING BRANCH IN CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS.
>> THAT DIDN'T GO OVER SO WELL
WITH MY DAD.
>> Andrea: WHY?
>> WELL, HE JUST, YOU KNOW,
CLIFF IS HIS -- ONE OF THE BEST
PLAYERS ON HIS TEAM.
>> Andrea: AND YOU'RE
REPRESENTING CLIFF --
>> AND I WAS REPRESENTING --
>> Andrea: AGAINST YOUR DAD?
>> YEAH.
SO I WAS KICKED OUT OF THE
HOUSE.
>> Andrea: YOUR DAD LITERALLY
KICKED YOU OUT?
>> YEAH.
WE SPENT A YEAR, MAYBE, APART.
>> Andrea: THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU GO UP AGAINST HIM: YOU
GOT A SENSE OF THAT, DIDN'T YOU?
>> YEAH.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
>> Narrator: DAVIS MAY HAVE BEEN
SHUNNED BY HIS FATHER, BUT FOUND
SOLACE WITH THE PLAYER,
CLIFF BRANCH.
AND THE TWO EVEN BECAME
ROOMMATES.
>> CLIFF AND I LIVED TOGETHER.
AND WE JUST DID EVERYTHING
TOGETHER.
>> Andrea: EVEN BOUGHT SOME
ANIMALS TOO, HUH?
>> POT-BELLIED PIGS.
>> Andrea: POT-BELLIED PIGS.
>> YES.
HARRY WAS SILVER.
AND SALLY WAS BLACK.
>> Andrea: I'M JUST TRYING TO
WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS IMAGE.
>> THEY WERE AMAZING ANIMALS.
THEY WERE VERY SMART.
VERY CLEAN.
BUT THEY LIKED TO GO INTO
PEOPLE'S STUFF.
IF SOMEBODY CAME OVER AND THEY
LEFT THEIR PURSE IN THE LIVING
ROOM, DISASTER.
>> Narrator: IT MAY NOT HAVE
BEEN THE CLASSIC BACHELOR PAD,
BUT FOR YEARS, DAVIS LIVED THE
CLASSIC BACHELOR'S LIFESTYLE,
WELL INTO MIDDLE AGE.
UNTIL, HE SAYS, HIS FATHER'S
HEALTH BEGAN TO FAIL.
AND HE QUIT DRINKING, DECIDING
IT WAS TIME TO GROW UP, AT LEAST
A LITTLE.
>> YOU CAN'T JUST GO OUT THERE
AND BE PARTYING ALL THE TIME.
>> Andrea: WERE YOU A BIG
PARTIER?
>> I HAD FUN.
I OVERDID IT AT TIMES, YOU KNOW?
>> Andrea: YOU THINK YOUR DAD
WAS EVER CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR
PARTYING?
>> I'M SURE HE WAS CONCERNED
ABOUT EVERYBODY IN HIS LIFE
PARTYING, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T.
HE DIDN'T DRINK.
HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
BUT I KNEW THAT I WOULD HAVE TO
BE PREPARED TO DO SOMETHING --
REAL SHORTLY -- THAT WOULD BE
LIFE-CHANGING.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO DRINK UNTIL
THE RAIDERS WIN THE SUPER BOWL
OR I GET MARRIED.
ONE, BECAUSE I WANT TO.
AND THE OTHER, BECAUSE I HAVE
TO.
>> Narrator: DAVIS SAYS WHILE HE
WAS PREPPING HIMSELF TO TAKE THE
REINS FOM HIS FATHER, AL NEVER
GAVE UP ON HIS ULTIMATE GOAL:
FINDING A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE
RAIDERS.
OVER THE YEARS, HE MOVED THE
TEAM FROM OAKLAND, TO
LOS ANGELES, AND BACK TO OAKLAND
AGAIN, MAKING THREATS AND FILING
LAWSUITS ALL ALONG THE WAY.
>> THE THING THAT DISTURBED ME
MOST OF ALL WAS THE BAD FAITH
AND FAIR DEALING.
>> Narrator: BUT HE WAS NEVER
ABLE TO FIND A CITY THAT WOULD
BUILD HIM A STADIUM.
>> HE FOUGHT A LOT OF BATTLES,
AND HE WAS RIGHT IN THE BATTLES
THAT HE FOUGHT.
BUT SOMETIMES YOU WIN THE
BATTLES, BUT YOU LOSE THE WAR.
>> Andrea: SO MUCH TIME AND
ENERGY AND EMOTIONAL CAPITAL
SPENT.
WHAT TOLL DO YOU THINK IT TOOK
ON YOUR DAD PERSONALLY?
>> HUGE.
SO I FELT MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE
EASIER TO GET THINGS DONE WITH
SUGAR RATHER THAN SALT.
>> Narrator: THAT'S WHY, WHEN
AL DAVIS DIED IN 2011 AND MARK
TOOK OVER THE TEAM, THE FIRST
THING HE DID WAS REBUILD SOME
BRIDGES THAT HAD BEEN BURNED BY
HIS FATHER.
AT LEAGUE MEETINGS, HE SAYS HE
TOOK ON A DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT
TONE WHEN DEALING WITH OTHER
OWNERS.
>> I JUST FELT THAT I WANTED TO
START ON A CLEAN SLATE WITH THE
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, WITH
THE OTHER OWNERS.
AND IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO DO THAT.
>> Narrator: THEN HE BROUGHT
BACK SOMEONE HIS DAD HAD EXILED
FROM THE TEAM LONG AGO,
JON GRUDEN, WHO WAS OUT OF THE
LEAGUE, BUT HAD BUILT A TRAINING
FACILITY IN FLORIDA FOR FORMER
COACHES TO COME STUDY FILM, DAY
AND NIGHT, A PLACE THAT WOULD'VE
MADE AL DAVIS PROUD.
>> EVERY TIME I WENT BACK TO
TAMPA, TO GO TALK TO HIM ABOUT
COMING OUT HERE, HE WAS SO
EXCITED ABOUT WATCHING FILM AND
SHOWING ME FILM AND CUTUPS AND
EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S JUST -- IT
REMINDED ME OF MY DAD AND BEIN'
AROUND MY DAD.
>> THAT'S A HELL OF WIN FOR US.
FOR ALL OF US.
>> Narrator: DAVIS REHIRED
GRUDEN AS THE TEAM'S HEAD COACH,
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL OF
ALL WAS TO ACHIEVE HIS FATHER'S
DREAM, BY FINDING THE RAIDERS A
HOME OF THEIR OWN.
>> LAS VEGAS IS THE PERFECT
PLACE FOR AN NFL TEAM CALLED THE
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS!
>> Narrator: THE DREAM BECAME
REALITY IN LAS VEGAS, AFTER
STATE OFFICIALS PLEDGED A
WHOPPING $750 MILLION IN PUBLIC
FUNDS TO HELP BUILD A STADIUM, A
MASSIVE SUBSIDY THAT DELIGHTED
THE RAIDERS BUT UPSET SOME IN
THE COMMUNITY.
SOME AREN'T SOLD ARGUING THAT
STATE SHOULD'VE USED THAT MONEY
FOR EDUCATION.
>> WE ARE HAVING THIS RAMMED
THROUGH AND BASICALLY SHOVED
DOWN OUR THROATS AS THE PUBLIC
AND WE ARE OPPOSED TO THAT.
>> Narrator: OF COURSE, THEY
WERE NO HAPPIER BACK IN OAKLAND,
AS THAT COMMUNITY WATCHED THE
RAIDERS LEAVE FOR THE SECOND
TIME, THIS TIME FOR GOOD,
ABANDONING THEIR HARDSCRABBLE,
BLUE-COLLAR TOWN FOR A CITY OF
GLITZ AND GLAMOUR.
>> UNFORTUNATELY THE SITUATION
IN OAKLAND BECAME UNTENABLE AND
IT'S SAD, AND SO IT WAS
BITTERSWEET TO LEAVE.
>> Andrea: YOUR DAD WAS ALL
ABOUT "THE RAIDERS," DIDN'T
REALLY MATTER IF IT WAS IN L.A.
OR OAKLAND.
WHY DID YOU TAKE IT MORE
PERSONALLY WHEN YOU HAD TO LEAVE
OAKLAND?
>> WELL, BECAUSE THE FANS REALLY
DON'T HAVE A SAY IN IT.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE
THAT BELIEVE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING
AS RAIDERS, AND ALWAYS WILL.
>> Narrator: THE RAIDERS DO SEEM
A PERFECT FIT WITH THEIR NEW
HOME, THE REBELS OF THE NFL, NOW
PLAYING IN THE CITY WITH NO
RULES.
AND AS DAVIS SHOWED ME
FIRSTHAND, THE STADIUM WAS BUILT
TO BLEND THE TEAM WITH THE TOWN,
FROM THE VIEWS OUT THE WINDOW.
>> THIS OVERLOOKS THE STRIP,
LOOKING OUT.
>> Narrator: TO THE ART ON THE
WALLS.
>> THAT'S MARILYN MONROE AS A
RAIDERETTE.
AND ELVIS PRESLEY AS A PLAYER.
>> Narrator: DAVIS SAYS, WHEN HE
FIRST MOVED TO VEGAS HE WANTED
TO IMMERSE HIMSELF IN THE LOCAL
TEAM, DAVIS ENDED UP LOVING
THE WNBA'S LAS VEGAS ACES SO
MUCH, HE BOUGHT THEM.
>> SHE'S A SHARP-SHOOTER, SHE
REALLY IS.
>> Andrea: IS THERE A PART OF
YOU THAT SITS AND WATCHES A
GAME, WHETHER IT'S THE ACES OR
THE RAIDERS, AND THINKS, "I'VE
NEVER WORKED A DAY IN MY LIFE?"
>> NO.
NOT AT ALL.
I'VE WORKED A LOT OF DAYS IN MY
LIFE.
IT HASN'T BEEN A FREE RIDE.
AND WE'RE WORKING OUR ASSES OFF
RIGHT NOW.
>> Narrator: BUT DESPITE ALL
THAT HE'S DONE IN RECENT YEARS,
INSTEAD OF SEEING MARK DAVIS'
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SOME STILL
CAN'T SEE PAST HIS HAIRCUT.
♪ WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON UP
THERE? ♪
♪ HE'S A NONPLAYER WITH HELMET
HAIR ♪
>> Andrea: MARK DAVIS HAS TAKEN
HIS SHARE OF PEOPLE MAKING FUN
OF HIM FOR THE HAIR.
>> WE HAVE THE SAME HAIRSTYLE SO
WE GOT THAT GOIN' FOR US --
>> Andrea: LET ME SEE.
>> WE DO.
WE JUST GET IT DRY, LET IT FLY,
YOU KNOW?
IT'S REALLY NOT A BIG DEAL, YOU
KNOW?
>> Andrea: THE REALITY IS PEOPLE
MAKE FUN OF HIM.
I TALKED TO ONE NFL OWNER AND HE
SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE JOKED.
THEY USED TO CALL HIM "CAPTAIN
KANGAROO."
>> I THINK THAT'S A BUNCH OF
BULLSHIT.
IF YOU KNOW MARK DAVIS, YOU LIKE
MARK DAVIS.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW MARK
DAVIS, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN
OPINION.
SORRY THAT HE WASN'T AS
EXPERIENCED AS SOME OF THE OTHER
OWNERS.
BUT HE -- HE GOT HERE AND HE
LEARNED FAST.
AND HE PROBABLY TOOK SOME HEAT
FROM SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.
BUT -- HE KEPT SWINGIN'.
HE KEPT DIGGIN'.
HE KEPT PRODUCIN'.
AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE NOW.
>> Narrator: FOR DAVIS, WHAT'S
MOST IMPORTANT ISN'T WHERE THEY
ARE NOW, BUT WHERE THEY ARE
HEADED.
>> RAIDERS!
>> Narrator: WHICH IS WHY THIS
SEASON ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE
RAIDERS HAVING A NEW HOME, BUT A
NEW HOPE THAT THEY CAN JUST WIN
AGAIN.
>> Andrea: WHAT WOULD YOUR DAD
THINK OF THE MOVE TO LAS VEGAS?
>> I HOPE HE WOULD BE VERY, VERY
HAPPY AND PROUD.
>> Andrea: HOW ARE THE AL DAVIS
RAIDERS DIFFERENT THAN THE MARK
DAVIS RAIDERS?
>> THEY WON.
WE HAVEN'T YET.
THAT'S WHERE I'VE GOT TO GET IT
RIGHT.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: ANDREA,
WILL MARK EVER GET OUT OF AL
DAVIS' SHADOW?
>> Andrea: HE WANTS HIS
PERSONA TO BE DIFFERENT.
IN HIS HOME AND LIFE, HE IS
COMPLETELY PERVASIVE.
>> Bryant: PRIVATE ENTERPRISE,
THAT IS DISTURBING, HOW DO THEY
JUSTIFY THAT?
>> Andrea: WE SPOKE TO SOME
ECONOMISTS OUT OF STANFORD.
HE SAID IT WAS THE WORST DEAL
HE'S EVER SEEN FOR A CITY BUT HE
SAID DON'T RAIL ON MARK DAVIS
FOR THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO BLAME SOMEONE,
BLAME STATE LEGISLATORS, THE
GOVERNOR, THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONER.
IT'S BEEN MONTHS DAD'S DEATH,
THE RAIDERS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT
LOSERS.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY?
>> Andrea: HE SAID "I HAVEN'T
DONE ANYTHING YET BECAUSE I
HAVEN'T WON YET."
THEY START THE SEASON 2-0 BUT
WHO KNOWS, HE'S VERY COGNIZANT
OF THE FACT THAT HE HASN'T WON A
SUPER BOWL.
YOU CAN'T PUT HIM IN THE SAME
CATEGORY AS HIS DAD UNTIL HE
DOES SO.
>> Bryant: ALL RIGHT, ANDREA,
THANKS.
LET'S MOVE ON, AS I SPEAK, THE
FOREST FIRES ON THE WEST COAST
ARE STILL RAGING.
THERE ARE ROUGHLY 70 OF THEM
SPREAD OUT ACROSS ALMOST A
MILLION ACRES.
WITH CLIMATE CHANGE HAVING
INTENSIFIED THE PROBLEM,
CONTAINING THE DAMAGE AND
DESTRUCTION HAS BECOME AN ALMOST
NONSTOP OCCUPATION FOR THOSE ON
THE FRONT LINES WHO ARE QUITE
LITERALLY FIGHTING TO SAVING THE
EARTH.
AMONG THE EXHAUSTED FIREFIGHTERS
IS A MAN WHO HAS GROWN
ACCUSTOMED TO FATIGUE BY WAY OF
HIS OTHER PASSION: RUNNING THE
LONGEST EVENTS THAT ROAD RACING
HAS TO OFFER.
JON FRANKEL HAS HIS STORY, IT'S
ABOUT RUNNING, RECOVERY, AND
RENEWAL.
>> Narrator: ACROSS THE AMERICAN
WEST, WILDFIRES HAVE LEFT A
TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION, CONSUMING
MILLIONS OF ACRES AMIDST ONE OF
THE WORST FIRE SEASONS EVER.
TASKED WITH FACING THE INFERNO
HEAD-ON ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE,
INCLUDING A CREW HELMED BY JERRY
GARCIA, OF COURSE, NOT THE
GRATEFUL DEAD FRONT MAN, BUT A
FIREFIGHTER UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
>> Jon: WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT THERE,
YOU'RE FACING A WALL OF FIRE,
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
>> IT'S INTENSE.
THE SMOKE'S BLOWING, IT'S
GETTING IN YOUR EYES YOU FEEL
LIKE IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS,
I'M GOING TO GET BURNED UP RIGHT
HERE.
>> Narrator: WITH SO MANY FIRES
BURNING ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
CREWS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO BATTLE
FOR DAYS ON END.
>> WE'RE SHORTHANDED ON CREWS.
THE GUYS ARE TIRED.
THEY WANT TO GO HOME AND THEY
NEED SOMEONE TO STEP UP.
>> Narrator: FORTUNATELY, GARCIA
HAS BEEN UP TO THE TASK, BECAUSE
TO HIM, PUSHING THROUGH
EXHAUSTION IS SECOND NATURE.
WHEN HE'S NOT FIGHTING FIRES,
HE'S A STAR IN PERHAPS THE MOST
EXHAUSTING SPORT IN THE WORLD.
GARCIA COMPETES IN
ULTRAMARATHONS, GRUELING RACES
THAT TEST BOTH MIND AND BODY
OVER THE COURSE OF 100 MILES.
FEW RUN THEM FASTER, AS HE'S WON
SOME OF THE TOUGHEST RACES IN
THE COUNTRY, BUT THAT DOESN'T
MEAN HE FINDS THEM EASY.
>> IT'S BRUTAL.
MAN, JUST FROM THINKING, LIKE,
"HOW AM I GOING TO RUN ANOTHER
70 MILES?
HOW AM I GOING TO RUN ANOTHER 40
MILES?"
>> Jon: I IMAGINE THAT THE
PHYSICAL TOLL THAT THE RACE
TAKES ON YOU IS EXTREME.
>> YEAH.
I'VE ACTUALLY ENDED UP IN AN
EMERGENCY ROOM THE FOLLOWING DAY
AFTER A RACE.
>> Narrator: NOT MANY WITH JOBS
LIKE THIS KEEP A SECOND JOB AS
TOUGH AS THIS.
BUT GARCIA USES BOTH TO SATISFY
AN INBORN NEED FOR DANGER, A
NEED THAT ONCE NEARLY DESTROYED
HIM.
BECAUSE AS A YOUNGER MAN, GARCIA
FOUND HIS FIX ON THE STREETS OF
LOS ANGELES, LIVING A LIFE OF
CRIME.
>> BURGLARIES.
BREAKING INTO PEOPLE'S
HOUSES, GOING INTO A STORE,
ROBBING IT, AND THEN USING THAT
MONEY TO -- GET DRUGS.
>> Jon: WHAT SORTS OF DRUGS?
>> Jon: WHAT WAS THE WORST THING
YOU DID IN THE NAVY?
>> AS A MOTHER, YOU WANT THE
VERY BEST FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND
WHEN I COULD SEETHAT HE WAS
TAKING THE WRONG PATH -- I FELT
HELPLESS.
BECAUSE THE MORE I TRIED, THE
MORE HE KIND OF PUSHED AWAY.
>> Jon: HOW FRUSTRATING, HOW
DISAPPOINTING WAS IT FOR YOU?
>> IT WAS HEARTBREAKING I WANTED
MY HOME TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR
ALL OF OUR FAMILY.
AND IT WASN'T.
I JUST TOLD HIM HE COULD NO
LONGER LIVE HERE.
>> Narrator: WITH NO PLACE TO
GO, GARCIA WOUND UP ON THE
STREETS, WANDERING SKID ROW,
HOMELESS AND ALONE.
>> JUST WALKING DOWN THAT STREET
AND WITH THE DUFFEL BAG FULL OF
YOUR STUFF, AND I'M LIKE, "MAN,
THIS IS WHERE I'M AT."
THAT'S DEFINITELY THE BOTTOM.
>> Narrator: GARCIA SAYS HE KNEW
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HE'D WIND UP IN PRISON,
OR DEAD.
SO HE CHECKED HIMSELF INTO
REHAB, AND BEGAN TO HEAL.
>> I COULD TELL IN HIS EYES THAT
HE REALLY WAS READY TO CHANGE,
AND NEEDED HELP.
I TRIED TO HELP HIM TO GET SOME
SORT OF JOB OR CAREER, OR
SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE HIM
FEEL THAT HE WAS OKAY.
>> Narrator: THAT'S WHEN GARCIA
HEARD ABOUT A FIREFIGHTING
PROGRAM AT A NEARBY COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
HE THOUGHT IT JUST MIGHT BE A
WAY TO CHANNEL HIS
THRILL-SEEKING INTO STABLE WORK,
AND A STABLE LIFE.
BEFORE LONG, HE'D LANDED A JOB
AT A FIRE STATION IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA'S ANGELES NATIONAL
FOREST.
SUDDENLY FACED WITH THE PROSPECT
OF FIGHTING MASSIVE WILDFIRES,
HE RESOLVED TO BOOST HIS STAMINA
AND ENDURANCE, WHICH IS WHAT
PROMPTED HIM TO TRY SOMETHING
HE'D NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED:
RUNNING A MARATHON.
>> MAN, IT WAS DEFINITELY A
HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.
AFTER MILE 6, WITH ME CRAMPING
UP AND SEEING, LIKE,
GRANDMOTHERS PASS ME I WAS LIKE,
"WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?
I EVEN HAD TEARS COME DOWN IN MY
EYES ABOUT MILE 24, JUST BECAUSE
I'M JUST SO BROKEN, AFTER THAT I
WAS LIKE, "OKAY, IT'S ON."
>> Narrator: FUELED BY THE
HUMILIATION, GARCIA BEGAN TAKING
DAILY RUNS THROUGH THE TRAILS OF
THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, AND
IN TIME, THE RUGGED MOUNTAIN
TERRAIN AND PUNISHING HEAT
TRANSFORMED HIM INTO AN ELITE
RUNNER.
BUT GARCIA SAYS THOSE LONG,
LONELY RUNS ALSO GAVE HIM
SOMETHING ELSE: TIME TO REFLECT
ON THE WAYWARD YOUNG MAN HE USED
TO BE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF SHAME.
WHEN I'M OUT THERE RUNNING,
THERE'S THAT KIND OF, LIKE,
TUCKED IN.
IT'S LIKE AN -- LIKE AN EMPTY
TRASHCAN, YOU KNOW?
UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC LINER
THERE'S, LIKE, THAT LITTLE STUFF
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRASHCAN
THAT'S STILL KINDA CRUDDED AND
DIRTY.
IF YOU DON'T GET IN THERE AND
SCRAPE THAT STUFF OFF, IT
HARDENS UP.
>> Jon: IS THE RUNNING HELPING
TO BREAK DOWN THE DRECK THAT'S
STILL SITTING IN THE BOTTOM OF
THE GARBAGE CAN?
>> I THINK SO, YEAH.
>> I FEEL LIKE HE WAS RUNNING
FOR HIS LIFE.
HE WAS RUNNING FOR HIS SURVIVAL.
HE WAS RUNNING TO BE SOMEONE, TO
BE JERRY.
>> Narrator: STRONGER IN BOTH
BODY AND MIND, GARCIA BEGAN
TURNING HEADS ON THE CALIFORNIA
MARATHON SCENE.
>> HE'S JUST SUCH A STRONG
INDIVIDUAL.
WHEN HE FOCUSES AND HE PUTS HIS
MIND INTO A RACE -- HE'S GOING
TO GO 110%.
HE UNLEASHES THE BEAST.
>> Narrator: MAYRA LOPEZ MET
GARCIA AT THE STARTING LINE OF A
MARATHON IN 2015.
>> WE GOT INTRODUCED.
QUICK 5, 10 SECONDS --
BEFORE THE GUN WENT OFF AND WE
TOOK OFF.
>> Jon: DID YOU RUN TOGETHER
IN THAT RACE?
>> NO.
HE -- HE LEFT.
[LAUGHTER]
HE TOOK OFF.
HE DEFINITELY TOOK OFF.
>> Narrator: AFTER THE RACE,
GARCIA AND ASKED HER ON A DATE.
THE TWO BECAME INSEPARABLE, AND
LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, JERRY
PROPOSED, FITTINGLY, AT THE
FINISH LINE OF ANOTHER
MARATHON, THE PAIR ALSO BECAME
TRUSTED RUNNING PARTNERS, AS
LOPEZ PUSHED GARCIA TO TAKE ON
THE MORE CHALLENGING DISTANCES
OF ULTRAMARATHONS.
SO GARCIA SET A NEW GOAL: TO WIN
THE ANGELES CREST 100, THE HOLY
GRAIL OF CALIFORNIA'S
HUNDRED-MILE RACES.
IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST
CHALLENGING ULTRAMARATHONS IN
THE WORLD, AND FOR MANY RUNNERS
THE BRUTAL MOUNTAIN TRAILS ARE
TOO MUCH TO BEAR.
BUT LUCKILY FOR JERRY, IT
HAPPENED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, HIS
HOME TURF.
>> HE WAS SO FAMILIAR WITH THE
TRAILS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE KNOWS,
"OH, SOME -- A HILL'S COMING UP.
A DOWN'S COMING UP.
I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN HERE.
THERE'S A TREE TRUNK.
[LAUGHS]
LIKE, I HAVE TO WATCH FOR THAT."
>> Narrator: OVER THE COURSE OF
20 EXCRUCIATING HOURS, GARCIA
POWERED THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS.
BY MILE 90, HE STILL TRAILED THE
RACE LEADER, HIS BODY WAS
DETERIORATING, AND HIS WINDOW TO
MAKE A MOVE WAS CLOSING RAPIDLY.
>> WITH EVERY STEP, I COULD FEEL
MY TOENAIL MOVING ON -- ON BOTH
FEET.
AND I'M JUST, LIKE, CURSING IN
MY HEAD AND THEN FROM A
DISTANCE, YOU SEE A HEADLAMP.
AND YOU'RE LIKE, "THAT'S THE
GUY."
>> Narrator: IN THE DEAD OF
NIGHT, HE MADE ONE FINAL PUSH
AND TOOK THE LEAD WITH FIVE
MILES TO SPARE.
WHEN HE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE,
HIS FAMILY WAS WAITING FOR HIM.
>> WHEN I SAW HIM COMING, OH,
I WAS PRETTY EMOTIONAL.
BECAUSE I KNEW HOW MUCH IT MEANT
TO HIM.
I KNEW HE WANTED TO FINISH FIRST
AND HE WANTED TO PROVE THAT
EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.
>> Narrator: TO JERRY GARCIA,
THE MEMORIES OF THAT VICTORY AND
HIS JOURNEY TO RECOVERY ARE
FOREVER TIED TO THE TRAILS OF
THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST.
THOSE MEMORIES WOULD COME
FLOODING BACK AS THOSE VERY
TRAILS WENT UP IN FLAMES LAST
SEPTEMBER.
>> IT WAS BURNING MY HOME.
I WAS LIKE, "WE GOT TO GO OUT
THERE."
LIKE, I GOT TO GO OUT THERE.
>> Narrator: HOPING TO SAVE THE
LAND THAT HAD SAVED HIM, HE LED
A CREW TO FACE THE INFERNO HEAD
ON.
FIREFIGHTERS HAD THEIR WORST
FEARS REALIZED AS THE BLAZE
BEGAN TO CRAWL UP THE SIDE OF
MOUNT WILSON -- HOME TO VITAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWERS, WORTH
BILLIONS, AND A MAJOR SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH CENTER.
THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE
DISPATCHED CREWS AND PREPARED
FOR WHAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE A
LONG, BRUTAL BATTLE TO PRESERVE
THE MOUNTAIN PEAK.
GARCIA CHANNELED HIS
ULTRARUNNING ENDURANCE.
>> EVERY DAY, MY ADRENALINE WAS
JUST KIND OF KICKED IN.
LIKE I WAS READY LET'S GO THERE
WAS NO OTHER PLACE I WOULD
RATHER BE THAN RIGHT THERE ON
THAT FINAL STAND FOR MOUNT
WILSON.
>> Narrator: GARCIA LED HIS CREW
AS THEY FOUGHT TO SLOW THE
DEADLY BLAZE.
FLAMES EVENTUALLY CAME WITHIN
FEET OF THE OBSERVATORY AND
TOWERS BUT THE CREW STOOD THEIR
GROUND.
AFTER ONE LAST HERCULEAN 40-HOUR
SHIFT, THEY FINALLY STOPPED THE
FIRE IN ITS TRACKS.
>> Jon: WHAT WAS THAT FEELING
LIKE, WHEN YOU -- WHEN YOU
PRESERVED MOUNT WILSON AND YOU
CONTAINED THIS FIRE?
>> FELT GOOD.
I WAS LIKE, "MAN.
I -- I DID IT."
YOU KNOW, WE DID IT.
SEEING THIS DEVASTATION RIGHT
HERE -- IT HURTS.
>> Narrator: THOUGH GARCIA AND
OTHER FIREFIGHTERS MANAGED TO
PRESERVE MUCH OF THE LAND, PARTS
OF THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST
ARE STILL SEVERELY CHARRED.
DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WILDFIRES
WILL CONTINUE TO RAVAGE THE
AMERICAN WEST AND SCENES LIKE
THIS ONE ARE ONLY EXPECTED TO
BECOME MORE COMMON.
>> Jon: YOU LOOK AROUND, YOU SEE
ALL THE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN
CAUSED BY THE FIRES.
BUT THE EXPERTS SAY IT'S ONLY
GOING TO GET WORSE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
>> IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO GET
WORSE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE OUT
HERE TRAINING AND STAYING READY
TO PROTECT OUR FOREST.
>> Jon: FOR ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THERE ARE A
LOT OF FIRES.
AND THEY THREATENED EVERYBODY.
BUT YOU'VE GOT A SON WHO WAS
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF IT.
ARE YOU PROUD OF WHAT HE DOES?
>> I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE HE'S A
WARRIOR.
HE'S SOMEONE THAT CAN DO A LOT
OF GOOD IN THIS WORLD.
>> Narrator: MEANTIME, GARCIA IS
BACK TO RUNNING ON HIS BELOVED
FOREST TRAILS, HIS CONNECTION TO
THE LAND NOW DEEPER THAN EVER,
AND AS THE SCORCHED EARTH HEALS,
HE HOPES TO CONTINUE TO HEAL
HIMSELF.
>> IT DEFINITELY FEELS GOOD TO
BE ENJOYING TIME.
YOU KNOW, SETTING UP SOME NEW
GOALS MAYBE FOR SOME FUTURE
RACES.
>> Jon: YOU GOT ANOTHER WIN IN
YOU SOMEWHERE?
>> YEAH.
DEFINITELY, MAN.
EVERY DAY IS A WIN FOR ME, I
FEEL.
EVERY DAY.
>> Bryant: JON, JERRY IS A
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE DUDE.
WHAT ABOUT THE SMOKE THAT HE
INHALES AS A FIREFIGHTER, DOES
THAT COMPROMISE HIM?
>> Jon: I THINK HIS ROUTINE
HAS BEEN INTERRUPTED BY THE
WILDFIRES.
IT HAS LIMITED HIS TRAINING RUNS
AND HIS ABILITY TO COMPETE.
>> Bryant: YOU DID AN
IRON MAN.
DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES, CAN YOU
IMAGINE DOING 100 MILES?
>> Jon: I IMAGINE IT AND
THAT'S WHERE IT STOPS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Bryant: HIS TWO PASSIONS,
RUNNING AND FIREFIGHTING, THEY
ARE THE PURSUITS OF THE YOUNG
MAN.
IT'S A TERRIBLY CONSCIOUS OF THE
FACT THAT HIS ABILITY TO DO
EITHER, LET ALONE BOTH, IS
PRETTY BRIEF?
>> Jon: HE DID NOT TALK ABOUT
IT IN THOSE TERMS.
I THINK HE STILL FEELS LIKE HE
GET OUT THERE AND RUN.
EVEN IF HE DOESN'T RUN HIS
FASTEST, HE CAN STILL -- I DON'T
WANT TO SAY PACE HIMSELF -- BUT
MANAGED HIS WAY THROUGH FIGHTING
THE WILDFIRES.
>> Bryant: HE IS SO PASSIONATE
ABOUT THOSE PURSUITS, ESPECIALLY
THE CALIFORNIA HILLS.
IS THERE PREVENTIVE CAPACITY HE
CAN LOOK FORWARD TO, PAST BEING
A FIREFIGHTER?
>> Jon: YOU MEAN, CAN HE STAY
IN THIS INDUSTRY?
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE
DOING MORE THROUGH COMPUTERS AND
SUCH.
THERE MIGHT BE AN OFFICE JOB FOR
HIM AND HE CAN USE WHAT HE'S
LEARNED OUT IN THE FIELDS AND
BRING IT INSIDE TO AN OFFICE,
SURE.
THE ONE GOOD STORY.
THANKS, JON.
LET'S SHIFT GEARS NOW, ON THE
HEELS OF SEASONS THAT PLAYED OUT
IN EMPTY STADIUMS AND ARENAS A
YEAR AGO, FANS OF ALL SPORTS
HAVE APPLAUDED THE RETURN TO
SOME DEGREE OF NORMALCY THIS
YEAR.
WITH DOORS REOPENED, SEATS THAT
WERE EMPTY A YEAR AGO HAVE BEEN
FILLED AND AS A RESULT THE GAMES
HAVE BEEN RE-INJECTED WITH THE
KIND OF ENERGY THAT ONLY FANS
CANS PROVIDE.
CAN PROVIDE.
>> AND A GRAND TRADITION RETURNS
TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL!
>> Bryant: IT'S NOT JUST
STADIUMS AND ARENAS THAT HAVE
SEEN NEWFOUND ENERGY.
IT'S BEEN EVIDENT IN THE
INDIVIDUAL SPORTS AS WELL, AS
FANS LINED THE FAIRWAYS OF THE
PGA TOUR AND THE US TENNIS OPEN
RETURNED TO APPRECIATIVE CROWDS.
OVER 40 MILLION HAVE ATTENDED
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES THIS
YEAR, AND THE BUSINESS OF
FOOTBALL AT BOTH THE PRO AND
COLLEGE LEVEL, IS BOOMING AGAIN.
BUT AMID THE SCENES OF PACKED
STADIUMS AND CHEERING FANS,
THERE'S STILL A CONTRASTING
COVID REALITY: ONE THAT'S
FACTORING IN ALMOST 2,000
AMERICAN DEATHS DAILY, AND
PRODUCING OVER 140,000 NEW CASES
EACH AND EVERY DAY.
TO HELP US SQUARE WHAT SPORTS IS
DOING IN SPITE OF THE PANDEMIC,
WE TURN TO DR. ANTHONY FAUCI IN
WASHINGTON.
DR. FAUCI, WELCOME, WHEN YOU SEE
90,000 PLUS FANS, ALMOST ALL OF
THEM UNMASKED, JAMMED INTO
STADIUMS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, OR AT
PENN STATE, OR AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF MICHIGAN, YOU THINK WHAT?
>> I DO GET CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE MEMBERS OF THAT
COHORT THAT ARE AT THE STADIUM.
NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE
VACCINATED.
THEY ARE NOT WEARING MASKS.
EVEN THOUGH BEING OUTDOORS IS
MUCH MORE SAFE THAN BEING
INDOORS, WHEN YOU ARE THAT
CONGREGATED TOGETHER, THERE IS A
RISK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
SPREAD OF INFECTION IN SUCH AN
ENVIRONMENT.
UNTIL WE GET THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION
VACCINATED AND CASES GO WAY
DOWN, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE
AVERAGING ABOUT 150,000 NEW
CASES A DAY, WHICH MEANS THE
DYNAMICS OF THE OUTBREAK ARE
VERY ROBUST.
THE CHANCES OF THERE BEING
SPREAD THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE,
UNFORTUNATELY.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I DO GET
CONCERNED WHEN I SEE THAT.
>> Bryant: YOU ARE, OF COURSE,
FULLY VACCINATED.
WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE
ATTENDING A FOOTBALL GAME THESE
DAYS?
>> BEING AN 80-YEAR-OLD PERSON,
EVEN THOUGH I AM VACCINATED, I
WOULD THINK I WOULD WANT TO BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL AND TAKE
THE EXTRA STEP OF EITHER GOING
THERE WITH A MASK IF I WERE
GOING TO DO IT, OR NOT GOING AT
ALL.
I LOVE SPORTS.
I LOVE GETTING BACK TO BE ABLE
TO SEE THEM.
BUT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES
RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE FACT THAT I
AM IN A HIGH-RISK GROUP, I WOULD
TAKE THE EXTRA STEP OF CAUTION.
>> Bryant: LET'S EXTEND THAT
CONCERN A LITTLE BIT.
A VACCINATED GRANDPARENT
CONSIDERING TAKING A YOUNGSTER
TO A GAME.
GOOD IDEA OR BAD IDEA?
>> YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE
CHILDREN.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, CHILDREN,
LESS THAN 12 YEARS OLD, OR NOT
YET ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED.
THE CDC DOES MAKE THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT CHILDREN IN
AN OUTDOOR SETTING DON'T
GENERALLY HAVE TO WEAR MASKS BUT
IF THEY ARE IN AN INDOOR SETTING
WHERE VERY CROWDED CONGREGATED
OUTDOOR SETTING, YOU SHOULD HAVE
THEM WEAR A MASK.
IF YOU AREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT, I
WOULD SHY AWAY FROM DOING THAT
EVEN THOUGH IT SUCH A WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE TO BE AT A GAME.
>> Bryant: LET'S TALK ABOUT
YOUTH SPORTS.
I'VE SEEN YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT
SPORTS CLUSTERS AND THE EXTENT
AND ROLE THAT THEY'VE PLAYED IN
DRIVING THE NUMBERS UP.
YOUTH SPORTS ARE SEEMINGLY GOING
ON AS IF THE PANDEMIC,
UNFORTUNATELY, DID NOT EVEN
EXIST.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT THE
EXTENT TO WHICH YOUNG ATHLETES
ARE BEING EXPOSED?
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS,
BRYANT, IT TELLS YOU THAT YOU
SHOULD BE CONCERNED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUNGSTERS,
ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE NOT IN
SPORTS, THE TRANSMISSION AND
CONTEXT OF SPORTS PARTICULARLY
CONTACT SPORTS.
OR EVEN MODERATELY CONTACT
SPORTS, THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE
NUMBER OF INFECTION MUCH GREATER
THAN IN THE SCHOOL IN GENERAL.
IN FACT, IT'S INTERESTING THAT
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE
I LIVE, THE MAYOR NOW HAS SAID
THAT STUDENT ATHLETES NEED TO BE
VACCINATED.
WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING,
BECAUSE THAT IS A RECOGNITION OF
THE INCREASED RISK AMONG THE
ATHLETES WERE IN THAT CONTACT
SITUATION OF MOST OF THE
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.
>> Bryant: YOU ARE A FATHER OF
THREE GIRLS, ONE OF WHOM,
ALLISON, WAS A D1 ATHLETE.
IF YOU ARE A YOUNG PARENT TODAY,
WOULD YOU LET YOUR CHILDREN
PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR SPORTS?
>> I WOULD, BRYANT.
JUST BECAUSE I REALIZE IT MEANS
SO MUCH TO THEM.
WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT MY
DAUGHTER, SHE WAS IN COLLEGE.
SHE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO BE
VACCINATED.
IF SHE WERE FULLY VACCINATED, I
WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH HER
BEING ON THE CREW TEAM RIGHT NOW
WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
>> Bryant: I AM QUOTING YOU.
WE ARE AT A POINT IN TIME WHERE
VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE,
EFFECTIVE, CONVENIENT, SAFE, AND
FREE.
AND YET, WE'VE GOT 70 MILLION
AMERICANS WHO REMAIN
UNVACCINATED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT DAUNTING
NUMBER, DO YOU SEE ANY REASON
FOR OPTIMISM, THAT THAT MIGHT
EVER CHANGE?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL AS
WE CONTINUE TO GET TRUSTED
MESSAGES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING,
SPEAKING IN THE VENUE OF A
SPORTS AUDIENCE, BRYANT, I THINK
TRUSTED MESSENGERS ARE OFTEN
SPORTS FIGURES, CLERGY, FAMILY
PHYSICIANS, PEOPLE THAT ARE
RESPECTED.
AND VERY, VERY MUCH EMILY RATED
AS ATHLETES BY FANS, THEIR
PEOPLE.
>> Bryant: THEY HAVE MADE LIFE
SO DIFFICULT FOR THOSE THAT ARE
UNVACCINATED THAT IT'S A MUCH
EASIER FOR THE ATHLETES WHO ARE
VACCINATED TO CONTINUE TO LEAD A
LIFE.
IS THERE ANYTHING MORE YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE PROBE LEAKS
DOING THAT THEY ARE NOT?
>> I THINK THEY'RE DOING A
REALLY GOOD JOB IN GETTING THEIR
PLAYERS AND ATHLETES VACCINATED.
I REALLY DO THINK IT'S SO
IMPORTANT FOR ATHLETES TO GET
VACCINATED.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO QUESTION
ABOUT THAT IN THIS COUNTRY, FOR
GOOD REASONS.
ATHLETES ARE LOOKED UP TO.
THEY ARE THE HEROES THAT MANY OF
US FANTASIZE ABOUT, SAYING "GOD,
I REALLY WISH I COULD BE OUT
THERE CATCHING THAT TOUCHDOWN
PASS OR DUNKING THAT BALL
BACKWARDS."
YOU CAN RELATE TO THOSE PEOPLE.
IF THOSE ATHLETES GET
VACCINATED, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL
FOLLOW.
>> Bryant: YOU ARE A SPORTS
FAN COME AT YOU PERSONALLY FIND
IT DIFFICULT TO RESPECT AN
ATHLETE, PRO ATHLETE THAT YOU
MAY HAVE ADMIRED BEFORE WHEN YOU
FIND OUT THEY'VE CHOSEN NOT TO
BE VACCINATED?
>> I WOULDN'T GO SO FAR TO SAY,
BRYANT, THAT I DON'T RESPECT
THEM.
I HAVE THIS FEELING, LIKE I WISH
I COULD SPEND 5 MINUTES WITH
THEM TO TRY TO ANSWER ALL OF THE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REASON.
YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY ARE
WITH IT ENOUGH TO HAVE A GOOD
REASON.
I WOULD WANT TO GIVE THEM A
RESPONSIBLE ANSWER TO A QUESTION
THEY MIGHT HAVE THAT MIGHT BE A
VALID QUESTION.
>> Bryant: IN NO WAY DO I WANT
TO MINIMIZE DIFFICULTY OF THE
TASK BUT AS A CLOSING QUESTION,
WE'VE BEEN AT THIS BATTLE FOR 18
MONTHS NOW.
IF THIS WERE A BALL GAME, GIVE
ME AN IDEA OF WHAT INNING WE ARE
IN.
>> IF IT WERE A BASEBALL GAME,
BRYANT, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE ARE
IN THE SEVENTH INNING, COMING TO
THE END.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE
ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IF YOU WANT
TO KEEP THE METAPHOR GOING, WE
ARE IN THE SEVENTH INNING BUT WE
DON'T WANT TO GET STUCK BY A
RAIN DELAY.
WE WANT TO GET THE GAME OVER
WITH!
>> Bryant: WE ALSO DON'T WANT
TO EXTRA INNINGS.
>> THAT'S A GREAT METAPHOR.
WE WANT TO GET THIS OVER WITH.
>> Bryant: THANK YOU SO MUCH,
DR. FAUCI.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Bryant: OUR LAST STORY THIS
EVENING IS ABOUT ONE OF THE
SPORTS WORLD'S MOST FAMILIAR
FACES.
HE'S ADAM SCHEFTER, ESPN'S BEAT
REPORTER ON THE NFL.
WE FIRST PROFILED SCHEFTER A FEW
YEARS AGO -- WHEN OUR JON
FRANKEL DETAILED HOW SCHEFTER'S
UNLIKELY PERSONAL STORY,
INVOLVING HIS MARRIAGE TO A 9/11
WIDOW, MIRRORED HIS OWN.
SINCE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF
9/11 WAS JUST COMMEMORATED, WE
THOUGHT IT A FITTING TIME TO
UPDATE THE STORY OF A BUSY
FOOTBALL REPORTER WHO'S LOOKING
AHEAD TO A SPECIAL UPCOMING
WEEKEND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE GRIDIRON.
JON FRANKEL EXPLAINS.
>> Narrator: IT HAPPENS ALMOST
DAILY, A BIG STORY WILL BREAK IN
THE MOST IMPORTANT REPORTING
BEAT IN SPORTS, THE NFL, AND THE
SAME MAN WILL BE BEHIND IT.
>> Jon: WHAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST
GET?
>> JON, HERE'S THE THING IN THE
NFL.
THERE'S A GET EVERY DAY.
EVERY DAY IN THE NFL, THERE'S
NEWS.
I DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT I GOT
YESTERDAY OR LAST WEEK OR LAST
MONTH, PEOPLE GET FIRED.
PEOPLE GET HIRED.
PEOPLE GET IN FIGHTS.
PEOPLE SIGN CONTRACTS, GET
TRADED.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING
HAPPENING.
>> Narrator: WHEN IT DOES, IT'S
ALMOST ALWAYS ADAM SCHEFTER
WHO'S TELLING THE WORLD ABOUT
IT.
SOMEHOW, THIS 5'8" GUY FROM LONG
ISLAND -- WHO'S NEVER WORN A
HELMET IN HIS LIFE -- HAS BECOME
THE ULTIMATE INSIDER IN THE NFL,
LIABLE TO BREAK NEWS ANYWHERE,
AT ANY TIME,
>> EXPECTS TO SIGN WITH NEW
ENGLAND.
I JUST POSTED.
HOW'S THAT FOR A BOMB?
WOO!
>> Narrator: WE FIRST TRIED
KEEPING UP WITH SCHEFTER NEARLY
THREE YEARS AGO.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Narrator: THAT MEANT RISING
BEFORE THE SUN, AS HE TRIED TO
GET THE JUMP ON THE COMPETITION.
>> WILLIAMS IS IN CONSIDERATION
FOR THE JOB.
>> Narrator: BY DAWN, HE'D
ARRIVED AT THE MANHATTAN STUDIOS
OF HIS EMPLOYER, ESPN, READY TO
TELL THE WORLD WHAT HE'D ALREADY
LEARNED.
>> ADAM GASE IS GOING TO BE THE
HEAD COACH OF THE NEW YORK JETS.
>> Narrator: THEN IT WAS A
TWO-HOUR DRIVE TO BRISTOL,
CONNECTICUT, ESPN'S MAIN CAMPUS,
WHERE HE APPEARED ALL DAY LONG,
ON SHOW, AFTER SHOW, AFTER
SHOW.
>> THE DAY STARTS AND IT NEVER
STOPS.
THIS IS THE OFFICE.
>> Narrator: NOT EVEN WHEN DAY
TURNED BACK INTO NIGHT, AND
SCHEFTER RETURNED HOME.
BECAUSE WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
MADE BROADCASTING FROM HOME PART
OF A TELEVISION REPORTER'S LIFE,
SCHEFTER ALREADY HAD A HOME
STUDIO, SO HE COULD GO BACK ON
AIR ANYTIME THERE WAS NEWS TO
BREAK.
>> RIGHT BEHIND THIS DOOR, IS A
LITTLE CAMERA.
NOT VERY BIG, RIGHT?
BUT THEY CAN REMOTE CONTROL THAT
FROM ESPN.
>> Jon: SO WHAT YOU HAVE TO
HANDLE ON YOUR END IS THROW ON A
SHIRT, GRAB A TIE.
>> THAT'S IT --
>> Jon: EVEN IF YOU'RE WEARING
SHORTS, IT'S --
>> PUT THE TIE ON AND SIT DOWN
IN THIS CHAIR RIGHT HERE, RIGHT?
HERE'S MY MIC.
HERE'S MY IFB.
SIT DOWN IN THE CHAIR.
"WE HAVE A TRADE, ANOTHER TRADE,
ESPN HAS ACCESS TO ME AT ALL
TIMES."
>> Jon: THEY OWN YOU.
>> ESPN OWNS ME AND IS NOT SHY
ABOUT EXERCISING ITS OWNERSHIP.
>> Narrator: SCHEFTER'S
OBSESSION WITH INFORMATION
EXTENDED BEYOND THE GAME OF
FOOTBALL.
HERE IN HIS HOME STUDIO, WHEN HE
WASN'T ON AIR, HE WAS
METICULOUSLY REPORTING ON HIS
VERY OWN LIFE, BY KEEPING A
DAILY JOURNAL.
>> I'VE DOCUMENTED EVERY SINGLE
DAY SINCE 1990.
AND I CAN GO BACK -- YOU COULD
ASK ME, "WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON
NOVEMBER 4TH, 1994?"
AND I COULD GO TO MY COMPUTER,
AND I HAVE FILES FOR EVERY DAY
OF EVERY YEAR.
>> Jon: IT'S THAT FIXATION WITH
RECORDING AND REPORTING
EVERYTHING, THAT'S MADE SCHEFTER
THE MAN FOOTBALL FANS LOOK TO
FOR INFORMATION.
8 MILLION OF THEM FOLLOW HIM ON
TWITTER, AWAITING HIS EVERY
POST, WHICH IS WHY, BETWEEN
GATHERING INFORMATION AND
TWEETING IT OUT TO THE MASSES,
SCHEFTER NEVER PUTS DOWN HIS
PHONES, ANY OF THEM, FROM HIS
DAILY WORKOUT.
>> HOW WE DOING?
>> Narrator: TO THE SIT-DOWN
INTERVIEW WE DID FOR THIS STORY,
WHICH WAS INTERRUPTED AGAIN, AND
AGAIN.
>> UM, HOLD ON, UM.
ONE SECOND, WE GOT SOME NEWS
HERE.
>> Jon: AS IT GOES OFF AGAIN.
>> OKAY, SORRY.
>> Jon: CAN I TELL YOU
SOMETHING?
>> I'M ANNOYING.
>> Jon: IT'S ANNOYING.
>> YEAH.
AND WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A
CONVERSATION AND YOU HAVE TO
LOOK DOWN AND THERE'S AN OWNER
TEXTING YOU AT THIS POINT IN
TIME SOMETHING INTERESTING,
OKAY.
THAT'S THE JOB.
AND IT IS ANNOYING.
>> Narrator: SCHEFTER'S
COMMITMENT TO REPORTING BEGAN
ACCIDENTALLY, BACK IN 1985, WHEN
HE WAS A FRESHMAN AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, AND
COULDN'T QUITE FIND A PLACE TO
FIT IN.
>> FRATERNITY DIDN'T LET ME INTO
THE FRATERNITY.
FOOTBALL OFFICE DIDN'T NEED
SOMEBODY TO PICK UP JOCKSTRAPS.
BASKETBALL TEAM DIDN'T NEED
SOMEBODY TO PASS OUT WATER
BOTTLES.
AND WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE
AND NOBODY ELSE THAT WANTED ME,
I WENT DOWN TO THE STUDENT
NEWSPAPER AND VOLUNTEERED AS A
LAST RESORT.
>> Jon: YOU WENT KNOCKING ON
THOSE OTHER DOORS FIRST?
>> CORRECT.
AND I JUST STARTED WORKING AT IT
AND WORKING AT IT AND WORKING AT
IT.
>> Narrator: AFTER SCHEFTER
GRADUATED, HE BECAME A PRINT
REPORTER IN DENVER, COVERING THE
BRONCOS FOR 15 YEARS BEFORE
JOINING THE NFL NETWORK, WHERE
HE SOON BECAME A STAR.
>> I'M TOLD THAT VERY LITTLE, IF
ANY, PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE.
>> Narrator: WHILE HE HAD A
THRIVING CAREER AND LOVED HIS
WORK, IT CONSUMED HIM, AND
THAT'S ALL HE HAD.
>> I WANTED SOMETHING ELSE.
AND ALL YOUR CLOSE FRIENDS FROM
COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL,
EVERYONE'S MARRIED AND HAVING
KIDS AND STARTING FAMILIES.
AND YOU THINK, "OKAY,
SOMETHING'S MISSING HERE."
>> Narrator: THEN, ONE DAY, A
FRIEND SET HIM UP ON A DATE WITH
A WOMAN WHO WAS ALSO LOOKING TO
FILL A HOLE IN HER LIFE.
A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A YOUNG
SON, WHO'D BEEN LEFT WIDOWED BY
THE TERRORIST ATTACK OF 9/11.
>> IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HOW I
DREW IT UP.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN, "OH I'M
LOOKING TO MEET A 9/11 WIDOW
WHO'S THE MOTHER OF A
ONE-YEAR-OLD SON."
>> Jon: ANY RESERVATIONS?
>> WELL, JON, AT THAT POINT IN
MY LIFE, I WAS OPEN TO TRYING
ANYTHING.
>> Narrator: SO SCHEFTER, TRUE
TO FORM, DID A LITTLE REPORTING,
AND REACHED OUT TO SOMEONE WHO
HAD DATED AND MARRIED A 9/11
WIDOW, WHO ALSO HAD A YOUNG SON,
THAT PERSON WAS ME.
>> Jon: I HAD BEEN MARRIED TO MY
WIFE, ERIN, FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
SITTING IN MY OFFICE ONE DAY,
PHONE RINGS, "HI, THIS IS ADAM
SCHEFTER."
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KNEW MY
SITUATION.
BUT YOU CALLED ME AND ASKED FOR
SOME ADVICE.
WHY?
>> I THINK, LIKE ALWAYS, JON, I
WAS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION.
AND SO I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR
SOMEONE TO SAY "HEY, THIS IS
WHAT IT'S LIKE.
THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT
ARE THERE.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN'T
DO."
>> Narrator: WITH THAT, SCHEFTER
BEGAN DATING SHARRI MAIO, WHOSE
HUSBAND, JOE, HAD WORKED ON THE
105TH FLOOR OF THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER.
>> Jon: WHEN YOU WERE AT YOUR
DEPTHS, DID YOU EVER THINK YOU'D
BE ABLE TO MEET ANYBODY THAT
COULD MAKE YOU AS HAPPY AS JOE
DID?
>> HE WAS MY FIRST LOVE.
AND I HAD A CHILD WITH HIM.
AND I DIDN'T THINK I'D MEET
SOMEONE LIKE ADAM.
>> Jon: WHAT'D YOU LIKE ABOUT
HIM WHEN YOU MET HIM?
>> HE WAS A NICE PERSON, HE WAS
FUNNY.
HE WAS VERY CUTE.
AND I LIKED THE FACT THAT HE
CONNECTED WITH MY SON.
>> Narrator: ONE YEAR LATER,
ADAM AND SHARRI WERE MARRIED.
I ASKED ADAM IF HE'D READ ME HIS
JOURNAL ENTRY FROM THE DAY HE
PROPOSED.
>> FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8TH, 2006.
I WAS COMING HOME FROM
PITTSBURGH.
I WAS DOING A THURSDAY NIGHT
GAME ON NFL NETWORK.
I GOT ON THE PLANE THEN I DOZED
OFF THERE AND WOKE UP WHEN WE
WERE CIRCLING NEW YORK.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY FITTING
THAT WE FLEW ALMOST DIRECTLY
ABOVE THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.
I SAID, "JOE, I'M GOING TO BE
LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR FAMILY."
>> Jon: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
YOU WROTE THAT.
YOU SAID, "JOE, I'M GOING TO BE
LOOKING AFTER YOUR FAMILY."
YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE A GOOD
JOB?
YOU THINK HE'D BE PROUD?
>> I HOPE SO.
I MEAN, I'VE TRIED AWFULLY HARD.
AND I'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT I
COULD.
>> Narrator: SCHEFTER BECAME A
FATHER TO SHARRI'S SON, DEVON,
WHO WAS OVERJOYED TO HAVE A MAN
BACK IN HIS LIFE.
>> VERY LUCKY TO BE HERE TODAY
FOR MY MOM'S WEDDING.
AND YOU GUYS ARE TOO.
I LOVE MY NEW DAD, AND I'M JUST
THANKING MY MOM FOR MARRYING
ADAM.
>> Narrator: SCHEFTER WOULD ALSO
GO ON TO HONOR THE MAN HE
REPLACED, IN TYPICAL FASHION, HE
REPORTED ON JOE MAIO, WRITING A
BOOK CALLED, "THE MAN I NEVER
MET."
>> Jon: WHO IS IT MOST IMPORTANT
TO KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE FOR?
IS IT SHARRI OR IS IT DEVON?
>> I THINK MORE IMPORTANT FOR
DEVON.
I MEAN, SHARRI KNOWS THE TYPE OF
MAN JOE WAS.
DEVON WAS A YEAR OLD WHEN HE
LOST HIS FATHER.
SO HE DOES NOT KNOW.
AND HE STILL HASN'T READ THE
BOOK.
AND ONE DAY I HOPE HE WILL.
AND HE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA
OF THE TYPE OF MAN HE WAS.
>> Narrator: BUT SCHEFTER SAYS
IT'S NOT ALWAYSEASY LIVING IN
THE SHADOW OF SOMEONE ELSE,
SHARRI AND DEVON HAVE KEPT JOE'S
LAST NAME, AND THEY STILL LIVE
IN THE SAME HOUSE THAT JOE AND
SHARRI SHARED.
ADAM MUST EVEN SHARE HIS
BIRTHDAY WITH JOE.
REMARKABLY, THEY WERE BORN ON
THE SAME DAY.
>> JOE IS STILL PART OF OUR
FAMILY, AND I DON'T THINK I
COULD BE WITH ANYONE WHO
COULDN'T ACCEPT THAT.
>> Jon: DO YOU THINK THAT'S HARD
ON ADAM?
>> HE MAYBE INTERNALIZES IT, BUT
HE NEVER -- COMPLAINS OR TURNS
THE OTHER WAY WHEN I BRING UP
HIS NAME.
HE HANDLES IT THE WAY THAT I HAD
HOPED THE PERSON I MARRIED
WOULD.
>> IT'S NOT EASY.
YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO BE A
BETTER HUSBAND AND A BETTER
FATHER.
LIKE, YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT, YOU
KNOW, IF JOE WERE HERE HOW WOULD
IT BE DIFFERENT?
I KNOW SHE WONDERS THAT.
SHE WONDERS THAT TOO.
SO YOU LIVE IN THAT SHADOW.
DO YOU EVER GET THAT?
>> Jon: SURE, YOU WONDER.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT THERE
WAS SOMEBODY ELSE THAT MEANT A
LOT AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS --
IT WASN'T A DIVORCE.
>> CORRECT.
AND IT'S THERE AND IT DOESN'T GO
AWAY.
>> Jon: YOU END THE BOOK, "JOE
NEVER KNEW ME.
BUT HERE I AM, LIVING HIS LIFE.
I OCCUPY HIS SPACE.
I FALL ASLEEP NEXT TO HIS WIFE
AND HAVE HELPED RAISE HIS SON.
I CALL HIS PARENTS ON HIS
BIRTHDAY.
I HAVE LIVED IN THAT HOUSE FOR
ALMOST 12 YEARS NOW.
FAR LONGER THAN JOE DID.
BUT EVERY TIME I COME HOME, I
FEEL LIKE I'M WALKING INTO JOE
MAIO'S HOUSE.
AND I AM."
STILL FEEL THAT WAY?
>> YEAH.
I STEPPED INTO THEIR LIVES.
THEY DIDN'T STEP INTO MINE.
THEY MADE ME HAPPIER.
THEY GAVE ME PURPOSE THAT I
DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
>> Jon: PEOPLE SAID TO ME, "ERIN
AND ASHER ARE SO LUCKY."
AND I SAY, "NO, I'M THE LUCKY
ONE."
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
100%.
>> Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,
BOTH ADAM AND I HAVE GROWN OUR
FAMILIES.
AFTER I ADOPTED ASHER, MY WIFE
AND I HAD TWO DAUGHTERS.
AND AFTER ADAM, SHARRI, AND
DEVON BECAME A FAMILY, THEY
WELCOMED A LITTLE GIRL OF THEIR
OWN.
BUT NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS GO
BY, OR HOW BIG OUR CHILDREN
GROW, THE IMPACT OF THAT FATEFUL
DAY LINGERS.
EACH SEPTEMBER BRINGS PAINFUL
FEELINGS BACK TO THE SURFACE,
AND THIS MONTH HAS BEEN
ESPECIALLY HARD.
>> I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE TWO
WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE 20TH
ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 WERE AS
DIFFICULT AS ANY I COULD
REMEMBER, BECAUSE THE MESSAGING
OF THE ANNIVERSARY AND THE
COMMEMORATION OF IT WAS SO
PREVALENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GO THROUGH
THIS.
BUT YOU WANT TO BE THERE TO
SUPPORT YOUR WIFE BECAUSE IT IS
A HARD WEEK.
BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO GIVE HER
HER DISTANCE AND LEAVE HER
ALONE.
THERE'S REALLY NO RIGHT OR WRONG
AND IT'S VERY HARD TO FIGURE
OUT.
YOU FIND THE SAME THING?
>> Jon: OF COURSE.
IT'S A DANCE AND THEY'RE
LEADING.
>> AND THERE'S NO PATTERN TO IT.
THERE'S NO RHYTHM OR ROUTINE TO
IT.
THE DANCE COULD GO ANY WHICH WAY
ON ANY DAY.
RIGHT?
>> Jon: ABSOLUTELY.
>> YOUR WIFE STRUGGLING THESE
TWO WEEKS?
>> Jon: OH, YEAH.
YEAH.
>> MORE SO THAN NORMAL?
>> Jon: I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S
MORE SO.
I -- I WONDER WHAT THE IMPACT OF
"20" MEANS.
I THINK IT'S REFLECTED IN SEEING
OUR SON BECOME A YOUNG MAN.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY
EXPRESSES THE PASSING OF TIME
MORE THAN ANYTHING.
>> Narrator: ASHER, WHO WAS JUST
3 YEARS OLD WHEN I MET HIM, IS
NOW A MAN OF 21.
SO IS DEVON, WHO WAS ONLY 7 WHEN
HIS MOTHER MARRIED ADAM
SCHEFTER.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THE BOYS HAVE
IN COMMON.
LIKE ADAM AND ME, THEY SEEM TO
BE LIVING PARALLEL LIVES.
BOTH ARE NOW SENIORS IN COLLEGE,
BOTH AT SCHEFTER'S ALMA MATER,
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
AND BOTH ARE SET TO GRADUATE IN
THE SPRING, ON THE SAME WEEKEND
OF THE BIGGEST NEWS EVENT ON THE
NFL'S ANNUAL CALENDAR.
>> Jon: DEVON'S GRADUATION
WEEKEND COINCIDES WITH THE NFL
DRAFT.
YOU GET PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO
BE RESPONSIBLE TO ESPN.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
WANT YOUR INFORMATION, WHAT DO
YOU DO?
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO THE
GRADUATION.
GOING TO THE GRADUATION.
I'M -- I HAVE NEVER MISSED AN
NFL DRAFT IN 31 YEARS BUT I ALSO
HAVEN'T HAD A SON WHO'S
GRADUATED FROM MICHIGAN IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HE'S HAD.
AND SO, TO ME, THERE'S ONE
ANSWER.
THE PROBLEM IS, THE PHONE'S
GOING TO RING AND THE TEXTS ARE
GOING TO KEEP COMING IN.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEBODY
WHO CALLS AND SAYS, "HEY, WHAT
DO YOU THINK'S GOING ON, PICK
NUMBER FOUR?"
AND I'M GOING TO BE, "I DON'T
KNOW.
I'M IN ANN ARBOR.
I'M AT GRADUATION RIGHT NOW."
RIGHT?
AND SO, THAT WILL BE A TIME
WHERE I WILL BE UNAVAILABLE, AND
THAT WILL BE WEIRD.
VERY WEIRD.
>> Jon: PAINFUL FOR YOU?
>> UNCOMFORTABLE BUT RIGHT.
>> Bryant: ALTHOUGH ADAM
SCHEFTER'S PRIVATE LIFE HAS
MIRRORED JON FRANKEL'S, THEIR
SONS HAVE NEVER MET AND NEITHER
IT SEEMS IS INTERESTED IN
FOLLOWING THEIR DADS INTO SPORTS
JOURNALISM.
THEY'RE SMARTER THAN THAT.
THEY'LL BOTH GRADUATE FROM
MICHIGAN THIS SPRING WITH
DEGREES IN ECONOMICS.
THAT'LL DO IT FOR TONIGHT.
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.
♪ ♪