♪ ♪
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING IS A
PRESENTATION OF HBO SPORTS.
♪ ♪
>> Narrator: TONIGHT, ON "REAL
SPORTS"...
AS CONTROVERSY GRIPS THE NFL,
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE E-MAIL
FALLOUT WITH DeMAURICE SMITH,
THE HEAD OF THE NFL PLAYERS
ASSOCIATION.
THESE EMAILS WERE NOT NEW.
NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT UNTIL
THE LEAK.
THAT HAS TO DISTURB YOU.
>> THAT'S A PROBLEM.
>> Narrator: THERE'S A GOLD RUSH
UNDERWAY IN COLLEGE SPORTS, AS
STUDENT ATHLETES, FOR THE FIRST
TIME EVER, ARE CREATIVELY
MONETIZING THEIR EFFORTS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO DRINK THIS
AND GO TO PRACTICE.
>> WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME, YOU GUYS COULD EXCEED
A MILLION DOLLARS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO
CAPITALIZE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
>> Narrator: THEY ARE REAL LIFE
GIANTS, MEN WHO GROW TO SEVEN
AND A HALF FEET TALL, MISFITS IN
EVERY WAY, EXCEPT FOR
BASKETBALL.
>> ALL THE GOOD THINGS I HAVE IN
MY LIFE IS BECAUSE OF HOW TALL I
AM.
BASKETBALL HAS GIVEN ME A LOT.
>> Narrator: AN INCREASING
NUMBER OF BLIND CHILDREN ARE NOW
PARTICIPATING IN MAINSTREAM
SPORTS, THANKS TO A SPECIAL
SUMMER CAMP.
>> I RUN ABOUT SIX DAYS A WEEK.
IT'S ABOUT 5 MILES, SO
ALTOGETHER, 30 MILES IN A WEEK.
>> THAT'S A LOT.
>> YEAH, I KNOW.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
♪ ♪
>> Announcer: AND NOW, YOUR
HOST, BRYANT GUMBEL.
>> Bryant: GOOD EVENING, AND
WELCOME TO "REAL SPORTS," WHERE
LIKE SO MANY OTHERS WE'VE BEEN
FOLLOWING THE CONTINUING FALLOUT
FROM THOSE LEAKED NFL E-MAILS
THAT HAVE PUT A CRITICAL
SPOTLIGHT ON THE LEAGUE AND SOME
OF ITS PEOPLE.
JON GRUDEN LOST HIS JOB AS THE
HEAD COACH OF THE LAS VEGAS
RAIDERS JUST LAST WEEK AFTER HIS
E-MAILS OF 10 YEARS AGO INCLUDED
SOME MYSOGYNISTIC, HOMOPHOBIC
AND RACIAL SLURS.
THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS DIRECTED
AT DeMAURICE SMITH, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE NFL PLAYER'S
ASSOCIATION.
HE'S WITH US FROM LONDON,
D SMITH, GOOD EVENING.
HE IS, SPOKEN WITH JON GRUDEN
OVER THE YEARS.
DID IT SHOCK YOU, SURPRISE YOU?
>> DeMaurice: FIRST OF ALL, I
WOULD SAY IT WAS MORE SHOCKING
THAT -- A GROUP OF PEOPLE,
APPARENTLY IN AN EMAIL
CONVERSATION, FELT THAT IT WAS
COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO ENGAGE IN
A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT THAT,
YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY -- YOU KNOW,
DENIGRATED ME AND -- AND PEOPLE
WHO LOOK LIKE ME BUT ALSO THE
LATER REVELATIONS ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS
INCLUDED.
SHOCKED TO -- TO SEE IT, BUT I'M
NOT NAIVE ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT
THERE AREN'T PEOPLE OUT THERE
WHO ARE DOING THIS.
>> Bryant: RIGHT.
I -- I SAW WHERE YOU SAID YOU
FELT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF -- OF
NUMBNESS FROM IT.
ON -- ON A PERSONAL LEVEL,
NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT HE SAI
SAID.
HOW MUCH DID IT HURT?
>> DeMaurice: IT HURT ME THAT MY
FAMILY HAD TO SEE THIS.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS THIS
NEED TO SOMEHOW REDUCE YOU TO
SOMETHING LESS THEN YOU ARE.
>> Bryant: WHAT IS YOUR
RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO DECRY
JON GRUDEN'S RACIAL SLURS BUT
CONTEND THAT THEY WERE VERY FEW
OF US WHO COULD WITHSTAND THE
SCRUTINY OF CHECKING OUR EMAILS
OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS?
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?
>> DeMaurice: WELL, YOU AND I
HAVE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
YOU ARE DEALING WITH THAT LONG
BEFORE I WAS.
I -- I THINK IT'S -- IT'S --
IT'S A HYPOCRISY TO SAY ON ONE
HAND, YOU KNOW, "THIS IS
HORRIBLE," BUT THEN ON THE --
THE -- THE OTHER HAND SAY,
"WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S
GREAT THAT YOU'RE TOUGH ENOUGH
TO WITHSTAND IT."
THE -- THE MEASURE OF US AND THE
-- AND THE BETTER ANGELS OF OUR
NATURE ISN'T WHETHER YOU OR I
ARE TOUGH ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND
IT.
IT'S WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN
ACTUALLY RISE ABOVE AND CONTINUE
TO IMPROVE UPON AMERICA'S RACIST
AND -- AND -- AND SEXIST PAST.
>> Bryant: YEAH.
I -- I--
>> DeMaurice: RIGHT--
>> Bryant: I'M -- I -- I -- I'M
NOT EAGER TO -- TO MINIMIZE WHAT
GRUDEN DID, BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE
IS THE IDEA THAT HE FELT
COMFORTABLE SAYING WHAT HE DID
IN THE FORUM IN WHICH HE SAID
IT.
>> DeMaurice: THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT.
AND -- AND TO ME, THE -- THE --
THE -- THE NEXT ITERATION OF --
OF THAT CONVERSATION IS HE FELT
COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO SAY IT
WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HE WAS ON
THE EMAIL CHAIN WITH.
AND -- AND TO THIS DAY, I MEAN,
I -- I ONLY KNOW ONE OTHER
PERSON WHO WAS ON THAT EMAIL
CHAIN.
I THINK, BRYANT, THERE WERE TWO
OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE YET TO BE
IDENTIFIED ON THAT EMAIL CHAIN.
BUT THE NEXT STEP OF THAT IS OF
COURSE THE PEOPLE WHO DEFENDED
HIM OR GAVE HIM A PASS ON SUNDAY
WHO LOOK MORE LIKE US --
[LAUGHS]
THAN LIKE HIM.
>> Bryant: RIGHT.
YOU'RE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY
OF BROADCASTERS OF COLOR WHO
BASICALLY APOLOGIZED FOR JON
GRUDEN AND GAVE HIM A PASS.
>> DeMaurice: WELL, AND--
>> Bryant: FROM BROADCASTERS--
>> DeMaurice: AND -- AND AGAIN,
IT -- IT'S ABHORRENT TO THINK
THAT A GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE ON
THAT EMAIL CHAIN BEING
COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT.
IT'S EQUALLY ABHORRENT TO ME TO
-- TO SEE A GROUP OF PEOPLE
DEFEND IT, KNOWING THAT THEY
LIVE IN THIS LEGACY OF AMERICA'S
PAST.
THEY LIVE IN THIS HOPE OF
AMERICA'S FUTURE.
WE -- WE CAN'T BE TRULY HOPEFUL
WHEN THOSE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO
EXCUSE OR APOLOGIZE FOR
SOMETHING --
>> Bryant: WELL, THERE -- THERE
ARE ALL SORTS OF TROUBLING
THINGS ABOUT THIS, NOT THE LEAST
OF WHICH IS THAT THESE EMAILS
WEREN'T NEW.
THE LEAGUE HAS HAD THEM, AND
NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT UNTIL
THE LEAK.
THAT HAS TO DISTURB YOU.
>> DeMaurice: THAT'S A PROBLEM.
I LOVE FOOTBALL, AND I LOVE THE
GAME, BUT WE SHOULD BE ASPIRING
TO THE BEST NATURE OF OURSELVES
AND IN OUR SPORT AND IN OUR
BUSINESS, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW THE CRITICAL PARTY OF THAT
BUSINESS CAN BE AWARE OF THESE
EMAILS FOR SO LONG AND DO
NOTHING ABOUT IT.
>> Bryant: THERE -- THERE ARE
SUPPOSEDLY ABOUT 650,000 OF
THESE EMAILS RELATING TO THE
INVESTIGATION OF THE WASHINGTON
FOOTBALL TEAM.
YOU HAVE CALLED FOR THE RELEASE
OF ALL OF THEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA READ
ALL OF 'EM, BUT --
[LAUGHS]
TO -- TO WHAT END?
I MEAN, WHAT -- WHAT'S THE
PURPOSE?
>> DeMaurice: WELL, THE -- TO --
TO BE PRECISE -- I'M CALLING ON,
OR WE'RE CALLING ON -- AND --
AND I THINK THE COUNTRY SHOULD
CALL ON THE RELEASE OF ANY
INFORMATION WITHIN THE LEAGUE'S
POSSESSION THAT IS EVIDENCE OF
-- OF RACIAL ANIMUS, SEXISM,
MISOGYNY, BIAS, HOMOPHOBIA.
>> Bryant: DO YOU REALLY
RESPECT THEM TO RESPOND TO THIS
CRY FOR THE RELEASE OF THIS
INFORMATION THAT SHOWS THEM IN A
NEGATIVE LIGHT AND SHOWS THEM TO
BE CONTRARY TO THE PUBLIC IMAGE
THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT FORTH?
>> DeMaurice: I THINK IT IS
OKAY TO HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT
THEY DO THAT, AND THE ONLY THING
I CAN DO IS TRY TO MOVE THAT
NEEDLE FORWARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE
IN WHAT ONE PERSON TOLD ME.
THAT, WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF
BOOKS ABOUT THE GREATEST
GENERATION, THERE'S VERY FEW
BOOKS ABOUT THE BRAVEST
GENERATION.
AND -- AND THAT BRAVE GENERATION
IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER
HUNDREDS OF YEARS WHO WERE
FORCIBLY BROUGHT TO THIS
COUNTRY, ACCEPTED THIS COUNTRY
AS THEIR OWN, MADE DECISIONS TO
RAISE THEIR FAMILY IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT NONETHELESS HAD A
RACIST PAST.
AND -- AND I THINK THAT'S OKAY
FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIKE YOUR
FATHER AND MY FATHER -- BEFORE
ME, THAT THEY ALL HAVE AN
EXPECTATION OF AN AMERICA THAT
LIVES UP TO ITS PROMISE.
AND BY THE WAY, JUST BEFORE WE
GO INTO THE NEXT QUESTION, THE
PERSON WHO TOLD ME ABOUT THE
BRAVEST GENERATION WAS, OF
COURSE, YOU.
>> Bryant: YOU ARE KIND AND
GENEROUS.
THESE EMAILS ARE ESPECIALLY
PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THEY WERE
WRITTEN IN THE MAIN BY WHITE
MALES.
AND INVOLVED IN THE MAIN, A
WORKFORCE THAT IS ROUGHLY 70%
AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
SO HOW DO YOU VIEW THE CLAIM
MADE BY SOME THAT THESE EMAILS
SUGGEST WHAT CAN ONLY BE CALLED
A PLANTATION MENTALITY?
>> DeMaurice: WELL, CERTAINLY --
THE MENTALITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO
WERE IN THAT EMAIL -- IN THE
THOSE EMAILS -- AND -- AND THE
OTHER EMAILS, THEIR MENTALITY IS
I THINK IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO
SWEEP EVERYBODY UP IN THIS, BUT
I GUESS MY POINT IS, FOR THE
PEOPLE IN THIS LEAGUE THAT I AM
TALKING PRIMARILY ABOUT
OWNERSHIP, WHO BELIEVE THAT THIS
LEAK SHOULD BE SOMETHING BETTER.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MATCH ACTIONS TO
THEIR WORDS.
AND IF THEY REFUSE TO DO THAT,
MY MESSAGE TO SOME OF THEM THAT
I'VE MADE AND -- AND NOW THE
MESSAGE TO THEM PUBLICLY IS,
"YOUR REFUSAL TO STEP UP TO THE
PLATE AND DEMAND AN
INVESTIGATION OR DEMAND THE
RELEASE OF -- OF ANY EVIDENCE OF
IMPROPRIETY WILL SPEAK VOLUMES
ABOUT WHETHER YOU INDEED BELIEVE
IN THIS -- IN THIS RACIST
MENTALITY OR THIS PLANTATION
MENTALITY OR -- OR EVEN WORSE,
WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THAT THE
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CAN BE
A BETTER PART OF ITSELF.
>> Bryant: A COUPLE OF NOTES
TO LET YOU GO ON REAL QUICK.
DO YOU TRUST ROGER CADDELL TO DO
THE RIGHT THING?
>> DeMaurice: WELL, ROGER AND
I HAVE HAD AN INTERESTING
RELATIONSHIP.
OVER TIME.
AND -- AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN,
YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, HE AND I
HAVE GONE AT IT ON BEHALF OF OUR
RESPECTIVE MEMBERS -- IN -- IN
BRUTAL FASHION.
AND -- AND I MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR
THAT AT ALL.
IT'S MY JOB.
I UNDERSTAND MY JOB.
I'M NOT SURE --
[LAUGHS]
SOME PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MY JOB.
BUT I -- I UNDERSTAND MY JOB.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN WE
HAVE DONE, I THINK, SOME
INCREDIBLE THINGS TOGETHER,
WHETHER IT WAS THE APPROACH TO
-- TO IMPROVING THE -- THE --
THE HEALTH OF OUR -- OUR -- AND
SAFETY OF OUR PLAYERS TO GETTING
THROUGH COVID TO -- TO PULLING
OFF A SUCCESSFUL SEASON LAST
YEAR.
AND -- AND -- AND -- AND MY
POINT THERE IS, WHILE BOTH OF US
BRING A LEVEL OF SKILL TO OUR
JOB, THERE IS -- THERE ARE
ASPECTS OF OUR JOB THAT REQUIRE
MORE THAN JUST SKILL.
IT REQUIRES A DEDICATION AND A
BELIEF TO -- TO SOMETHING BIGGER
THAN JUST PERHAPS MONEY.
>> Bryant: OKAY.
THEN -- THEN -- THEN -- THEN --
THEN LET ME BE MORE BLUNT.
>> Bryant: DO YOU THINK ROGER --
>> Bryant: ROGER GOODELL HAS THE
COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING?
>> DeMaurice: YES.
YES --
>> DeMaurice: AND -- I DO.
AND -- AND DO -- DOES THAT MEAN
THAT THE RIGHT THING IS GOING TO
OCCUR?
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE --
IS -- IS LESS A CORPORATION THAN
IT IS A FEUDAL OR AN -- OLIGARCH
SYSTEM.
AND THE DECISION -- THE ULTIMATE
DECISION, I BELIEVE, ABOUT WHAT
WILL HAPPEN OR THE DIRECTION
THAT THIS LEAGUE WILL TAKE, WILL
FALL TO THE 32 MORE THAN IT WILL
FALL TO THE DECISION OF THE
COMMISSIONER.
>> Bryant: AND IT'LL BE
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW EACH OF
THOSE 32 RESPOND AND WHETHER THE
MAJORITY OF THEM OR ANY OF THEM
CHOOSE TO STEP UP.
>> DeMaurice: 100%.
>> Bryant: FINAL NOTE, WHEN
GRUDEN'S EMAIL FIRST CAME OUT
AND HE WAS IN DAMAGE CONTROL, HE
PREDICTABLY CALLED YOU AND LEFT
A MESSAGE.
NOW THAT HE'S DISGRACED AND --
AND OUT OF A JOB, TWO QUESTIONS.
DO YOU THINK YOU'LL EVER SPEAK
WITH HIM?
DO YOU WANT TO?
>> DeMaurice: LET ME ANSWER IT
THIS WAY.
I -- I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO.
AND WITH RESPECT TO WHETHER WE
WILL, I -- I TEND TO BE A PERSON
THAT DOESN'T HOLD GRUDGES.
I'M SURE WE'LL TALK AT SOME
POINT.
>> Braynt: D.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
WISH YOU WELL.
>> DeMaurice: YOU TOO.
>> Bryant: THANK YOU.
SAFE TRAVELS.
>> DeMaurice: THANK YOU.
BE SAFE.
>> Bryant: ONE QUICK FINAL NOTE
ON THIS STORY.
ONE OF OUR PRODUCERS REACHED OUT
TO JON GRUDEN AND SPOKE WITH HIM
THIS WEEK, BUT HE DECLINED OUR
REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW.
LET'S MOVE ON.
LAST SUMMER, A BRAND-NEW
INDUSTRY WAS CREATED OVERNIGHT,
WHEN THE SUPREME COURT RULED
THAT COLLEGE ATHLETES, WHO'D
LONG BEEN FINANCIALLY EXPLOITED,
AND ENABLED THEM TO PROFIT OFF
OF THEIR IDENTITIES.
THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS
RITES, HAVE MADE THE LETTERS NIL
MORE IMPORTANT THAN NCAA, AND AS
A RESULT, ATHLETES NATIONWIDE
ARE FINALLY CASHING IN ON THE
FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR.
FOR AN IDEA OF WHO'S GETTING
WHAT AND HOW, OUR JON FRANKEL
WENT BACK TO SCHOOL.
♪ ♪
>> Narrator: MEET THE CAVINDER
TWINS, HANNNA AND HALEY, NOT
ONLY ARE THEY GREAT BASKETBALL
PLAYERS, THEY ARE HUGELY POPULAR
SOCIAL MEDIA STARS, MORE THAN 4
MILLION FANS WATCH THEIR EVERY
MOVE, EVERY OUTFIT, AND EVERY
DRIBBLE.
♪ ♪
UNDER ALMOST ANY CIRCUMSTANCE,
THAT KIND OF AUDIENCE DEVOTION
WOULD HAVE GUARANTEED THE
CAVINDERS A HUGE INCOME.
WITH ONE BIG EXCEPTION.
>> HERE'S CAVINDER FROM THE
OUTSIDE AND SHE BURIES IT.
>> Narrator: THE TWINS ARE
COLLEGE ATHLETES, STARS AT
FRESNO STATE UNIVERSITY, AND FOR
MORE THAN 70 YEARS, THE LORDS OF
COLLEGE SPORTS HAVE INSISTED
THAT ATHLETES HAD TO BE
AMATEURS, THAT IF THEY MADE ANY
MONEY, WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT
COLLEGE ATHLETICS WOULD BE
RUINED.
>> Jon: DID YOU EVER THINK TO
YOURSELVES, "WELL, THIS IS
UNFAIR.
WE COULD BE MAKING MONEY.
WE'RE REACHING HUGE NUMBERS?"
>> BEING ABLE TO MAKE MONEY WAS
SOMETHING THAT HANNA AND I FELT
THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
DO.
>> Narrator: IT'S AN ARGUMENT
THAT HAS BEEN SIMMERING IN THE
COURTS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE,
BUT THIS SUMMER IT BOILED OVER,
A WEEK AFTER GETTING SLAM-DUNKED
BY THE SUPREME COURT, THE NCAA
ANNOUNCED A SEISMIC REVERSAL TO
THEIR IRONCLAD RULES.
>> A LANDMARK RULING IS SHAKING
UP COLLEGE SPORTS.
STARTING TODAY THE NCAA IS
CHANGING ITS LONG-HELD POLICY
AND WILL ALLOW ATHLETES TO MAKE
MONEY FROM THEIR NAME IMAGE AND
LIKENESS.
>> Narrator: THE NCAA ANNOUNCED
THE NEW RULES ON JUNE 30TH, ON
JULY 1 THE GOLD RUSH IN COLLEGE
SPORTS WAS ON, AND THE CAVINDERS
HEADED NOT WEST, BUT EAST TO
STRIKE IT RICH, PITCHING THEIR
FIRST PRODUCT, WHERE ELSE?
IN TIMES SQUARE.
>> WAY TO GO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WERE LIKE, "HOLY COW.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE."
>> Jon: AND YOU LOOK UP ON A
BILLBOARD AND WHAT DO YOU SEE?
♪ ♪
>> "BOOST MOBILE SIGNS CAVINDER
TWINS."
>> AND A PICTURE OF US.
YOU NEVER IMAGINE YOURSELF ON A
BILLBOARD IN TIMES SQUARE,
ESPECIALLY IT BEING THAT BIG.
>> Jon: CRAZY?
>> YEAH.
>> SURREAL.
LIKE --
>> IT WAS CRAZY.
BUCKET LIST TYPE THING.
>> Jon: BUCKET LIST?
>> YEAH!
♪ ♪
>> Narrator: SINCE THEN, THE
TWINS HAVE SIGNED A HALF DOZEN
MORE MARKETING DEALS, INCLUDING
ONE FOR A BRAND OF COFFEE CALLED
BULLETPROOF.
WHEN WE VISITED THEIR OFF-CAMPUS
APARTMENT, THEY WERE
GAME-PLANNING A NEW VIDEO IN
WHICH THEY'D TOUT THE PRODUCT.
>> START OFF WITH THE CREAMER.
FROTH IT, MAKE SURE YOU FROTH
YOURS.
PUT THE CREAMER IN, FROTH IT,
THEN I ADD THE ICE.
>> YEAH, MAKE SURE YOU'RE
TOUCHING ON THE ICED COFFEE.
>> Jon: AND YOU GUYS DON'T EVEN
KNOW WHO'S GOING FIRST?
OR WHO'S SAYING WHAT LINE?
YOU'RE JUST GONNA RELY ON YOUR
TWINDOM?
THAT YOU KNOW EACH OTHER.
>> OH, SHE'LL --
>> I THINK I'LL START.
AND THEN WE'LL CUT IT SO IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, LIKE,
STRAIGHT 30 SECONDS.
>> Narrator: THAT WAS AS CLOSE
TO A SCRIPT AS THE TWINS WOULD
NEED.
THIS IS, AFTER ALL, SOCIAL
MEDIA.
IN JUST 20 MINUTES, AND WITH
NOTHING MORE THAN AN IPHONE,
HALEY AND HANNA CUT A NEW AD,
AND CASHED ANOTHER CHECK.
>> AND WE WANNA SHOW YOU --
GUYS HOW WE MAKE OUR FIRST --
>> A PERFECT CUP.
>> A PERFECT CUP--
>> CUP OF COFFEE CUP OF COFFEE.
PERFECT.
>> Narrator: A DAY LATER,
BULLETPROOF APPROVED THE SPOT,
AND IT WENT LIVE ON TIKTOK.
>> WE'RE GONNA DRINK THESE AND
GO OFF TO PRACTICE.
>> Jon: ACCORDING TO YOUR AGENT,
WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,
YOU GUYS COULD EXCEED A MILLION
DOLLARS.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS SEE AS THE
LIMIT, IF THERE IS ONE?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
LIMITS OR EXPECTATIONS.
THIS IS OUR PRIME TIME TO MAKE
MONEY.
SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO --
CAPITALIZE OFF OF IT AS MUCH AS
WE CAN.
>> Narrator: IT'S BECOME THE NEW
MANTRA OF THE COLLEGE ATHLETE:
SHOW ME THE MONEY.
SUDDENLY, IN EVERY COLLEGE TOWN
IN AMERICA, AND MANY OF THE
SPACES IN BETWEEN, ATHLETES ARE
HAWKING EVERYTHING FROM CARS, TO
RESTAURANTS, TO RETAIL SHOPS, TO
EVEN ROOFING.
>> YOU NEED A ROOF?
CALL THE RUTH JOKER.
>> Narrator: OF COURSE, IT
HELPS, ESPECIALLY
THIS TIME OF YEAR, IF YOU PLAY
THE MOST POPULAR COLLEGE SPORT
OF ALL,
THE QUARTERBACK AT CLEMSON HAS
BECOME A PITCHMAN FOR DR.
PEPPER, IN AN AD THAT PLAYS UP
THE BIG CHANGE.
>> FANSVILLE IS BACK AND
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.
COLLEGE ATHLETES CAN BE IN
COMMERCIALS NOW?
>> DR. PEPPER.
IT'S THE ONE DJ DESERVES.
>> Narrator: THE KICKER AT LSU
IS PROMOTING VELVEETA.
>> I JUST SIGNED THE BOLDEST
CONTRACT IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
VELVEETA'S QUESO CONTRACT.
>> DANIELS, FOR THE END ZONE.
>>
>> Narrator: AND THE QUARTERBACK
FOR THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE
COUNTRY, JT DANIELS OF GEORGIA,
HAS SIGNED LUCRATIVE DEALS WITH
THE ACTIVEWEAR COMPANY RHOBACK,
THE TRADING CARD COMPANY SUPER
GLOW, AND THE RESTAURANT CHAIN
ZAXBY'S, WHERE WE JOINED HIM FOR
LUNCH, ON THE HOUSE.
>> I'M GOING TO DO A SIGNATURE,
LARGE.
>> Jon: A FEW MONTHS AGO, IF
SOMEBODY HAD OFFERED YOU A MEAL,
A CHICKEN SANDWICH, THAT'D BE
THE END OF YOUR COLLEGE CAREER.
J.T.
>> YUP.
>> Narrator: BUT NOW A FREE
MEAL, WHAT THE NCAA USED TO CALL
AN IMPERMISSIBLE BENEFIT IS JUST
FINE.
IN FACT, DANIELS ACTUALLY GETS
PAID TO EAT HERE, AND HE GETS A
STIPEND ON TOP OF THAT SO HE CAN
BRING HIS TEAMMATES IN, TOO.
>> Jon: YOU GET WHAT, ABOUT $500
A MONTH OF FOOD?
>> I GET A -- I GET A MONTHLY
ALLOWANCE.
[LAUGHS]
>> I -- I -- I USE IT UP PRETTY
WELL.
>> IS IT JUST YOU OR DO YOU GET
TO BRING PEOPLE IN?
>> YEAH, I GET TO BRING PEOPLE
IN.
IT'S A GOOD TIME.
>> Jon: AND CAN YOU GO THROUGH
$500 PRETTY QUICKLY?
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU BRING
IN.
IF YOU BRING AN O-LINE, THAT'S
ABOUT A MEAL.
>> HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK J.T.
DANIELS IS GONNA MAKE THIS
SEASON?
>> HIGH SIX FIGURES.
AND IF THE TEAM AND PLAYER ARE
SUCCESSFUL, INTO SEVEN FIGURES.
>> Jon: SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS, IF
NOT MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS?
>> IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, YES.
IT'S FAIR MARKET.
>> Narrator: DAN EVERETT IS J.T.
DANIELS' MARKETING AGENT, BEFORE
THE RULE CHANGED, HE COULD ONLY
DO BUSINESS WITH PRO ATHLETES,
OVERNIGHT, HE HAD A BRAND-NEW
MARKET TO MINE.
>> Jon: THIS PAST SUMMER, THE
NCAA ANNOUNCED ITS NEW RULES.
AND THEY SAY BASICALLY IT'S ALL
GO.
>> A COLLEGE ATHLETE CAN NOW
MAKE MONEY THE WAY A PRO ATHLETE
DOES.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, WHAT'S YOUR
FIRST REACTION?
>> I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET TO
WORK THE NEXT MORNING.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WE'RE --
WE'RE IN THE SOUTH.
WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY IN
ATHENS, GEORGIA.
IN THE SOUTH, COLLEGE FOOTBALL
IS ACTUALLY MORE POPULAR THAN
THE NFL.
A PREMIERE QUARTERBACK AT
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA IS MORE
POPULAR A LOT OF TIMES THAN THE
ATLANTA FALCONS' STARTING
QUARTERBACK.
>> Jon: HOW BIG A MARKET ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT?
WHAT'S THE POTENTIAL HERE?
>> ITS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF ATHLETES.
IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO A
BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY QUICKLY.
>>
>> Narrator: IT COULD HAPPEN
VERY QUICKLY, IN FACT, IF ONE
EARLY TREND TAKES HOLD.
A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, WEALTHY SUPERFANS HAVE
STARTED TO SHOWER THEIR FAVORITE
TEAMS WITH CASH, THE BETTER TO
HELP THEM WIN.
LIKE NICK GREER, A BOOSTER OF
THE BYU FOOTBALL PROGRAM, WHO IS
PAYING EVERY PLAYER ON THE SQUAD
TO PROMOTE HIS COMPANY'S
PRODUCT, BUILT PROTEIN BARS.
>> COLLEGE SPORTS FOR ME -- AND
I THINK FOR SO MANY PEOPLE --
IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM.
>> Narrator: BEFORE THE START OF
THIS SEASON, GREER APPEARED IN
THE BYU MEETING ROOM TO GIVE THE
PLAYERS THE NEWS.
FIRST HE SUMMONED ONE OF THE
TEAM'S WALK-ON PLAYERS, THOSE
WITHOUT SCHOLARSHIPS TO PAY
THEIR TUITION.
>> AT BUILT, WE WANT YOU TO BE
EMPLOYEE NUMBER 1.
WE WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR TUITION.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Narrator: THEN GREER
ADDRESSED ALL THE WALK-ONS WITH
THE SAME OFFER.
>> ALL WALK-ONS, STEP UP!
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, EMPLOYEES 1-36
IN THE HOUSE --
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Narrator: TWO WEEKS LATER,
GREER WAS BACK, HANDING OUT THE
FIRST ROUND OF CHECKS, UP TO 12
THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TUITION
MONEY FOR EACH OF THE 36
WALK-ONS, TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS
FOR EACH OF THE 85 SCHOLARSHIP
PLAYERS.
>> PAY DAY, BABY.
>> I'M RICH.
>> TELL THE BOYS
NOT TO SPEND THAT IN VEGAS.
>> IF YOU RAISE THE GAME OF THE
WALK-ON -- OF THE WALK-ON,
YOU'RE GONNA RAISE THE GAME OF
EVERYONE ELSE AROUND THEM.
WE CAN GO MAKE THEM BETTER TEAM
MEMBERS, BETTER PROVIDERS BETTER
LEADERS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
>> Jon: I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO
SUPPORT, PROVIDE, HELP BUILD
MORALE.
>> RIGHT.
>> Jon: YOU ALSO LIKE TO WIN,
DON'T YOU?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Narrator: BUT AS MUCH AS
GREER LOVES BYU, HE ALSO CARES
ABOUT HIS OWN BOTTOM LINE.
WHICH IS WHY HE SAYS THAT HE'S
GOING TO EXPAND HIS MARKETING
BLITZ TO OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL
PROGRAMS TOO, AS MANY AS HE CAN
SIGN UP.
>> Jon: YOU -- YOU'VE SAID THIS
IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
>> IT IS.
>> Jon: ARE YOU GONNA DO DEALS
WITH OTHER SCHOOLS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE WANT -- WE WANT TO FUEL EVERY
ENTIRE COLLEGE ATHLETIC TEAM IN
THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
WHEN THEY EAT OUR BARS, THEY EAT
OUR PRODUCTS, THEY EAT
EVERYTHING THAT WE CREATE,
THEY'RE LIKE, "HOW WOULD I GO A
DAY WITHOUT IT?"
>> Narrator: OF COURSE, SOME ARE
ASKING A DIFFERENT QUESTION: IS
ALLOWING THIS MUCH OUTSIDE
INFLUENCE OVER COLLEGE SPORTS
TEAMS, AND THEIR
STUDENT-ATHLETES, A GOOD IDEA?
>> Jon: IF YOU'RE DRIVING THE
TRAIN, AND YOU'RE PAYING THE
ATHLETES, DOESN'T THAT GIVE YOU
TOO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER AN
ATHLETIC PROGRAM?
>> LET ME JUST TELL YOU THAT'S
WHERE IT'S LIKE, "OKAY.
NCAA, COLLEGES, BRANDS,
ATHLETES, LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO
CREATE SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY
SO CLEAR AS DAY AND THERE'S NOT
CONFUSION."
CAN THERE AND WILL THERE BE
ORDER?
ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK IT'S GONNA COME
FASTER AND SOONER THAN WE CAN
IMAGINE.
♪ ♪
>> Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT JUST
WEALTHY ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE
TRYING TO BUILD AN EMPIRE BY
SIGNING UP COLLEGE ATHLETES EN
MASSE.
SO ARE SOME YOUNG AND UPSTART
COLLEGE KIDS.
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,
THESE UNDERGRADUATES HAVE BEGUN
SIGNING THEIR OWN CLASSMATES, AS
WELL AS STUDENT ATHLETES AT
OTHER SCHOOLS, AND HOOKING THEM
UP WITH MARKETING DEALS.
AND IN THE MIDST OF THE GOLD
RUSH, BUSINESS IS GOOD.
>> OUR LATEST PROJECTIONS SHOWED
THAT THIS YEAR 100,000 PLUS.
AND THE YEAR FOLLOWING -- BASED
ON ANALYTICS, WE -- WE SHOULD BE
DOING $500K PLUS IN SALES.
>> I MAKE -- I'LL MAKE MORE
MONEY FROM THIS IN MY FIRST FEW
YEARS THAN I WILL MY FIRST YEAR
-- FIRST JOB OUT OF UNDERGRAD.
>> Narrator: SETH SUGAR, MADDIE
CALCAGNO, AND JORDAN MORANT ARE
PARTNERS IN THE BUSINESS.
TO PITCH ATHLETES FROM AROUND
THE COUNTRY THEY COMMUNICATE
JUST AS THEY WOULD WITH THEIR
FRIENDS, OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> Jon: WHEN YOU SEND THAT
MESSAGE, WHO DOES IT COME FROM?
>> COMES FROM JORDAN'S ACCOUNT.
>> Narrator: THAT'S BECAUSE IN
ADDITION TO BEING A PARTNER IN
THE COMPANY, JORDAN MORANT IS
ALSO ON THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL TEAM, WHICH
GIVES HIM AUTOMATIC CREDIBILITY
WITH COLLEGE ATHLETES AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
>> Jon: ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE
REACH THAT YOUR NAME CARRIES?
>> NO, I'M NOT -- I'M NOT
SURPRISED, BUT, LIKE, AT THE
SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT
-- I'M GETTING A LOT OF
RESPONSES.
AND DEFINITELY I'M GLAD WE CAN
MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS, THOSE
ATHL -- OTHER ATHLETES THAT I'VE
NEVER MET BEFORE.
>> Jon: IF YOU SENT OUT AN -- A
MESSAGE THAT CAME FROM YOUR
ACCOUNTS --
>> THERE'S A 0% CHANCE THAT
ANYONE WOULD RESPOND TO ME.
I'M A SCHMUCK.
>> Jon: YOU SAID IT, I DIDN'T.
>> I NEED YOU TO GET THAT
CONTRACT BACK TO ME.
>> Narrator: ON THE DAY WE WERE
IN ANN ARBOR, WHILE MORANT WAS
AT PRACTICE, MADDIE AND SETH
CLOSED A DEAL WITH THE UNLV
QUARTERBACK TATE MARTELL VIA
ZOOM.
>> CAN YOU SIGN IT AND SCAN IT?
>> YEAH.
I CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> WONDERFUL.
PERFECT.
CHA-CHING, CHA-CHING.
>> Narrator: BACK IN CALIFORNIA
THE CAVINDER TWINS ARE GETTING
READY FOR THE FRESNO STATE
BASKETBALL SEASON, THEIR FIRST
GAME ACTION SINCE THE NEW NCAA
RULES CHANGED THEIR LIVES, WE
WANTED TO ASK THEM ABOUT A
RECENT STORY IN THE FRESNO BEE
THAT COMPARED THEIR EARNING
POWER TO THE SALARIES OF TOP
OFFICIALS AT THEIR UNIVERSITY.
>> Jon: WITH YOUR EARNINGS AND
YOUR PROJECTED EARNINGS IN THE
FUTURE, YOU MAKE MORE THAN THE
PRESIDENT OF THIS UNIVERSITY.
YOU MAKE MORE THAN THE ATHLETIC
DIRECTOR OF YOUR ATHLETIC
PROGRAM.
YOU MAKE MORE THAN YOUR COACH.
HOW DID THAT GO OVER?
>> WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT
[LAUGHS]
>> WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT
IT WITH ANYONE BESIDES OUR
FAMILY.
>> Jon: YOU -- YOU DIDN'T GO UP
TO COACH AND SAY, "HEY, DINNER'S
ON US?"
>> OH, THERE'S -- THERE'S --
THERE'S LITTLE JOKES SOMETIMES.
>> WE'LL BUY YOUR COFFEE.
>> Jon: YOU -- YOU SAID, "WE'LL
BUY YOUR COFFEE?"
[LAUGHS]
>> YEAH.
>> Jon: YES, THIS SEASON, THE
COFFEE IS DEFINITELY ON THE
CAVINDERS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO DRINK THESE
AND GO OFF TO PRACTICE.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: OUR JON FRANKEL IS
ON ASSIGNMENT IN THE U.K.
IT WOULD SEEM FROM LOOKING AT
YOUR PIECE THAT MOST OF THESE
AGREEMENTS ARE WITH LOCAL
COMPANIES.
WITH THAT BEING ABOUT ACCURATE,
OR OTHER NATIONAL COMPANIES
INVOLVED AS WELL?
>> Jon: THERE ARE SOME
NATIONAL BRANDS GETTING IN ON
THE GAME.
WE TALK ABOUT ZAXBY'S IS WITH
J.T. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
GEORGIA, SO THERE IS SOME
CHAINS.
MAYBE NOT THE BIGGEST YOU HAVE
HEARD OF, AND IF YOU HAD TO
--
>> Bryant: COULD THEY ENDORSE
ALCOHOL?
COULD THEY ENDORSE CONDOMS?
>> Jon: ALCOHOL IS DEFINITELY
A NO-NO.
I CANNOT ENDORSE THE SECOND FOR
YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY HAS A
BRUSH THAT ISSUE YET, BUT THERE
REALLY ARE NOT A LOT OF RULES
YET IN THE VARIOUS STATES, AND
THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS
THAT THEY SORT OF OPENED UP THE
GATES TO THIS, AND EVERYBODY
PLAYS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU HAD TO CHARACTERIZE IT,
IT COULD BE CALLED A WIN-WIN BY
SOME, BUT STILL THE ATHLETES ARE
NOT GETTING THEIR HANDS ON ANY
OF THE BIG MONEY THAT THE NCAA
HAS GOTTEN THROUGH REVENUES AND
TICKET SALES AND TV LICENSING
AND SPONSORSHIPS AND SUCH.
AND THEY BASICALLY SAID TO THE
ATHLETES, GO AHEAD, IF YOU CAN
USE YOUR NAME, IMAGE, AND
LIKENESS, GO TO IT.
>> Bryant: THIS HAS BEEN SO
LONG OVERDUE.
CRITICS PREDICTED CHAOS.
SO WHAT FAR, HAVE YOU SEEN A
DOWNSIDE?
>> Jon: IF YOU LOOK AT BRIGHAM
YOUNG, IT PERHAPS GIVES THEM A
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
FOR THIS REASON.
IF YOU ARE NOW SAYING TO 36 WALK
ONSET WE ARE GOING TO COVER YOUR
TUITION, WELL NOW, IF THERE IS A
KID WHO MIGHT BE RECRUITED BY
ANOTHER SCHOOL AND THEY WOULD
TAKE THAT OFFER BECAUSE I NEED
THE MONEY, BUT THEY REALLY WANT
TO PLAY AT BYU, YOU CAN SAY
COME HERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT YOUR
TUITION COVERED BY AN ALUMNI.
>> Bryant: ALL RIGHT, JON,
THANKS VERY MUCH.
TRAVEL SAFELY.
>> Jon: THANKS.
>> Bryant: LET'S CHANGE GEARS.
THERE ARE ALMOST 8 BILLION
PEOPLE ON OUR PLANET.
THEY COME IN ALL COLORS, SHAPES
AND SIZES, BUT ONLY A HANDFUL OF
THEM ARE VERTICALLY SUPER-SIZED
TO REACH A HEIGHT OF 7 AND A
HALF FEET.
FOR THOSE REAL-LIFE GIANTS, THE
CHALLENGE OF FITTING INTO A
WORLD THAT IS NOT BUILT FOR
THEM, IS NOT JUST FIGURATIVELY,
BUT ALSO PAINFULLY LITERAL.
FOR SUCH MEN, THERE IS OFTEN
ONLY ONE PLACE WHERE THEIR
INCREDIBLE HEIGHT CAN BE MORE OF
A BLESSING THEN A BURDEN, AND
THAT'S THE BASKETBALL COURT.
OUR DAVID SCOTT HAS A TALL TALE
TO TELL.
>> Narrator: NO NEED TO ADJUST
YOUR PICTURE.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS REAL.
THAT'S ME ON THE RIGHT, AT
5-FOOT-10, ACTUALLY A SHADE
TALLER THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
MALE.
BUT ON THE LEFT IS ROBERT
BOBROCZKY, A YOUNG MAN WHO GREW
UP IN ROMANIA, AND KEPT GROWING,
TO A HEIGHT OF OVER SEVEN FEET,
SEVEN INCHES.
>> CONTRARY TO WHAT MOST PEOPLE
MIGHT THINK, I WASN'T BORN 7'7."
SO AS A KID, YOU KNOW, I WAS
ALWAYS SLIGHTLY TALLER THAN
EVERYONE ELSE AND --
>> David: JUST SLIGHTLY?
>> JUST ONE HEAD ABOVE, LET'S
SAY.
>> David: ONE HEAD, UH-HUH.
>> NOTHING CRAZY.
AND THEN -- WHEN I HIT THE AGE
OF 12, I JUST EXPLODED.
I BELIEVE I WENT FROM, LIKE,
6'6", 6'8" AT THE AGE OF 12 TO,
LIKE, 7'4" AROUND THE AGE OF 14.
>> Narrator: MOST ADOLESCENTS
FEEL AWKWARD OR OUT OF PLACE AT
SOME POINT, BUT THIS WAS
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BOBROCZKY PRAYED HE WOULD STOP
GROWING.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS LITTLE
-- I -- I WOULD ALWAYS WISH TO,
LIKE, BE SOMEONE ELSE, YOU KNOW?
I WOULD SEE SOMEONE WALK AND I'D
BE LIKE, "I WISH I COULD JUST BE
THEM."
>> Narrator: UNTIL BOBROCZKY WAS
GIVEN A PIECE OF ADVICE BY
SOMEONE WHO COULD RELATE,
ANOTHER GIANT WHO HAD GROWN TO A
HEIGHT OF MORE THAN SEVEN FEET,
AND HAD LEARNED TO MAKE THE BEST
OF IT.
HIS FATHER.
>> MY FATHER'S ADVICE, WHICH HE
USED TO TELL ME FROM A VERY
YOUNG AGE THAT, "YOU CAN SEE
THIS EITHER AS A BLESSING OR A
CURSE."
>> David: YOUR HEIGHT COULD BE A
BLESSING OR A CURSE --
>> RIGHT.
IT'S UP TO YOU.
>> David: AND THAT YOU WOULD
HAVE TO DECIDE.
>> MAKE THE DECISION, YEAH.
I JUST WOKE UP ONE DAY AND I
SAID, "OKAY.
WE'RE POSITIVE FROM NOW ON."
>> David: YOU WERE READY TO
EMBRACE IT?
>> BIG TIME.
>> Narrator: SO BOBROCZKY BEGAN
TO SPEND HIS TIME IN PERHAPS THE
ONE PLACE ON EARTH WHERE HIS
BODY WOULD BE A BLESSING, AND
NOT A CURSE.
IN A WORLD WHERE HE CAN'T
PROPERLY FIT INTO A CAR, SIT IN
A CHAIR, OR SLEEP ON A BED, HE'S
ALWAYS COMFORTABLE ON A
BASKETBALL COURT.
>> David: YOU MAKE IT LOOK
PRETTY EASY.
AND FOR -- FOR A TEAM, YOU CAN
SEE EASILY HOW THIS WOULD BE A
SECRET WEAPON, OR A NOT SO
SECRET WEAPON.
>> YEAH.
>> David: ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
DEFEND.
>> PRETTY MUCH.
>> Narrator: BUT BOBROCZKY CAN
DO MORE THAN JUST THROW DOWN AN
EASY DUNK ON HIS TIP TOES.
HE'S MADE HIMSELF INTO A SKILLED
PLAYER, SKILLED ENOUGH THAT HE'S
NOW PLAYING COLLEGE BASKETBALL
IN AMERICA, HERE AT ROCHESTER
UNIVERSITY IN MICHIGAN, WITH
HOPES OF ONE DAY PLAYING IN THE
NBA.
FOR MOST MEN, THAT WOULD BE A
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.
THE AVERAGE AMERICAN MAN'S ODDS
OF EVER PLAYING IN THE LEAGUE
ARE MORE THAN ONE IN A MILLION.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO STAND MORE
THAN SEVEN FEET TALL, THE
CHANCES INCREASE BY A STAGGERING
AMOUNT, UP TO AN ESTIMATED ONE
IN SEVEN.
IT'S A STUNNING STATISTIC THAT'S
WELL KNOWN WITHIN THE GLOBAL
COMMUNITY OF GIANTS.
>> I HEARD THAT STATISTIC FOR A
VERY LONG TIME, MANY, MANY YEARS
NOW.
AS A KID, PART OF THE REASON WHY
-- WHY I FEEL LIKE I LOVED
BASKETBALL SO MUCH BACK THEN WAS
BECAUSE I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
STATISTIC, IN A WAY.
I WAS LIKE, "WELL, MAYBE I CAN
DO IT.
AND IF I DO IT, THAT CHANGES
EVERYTHING."
>> Narrator: IT CERTAINLY
CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR THE LAST
SEVEN-FOOT-SEVEN GIANT TO COME
OUT OF ROMANIA, GEORGE MURESAN,
WHO BROKE INTO THE NBA IN 1993.
>> BIG GEORGE GETS THE BUCKET
AND THE FOUL.
>> Narrator: LARGER THAN LIFE,
MURESAN SOON BECAME A FAN
FAVORITE.
THEN HE BECAME A HOLLYWOOD STAR,
PLAYING OPPOSITE BILLY CRYSTAL
IN THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE "MY
GIANT."
>> NEW YORKERS HAVE SEEN
EVERYTHING.
NO ONE HERE LOOKS TWICE AT YOU,
SEE?
>> Narrator: MURESAN IS ONE OF A
HANDFUL OF GIANTS WHO'VE COME TO
AMERICA FROM ACROSS THE WORLD
AND FOUND WEALTH AND FAME IN THE
NBA.
FIRST CAME SEVEN-FOOT-SEVEN
MANUTE BOL FROM SUDAN.
>> BOL, HE DIDN'T EVEN LEAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> Narrator: LATER, THERE WAS
SEVEN-FOOT-SIX YAO MING FROM
CHINA.
>> MING GOES BASELINE FOR THE
SLAM.
>> Narrator: NOW, THE LATEST
SENSATION IS SEVEN-FOOT-FIVE
TACKO FALL, WHO CAME TO THE NBA
FROM SENEGAL, IN SEARCH OF THE
ONE PLACE ON EARTH WHERE HE
MIGHT FIT IN, LITERALLY.
>> THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THINGS
THAT ARE MADE FOR ME, YOU KNOW,
CLOTHES AND SHOES.
>> David: REALLY AT EVERY TURN,
YOU'RE CONFRONTED WITH A WORLD
THAT'S BUILT FOR THE AVERAGE.
>> YEAH.
A LOT OF DUCKING THROUGH DOORS,
MAKING SURE I DON'T GET
CONCUSSIONS.
DOORS, CHAIRS, TABLES, BEDS,
SHOWERS.
EVERYTHING.
>> Narrator: LIKE ROBERT
BOBROCZKY, TACKO FALL SPENT HIS
YOUTH TOWERING AWKWARDLY OVER
HIS SCHOOLMATES, AND FOR THAT
MATTER, HIS TEACHERS.
AND LIKE ROBERT BOBROCZKY, HE
DECIDED TO SEEK REFUGE ON A
BASKETBALL COURT.
AT FIRST, HE SAYS, HE HAD NO
IDEA WHAT HE WAS DOING.
>> IF I WAS TO GRADE MYSELF
FROM, LIKE, 0-10, I'D GIVE A
ONE.
>> David: ONE?
>> A ONE.
AND THAT'S BEING GENEROUS.
>> David: A GENEROUS ONE?
>> YES.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED I COULDN'T
DUNK.
>> David: EVEN AT 7'3?"
>> EVEN AT 7'3" I COULD NOT -- I
COULD NOT DUNK A BASKETBALL.
>> Narrator: BUT IT TURNS OUT
THAT SIZE DOES MATTER.
BECAUSE JUST SEVEN YEARS LATER,
TACKO FALL HAD MADE IT ALL THE
WAY TO THE NBA, WHERE, AS A
ROOKIE, HE GRIPPED THE PUBLIC'S
IMAGINATION.
>> TACKO!
TACKO!
>> Narrator: AND INSPIRED WHAT
CAME TO BE KNOWN AS TACKOMANIA,
EVEN THOUGH HE RARELY PLAYED.
FOR THE NBA'S GIANTS, IT'S A
BITTERSWEET REALITY.
THEY'RE OFTEN SHOWERED WITH
ATTENTION, BUT FOR ALL THE WRONG
REASONS, SEEN LESS AS ATHLETES,
AND MORE AS ODDITIES.
>> David: EVERY TIME YOU STEP ON
THE FLOOR, THE GARDEN GOES
CRAZY, RIGHT?
AND THE COACH PULLS YOU OFF THE
FLOOR, AND THEY BOO HIM.
AND THEN PEOPLE START SHOWING UP
DRESSED AS TACOS, RIGHT?
HOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND
TACKOMANIA?
>> I ALWAYS WONDER, LIKE, "HOW
COME?"
LIKE, "WHAT HAVE I DONE TO -- TO
-- TO DESERVE ALL OF THAT?"
AND THAT CROSSED MY MIND A LOT.
BUT THEN I ALWAYS THINK BACK,
OKAY, IT'S, LIKE, IT'S A GIFT
FROM GOD.
YOU JUST -- YOU JUST HAVE TO
EMBRACE IT.
>> Narrator: SO FALL TOOK IT AS
A COMPLEMENT WHEN ONE NIGHT IN
NEW YORK, THE OPPOSING FANS
BEGAN CHANTING FOR HIM, A GUY
WHO HADN'T YET SCORED AN NBA
POINT, TO COME INTO THE GAME.
>> AND AS SOON AS I GOT IN,
LIKE, YOU HEAR EVERYBODY WAS
CHEERING, YOU KNOW?
>> NOW THEY'RE CHEERING FOR
TACKO THE SEVEN-FOOT-FIVE
CELTIC.
>> AND IT WAS JUST SUCH A
SPECIAL MOMENT.
AND MY FIRST POINT WAS A
DUNK.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HIS FIRST NBA POINTS, TO THE
DELIGHT OF THE CROWD.
WELCOME TO THE NBA, TACKO FALL.
>> THAT NIGHT I WENT BACK HOME,
AND I ALMOST CRIED.
JUST THINKING ABOUT MY JOURNEY
SO FAR.
AND JUST ME BEING THERE WAS A
BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.
BECAUSE OF WHERE I CAME FROM.
>> Narrator: FALL'S SUCCESS HAS
BEEN AN INSPIRATION FOR SOMEONE
ELSE AS WELL, ROBERT BOBROCZKY,
WHO RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO FALL
TO GET SOME ADVICE.
AMONG BOBROCZKY'S QUESTIONS: HOW
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF PUTTING
WEIGHT ON A BODY THAT HAS GROWN
UP, BUT NOT OUT, AND COULD
HANDLE BEING SIGNIFICANTLY
HEAVIER.
>> USUALLY, I'M SOMEWHERE --
BETWEEN 190 AND, LIKE, BARELY
200.
YOU GOT GUYS LIKE TACKO FALL,
WHO'S, LIKE, 320, 330.
AND YOU KNOW, HE'S BIG BUT HE
DOESN'T LOOK THAT BIG.
LIKE, YOU FEEL LIKE HE COULD
GAIN EVEN MORE.
SO I FEEL LIKE SAYING 350 FOR A
7'7" GUY ISN'T A REACH -- WHICH
IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE -- WHERE
I'M AT, SO BIG JUMP.
>> Narrator: BOBROCZKY'S HEIGHT
HAS COME WITH ANOTHER COST AS
WELL: AS A BOY, HE GREW SO
QUICKLY, THAT HE GREW CROOKED,
AND SUFFERS FROM SEVERE
SCOLIOSIS.
BUT NONE OF THESE PHYSICAL
CHALLENGES DETERRED KLINT
PLEASANT, ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY'S
BASKETBALL COACH, FROM WANTING
TO WORK WITH BOBROCZKY.
>> MAKE YOUR MOVE.
MAKE YOUR MOVE.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
>> I THINK SOMEONE CAN COACH,
YOU KNOW, TEN LIFETIMES AND
NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO -- YOU
KNOW, TO COACH SOMEONE LIKE
ROBERT.
>> David: SO YOU OFFER HIM A
SCHOLARSHIP --
>> SURE.
>> David: BEFORE YOU GET TO SEE
HIM PLAY IN REAL LIFE?
>> CORRECT.
>> David: KNOWING THAT HE'S GOT
SOME HEALTH ISSUE?
>> RIGHT.
>> David: WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
>> WELL, I'LL REMIND YOU HE'S
7'8."
HE'S GOT THE GOD-GIVEN GIFTS OF
BEING INCREDIBLY TALL.
YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK YOU HAVE
TO GIVE SOMEONE THAT HAS THAT
KIND OF SIZE AN OPPORTUNITY AND
A CHANCE.
>> Narrator: BOBROCZKY NOW HAS
FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE TO WORK ON
HIS BODY AND GAME BEFORE GIVING
THE NBA A SHOT.
BUT EVEN AT HIS HEIGHT THERE ARE
NO GUARANTEES.
OTHERS LIKE HIM HAVE TRIED AND
COME UP, FOR PERHAPS THE FIRST
TIME IN THEIR LIVES, JUST A BIT
SHORT.
LIKE SEVEN-FOOT-SEVEN PAUL
STURGESS, A BRITISH BASKETBALL
PLAYER WHO NEVER GOT A CALL FROM
THE NBA, BUT DID GET A CALL FROM
THE CIRCUS, THE CIRCUS OF THE
HARDWOOD, YES, THE LEGENDARY
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS, WHICH
SIGNED UP STURGESS AND MADE HIM
A BASKETBALL STAR OF A DIFFERENT
KIND.
>> I ALWAYS JUST PLAYED ALONG
WITH HOW EASY IT WAS FOR ME TO
DUNK.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS I
DID, LIKE, EVERY GAME I DID, I
HAD THIS MOMENT, I WOULD DO A
DUNK, AND I WOULD STAND AND HOLD
THE HOOP.
>> David: THE NO-JUMP DUNK.
>> THE NO-JUMP DUNK, YEAH.
SO --
>> David: SO NOW YOU'RE KIND OF
STRADDLING THE WORLD OF SPORTS
AND THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT.
>> RIGHT.
PEOPLE ENJOY SEEING SOMEONE
THAT'S DIFFERENT.
>> Narrator: IN FIVE YEARS WITH
THE GLOBETROTTERS, STURGESS'S
NICKNAME WAS "TINY," AND HIS
TRICKS WERE ALL BASED ON HIS
HEIGHT.
IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN NBA
GLORY, BUT IT WAS STILL A
BASKETBALL PAYCHECK, AND A WAY
TO SEE THE WORLD.
>> I GOT TO TRAVEL TO ABOUT 70
COUNTRIES WITH THOSE GUYS.
>> David: SEVENTY?
>> SEVENTY, YEAH.
SO I'VE BEEN TO, LIKE --
LEBANON, FRANCE, GERMANY --
CHINA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA--
>> David: ALL COMPLIMENTS OF
BASKETBALL.
>> ALL FROM BASKETBALL, YEAH.
>> Narrator: THESE DAYS,
STURGESS SAYS, HE'S GIVING BACK
TO THE GAME, AS HE REGULARLY
FOLDS HIMSELF INTO HIS CAR, AND
THEN DRIVES THE ENGLISH
COUNTRYSIDE TO ONE LOCAL SCHOOL
AFTER ANOTHER, WHERE HE GIVES
BASKETBALL WORKSHOPS TO YOUNG
CHILDREN, WHO CAN BARELY BELIEVE
THEIR EYES.
>> ALL THE GOOD THINGS I HAVE IN
MY LIFE, ALL THE GOOD
EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE
IS BECAUSE OF HOW TALL I AM.
AND BASKETBALL HAS GIVEN ME A
LOT.
>> Narrator: STILL, STURGESS
STRUGGLES WITH ONE MAJOR PART OF
LIFE AS A GIANT.
HERE IN AN EMPTY BAR, HE'S SAFE
FROM PRYING EYES, BUT EVERYWHERE
ELSE HE GOES, HE SAYS, HE'S
GAWKED AT LIKE SOMEONE FROM
ANOTHER PLANET.
>> EVERYWHERE I GO, PEOPLE ARE
GONNA SPEAK TO ME, ASK ME
QUESTIONS, TAKE PHOTOS WITH ME.
>> David: EVERYWHERE EVERY DAY.
>> LITERALLY EVERYWHERE, YEAH.
I CAN'T GO TO THE SHOP DOWN THE
ROAD WITHOUT PEOPLE TAKING A
PHOTO OR, BECAUSE I MEAN, IT
DOES GET TEDIOUS SOMETIMES.
LIKE, WALKING DOWN THE STREET, I
-- I DON'T KNOW, I COULD BE
WALKING MY DOG, AND PEOPLE WANT
TO COME AND SPEAK TO ME.
AND, LIKE, AND IT WOULD BE NICE
TO HAVE, LIKE, ONE NORMAL DAY
WHERE I CAN GO AND DO WHATEVER I
WANT, PEOPLE DON'T BOTHER ME.
BUT --
>> David: NOT EVEN A SINGLE DAY?
>> NOT -- NOT -- I LITERALLY
CAN'T GO NOWHERE.
>> PEOPLE SOMETIMES JUST GO
CRAZY.
AND THEY FORGET HOW TO BEHAVE.
>> David: THEY JUST WANT TO
ENGAGE YOU?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
I FEEL REALLY BAD TO SAY NO.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S,
LIKE, A DOZEN PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES THERE'S HUNDREDS.
LIKE --
>> David: HUNDREDS?
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I CAN'T SAY YES
TO EVERYONE.
>> Narrator: STAYING UNDER THE
RADAR IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS
BOBROCZKY CHOSE ROCHESTER
UNIVERSITY, A TINY COLLEGE IN
THE SUBURBS, WITH SPOTS ON
CAMPUS LIKE THIS TO FIND
SOLITUDE.
>> IT'S GOOD NOT TO HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT CAMERAS OR A BUNCH
OF PEOPLE ALWAYS BEING THERE.
SO I LIKE MY PEACE AND QUIET.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S A
PRETTY GOOD FIT HERE FOR SURE.
♪ ♪
>> Narrator: BOBROCZKY ALSO
ENJOYS THE SOLITUDE OF PLAYING
CLASSICAL PIANO, WHICH HE
LEARNED TO DO ALL BY HIMSELF.
HE NOW THINKS HE MIGHT TRY HIS
HAND AT THE MUSIC BUSINESS, IF
BASKETBALL DOESN'T WORK OUT.
BUT WHEREVER HE ENDS UP, HE
SAYS, HE'S GROWN TO BE
COMFORTABLE IN HIS OWN SKIN, ALL
SEVEN-FOOT-SEVEN-PLUS INCHES OF
IT.
>> David: SEVEN FOOT SEVEN,
BLESSING OR CURSE?
>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME,
BLESSING.
AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL STAY THAT
WAY FOREVER.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: DAVID, HELP ME OUT.
ROBERT BOBROCZKY KEPT HIS HOODIE
UP IN EVERY SHOT BECAUSE?
>> David: HE IS INSECURE, AS
YOU CAN IMAGINE.
>> Bryant: HOW HARD IS HE
TRYING TO GAIN WEIGHT?
>> David: VERY HARD.
IT IS THE MAIN CHALLENGE FOR
HIM.
STILL YOUNG.
HE HAS NOT GROWN INTO THAT 7'7"
FRAME YET, AND IT IS NOT AN EASY
PROCESS.
IT IS ACTUALLY I THINK ONE OF
THE MAJOR OBSTACLES TO HIS
FUTURE BASKETBALL ASPIRATIONS.
>> Bryant: BECAUSE, AS ANYBODY
WOULD BE VERY INSECURE BECAUSE
THEY CANNOT FIT INTO SOCIETY AT
THAT HEIGHT, HOW RELUCTANT WERE
THEY TO GO ON CAMPUS?
>> David: EXTREMELY RELUCTANT.
SCARED THAT THEY WOULD BE
RIDICULED OR EXPLOITED.
THEY ARE FIERCELY GUARDING THEIR
PRIVACY.
LITERALLY, THEY AREN'T DOCKED AT
24 HOURS A DAY.
>> Bryant: YEAH.
>> David: THEY HAVE ALL
FIGURED OUT THAT BASKETBALL IS
THE WAY TO TURN WHAT COULD BE A
LIFETIME OF HARDSHIP INTO EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY.
AND EVEN IF THEY DON'T MAKE IT
ALL THE WAY TO THE NBA, THEY
WILL GET COLLEGE EDUCATIONS.
CAREERS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN
SOME CASES, AND SO I THINK THEY
HAVE FIGURED IT OUT THE HARD WA
WAY.
THAT BASKETBALL IS THE VEHICLE.
THERE ARE SOME, AS IT TURNS OUT.
>> Bryant: FOR OUR LAST STORY
THIS EVENING, WE'VE AN UPDATE OF
OUR REPORT ABOUT A CAMP
DEDICATED TO INTRODUCING SPORTS
TO A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE
USUALLY CONSIGNED TO THE
SIDELINES, BECAUSE THEY'RE
BLIND.
WHEN WE FIRST AIRED THIS STORY 6
YEARS AGO WE LEARNED THAT THE
CAMP EXPERIENCE WAS AS MUCH
ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM AS BUILDING
SKILLS, BUT THE IMPACT WAS
UNDENIABLE.
WELL, IN THE YEARS SINCE, THE
PROGRAM, LIKE THE KIDS, HAVE
GROWN A GREAT DEAL AND
ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.
AS OUR SOLEDAD O'BRIEN EXPLAINS.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> YEAH!
>> Narrator: IT'S A LATE SUMMER
MORNING AND BRAIDEN WINGROVE IS
LEADING PRACTICE FOR HIS HIGH
SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY TEAM, FIRST
THERE'S A SERIES OF WARMUPS.
>> JUST GO AT YOUR OWN PACE.
THEN A LOOP THROUGH THE SCHOOL
CAMPUS, AND EVENTUALLY, AN
HOUR-LONG DISTANCE RUN THROUGH
THE LOCAL STREETS, TO PREPARE
FOR AN UPCOMING MEET.
IT'S A WELL-WORN ROUTINE FOR THE
17-YEAR-OLD SENIOR WHO WON'T LET
ANY OBSTACLE STOP HIM FROM
TRAINING, INCLUDING THE FACT
THAT HE'S BLIND.
>> I RUN ABOUT SIX DAYS A WEEK.
ABOUT FIVE MILES IN A DAY.
SO ALTOGETHER I RUN 30 MILES IN
A WEEK.
>> Soledad: THAT'S A LOT.
>> YEAH, I KNOW, TELL ME ABOUT
IT.
[LAUGHS]
BUT, LUCKILY, I'M IN SHAPE FOR
IT I GUESS RUNNING EVERY DAY
PAYS OFF.
>> RUNNERS!
>> Narrator: BRAIDEN IS PART OF
A SMALL BUT STEADILY GROWING
CLUB, BLIND SCHOLASTIC ATHLETES
WHO COMPETE AGAINST THEIR
SIGHTED PEERS.
HE'S COME A LONG WAY, LITERALLY,
SINCE THE FIRST TIME WE MET HIM.
>> Soledad: DO YOU REMEMBER OUR
INTERVIEW FROM SIX YEARS AGO?
>> I SURE DO.
>> Soledad: I NEVER KNEW YOU
WERE GONNA BECOME A REALLY
SOLID, SERIOUS RUNNER AT THE
TIME THAT WE DID THAT INTERVIEW.
>> ME, NEITHER I NEVER, EVER
IMAGINED MYSELF BEING ON A HIGH
SCHOOL SPORTS TEAM.
>> Narrator: WHEN WE FIRST MET
BRAIDEN BACK IN 2015, HE WAS A
BOY OF 10 AND WAS JUST GETTING
ACCUSTOMED TO THE IDEA THAT A
BLIND CHILD COULD DO SPORTS AT
ALL.
>> Soledad: SO WHAT'S THE TRICKY
PART ABOUT THIS?
WHAT'S THE HARDEST PART --
>> THAT YOU GOTTA KEEP YOUR
BALANCE.
>> Narrator: AT THE TIME,
BRAIDEN WAS A NEW CAMPER AT A
PLACE CALLED CAMP ABILITIES, A
UNIQUE SUMMER SPORTS CAMP IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK DESIGNED TO
SHOW BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
CHILDREN THAT THEY, TOO, COULD
GET IN THE GAME.
>> MADDIE!
>> THIS IS WHAT THE TRACK IS,
IT'S ALL THE WAY AROUND.
>> Narrator: THERE, THE CHILDREN
WERE TAUGHT HOW TO USE THE
SENSES THEY DO HAVE, LIKE THEIR
HEARING, TO HELP THEM COMPETE.
WITH A LITTLE LISTENING, AND
SOME SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, THEY
LEARNED TO FIND THE BASKET, HIT
THE BALL, RUN THE TRACK, AND
EVEN REACH THE MOUNTAINTOP.
FOR BRAIDEN, THE SAFE AND
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT ENABLED
HIM TO SUMMON HIS COURAGE AND
TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH, INTO THE
UNSEEN UNKNOWN.
>> GOOD JOB!
>> Soledad: I'VE HEARD SOME OF
YOUR PEP TALKS.
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU SAY
TO YOURSELF?
>> "COME ON, LET'S GET GOING."
>> Soledad: YEAH.
AND WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR YOU?
>> SOMETIMES, IF MY BRAIN SAYS,
"OKAY, LET'S STOP," AND I
IGNORED THE BRAIN AND KEPT
GOING.
>> Soledad: WHAT HAPPENED?
>> AND I -- AND IT LIKED IT!
RUN TO MY VOICE, RUN TO MY
VOICE!
KEEP GOING!
>> Narrator: IT WAS AN ATTITUDE
EMBRACED BY THE COUNSELORS, AND
SEEMED TO RUB OFF ON EVEN THE
YOUNGEST CAMPER, EIGHT-YEAR-OLD
ANNEKA PRAY.
>> 5:97!
>> Narrator: DESPITE IT BEING
HER FIRST TIME AT CAMP, WE FOUND
HER UPSIDE DOWN, WALKING ON
WATER, AND TRYING OUT A BRAND
NEW SWING.
>> READY, SWING.
>> Soledad: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
SO FAR?
I KNOW YOU DID PADDLE BOARDING
--
>> AND I ALSO DID SWIMMING AND
GYMNASTICS.
>> Soledad: OH MY GOSH!
>> DID I TELL YOU BIKING?
>> Soledad: YOU DID BIKING TOO?
>> I DID 28 LAPS AND SEVEN
MILES!
>> Soledad: YOU DID SEVEN MILES
ON A BIKE YESTERDAY?
>> AND IT WAS MY FIRST TIME!
>> GIVE ME POUND.
GIVE ME POUND!
>> Narrator: ANNEKA TOLD US THAT
BACK IN HER COMMUNITY, PEOPLE
ASSUMED SHE COULDN'T PLAY LIKE
THE OTHER KIDS, BUT AT CAMP, SHE
LEARNED THEY WERE WRONG.
>> JUST BECAUSE I'M BLIND
DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T KNOW HOW TO
THROW AND CATCH.
THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO IS
JUST HAVE YOUR ARMS.
YOU ONLY NEED YOUR ARMS!
>> Narrator: BUT WHILE ANNEKA
WAS FEARLESS, MANY OF THE
CHILDREN ARRIVED AT THE CAMP
UNSURE OF THEIR ABILITIES.
>> Soledad: WHAT DO YOU LIKE
ABOUT CAMP?
>> THAT EVERYONE IS JUST LIKE
YOU AND YOU -- THEY CAN'T MAKE
FUN OF YOU.
>> Narrator: 11-YEAR-OLD ABBIE
RIGGINS WAS BORN WITH A
DEGENERATIVE EYE CONDITION,
WHICH HAD LEFT HER PAINFULLY
SELF CONSCIOUS.
SHE LOVED PLAYING SPORTS, BUT
THE REACTION OF SOME IN HER
COMMUNITY HAD LARGELY STIFLED
THAT JOY.
>> SOMETIMES IN SCHOOL -- WHEN
WE'RE PLAYING KICK BALL, I
USUALLY MISS WITH THE BALL
AND A LOT OF KIDS PICK ON ME.
SOMETIMES THEY SAY "YOU CAN'T
PLAY THIS GAME BECAUSE YOU'RE
BLIND.
>> Soledad: WHY DO YOU THINK
PEOPLE THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO
HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS CAN'T DO
THINGS?
>> 'CAUSE THEY THINK THEY'RE
GONNA GET HURT 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T
SEE.
>> Soledad: SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> SOMETIMES I JUST SIT DOWN IN
A CHAIR.
>> Soledad: WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE
HAS GYM?
>> YEAH.
>> CHILDREN WITH VISUAL
IMPAIRMENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
TRY EVERYTHING THEIR PEERS TRY
BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST DON'T
BELIEVE THAT KIDS WITH VISUAL
IMPAIRMENTS CAN DO THE SPORTS
THAT WE SAY THEY CAN DO.
>> Narrator: LAUREN LIEBERMAN IS
A PROFESSOR OF ADAPTED PHYSICAL
EDUCATION AND HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN
FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS.
SHE TOLD US KIDS LIKE ABBIE WERE
HARDLY THE EXCEPTION.
THAT A REPORTED SEVENTY PERCENT
OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN
WERE MISSING OUT ON PHYSICAL
EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS.
>> A LOT OF THE TEACHERS DON'T
KNOW A LOT OF THE MODIFICATIONS
THAT THERE ARE OUT THERE.
AND A LOT OF THE TEACHERS ARE
THE ONES THAT ARE AFRAID THEY'RE
GONNA GET HURT.
THERE'S SO -- SO MUCH FEAR ABOUT
LIABILITY.
OH, THEY'RE GONNA TRIP SOMEONE
AND WE'RE GONNA GET IN TROUBLE."
>> LET'S GO, ZACH!
WOO!
>> Narrator: SO TO GUARANTEE
THAT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
KIDS HAD A PLACE TO PLAY,
LIEBERMAN CREATED CAMP
ABILITIES.
THERE, THE CHILDREN WERE TAUGHT
TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ATHLETES,
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT, ONCE THEY
GOT HOME AFTER THE SUMMER,
EVERYONE ELSE WOULD START TO SEE
THEM THAT WAY TOO.
>> IT'S THE KID'S RESPONSIBILITY
IN THE END.
>> Soledad: I THOUGHT YOU WERE
GONNA SAY THE TEACHER SHOULD BE
DOING IT.
>> WE HAVE TO TEACH THE KIDS ALL
THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S POSSIBLE
FOR THEM.
WE HAVE TO TEACH THEM HOW TO ASK
PEOPLE TO PLAY WITH THEM.
>> Narrator: WHEN I MET ABBIE,
SHE SHOWED ME HOW, WITH THE
SIMPLEST EQUIPMENT YOU COULD
IMAGINE, I COULD JOIN HER FOR A
RUN.
>> SO, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO, IS
YOU PUT YOUR TWO FINGERS RIGHT
BEFORE THE KNOT, AND HOLD ON
REALLY TIGHT.
>> Soledad: OKAY, SO --
>> AND THEN JUST SPREAD OUT A
LITTLE, AND THEN YOU CAN RUN.
>> Soledad: GO!
OH GOSH, YOU ARE FAST!
>> Narrator: AND A FEW WEEKS
LATER, AFTER THE START OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR, SHE WAS ADVOCATING
FOR HERSELF AGAIN, TELLING THE
SCHOOL'S GYM TEACHERS HOW SHE'D
FELT LEFT OUT IN YEARS PAST, AND
HOW THAT COULD CHANGE.
>> IN SOME GAMES, LIKE KICKBALL,
A LOT OF KIDS WOULD MAKE FUN OF
ME 'CAUSE I COULDN'T SEE THE
BALL, AND I KICKED, LIKE, THE
AIR.
AND SOMETIMES I JUST STOPPED
PLAYING.
>> Narrator: NOW, ABBIE HAD HER
OWN KICKBALL, ONE THAT BEEPED.
AND FOR ONE AFTERNOON, THE
STUDENT BECAME THE TEACHER.
>> SOMEONE COULD HIT THE BASKET
WITH MY CANE, AND I COULD JUST
LISTEN FOR THAT SOUND AND THEN
SHOOT.
>> I'M GONNA TAP THE FRONT OF
THE RIM, YOU'RE PROBABLY FOUR
FEET AWAY.
IN.
BAM.
NICE SHOT!
>> Narrator: IT'S THAT EASY TO
GET BLIND KIDS INVOLVED IN
ATHLETICS, IT'S ALSO THE LAW.
>> Narrator: IT'S BEEN MORE THAN
FOUR DECADES SINCE A FEDERAL
DISABILITY LAW MANDATED THAT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDE AN EQUAL
PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
FOR ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF
THEIR DISABILITY, YET IN SOME
COMMUNITIES THAT LAW IS IGNORED.
>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
SOMETIMES ARE JUST SO AFRAID TO
ACCOMMODATE THAT CHILD.
MOST OF THE TIME I TRY TO GO AND
MEDIATE BEFORE IT GETS THAT FAR.
BUT I GET EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS
EVERY DAY.
>> Narrator: AND THE PRACTICE OF
SIDELINING BLIND CHILDREN
CONTRIBUTES TO ANOTHER PROBLEM:
AS ADULTS, THEY BECOME TWICE AS
LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM OBESITY
AND OTHER HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE
LOWER LEVELS OF HEALTH RELATED
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY -- LOWER
LEVELS OF MOTOR SKILLS THAN
THEIR SIGHTED PEERS.
>> Soledad: SO YOU THINK THERE'S
A REAL CORRELATION BETWEEN WHAT
YOU'RE DOING HERE AND CHANGING
SOME OF THOSE VERY DIRE
STATISTICS?
>> EXACTLY.
>> Narrator: THAT'S WHY
LIEBERMAN HAS EXPANDED CAMP
ABILITIES OVER THE YEARS, FROM
HER FIRST CAMP MORE THAN 20
YEARS AGO, TO 30 CAMPS TODAY,
SERVING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
ALL AROUND THE WORLD,
>> CAMP ABILITIES!
HUAH!
>> THIS NEXT GENERATION OF KIDS
IS GOING TO HAVE MUCH BETTER
MOTOR PERFORMANCE, PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY AND SKILL LEVELS.
>> Soledad: SO YOU THINK -- A
LITTLE KID HERE, WHO NAVIGATES
THEIR WAY SUCCESSFULLY THROUGH A
SPORTING EVENT, CAN LITERALLY
CHANGE THEIR LIFE?
>> I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
>> RIGHT BY YOUR KNEE.
>> Narrator: IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS
SINCE WE FIRST VISITED CAMP
ABILITIES, AND THE CAMP NOW
BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE SUCCESS
RATE IN TURNING CAMPERS INTO
ATHLETES.
A WHOPPING 73 PERCENT OF CAMP
ALUMNI NOW PLAY AFTER SCHOOL
SPORTS, AND LAUREN LIEBERMAN
SAYS THE SIGHTED WORLD IS
STARTING TO TAKE NOTICE.
>> PEOPLE ARE SEEING KIDS WITH
VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY DOING SPORTS I JUST
WELL UP, AND I GET THE CHILLS,
BECAUSE I JUST THINK THIS IS
GONNA CHANGE PERCEPTIONS OF
EVERYBODY WHO WENT TO THAT MEET
OR EVERYBODY WHO WENT TO THAT
COMPETITION.
>> Narrator: THOSE KIDS INCLUDE
A FEW WHO WE FIRST MET SIX YEARS
AGO.
LIKE BRAIDEN WINGROVE, WHO BACK
THEN WAS TAKING HIS FIRST
TENTATIVE STEPS INTO SPORTS.
>> GRABBED MY ARM.
>> Narrator: TODAY, HE'S A
SURE-FOOTED MEMBER
OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL'S TRACK AND
CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS,
AND ANNEKA PREY, BACK THEN A
TINY GIRL JUST LEARNING TO BE
ACTIVE.
BUT NOW, AT 14, A MEMBER OF HER
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY TEAM,
>> A LITTLE BIT MORE!
PERFECT, AND I'M KEEPING YOU
REAL CLOSE.
>> Narrator: AND ABBIE RIGGINS,
A SELF-CONSCIOUS 11-YEAR-OLD
WHEN WE MET HER, BUT NOW, A
FEARLESS SKIER AT THE AGE OF 17,
AND, FOR THAT MATTER, A FEARLESS
PERFORMER TOO, WHO YOU HAVE TO
HEAR TO BELIEVE.
♪ MY HEART IS DRENCHED IN WINE
♪
>> Narrator: SHE, LIKE ANNEKA
AND BRAIDEN, TOLD US THAT SINCE
BECOMING ATHLETES, THEY'VE
BECOME MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR
ABILITY TO DO EVERYTHING ELSE
TOO.
>> I WAS AT A CAMP IN NEW YORK
CITY THIS SUMMER WHERE I HAD TO
TAKE THE SUBWAY AND LEARN HOW TO
DO MY OWN LAUNDRY.
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IF I
COULD RUN A -- THREE MILES IN 23
MINUTES AND 19 SECONDS, WHY NOT
HAVE ME JUST LEARN HOW TO LIVE
ON MY OWN?
>> Soledad: AND HOW ABOUT FOR
YOU, ABBIE?
>> SPORTS HAS REALLY GIVEN ME
THE DESIRE TO PUSH MYSELF BEYOND
MY EXPECTATION, AND NOW I'M ABLE
TO COOK MY OWN MEALS AND FEEL
COMFORTABLE DOING IT.
I THINK I'VE DEFINITELY COME A
LONG WAY.
>> Soledad: HOW ABOUT FOR YOU,
ANNEKA?
WHAT HAS SPORTS DONE FOR YOU?
>> IT'S GIVEN ME-PRIDE IN
MYSELF.
I FEEL LIKE I -- ACCOMPLISH
SOMETHING.
>> HARD RIGHT!
HARD RIGHT!
>> Narrator: IN FACT, ANNEKA'S
NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE PROMPTED HER
TO GO OUT AND GET A JOB.
SHE WORKS AT A GENERAL STORE,
CLEANING THE FLOORS AND LABELING
ITEMS FOR SALE.
>> I'M ONLY 14, SO SOME BLIND 14
YEAR OLDS PROBABLY AREN'T
WORKING NOW, SO.
>> Soledad: SOME SIGHTED 14 YEAR
OLDS ARE NOT WORKING, NOR
RUNNING CROSS COUNTRY.
SO I -- I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE KIND
OF AT THE HEAD OF THE PACK
THERE.
>> Narrator: WHICH IS WHERE ALL
THREE CAMP ALUMNI HOPE TO END
UP.
THEY SAY THEY'RE NO LONGER
CONTENT JUST TO PARTICIPATE.
NOW, THEY SAY, THEY WANT TO
EXCEL.
AND BRAIDEN'S ALREADY ON HIS
WAY.
SINCE JOINING HIS TEAM, HE'S
IMPROVED HIS PERSONAL BEST TIME
BY 12 MINUTES.
>> IF I DIDN'T HAVE SPORTS, I
WOULD -- I WOULD NOT BE AS
COMPETITIVE AS I AM TODAY.
>> Soledad: I THINK THAT'S THE
BIGGEST SHIFT I'VE SEEN SINCE
I'VE LAST SEEN YOU GUYS.
ABBIE'S KNOCKING THINGS OFF HER
TO-DO LIST LEFT AND RIGHT.
ANNEKA'S SETTING HER RECORDS AND
YOU'VE DECIDED YOU'RE A
COMPETITOR.
>> YES, INDEED.
♪ ♪
>> Bryant: A QUICK POST-SCRIPT
-- BRAIDEN AND ABBIE ARE BOTH
SET TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AT
THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND
EMBOLDENED BY THEIR SUCCESS AT
CAMP AND IN SPORTS, BOTH PLAN TO
ATTEND COLLEGE.
BRAIDEN IS FOCUSED ON COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING.
ABBIE, MEANWHILE, PLANS TO STUDY
EDUCATION, IN THE HOPES OF ONE
DAY TEACHING BLIND KIDS LIKE
HERSELF.
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, AND GOOD
NIGHT.
♪ ♪