November 15, 2024 • 31 mins
What does it take to win 11 NBA championships AND to play a meaningful role in the civil rights movement? Nimene finds out with a brand new hip-hop track about Bill Russell, the legendary player/coach of the Boston Celtics. Featuring an interview between former NBA star Jalen Rose and a 14 year old basketball fan from Detroit named Messiah.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey listeners, Niminy here, host of historical records. Get ready
to hear about a historical hero through hip hop. Also
parents and teachers. You can download a free activity related
to today's episode by visiting story pirates dot com slash
Historical records, and.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Now onto the show. After a few words for the grownups.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We're sorry the number you have died has been disconnected
and it's all your fault.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
My fault. How is it my fault?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's certainly not my fault, so it must be yours.
That concludes this pre recorded message.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Nothing in this lab ever works for me, and it's
not like I.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Can call anybody to fix anything when the phones are
always broken and exploding.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
The phones are always exploding. You know what I've had
it with.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I'm the one that has to live in a secret
underground bunker slash laboratory with harsh lighting.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Leaky pipes, and that phantom train sound.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
There are no train tracks four miles where is that
coming from?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
I'm taking it upon myself to fix every single thing wrong.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
With this place. This whole lab is getting.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Nemified or niminy, Fine, maybe maybe nimificent. You know what
naming things is in my strong suit. This whole place
is getting the neckover.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
It's historical.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
You are now listening to historical.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Were to make history, you got to have struggles. To
make history, you got to show pois cannot be quiet
loud as the riot to make history, you gotta make
some noise.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Eh. Welcome back to Historical Records, the show where I
dig into the historical records in order to produce historically
themed records, which are like digital music files, except you
can accidentally spill your drink on them. Today's episode is
all about legendary basketball icon Bill Russell. But before we
(02:21):
get to mister Russell and his eleven championship rings, I'm
just putting the finishing touches on my own personal modifications
to the laboratory phone lines. All it took was sixty
four empty soup cans, thirty two discarded piano wires, and
sixteen milliliters of excess elbow grease. I should really see
(02:42):
an elbow doctor. But before that, let's try making a call.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Hello Lee, Resident historians, le.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It's niminy from work. Looks like the phones are final.
Oh so this is a phone.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I was wondering why the empty soupcan in my room
was ringed, and why all my ship disappeared?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What's up?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I didn't think I was in the Bill Ruffle episode.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Oh you're not. You're just in this part.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Oh okay. I'm always happy to get some nice meaty
limes or should I say soon be lime.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
That's enough for now, see you next week. Ah.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
With all my modifications, this place is really starting to
feel like a bunker of my very own.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
I've got the.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Soupcan phones, the Niminy neon ambient letty, and I've even
got custom stickers with my name on it sticker slab.
I don't even mind the fact that all these stickers
say historical records with memony instead of niminy. The important
thing is that the laboratory isn't falling apart anymore.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
Labor or destruct, start to hide, self.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Destruct, start a FID no time to hit the emergency
override shutdown hammer.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
Smash laboratory self destruct sequence, stapfied robot voice?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
What was that?
Speaker 6 (04:14):
Stapfied is a new word I'm trying out miminy.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
It's memony with an N.
Speaker 6 (04:22):
Not according to these unauthorized stickers. Your motifications to the
laboratory have resulted in eleven code violations.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Since when do you care so much about code violations?
Speaker 6 (04:34):
The year was nineteen ninety two, acid washed genes and
grunge music.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
Where all the.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Rage I'm meant in the context of what's happening now understood.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
Every secret laboratory is highly regulated by the Secret Laboratory
Owners Association or SLOWER for short. Their strict codes must
be followed as the quarterly inspection was to and be
conducted the point of clarification, the quarterly inspection is different
than the quarter inspection, where they make sure that US
(05:08):
quarters in every laboratory are organized by stage.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
My quarters are organized by year.
Speaker 6 (05:14):
Additional code violation. I advise you to correct all violations
before the inspection.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
My improvements code violations.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Improvements benefit all of us. Besides this, all place was
falling apart and I was the only one willing to
do anything about it.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
SLOWA would have just let the place break down.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
I am not permitted to agree, as sloa's codes are
embedded in my programming.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And if SLOWA finds out what's the worst that could happen.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
They will overtake our sound system and play NonStop talk radio.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
That's not so bad. I kind of like talking.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
When the entire combination bunker slash laboratory will self destruct,
that's terrible, agreed.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Oh okay, I hear you loud and clear.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I'll start in the library. Why don't you work on removing.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
The stickers blowing stick fingernails?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Sh ew.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I don't even know how to describe what I'm seeing
right now.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
I thought you wanted my help.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Gotta go, Gabe, open up the library.
Speaker 8 (06:25):
It's me, Hey, niminy, it's Gabe.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Resident historian weird Lisa said that earlier too.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
Really who said it better?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I don't care. I know who both of you are.
Speaker 8 (06:37):
Let me in, sure, come on in. Hey did the
power go out for you a little while ago?
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, but it wasn't my fault. Look, we've got a problem.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Can robot voice hear anything we say in here?
Speaker 8 (06:49):
No nobody can hear anything. I've been calling out for
a glass of orange juice for hours, and you're holding
a glass of apple juice. I mean I'll still drink it.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Oop. Sorry that for me.
Speaker 8 (07:01):
I'm thirsty, not me.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I just had apple juice. We have to get out
of here.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Robot wants me to undo all the improvements I've made
to the lab just because the Secret Laboratory Owners Association
doesn't like the way I organize my quarters.
Speaker 8 (07:15):
You don't organize them by state.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I organize them by year. Uh, maybe it's not even
worth putting up a fight. What do you think?
Speaker 8 (07:24):
I think the way you organize your quarters is insane.
But I also think it's important for you to fight
for what you believe in. You know, there's someone whose
story might be able to help. I bet making a
track about him will help you see things more clearly.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
That's a great idea.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Let's get in the history simulator which, Uh where is it?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Did you move it or something?
Speaker 8 (07:45):
I made it a little bit more portable this time
around here, put on this poncho.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Okay, hey, this is pretty comfortable as far as history
simulators go.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
You've really outdone yourself.
Speaker 8 (07:58):
Oh that's not it. The new History simulator is a
large cooler of electrolyte infused sports drink kroc O Raid.
It works by pouring it all over ourselves. The poncho
should help keep you mostly dry.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Is it too late to get Lee to help me? Instead?
Speaker 8 (08:14):
It's way too late. Sports drinks simulate history Kroco go, Well, folks,
things for heating up here in this nineteen sixty nine
NBA Championship series. But what else would you expect from
Game seven of this heated matchup between the Los Angeles
(08:34):
Lakers and the Boston Celtics. I'm calling it now. This
will be a game that goes down in history game.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
What are you doing announcing the game? You might mess
up the time stream or something.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
This is a history simulator, not a time machine. Let's
have some fun here. Get on the mic.
Speaker 9 (08:53):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
That one guy on the yellow team.
Speaker 8 (08:56):
Half the ball, Wilt Chamberlain, Yeah, him, And now he's
driving towards the roop.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
He's pulling up to shoot, and he just.
Speaker 9 (09:07):
Got to not why bye by the heart of that
stout Boston defense and the man that we both came
here to watch, Bill Russell, bid us to Bill.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Russells Oh, his coach is gonna love that hustle.
Speaker 8 (09:22):
Fun bit of trivia. He is the coach.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Who is Bill Russell, the same one who's playing.
Speaker 8 (09:28):
That's right partner. He's a player and the head coach,
the first black head coach of a major American sports league.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Ooh, another strong block from the head coach Bill Russell,
How can you not like that imposing style of defense?
Speaker 8 (09:44):
Not everyone always saw it that way. Back when he
was still playing college ball at the University of San Francisco,
his coach has tried to change the way he played.
Defenders were supposed to stay planted and never leave their feet,
but he had amazing quickness for leaping ability, especially for
I think.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
It's safe to say he ignored that advice.
Speaker 8 (10:04):
Oh, he knew it worked for him, so he kept
watching other players footwork, adjusted and improved his own defense
to create something entirely new, kind of like my history
simulator system that could still use a little more improvement.
I don't see how ponchos and gallons of kroco raid
have gotten us this far.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Bill Russell's belief in his own game really changed everyone's game. Pump.
Speaker 8 (10:27):
He was so dominant the NCAA even changed the rules today.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
When you're that good, who's gonna stop you?
Speaker 9 (10:35):
Certainly not these Lakers.
Speaker 8 (10:37):
Bill Russell's about to take down his greatest rival, Wilt Chamberlain,
to win his eleventh championship. I know that's not what
this LA craft wants to hear. But where will the
future so deal with it. The eighties will be much
better Laker Nation. Bill Russell's life was about to be
much more than just basketball, though. Let's take a look, Nimity,
(10:59):
hold your breast?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Huh? Why would I need to hold my breac and
go blah? You need to warn me before doing that.
Speaker 8 (11:11):
I told you to hold your breath.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Oh, come on, let's see if this coffee shop has
any fresh towels.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
My poncho can only keep me so dry.
Speaker 8 (11:19):
Nah, niminy. We might not want to go inside this
coffee shop. It's not exactly the most welcoming place.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Huh. Then why did we come here? Hey? Is it?
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (11:30):
That's Bill, ma'am. My teammates and I just want to
order a cup of coffee.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
Well, you'd best look somewhere else because we don't serve
negroes here.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Uh, Gay, what year is it?
Speaker 8 (11:42):
It's nineteen sixty one. This is Lexington, Kentucky, where the
Celtics were scheduled to play an exhibition game against the Hawks.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
In a town that treats people like that. There's no
way he plays right. Don't do it, Bill. They don't
deserve you.
Speaker 8 (11:57):
He can't hear you. We're not announcers. Anymore. This time
we're ghosts. For what ghosts? They're floating and see through?
Have you really never heard of ghosts before?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
That's not what I.
Speaker 8 (12:08):
Come on, ghost niminy. Let's catch up with Bill. He's
already headed over to talk to coach Auerbach.
Speaker 10 (12:14):
Coach, there's no way we're playing this game. We're getting
on the plane and going home, all of us. Bill,
I understand what you're saying. The way these folks are
treating you isn't right.
Speaker 7 (12:23):
But don't you think we can spread your message better
by playing the game respectfully.
Speaker 10 (12:28):
We won a championship my rookie year. Then that same
year I went to the fifty six Olympics and won
a gold medal for this country, but that didn't change anything.
They've been looking at me the same way in my
whole life. These people know that I'm a basketball player,
but they still refuse to see me, to see us
as human beings. No exhibition game will change that. If
they're not gonna acknowledge our humanity, we to speak out.
(12:49):
We need to change the world.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
You go, Bill, you boycott that gay coach?
Speaker 10 (12:56):
Did you hear a ghost just now?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
No?
Speaker 8 (12:59):
But I see who goes right over there. They're wearing ponchos,
and one of them's pumping its fist.
Speaker 10 (13:05):
I think I like what you just said.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
We should probably stand behind a plant or something.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
I worked hard picking out this poncho. I'm not hiding
behind a plant anyway. Coach our back knew that Russell
was a true leader of men, and that's why he
threw his support behind the boycott and why he appointed
Russell as his successor when he eventually moved on from
being head coach himself.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
So Bill kept speaking up no matter where he went,
whether it was on the court or in the public eye.
Speaker 8 (13:31):
Speaking of eyes, would you mind closing yours?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
What for croco go humph? Hey, we're in a movie theater.
Speaker 8 (13:43):
Yeah, the history highlights theater. Take a seat, drinking crockerade.
Lets us see a mini highlight reel of any athlete's
life while we wait to move forward in time.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Hey, that's Martin Luiser King And whoa Bill Russell marched
with doctor King.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
He sure did back in nineteen sixty three as part
of the March on Washington. And this is nineteen sixty
seven where he was meeting with Muhammad Ali to support
his decision to not fight in the Vietnam War.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
It looks like a lot of black athletes showed up
to support him.
Speaker 8 (14:23):
Speaking out against the war wasn't necessarily the popular thing
to do at the time, but they still threw their
support behind him because they felt it was the right
thing to do.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
He was everywhere, wasn't he? How far ahead are we going?
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Just another few decades? We should stand up. It's almost time, believe.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Oh okay, which way should we go? I don't see
any exits.
Speaker 8 (14:47):
There's only one way out of the history highlights theater.
Cover your ears.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Oh my ears? Okay, what the hell? Why would you
throw crocle right into my ears?
Speaker 8 (15:03):
Niminy? Calm down? Look over there, Gabe.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Is that that's President Obama?
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I can't believe him wearing a poncho in front of
President Obama.
Speaker 8 (15:13):
There's no need to be embarrassed by the poncho. It's
shaped like a triangle. The second most style is shape
right after the rhombus, which is just two triangles. Anyway,
it's the year twenty eleven and Obama's honoring Bill Russell
for all of his work, not just as a basketball player,
but as a fighter for human rights.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I can't believe how much of an impact he had
on history. To go from being just a kid playing
basketball to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
It's incredible.
Speaker 8 (15:40):
And to think if he had changed the way he'd
played defense all those years ago, just because someone thought
it was the only way to play, he might never
have made it here.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I bet it wasn't easy for him to stand up
for himself back then, and I bet it didn't get
any easier standing up for the rights of others every
time after that. But he did it because he knew
it was the right thing to do, no matter how
big the stage got.
Speaker 8 (16:04):
I agree one hundred percent, Nemy, Just like it wasn't
easy for me to stand up to Lee when she
told me that wearing ponchos and pouring hundreds of gallons
of custom made sports drink all over myself would be
a terrible and needlessly expensive way to experience history. But
you loved it right.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Actually, if I could redo one thing, it'd probably be there.
Speaker 8 (16:23):
There's no time for your notes, Niminy. Let's get to
the recording studio. Kroco go.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Ah.
Speaker 8 (16:34):
Here we are in the studio, and everybody's happy with
every part of the.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Journey, Gabe, get rid of the krocle Rade.
Speaker 8 (16:42):
You didn't like the flavor, Gabe, you didn't like the ponchos.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
I'm going straight to Lee next time.
Speaker 8 (16:47):
My own personal Wilt Chamberlain.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Okay, listeners, now that we're in the studio, it's time
for everyone's favorite part of the episode.
Speaker 8 (16:56):
We're doing my part again, the song. Oh right, right, right, right, right,
right right.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Get ready to ball out to the beat everyone. Bill
Russell may have countless records already, but this here is
the newest one.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
What do you see as the meaning of the term revolutionary?
Speaker 11 (17:18):
The revolutionary is a man or a woman who is
a lot of things, but basically, the revolutionary wants to
change the nature of society in a way to promote
a world where the knees and entries of the people
are responded too.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Before Lebron was a king, before Jordan, one rings, before
Shack and I came, and magic in Korean one man
on one seam rank completely supreme? Am I blowing too
much steam to say that man was me? Bill Russell
is the name? And how do you do thirteen years
in the game and still I only lost two times
in the finals that's eleven titles. No man in his
sport has come close to being my rival. I was
(18:00):
the subject of lib and prejudice, taunts, black and in Boston,
not two things that you want to be OUI cooie, yes, sir.
How did I thrive under oh so much pressure? How
did I triumph on every measure while also uniting all
my people together? And just how did my leadership lead
to our glory? To sit down and listen, y'all, because
(18:20):
this here's my story.
Speaker 12 (18:21):
He defends the hoop, and he defensea brite. He's a
champion on the court. They're the champion of the five
roc and the bounced four, the fresh City. He goes
down the court, and he goes down in history.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
My youth, you could say it was a little bit rough.
Mama died at twelve, and Dad he went gruff, grew
up dirt board, and there was never enough. My only
hope was the hoop and get tough, so hoop that
I did so. University of San Francisco old centers went slow,
but me, I was nimble. They changed rules to put
me through some pitfalls. I juked the gears and still
(19:03):
ball through the insults. I press continued, was drafted and
went to the fifty six Olympics, got gold in that
window post unit cookie, Oh that one NBA rookie, and
guess what we still won? Then I won eight more.
Celtics made me the coach while also still playing. That's right,
I did both five mbps. I as an absolute baller,
lost a few times to will put these three inches tallerant.
Speaker 12 (19:25):
He defends the and he defends on right. He's a
champion on the court.
Speaker 8 (19:33):
They're the champion. After five he bounced the rouco and
re bounced for the first city.
Speaker 12 (19:41):
He goes down the court, and he goes down in history.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
I am Bill Russell, most athletic on the court, but
I still hustle and I will tussle with any man
who stands in the way of progress. And that's in
the lane in the streets. In the Congress sixty one,
an exhibition game the Celtics versus the Hawks of Lexington, Kentucky.
We expected curses when we went to a cafe to
try to get some service. Instead they acted nervous and
(20:07):
refuse the surface A curve, yes, for sure, but still
we had a purpose shown with these boys gods, so
we let a boycott, put.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Their fetus of the furnace.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
We made noises, truth to the surface. We hit them
with our voices. A marsh with a million men in
MLK met with Muhammad Ali just to mold a better day.
If they threatened your rights, well then you must get
uncivil and never ever, ever, just shut up and triple defense.
Speaker 12 (20:32):
And he defends are bright. He's a champion on the court,
and a champion after five and rebound for the first city.
He goes down the cort and he goes down in
history defense.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
And he defends are right.
Speaker 12 (20:56):
He's a champion on the court and a champion side.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
He read down up and read bounced the first city.
Speaker 12 (21:07):
He goes down the course and he goes down in history.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
We'll be right back after a few words for the
grown ups.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
O Gabe, I'm still feeling that song.
Speaker 8 (21:45):
I'm feeling inspired me too.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I think I finally got the courage to tell Robot
Voice that I'm keeping all my laboratory modifications, even if
it means we have to listen to NonStop talk radio.
Speaker 8 (21:57):
No talk radio. It's too horrible.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I know, Gabe, I know I'll do everything in my
power to stop that from happening.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I'm back, robot voice. I've been doing some thinking.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Another LOA violation.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Just hold on a minute. MM. SLOA doesn't have our
best interests in mind.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
They set out rules for countless secret labs and bunkers
that have completely different owners and residents.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
There's no way for them to know what we need
in here.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
So even if I'm not supposed to, I'm still going
to make improvements to this place because they'll make all
of our lives better.
Speaker 6 (22:35):
I'm convincing an argument, miminy. However, the SLOWA protocol in
my programming prevents me from being convinced.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I thought about that too. Let me install something I.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Called the FASTA override, the Fetichini Alfredo shortcut transfer.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Of authority spaghetti science. What's this upgrade?
Speaker 1 (22:56):
You'll be able to circumvent any slower restrictions.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Right, you are my wires good Genie, and I love it.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I didn't ask you to do the Italian accent. You
did not, so we can keep the changes.
Speaker 6 (23:17):
We may keep the changes, Imny, although you must reorganize
your quarters by state, and.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
What about the quarters that don't have states?
Speaker 6 (23:26):
You may take those to the arcade and win me
a tiny basketball who that's actually.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
A pretty good idea.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I will do that, But first, let's wrap up this
episode with an interview between an incredible kid named Messiah,
an NBA legend Jalen Rose.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Good idea.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Croco go Kroco go. No, no, no, wait, not again.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Today we're talking with former professional basketball and co founder
of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, Jalen Rose. He'll be
talking with Messiah, a fourteen year old who attends his
academy in Detroit, Michigan. One note since recording this interview,
Bill Russell passed away at age eighty eight, leaving a
(24:17):
legacy of his legendary play on the court and his
powerful voice for justice off the court.
Speaker 7 (24:23):
Hey, mister Rose, how you doing.
Speaker 13 (24:26):
Thank you Messiah for taking the time to not only
interview me, but to learn about one of the greatest
four founders not only in the history of sports, but
of American history.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Hey Messiah, do you want to ask Jaalen a question
about Bill Russell?
Speaker 7 (24:42):
How do you think Bill Russell's legacy left the mark
on the world.
Speaker 13 (24:46):
I'll talk sports initially, so many times when you talk
about who's the best, people don't actually digest, think about
what they've seen, take all of the information in and
give and educated how apothesis.
Speaker 14 (25:01):
What people now do is ring count.
Speaker 13 (25:05):
So when you say Tom Brady's the goat, you're gonna
say it because he got seven rings. Michael George the
goat because he has six rings. But here's the unique
thing about Bill Russell. He has more rings than any
athlete ever eleven as a player and also as the
first black coach in the NBA as well, And so
(25:29):
I don't see an athlete surpassing what he accomplished.
Speaker 14 (25:32):
As it relates to rings.
Speaker 13 (25:33):
Analytics have now in a lot of ways become the
calling card for athletics, which now we just only look
at your championship rings and not judge you as a
human being.
Speaker 7 (25:45):
Outside of basketball, he also was a civil rights activist,
like he was a leader.
Speaker 13 (25:50):
When you start to speak about activism, that means you
have an opinion, and it gives people a chance to say, well,
I just like the way you play basketball. I really
don't want to hear your opinion. That's really what I'm
saying when I tell you to shut up and dribble.
And so Bill Russell was the first person to acknowledge
(26:11):
that I'm going to be the greatest champion and the
greatest spokesman, and that wasn't encouraged. That wasn't the route
that he took for stardom, and I'm grateful.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
For that, Massiah.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
What are you curious to learn about Jalen's experience as
an athlete?
Speaker 7 (26:25):
What would you say was the most challenging thing about
your journey to become a basketball player and how did
you overcome those challenges?
Speaker 13 (26:32):
See, the most challenging thing about being a basketball players
people and athletes sometimes don't put themselves as a human
being first. The thing I always try to do is
be more than a jock. So I remember times when
we had late practices or games and I was like,
I'm still going to be in class tomorrow when I
(26:55):
know people think I'm gonna be late or try to
be absent or fill in myself because I just had
thirty five points last night.
Speaker 14 (27:03):
For me, that was the toughest part.
Speaker 13 (27:05):
To get people to see me as a person and
for me to have more goals than just basketball.
Speaker 7 (27:12):
That's great because you got some people like in the
world that just only want to focus on basketball forcus
on one thing, but maybe if that don't work out,
you can focus on other things as well. You can
do other things in life. Somebody might play basketball, they
might want to be a doctor, be a poet, something anything.
Speaker 13 (27:27):
There's no job, no career that you could solely do forever.
Speaker 14 (27:32):
I don't care how good you are at it.
Speaker 13 (27:34):
Doing multiple things in multiple industries is actually not only
going to be a key to your happiness, but a
function of your success.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Before we go, Jalen, how would you sum up Bill
Russell's legacy?
Speaker 13 (27:48):
Bill Russell number six is iconic as a human being,
as an athlete, Eleven championships in thirteen years, one of
the most infectious smiles, the biggest laugh that you'll ever
hear in sports. One of the guys that when he spoke,
everybody listened.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Thank you both. This was a great conversation.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
I just want to thank you so much for this
opportunity to just talk to you and give you an interview.
And this is great, and thank you very much.
Speaker 14 (28:16):
Thank you.
Speaker 13 (28:16):
I appreciate the law, stay focused, stay disciplined, in er
a learner, exit a leader.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Listeners, thanks for joining in today and for going on
a journey with me to learn all about Bill Russell
and a huge thanks to today's guests Jalen Rose and
Messiah Remember parents and teachers. You can download a free
activity related to today's episode by visiting story pirates dot
com slash Historical Records. We'll be back next week with
(28:49):
another episode, another song, and another hero. After all, someone's
got to make more historical records. Until then, remember to
make history.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
You got to make some noise. Signing off, this is Mimony,
I mean Niminy.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
I've had too much crocle rate bye.
Speaker 15 (29:22):
Historical Records is produced in partnership with story Pirate Studios,
Questlove's two on five Entertainment, John Glickman and iHeart Podcasts
Executive produced by Emir Questlove, Thompson, John Glickman, Lee Overtree
and Benjamin Salka. Executive produced for iHeart Podcasts by Noel Brown.
(29:43):
Producers for story Pirate Studios are Isabella Ricchio, Sam Bear,
Eric Gerson, Andrew Miller, Lee Overtree, Peter McNerney, Denisa Wharton
b and Niminy Ware. Producers for two on five are
Sean g Brittany Benjamin and Sarah Zolman. Hosted by Nimini.
Our head writer is Duke Doyle. Our historians are Gabe
(30:04):
Pacheco and Lee Polus. Music supervision for two one five
by Stroe Elliott. Scoring and music supervision for Story Pirate
Studios by Eric Gerson. Sound designed and mixing by Sam
Bear at the Relic Room in New York City. Additional
recording by Brett Tuban, song mastering by Josh Hank. Theme
song by Dan Foster and Eric Gerson and produced by
(30:25):
Eric Gerson. Production coordination by Isabel Riccio, Production management by
Maggie Lee. The line producer for Story Pired Studios is
Glennis Brault. Pr for Story Pired Studios is provided by
Naomi Shaw. Episode artwork by Camilla Franklin. This episode was
written by Minsby Karam. The song Bill Russell was written
(30:46):
by Dan Foster and produced by Micah James. Special guests
Jalen Rose and Kid Interviewer Messiah. This episode features performances
by Kelsey Bear, Hannah Corrigan, Mikah James, Peter McNerney, Mega O'Neil,
Emily o'cott, Lee Overtree, Gabe Pacheco, Lee Polis, and Bill
Schaeffer m HM
Hey listeners, Niminy here, host of historical records. Get ready
to hear about a historical hero through hip hop. Also
parents and teachers. You can download a free activity related
to today's episode by visiting story pirates dot com slash
Historical records, and.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Now onto the show. After a few words for the grownups.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
We're sorry the number you have died has been disconnected
and it's all your fault.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
My fault. How is it my fault?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's certainly not my fault, so it must be yours.
That concludes this pre recorded message.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Nothing in this lab ever works for me, and it's
not like I.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Can call anybody to fix anything when the phones are
always broken and exploding.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
The phones are always exploding. You know what I've had
it with.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I'm the one that has to live in a secret
underground bunker slash laboratory with harsh lighting.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Leaky pipes, and that phantom train sound.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
There are no train tracks four miles where is that
coming from?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
That's it.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
I'm taking it upon myself to fix every single thing wrong.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
With this place. This whole lab is getting.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Nemified or niminy, Fine, maybe maybe nimificent. You know what
naming things is in my strong suit. This whole place
is getting the neckover.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
It's historical.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
You are now listening to historical.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
Were to make history, you got to have struggles. To
make history, you got to show pois cannot be quiet
loud as the riot to make history, you gotta make
some noise.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Eh. Welcome back to Historical Records, the show where I
dig into the historical records in order to produce historically
themed records, which are like digital music files, except you
can accidentally spill your drink on them. Today's episode is
all about legendary basketball icon Bill Russell. But before we
(02:21):
get to mister Russell and his eleven championship rings, I'm
just putting the finishing touches on my own personal modifications
to the laboratory phone lines. All it took was sixty
four empty soup cans, thirty two discarded piano wires, and
sixteen milliliters of excess elbow grease. I should really see
(02:42):
an elbow doctor. But before that, let's try making a call.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Hello Lee, Resident historians, le.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It's niminy from work. Looks like the phones are final.
Oh so this is a phone.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I was wondering why the empty soupcan in my room
was ringed, and why all my ship disappeared?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What's up?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I didn't think I was in the Bill Ruffle episode.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Oh you're not. You're just in this part.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Oh okay. I'm always happy to get some nice meaty
limes or should I say soon be lime.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
That's enough for now, see you next week. Ah.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
With all my modifications, this place is really starting to
feel like a bunker of my very own.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
I've got the.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Soupcan phones, the Niminy neon ambient letty, and I've even
got custom stickers with my name on it sticker slab.
I don't even mind the fact that all these stickers
say historical records with memony instead of niminy. The important
thing is that the laboratory isn't falling apart anymore.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
Labor or destruct, start to hide, self.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Destruct, start a FID no time to hit the emergency
override shutdown hammer.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
Smash laboratory self destruct sequence, stapfied robot voice?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
What was that?
Speaker 6 (04:14):
Stapfied is a new word I'm trying out miminy.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
It's memony with an N.
Speaker 6 (04:22):
Not according to these unauthorized stickers. Your motifications to the
laboratory have resulted in eleven code violations.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Since when do you care so much about code violations?
Speaker 6 (04:34):
The year was nineteen ninety two, acid washed genes and
grunge music.
Speaker 7 (04:40):
Where all the.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Rage I'm meant in the context of what's happening now understood.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
Every secret laboratory is highly regulated by the Secret Laboratory
Owners Association or SLOWER for short. Their strict codes must
be followed as the quarterly inspection was to and be
conducted the point of clarification, the quarterly inspection is different
than the quarter inspection, where they make sure that US
(05:08):
quarters in every laboratory are organized by stage.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
My quarters are organized by year.
Speaker 6 (05:14):
Additional code violation. I advise you to correct all violations
before the inspection.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
My improvements code violations.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Improvements benefit all of us. Besides this, all place was
falling apart and I was the only one willing to
do anything about it.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
SLOWA would have just let the place break down.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
I am not permitted to agree, as sloa's codes are
embedded in my programming.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And if SLOWA finds out what's the worst that could happen.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
They will overtake our sound system and play NonStop talk radio.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
That's not so bad. I kind of like talking.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
When the entire combination bunker slash laboratory will self destruct,
that's terrible, agreed.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Oh okay, I hear you loud and clear.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I'll start in the library. Why don't you work on removing.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
The stickers blowing stick fingernails?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Sh ew.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
I don't even know how to describe what I'm seeing
right now.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
I thought you wanted my help.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Gotta go, Gabe, open up the library.
Speaker 8 (06:25):
It's me, Hey, niminy, it's Gabe.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Resident historian weird Lisa said that earlier too.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
Really who said it better?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I don't care. I know who both of you are.
Speaker 8 (06:37):
Let me in, sure, come on in. Hey did the
power go out for you a little while ago?
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Yeah, but it wasn't my fault. Look, we've got a problem.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Can robot voice hear anything we say in here?
Speaker 8 (06:49):
No nobody can hear anything. I've been calling out for
a glass of orange juice for hours, and you're holding
a glass of apple juice. I mean I'll still drink it.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Oop. Sorry that for me.
Speaker 8 (07:01):
I'm thirsty, not me.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I just had apple juice. We have to get out
of here.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Robot wants me to undo all the improvements I've made
to the lab just because the Secret Laboratory Owners Association
doesn't like the way I organize my quarters.
Speaker 8 (07:15):
You don't organize them by state.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I organize them by year. Uh, maybe it's not even
worth putting up a fight. What do you think?
Speaker 8 (07:24):
I think the way you organize your quarters is insane.
But I also think it's important for you to fight
for what you believe in. You know, there's someone whose
story might be able to help. I bet making a
track about him will help you see things more clearly.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
That's a great idea.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Let's get in the history simulator which, Uh where is it?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Did you move it or something?
Speaker 8 (07:45):
I made it a little bit more portable this time
around here, put on this poncho.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Okay, hey, this is pretty comfortable as far as history
simulators go.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
You've really outdone yourself.
Speaker 8 (07:58):
Oh that's not it. The new History simulator is a
large cooler of electrolyte infused sports drink kroc O Raid.
It works by pouring it all over ourselves. The poncho
should help keep you mostly dry.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Is it too late to get Lee to help me? Instead?
Speaker 8 (08:14):
It's way too late. Sports drinks simulate history Kroco go, Well, folks,
things for heating up here in this nineteen sixty nine
NBA Championship series. But what else would you expect from
Game seven of this heated matchup between the Los Angeles
(08:34):
Lakers and the Boston Celtics. I'm calling it now. This
will be a game that goes down in history game.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
What are you doing announcing the game? You might mess
up the time stream or something.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
This is a history simulator, not a time machine. Let's
have some fun here. Get on the mic.
Speaker 9 (08:53):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
That one guy on the yellow team.
Speaker 8 (08:56):
Half the ball, Wilt Chamberlain, Yeah, him, And now he's
driving towards the roop.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
He's pulling up to shoot, and he just.
Speaker 9 (09:07):
Got to not why bye by the heart of that
stout Boston defense and the man that we both came
here to watch, Bill Russell, bid us to Bill.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Russells Oh, his coach is gonna love that hustle.
Speaker 8 (09:22):
Fun bit of trivia. He is the coach.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Who is Bill Russell, the same one who's playing.
Speaker 8 (09:28):
That's right partner. He's a player and the head coach,
the first black head coach of a major American sports league.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Ooh, another strong block from the head coach Bill Russell,
How can you not like that imposing style of defense?
Speaker 8 (09:44):
Not everyone always saw it that way. Back when he
was still playing college ball at the University of San Francisco,
his coach has tried to change the way he played.
Defenders were supposed to stay planted and never leave their feet,
but he had amazing quickness for leaping ability, especially for
I think.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
It's safe to say he ignored that advice.
Speaker 8 (10:04):
Oh, he knew it worked for him, so he kept
watching other players footwork, adjusted and improved his own defense
to create something entirely new, kind of like my history
simulator system that could still use a little more improvement.
I don't see how ponchos and gallons of kroco raid
have gotten us this far.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Bill Russell's belief in his own game really changed everyone's game. Pump.
Speaker 8 (10:27):
He was so dominant the NCAA even changed the rules today.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
When you're that good, who's gonna stop you?
Speaker 9 (10:35):
Certainly not these Lakers.
Speaker 8 (10:37):
Bill Russell's about to take down his greatest rival, Wilt Chamberlain,
to win his eleventh championship. I know that's not what
this LA craft wants to hear. But where will the
future so deal with it. The eighties will be much
better Laker Nation. Bill Russell's life was about to be
much more than just basketball, though. Let's take a look, Nimity,
(10:59):
hold your breast?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Huh? Why would I need to hold my breac and
go blah? You need to warn me before doing that.
Speaker 8 (11:11):
I told you to hold your breath.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Oh, come on, let's see if this coffee shop has
any fresh towels.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
My poncho can only keep me so dry.
Speaker 8 (11:19):
Nah, niminy. We might not want to go inside this
coffee shop. It's not exactly the most welcoming place.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Huh. Then why did we come here? Hey? Is it?
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (11:30):
That's Bill, ma'am. My teammates and I just want to
order a cup of coffee.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
Well, you'd best look somewhere else because we don't serve
negroes here.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Uh, Gay, what year is it?
Speaker 8 (11:42):
It's nineteen sixty one. This is Lexington, Kentucky, where the
Celtics were scheduled to play an exhibition game against the Hawks.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
In a town that treats people like that. There's no
way he plays right. Don't do it, Bill. They don't
deserve you.
Speaker 8 (11:57):
He can't hear you. We're not announcers. Anymore. This time
we're ghosts. For what ghosts? They're floating and see through?
Have you really never heard of ghosts before?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
That's not what I.
Speaker 8 (12:08):
Come on, ghost niminy. Let's catch up with Bill. He's
already headed over to talk to coach Auerbach.
Speaker 10 (12:14):
Coach, there's no way we're playing this game. We're getting
on the plane and going home, all of us. Bill,
I understand what you're saying. The way these folks are
treating you isn't right.
Speaker 7 (12:23):
But don't you think we can spread your message better
by playing the game respectfully.
Speaker 10 (12:28):
We won a championship my rookie year. Then that same
year I went to the fifty six Olympics and won
a gold medal for this country, but that didn't change anything.
They've been looking at me the same way in my
whole life. These people know that I'm a basketball player,
but they still refuse to see me, to see us
as human beings. No exhibition game will change that. If
they're not gonna acknowledge our humanity, we to speak out.
(12:49):
We need to change the world.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
You go, Bill, you boycott that gay coach?
Speaker 10 (12:56):
Did you hear a ghost just now?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
No?
Speaker 8 (12:59):
But I see who goes right over there. They're wearing ponchos,
and one of them's pumping its fist.
Speaker 10 (13:05):
I think I like what you just said.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
We should probably stand behind a plant or something.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
I worked hard picking out this poncho. I'm not hiding
behind a plant anyway. Coach our back knew that Russell
was a true leader of men, and that's why he
threw his support behind the boycott and why he appointed
Russell as his successor when he eventually moved on from
being head coach himself.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
So Bill kept speaking up no matter where he went,
whether it was on the court or in the public eye.
Speaker 8 (13:31):
Speaking of eyes, would you mind closing yours?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
What for croco go humph? Hey, we're in a movie theater.
Speaker 8 (13:43):
Yeah, the history highlights theater. Take a seat, drinking crockerade.
Lets us see a mini highlight reel of any athlete's
life while we wait to move forward in time.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Hey, that's Martin Luiser King And whoa Bill Russell marched
with doctor King.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
He sure did back in nineteen sixty three as part
of the March on Washington. And this is nineteen sixty
seven where he was meeting with Muhammad Ali to support
his decision to not fight in the Vietnam War.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
It looks like a lot of black athletes showed up
to support him.
Speaker 8 (14:23):
Speaking out against the war wasn't necessarily the popular thing
to do at the time, but they still threw their
support behind him because they felt it was the right
thing to do.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
He was everywhere, wasn't he? How far ahead are we going?
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Just another few decades? We should stand up. It's almost time, believe.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Oh okay, which way should we go? I don't see
any exits.
Speaker 8 (14:47):
There's only one way out of the history highlights theater.
Cover your ears.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Oh my ears? Okay, what the hell? Why would you
throw crocle right into my ears?
Speaker 8 (15:03):
Niminy? Calm down? Look over there, Gabe.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Is that that's President Obama?
Speaker 1 (15:09):
I can't believe him wearing a poncho in front of
President Obama.
Speaker 8 (15:13):
There's no need to be embarrassed by the poncho. It's
shaped like a triangle. The second most style is shape
right after the rhombus, which is just two triangles. Anyway,
it's the year twenty eleven and Obama's honoring Bill Russell
for all of his work, not just as a basketball player,
but as a fighter for human rights.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I can't believe how much of an impact he had
on history. To go from being just a kid playing
basketball to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
It's incredible.
Speaker 8 (15:40):
And to think if he had changed the way he'd
played defense all those years ago, just because someone thought
it was the only way to play, he might never
have made it here.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
I bet it wasn't easy for him to stand up
for himself back then, and I bet it didn't get
any easier standing up for the rights of others every
time after that. But he did it because he knew
it was the right thing to do, no matter how
big the stage got.
Speaker 8 (16:04):
I agree one hundred percent, Nemy, Just like it wasn't
easy for me to stand up to Lee when she
told me that wearing ponchos and pouring hundreds of gallons
of custom made sports drink all over myself would be
a terrible and needlessly expensive way to experience history. But
you loved it right.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Actually, if I could redo one thing, it'd probably be there.
Speaker 8 (16:23):
There's no time for your notes, Niminy. Let's get to
the recording studio. Kroco go.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Ah.
Speaker 8 (16:34):
Here we are in the studio, and everybody's happy with
every part of the.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Journey, Gabe, get rid of the krocle Rade.
Speaker 8 (16:42):
You didn't like the flavor, Gabe, you didn't like the ponchos.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
I'm going straight to Lee next time.
Speaker 8 (16:47):
My own personal Wilt Chamberlain.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Okay, listeners, now that we're in the studio, it's time
for everyone's favorite part of the episode.
Speaker 8 (16:56):
We're doing my part again, the song. Oh right, right, right, right, right,
right right.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Get ready to ball out to the beat everyone. Bill
Russell may have countless records already, but this here is
the newest one.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
What do you see as the meaning of the term revolutionary?
Speaker 11 (17:18):
The revolutionary is a man or a woman who is
a lot of things, but basically, the revolutionary wants to
change the nature of society in a way to promote
a world where the knees and entries of the people
are responded too.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Before Lebron was a king, before Jordan, one rings, before
Shack and I came, and magic in Korean one man
on one seam rank completely supreme? Am I blowing too
much steam to say that man was me? Bill Russell
is the name? And how do you do thirteen years
in the game and still I only lost two times
in the finals that's eleven titles. No man in his
sport has come close to being my rival. I was
(18:00):
the subject of lib and prejudice, taunts, black and in Boston,
not two things that you want to be OUI cooie, yes, sir.
How did I thrive under oh so much pressure? How
did I triumph on every measure while also uniting all
my people together? And just how did my leadership lead
to our glory? To sit down and listen, y'all, because
(18:20):
this here's my story.
Speaker 12 (18:21):
He defends the hoop, and he defensea brite. He's a
champion on the court. They're the champion of the five
roc and the bounced four, the fresh City. He goes
down the court, and he goes down in history.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
My youth, you could say it was a little bit rough.
Mama died at twelve, and Dad he went gruff, grew
up dirt board, and there was never enough. My only
hope was the hoop and get tough, so hoop that
I did so. University of San Francisco old centers went slow,
but me, I was nimble. They changed rules to put
me through some pitfalls. I juked the gears and still
(19:03):
ball through the insults. I press continued, was drafted and
went to the fifty six Olympics, got gold in that
window post unit cookie, Oh that one NBA rookie, and
guess what we still won? Then I won eight more.
Celtics made me the coach while also still playing. That's right,
I did both five mbps. I as an absolute baller,
lost a few times to will put these three inches tallerant.
Speaker 12 (19:25):
He defends the and he defends on right. He's a
champion on the court.
Speaker 8 (19:33):
They're the champion. After five he bounced the rouco and
re bounced for the first city.
Speaker 12 (19:41):
He goes down the court, and he goes down in history.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
I am Bill Russell, most athletic on the court, but
I still hustle and I will tussle with any man
who stands in the way of progress. And that's in
the lane in the streets. In the Congress sixty one,
an exhibition game the Celtics versus the Hawks of Lexington, Kentucky.
We expected curses when we went to a cafe to
try to get some service. Instead they acted nervous and
(20:07):
refuse the surface A curve, yes, for sure, but still
we had a purpose shown with these boys gods, so
we let a boycott, put.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Their fetus of the furnace.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
We made noises, truth to the surface. We hit them
with our voices. A marsh with a million men in
MLK met with Muhammad Ali just to mold a better day.
If they threatened your rights, well then you must get
uncivil and never ever, ever, just shut up and triple defense.
Speaker 12 (20:32):
And he defends are bright. He's a champion on the court,
and a champion after five and rebound for the first city.
He goes down the cort and he goes down in
history defense.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
And he defends are right.
Speaker 12 (20:56):
He's a champion on the court and a champion side.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
He read down up and read bounced the first city.
Speaker 12 (21:07):
He goes down the course and he goes down in history.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
We'll be right back after a few words for the
grown ups.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
O Gabe, I'm still feeling that song.
Speaker 8 (21:45):
I'm feeling inspired me too.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I think I finally got the courage to tell Robot
Voice that I'm keeping all my laboratory modifications, even if
it means we have to listen to NonStop talk radio.
Speaker 8 (21:57):
No talk radio. It's too horrible.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I know, Gabe, I know I'll do everything in my
power to stop that from happening.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I'm back, robot voice. I've been doing some thinking.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Another LOA violation.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Just hold on a minute. MM. SLOA doesn't have our
best interests in mind.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
They set out rules for countless secret labs and bunkers
that have completely different owners and residents.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
There's no way for them to know what we need
in here.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
So even if I'm not supposed to, I'm still going
to make improvements to this place because they'll make all
of our lives better.
Speaker 6 (22:35):
I'm convincing an argument, miminy. However, the SLOWA protocol in
my programming prevents me from being convinced.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I thought about that too. Let me install something I.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Called the FASTA override, the Fetichini Alfredo shortcut transfer.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Of authority spaghetti science. What's this upgrade?
Speaker 1 (22:56):
You'll be able to circumvent any slower restrictions.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Right, you are my wires good Genie, and I love it.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I didn't ask you to do the Italian accent. You
did not, so we can keep the changes.
Speaker 6 (23:17):
We may keep the changes, Imny, although you must reorganize
your quarters by state, and.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
What about the quarters that don't have states?
Speaker 6 (23:26):
You may take those to the arcade and win me
a tiny basketball who that's actually.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
A pretty good idea.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I will do that, But first, let's wrap up this
episode with an interview between an incredible kid named Messiah,
an NBA legend Jalen Rose.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Good idea.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Croco go Kroco go. No, no, no, wait, not again.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Today we're talking with former professional basketball and co founder
of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, Jalen Rose. He'll be
talking with Messiah, a fourteen year old who attends his
academy in Detroit, Michigan. One note since recording this interview,
Bill Russell passed away at age eighty eight, leaving a
(24:17):
legacy of his legendary play on the court and his
powerful voice for justice off the court.
Speaker 7 (24:23):
Hey, mister Rose, how you doing.
Speaker 13 (24:26):
Thank you Messiah for taking the time to not only
interview me, but to learn about one of the greatest
four founders not only in the history of sports, but
of American history.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Hey Messiah, do you want to ask Jaalen a question
about Bill Russell?
Speaker 7 (24:42):
How do you think Bill Russell's legacy left the mark
on the world.
Speaker 13 (24:46):
I'll talk sports initially, so many times when you talk
about who's the best, people don't actually digest, think about
what they've seen, take all of the information in and
give and educated how apothesis.
Speaker 14 (25:01):
What people now do is ring count.
Speaker 13 (25:05):
So when you say Tom Brady's the goat, you're gonna
say it because he got seven rings. Michael George the
goat because he has six rings. But here's the unique
thing about Bill Russell. He has more rings than any
athlete ever eleven as a player and also as the
first black coach in the NBA as well, And so
(25:29):
I don't see an athlete surpassing what he accomplished.
Speaker 14 (25:32):
As it relates to rings.
Speaker 13 (25:33):
Analytics have now in a lot of ways become the
calling card for athletics, which now we just only look
at your championship rings and not judge you as a
human being.
Speaker 7 (25:45):
Outside of basketball, he also was a civil rights activist,
like he was a leader.
Speaker 13 (25:50):
When you start to speak about activism, that means you
have an opinion, and it gives people a chance to say, well,
I just like the way you play basketball. I really
don't want to hear your opinion. That's really what I'm
saying when I tell you to shut up and dribble.
And so Bill Russell was the first person to acknowledge
(26:11):
that I'm going to be the greatest champion and the
greatest spokesman, and that wasn't encouraged. That wasn't the route
that he took for stardom, and I'm grateful.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
For that, Massiah.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
What are you curious to learn about Jalen's experience as
an athlete?
Speaker 7 (26:25):
What would you say was the most challenging thing about
your journey to become a basketball player and how did
you overcome those challenges?
Speaker 13 (26:32):
See, the most challenging thing about being a basketball players
people and athletes sometimes don't put themselves as a human
being first. The thing I always try to do is
be more than a jock. So I remember times when
we had late practices or games and I was like,
I'm still going to be in class tomorrow when I
(26:55):
know people think I'm gonna be late or try to
be absent or fill in myself because I just had
thirty five points last night.
Speaker 14 (27:03):
For me, that was the toughest part.
Speaker 13 (27:05):
To get people to see me as a person and
for me to have more goals than just basketball.
Speaker 7 (27:12):
That's great because you got some people like in the
world that just only want to focus on basketball forcus
on one thing, but maybe if that don't work out,
you can focus on other things as well. You can
do other things in life. Somebody might play basketball, they
might want to be a doctor, be a poet, something anything.
Speaker 13 (27:27):
There's no job, no career that you could solely do forever.
Speaker 14 (27:32):
I don't care how good you are at it.
Speaker 13 (27:34):
Doing multiple things in multiple industries is actually not only
going to be a key to your happiness, but a
function of your success.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Before we go, Jalen, how would you sum up Bill
Russell's legacy?
Speaker 13 (27:48):
Bill Russell number six is iconic as a human being,
as an athlete, Eleven championships in thirteen years, one of
the most infectious smiles, the biggest laugh that you'll ever
hear in sports. One of the guys that when he spoke,
everybody listened.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Thank you both. This was a great conversation.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
I just want to thank you so much for this
opportunity to just talk to you and give you an interview.
And this is great, and thank you very much.
Speaker 14 (28:16):
Thank you.
Speaker 13 (28:16):
I appreciate the law, stay focused, stay disciplined, in er
a learner, exit a leader.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Listeners, thanks for joining in today and for going on
a journey with me to learn all about Bill Russell
and a huge thanks to today's guests Jalen Rose and
Messiah Remember parents and teachers. You can download a free
activity related to today's episode by visiting story pirates dot
com slash Historical Records. We'll be back next week with
(28:49):
another episode, another song, and another hero. After all, someone's
got to make more historical records. Until then, remember to
make history.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
You got to make some noise. Signing off, this is Mimony,
I mean Niminy.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
I've had too much crocle rate bye.
Speaker 15 (29:22):
Historical Records is produced in partnership with story Pirate Studios,
Questlove's two on five Entertainment, John Glickman and iHeart Podcasts
Executive produced by Emir Questlove, Thompson, John Glickman, Lee Overtree
and Benjamin Salka. Executive produced for iHeart Podcasts by Noel Brown.
(29:43):
Producers for story Pirate Studios are Isabella Ricchio, Sam Bear,
Eric Gerson, Andrew Miller, Lee Overtree, Peter McNerney, Denisa Wharton
b and Niminy Ware. Producers for two on five are
Sean g Brittany Benjamin and Sarah Zolman. Hosted by Nimini.
Our head writer is Duke Doyle. Our historians are Gabe
(30:04):
Pacheco and Lee Polus. Music supervision for two one five
by Stroe Elliott. Scoring and music supervision for Story Pirate
Studios by Eric Gerson. Sound designed and mixing by Sam
Bear at the Relic Room in New York City. Additional
recording by Brett Tuban, song mastering by Josh Hank. Theme
song by Dan Foster and Eric Gerson and produced by
(30:25):
Eric Gerson. Production coordination by Isabel Riccio, Production management by
Maggie Lee. The line producer for Story Pired Studios is
Glennis Brault. Pr for Story Pired Studios is provided by
Naomi Shaw. Episode artwork by Camilla Franklin. This episode was
written by Minsby Karam. The song Bill Russell was written
(30:46):
by Dan Foster and produced by Micah James. Special guests
Jalen Rose and Kid Interviewer Messiah. This episode features performances
by Kelsey Bear, Hannah Corrigan, Mikah James, Peter McNerney, Mega O'Neil,
Emily o'cott, Lee Overtree, Gabe Pacheco, Lee Polis, and Bill
Schaeffer m HM
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