8.9: Chronicle Conversation -- Bill Walton
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Walton on the Giants' struggles and his love for the Grateful Dead.
Transcript
-- chronicle conversation subject but I'm like good friends going back a lifetime ago in the NBA days they. The hall of Famer one of the greatest basketball players college or professional of all time at. And he's appropriately done in the -- your little dead hand it looked there for Bill Walton to Walton number eleven and how are you bill one of the all time. Great anthems from The Grateful Dead great it's wonderful to be here on the show again with few of I -- -- as religious as Jerry sixteen years ago today was a today today August ninth 1995. And it was just. As sad moment it is ever happen to any of our lives. Every organization every group every team needs a leader and dad Jerry was the undisputed leader of the team of the family. Of the fan of this and He no longer here -- everybody else to charge the responsibility of the duty and obligation to carry on -- and everything the Giants enough for helping to keep the dream alive and to see all the fans out here. There was nothing like the big events the big event The Grateful Dead and how much fun it was that it. To see what's happened down here this -- -- -- -- old hang out down here this neighborhood to -- the ball or just so beautiful AT&T and how much fun everybody's happen because that's what the grateful that was about it was about the spirit it was about the joy -- happiness the piece -- the love of the the opportunity to make a difference it. One of the wonderful things about. My life is that I grew up -- the golden era of California in the fifties and the sixties and it was just so perfect in the dream was alive and I had so many heroes. And the sports world it was Bill Russell Mohammad Ali in the political social world it was doctor Martin Luther king and Bobby Kennedy had Sargent Shriver the musical world it was Jerry Garcia the grateful Bob Dylan Neil Young Carlos Santana. Crosby stills Nash and all the guys that. Course so great about that was the dream and the hope of a better tomorrow but of heroes that. Stood up for more than material accumulation of stuff. This took more firm than just physical gratification. They lived and they've played with purpose and passion. The live like they talked they dreamed that they were awarded the top and they were able to build. And to see what's efforts this who has been able to do on this course beautiful days is just a glorious than everybody out the streets and smile. And just. Come on through its a great day in his. To see all -- the great success in the development of the new research center -- right behind the ballpark here hopefully one day they'll be at. A football stadium and a basketball stadium all hear the infrastructure right here in this great city. Jerry Garcia so much through The Grateful -- that's such a great part of did make it happen again -- -- -- baseball team -- alive here every it was last year on this day when we were here. Bill legend Bob where they sing the national anthem it pure -- and -- -- led the seventh inning stretch and the Giants they won an extra inning game. It was like The Grateful Dead coming back for a double long or if there and then it's. From that point on the Giants just took off -- the -- in the beard and all the guys and how special it is an idle Philadelphia was just here and it was a remarkably tough weekend for all the faithful here it's averages go. What we're here once again to keep the dream alive we will get by we will survive today you really -- -- and you would fit -- well I think with his current giant group I think you assimilate in the clubhouse very well -- she's a great friend and manager -- broad jump from San Diego did -- sport she -- dud manager -- -- came here. This a fantastic. -- leader a leader of men that much like so many of the great coaches I've played for John Wood Lenny Wilkens Jack Ramsay. Steady promised. Read our back Casey Jones hall of famers all of a but Bruce -- He knows about the positive the value of positive leadership India and the responsibility of the leader to pick everybody up. -- -- together define the terms of the conflict do what others can't and won't do lead the relentless offensive attack. And then in. Hit first and I love the offensive. I'm sure over the Carlos Beltran works out that's yeah that's -- really out of the lineup tonight. The it really special opportunity but all the charities tonight at that further foundation unbroken chain that. The California State -- better this year either Rex foundation. This is a great moment for the Stanley Cup together and I was told that last year that they sold more beer than north. That they normally do -- at AT&T park so we're hoping that would be the case here tonight is the celebration. Continues bother me. The great Joseph Montana was asked to come of the giant clubhouse and talk about winning back to back in you in your your career UCLA you had a chance to do it in 7273. We do I think you would have done it in the NBA had you not gotten hurt after your great 7677. Run. But if you were asked I -- folks he's ever ask you to go to talk to the guys. How much more difficult is it to come back and do what they did all over again and try to win it for a second consecutive year -- Greg the first one it teaches you how hard it is. Award for the second one hit it teaches you life's most important lessons number one you have to stay healthy. Number two -- you have to believe in the coach in the leader. You know to stay together and yet they have the ultimate respect for your teammates because what happens when success creeps in the is it -- Yeah jealousy. The selfishness. And all the things that terror part in the group dynamic. That. They just start coming in there and it and everybody start to think that they're more important. Then it. Did overall goal of the team and I was so lucky. You see you later room -- have played for John -- and quite teachers and coaches and ended any heroes. They genuinely cared about the success of others then it. There was 00 a world UCLA so perfect every coach I ever had as a child was a it. Disciple of John -- that was a natural transgression or. Progression she's created when I get to the NBA which was my dream to make it to the the big time to do the best basketball league in the world. The quality of my life when Dallas because of the individual agendas of the self promotion of a lack of steals a lack of commitment to the team in the when you have great leadership which and Giants clearly have appeared to have them remarkable -- did you have the guys who on the field. They're able to. Present the product on a daily basis that the fans could relate to because these fans. -- an -- here. Because they're bored and they have nothing else to do they're here because they see values -- -- She meant DC an organization they -- spirits. These -- Achieve that they can be apart of and when you're part of something really special. There's nothing like that in the world and you keep coming out here to keep buying the shirts that you keep Danson and I started toward the grateful that -- in 1967. When I was. Fifteen years old it was a summer love or California oh what a great time we -- at the end it -- those days it was. Willie Mays it was one marriage show it was Johnny Rose Burrough down jocular or is it dodger errors are you mad at him darn Willie McCovey Zaria did. Justices such you know to listen to Vin Scully -- the games brought up in San Diego there and it was just. So absolutely fantastic to see at -- all grows now and how helpful. All these guys together and to create this legion of fans. -- -- hours before him. The great thing about. The world of sport is that it gives short chance to make a difference in the moment for. You know they throw that first pitch they put the ball up for the opening tip they kick it off you got a real chance to make a difference that day. But this is the moment before the -- with a true yeah where it really happens and everybody just gap were part of it were -- it we're gonna make the team win tonight. What could be better than that.

















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