Athletes

The NBA’s Chet Walker: A Black Athletes Coming of Age in America

Bill Thompson

They called him “Chet the Jet.”

Chet Walker was a seven-time NBA All-Star, during a 13 year playing career for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Chicago Bulls.

And that was after a two-time All-American college career at Bradley University in the early 1960s.

But his success was not limited to the court. After his retirement from the NBA in 1975 Walker became an Emmy-winning TV producer,

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Get your copy of Chet Walker’s book

But for many years there was a smoldering anger in Chet Walker, anger at the way he had been treated – or mistreated -as a talented athlete.

Finally in 1995 Walker wrote a memoir, called Long Time Coming, subtitled A Black Athletes Coming of Age in America. He and I talked about the book that summer.

So here now, from 1995, Chet Walker.

Chet Walker Was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. He died in 2024 at age 84.

The Heavyweight Bout That Transformed America

Bill Thompson

It was 1938, on the eve of the start of World War II. And a 24-year-old American boxer, the son of Alabama sharecroppers, was about to alter the course of our history.

That young man was Joe Louis – full name Joe Louis Barrow, more widely known by the nickname “The Brown Bomber.”

On June 22 at Yankee Stadium in New York, Joe Louis took on German boxer Max Schmeling in a much-anticipated rematch. Schmeling won their first bout, in 1936. But this one would be all Louis.

He knocked out Schmeling in the first round.

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But along the way, according to his son, Joe Louis Barrow Jr, the Brown Bomber transformed the way America saw African Americans.

And that is why Barrow Jr. called his 1988 book about his father Joe Louis: 50 Years an American Hero. I got a few minutes with him that fall when he was on a book tour.

So here now, from 1988, Joe Louis Barrow Jr.

Joe Louis died in 1981 at age 66. Max Schmeling helped pay for his funeral, and Louis was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Champ’s :Life Lesspms: George Foreman’s Guide to Life

Bill Thompson

Sooner or later life will knock you to the canvas. The key is knowing how to get back up and keep fighting .

So maybe it pays to listen to somebody who has been knocked down and has gotten back up many times in his life.

Former heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman knows a thing or two about being knocked down and getting back up.

Get your copy of George Foreman’s book

And in 2003 he wrote down many of the life lessons he’s learned, in a book he called George Foreman’s Guide to Life.

I met him when he was on a book tour.

So here now, from 2003, George Foreman.

George Foreman will be 76 next month. And he and his wife will celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2025.

What Was The Celtics Secret? Former NBA Great Bob Cousy On The Celtic Mysiqiue

Bill Thompson

He’s been called one of the 50 greatest NBA players ever. Point guard Bob Cousy played for the Boston Celtics for 13 seasons, helping them to six championships.

He was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1957, and was a 13-time All Star. Cousy was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Cousy attributes much of his personal success to the storied franchise he was part of – the “Celtic mystique,” it’s been called.

In fact his 1988 book was called Cousy on The Celtic Mystique. Late that year was when I had the chance to spend a few minutes with this NBA great.

Get your copy of Bob Cousy’s book

In this interview you’ll hear reference to the Miami Heat, which at that time were in the midst of a 0-17 start to their first season in the NBA.

So here now, from 1988, Bob Cousy.

Bob Cousy is 96 now. And he still wears Celtics green as a marketing consultant for the team.

Yankee Legend Mickey Mantle And His Favorite Summer

Bill Thompson

It’s the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series, for the 12th time in their history. The last time was in 1981.

The 1950s, however, were all Yankees-Dodgers. They met in seven World Series in the ‘50s

The 1956 Series was particularly notable – in Game 5 that year, the Yankees’ Don Larsen pitched a perfect game.

There was a spectacular 8th inning catch that preserved Larsen’s gem – that defensive miracle was turned in by center fielder Mickey Mantle.

Get your copy of Mickey Mantle’s book

That was a great year for Mantle. He won the Triple Crown, leading the American League in homers, RBI, and batting average.

It was such a great time that Mantle titled his 1991 memoir My Favorite Summer. I met this Hall of Fame legend that spring to talk about it.

So here now, from 1991, Mickey Mantle.

Mickey Mantle was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974. He died in 1995 at age 63.

Olympic Gold Medalist Al Joyner’s Encouragement For Runners

Bill Thompson

The 2024 Olympics begin today in Paris. Who will emerge as the heroes whose names we’ll remember for years?

Forty years ago9 in Los Angeles one such hero was track and field star Al Joyner. He won the gold medal in the triple jump, with a leap of an incredible 56 feet 7 and a half inches.

Joyner later became a renowned track and field coach.

And in 1987, he got another gold, a wedding ring when he married track star and fellow Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith, who became known as FloJo.

Get your copy of FloJo’s book

She wrote a book in 1998. Part of the “Dummies” series of how-to books, call3ed Running For Dummies.Tragically, though FloJo died from an epileptic seizure that fall, and never got to see the finished book.

Just a few months later, al Joyner went on a book tour to promote it. That’s when I met him.

So here now, from 1999, Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner

Al Joyner is now 64.

John McEnroe: ‘You Cannot Be Serious!’

Bill Thompson

As this year’s Wimbledon Championships get underway let’s recall one of the greatest professional tennis players of our time.

John McEnroe won 77 career singles titles, including three at Wimbledon. He also won 77 doubles titles, including five at Wimbledon. He is in fact the only male player to win more than 70 singles and 70 doubles championships.

Photo by Anefo / Croes, R.C.

It was at Wimbledon in 1981 that McEnroe came up with what has become his signature phrase – “You cannot be serious!”

As the years went on, he embraced and adopted the phrase, even calling his 2002 memoir You Cannot Be Serious.

Get your copy of ohn McEnroe’s book

He wrote candidly about his childhood, his career, and his 8-year marriage to actress Tatum O’Neal, which ended in a bitter 1994 divorce.

And we talked about all of those things when I interviewed him about his book. So here now, from 2002, John McEnroe.

John McEnroe is 65 now. He;s a TV commentator, and still plays in – and wins – senior tournaments.

Bill Walton: A Trailblazing Career on the Court and Behind the Mic

Bill Thompson

Hall of Famer Bill Walton was a 14-year NBA veteran. The #1 draft pick in 1974, he spent his early years with the Portland Trail Blazers, then the Clippers, then the Celtics. Nagging foot injuries eventually forced his retirement.

Walton then embarked on a successful career as a broadcaster.

Get your copy of Bill Walton’s book

I met him in 1994 when he wrote a book called Nothing But Net.

So here now, from 1994, just a few months after his induction into the Hall of Fame, Bill Walton.

Bill Walton died of cancer last week. He was 71.

Meadowlark Lemon: Beyond the Court to the Pulpit

Bill Thompson

For 22 years he was known as the “Clown Prince” of the Harlem Globetrotters. But for basketball Hall of Famer Meadowlark Lemon, there was a larger, much larger, purpose for his life.

When I met him in 1987, Lemon was eager to talk about not just basketball, but about God.

Just a year before our interview, Lemon was ordained a Christian minister. And proud as he was of his on-court accomplishments, Meadowlark Lemon had much bigger things on his mind.

Also, be aware that my very first question to him, as you are about to hear, was worded in such a way that his response was worded in the third person. I should emphasize that is not the way he normally talked about himself, but was simply answering the question the way I had framed it.

So here now, from 1987, Meadowlark Lemon.

Meadowlark Lemon died in 2015. He was 83.

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Super Bowl 21 Hero Leonard Marshall Reflects on the Giants’ Disastrous 1987 Season

Bill Thompson

This Sunday the San Francisco 49ers will meet the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas This will be the Chiefs’ fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years. But big success one year doesn’t necessarily mean the next year will be just as great.

The New York Giants dominated the NFC in 1986, and they won Super Bowl 21 over the Denver Broncos in January 1987.

But the Giants began the 1987 season 0-5, and finished with a 6-9 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in four years.

A key player for the Giants at that time was defensive lineman Leonard Marshall. He had written a book in the offseason, called The End of the Line. I had the chance to talk with him about the book In early December just two days after the Giants lost an embarrassing game to the Washington Redskins. New York had a 16-0 lead at halftime, and lost.

but Marshall was in a surprisingly pleasant mood that day as we talked. So here now,
from 1987, Leonard Marshall.

Leonard Marshall retired at the end of the 1994 season. He’s 62 now and is involved in various business ventures.

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