#332: Coach George Raveling — A Legend on Sports, Business, and The Great Game of Life
The Tim Ferriss Show
Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Part in Selma
Martin Luther King was the last speaker on a hot and humid day. He spoke from prepared notes before ad-libbing in his I have a dream speech. When it's over we were told to form a V around the podium and help usher him out. The most frequently asked question is why did you ask him for the speech? "I have no idea it was just impulse," he says.
Coach George Raveling (@GeorgeRaveling) is an 80-year-old living legend and Nike's former Director of International Basketball. Coach Raveling was the first African American head basketball coach in the PAC-8 (now PAC-12), and he is often referred to as the "Human Google."
Coach Raveling has held head coaching jobs at Washington State, The University of Iowa, and USC. Following a prolific basketball coaching career, he joined Nike at the request of Phil Knight, where he played an integral role in signing a reluctant Michael Jordan. He's also been inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
In this episode we cover a lot of things including how he came to possess the original copy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, how his practice team ended up beating the 1984 US Olympic Dream Team in basketball, and much, much more!
I hope you'll emerge from this conversation walking on air as I did!
Enjoy!
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