The Tim Ferriss Show #332: Coach George Raveling — A Legend on Sports, Business, and The Great Game of Life
I Have a Dream Speech Origin
- Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech was not its original title, and its most famous section was improvised after Mahalia Jackson prompted him.
- The media popularized the "I Have a Dream" title after President Kennedy's remark.
Grandmother's Influence
- Raveling's grandmother, a strong influence in his life, stressed manners and respect for women.
- She taught him social graces like walking on the outside of the sidewalk and holding doors open.
Mentorship of Sister Dolores
- Sister Dolores, a nun at Raveling's boarding school, saw his potential and encouraged him to strive for excellence.
- She instilled a positive attitude and fostered a sense of self-competition, not against others, but against himself.
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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