EP324: The Time Patty Kingsbaker met Elvis and How the NBA Went from Regional League to Global Phenomenon

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This next story comes to us from a listener in Colorado Patty kings Baker and well take a listen to this one.

It was back in 1962 I was 12 and my brother who is 10 years older than me with getting out of the Air Force and he was in California so he made a deal with me enough. My grades are really glad that he would find me out to California and that I could drive back with him across country when he got out of five the Air Force and of course I was just beside myself thinking oh my God were gonna go to Disneyland and again he get to see Holly lead Hollywood Boulevard and the stars and inside 12-year-old. I just figured if you went to Hollywood. You were going to see movie stars so I flew out and we spent a couple of days in LA we went and saw all of this starts on Hollywood Boulevard. In fact, it was Thanksgiving was around Thanksgiving time he took me to dinner at this restaurant and Holly let that let's really famous at the time actually brought a phone to our table so that I can call my mom and say happy thinking I was like me for a 12-year-old they bring the phone to that table. Then I looked across the room and I saw it was Jesse White, who at the time was the Maytag guy so I get out. That was my first celebrity sighting but we went to Disneyland and the holiday. We were there, you know, I mean Jesse White wasn't exactly To where I do not want to see somebody like Annette okay or Frankie Avalon and so we were Disneyland the whole day my brother went up there and I don't wear and of course he was just yanking my chain. They went there and doing that to me and I would get all excited and you know no celebrities in so that we had a great time Disneyland and then we hit the road and we had spent the night in needles California so we got up really early, went to the gas station the gas up to head out and then session was crowded, which I really didn't notice at the time, but there was a trailer upon the horse, and there were something like Winnebago type thing.

And so, but I'm sitting in the passenger seat and my brother comes back to the car and got out of the car. Elvis Presley like yeah right I can fall for that again and seacoast ice. Where do you get out of the car.

Elvis Pressley is standing over there, so unlike I look out the car shared, standing there in black pants and a shirt this scarf around his Elvis Pressley so I grabbed a piece paper and I get out of the car and I go over to I can't speak. I'm like I'm standing in the presence of royalty and he just kind of smiles and I'm sitting here with my pen and paper and he said did you want me to say I said yes please.

So he asked me what my name was Patty so he wrote to Patty. I still have it to this day. Levin kisses Alice and I got back in the car and I'm in my heart which is pounding and he got back in the Winnebago and what it was. It was the reset Cadillac limousine. The Winnebago and then there was another car pull in the horse and in each of those that were to show first with you these overalls with EP on their and so they kind of took off and then the guy there was this guy who stayed to pay their gas bill and he turned out to be Col. Parker. So my brother started talking to him and he said yeah that Elvis suggested is failing this film Viva Las Vegas and that they were heading back to Memphis. He was just really nice. Anyway, we got in the car and they took off and I said to my brother. I sure I think you've got a follow-up you've got to follow.

I need a picture so in the meantime, I put rollers in my here I'm 12 you now and we followed them for hours and sure enough they start pulling into another gas station, and when my brother used to tell the story goes on everywhere all over the car and you know I'm brushing my hair in time to just look perfect for Elvis and and so I got out the car. One we got to this gas station I went up to one of the guys with the overalls in the P and I said could I please get a picture of Elvis. He said what we don't have any ice at all not have a camera.

Take the picture, and he was just kindness and he just said how Mr. Presley doesn't get his picture taking like that and I like so I get back in the car course now I've got crocodile tears. I have followed Elvis for hours trying to get this picture and nothing would upset my brother more than his little sister having crack a doll to your son's office and Elvis got out the Winnebago can so my brother got out the card.

He said hey Allison, because you haven't guessed, can I get a picture of you with my sister.

He goes sure and so I'm like trying to drive my tears and I'm getting out of the car and walked over there and put his arm around me and he said hey have seen you somewhere before I went couple hours ago another gas station so we did get the picture. Of course back in those days, you know, was with the little instant attic camera and my brother only took one picture instead of several, and he was so nervous that it is a little blurry but I do have the picture and I do have the autograph and what a great story from putting things bigger abortion recalls it like it was this or that her brother should picture the broadcasters in our self of Memphis temple Oxford Mississippi east to below hours as both voices in our North wall bracelet is nowhere and I don't think it's an accident of American stores post replacement for mortal born and where he died. Story a beautiful story and how I was treated for my goodness is beautiful.

Both of their stories here on L American stores American stories we tell him love America like we do for asking you to become a part of the L American stories from if you agree that America is a good and great country. Please make a donation monthly gift of $17.76 is fast becoming a favorite option for supporters L American stories.com now and go to the donate button and help us keep the great American stories coming so American stories.com Medicare coverage decisions for next year and United healthcare can help you feel confident about your choices for those eligible Medicare annual enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. If you're working past age 65. You might be able to delay Medicare enrollment. Depending on your employer coverage. It can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be this UHC Medicare health plans.com to learn more United healthcare helping people live healthier lives. I know everything there is to know about running a coffee shop for small business insurance. I mean, my State Farm agent make sure my business days piping hot nice people and confident their small business owners to help you best.

State Farm is in your corner and on like a good neighbor. There call your local State Farm agent for quote today doing household chores can Artie be time-consuming and tedious. And there's nothing more daunting than facing piles and piles of laundry that need to be done can be overwhelming for anyone.

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Originally it was a league that really struggle for mainstream acceptance it for years it had trouble getting a favorable national television contract for years.

It played in arenas that really were antiquated, or one down nowhere close to the entertainment meccas that we see today was a second-tier professional baseball always been America's game roots were established for years and years and years and the NFL had been a foothold television thanks to the 1958 NFL championship game which was the league first overtime game and they did not have anything like that.

It was really an afterthought to college basketball which was huge.

The 1950s and even to the home Globetrotters. In fact, typically were the previews or the first act so to speak. All globetrotter games to college basketball games, especially New York City and every player autobiographies player biographies from the 1950s 1960s and 70s.

A lot of these players had second jobs you know they had other business interests. They were making exorbitant salaries, you know now if you sign a professional contract is a highly touted rookie with any of the four major sports you're pretty much set for life back then that wasn't the case. So the MBA in 1940s 50s even in the 1960s was a league that was looking for relevant it was looking for foothold into America's sporting culture the MBA need to make a leap to become and by putting Larry O'Brien in that position. It is the first step toward saying hey were business we mean business, Larry O'Brien was a major for democratic national politics.

He was somebody who as time goes on. I think we forgot what political figure in the 1950s in the early 1970s Larry O'Brien was part of JFK's are small basically help Jeff take the White House, he was on the plane coming back from Dallas after JFK was assassinated.

After that he was a member of Lyndon B. Johnson, whose Postmaster Gen. and then after that he was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee city for two terms. The cover of Time magazine, so he was somebody who was a major, major figure in national politics, Larry O'Brien. By the time 1970s rolled around, he did become a relic he's retired. For the most part he is somebody who is really looking for something to do and when. J.

Walter Kennedy decides that he's had enough being Indies Commissioner. He looks a lot O'Brien he got a lot O'Brien specifically asked him to take over MR behind says no because the thing now when someone is elected to be the Commissioner of of a sports league that is a clear pinnacle for Roger did all the NFL for Rob Manfred Madeley baseball Gary Bettman of the NHL.

That is a pinnacle when you dive the leader obituary with the popular Commissioner of the NHL major-league baseball a lot. O'Brien. This was a step down so we MBA really courted him because for two reasons.

First, they knew that he was a basketball fan because you someone who grew up watching the Celtics get season tickets to the next blurb I was all somebody was going to give the league instant credibility and the MBA.

Ultimately, one lie O'Brien over after numerous attempts because they convinced him look you will have absolute power here. This isn't going to be a real head position you are to be able to do things here will be able to make decisions and carry a policy you will have impact and his election as Commissioner.

His harness Commissioner was significant for two reasons.

First, he gives the MBA as I mentioned before instant credibility visually that was really struggling for national relevance. It was struggling to become a player and Larry O'Brien giving MBA cachet was headline news that he was that he was the Commissioner may people take notice. So there's that and the second thing is is that she brings order to the heads of the MBA before lie. O'Brien always pulled off J. Walter Kennedy became they were ingrained in the outside influence and liable I came in and he was not associated with the MBA. He didn't have allegiances. He was somebody just wanted what was best for the so he came in with no biases was his own man and he also had the ability the ability to manage Larry O'Brien ran the best meetings and that may not sound like much, but after understand that meetings before in this in the 50s and 60s were contentious bickering affairs, like a Thanksgiving dinner with different political opinions being penny back and forth so Larry O'Brien coming in adjusting what were doing were just going to get done last packs. It doesn't sound like much, but for only the couldn't get out of its own you.

This really comes across in the NBA's absorption of the baby American basketball Association because Larry O'Brien. You know, just want to get the deal done and one wanted to leave for meeting trying figure out how to what seems to absorb what what money should change hands. You know going on and on. In 1976 and in the closing days are applied to says to the owners look up or down here and bicker about these contracts or you take the money playing cash or checks and make make a small fortune before the days that and for the PBA which had a lot of bankrupt owners and financial starting owners liable I was able to distill their problem was simple question and that's the end he needed someone to just get down to the brass tacks of running a business, but one of his greatest gifts was somewhat policy enacted or did his fair share what Larry O'Brien did was he recognized talent and delegate and one thing that he is that he hired a young lawyer who was outside counsel for the MBA name David Stern lock him in the second and David Stern later went on to become the enemy Commissioner and in my mind is the most influential sports Commissioner of the last 50 so lie O'Brien's ability to recognize David Stern is somebody do the dirty who could get to know the GM team owners and the union representatives having David Stern clear a path and basically get a five-year start to become the Commissioner of the MBA that was Larry O'Brien greatest legacy. That's why he is one of the most overlooked figures in the rise of the listening to Pete Colorado telling the story of the MBA and what's so interesting about this take is looking at it from a business single no business of sports. No sports, no business of entertainment. No entertainment in the 40s and 50s while Little League didn't extend past St. Louis. Good luck with the TV contract in the old days players have summer job and then comes Larry O'Brien and then comes David Stern is second in command when we come back more of the remarkable story of the MBA Pete Colorado offer of hang time to prime time here on our Americans. Millions will make Medicare coverage decisions for next year and United healthcare can help you feel confident about your choices for those eligible Medicare annual enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. If you're working past age 65. You might be able to delay Medicare enrollment. Depending on your employer coverage. It can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be this UHC Medicare health.com to learn more United healthcare helping people live healthier lives. I know everything there is to know about running a coffee shop for small business insurance. I need my State Farm agent make sure my business days piping hot equal and competent business owners to help you best.

State Farm is in your corner and on like that neighbor there.

Call your local State Farm agent for quote today doing household chores can Artie be time-consuming and tedious.

There's nothing more daunting than facing piles and piles of laundry that need to be done can be overwhelming for anyone.

If you want to get those larger laundry loads down right and get back to your life. Try all three clear maggot packs all three clear mega packs are bigger packs two times the cleaning ingredients compared to a regular pack so that you can tackle any laundry load without the worry all three clear mega packs are also 100% free of perfumes and dyes and their dental and skin which is great for any family sensitive skin needs my family.

We definitely have sentence again the next time the whole family gets home from long vacation or you get the kids back from summer camp or whatever the situation is.

That's because this big pile of dirty clothes. All three clear maggot packs have your back purchase all three clear mega packs today and conquer any laundry load for all fabric types.

We returned to our American stories and the story of the MBA last left off, MBA, Commissioner Larry O'Brien fed hired a young lawyer by the name of David Stern is second in command and Stern himself would soon take over Larry's job changing the MBA forever your again is Pete Colorado was one of those bosses where it came at 9 o'clock.

He went to his office, shut the door, you saw my father o'clock David Stern was everywhere he was at the arena. He was talking to the GM was talking to the bus he was talking to the network that aired MBA games so every week go on a conference call with the broadcast crew USA network. The cable station that aired MBA and there's one meeting where David Stern says what guys focus on the stock. What about the records.

Don't worry about losing focus on the stars. If it's a terrible matter. Was he the clippers are playing the Celtics with focus on.Habakkuk focus on their talent. There folks that people know and back to me was David Stern's genius was that he was able to recognize that to generate interest. He had identify ways for Joe and Jane public to watch about walking beyond two minutes and that was the stars that was with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird enjoys Irving focus on them and that star system is what sustains the MBA with the state and it comes about in a number of ways. Verse is the skeleton of MB which is what David Stern creates so ended him becomes this sort of archive of game footage and player interviews and all this material gets called into halftime features and advertisements that extol the best and brightest of the later on. MB entertainment takes all the splitters that they scored from games and and whatnot and turn that into those highlighted players so you have a Michael Jordan set have a Magic Johnson videocassette you live or David Stern partners with the television stations facility CVS and comes up with a game plan each game to have at least two players are the casual bands want to see the want to see stars covered and you also have the properties which again is David Stern led development which focuses on apparel that focuses on players players what they do. So you know, such as getting a 76ers T-shirt. Irving Charles Barkley is getting a Magic Johnson or a Magic Johnson sweatshirt. So is all attack David Stern and it all comes down to the players because this will I think get this right from their grandparents from their family from allegiances. If you are somebody getting in the MBA is a long time.

I had parents who were not really not not really sports my parents to know what handle Facebook gravity core players think of and if you know the players through commercials. If you highlight the best attributes like Magic Johnson smile for live birth competitiveness you are going to win people over, and it also helps if you work with a television network like CVS CBSSports that knows how to frame the gains when you have magic versus Larry not just focusing on these two great players you're focusing on the two struggling franchise of the MBA and the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers you're focusing on East versus West and you're turning all those components into a narrative that anybody can get so the final game just sporting becomes an television where the same way that if you want to tell was a pilot character's storyline and you get no a happy ending morning the same thing happens with MBA games on sleep you get a beginning, middle and end. Get a flash introduction you caught up to speed with where things are good. Again, let us down with quick cuts and close-ups and reaction shots. You get personality into the game and that personality bleeds through every product whether the VHS tape with T-shirt does matter what it is because as David Stern said it's not what people think about you is how they feel about that is the mantra of the MBA is an emotional lead and that is the lifeline for the NBA's story for success over the past 3540 but Marvin gave nationalism of the 1983 MBA officer in Los Angeles. To me, is a pivotal point in the because that's when the MBA became the world's cool sport. You have to remember that for the longest time, the national anthem was performed in a very straightahead fashion but Marvin Gaye's national anthem comes at the right time when hip-hop is making its way culture and also a major cultural figure, Marvin Gaye, Motown and sexual healing, singing the song and is also the sign that the NDA wasn't in a play by the rules of the NFL baseball. It was because he was an drastically African-American song that reflected who was on the court. You had a majority of aftermarket players also represented what you saw on the courtroom style of play that national anthem. If anyone hasn't heard is a soulful stirring rendition that incorporates R&B, gospel singing over prerecorded. It reflected what the MBA was it was a close. It was in the sport for your mom and your dad and your grandma and grandpa. It was sport that was for the cool kids.

Further, the teenagers for the young American who wanted something different that one that belonged in that national anthem set the stage for everything that happened afterward in the NBA's cultural history because it was defiantly nontraditional, but in a way that was entertaining and fun and exciting for any young sports fan growing up in that era, and afterword, that's with the MBA represented herself passable representing different players with different they carry themselves in a different way. Thinking was filmed differently. The players did things differently. They talk differently. That anthem also change the way the MBA organizer also became more than just East versus West very best for my it also became. What can we do to give the audience the best time possible. So Marvin Gaye in a lot of ways launch a business revolution and even listening to Pete Rado tell a heck of a story about the MBA were huge strands in my house when I was a kid I did Bobby Knight's Captain of my high school basketball team twice to hear the story told so well by someone like Pete well it brings back a lot of memories when we come back more of Pete Corrado on the story not only Larry O'Brien but how David Stern helped turn the MBA into the game in American culture. Millions will make Medicare coverage decisions for next year and United healthcare can help you feel confident about your choices for those eligible Medicare annual enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7.

If you're working past age 65. You might be able to delay Medicare enrollment. Depending on your employer coverage. It can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be UHC Medicare health plans.com to learn more United healthcare helping people live healthier lives. I know everything there is to know about running a coffee shop for small business insurance.

I need my State Farm agent make sure my business people and company business owners to help you best. State Farm is in your corner and on my neighbor. There call your local State Farm agent for quote today doing household chores can Artie be time-consuming and tedious. There's nothing more daunting than facing piles and piles of laundry that need to be done can be overwhelming for anyone. If you want to get those larger laundry loads down right and get back to your life. Try all three clear maggot packs all three clear mega packs are bigger packs two times the cleaning ingredients compared to a regular pack so that you can tackle any laundry load without the worry all three clear mega packs are also 100% free perfumes and dyes and gentle on skin, which is great for any family sensitive skin needs my family. We definitely have sensitive skin.

The next time the whole family gets home from long vacation or you get the kids back from summer camp or whatever the situation is. That's because this big pile of dirty clothes. All three clear maggot packs purchase all three clear mega packs today and conquer any laundry load for all fabric types returned to our American stories in the final segment on the rise of the national basketball was last left off Pete Rado, author of from hang time to prime time was telling us about how David Stern, Marvin J television drama of the MBA and superstar players launched into the success it is today. The MBA was a high point. They were about to partner with the growing cultural force that would take them even higher. There again is Pete Corrado, MBA really start to become a mainstream force in 1979 with the arrival of Magic Johnson nine is also the year that rappers delight. It's the airwaves hip-hop route and the is a youth culture, especially youth culture in the 1980s and early. The MBA has always been about doing what's what's relevant tradition that it has no tradition so partnering hip-hop with the MBA or rather was really a no-brainer.

Hip-hop has a youthful audience that has money to spend and want to do doesn't want to seem old thing doesn't want they don't want to listen to Mick Jagger, the one they don't want to hear stories of Mickey Mantle and Jim Brown they want what's new NBA's partnership with hip-hop was a match made is also because hip-hop really started as a byproduct of city culture. Basketball is very much a city game did take place.

Gymnasiums obviously did take place in the suburbs but basketball's biggest influences is in the cities you don't need much room to put up a basketball court.

You don't need much on the part of the game really was a way for city kids assimilated American culture, procedures, and African-Americans, so it may seem unusual but really it's not as the MBA is becoming youthful that's going mainstream thanks to stars like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson hip-hop is enjoying the same MTV start playing videos route starts to mimic possible courses and books and also incorporate elements of law. For example, walk this way you fight for right to party. Those songs have that young thing get into even if they don't like different rock 'n' roll. Also, you have artists that now are really more like entertainers, Smith you have God help us analyze all, coming to that era. So as you that also generates the line of culture and a line of clothing that specifically sneakers that holds not only the young audience, but the players so it is a natural marriage of the two go hand in hand. Even to this day and all the forces along with with Michael Jordan with Nike and with the market and here's why. For numbered the MBA stars were always model citizens serving oriented stars such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird part of a lot of or they were just more so Michael Jordan comes with the shoe that is quite important banned by the MBA. It doesn't look like any shoe you ever seen it's gotten white, black and red. It is completely formed and have Michael Jordan who embodies the spirit of the chief because he is a soloist. He is not part of a team is not established. He is brand-new is marketed as a rebel by going over players by putting the ball in ways that have not seen and play is an exploded clear and he is somebody that looks good on these extremely attractive is Amanda Wilhite at 616 here's a matinee idol for basketball. All those things come to Encourage the shoe into cultural force is not just the shoe you are flying the next version of the leather jacket for the Davey Crockett and was embraced by not only basketball petrified artists by city kids like never and when clothing comes up to match the shoe Out of Michael Jordan really represents the beginning of the fact of the of the sneaker clothing fashion trend popular culture-because he was somebody who could represent you could aspire to be. Just by wearing shoe and if your teenager and you want to be rebellious. It's very easy to talk up $65 or hundred dollars $100 to become rebellious to become part of a movement movement as represented by somebody who is as was a brilliant player. Michael Jordan is a very easy Association to make, and process so if you want to be like Steph Curry or Kevin Durant 400 Kari Irving buying their shoe find their pal is a way to get closer, and Michael Jordan is a start.

DMA now is business.

I mean it is. It is worth billions and billions of dollars and it has thousands of employees across the globe. It is constantly trying to so it's ease of development in different areas of the world.

I mean, I think Africa is not a latest continent to come under the NBA's up so it is just as now.

This behemoth and the MBA is part of our life, whether online or watching TV minutes.

I think most people don't know who brought James and the rent is there cultural institutions. I think we forget that the MGA wasn't always like this. The MBA wasn't always a colossus of international costs. What's amazing to me that we see today about efforts of people log basketball just love the MBA lovely. These are people that work tirelessly to elevate the game.

Love passion about during my O'Brien life heard Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, but the VA's wrong is the result of so many people that have fallen into the cracks of history, men and women like Paul Gilbert just don't think it had shaped her only involvement. Then these men and women who work tirelessly and sacrifice and some embarrass themselves to turn the MBA into a part of our lives, their efforts have been have been forgot and it's a crying shame NBA's rise to success didn't come about because of Michael Jordan, David Stern, Larry Bird and it's a story of dozens of people working together to create a great job on the production by Monty Montgomery and a special thanks to all for Pete Corrado's book from hang time to prime time is available on Amazon usual suspects. What a story it tells and it starts early. Baseball is America's pastime football second.

By the late 50s, but it took Larry O'Brien, David Stern and a bunch of others to put the MBA on the map you took some great players to Bird and Magic also combining with rap music in this remarkable remarkable merger of cultural forces. The partnership between the two match made in heaven. Then came Jordan Nike in the market. Let's face it, Jordan was a matinee idol, a master salesman virtuoso performer and the MBA turned into a pop culture force my own daughter. Reagan Christmas one of the Nike blue North Carolina air Jordans moving that he still in the MBA still cultural force. The story of the MBA here on our American story