That is all a lot greater than only a recreation. You couldn’t make this story up should you tried. It’s what makes this life, and the Grateful Useless so particular.
What do the Grateful Useless, basketball, and Lithuania have in frequent? Within the new three-part season of the BBC World Service’s Wonderful Sport Tales podcast, music, sport, and the autumn of the Soviet Union collide within the extraordinary true story of how the Lithuanian basketball staff made it to the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and the way the US rock band, the Grateful Useless, helped them get there.
Wonderful Sport Tales: Invoice Walton’s The Grateful Crew is narrated by the late basketball legend and US sports activities broadcaster, Invoice Walton. It is a story which was near the center of the presenter. Invoice was a ‘Deadhead’ – a large fan of the Grateful Useless. He regarded each the band and the 1992 Lithuanian basketball staff as his mates. This podcast is certainly one of Invoice’s final media initiatives. He sadly handed away in 2024, not lengthy after recording the collection.
The story:
It’s 1992. Lithuania has solely lately gained independence from the Soviet Union. Determined to show themselves as a newly unbiased nation on the world stage, the Lithuanian males’s basketball staff have raised funds to make it to the Barcelona Olympics. One of many staff’s extra sudden donors is the American rock band the Grateful Useless, which has supplied, together with some monetary help, a set of iconic tie dye t-shirts. The one factor standing between Lithuania and Olympic bronze? The Unified Crew – the staff representing former Soviet international locations and, for Lithuanians, their former occupiers. Will the Lithuanian basketball staff be capable of beat the Unified Crew with the world watching? Can they triumph in tie dye?
Invoice Walton’s The Grateful Crew is hosted by Invoice Walton and options contributions from Grateful Useless drummer Mickey Hart, the band’s official historian Dennis McNally, and Lithuanian basketball stars Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Rimas Kurtinaitis, and Valdemaras Chomicius.
Feedback:
Whereas recording for the collection, Invoice Walton mentioned: “Basketball is life; so is the Grateful Useless. The Lithuanians have proven and given us life’s highest stage, which means, and objective. The inspiration, the motivation that drives us to do higher, to be higher, and to do extra. That is all a lot greater than only a recreation. You couldn’t make this story up should you tried. It’s what makes this life, and the Grateful Useless so particular. I’m the luckiest man on this planet.”
The BBC World Service extends its due to Invoice’s household and mates for supporting the mission after Invoice’s loss of life.
Invoice’s spouse, Lori, says: “For Invoice, the collaboration between the Grateful Useless and the 1992 Lithuania Olympic Basketball staff was an ideal fusion of his two passions. Arvydas Sabonis and Šarūnas Marčiulionis had been two of his favorite gamers, and the Grateful Useless was his favorite band. Witnessing their distinctive partnership and success on the Olympics was a dream come true for him. Invoice was extremely proud and honoured to be part of the BBC World Service’s Wonderful Sport Tales Podcast.”
Biography:
Invoice Walton first rose to acclaim at UCLA the place he led the Bruins to 2 nationwide championships and an 88-game successful streak. He went on to play 10 seasons within the NBA with the Portland Path Blazers, LA Clippers and the Boston Celtics. He received a pair of titles – with the Path Blazers in 1977 and Boston Celtics in 1986 – as a part of a Corridor of Fame profession. He received the league’s Most Beneficial Participant award in 1978. Invoice retired from the NBA after the 1987-88 season and have become a US basketball Corridor of Famer and a beloved sports activities broadcaster, recognisable at video games for sometimes sporting his distinctive tie-dye shirts.
When Invoice handed away in 2024, there have been many public tributes together with from the previous US President Barack Obama, who mentioned: ‘Invoice Walton was one of many best basketball gamers of all time – a champion at each stage and the embodiment of unselfish staff play.’ Former Boston Celtics teammate and good friend Larry Chicken mentioned: ‘It was a thrill for me to play with my childhood idol and collectively we earned an NBA Championship in 1986. He is among the best ever to play the sport.’
Wonderful Sport Tales: Invoice Walton’s The Grateful Crew is a Bespoken Media manufacturing for the BBC World Service. It’s produced by Jac Phillimore and Carys Wall, with sound design by Joel Cox.
- Take heed to Invoice Walton’s The Grateful Crew from 19 Could on BBC Sounds
- Exterior of the UK take heed to Invoice Walton’s The Grateful Crew from 19 Could on most podcast apps/platforms
- Episodes will likely be launched weekly
- It should even be broadcast weekly on BBC World Service radio from 28 June
About Wonderful Sport Tales
Wonderful Sport Tales is the BBC World Service podcast about sport however not as it. It’s the podcast that brings you the best twists and private journeys from sport historical past. Pay attention for uplifting tales of braveness, drama, myths and legends from all around the globe.
Earlier seasons have included The Black 14, in regards to the group of Black American soccer gamers who took a stand towards racism within the recreation; and Chasing Mountains, the story of 5 feminine mountaineers battling to make climbing historical past.
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