Len Bias: A Mixed Legacy The 8 Side

Chris Spetzler, Executive Director of the Decision Education Foundation along with Olympic and legendary track star Justin Gatlin, who opens up and shares the importance of good and bad decision making and how it has affected Justin's career in track and field and what those decisions have led to in Justin's life, with podcast producer Dave Ungrady.
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Chris Spetzler, Executive Director of the Decision Education Foundation along with basketball coach Glen Farello and former Maryland basketball star Travis Garrison discuss the importance of good and bad decision making and how it has affected their careers in sports, with podcast producer Dave Ungrady.
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Chris Spetzler, Executive Director of the Decision Education Foundation along with two students Zach and Ben discuss the importance of good decision making and how it has helped them choose the right path for their lives, with podcast producer Dave Ungrady.
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In life, Len Bias was a transformative basketball player. In death, he’s a cautionary tale and an iconic symbol of poor decision making. Len Bias is also a cultural catalyst. 

In this episode, Len’s story and legacy are juxtaposed with those of many important figures in American cultural history…Emmit Till’s traumatic  tale, and racial injustice. The tragic young death of rapper Biggie Smalls…The black folklore fable of John Henry.

His legacy is addressed in contemporary black writings, including by acclaimed poet Reginald Dwayne Betts and Justin Tinsley. Songs have been written about Bias. And a play used his story to teach youth about the perils of drug abuse. All this, in the last narrative episode of this podcast series.

About the Narrator: John Salley - John Salley  is an American former professional basketball player, talk show host, and actor. He was the first player in NBA history to win championships with three franchises, as well as the first player in the NBA to win a championship in three different decades.
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How do you define the legacy of a universally endeared and admired basketball player when he goes and throws it all away? How can you honor a young man whose youthful indiscretion placed the University of Maryland into a tailspin that lasted for almost a decade? How can a fan salute his vast achievements without acknowledging how his choice wreaked havoc on the world around him?

Those  questions are answered in this episode.

This is the fifth episode of seven in section three of the series, focusing on the main aspects of Len’s legacy.

About the narrator: Kevin Sheehan is a University of Maryland alumnus and is the host of the podcast, the Kevin Sheehan Show.
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How does one family recover from the unexpected death of a son, primed to be one of the best basketball players of all time? How does one recover from the unexpected death of another son, who was as good a player as his older brother. What challenges does a young man face never knowing a father whose legacy haunts him?

Those questions are answered in this episode. This is the fourth episode of seven in section three of the series, focusing on the main aspects of Len’s legacy.

About the narrator - Lauren Rosh is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in multi-platform journalism and a double minor in law and general business from The University of Maryland, College Park. 
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