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Michael Jordan's Myth: The Real Story of Leroy Smith⎥Documentary
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- Опубліковано 16 сер 2024
- An Original Documentary by @thenbastoryteller
Leroy Smith’s life was forever altered when Michael Jordan co-opted his identity to craft a legendary sports narrative. This documentary, directed by Emio Tomeoni, also known by The NBA Storyteller, follows his six-year journey to uncover the real Leroy and understand his struggle to reclaim his story. In 1977, Smith beat out Jordan for a high school varsity spot, a moment Jordan later used to fuel his competitive drive for 30 years. Unknown to Leroy, who was overseas, Jordan’s tale of being cut became famous. When Leroy returned to the U.S., he discovered his name had become a part of Jordan’s legend. The film delves into Leroy’s quest to reclaim his identity and sanity in the shadow of one of basketball’s greatest icons.
"I spent a lot of years trying to move past being 'the guy who beat out Michael Jordan,' but it was always there, a part of my story whether I liked it or not." - Leroy Smith
"Six years after starting my UA-cam series, Leroy contacted me, and we set up an interview. And I was able to get every single answer to every single question I had. Beyond that, I met a real person who had been navigating this strange position, living between trying to live a normal life and being part of Michael Jordan's legendary story." - Emio Tomeoni
Leroys Podcast : podcasts.apple...
lessonsfromler...
Fun Links
Mjs Playground Documentary: • Documentary Michael Jo...
Mjs Playground Music video: • Micheal Jordans Playgr...
Leroys Podcast : podcasts.apple...
lessonsfromler...
Stock Footage From Storyblocks.com
Stock Music from Soundstripe.com
Special Thanks to
#LeroySmith
#MichaelJordan
#fredBrown
#Thisamericanlife
Advertisers and beyond email: etomeoni@gmail.com
Voice overs by Ethan Herschenfeld : www.ethanhersc...
#nba #sports #michaeljordan #documentary #thisamericanlife #lessonsFromLeroy
Link to Articles in films
www.espn.com/e...
sports.yahoo.c...
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:04 Hall of Fame
00:09:01 My Obsession
00:12:27 Come Fly with me
00:15:21 Michael Jordans Playground
00:18:55 Was MJ even cut?
00:30:34 Loyalty
00:34:01 Pop Herring
00:39:28 David Vs Jordan
00:47:28 Trapped
00:48:22 Remember the contract/Charlie Murphy
00:56:16 WAIT THERE'S MORE
01:02:33 My Conclusion
Years in the making!!!
right! - so glad you good folks experienced this process with me
To my guy E, I'm humbled beyond words. What you created allowed me to speak my truth about an incredible time in my life on this amazing journey! I've been blessed and I dont take anything for granted at this moment in my life...I have an incredible family and a small group of true friends, of which, you are now a member of both E...Thank you, Leroy Smith🙏🏾. Ps MJ will always be the GOAT!
This was a great watch and an awesome story.
So well done so deep such a blessing BROTHERS
Such a great story.
Love and respect your outlook bro! God bless
You're the coolest cat
the greatest basketball channel to ever exist
fr fr
Yessir
fr how do we make him famous
@@sercantor1 like and share
*Over Jonny Arnett… yikes?!*
*I know absence makes the heart grow fonder but, damn.*
Leroy comes out as a great guy in this video, honestly. It's so lovely
This is so great cause, I did not start any of this assuming that - but when it became apparent, the whole process was very clear
Thank you everyone, thank you Joe, P! Folks who were here early, thank you Bryan, Johnny, Ill, zach thank you for the chat. And of course, Leroy, thank you for your time & grace (and incredible voice)
Leroy has entered the GOAT debate. So happy you made this video
literally the GOAT motivator
Absolutely!!!
Something that stuck me. When he said he didn't want to live in that moment and it's what you did in the 40 years after, yet Jordan's legacy lives in that moment.
The exact opposite.
Never in my life have I set a notification for a UA-cam video, but I am ALL OVER this shit. You, sir, have been missed!
how was it?
Leroy handled the situation with so much grace and kept his sense of self, this was awesome.
yeah, but right now is the perfect time to watch this video
Finally, we have an answer! You two are so intuitive, and in sync. I hope you'll become friends. The goodness radiates out of both of you. This here, is what the Internet should be. Another masterpiece... Good job Emio!
This is real man, honestly emotional. Thank you
@@THENBASTORYTELLER I don't comment on UA-cam videos and have only a few subs. Your work is fantastic (I'd have some minor criticisms of course!) and I'm not even that much of an NBA fan (though you're helping me get there and provide more insight and worthwhile emotions/thoughts than the mostly vapid and one note coverage in the mainstream. Honestly congrats and well done!
You being a dad... having a day job (I think)... cranking out these world class videos... and now the best sports investigative reporter in the game... FOR FREE?!? what did we do to to deserve you lol? Can't wait till you're paid what you're worth: video... art... wise... you get it. Much love, appreciation, and admiration
I know ppl always tell UA-camrs they should be bigger an how underrated they are. However in this case I am bewildered and irritated that he isn't much bigger within the NBA UA-camr scene. Most of them do some form of analysis and summarize eras. Often copying each other's formats. I enjoy some of them, but This guy tells unique stories in a unique way. I can't Imagine anyone else touching these topics while using his approach.
I know ppl always tell UA-camrs they should be bigger an how underrated they are. However in this case I am bewildered and irritated that he isn't much bigger within the NBA UA-camr scene. Most of them do some form of analysis and summarize eras. Often copying each other's formats. I enjoy some of them, but This guy tells unique stories in a unique way. I can't Imagine anyone else touching these topics while using his approach.
The NBA Storyteller clearly knows basketball.
MJ and Leroy really one of the most fascinating stories. Its been awesome seeing you develop this for nearly 5 years (or more) and the conclusion coming out this great. MJs strange hyper fixation on Leroy but also level of fondness, you really depicted alot of human experiences with this. Im happy the world finally got Leroys story because it is one of true character and strangely enough he is kind of the "Master Motivator" that Jordan depicted him as. Its weird , sorta creepy, sorta heartfelt, its actually alot of things. Thanks for following this thread until this point Storyteller, always a gift to see your vids
Mom wake up! New NBAstoryteller just dropped❗
side (but related) note, this is legitimately wholesome content, i really think this is a great video to watch with mom.
The edit & music at the hall of fame speech at 3:20 onwards, was amazing. Never realized how unhinged and chaotic that speech was
nothing makes me happier then a music comment (not even joking here, i spend so much time trying to find the right sound for the right moments)
I saw this new video drop and immediately called out from work
Now thats real support - I'll have Leroy talk to your boss
Mike, like most of us are clumsy with out feelings at times. Personally i saw him giving flowers to those alongbhis path to greatness...yeah it was awkward at times perhaps but heartfelt and true to himself 100% of the time🤙
This channel should have more subscribers than 99% of nba youtube.
It is remarkable that at the pinnacle of MJ's victory lap, the 2009 hall of fame induction, and the preceding several months, he would spend the time, money and emotional energy for crafting a well managed marketing campaign that celebrated and benefited his high school friend. That say a lot about MJ and Leroy Smith. Great job Emio and team "The NBA Storyteller". (come on Disney people and the others, we need more from Emio Tomeoni)
Goated as always. Leroy looks fucking great man, dude is pushing 60 and looks damn near 40
Beautiful beyond words. Thanks, my man.
he has returned from the mountaintop to speak truth to power
Welcome back. It's always a jolt of joy when you upload.
WHEN PRAISES GO UP…. BLESSINGS COME DOWN, the man, the myth, my son THE STORYTELLER❤️💯
HEY MOM!
Hey Mom, your son and I are now brothers! What's for dinner Mom LOL Thank you for having such an amazing son...real talk. Leroy,🙏🏾
Return of a legend
Excited for this video release!
Best story ever, thanks for making this video bro!
Ok I've watched it and this is INCREDIBLE
all your vids are great. But this was amazing.
Leroy just became a motivational person to me.
DUDE YESSSSS!!!! I may have said this on other videos but I was there at MJ's Hall of Fame ceremony; I lived down the street and walked over there in a full suit like a herb lol. Ticket was like 250 or something stupid but I was determined because it was the culmination of my childhood basically. My one big regret about this night was that I saw Stu Scott across the room and wanted so bad to say hi to him, but I didn't want to go around bothering celebs so I left him alone. Now I wish I said hi and thanks when I had the chance :(
we should talk
@@THENBASTORYTELLER yessir, it's been a while!
We need an NBA storyteller tv show or movie. These are the best vids on UA-cam
I know exactly what I'd do with it too
I wish u could see the standing ovation I’m giving u! 👏🏾
Yo Nephew, "Denz" here! Love your work! Love You more! GOD BLESS 🙏🏽 I'm a fan ⭐
Aman! thank you Aunti!!!
OMG! You finally found him! And you really did his story justice. Great video!
He’s back!
Can't believe I just came across this channel...how does it not have 1 mil subscribers!? 💪💯
need more nice folks like you!
seriously, thank you so much for stoping by and spending some time here
@@THENBASTORYTELLER 💯💪
my friend and I were talking about your miniseries on this and thought that we were never going to see the next part, especially considering how long it had been. We had even theorized the government silenced you. thank you
let me be honest - I was not planning on doing this - when he reached out to me this whole thing just materialized right in front of my eyes. 1 second there was nothing and then all of a sudden this was what I was doing.. very exciting
.. how do i say this....so, i do think there's some sort of cap on my channel - this entire time nothing has ever broken past the 250k mark, its weird)
@@THENBASTORYTELLER hmmmm seems fishy. I had posted about the Leeroy smith is fake NBA is Disney conspiracy on instagram and they took down my story saying I can’t mention brands without permission but I think it was more related to what I was saying. Thanks for taking the risks to tell the truth. Stay safe dude!!
@@THENBASTORYTELLER I do wonder why you've failed to break through more. I'm biased but you're honestly my favourite youtube channel and make the most interesting/well produced/funny videos (on light-hearted topics anyway). Still appreciate you making videos when you can.
man, your channel is the only one I have turned on my notifications for. So glad you made a new video... Been a while. Now I know why it takes you so long, this one was great!!! Thank you!!!
awesome stuff, as usual. insightful, original, surprising, and profoundly human.
loved the sequence of muted youtube clips of players talking about MJ, and how you latched on to the sound of MJ laughing off screen while Big Roy shakes his head, and you brought it all together. and great job on shinning a light on Leroy, he comes across like a genuinely great guy. looking forward to your next one!
The silent b&w clips of players stuck in mjs world, that was my favorite lil edit - I would watch that part just for fun now and then when i was editing. but also, them not having a voice was defiantly part of it. The rest of the video, anybody you see talking on camera, you can hear them even a little bit. especially mike, which maybe you noticed, MJ is a bit louder then everyone, sometimes his clips even interrupt a bit.(its not actually that noticeable in this edit, i had it pretty severe in previous edits) so when i finally heard that chuckle, and plopped it into my own working context which was to just take him at his word, that he's not hiding anything, listen to him, That's when I knew i had to tack on another 6 minutes to the end of what I thought was done.. so yeah, what were we talking about?
- Also, the funny part, and a nod to how myths are made, we still don't know what he was really saying either, when he was shaking his head.
So awesome! Another banger of a doc! You did it again!
You are the man my brother! Tremendous Job! Humbled and Grateful!
listen man..lol, its all you. you have been great, legitimately helpful, responsive, open, honest, THE easiest person to collaborate with, ever. And this is incase anybody else reads this, Leroys never questioned anything in the doc, never suggested a change or an angle, didn't pressure me in any way to tell any particular story , he literally just let me do my thing., and motivated me all along the way ( i am not joking)
I remember your very first video and subscribing right away. Believe you were around 200 subs at the time, and thought, "there's no way you don't reach a million subs in the next few years!" That was just because of your surprisingly unique views of the game of basketball and how truly amazing your editing skills were(and of course still are). It saddened me that your videos became few and far between over the past couple years, but of course it'll take a lot more than that to unsubscribe to you! You're still the best basketball channel, and even one of the best channels on UA-cam at editing! Love from KCK!
P.S. I too am a one time YMCA dunker that made me laugh pretty hard when you said it😂😂😂 ✌🏻
Mike may be the GOAT basketball player
But you're the GOAT basketball youtuber
He’s back!!! This man is a legend in the game
This completes the circle. It was dope!
Ironically, Leroy's integrity and loyalty to his family reminded me of you. 🤔 Why does a channel with 50K subscribers not have a sponsor, and only drops content once every 3 years like he's Kendrick Lamar? 😂 Because TNS's family and integrity to his content is bigger than a check. In that respect, I wouldn't be surprised if you guys became friends after this. You're both men of character, and that should be highlighted.
This is so good! Edge of my seat the entire time!
Wait, the goat is back?
He's back!!!! I know this will get watched more than once for sure
The GOAT is back
I’m so grateful for the videos you have made over the years man. Thank you !
Really appreciate this, and thank you for all that time
The goat of basketball UA-cam
The return of your favourite nba youtuber's favourite nba youtuber!
I gotta use that line again!
but also for a long timer like yourself, MAAAN this was weird to do, but weird in the greatest of ways.
The fact yu got this interview is amazing the hard work and dedication is undeniable
I'm glad you see it, I tried to do it justice
Greatness, as always.
The GOAT NBA youtuber. We have missed you
I've legitimately missed you folks
The return of my favourite orator🤙
Haven’t even watched was so excited when I saw you posted. Welcome back GOAT
how'd you like it?
This guy is like Anti MJ. He matured beyond basketball, he’s a very forgiving and genuinely caring man, and handled his executive roles really well.
Jordan is a competitive psychopath. He lives to compete, lol
@@whenisdinner2137
Yea but what happens when the competition is over? Like Leroy has made me feel bad for Jordan cuz Leroy has such a good home life. I don’t think Jordan has the peace this man has and I’m sad for him for that.
For the first time in my life, I can really see what Jordan gave up to be the GOAT and I’ve never said (or even thought) this but I feel like maybe it isn’t worth it. I no longer wanna be like mike because of the brightness of Leroy Smith.
@vinsanity3510 jordan has moved on to golf, business and owning a nascar team. Being competitive isn't a bad thing if you can focus it.
@@whenisdinner2137
But does he seem happy to you?
@@vinsanity3510 who cares about happiness?happiness is being the trophy holder
wake up basketball WORLD the GOAT just uploaded
Your content is amazing. Thanks for the great storytelling!
Thank you for watching
The GOAT is back lets goooooooo!
glad i was here for this
David Robinson maintains to this day that he believes Michael Jordan made a deal with the devil because of his incomprehensible accounts of energy in spite of himself and his habits.
I don't necessarily agree, but i don't not agree...
Man went to the crossroads like Robert Johnson
still here
The goat is back! I love your videos man. Glad to have a new one
Best story teller ever!! 🔥
honestly I feel like I'm just figuring it out
you did yo thang on this one.
The King has uploaded 👑
He's back!!!! Man the memories of watching you when I was in the military! Thank you for your efforts and quality of videos!
glad to see you back too!
This is fantastic, elite level work. Thank you.
What a great story, thank you Emio
Welcome back!!! Can't wait to see more episodes
Jordan went full blown Petty Legend, I’ll never forget this speech 😅😅😅
Bro you make me so happy when you upload... much love E!!! Thank you soooooo much for the shoutout Emio... always... BJ Taylor
plus 6 points for you.! seriously, You know how happy I was/am getting this out, to folks like you who have been on this journey with me. Its fun but also quite the exhale
@@THENBASTORYTELLER i'm joyfully weeping with you guys
Share, share this far and wide -
Shared it with as many bbal fans I know.
Every video of yours I have seen has been a masterpiece of writing and editing. You should be doing your own major motion pictures as an Orson Welles style auteur, dawg
I have 3 ideas. 3 big ideas and a 15 ft sculpture. Seriously, give me a budget and i'll make the best HBO Max show that gets canceled after one season. like one of those shows that wins an Emmy and then is just gone. I can do that
When you're done, like comment and please Share (even on FB) I really can't thank you folks enough, this has been quite the journey
ALSO, sub to Leroys new Podcast, Link in description
After decades of waiting, we finally hear the motivational side of the story of Michael Jordan’s success.
A black man with the last name of “Lynch”. Some things that make you say Hmmmm.
I've shared on some more obscure forum's I use, hope it helps as this is premium #content.
Every legend is made from the stories about them. Jordan knew that and decided to get ahead of it. He made his own stories, he established which ones would be important. It was an anarchist approach to the carving out of a legacy, and it worked.
I agree that MJ completely understood what he was doing and the importance of storytelling - but I've come around to believe thats because he got really good at telling himself stories, and with Leroy there’ was a significant part of this event that actually fueled him, like a long term pit of motivation he was able to create out of it - i think mj has some sort of brain compartment where he takes in, collects, raw hate and sadness and embarrassment or fear or whatever and is some how able to transfer it into good clean legal competitive motivation, drive, focus. like imagine if by will alone, taking a small thing, blowing it up as big as they sky in your brain, and then feeding off of that sky to make you the best at the thing you do. I think he knows how to do that, and I think I know it because he keeps saying that, he says it so blatantly its' almost hard to realize he’s not talking in cliche. I think mj means everything he says... which is wild, cause it doesn’t always seem to line up
like what if Janice ate your spaghetti at work one day, , by accident though, but then for the next 6 months the thing that got you out of bed , the thing that lead you to be 6x Employee of the month, that thing that gave you an edge, focus, all that motivation was from Janice and the THE Janice event, that everybody in the office knows about, and now its Sunday and the big company picnic is happening and you get your big award, now you get to remind everybody that thing she did, shouldn’t have happened, except that Janice is there as your invited guest and claps along. Its so strange because I think it is equally true that Michael sees this as load lifting storytelling exercise and a good ole joke with a good ole friend - a fun thing he keep dragging on. and that’s the part I want to figure out next - how MJ does that. Be 100% genuine in both of these competing worlds.
@@THENBASTORYTELLER Hes definitely a prime example of someone who is built different, and not in the slang meaning, but in a literal sense. Hes clearly wired differently and views every life experience as a direct attack on him. Other people do this, and theyre usually miserable, but MJ found a way to only utilize that feeling of being attacked as motivation to be insanely good at one thing.
Its why hes not really that good at anything else, his brain was wired to make him incredible at a competitive sport, which is a liability in many other fields. Fields like gambling where you are really only competing with yourself and your own interests, and running a basketball organization where the competitiveness only causes friction with employees instead of driving the players to win games.
@@THENBASTORYTELLER Wilt seemed to share that mindset, though to a much lesser extent. He seemed to view many moments in his life as direct attacks on him and his abilities, and was motivated by it. He claimed to become a passer because he heard people complaining about his lack of passing.
something that’s lost in this is that jordan also created a character of himself in his mind, the character of leroy is one that usurps jordan unjustly and steals approval and notoriety and rank, but jordan sees himself as the martyr who is constantly misjudged and forced to prove himself correct. the speech’s content completely reflects this character of jordan, he thinks to himself “what do i owe to others?” and the only thing he can imagine to thank them for is motivating him with their denial of his greatness.
the biggest takeaway for me is that jordan refuses to move on from these characters in his head, he is completely consumed and even haunted by these perceived wrongings. meanwhile, harvest views his life as a continual flow and finds it inappropriate for himself to hold on to his past with such a tight grip. i don’t think these two guys could have more opposite approaches and they both ended up doing very well for themselves.
Always worth the wait 🔥
*UA-cam notification drops*
Me: Oh hells yes... 🍿
how was it?
@@THENBASTORYTELLER excellent as always! your videos are so unique and incisive, both in concept and presentation, you should have a whole studio working for you.
This is so legendary
Holy shit you just uploaded this recently and here thought I was about to rewatch the Leroy smith video from before. You are dope
Great Job Emio!
thank you - it was a journey
Got to love it when it is about basketball, two of the greatest to ever exist and the story behind it is fire 🔥 Subscribed!
love this documentary soooo much 😍
Love this guys content
This is your best work and that is saying a lot👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
Thank you, for saying that, i feel the same way
Emio, excellent work man!
Thank you my man
Holy shit I haven’t heard from this channel in years.
Why won't some prominent NBA podcaster bring LeRoy Smith in and let him speak his piece? Or was he forced to sign some gag order to not talk about the Michael Jordan varsity story?
What do you think is the best podcast for Leroy to be on?
@@THENBASTORYTELLERthe Draymond Green show. Or more seriously JJ Reddick.
@@THENBASTORYTELLER JJ Redick. He's a good interviewer imo.
@@elburto5387 Yep. JJ Redick.
Absolutely great video boss and congrats to Mr. Harvest Smith Jr.
Good I thought you stopped making videos man. Welcome back 50 up votes before it even starts.
It's an affliction, I can't stop
This is so good!
Why did he even attribute Leroy Smith to be the reason Jordan didnt make the team? Leroy Smith was a foot taller, theres no way Jordan lost to HIM in a position battle.
its wild, but i actually believe MJ - even though he didn't technically beat mike, MJ just crafted targets in his mind, and Leroy became the face and words, the shorthand for all the emotions he felt from not making the team, and eventually redirected into determination
It was mostly artifice for his meta yea - but in a grounded sense they were both sophomores and friends and I think regardless of positioning the coach only allowed 1 sophomore on the varsity team(source: a Jordan coffee table art book and intuition)
What a wild ride
right! This whole process was wild for me, so I'm very happy it comes through for the viewers
did not expect this to be a feel good story, great video.
ME EITHER!!!
Can’t wait!
Incredible opportunity, super happy for you!
RBC!!!! it really was
What a closure to the story. Thank you
Thank you, for hangin in with me
Leroy comes through as such a genuinely beautiful and rare person. Often people are said to have the gift of gab or are good with people as a 'skill' but Leroy achieves those things without even trying due to how disarming his integrity and empathy is.
On MJ, there's an essay on Gandhi by Orwell where he said Gandhi had a childlike capacity for self delusion. Orwell, the colonist midwit he was didn't recognize that what he meant as a pejorative was actually Gandhi's greatest strength which enabled him to go from being flung out of a train in SA to hitting the dagger on the British empire on his own. It's common to be motivated intrinsically or extrinsically but the ability to create an imaginary shadow realm of perceived opponents to motivate yourself is an exceptionally rare gift. His autobiography was eerily called 'My experiments with truth'.
Even though their surface level personalities are radically different, I always thought 'childlike capacity for self delusion' best described the type of attitude and inner steel that MJ had as well.