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The Current Transcript for June 14, 2019

Host: Piya Chattopadhyay

STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE

Prologue

[Music: Theme]

SOUNDCLIP

COMMENTATOR: Canada. The NBA title is yours. The Toronto Raptors are the 2019 NBA Champions.

PIYA CHATTOPADHYAY: Hey Canada. We did it. We won. Let that just soak in for another moment. Indeed we the north and now home to the NBA champs as the Toronto Raptors won over the Golden State Warriors last night. When that final buzzer sounded there were cheers and tears, hugs and high fives and together a collective coast to coast to coast joyous embrace. So for the next hour we're going to revel in it all with the scenes and sounds of celebration. We're also going to talk about how this road to Raptors victory has, well, maybe changed us a little, made us a basketball nation, one that is inspiring young and old. You'll hear from some Canadians who play hoops, a little later on, who say this is just the best. And speaking of the best. We're going to bring you one of Anna Maria Tremonti favourite documentaries. It's about a B.C. man named Bob Erb who had the good fortune of striking it rich in the lottery. And before he even cashed his check he was writing plenty of his own to whomever needed it in this community.

SOUNDCLIP

Probably 400,000-50,000 a day for 7-8 days. I was thinking I'm starting to get writer's grant because that was a lot of free hand writing and I don't do much of that.

PC: That documentary called Pass it Around in an hour on today's show. Hi I'm Piya Chattopadhyay. I'm really really happy and this is the Friday edition of The Current.

Back To Top »

Raptors fan ditches prom to watch his team 'make history' in NBA championships

Guests: Samira Mohyeddin, Devin Heroux, Martisha Richards, Steve Nimmock

SOUNDCLIP

[Crowds chanting]

PC: Yes that was the song that was sung in bars and houses and streets across our country last night after the Toronto Raptors made history winning the NBA championship. They beat out the Golden State Warriors 114 to 110 in another nail biting game. Our producer Samira Mohyeddin was out in the middle of all the celebrations in downtown Toronto which took place all night. She's with me now in our Toronto studio. Hello happy day.

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: Happy day you, Piya. It's amazing day.

PC: You know everyone's going to remember where they were when the buzzer went and when we knew that the Raps had won the championship. 20years from now people are saying I was there, I was there and they remember. Where exactly were you and what was that moment like when they won?

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: I was front and centre I was right in the middle of Jurassic Park with probably about a thousand people around me. And it was deafening when they won. I mean it was electric. It was electric. It was exhausting. And it was I started to bawl I actually started bawling. I looked around and other people were weeping too I mean it was nothing short of pure and sheer joy.

PC: I think one of the things is that you said you were with about 1000 people, Jurassic Park in the south end of Toronto downtown. There were thousands of others all around in this city, in other cities, on the streets and stuff. The sound I think the word you used was deafening, and that's what it felt like where I was watching the game which is a local pub in my neighbourhood. It was so loud that you could not hear anything. Tell me about some of the sounds that were leaking through all that deafening loudness.

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: So what was happening in the park was as you said there's four zones but when they won it was sort of rolling across the entire block. So it was like a shield of sound coming at you.

PC: And that exact moment when we knew we had won in Jurassic Park, sounded like what?

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: I recorded it. Take a listen.

SOUNDCLIP

[Loud cheering]

PC: So it sounded like a blew out.

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: It busted my machine.

PC: And you know a lot of people have seen Jurassic Park on television. It is a special place during Raptors games over these last few series. What was it like to actually be there?

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: I mean we see it on TV but I don't think we actually grasp how much of a party it is. So when you're there you're seeing people from ages of 4 to 84 and everybody is having a great time and this is sort of the pre-game you know. And at the same time you're seeing Drake on stage. He was there tonight. Lilli Singh , Superwoman, was there. John Tory the mayor of Toronto was front and centre. So it really has a familial vibe to it. And then when the game comes on you're looking at a thousand people who are totally mouths wide open you know gaping and watching the screen transfixed and everything that happens on that basketball court you can see in the faces of those people.

PC: Is there one thing that stands out for you from last night?

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: I mean there were two things one of them was I noticed how childlike everybody was. It didn't matter how old you were. People were covering their eyes. People were turning their backs. Things that kids do. You know I can't look. I can't watch. People were covering their ears. That stood out to me also. And the other thing that stood out to me was a guy that I saw. He was holding a sign that said I ditched prom to watch Game Six. And so I went over and asked him about his decision.

SOUNDCLIP

RAPTOR FAN: No regrets whatsoever. Like a lot of people asking me today if it was an easy decision. A hundred percent it was like you have a chance to make history. I'm coming here no brainer. It's worth it though because after tonight Raptors [unintelligible] Canadian champion. So no doubt. No doubt about it at all.

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: So that was Daniel Zang. And you can hear the confidence in his voice, right. This is before we won. He's a great tough student from Markham Ontario and his parents actually bought him a tent for him to stay there that night because he was there from midnight the night before to get into the park.

PC: I know the streets of Toronto and other cities too were packed throughout the night. So was it okay out there after the game?

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: I mean everybody spilled into the streets. You started to hear people sing We are the Champions. So there was what was expected was happening but then there was a little bit of rowdiness, but I honestly think that for the amount of people - and some are putting the numbers at hundreds of thousands of people - they were celebrating for the most part. And you know the walk from where I was in Jurassic Park over to CBC isn't that long. So I wasn't able to see what was happening in young Dundas Square but where I was people were really partying right into the morning.

PC: And that party is going to continue on Monday when the city Toronto holds a parade in honour of the Toronto Raptors and victory. Thanks Samira.

SAMIRA MOHYEDDIN: Thank you, Piya.

PC: Samira Mohyeddin is a producer here at The Current and she was with me in our Toronto studio. So that was some of the hometown mood here in Toronto but there were also many many Raptors fans celebrating in Oakland, California. Canadian fans who live there and Canadians who travelled to Oakland to watch the Raptors victory over Golden State, as was the CBC is Devin Heroux and he's on the line from Oakland. Hello.

DEVIN HEROUX: Good morning Piya.

PC: Still bright and early there, isn't it?

DEVIN HEROUX: It certainly is. I mean like in the twilight zone. Is this all a dream? That was sweet reality for the Toronto Raptors.

PC: I think many many Canadians are waking up today feeling the same way. And so many of us Devon you know watched it, well obviously here in our country, but you know in various places. But take me inside the arena. The history Oracle Arena, last game ever played in that arena last night, when that buzzer sounded and the Raptors had won. Paint me that picture.

DEVIN HEROUX: Yeah. It's a moment I'll never forget, Piya, because for so much of the game the building was rocking that historic bar known as 'Roaracle' for the ear splitting sound. This is a fan base that is so used to winning. And so when that buzzer did finally sound and the Raptors ended the dynasty it was a mix up. Well you could hear Raptors fans roaring because they were in shock and disbelief and in the celebratory mood. And there were a lot of them, hundreds of them. But there was also sort of this eerie Buzz. And I remember specifically, Piya, looking at the faces of these Warrior fans, and they couldn't believe what was happening. Because in their basketball kingdom the Raptors roared in and stole three games in a place they're not used to losing.

PC: You know the Warriors aren't only a team that aren't used to losing in their own arena. They're just not used to losing. This is one of the best basketball franchises over the last number of years. And as you said that stadium had so many Raptors fans, right. So what happened with the Raps fans after you know the trophies were handed out and all that stuff.

DEVIN HEROUX: So you know in that chaotic moment running, literally, I get stuck behind - guess who? - Chris Bosh the former Raptor fighting our way through the throngs of Raptor fans, they're high fiving Chris Bosh. They're going crazy. Canadian flags draped all over him . They were losing their minds 24 years in the making. They were going crazy and there's Bosh in front of me. He's so big and [unintelligible]. You know I thought if I just followed him all the way I'll be okay. We finally made our way to the courts. And then when you were down there, Piya, you finally got a sense of how loud the Raptors fans really were. It was wild.

PC: So I have to ask you about one particular fan because he has become very well-known across our country and for anyone who's ever watched a rapid game in the last 24 years, Nav Bhatia, known as super fan. Did you see him?

DEVIN HEROUX: Him and I shared a moment at Centre Court when everything settled after the locker room celebration and champagne sprayed everywhere the hoopla, Nav was still there. It was quite an emotional moment because I specifically asked him in a moment like this now who do you think about. And he talked about his family and he talked about all of the family celebrations that he's missed. And everything that he's put into this team, hasn't missed a single game in the franchise's history. There he stood, smiling.

PC: I have to ask about the other side. As you said the Golden State fans along with the team were pretty stunned. What was that mood like for them? In their hometown in all fairness right in the last game for them with this team in that arena.

DEVIN HEROUX: Since the level of respect here because they've won a lot. They've won everything you can possibly win. It's been a really good time for basketball in Oakland, but there was a sadness. I could really feel it from this fan base because this arena for 47 years has been a gathering place for the people of Oakland specifically. This is a heart and soul of this community and now they're beloved warriors are crossing the Bay Bridge to this shiny new place with fancy million dollar suites at the Chase centre. They're losing a part of their culture and their history and you could feel it.

PC: I want to get back to the Raps just before I let you go. You are known to cover curling for the CBC. You have been following the Raptors through this series and the previous ones. You've become our basketball guy. I know you're a big fan. What was your favourite moment, Devin Heroux, from last night? What's the one that's going to stick with you?

DEVIN HEROUX: It's sort of the overall theme of this team that's stuck with me because this is a cast of characters that has overcome incredible setbacks in their life. So this was a team that throughout the entire year was told they're not good enough. They can't do it. And so when they were finally faced with this final adversity they came together as a team, the ultimate team, after a lifetime of heartbreak and rising above that. And I think this was their destiny and they achieved that. And that's what's going to stick with me.

PC: Destiny versus dynasty. Destiny one last night. Thanks Devin.

DEVIN HEROUX: My pleasure.

PC: Devin Heroux is a reporter for CBC Sports and he's in Oakland, California. So yes the Raptors victory was felt in Oakland and of course here in Toronto. But what I love about what's been going on is how it's pulled us all together from St. John's to Victoria and everywhere in between. Fans across our country have been celebrating Canada's first NBA championship including my next guest. Martina Richards is a fan in Montreal and the co-founder and coach at Uptown Montreal basketball. She's in montreal. And Steve Nimmeck is a fan and he's a middle school principal in Calgary. Hi to both of you.

MARTISHA RICHARDS: Good morning.

STEVE NIMMOCK: Hello.

PC: Steve you got to go to school today and you got to go be principal.

STEVE NIMMOCK: Yes I do.

PC: did you get any sleep? How are you feeling today?

STEVE NIMMOCK: Oh wonderful actually. It's a it was a very special night last night and I couldn't believe the number of messages that were flying back and forth back and forth from people all across the country just to recognize the incredible achievement for basketball in Canada.

PC: And what about you, Martisha? Where were you last night and what was that moment of victory like from where you were?

STEVE NIMMOCK: Well last night last night in Calgary there was some weather and that that the minute at when we get weather it can be pretty powerful. So it diminished the crowd although there was still a good crowd at Fort Calgary. We walked past a little bit and then made the determination to watch that one from home. And it was pretty exciting just being here. And after the game it was incredible to hear the hoots and the hollers I live in a tower and the hoots and hollers coming from all over the place and the cars honking and everything. So it was amazing.

PC: Martin Richards What about you? Where were you last night in Montreal and what was those final moments of the game like?

MARTISHA RICHARDS: I was also home last night watching the game because they had similar weather cold and rainy here in Montreal and it was amazing. It was loud. It was powerful. I comes from a basketball family where I played growing up, my brother plays, my parents played as well. So it was definitely an amazing moment and a great time to I that game.

PC: I have to say you know Montreal is not known to be the lover of Toronto sports franchises. Talk to me about that Martisha. Like how has the buildup in Montreal been?

MARTISHA RICHARDS: It has been surreal. We we've had our own Jurassic Parks as well which is that surprising being that we're a hockey City. Usually everything is go have a go. However to see the city come out together and put together a Jurassic Park. People who are typically not basketball fans now are learning the game and staying close and giving facts about basketball. It's just surreal.

PC: And Steve what about for you in Calgary? I know your son and daughter flew to Toronto for game two. The Raptors last lost that one. But talk to me about Calgary. Talk to me about what's going on that city in terms of cheering for the Canadian raptors.

STEVE NIMMOCK: So in my school - where it's grade five through nine - I was wearing my 'We the North' shirt from game two and many kids said yay, go raptors and others said there's no way they're going to win. So there's a bit of bit of both. But I would say there I heard one of the best quotes is I've watched four basketball games and that's been in the last two weeks that came from somebody and somebody I met and I think that's sums up what happened here, is there was it just an up swell in support for basketball in Canada. And this is I think a pivotal moment for basketball in Canada because people who have never been exposed to the game got to see it and got to see it played at such a high level last night. And so many lead changes. It was just one of those special times where people gained an appreciation for a game. And I know that this is a momentum thing but I think it's a momentum thing that's going to really drive basketball forward in the future in Canada.

PC: Martisha Richard you say you come from a basketball family. So let's talk about the game last night. Martisha what do you think the Raps did right this game? I'll come to you in a moment Steve.

MARTISHA RICHARDS: They did the hustle plays in the second half were amazing. Kyle Lowry came out on fire and played like the veteran in the team leader he is. Kawhi Leonard who is arguably one of the best players in this playoffs and he's hitting records also came out his fire. We had steady Freddy who came to ball against the team altogether together the coach is taking great timeout decisions. The fans are loud. A country behind them build all those great moments. All those guys individually came together as a team and brought it home us.

PC: And Steve I said that your daughter and son came to China for game two you came with them. Last night you were watching it at home in Calgary. What was different for you watching last night's game compared to the game that you saw here in Toronto live in Scotiabank arena?

STEVE NIMMOCK: Well I guess one of the biggest differences was that they won last night. Beyond that even in that loss in Toronto the energy in that arena was- you could cut it with a knife. I mean you could feel all the tension and the excitement and all of that. And it a very special time for my family, for my son, my daughter and myself, who flew from - my daughter from Vancouver and my son and I from Calgary - and it was just a very special time and one that we'll remember even though it was a loss. And then last night after the game both of them called to say because they all were up watching it and my son works a very early shift, he's up late to watch a game and then has to get up and go to work early in the morning. So it was it was a it was just one of those very special times that will rest in the memory banks for as long as I live. I think it was a really incredible night and so much fun to watch a team really work with purpose to achieve something that I think one of your previous guests said many people told him they couldn't do.

PC: Martisha, I know everyone still maybe a little stunned and just kind of soaking it all in like blinking a couple of times to make sure this is all real. But we're also thinking about you know the moment that's going to be locked in for each of us. I want you each to give me a moment, a picture that you have in your head from last night that you think's going to stick with you. Martisha, why don't you go first.

MARTISHA RICHARDS: The moment that I have back in my home right now is when Kawhi Leonard grabs the MVP trophy and brings it up in the air and gave us all the biggest smile. Knowing that Kawhi Leonard is a very poised individual who doesn't show much emotion, it was great to see him just let himself go and smile at everyone and smile at the achievemnt.

PC: Steve Nimmock, what's your memory?

STEVE NIMMOCK: My memory would be the incredible start that that Kyle Lowry had in that game which just showed- he came out and hit threes and just was- he was on fire at the beginning of that game and I even messaged out that the defence was so focussed on Kawhi Leonard that that opened it up for everybody else. And he didn't need to score because they were scoring at will the beginning of that game especially led by Kyle Lowry and then Pascal Siakam as well. And so that's what I'm going to remember is how forceful they came out and how much energy they brought to that arena and how they deflated at the arena as well.

PC: I imagine a lot of your students today are going to be a bit bleary eyed and tired. Steve what are you going to at school today to celebrate?

STEVE NIMMOCK: Well we've got a big board up right up opposite my office where we've got both the NHL - we've been tracking the NHL playoffs and the end as well as the NBA playoffs - and that's going to be updated and I'm going to be wearing one of my Toronto Raptors shirts at school again today. And we will see how many high fives and cheers I get or they get. A lot of excitement amongst my staff and people I didn't even know we're following basketball but also I think this is a really good one for the kids as well.

PC: Thank you both Steve and Martisha, appreciate your time.

MARTISHA RICHARDS: My pleasure.

STEVE NIMMOCK: You're very welcome.

PC: Martisha Richards is a Raptors fan in Montreal and the co-founder and coach of Uptown Montreal basketball and Steve Nemec is a fan and middle school principal in Calgary. Okay I know you have your moment. You're going hear me say moment a lot today but you have your moment from last night and we do want to hear about it. So you can tweet us @TheCurrentCBC. You can post on Facebook: facebook.com/cbcthecurrent, or if you want to tell us your story from last night you can e-mail us. Go to our Web site cbc.ca/thecurrent and once you're there click on the Contact Us link. All right we've got to take a short break for the CBC News and then we're going to keep the Raptors celebration going because so is this country and all the young players that are being inspired by this team. We're going to hear about Canada's basketball future that is coming up. I'm Piya Chad Chattopadhyay. You're listening to the Friday edition of The Current.

Back To Top »

'This is just the beginning': Raptors' win signals new chapter in Canadian baske

Guests: Amreen Kadwa, Elias Sbiet, Jabobi Neath

PC: Hi I'm Piy aChattopadhyay and you're listening to the Friday edition of The Current.

[Music: Theme

PC: Still to come as the 17th season of The Current draws to a close we're revisiting some of Anna Maria Tremonti favorite segments from over the years. In half an hour we'll hear a documentary, the story of Bob Erb, a B.C. man who struck it rich in the lottery and decided the best way to spend his newfound wealth was to pass it around. But first, the long tale of the Toronto Raptors.

SOUNDCLIP

FAN 1: It's been years in the making. I've been a fan of this team since I was young and I just can't believe we did it.

FAN 2: We're champions. Toronto. First time since 93. I wasn't even born yet.

CHILD FAN: The Raptors are NBA champions.

FAN 2: We are the world champions showing how diverse of a city we are. The globe is behind us.

CHILD FAN: We are a good team. Everybody is a good team.

FAN 2: That's right. Good sport.

PC: Well the victory celebration after last night's win will go on for a little while longer. That is for sure. But even after it's just a memory the NBA title could go a long way toward changing the future of the sport of basketball in this country. With the Raptors success, more and more young people across Canada have been inspired to get into this sport either for fun or more seriously. And for many of those young people they're seeing themselves reflected in a championship team for the very first time. Elias Sbiet is the director of recruiting for North Pole Hoops a scouting service for young basketball talent in Canada. Jacobi Neath is one of his recruits. He's a point guard for Canada's under 19 men's team and Amreen Kadwa is the executive director of Hijabi ballers. It is a group that runs free weekly basketball nights and aims to increase the representation of Muslim women in sports. They're cheering they're doing silent clap. They're here with me in Toronto. Hello everyone.

AMREEN KADWA: Hi.

PC: How's it going? How is everybody feeling? I want a word. Jacobi How are you feeling?

JACOBI NEATH: Feeling ecstatic.

ELIAS SBIET: I'm going to go with elevated.

PC: Elevated. Amreen?

AMREEN KADWA: Unreal. I think everything just feels like a dream.

PC: Yes the whole country is waking up right blinking, going the odds. It's true. So let's go back to last night I want to ask each one of you like where you were and what that moment felt like. Elias.

ELIAS SBIET: I was at a private viewing party with a bunch of family bunch of friends just the people that you know grew up watching the game with the diehards so to speak. And it was the environment was just some different something I've never been a part of before and then you know being on the streets afterwards, staying downtown and being on the streets afterwards was ridiculous. You had people coming off of light posts literally. It was surreal as, as my friend said.

PC: So you were in downtown Toronto, you walked around downtown Toronto.

ELIAS SBIET: Yea we stayed. We ended up staying here after watching the game. It was bananas.

PC: So I think people get a sense when they see on TV, who's on the streets. It does look like a good cross-section of the city and Canada. Was that true of last night too?

ELIAS SBIET: Most definitely. You saw people from all walks of life both ballers and non ballers bumped into a bunch of former national team players a future NBA talents. And then you know just the common fan which is becoming very common now.

PC: Yes bandwagoners turn into fans don't they.

ELIAS SBIET: We'll take them all.

PC: Jacobi, where were you.

JACOBI NEATH: I was at training camp with my 19 Team Canada teammates and I was just very excited. I mean we're all on our feet or standing up on top of coaches and stuff. High fiving each other, high fiving coaches. I mean we just couldn't believe it. We're looking at the Golden State Warriors and unfortunately Klay had to go down but we're still excited for our team. We excited for our country and it was just a proud moment for us.

PC: Klay Thompson went out on crutches last night after injuring himself. So talk to me more about because .you're a player so you watch this game differently than I do as a fan. So when the buzzer sounded for you as a player you're thinking what?

JACOBI NEATH: Thinking let's just keep this going. I mean it's a great feeling. It's our first one and it's something we look up to look up to guys like Kyle Lowry that stuck it out been there for a while and you just see what perseverance does. And it's just a good example for us to see how's hard work and just believing yourself and what it can do for you and your team.

PC: Amreen where were you last night?

AMREEN KADWA: I was at home watching the game with my husband. He's kind of the one that got me into watching basketball and becoming a hard-core fan. So it was fun watching them together and kind of just experiencing that last game and the win together. And then once they won like everyone in my neighborhood kind of just went outside and there was this big street party outside and people were kind of just cheering and doing fireworks and it was a good time.

PC: There were fireworks all across this town and people honking and driving as I'm sure there were in many other cities, and maybe even rural areas in our country. I want to talk about the extension of what happened last night right that the sort of legacy beyond the NBA, so Jacobi you said this week you started training camp for Canada's national under 19 men's basketball team. You are a fantastic basketball player. You were at the top of your game. What does the Raptors win mean for you and your teammates as you prepare for the basketball world cup?

JACOBI NEATH: Means a lot. I mean it just gives us a good vibe and a good feeling going into our World Cup and our final games. Just great energy in the city right now and it's undeniable everyone could feel that I mean the coaches are just excited as we are. And we're just excited to just get on the floor and just get better and improve and to one day not too far from now be on that same level and hopefully raise our championship trophy too.

PC: What's your vibe on the floor Kawhi or Lowry or someone else?

JACOBI NEATH: I'll say Lowry. Try to compete. I think I'm a little more outgoing than Kawhi, but Kwahi just get straight to business and Kwahi is Kwahi. No one can really replicate what he does so I'll give him more of a Lowry vibe.

PC: I have to say one of the things I've enjoyed about watching Kawhi Leonard is again - I don't play basketball - but that focus and that work ethic which I think so many of us can just apply to our own life. Like it's time to business focus get the job done. Elias Sbiet you know you have helped so many young basketball players raise their game, take them to the next level. When you think of the Raptors success what does it mean for young basketball players in this country?

ELIAS SBIET: Well I think the biggest thing is it breaks the inferiority complex that we've had to the United States. We've always looked at ourself as little brother in some regard and that that'll be no more. We're just not having any more of it. This is something that you know the psyche of the game is of utmost importance when you're dealing with players at the highest levels. Players that are trying to pursue NBA dreams you know and that goes the same for coaches, coaches in our community. It's no more the U.S. is better than us. We're number two. We're going after World Cups. Last year's U19 team won a World Championship the U16 teams just finished in the FIBA America's with the silver medal. Hopefully these guys get it done for another gold as well. So this is just the beginning. I'm excited but I don't want to get overexcited because I know what is yet to come. I've been in a fortunate enough position to discover talent as early as 7th grade and you know and see what's in the pipeline right now it's just it's a really exciting time.

PC: What do you see in the pipeline because you have helped other Canadians make the NBA. Jamal Murray probably most notably who plays for the Nuggets. What are you seeing in the pipeline coming up in Canadian basketball?

ELIAS SBIET: Well I think the biggest thing is an elevated perspective on what it takes to be a pro. Someone like Jamal Murray, first met him a ninth grader at Camp. Camp starts at 9 a.m. He was in there at 8 a.m. He was the first person in the gym and his shirt was already drenched in sweat. He had a mindset and again this goes back to the psychology. He had a mindset that by any means necessary he was gonna make the league. At that very point I could tell that there was something special about this kid about getting to the next level. We often say this guy's wired differently. And you know that's terminology that we use and we mean that from a mental aspect. So I think the next crop of talent that's coming up shares some of that. They've got to see it. They've seen how far it's got Jamal. I mean some can argue he was snubbed of an NBA all star appearance this year. That's how good he played, guys like Shai Gilgeous Alexander who's with the L.A. Clippers had a phenomenal season and then, to my right here, Jacobi. He is likely a one and done player will go to Wake Forest and then hopefully the NBA the following year if not two. So this is where the game is headed.

PC: What does that sound like, going in the NBA in a couple of years?

JACOBI NEATH: It feels great. It's surreal but also I mean I know it's my hard work that got me here and I can't get big headed now. I mean I got a long way to go and I just see myself trying to have a long career and make a lot of money and take care of my family. So I down to keep my head down to staying in the gym, and just focus on the goal.

PC: Amreen Kadwa, there's the pros there's people that want to make the NBA. There's people like you who play basketball recreationally and you get the women coming out to your drop in basketball night. How do you think the Raptors have inspired you and your friends who are playing ball?

AMREEN KADWA: Oh I think the Raptors have just created this whole generation of fans and not just fans but people that want to play basketball, people that want to have that same attachment to the sport. We see like 12 to 25 girls come out to our basketball sessions every week and a lot of them are new a lot of them have never tried basketball before. And it's just a place for them to come out and experience the sport and share the same love of the sport that the Raptors, share that they're fans, share that all of us at the gym share every week. So it's I think it's a great feeling to be a part of that and to inspire other people and get them to be attached to basketball in the same way. And a lot of moms come with their kids and it's just- like that's great to be able to bring your kids to something and role model for your kids and then have them grow up and maybe play basketball and just it's a great feeling.

PC: We don't see a lot of people like you playing basketball, women in hijabs. What did the Raptors mean for the diversity of Canada that we've seen on display through this entire series and fan bases across this country? What's that like for you?

AMREEN KADWA: You don't like what there are non-profit organization though. One of the main goals are we strive for is celebrating with some females in sport so celebrating their athleticism and not tokenizing the one hijab wearing athlete are you that you see. So with us it's a lot about focusing on people's athleticism but at the same time recognizing that they don't have to give up their faith to do that and they can be a Muslim and be an athlete and play basketball. So having a space where we do our weekly drop in session, it's in a mosque. So it's in a place where people are already kind of comfortable going to and they've provide us the gym space so it's a great you know combination of faith and sport and just providing a space where people already comfortable. But they'll come out and play basketball if they're never played before just because it's in a mosque and you know they go there all the time. So it's awesome to be a part of something where we can say that like this is diversity. This is Canada. Anyone can play basketball but you know I want to be careful as to not to tokenize the hijab wearing athletes. I do play basketball and to appreciate them as athletes and if there's someone, that doesn't play basketball or plays basketball without their hijab on there's still an athlete and if someone plays basketball with their hijab up on they're still an athlete. So yes.

PC: Elias When you look across the country I know you you work with a lot of guys from the Greater Toronto Area, right, the Mississauga’s the Scarborough's. We saw Jurassic Parks crop up across this country. What I have loved about watching our country in this moment is like you know this really kind of divide in time in the world that we've all just pulled together and celebrated who we are. When you look at basketball across this country with young people, who are they? Where are they coming from? Talk to me about that.

ELIAS SBIET: Almost definitely. We've seen a change in the landscape. I mean if you look at the west coast in British Columbia maybe 10 years ago when you were travelling there there was a lot more Los Angeles Lakers fans. There was a lot more Golden State fans and even some people that jumped off the Golden State wagon as they saw the Raptors in the finals. So now it's become- the mosaic is actually unifying now and there's this sense of nationalism, there's a sense of pride. Like, I'm here, representing Canada.

PC: Wearing your Canada jacket.

ELIAS SBIET: I wear it loud and proud of. I mean at the airport. I let people know that I'm Canadian. You know no matter where we're traveling. So the sense of nationalism and unification is what's really picked up. And again like people are coming from all walks of life. It's crazy just the different populations that are that are entering the sport. The participation level is at an all time high right now. That's the biggest change that we're going to see. I pray and hope that our infrastructure is set up to support that. There's a lot of things right now that need to change in our system. Corporate Canada needs to jump in and they will win from it as well. We need more facilities. Participation is going to be at a level where we don't have the space to play. So you're going to see a lot of kids playing on the black tops, outdoor. But overall we're going to take this thing to an elite level. We need more multicore facilities where kids can actually pursue now.

PC: Jacobi you moved to Florida, right, as a kid and then you came back to Canada.

JACOBI NEATH: Yes when I was younger.

PC: Does basketball have anything to do with you coming back?

JACOBI NEATH: Oh for sure. When I was about seven years old, my parents, just one day we just got up, no warning, moved to Florida. I was pretty upset at first but my mom calmed me down and talked to me told me that it'll be a new opportunity and new goals, new things to look forward to. And at that point I was just playing soccer and when I moved to Florida I just started playing baseball and then I learned how to play basketball from one of my friends that was actually the best baseball player there. So I picked up a few trades off of him and then I got into football and I was playing all of those sports at one time. So my schedule was pretty hectic and then I just decided that I wanted to choose one sport and just really focus in on it and just become the best at that sport that I could be. And now when I was about 14 I realized that the people I was living around that did really have the same goals that I had. And I felt like they weren't chasing the same dreams that I was chasing. And I saw what was going on back home in Toronto and guys like Andrew Wiggins, Jamal Murray, the strides that they making and I just want to be a part of that. So I told my mom when I was 14 that I would rather move back to Canada and live my grandparents if possible and they can stay here and just wish me the best luck as I'm in Toronto. And my parents trusted me. They moved back with me for a year and then they left me here with my grandparents and ever since then it's been working out.

ELIAS SBIET: And if I could chime in on what Jacobi mentioned there briefly. You mentioned that you were a dual sport athlete. You're going to see a lot of kids now who have been football-basketball or basketball-baseball start to choose one direction and start to specialized at an earlier age. I think that's one of the main factors. And also at the age of between 10 and 12 was when we need to see kids starting to specialize. They pick a pick up a lot of coordination skills, a lot of IQ footwork from different sports which is great. But like Jacobi here, eventually you got to pick one. And the Toronto Raptors are going to have a huge effect on that pick being basketball.

PC: Yes. More kids are going to say yes. Baseball, nah, basketball.

ELIAS SBIET: One hundred percent. I mean accessibility, affordability. You don't need a partner to train for basketball.

PC: So you got into basketball, , but I mean the Raptors were around of course and doing well, some years not as well other years. What drew you - cause you came to this sport before our moment so to speak - what brought you in?

ELIAS SBIET: I mean just a lack of opportunity. I traveled to the states a lot when I was a kid because of so much family in Michigan and in L.A. and in different parts of the U.S. So I got to see my cousins who were playing for U.S. high schools and I saw 2000 people in the gym. And I said wait a minute, we barely get 15. So there was a huge culture shock and a culture difference. And then from that moment on I think my brother and I committed ourselves to the game and creating exposure for Canadian athletes. And ten years later here we are, we're servicing over one hundred NSAA programs, working with NBA teams and very very fortunate to work with athletes on a interpersonal level and guiding them and helping them provide a blueprint for what's coming.

PC: Amreen, what drew you to the game originally?

AMREEN KADWA: Oh well basketball is one of the sports. Like you mentioned it's highly accessible and you don't need anything except for basketball to kind of pick up and start playing. So I think that was a big factor also. Obviously the Raptors playing amazing is what's drawing everyone to the game at this point right. So you don't need much to play basketball. And I think that's the main thing that everyone is- the main reason why everyone's kind of picking up a basketball and starting to play. Even with our drop in program like so many people that have never played basketball before will come out because like we have a gym space and we have the basketball. So like you show up and you start playing. I think that's what drew me to the game. I've never played basketball on a team competitively so I didn't feel like I was ever good enough to play on a team. So when we started our basketball program like I wasn't great at it either. But over the weeks and months I feel like I've gotten a lot better as well.

PC: You know what? I was reading the other day - because we say this, we still do say about soccer - is that all you need is a ball. And I was reading that today someone said, yes, but to play soccer you actually need a team. Basketball you can go shoot hoops by yourself and go play one on one and that's what makes it so accessible for so many people. I want to get back to the Raptors because you know yes we're NBA champions and yes we're a great team. And that's inspiring in itself. But I want to talk about this particular team, these men that play for our city and our country. What is it about this particular team that seems to resonate so much with the fans?

JACOBI NEATH: I think it's just so I'm just sorry originality. We don't really have to go out and chase players and try to build a super team. I mean a lot of these guys went undrafted and they've been through rough roads in their early life like guys like Vanvleet went undrafted. Serge Ibaka has been through a lot. Kawhi's father died earlier and he asked for a trade from his team. So I feel like just the cohesiveness of the group coming from different areas. It's almost like a Toronto effect like how we're very diverse and multicultural. I feel like everyone on our team is different. Kyle Lowry has been there for a while. So it's a lot of different names different faces guys from a lot of different places. So I feel like it just makes the fans want to really support the team even more knowing that we got it the hard way. We didn't go out and pay everyone and get the big names and stuff. So just seeing that and seeing everyone the way that they play is not just a one man show everyone's playing together, like one night Kyle Lowry might go off like last night VanVleet went off. Kawhi's been putting it on his back the whole season so just seeing that it just makes everyone want to support and wants to make everyone do better. Guys like Serge Ibaka he's been on the wrong end of the finals before. So just seeing it all come full circle and seeing them be able to pull it out. I feel like that's the biggest part of it. It makes everyone want to support wholeheartedly.

PC: What is it about this team, Elias, for you?

ELIAS SBIET: I think it's the versatility. I think the fact that you know every player on the team has their own identity and role definition and that's why I think fans got so attached to the squad specifically. It's because you have the heart and souls. VanVleet and Lowry. A lot of people can identify with those guys. You have the quiet stone cold, go to work, get it done like Kawhi. You have Ibaka who's a defensive shot blocker. Everyone has role definition and I think that as fans we identify to one particular player. You ask a room of 50 people they're all going to give you a different player. Yes Kawhi is the is the stud of them all but someone gets attached to different personnel. My favorite and this is not a on court player but this is the guy who made all of Canada believe, you got to give the credit to Masai Ujiri. He came in and changed the entire culture got.

PC: A lot of trouble in the last year too, got rid of Dwane Casey and DeMar and gotten a lot of trouble for it and now you say let's give him credit because he brought us here.

ELIAS SBIET: Absolutely. I mean every team goes through hardships and you got to make changes. It's a nasty business. There's a lot of- you can't have emotion when it comes to that, when it comes to contracts and you know shipping someone out to get someone in. Look what he built. Look what he built. We got to give the Masai the messiah, his credit.

PC: Amreen, what is it that you see in these particular players that makes you think makes this team resonate so much with fans?

AMREEN KADWA: I think these guys said it all. You know it's the diversity and the versatility and just the way that they resonate with each individual differently. I feel like because they're you know it's a home team, it's Toronto and Toronto kind of represents the whole country that everybody, everyone even if they're not from Toronto, has something that they see seen these players that resonates with them, whether it be their past life, whether it be the way they play on the court, what country they're from, whatever it is they're something that they can pull from and that's how they're attached to the team. And you know how diverse a team is just in terms of their skills and their personalities, there's someone out there is looking at one player and saying that is what's driving me to to the Raptors.

PC: We see ourselves reflected in these guys, don't we. Thank you to all three of you. I'm so happy for all of you and where your sport is going. Thanks again for coming in.

AMREEN KADWA: Thank you so much.

JACOBI NEATH: Thanks for having us.

PC: Elias Sbiet is the director of recruiting for North Pole Hoops it's a scouting service for young basketball talent here in Canada. Jacobi Neath is one of his recruits and he is a point guard for Canada's under 19 men's team. And Amreen Kadwa is executive director of Hijabi Ballers. It's a group that runs free weekly basketball nights and aims to increase the representation of Muslim women in sports. They're all with me here in our Toronto studio. If you were a basketball player or someone who is thinking about going out and shooting some hoops. Tell us your story and how the Raptors have inspired you. You can tweet us @TheCurrenCBC. You can post on Facebook Facebook dot com slash CBC the current or you can e-mail us by going to our website cbc.ca/thecurrent. Once you're there click on the Contact Us link. And a reminder Monday here in Toronto, victory parade for the Toronto Raptors. You can watch and listen and view and all those things on many CBC platforms. So join us for that. Now coming up, when it comes to money and marijuana Bob Erb likes to pass it around. In our next half hour we are celebrating some of Anna Maria Tremonti most memorable stories. This next one is about the lottery winner from Terrace, B.C. I am Piya Cahttopadhyay. You're listening to the Friday edition of The Current. And we're back in mere moments.

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Anna Maria Tremonti's most memorable interviews: The man who shared his $25M lottery jackpot

PC: Hi I'm Piya Chattopadhyay and you're listening to the Friday edition of The Current. Coming up in just a moment our documentary called Pass it Around. But first I want to let you know about an interview coming up next week on The Current. Anna Maria Tremonti will be speaking with Douglas Rushkoff. He's a well-known author and digital theorist and he's hardly alone in sounding the alarm about social media and what it's doing to us. In his latest book he outlines a particularly troubling effect. He thinks the technology is fundamentally anti human.

SOUNDCLIP

We all understand that Facebook is not there to help us make friends with one another. That Facebook is there to monetize our social graph, to monetize the data we leave behind. But the way they do it is is really pernicious. What they really do is take data that we leave behind. They take information from our past and use it to put us in a statistical bucket. So they might know, with say 80 percent accuracy, that I'm going to go on a diet in the next month. And what will they do then? Well then my news feed will start to fill up with ads about dieting or ads about my health, and what they're doing is not trying to sell me a particular group of products. What they're trying to do is to make sure that I behave consistently with the algorithmically derived consumer profile because what they want to do is get that 80 percent up to 90 percent, to quite literally attempt to auto tune human behavior to get us to behave more consistently with those profiles. And that's a really dark effort right there. They're trying to reduce the spontaneity of human behavior in order to make us more machine like. And that's really why I call these networks anti human.

PC: You can hear more from Douglas. Douglas Rushkoff who will be joining Anna Maria Tremonti next week to discuss his new book. It's called Team human. Well as we count down Anna Maria's last few days hosting The Current we've been revisiting some of her most memorable stories. And today we're going to Teerrace. It's coastal mountain town in B.C. where back in 2013 Anna Maria met a man who likes to share. When Bob Erb found himself with a lottery windfall a lot of people and Terrace experienced a gust of good fortune because Bob Erb took his money and began to pass it around. So here he is and as documentary. Pass it Around.

SOUNDCLIP

FEMALE VOICE 1: Roller Derby tickets for sale. Right here. Anybody need them.

[Noise, women cheering]

ANNA MARIA TREMONTI: Three women in helmets, knee pads and roller skates weave among the crowds at the farmer's market in Terrace, where the tables in the stalls are groaning with everything from tomatoes to bubble-gum fudge to quilt.

FEMALE VOICE 1: Alright, two tickets to you guys. Awesome.

In this B.S. mountain town, even the roller derby queens have a story about Bob Erb.

FEMALE VOICE 1: Everybody knows the name and he's been so good at giving community organizations and different businesses, cash and so it's been felt different degrees I think, for sure. He gave us a donation of 2500 for travel. Yes it was fantastic. You know it saves us on fundraising efforts and more time to be spent training for games.

BOB ERB: There was probably four million in three weeks that was distributed. The hospital auxiliary 20,000, the Hospice Society 20,000.

AMT: Bob Erb has given away millions in the last 10 months.

BOB ERB: Salvation Army 20,000.

AMT: We meet in his driveway. I'm Anna Maria.

BOB ERB: Bob Erb. Please to meet you.

AMT: Really nice meeting you.

BOB ERB: That's where I've been for 23 years I subdivided..

AMT: He's standing there smoking, a trim 60 something. His words are spilling [unintelligible].

BOB ERB: ... A couple I reached to. That's a trailer in addition.

AMT: There's a buzz of activity around his house. It looks roomy not opulent. A split level. He's got a silver Airstream and a new white Cadillac SUV parked there. A few guys are unloading lumber. He's building a wheelchair ramp for a friend with ALS.

BOB ERB: three 10,000 dollar cheques. 20 for the construction and then 10 for Christmas.

AMT: He's got so much to tell me. He barely takes a breath. He's gesturing at his neighbors houses.

BOB ERB: I said I can't pave my huge driveway and not their small one. And so we've prepped and new in and doing their driveway as well.

AMT: But I'm distracted. I'm asking myself is that a joint he's smoking?

BOB ERB: I'm a 15 joint fellow. I've been smoking pot for 43 years. I use it as a preventative medicine. Like why wait till you get sick before you start taking your medicine. I sort of view it as like taking a multivitamin every day, you know. Except I take 15 of them you know. From about four, four thirty in the morning I smoked my first joint and until about 10:00 at night.

AMT: He's wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a marijuana leaf. 'Fight the deficit' it says 'Legalize it'. It seems Bob Erb is a philanthropist with a predisposition for pot but more about that later. I'm here to talk money with the guy who got a windfall.

BOB ERB: I never locked my vehicle. I have a wad with a large paper clip with maybe 20, 30, 40 unchecked lottery tickets and unsigned.

AMT: Funny never Texas tickets. But in November, just back from his father's funeral, he stops and checks his most recent tickets.

BOB ERB: Shoved the first one in, it says it's winner. One dollar.

AMT: That's not why I came here.

BOB ERB: Next one it's a winner. I've seen 25 and a whole bunch of stuff after it. And something funny at the end. I pulled that out and I said I think I won 25 million but maybe 25 thousand.

AMT: With all those zeros he checked with the woman behind the counter.

BOB ERB: I said could you check this ticket and see if you get the same numbers I do. And she sort of scoffed, you know, oh what did you do win? A thousand dollars or something? Then I said I think is a little more than that. And then she sort of scoldingly says, well, it better not screw up or freeze up my machine. She turned around. Shoved it in. Aaah. She gave a shriek.

AMT: Now make no mistake. Bob has ordered some specialty cars and he's invested a big chunk of those winnings. But even before he officially got that giant check he was giving it away.

BOB ERB: A good friend of mine. He has a delivery service here and terrorist and is first person I see in half a block away and I give him a wave and he pulled, followed us into the back alley. I walked over with my ticket. I said Rob, look at this. I said you got a new delivery truck.

AMT: And so it began. Bob Erb started writing checks for people he knew and people he barely knew. It added up.

BOB ERB: Probably before hundred thousand five hundred thousand a day for seven eight days. I was thinking I'm starting to get writer's grant because that was a lot of writing that I don't do much of that you know.

AMT: Some were relatives, children of old friends, some from out of town, most from right around Terrace, people who couldn't imagine having a bit of extra money, let alone thousands of dollars or even tens of thousands of dollars.

MARY JO WOODCOCK: This is my truck and it is a mocha colored four by four Silverado. And it is the most beautiful truck. Isn't it. My name is Mary Jo Woodcock. I work at deviant fibers.

AMT: Deviant fibers. Clever name for a store is selling hemp products. Bob Erb is now a part owner. There is the marijuana thing again. But back to that truck.

MARY JO WOODCOCK: Also if I want to tow something, I don't know what else they tow, but if I want to tow, there's a button over here where it tows.

AMT: You can hear the wonder in her voice but it's not really about the machine.

MARY JO WOODCOCK: I've never had anything new. I've never- Like this is my first new thing. And it's mine.

AMT: Mary Jo Woodcock spent years working with developmentally disabled people. She had a vehicle so spotted with bodywork they called it the Dalmatian.

MARY JO WOODCOCK: He said I've seen the vehicles you're trying. It's a piece of crap. He goes How bad is it. I said, well, it looks a little bit worse than it is. I just paid for the muffler and I got the heater. It's in the trunk. I haven't got the money to pay for the guy to put it in yet. He says you need to go to Prince Rupert. I was like what? He goes go to Prince Rupert and go pick out a vehicle. And I'm like Bob. And he goes I won the money.

AMT: You said this is your first new thing.

MARY JO WOODCOCK: Yes yes I like to- [sobs] Sorry. I like to be the one giving usually. I'm better at the one giving.

AMT: In fact Bob's gift was conditional on more giving. He bought 10 people 50,000 dollar vehicles as long as they give their old ones away. Mary Jo gave the Dalmatian to a student she knew.

MARY JO WOODCOCK: You think I'd given him the world but to him it was exactly what he needed and he kept hugging my head because he's so tall, he kept hugging my head. He was thanking me over and over and over he was so excited and then I got that feeling again about giving and I thought that's why it's the same. He wants you to pass it on.

BOB ERB: I think I feel best about you know some of the dental work. When you have a problem with teeth and that and that you don't smile and you're always self-conscious and you're withdrawn. So it's in that case you know it's all of the parents. They're the ones in tears because they know what a big difference it makes for their child.

AMT: Mark Brown knows what Bob means. For years he watched both his kids cover their mouths when they laughed.

MARK BROWN: Oh I knew exactly why they were doing it. And it's kind of her fault for a parent can't afford the expense of taking on such a cost. You know makes you feel sometimes like maybe I could have done better for them.

AMT: And now Bob has stepped in telling Mark not to worry about the dental bills.

JARED BROWN: How do you do this Trevor? How do you do this?

AMT: It's Jared Brown's first day on the job at Dairy Queen. Yay.

JARED BROWN: First dilly bar the day completed.

AMT: He's 15 years old. His smile is wide.

JARED BROWN: I'm really glad that I have the braces now because I used to be very self-conscious about smiling. I used to not be as outgoing. I used to be really shy. But a couple weeks after I got braces I ended up getting the job at Dairy Queen. So it just kind of boosted my confidence to go in and actually apply for the job. It's nice to have that job and be confident with my smile.

AMT: Jared's got a sister.

[Stephanie talking to dogs]

AMT: We find 20 year old Stephanie surrounded by dogs at her job at a [unintelligible].

STEPHANIE: Well when I was growing up I was kind of bullied because of my teeth.

AMT: And when kids would do that how would you react?

STEPHANIE: I just wouldn't go to school. I try not to- I just stay away. A month I missed out of one year because I didn't I didn't like going. And now they're going to be fixed and I can smile at them and say, hey, check me out.

AMT: And you think that'll change the way you look at money as you grow older?

STEPHANIE: Definitely. He's a really generous man. He's definitely not cheap and I want to be like that too.

BOB ERB: That's D.C. bud some of the best growing in anywhere in the world. Would you care for a joint ladies?

AMT: For the record, both I and producer Liz Hoath declined.

BOB ERB: That's 15 joints a day, that's about 5000 joints per year, 40 years. Probably about 200,000 joints I rolled. Thank you ladies for your patience.

AMT: You can't talk to Bob Erb about anything without veering into his preoccupation with marijuana.

BOB ERB: I smoked pot full time in the moment I consume. You can't afford to buy it. I go through a half an ounce a day.

AMT: Well. That hints at another whole life, one he's only willing to share bits of: the story of the police raid when the kids were younger. His belligerence in flouting the law.

BOB ERB: I always carried my rote with me you know I'd be smoking and not to flame off. I [unintelligible] the pot all the time, I make a point of smoking it before I walk in to a place. So I was sure the aroma was all through my clothes and on me.

AMT: He riffs on his plans for ongoing funding for sensible B.C. The group pushing to change Canadian laws around marijuana.

BOB ERB: I'm an ordinary fellow that recognizes the greatest social injustice of my lifetime and maybe of the whole 20th century, and that was marijuana prohibition.

AMT: Forgive me. Greatest social injustice?

BOB ERB: It has caused so much harm for so many people.

AMT: But hardship is key to his thinking about money.

BOB ERB: For the life of me I can never understand why millionaires, multimillionaires, their family, their children, their grandchildren are set up with trusts and they're well provided for, why wouldn't you want to help out the less fortunate in your community? And shame on you if you don't.

AMT: Bob's first cheque was to his daughter Audrey. A million dollars. His other child was B.J. and talking about him is not easy.

BOB ERB: Well he died accidentally just before his 27th birthday on July 2016 Vancouver. I cry over my son several times a day, will till the day I die.

AMT: He walks away to get a glass of water.

BOB ERB: But that's enough, for now anyways.

AMT: Perhaps it's not surprising that he's chosen to share his winnings with other people mourning the loss of a loved one.

BOB ERB: I've got a couple of headstones for deceased family members, usually a child, you know.

AMT: Why do you do that?

BOB ERB: I don't know. Well I guess my son has one why my wife, you know to lose a loved one you know, you know I mean a lot to the parent, to have a marker for their loved one.

FLORENCE FOWLER: I miss him every day. I miss his calls because he used to phone me every morning early in the morning seven times at 6:00 in the morning [singing] 'I'm just calling to say I love you'.

AMT: Florence Fowler is one of those parents.

FLORENCE FOWLER: That's another part I miss here.

AMT: She and her partner Chris Porter rent a rundown trailer on the edge of Terrace.

FLORENCE FOWLER: People here take their shoes off. I said your socks are going to be dirty.

AMT: The walls are plastered with pictures of family including her son Randy.

FLORENCE FOWLER: Most of his life he was looking after me while my daughters were running around. [Laughs] A daughter's [unintelligible] his sisters could run around. What did you want to. He stay to over look after his mom.

AMT: Randy was found dead last year on the road outside. Bob is helping Florence pay for her son's headstone.

FLORENCE FOWLER: Made me cry. I was crying because I was happy he'd done that, because I was giving up on life and I just didn't want to do nothing. I didn't feel like doing nothing anymore. When Bob put to his house the world had inspired me to work [unintelligible] and I can do it.

AMT: Working hard for a woman in her 50s with crippling arthritis is no mean feat. But on good days Florence is making traditional native bucking vests to sell in town.

FLORENCE FOWLER: These are the tiny ones I use for the eyes on top the abalone buttons.

ANNA MARIA TREMONTI: But she says they get snapped up for hundreds of dollars each.

FLORENCE FOWLER: And going to be beads, putting beads under.

AMT: Her current project takes up the whole table in the kitchen.

FLORENCE FOWLER: Once I stitch this in with the sewing machine then my beads go in at the eds.

AMT: It's for Bob.

FLORENCE FOWLER: I wanted to get him something but you know what can you get a million dollar man when he's got millions of dollars. He can buy everything for himself. So I said well I think I can just make him a vest and I put the marijuana leaf on the vest. So he's going to get a marijuana vest. There's two of them. There's one Saturn and the other one [unintelligible].

AMT: And both with buttons and bees.

FLORENCE FOWLER: This is the first time for me to experience something like this. I don't know. Must have been a lot of hearts coming out of this big heart you know and I just feel happy for Bob you know and happy for what he's done for all the other people that he's made happy.

BOB ERB: Just piles of letters and requests and my filing system is old laundry soap boxes and extra large zip locks.

AMT: News of a guy who shares his windfall travels pretty far and fast.

BOB ERB: There is one group that I give 30,000 dollars to this.

AMT: So for all the giving and getting there are also those focused on grabbing.

BOB ERB: Yes. There's people that I had sent money to. And then they come back for seconds. You know making a second request. You know I did take time to phone one or two and tell them that like it wasn't happening because you know for them to get a second helping would mean somebody wouldn't get a first. Here this guy here's one that I'd sent money to already in Edmonton, a father that had problems here with bills and his ex-wife and 14 year old son. He is going to come through and that sort of stuff. And so I sent him a 10,000 dollar check. Now he's asking me to pay his 3700 dollars in taxes in Edmonton.

AMT: He's dumped the letters out of the laundry box and he's sitting on the floor surrounded by them.

BOB ERB: This is only I don't know. Never heard of. This is my third attempt to write this letter. What the hell am I doing? You ask. Well let me tell you Bob...

AMT: The letter writer says she's friends with one of Bob's relatives who got a check and now she's writing because she wants a check from Bob.

BOB ERB: My finances are messed up big time. Damn it Bob. Would you find it in your heart to help me out? I feel so awful doing this but a girl has to do well a girl has to do.

AMT: He calls some of the letters he gets ridiculous. But he's still reading them because you know how maybe you or your friends talk about what you do if you won the lottery. This is what Bob Erb wants to do with money. He wants to pass it around.

BOB ERB: A ripple, you know where each ripple got a little drop a rock in the water and a big ripple was the first one and the smaller, and then will be another little one down so you know it was passed down.

FLORENCE FOWLER: Money gave Bob a voice. He was telling that story all the time. That money gave him the voice where people actually start to hear him. Has he been donating forever. He's been being always charitable. Everybody's always knowing Bob's being charitable. It matters to him. And that's the difference is it mattered. This town matters. Instead of taking the easy way where you could just leave wherever, and think that this place is getting better, this place get better. He wanted this place to matter. It's almost like putting a sunshine over top of town you know because everybody was as happy as if they won the money.

PC: That was Anna Maria Tremonti documentary Pass it Around. It was produced by The Current's Liz Hoath, Anna Maria's road trip buddy. And that documentary first aired back in 2013. All right I want to remind you that on Sunday at noon you can catch me in my regular gig hosting Out in the Open here on CBC Radio One. This weekend I'll be speaking with Markie Pasternak. Marcie has highly superior autobiographical memory or H Sam for short. It means she has a nearly perfect memory for things that have happened to her and things she happens to have heard about. The condition has both helped Marcie and hurt her.

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MARKIE PASTERNAK: You know a lot of people I think assume that it would be hard to hold relationships having H Sam because you remember everything. But really I think memory can be a way of connecting with people. I can remember you know the day that somebody did something and remind them of that maybe the day they won an award or maybe I can remember their anniversary or their birthday. And when you remember things it we remember what we pay attention to and we pay attention to what we care about. So remembering can show people that we care. And I think that has served me well in my relationships.

PC: So seems like to me Marcie what you're saying is there's a lot of upsides to having an autobiographical memory like yours, but I imagine like most things in life there is a blessing and a curse side. So what's the hardest thing about the way your memory works?

MARKIE PASTERNAK: You know I'm going to be honest. I think sometimes the hardest part about having H Sam is that other people forget and kind of coping with that. Kind of the fact that like an event or a person stays in your memory forever but you have the ability to fade away and others. It can hurt.

PC: I've never thought of it. .

MARKIE PASTERNAK: Yes. You know other downsides to include hard times in your life. You know, my father died unexpectedly when I was 19 years old. You know I don't like recalling bad and things around that but sometimes it just happens. I've had some traumatic experiences like a car accident. I was in graduate school. I was hit by a drunk driver head on and you know remembering that can cause a lot of pain too. But there are things you just kind of recall and they come back and it can be overwhelming to say the least.

PC: And I'm not asking you to think about this in any detail right now or in exacting detail, but I need to point out that, again, anyone else would remember a car accident or the loss of a loved one. But the detail and the exacting nature of how you remember it is very different from others.

MARKIE PASTERNAK: Yes. Yes it is. Everything just fills around it. You know you can see everything leading up to it, that exact moment and everything away and retrieval cues are really to what makes a difference. So if I see the date February 5th I'm going to think about that car accident. Maybe the date February 5th won't mean anything to anyone right away unless it's someone's birthday. But when you know the date of everything that happened in your life at least in 0 you know 10 years old, when you see different dates, different things pop up.

PC: Is being exceptional a blessing or a curse. I will be asking that question this weekend on out in the open where you can hear more from Markie Pasternak. You can catch the show Sunday at noon here on CBC Radio One. Or you can download the podcast cbc.ca/open. That is The Current for this Friday stay tuned to Radio One. Tom Powers got Q coming your way. Joe Namath may have been a force during the NFL golden era but off the field Broadway Joe was a pop culture phenomenon, from standing up for civil rights to becoming one of the first sports celebrity. Namath is singular. So stay tuned for his conversation with Tom power that's coming up on cue. Remember you can always take The Current with you to go on the CBC Radio app that lets you browse through our past episodes of our show and you can start listening in just a few seconds. It is free from the App Store or Google Play. Okay so we're going to cap things off today with music inspired by, yes, you guessed it, the Toronto Raptors historic run this season culminating in last night's NBA championship victory. This is Toronto rapper Maestro Fresh Wess with Rich Kid and their song Jurassic Park. He might've caught them earlier this week performing it on Q. I'm Piya Chattopadhyay. Thank you so very much for lending us your ear here on the Friday edition of The Current.

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[Song: Jurassic Park]

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Friday June 14, 2019 Full Transcript

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