3/07/01

LC010307

VAL>> GOOD EVENING. I'M VAL ZAVALA, LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT ANCHOR AND VICE PRESIDENT OF KCET NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. TONIGHT KCET IS PRESENTING A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. DURING THE COURSE OF ITS AWARD-WINNING EIGHT YEARS ON THE AIR, THIS SERIES HAS FEATURED MANY STORIES THAT HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON OUR VIEWERS, SO THIS WEEK WE'RE CELEBRATING BY THANKING OUR FOUNDATION FRIENDS AND YOU, OUR VIEWERS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO ENJOY A SAMPLING OF CLASSIC STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN GATHERED FROM THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT ARCHIVES.

WE'RE ALSO PROUD OF THE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AND ITS SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO YOUR ONGOING FINANCIAL SUPPORT. EACH AND EVERY CONTRIBUTION HELPS KCET TO PROVIDE RICH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS ONE, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND STAY TUNED AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THREE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON LOS ANGELES, INCLUDING THE LEGENDARY UCLA BASKETBALL COACH, JOHN WOODEN. THAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> WELCOME TO THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JOHN WOODEN IS ONE OF THE WINNINGEST COACHES IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND, EVEN THOUGH HE RETIRED 25 YEARS AGO, HIS PRESENCE IS STILL FELT ON THE UCLA CAMPUS. WOODEN LED HIS TEAMS TO TEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 12 YEARS, BUT HIS ENDURING LEGACY IS NOT HIS RECORD OF WINS. IT'S THE CHARACTER HE EXEMPLIFIES ON AND OFF THE COURT. NOAH NELSON HAS THIS STORY.

[FILM CLIP]

NOAH>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT JOHN WOODEN, THE MAN OFTEN CALLED THE WINNINGEST BASKETBALL COACH IN AMERICA, SELDOM USED THE WORD.

JOHN WOODEN>> YOU CAN'T FIND PLAYERS WHO NEVER HEARD ME MENTION WINNING. NEVER TRY TO BE BETTER THAN SOMEONE ELSE. LEARN FROM OTHERS, BUT NEVER CEASE TRYING TO BE THE BEST YOU COULD BE. DON'T BE AFRAID TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID YOU'LL FAIL. THAT'S THE WORST FAILURE OF ALL, TO FAIL TO ACT WHEN AN ACTION IS NEEDED. BE INTENT. BE DETERMINED. DON'T GIVE UP. PERSEVERE.

NOAH>> WHEN JOHN WOODEN ARRIVED AT UCLA IN 1948, HE HAD NEVER SEEN THE CAMPUS. THE TEAM WAS WEAK, THE FACILITIES SORELY LACKING. YET MORE THAN 16 YEARS LATER, HE WOULD HELP BUILD PAULEY PAVILION, THE BRUINS' HOME COURT, AND TAKE HIS TEAM TO THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS TEN TIMES. IT WOULD BECOME A WINNING STREAK THAT IS YET TO BE MATCHED IN SKILL AND COMPOSURE.

JOHN WOODEN>> I THINK IF PEOPLE WOULD LOOK BACK AND SEE THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES RIGHT THROUGH THE YEARS, THEY WOULD SAY THAT MY TEAMS, IN ALL TEN OF THOSE, SHOWED LESS CRAZINESS AND EMOTION THAN ALMOST ANY TEAM THAT EVER WON IT. I NEVER WANTED EXCESSIVE EXALTATION BECAUSE YOU OUTSCORED SOMEBODY IN THE GAME AND I DIDN'T WANT EXCESSIVE DEJECTION. ALL I WANTED YOU TO DO IS TO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE BEST THAT YOU COULD ALL THE TIME. I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO GET CARRIED AWAY.

NOAH>> HE WAS BORN JOHN ROBERT IN 1910. HIS EARLY DAYS WERE ROOTED FIRMLY IN INDIANA SOIL WHERE GOD, FAMILY AND RESPONSIBILITY ALL CAME BEFORE ONE'S SELF. HE LIVED A MODEST LIFE ON A SMALL FARM. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY, NO RUNNING WATER, AND SUNDAYS WERE SET ASIDE FOR CHURCH AND READING.

JOHN WOODEN>> I LOVE POETRY AND I CAN HEAR DAD STILL READING VARIOUS POEMS LIKE "HIAWATHA", HEAR "BY THE SHORES OF GITCHE GU MEE, BY THE SHINING BIG-SEA-WATER", AND MANY OTHERS. I FOUND OUT THAT I ENJOYED IT ONCE I GOT INTO THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

NOAH>> HE REMEMBERS THE DAY WHEN HIS FATHER, JOSHUA HUGH, GAVE HIM A HANDWRITTEN PIECE OF PAPER WHICH HE STILL CARRIES TO THIS DAY. IT'S HELPED WOODEN FORM HIS PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE AND OF COACHING.

JOHN WOODEN>> ONE OF THE SEVEN-POINT CREEDS THAT MY FATHER GAVE ME WHEN I GRADUATED FROM A SMALL COUNTRY GRADE SCHOOL WAS "MAKE EACH DAY YOUR MASTERPIECE" AND YOU COULD TALK A LOT ABOUT THAT. THAT'S WHAT I WARN MY PLAYERS EACH DAY, TO TRY TO BECOME A LITTLE BETTER.

NOAH>> OVER THE YEARS, WOODEN HAS CRAFTED HIS OWN BASIC SET OF PRINCIPLES TO HELP MAKE UP A WINNING TEAM, A WINNING CHARACTER. IT IS KNOWN AS THE PYRAMID OF SUCCESS.

JOHN WOODEN>> MY DEFINITION OF SUCCESS WHICH I COINED IN 1934 IS "PEACE OF MIND ATTAINED ONLY THROUGH SELF-SATISFACTION IN KNOWING YOU MADE THE EFFORT TO DO THE BEST OF WHICH YOU'RE CAPABLE."

NOAH>> WOODEN'S LOVE OF BASKETBALL STARTED AT AGE EIGHT WITH A RAG BALL AND A TOMATO BASKET. FROM HIGH SCHOOL, HE WENT ON TO PLAY FOR PURDUE UNIVERSITY. HIS COACHING CAREER STARTED AT A SMALL COLLEGE IN OHIO, THEN TO INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. ALONG THE WAY, HE MARRIED NELLIE RILEY, HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART. THEY WOULD BE TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT 53 YEARS.

WOODEN'S ARRIVAL AT UCLA WAS NOT SO MUCH A MATTER OF CHOICE AS OF BAD WEATHER. THE JOB WOODEN REALLY WANTED WAS COACHING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, BUT A SNOWSTORM KNOCKED OUT PHONE SERVICE AND THE MUCH-AWAITED JOB OFFER NEVER GOT THROUGH. BUT THE CALL FROM UCLA CAME IN AND THE REST, AS THEY SAY, IS HISTORY.

BUT IT TOOK 16 LONG YEARS OF RECRUITING, PRACTICE, EFFORT AND DISAPPOINTMENT TO FINALLY CREATE WOODEN'S FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. THAT WAS IN 1964. THERE WERE NO STAR PLAYERS NOR TALL ONES, JUST A WELL-HONED TEAM. THAT WAS THE YEAR WALT HAZZARD, GAIL GOODRICH AND KEITH ERICKSON LED UCLA TO A VICTORY OVER DUKE 98 TO 83, CAPTURING HIS FIRST NCAA TITLE. UCLA'S WINNING STREAK WAS ON.

JOHN WOODEN>> THEY WORKED TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND DIDN'T HAVE TO DEPEND UPON ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL AND I THINK THAT, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, HELPED US. WE TOOK OUR TIME AND JUST WHITTLED AWAY AND I THINK THAT'S THE ANSWER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

NOAH>> THEN, IN 1967, WOODEN WAS FORCED TO SET ASIDE HIS DEEP BELIEF IN A TEAM EFFORT. AFTER HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF RE-STRATEGIZING, WOODEN FOUND THE FORMULA TO DESIGN A GAME AROUND A STAR PLAYER, THE SEVEN-FOOT-PLUS FRESHMAN FROM NEW YORK NAMED LEW ALCINDOR, LATER KNOWN AS KAREEM ABDUL JABAR.

KAREEM ABDUL JABAR>> THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT MIGHT POSSIBLY DO WHAT WE DID, BUT WE DID IT FIRST. I THINK WE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR IT.

[FILM CLIP]

NOAH>> WHEN ALCINDOR GRADUATED, SPORTSWRITERS PREDICTED IT WOULD BE THE END OF UCLA'S DOMINATION. NOT SO. CLOSE BEHIND WAS ANOTHER OUTSTANDING CENTER, BILL WALTON, AND UCLA WENT ON TO CAPTURE TWO MORE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS. AS ALWAYS, DEMEANOR WAS AS IMPORTANT AS SCORING.

JOHN WOODEN>> NEAR THE END OF EVERY GAME, WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES, WE HAD THEM WON. I WAS SURE WE WERE GOING TO WIN. THERE WOULD BE A TIME OUT AND I WOULD TELL THEM, "NOW, WHEN THIS IS OVER, I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU, AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET THE NETS AND ALL THAT, BUT LET'S KEEP EVERYTHING WITHIN REASON." I'D SAY, "LET'S LET THE ALUMNI AND THE STUDENT BODY MAKE FOOLS OF THEMSELVES. THAT'S NOT US."

NOAH>> THEN IN 1975, THE BRUINS WERE FACING KENTUCKY IN THEIR TENTH NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. AT HALFTIME, WITH NO WARNING OR FANFARE, COACH WOODEN TOLD HIS PLAYERS THIS WOULD BE HIS FINAL GAME. AFTER 27 YEARS, WOODEN SAID, HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN PROUDER OF ANY TEAM, WIN OR LOSE. THAT NIGHT, THE TEAM GAVE THEIR COACH A RETIREMENT GIFT. THEY DEFEATED THE WILDCATS 92 TO 85, CAPTURING UCLA'S TENTH NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP.

JOHN WOODEN>> IN MY MIND, I HAD SOME SUCCESSFUL TEAMS, VERY SUCCESSFUL, THAT DIDN'T WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUT THEY WERE EVERY BIT AS SUCCESSFUL OR MAYBE MORE SO. I THINK YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL BY JUST THE EFFORT YOU MAKE. YOU CAN BE UNSUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU OUTSCORE SOMEBODY AND YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY OUTSCORE YOU. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

NOAH>> IN MARCH OF 1985, AFTER A LENGTHY ILLNESS, NELLIE WOODEN DIED. FOR THE COACH, IT WAS THE ULTIMATE TRAGEDY. BUT HE LIVES AS SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED IT, SPENDING TIME WITH HIS CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND TEN GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND TEACHING BASKETBALL TO FUTURE HOPEFULS AT SUMMER CAMP. AS ALWAYS, WHAT HE TEACHES IS NEVER JUST ABOUT THE GAME.

JOHN WOODEN>> TRUE HAPPINESS ONLY COMES FROM THE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU. THE MATERIAL THINGS ALWAYS GET AWAY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. YOU CAN'T KEEP THE MATERIAL THINGS FOREVER. TRUE HAPPINESS COMES FROM FINDING PEACE WITHIN YOURSELF.

NOAH>> SOME SAY THAT TODAY WOODEN'S PYRAMID OF SUCCESS WOULD COLLAPSE UNDER THE PRESSURE OF BIG MONEY, BIG AGENTS AND SUPERSTAR ATHLETES, BUT OTHERS SAY IT'S NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER. AS FOR JOHN WOODEN, HE'S THE ONLY BASKETBALL GREAT TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME, BOTH AS A PLAYER AND AS A COACH, AND ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE EVER TO TRANSCEND THE SPORT ITSELF.

JOHN WOODEN>> I THINK LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD IN OUR LANGUAGE. LOVE IS JUST CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS AND GETTING AWAY FROM SELF.

VAL>> OUR NEXT PROFILE FEATURES MARTHA MONTOYA. SHE HAS CREATED ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CARTOON STRIPS IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, LOS KITOS. THEY'RE COLORFUL, PLAYFUL AND ROMANTIC AND, AS ALISHA RYU TELLS US, THEY ALSO HELP MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS ADAPT TO AMERICAN CULTURE.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> A COUNTRY SO RICH AND IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND IT HAS SO MUCH RHYTHM. I THOUGHT, WHY IS IT THAT ALL THE CARTOON STRIPS THAT WE SEE ARE FROM EVERY CULTURE AROUND EXCEPT A LATIN CULTURE? THAT FOCUSED ME TO GO IN THAT ROUTE. YES, IT IS VERY TOUGH, BUT HERE I AM (LAUGHTER).

ALISHA RYU>> AND IT'S IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE MARTHA MONTOYA HAS DECIDED TO EDUCATE, NOT IN A CLASSROOM BUT THROUGH HER ART AND HER IMAGINATION, DRAWING THE COMIC STRIP LOS KITOS WHOSE CHARACTERS ENLIGHTEN, INSPIRE AND LIBERATE.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> KITOS ARE THERE TO HELP THE READERS ASSIMILATE A CULTURE AND UNDERSTAND THAT CULTURE AND OVERCOME WHATEVER THAT CULTURE IS BRINGING AS AN OBSTACLE.

ALISHA RYU>> FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS, LOS KITOS' PICARITO, PIKITO, KOLITO, PIGOLETO, AND MIMA HAVE BEEN MONTOYA'S SUBJECTS AND COMPANIONS. THEY TEACH IMMIGRANTS ABOUT AMERICAN WAYS, PORTRAYING THE FRUSTRATING STRUGGLE TO ASSIMILATE INTO A CULTURE OTHER THAN THEIR OWN.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> MY CONCERN IS THAT WE DON'T BECOME AN UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRY WITHIN A DEVELOPED COUNTRY AND, TO AVOID THAT, WE NEED TO EDUCATE. I MEAN, WE CAN HELP IN A SIMPLE FORM TO TEACH CERTAIN THINGS TO MAKE US BETTER. LOS KITOS SHOULD BE THERE.

ALISHA RYU>> TODAY LOS KITOS, OR "LITTLE DOLLS" IN ENGLISH, IS SYNDICATED WEEKLY IN 215 PUBLICATIONS IN 13 COUNTRIES. IT ALSO RUNS DAILY IN THE SPANISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER, LA OPINION. CHARACTERS FROM THE CARTOON REGULARLY APPEAR AT EVENTS. THEY PASS OUT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND, FOR KIDS, THERE'S EVEN A WEB SITE.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> LOS KITOS ARE IMMIGRANTS OF THE WORLD. THEY DEPICT SWEETNESS, TENDERNESS, NON-AGGRESSIVENESS.

ALISHA RYU>> MONTOYA'S CARTOONS KNIT TOGETHER THE STRANDS OF FAMILY VALUES, TOGETHERNESS AND FRIENDSHIP. HER PENCIL ILLUSTRATES THAT IN THIS EXAMPLE ABOUT PERSEVERANCE, A PHILOSOPHY MONTOYA HAS HERSELF EMPLOYED.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> PICADITO KNOCKS ON THE DOOR AND THE DOOR SLAMS ON HIM. THEN HE KNOCKS ON THE SECOND DOOR AND THE DOOR SLAMS ON HIM. AND ON THE THIRD DOOR, IT FINALLY OPENS.

ALISHA RYU>> SEE HOW, IN THIS PARTICULAR STRIP, IMMIGRANTS POSITIVELY RESPOND TO REJECTION IN A NEW COUNTRY.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> THESE LITTLE CHARACTERS SIT DOWN AND WATCH THE STARS AND SAY, LOOK, YOU HAVE AS MANY GIFTS IN YOUR LIFE AS STARS IN THE SKY.

ALISHA RYU>> YET THESE LITTLE DOLLS ARE NOT NECESSARILY LITTLE IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS. MONTOYA HAS ACCOMPLISHED WHAT FEW LATINOS HAVE DONE, CONVINCING CORPORATE AMERICA THAT THERE'S A VAST BUSINESS POTENTIAL IN THE LATINO MARKET.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE DO COLORING BOOKS, WE DO ONE PAGE FLIERS. WE DO POSTERS. WE DO BOOK MARKS, T-SHIRTS, BOOKS. WE NEED TO LEARN MANY THINGS. IF WE DON'T LEARN HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS, THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE CANNOT ADVANCE AND, THEREFORE, OUR CHILDREN CANNOT ADVANCE. WE'RE VERY HANDICAPPED.

ALISHA RYU>> CORPORATIONS LIKE BANK OF AMERICA, THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, STATE FARM INSURANCE AND PACIFIC BELL ARE USING LOS KITOS TO HELP EXPLAIN THEIR SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS. EVERYTHING FROM HOW TO USE ATMS TO HOW TO ADDRESS AN ENVELOPE WHEN MAILING A LETTER.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> IT'S SO SIMPLE TO MAKE A PAYMENT BY MAIL. YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO THAT IN OUR CULTURE. YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE WHOLE DAY IN A LINE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A PAYMENT OF A GAS OR AN ELECTRICITY. WELL, THOSE SIMPLE THINGS THAT ARE JUST TAKEN FOR GRANTED BY THE TYPICAL ANGLO-AMERICAN CULTURE, THEY'RE NOT SIMPLE FOR US.

ALISHA RYU>> ONE REASON LOS KITOS HAS BEEN A BIG HIT WITH COMPANIES IS THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CARTOONS IS CONSIDERED OBJECTIVE. IT DOESN'T OUTWARDLY OFFEND ANY ONE RACE OR CULTURE.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> I DON'T ATTACK THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT.

ALISHA RYU>> WHEN PROP 187, THE MEASURE THAT DENIES PUBLIC SERVICE TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO, MONTOYA DREW THIS.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> THERE'S A LOT OF WIND AND THE TREE IS BLOWING AWAY WITH THE CHARACTERS AND THE CHARACTERS HAVE TO HANG ONTO EACH OTHER, AND THE THEME IS "LET'S HELP EACH OTHER IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS."

ALISHA RYU>> THE WORLD THAT MONTOYA AND HER FAMILY FIRST KNEW WAS THE TOWN OF BOGOTA, COLUMBIA. THERE SHE BEGAN DRAWING AT THE AGE OF 12. BUT IT WASN'T ART THAT SHE PURSUED IN COLLEGE, BUT CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY. IT WAS THE TEMPTATION OF HOLLYWOOD, THE ANIMATION CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, THAT BROUGHT HER TO THE U.S. FOR YEARS, MONTOYA MADE A LIVING NOT BY DRAWING, BUT BY HOLDING ODD JOBS, CLEANING HOUSES AND WORKING AS A PRODUCE BUYER.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> DRAWING WAS ALWAYS WITH ME. THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE AND I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO THIS. IT WAS A MATTER OF WHEN WAS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

ALISHA RYU>> WITH A TENACITY MUCH LIKE HER CARTOON CHARACTERS, MONTOYA TAUGHT HERSELF ALL ABOUT THE CARTOON INDUSTRY, READING, GOING TO TRADE SHOWS AND MAKING HER OWN CONTACTS. TODAY ALL THAT WORK HAS PAID OFF. MONTOYA EXPECTS HER COMPANY TO REACH ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE NEXT YEAR. AND SOME PREDICT HER SUCCESS WILL HELP CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN LATINO BUSINESSES AND CORPORATE AMERICA.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> IGNORANCE IS THE BEST PART SOMETIMES OF LIFE. I'M GLAD I WAS IGNORANT BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN HOW HARD IT WAS, THEN MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE NEVER DONE IT.

ALISHA RYU>> BUT FOR MONTOYA, LOS KITOS ISN'T JUST A MARKETING TOOL FOR BIG CORPORATIONS. SHE SEES HER CHARACTERS BECOMING A HOUSEHOLD NAME.

MARTHA MONTOYA>> WHEN I SEE A MICKEY MOUSE, I SAY, AHA, THAT'S MICKEY MOUSE. THAT'S AN AMERICAN ICON. I WANT LOS KITOS TO BE THAT TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. TO SAY OKAY, LOS KITOS, IT'S MY CULTURE, THEY'RE PLAYING MARACAS, THEY ARE EATING SALSA, THEY'RE EATING TORTILLAS. THIS IS MY CARTOON STRIP. THAT'S THE ULTIMATE. (LAUGHTER) THAT'S THE ULTIMATE.

VAL>> OUR FINAL PROFILE LOOKS AT A MAN THEY CALL THE PROFESSOR. HE IS A MARTIAL ARTS TEACHER IN SOUTH CENTRAL WHO TAKES ON KIDS THAT EVEN THE COPS CAN'T HANDLE. HOW DOES HE TURN THEM AROUND? IT'S A CASE OF TOUGH LOVE.

IN THE HEART OF SOUTH CENTRAL AT 61ST STREET ELEMENTARY IN AN AUDITORIUM AFTER SCHOOL, THE TOUGHEST KIDS IN THE HOOD COME TO A MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM CALLED JEOPARDY.

MARVIN CALMES>> COME ON NOW. ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS SIGN YOUR NAME. DISCIPLINE AND FOCUS, PEOPLE. HURRY UP.

VAL>> IT'S TAUGHT BY A TOUGH LOVE TEACHER, MARVIN CALMES, WHO DOESN'T TOLERATE DISRESPECT, DELINQUENCY OR MARIJUANA.

MARVIN CALMES>> WHO YOU PUFF BUD WITH?

STUDENT>> OH, THAT WAS ONE OF MY FRIENDS.

MARVIN CALMES>> OKAY, CHECK THIS OUT. THAT PUFFING BUD AND SHIT, THAT MEANS YOU GOT A CLOUD IN YOUR HEAD, YOU UNDERSTAND? THAT MEANS YOU GOT A CLOUD IN YOUR HEAD. YOU WANT TO BE STUCK ON STUPID FOREVER? ALL RIGHT, THEN.

VAL>> TO INNER CITY TEENS, MARVIN CALMES IS KNOWN AS PROFESSOR MARVIN. FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE, HE WAS A GANG MEMBER HIMSELF AND A DRUG ADDICT. BUT NOW AT AGE 44, HE CAN CLEARLY SEE THE POTENTIAL THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE, AND YET MARVIN CALMES IS LEGALLY BLIND. HE SEES ONLY DARK SHAKING SHADOWS, BUT LITTLE ESCAPES HIS AWARENESS.

MARVIN CALMES>> YOU THINK I'M PLAYING. THEN YOU BETTER, YOU KNOW, SIR, YES, SIR;, SIR, NO, SIR. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

STUDENT>> YES, SIR.

MARVIN CALMES>> RIGHT.

VAL>> HIS APPROACH IS LIKE THE MILITARY. HE PROWLS IN A MANNER OF A BOOT CAMP OFFICER. HE CIRCLES HIS STUDENTS, SEEMINGLY READY TO POUNCE ON THEM AND HE LAUNCHES INTO CONTROLLED MINI-TIRADES.

MARVIN CALMES>> DON'T SAY YOU CAN'T, BOY. LET'S GO. GET IT UP. SEE WHAT BUD DO FOR YOU? SEE WHAT BUD DO FOR YOU?

VAL>> AND WHEN KIDS GIVE HIM ATTITUDE, HE GETS PHYSICAL.

MARVIN CALMES>> THERE YOU GO. GIVE HIM A GOOD SHOT.

VAL>> GANG MEMBERS SEND DEATH THREATS TO CALMES, ANGRY THAT HE'S STEALING THEIR POTENTIAL RECRUITS, BUT CALMES DOESN'T FLINCH.

MARVIN CALMES>> WHY I DO WHAT I DO? SOMEONE GOT TO. IF YOU'RE NOT A PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

VAL>> THE PROFESSOR HAS ACCOMPLISHED MORE WITH KIDS IN ONE CLASS THAN SOME PARENTS HAVE IN A LIFETIME.

ALICIA GONZALEZ>> CHRIS WAS AN EXTREMELY HORRIBLE BAD KID. HE HAD A GANG INCIDENT. THIS KID WAS MOMENTS AWAY FROM EITHER BEING KILLED OR JUST A HOPELESS CAUSE -- HE WAS GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY.

VAL>> AFTER JUST TWO CLASSES WITH PROFESSOR MARVIN, 13-YEAR-OLD CHRIS HAS BECOME A MODEL TEENAGER.

ALICIA GONZALEZ>> AND IT WAS SOMETHING I COULDN'T DO. NOBODY COULD DO.

MARVIN CALMES>> THEY COME TELLING ME, "THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME MY SON BACK."

VAL>> AND 15-YEAR-OLD LAMAR USED TO BE A JUVENILE DELINQUENT. NOW HE GETS A'S AND B'S.

LAMAR FIELDS-BREWER>> PROFESSOR MARVIN, HE'S LIKE ANOTHER FATHER OR BROTHER TO ME BECAUSE HE HELPED ME OUT A LOT.

MARVIN CALMES>> I USE A LOT OF SLANG BECAUSE YOU GOT TO GET AT THESE KIDS A CERTAIN WAY. THEY'RE TOUGH KIDS. YOUR MOMMA AND YOUR FATHER GO TO WORK FOR YOU EVERY DAY TO MAKE SHIT STRAIGHT FOR YOU. ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS BRING THEM GOOD GRADES. GIVE THEM THAT HONOR, RESPECT, VIRTUE, DISCIPLINE AND FOCUS. YOU DO THAT, PARTNER, YOU GO FAR.

VAL>> TODAY IS RICKY YOUNG'S FIRST CLASS. HIS PARENTS SIGNED HIM UP BECAUSE HE WAS CAUGHT SMOKING MARIJUANA. HE'S ONLY 15.

MARVIN CALMES>> WOMEN WEAR LONG NAILS, YOU UNDERSTAND? YOU SUPPOSED TO BE WHAT?

RICKY YOUNG>> A MAN.

MARVIN CALMES>> A MAN. CUT THEM F..... NAILS, YOU UNDERSTAND?

VAL>> JUST LIKE FIRST-TIME RECRUITS, RICKY MUST ENDURE TWO HOURS OF RIGOROUS EXERCISES, WEIGHTLIFTING, PUSH-UPS, CRUNCHES.

MARVIN CALMES>> COME ON. TOO SLOW. THAT'S THAT F.... BUD YOU'RE SMOKING, PARTNER. DELAYED REACTION. COME ON. SEE, YOU LATE. COME ON, KEEP GOING.

VAL>> EXHAUSTED, RICKY IS COMMANDED TO SPAR WITH LAMAR, A BLACK BELT-LEVEL STUDENT. PROFESSOR MARVIN'S POINT IS MADE. OBEY AUTHORITY AND GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, OR ELSE.

MARVIN CALMES>> YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOUR FATHER LOVES YOU, THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, ALL OF THAT IGNORANT BULLSHIT, YOU GOT TO GET UP OFF OF. NUMBER THREE, YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU GOT TO GIVE HIM JUST RESPECT. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? NUMBER FOUR, MOM, YOU GOT TO GIVE HER HER RESPECT, YES, MA'AM; NO, MA'AM. YOUR FATHER, YES, SIR; NO, SIR. YOU UNDERSTAND?

RICKY>> YES, SIR.

MARVIN CALMES>> FROM THIS DAY FORWARD.

VAL>> AS RICKY'S PARENTS WATCH IN SILENCE, THE BOY WHO IS KNOWN TO FRIENDS AS "SMOKY" IS FINAL HUMBLED.

RICKY>> I'M SORRY.

MARVIN CALMES>> WHO'S SORRY?

RICKY>> I AM. I'M NOT GOING TO DO DRUGS. I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT EVER AGAIN.

OFFICER RICHARD DIXON>> THEY KNOW THAT HE'S WATCHING, AND THERE'S CONSEQUENCES IF THEY MESS UP. BUT THEN THEY KNOW TOO THAT HE SHOWS A LOT OF LOVE.

VAL>> AND THEN THERE'S 10-YEAR-OLD DWAYNE.

>> MOM ASKED HIM WHERE WAS HIS HOMEWORK AT. SAID HE HAD A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. HE COULDN'T DO HIS HOMEWORK. MOM WENT TO SCHOOL. TEACHER'S BEEN THERE ALL WEEK, SO HE'S BEEN LYING TO HIS MOTHER.

VAL>> THE PROFESSOR SETS HIS PUNISHMENT. ONE HUNDRED PUSH-UPS ON HIS KNUCKLES.

MARVIN CALMES>> LYING DON'T GET YOU NOTHING. LYING DON'T GET YOU A DAMN THING BUT TROUBLE, YOU UNDERSTAND?. WHEN YOU LIE, THAT MEANS YOU'LL CHEAT, THAT MEANS YOU'LL STEAL. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

DWAYNE>> YES, SIR.

MARVIN CALMES>> GET OFF YOUR KNEES. I SAID ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO A 100, HUH?

DWAYNE>> YES, SIR.

MARVIN CALMES>> I LIED. COME ON. SEE HOW IT FEELS? GET OFF YOUR KNEES. GET OFF YOUR KNEES. GET UP ON THEM KNUCKLES. THAT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING, HUH? GET - OFF - YOUR - KNEES. SEE, I TOLD YOU A LIE, RIGHT?

DWAYNE>> YES, SIR.

MARVIN CALMES>> RIGHT. GET OFF YOUR KNEES. GET - OFF - YOUR - KNEES. I LIED TO YOU, HUH? JUST LIKE YOU LIED TO YOUR MOMMA, HUH?

DWAYNE>> YES, SIR.

VAL>> BUT WHY WOULD THESE HARD-EDGED KIDS PUT UP WITH THIS KIND OF TREATMENT? SIMPLY PUT, THEY HAVE TO BE HERE. THEY ARE EITHER ORDERED BY THE COURTS OR FORCED TO BE HERE BY DETERMINED PARENTS. IN EITHER CASE, THE PROFESSOR HAS SOME OF THE ROUGHEST CASES EATING OUT OF HIS HAND.

>> I DID SOMETHING WRONG IN MY LIFE. HE'S HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER PERSON.

VAL>> THE CITY-WIDE JEOPARDY PROGRAM DOESN'T COST THE KIDS A DIME. IT'S SPONSORED BY THE LAPD. AS FOR PROFESSOR MARVIN, THE WORK IS PART VOLUNTEER, PART PAY, BUT EVEN WITHOUT A MONTHLY STIPEND, HE'D BE HERE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

MARVIN CALMES>> THEY GO FROM NOT BRINGING HOME NO BOOKS, COMING HOME WITH BEER ON THEIR BREATH, BUD ON THEIR CLOTHING, MAYBE A JOINT IN THEIR POCKET, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, TO BRINGING HOME BOOKS, YES, MA'AM, WASH DISHES. BIG TIME. MAKE YOU PROUD.

VAL>> PROFESSOR MARVIN WILL NEVER GET RICH DOING THIS, BUT HIS REWARDS ARE COUNTED IN THE NUMBER OF LIVES HE'S TURNED AROUND. OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TEACHING MARTIAL ARTS, PROFESSOR MARVIN HAS SET 150 YOUNG KIDS ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

MARVIN CALMES>> YOU SEE THEM IN THE BEGINNING, TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT THEY WENT THROUGH, THEN FLIP THE SWITCH TO PUT THEM ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THEN THE GROWTH FROM THAT POINT ON OH, YEAH, I GUARANTEE IT MAKE YOU CRY EVERY NIGHT.

VAL>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. I'M VAL ZAVALA. THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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