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Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar looks pensive

Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar is unquestionably one of the greatest players to ever take the court, and has been honored with selections to numerous All-Star games and as well as being named Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year." (His pending selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame is a certainty). Abdul-Jababr put in 20 years in the NBA before retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of last season. He's written a memoir of that final season, called "Kareem." (It's co-written with Mignon McCarthy, and it's published by Random House).

22:06
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Other segments from the episode on April 4, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April 4, 1990: Interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Review of Vaclav Talich's album "Symphony no. 8"; Interview with Imogene Coca; Interview with Jimmy Rowles.
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06:58

Slavic Music Conducted by Vaclav Talich.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new reissue featuring Czech conductor Vaclav Talich (VATZ-lahf TAH-litch). Talich led the Czech Philharmonic off and on from the 20s to 1961. Lloyd says this recording shows Talich's national flavor, a trait that's lost in this modern world of globe-hopping star conductors. This recording features performances of Dvorak's 8th Symphony, and Smetana's "Moldau" and "From Bohemian Woods and Fields." (the recording is on Supraphon).

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11:19

Imogene Coca Discusses Her Work with Sid Ceasar.

Comedian Imogene Coca. Coca is a television legend, co-starring with Sid Caeser on the groundbreaking comedy series, "Your Show of Shows," in the 1950s. Since then, Coca's had numerous roles on TV, on stage, and in movies. Imogene Coca is teeming up with Sid Caesar once again, for a series of appearances at Michael's Pub in New York City, beginning April 17th.

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14:32

Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Discusses His "Season on the Reservation."

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, talks about his new book, A Season on the Reservation: My Sojourn with the White Mountain Apache (William Morrow and co). In 1998, a member of the Native American tribe, the White Mountain Apaches, asked Abdul-Jabbar to coach the high school boys basketball team on the reservation. A Season on the Reservation tells the story of his time with the team. Since retiring from the NBA in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar has appeared on TV and in films, worked with numerous charitable organizations, and authored 3 other books.

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar looks pensive
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21:28

LeBron James Shoots For The 'Stars'

Basketball player LeBron James has been a star since he was a teenager. Now 24, James looks back on his youth in the memoir Shooting Stars, which he co-wrote with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Buzz Bissinger.

LeBron James
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35:46

Former NBA star Charles Barkley

Former NBA star Charles Barkley. The colorful, outspoken ex-player has a new book, I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It (Random House). Barkley is considered one of the greatest players of the game. He was on 11 All-Star teams, and with Wilt Chamberlain was one of the two players in NBA history with more than 23,000 points, 12,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets. He is currently a studio analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA.

Former NBA basketball player and TV commentator Charles Barkley

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