-- YP ON NEPM.

>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR.

WE'LL TAKE A TRIP TO HISTORIC WAHCONAH PARK IN PITSFIELD TO WATCH A BALL GAME.

>> WAHCONAH PARK IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PARKS IN ALL THE LAND.

MY GODS MARDED STARTED TAKING ME UP -- GODMOTHER STARTED TAKING ME UP HERE IN 1951.

>> DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL.

WE LOOK BACK AT 40 YEARS OF COMMUNITY-FOCUSED RADIO AT WRSI.

>> THIS IS THE PRE-INTERNET ERA.

EVEN PRE-DIGITAL.

WE WERE PLAYING LPs.

CDs WERE JUST COMING IN AT THAT POINT.

>>> AND WE'LL VISIT A STREET IN WEST SPRINGFIELD WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM IS STILL GOING STRONG.

>> YOU HAVE A PLAN, YOU CAN DOILGT.

ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY.

ANYONE!

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT" ON THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

TONIGHT WE'RE PRESENTING YOU WITH SOME OF OUR FAVORITE STORIES FROM THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, AS WE PREPARE FOR THE RING IN 2022.

THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE MANY OF US REALIZE MANY OF THE THINGS WE TAKE MORE GRANTED, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.

THE SIMPLE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING A BASEBALL GAME IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, AND FOR A CITY LIKE PITSFIELD, WHERE THED RESIDENTS LOVE AMERICA'S PASTIME, COVID MADE THINGS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT.

AFTER HAVING THE 2020 SEASON CANCELED, "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN DIDLAKE GRABBED A SEAT IN THE GRAND -- BRIAN SULLIVAN GRABBED A SEAT THIS SPRING FOR THE PITSFIELD SUNS' HOME OPENER TO FIND OUT JUST HOW MUCH THEY MISS IT.

MIEWCTSE.

¶ ¶ >> GO TO -- GOING TO A BASEBALL GAME IS UNIQUELY AS PART OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AS THE HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS BEING GRID, SERVED U AND EATEN THERE.

IT'S MANGO JOE BRIAN SINGING THIS SONG AT EVERY GAME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH INNING FOUR THE 15TH SEASON.

IT'S THE MOM WHO CHEERS A LITTLE LOUDER THAN THE OTHERS WHILE HER SON IS PITCHING, OR THE DAD WHO SAYS GOOD EYE AFTER THE PITCH THAT LEADS TO A BASE ON BALLS.

IT'S A WOODEN GRANDSTAND BUILT IN 1919 THAT'S ONE OF THE LAST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND AFTER CANCELED 2020 SEASON, 2021, IT'S SEVEN SIMPLE WORDS ON A MARQUEE.

>> FOR ME, TO BE ABLE TO COME UP TO A BALL GAME, I LOVE IT.

WAHCONAH PARK IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PARKS IN ALL THE LAND.

MY AUNT, MY GODMOTHER STARTED TAKING ME UP HERE IN 1951.

THIS IS MY 70TH YEAR OF BASEBALL AT WAHCONAH PARK.

>> FOR THE UNINITIATED, IT'S BEEN THE FIELD OF BASEBALL DREAMS DATING BACK TO THE 18 90S.

AA DEEMS FOR THE BOSTON -- TEAMS FOR THE BOSTON STROKES, CHICAGO CUBS, MILWAUKEE BREWERS MADE THIS THEIR HOME PARK AND THE NEW YORK METS AND HOUSTON ASTROS.

IT'S BEEN THE UNPAID COLLEGE PLAYERS SHOWING OFF THEIR SKILLS HERE.

2012 MARKED THE FIRST FEAR YEAR FOR THE SUNS.

AND UNTIL THE CANCELED 2020 SEASON, IT HAD BEEN A CONTINUATION OF THE DECADES-LONG TRADITION OF SUMMERTIME BASEBALL HERE.

THAT'S WHAT MADE THE 201- -- '21 SEASON HOME OPENER SUCH A SPECIAL OCCASION FOR SO MANY.

>> I THINK IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE'RE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK SO WE CAN HAVE A GAME TO GO TO.

FOR SOMETHING TO DO IN PITSFIELD.

IT GIVES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE WEATHER, THE GAME, THE FOOD, THE BEER.

>> I MEAN, THE FIELD LOOKS GOOD.

REALLY NICE AND GREEN.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

GOT AT BALLPARK FOOD.

DIDN'T COST ME A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

GOT MY SEATS!

YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT.

I CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK FOR SOME MORE GAMES.

>> FOR ME, THIS WAS JUST A LONG AWAITED VISIT TO A PLACE THAT WAS ONLY PART OF THE STAT LINE ON THE BACK OF THE BASEBALL CARDS THAT I COLLECTED AS A KID.

I'M NOT PLANNING ON WAXING POETIC OR TRYING TO ROW MADAM PRESIDENT SIZE THE GAME OF BASEBALL.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT CAN DO THAT FOR ME.

WHAT I AM FASCINATED BY IS THE TRADITION AND HISTORY OF THESE OLD BALLPARKS.

HALL OF FAME CATCHERRER CARLTON FISK SPENT THE SUMMER HERE BEFORE HEADING ACROSS THE STATE AND CALLING FENWAY PARK HIS HOME.

IN THE SUMMER OF 1986, A BETWEEN WHEENT-YEAR-OLD -- TENANT WHEERLD PLAYER BOTH PLAYED ON THE PITSFIELD CUBS TEAM.

MADDUX WON 355 GAMES IN THE SENIOR CIRCUIT AND NOW HAS A PLAQUE IN COOPERSTOWN.

THESE GUYS HERE ARE STILL AMATEURS.

BUT THE DREAM OF PLAYING BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL IS THE THREAD THAT TIES ALL THEIR STORIES TOGETHER.

THE UNTOLD STORY IS THAT THESE PLAYERS HAVE TO STAND OUT ENOUGH ON THEIR COLLEGE SQUADS JUST TO GET PICKED FOR THESE TEAMS.

AND WHEN THIS SEASON IS OVER, IT'S BACK TO COLLEGE AND OFF TO FALL BALL.

WINTER BALL AND THEN THE SPRING SEASON.

ALL WITHOUT DRAWING A PAYCHECK FOR THEIR DEDICATION.

SO FOR THE TRUE BELIEVERS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE MOST OF THEM, THAT DREAM IS VERY REAL AND THEY'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> THE SCHEDULE IS PRETTY LONG.

BUT BASEBALL IS THE ONLY THING THAT I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE.

IT'S LIKE THE LANGUAGE OF MY LIFE.

SO AS MANY GAMES AS I CAN GET IN, I'M GOING TO PLAY AS MANY GAMES AS I CAN.

¶ ¶ >>> WRSI FIRST WENT ON THE AIR IN 1981 AS A SMALL, LOCALLY OWNED RADIO STATION IN GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE STATION EXPERIENCED MAY BE CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING A MOVE TO NORTH HAMPTON IN 2001, BUT THROUGH ALL OF THE UPS AND DOWNS, ONE THING HASN'T CHANGED -- MUSIC THEY PLAY AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF WRSI, PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TALKED WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WESTERN MASS RADIO STATION'S SUCCESS OVER THE YEARS.

>> THAT'S THE POLICE BROTHERS ON THE RIVER.

I'M JOAN HOLIDAY.

I CAME HERE 11 YEARS AGO.

>> COMING UP IN 10 MINUTES, WE'LL PLAY GET THE CONNECTION.

>> I STARTED HERE IN 2002.

I WAS BASICALLY A GLORIFY INTERN.

AND SOMETIMES LUCKY SIDEKICK TO THE MORNING SHOW HOST AT THE TIME, WHO HAPPENED TO BE RACHEL MADDOW.

>> I WAS MOSTLY AS I RECALL THE MIDDAY HOST AND I WAS THE MUSIC AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR.

>> MY NAME IS JOHN RILEY.

AND I'M KNOWN AS JOHNNY MOVES BECAUSE THAT'S THE RADIO NAME I TOOK WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT WRSI IN 1986.

>> IT WAS A LOAN FOR $60,000 TO BUILD THE TOWER, $20,000 FOR OPERATING COSTS.

I SAID WHAT'S OPERATING COSTS.

AND THE GUY AT THE BAKE SAYS, THAT'S SO YOU COULD OPERATE FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS UNTIL YOUR CASH STARTS COMING IN.

OH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

SO THERE IT WAS.

GOT ON THE AIR AT NOON JULY 26TH, 1981.

AND OUR FIRST DISC JOCKEY PHIL DRUMHELLER, PHIL D, DID THE FIRST BROADCAST.

>> ED STARTED THE STATION LITERALLY HIMSELF.

BUILT THE EQUIPMENT IN HIS STUDIO HIMSELF.

>> WHEN I GOT THERE THE MUSIC THAT WAS PROGRAMMED WAS ED'S RECORD COLLECTION, LITERALLY.

¶ ¶ >> WE'RE RUNNING REEL-TO-REREL TAPE MACHINES.

WE RAN RECORDS AND TAPES.

>> THIS GOES OUT TO DENNIS IN LADLY.

WANTED TO -- HADLEY.

WANTED TO HEAR SOME FATHER WALLER.

>> WE PLAYED JAZZ, BLUES, REGGAE, POP, COUNTRY, FOLK.

IT WAS REALLY QUITE A WIDE MIX.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> I HAD A LOT OF SHOWS.

BUT I DID EVENTUALLY REALLY END UP IN THE AFTERNOON, WHICH WAS REALLY THE BEST PLACE FOR ME, BECAUSE FOR ONE THING I GOT TO INTERVIEW ALL THESE AMAZING MUSICIANS WHO WERE COMING TO THE AREA WHO WOULD PLAY LIVE IN THE STUDIO.

>> WE'VE GOT JOEY AND JOHN HYATT IN THE STUDIO.

JOE, WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST THIS MORNING?

>> QUICHE AND CAVIAR.

>> TAJ MAHAL WHO'S FROM SPINNING SPEND AND DIDN'T TICK -- DAN HICKS.

B.B.

KING.

I INTERVIEWED HIM.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET AND HAVE FUN WITH.

¶ ¶ >> RADIO WAS SO DIFFERENT BACK THEN BECAUSE THIS IS THE PRE-INTERNET ERA.

EVEN PRE-DIGITAL MUSIC ERA.

WE WERE PLAYING LPs TO START WITH.

CDs WERE JUST COMING IN AT THAT POINT.

BACK THEN WE ALL WORKED A LOT OF HOURS AND WE HAD FUN.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY A FUN KIND OF WILD WEST PLACE BACK THEN.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> I WAS IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE BUDDY RUBBISH ERA, TOO, AND HE'S ONE OF THE BIG LED JEPPEDS.

-- LEGENDS.

THE BEACHES AT PUFFERS POND WERE GOING TO BE CLOSED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THEM CLEAN OR SOMETHING AND BUDDY WAS LIKE I'M NOT GONNA HAVE IT.

I'M BROGUE TO -- GOING TO BROADCAST FROM A RAFT UNTIL WE RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO OPEN THE BEACHES UP AGAIN.

SO A LOT OF THE DUMB THINGS THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS ARE BASED ON THAT KIND OF NOTION.

SO LIKE BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN NORTHAMPTON IN THE HAPPY SIDE -- CAMPSITE IN THE COLD TO RAISE MONEY IS A DIRECT RESULT.

>> COMING UP, WE'LL HAVE BIRDSONGS TODAY.

>> I DO BIRDSONGS WITH DAN, BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES BIRDSONGS.

IT'S SORT OF A -- IT'S A HALLMARK OF MY SHOW NOW, WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN F. I MISS A DAY, PEOPLE FREAK OUT!

>> DIFFERENT IS GOOD.

MORNINGS WITH MONTY.

>> THIS WAS ANOTHER FACEBOOK THING.

>> IT'S UNIQUE.

IT'S LIVE.

AND I THINK THERE'S MORE DIVERSITY IN THIS AREA THAN YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IN THE BIG CITIES.

¶ ¶ >> IT WAS ALLOWED TO KIND OF FEWERRISH IN THIS PLAY -- FLOURISH, IN THIS WAY, IN THE SOIL OF THE PIONEER VALLEY AND BECOME THIS THING THAT'S VERY UNIQUE LIKE THE PIONEER VALLEY IS UNIQUE N A WAY THAT'S NOT SO PREDETERMINED, THAT YOU CAN FLOW WITH IT A LITTLE BIT, FLOW WITH THE RIVER AS IT WERE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS FOREVER MARKED BOTH THE NATION AND THE ENTIRE WORLD, WITH COUNTLESS LIVES LOST.

WITH MANY FAMILIES AND FRIENDS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES, A LOCAL ARTIST DECIDED TO HELP.

ROBERT MARKEY PAINTS PORTRAITS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 TO HONOR THEIR MEMORY.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" ROSS LIPPMAN VISITED MARKEY'S STUDIO TO SEE HIS WORK AND TO LEARN ABOUT THE REMARKABLE LIFE LED BY ONE OF HIS SUBJECTS, FORMER SPRINGFIELD RESIDENT FRANCES BORDEN HUBBARD.

>> ROBERT MARKEY IS A PORTRAIT ARTIST AND JUST AS HE HAS WITH COUNTLESS FACES BEFORE, HE WILL SLOWLY BRING THIS PICTURE OF FRANCES BORDEN HUBBARD TO LIFE.

>> WHEN I ASKED TO DO THE PORTRAIT, I ASKED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERSON, SO I KNOW KIND OF KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

AND I ASK FOR A FEW HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS SO I CAN KIND -- BECAUSE I'VE NEVER PAINTED ANYONE THAT I HAVEN'T KNOWN BEFORE.

>> AND HE'LL NEVER GET TO KNOW FRANCES.

SHE DIED ON APRIL 11TH, 2020, FROM COVID-19.

THIS IS ROBERT'S MOST RECENT PROJECT.

EVERY PERSON HE'S PAINTED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAS DIED FROM COVID.

>> I JUST WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT HELPED PEOPLE.

SO I PUT SOMETHING UP ON FACEBOOK AND I GOT -- I THINK I GOT THREE RESPONSES.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE SISTER DIED, I HAVE A FRIEND -- AND SO I STARTED DOING IT.

AND IT FELT LIKE -- IT FELT REALLY GOOD.

>> FROM THERE WORD SPREAD OF HE POUR -- OF HIS PORTRAITS AND MORE REQUESTS CAME FOR HIM TO PAINT LOVED ONES LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WAS SANDY POLANSKI, RUTH McBRIGHT, FRANK BUSH, AND BRITTANY BRUNER RINGO.

BUT TODAY HE'S PAINTING FRANCES, A WOMAN WHO TOUCHED MANY LIVES AS A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL AND ADVOCATE.

>> I MET HER WHEN SHE CAME TO MY CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

FRANCES WAS ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE CLASS.

SHE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES AS AN ORGANIZER AND I JUST -- I LOVED HER.

I JUST IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT, THIS IS AN AMAZING PERSON.

>> SHE EVENTUALLY MOVED TO SPRINGFIELD AND BECAME A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL FOR THE CITY.

AT ONE POINT SERVING AS ITS HIV/AIDS DIRECTOR IN THE 1990s.

THAT'S WHERE SHE BECAME TERESA'S MENTOR AND LONG-TIME FRIEND.

>> SHE BELIEVED IN THE POWER AND ABILITY OF COMMUNITIES TO CHANGE HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SHE ALSO FELT LIKE -- CITY LIKE SPRINGFIELD, IT'S LIKE THERE'S AN EMERGENCY ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITHOUT FOOD, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE VERY SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS.

IT'S LIKE HAVING A FIRE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S HAPPENING ALL THE TIME.

>> BUT THE MOST GOSH RELATIONSHIP IN -- IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP IN FRANCES' LIFE WAS WITH HER SON SCOTT.

SHE MOVED TO SPRINGFIELD IN ORDER TO HELP SCOTT RAISE HIS CHILDREN.

WHEN FRANCES DIED, THERE COULD NOT BE A FUNERAL.

INSTEAD, AN ONLINE VIGIL WAS HELD FOR NEARLY THREE HOURS.

>> MY MOTHER WAS TRULY MY BEST FRIEND.

MY CONFIDANTE.

MY HERO.

MY MENTOR.

MY COACH.

SHE WAS MY EVERYTHING.

AND WE HAD A UNIQUE, BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP.

>> TERESA ASKED MARKEY TO PAINT FRANCES SO THAT SHE COULD GIVE THE PORTRAIT TO SCOTT.

>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HIS -- HOW HE'S CREATED THIS PORTRAIT OF THIS PERSON THAT I SO LOVE AND APPRECIATE.

AAH, THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!

OH, MY GOSH!

IT DOES!

OH, MY GOSH!

THAT IS SO LOVELY.

OH.

YOU DID SUCH A BEAUTIFUL JOB!

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> I'M ALWAYS NERVOUS WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN TO SEE IT, DID I DO IT RIGHT.

>> YOU DID.

YOU DID.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

LOVE HER FACE.

SHE LOOKS SO, SO HAPPY.

PART OF ME WAS NOT SURE I WANTED TO CONNECT THE MEMORY OF HER WITH THE PAINTING AND THE MEMORY OF HER DEATH OF DYING OF COVID.

I WANTED TO REMEMBER HER FROM DAYS THAT WE SPENT, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER DOING THINGS AND WORKING TOGETHER, WHICH IS A LOT OF WHAT WE DID.

I DIDN'T WANT TO REMEMBER HER AS -- AS A HERO AND A PANDEMIC.

I WANTED TO REMEMBER HER AS FRANCES WHO WAS A BELOVED FRIEND AND MENTOR.

¶ ¶ >>> TO THE CASUAL OBJECTIONER, AT FIRST GLASS, WEDNESDAY SPRINGFIELD'S MAIN STREET MAY SEEM LIKE JUST ANOTHER ROAD IN "ANYTOWN, USA."

BUT UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THEY'LL SEE THERE'S AN ETHIC MAKEUP THAT RUNS THE GAMUT FROM MYANMAR TO ROMANIA AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN DIDLAKE MET WITH TWO OF THE STREET'S SHOP KEEPERS WITH TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORIES, BUT ONE SIMILAR PURSUIT, THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> A CENTURY AGO THESE STOREFRONTS MAY HAVE HAD TRADITIONAL FRENCH, ITALIAN, OR IERK NAMES.

NOW THEY -- IRISH NAMES.

NOW THEY CATER TO THE MOST RECENT GROUPS WHO HAVE BECOME CITIZENS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS WEST SPRINGFIELD, HOME TO THE THIRD HIGHEST REFUGEE POPULATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AND ACCORDING TO THE PAINTINGS ON THE SIDE OF THE STATION, THEY'RE TRIEWFL -- THEY'RE TRULY TRAVELED FROM ALL POINTS ON THE GLOBE TO GET HERE.

I WAS HERE BACK IN THE FALL OF 2018 WHEN THEY PAINTED THIS MURAL, CELEBRATING THE ENTIRE TIE OF WEST SPRING SPEND.

-- SPRINGFIELD.

BUT I CAN FIND BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE FROM RUSSIA, NEPAL, TURKEY, AND LEBANON, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

SO FOR THOSE WHO ARRIVED HERE, THIS IS THE STREET BUILT ON THE AMERICAN DREAM.

FOR ONE ENTREPRENEUR, THAT DREAM HAD THE SOUNDS OF BUZZERS, SCISSORS, AND SATISFIED CUSTOMERS.

BUT HEARING THEM HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT WASN'T REALLY ON HIS RADAR WHEN HE WAS JUST A KID WORKING WITH HIS UNCLES AT THEIR BARBERSHOPS IN BAGGAGE.

-- BAGHDAD.

>> AFTER THE WAR I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT LEAVING IRAQ BUT THE COMMUNITY CAME -- OPPORTUNITY CAME TO MY DOOR AND I HAD THE CHANCE TO MOVE TO THE U.S. AND I TOOK IT.

AND I TOOK IT AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME THERE.

YOU KNOW, AND IT'S ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT OWNING MY OWN BUSINESS.

>> BEFORE OPENING SHOP IN OCTOBER OF 2008, HE SPENT -- 2018, HE LEARNED INS AND OUTS OF AMERICAN CULTURE WHILE CUTTING HAIR IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IT WAS THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS IN THE NUTMEG STATE THAT REALLY HELPED SET THE TONE FOR HIS EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE -- AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

>> IT WAS HE WILLFUL FOR THE BEGINNING BECAUSE YOU NEED SOME SUPPORT IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS WHEN YOU MOVE TO A NEW COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS OF SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, OF COURSE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM THERE TO NAVIGATE WHAT ROUTE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE.

>> IN 2016 AL SADI, WHO WAS A REFUGEE ONLY A FEW YEARS PRIOR, BECOME A FULL-FLEDGED AMERICAN CITIZEN JOINING AN EVENINGAY AMERICA COMMUNITY THAT MAKES UP -- AN IRAQI AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT MAKES UP THE POPULATION.

HERE ON THE CORNER, THAT PRESENCE FEELS MUCH GREATER.

LEBANESE REFUGEES MAKE UP 1 1/2%, ALTHOUGH THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF THE AMERICAN FABRIC SINCE THE 1800s.

BUT FOR ALL THE ASSIMILATION THEY'VE ACHIEVED, SOMETIMES THE SMELL OF TRADITIONAL LEBANESE CUISINE IS JUST ENOUGH TO SPARK A CRAVING FOR A TASTE OF THE OLD COUNTRY.

>> AND I SAID -- LEBANON, THE LEBANESE FOOD HERE AND I LIKE MOST THE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE VERY GENEROUS, VERY NICE.

GREAT COOK.

>> IN THE BEGINNING I WAS LIKE, ARE YOU OKAY?

LIKE BUSINESS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, WE LOVE COOKING.

LIKE I USED TO ALWAYS HOLD A SPOT AT PARTIES AND DINNERS.

WE HAVE LOOK COOKING, SHARING FOOD WITH EVERYBODY.

LIKE THIS IS -- AN AIR MEDITERRANEAN CULTURE THAT YOU ALWAYS -- AIR MEDITERRANEAN -- ARAB MEDITERRANEAN CULTURE.

SO WE SAID LET'S DO IT.

WE QUIT OUR JOBS AND OPENED THE RESTAURANT.

>> COMING TO THE UNITED STATES IN IN 1997, THEIR JOURNEY WAS BIRCHT.

WHO ARRIVED IN THE SHORES AS A REFUGEE.

BUT MY QUESTION FOR EACH OF THEM IS TO NAVIGATE THE ROCKY WASHES OF RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IS THE SAME.

IS THE AMERICAN DREAM STILL ALIVE?

>> YOU HAVE 0 PLAN.

YOU CAN -- A PLAN.

YOU CAN DO IT.

ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY.

ANYONE.

LIKE THAT'S WHAT I TELL MY KIDS.

TAKE ADVANTAGE, BECAUSE THE BLESSING AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT GIVES YOU, I SEE VERY FEW COUNTRIES GIVE THAT.

>> STILL ALIVE.

STILL EXISTS.

THIS IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES.

IF YOU PUT IN THE WORK AND YOU PUT IN THE DISCIPLINE, IF YOU PUT IN THE HARD WORK, IT WILL DEFINITELY EXIST.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> BORN CASSIUS CLAY IN 1942, THE HAPPY WEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION WHO WOULD BECOME MUHAMMAD ALI CAPITAL VATED MILLIONS OF FANS ACROSS THE WORLD WITH HIS SPEED, GRACE, AND POWER IN THE RING, AND HIS COCKY AND CONTROVERSIAL PERSONALITY OUTSIDE OF IT.

SURPRISINGLY, ALI WAS NO STRANGER TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, BOTH DURING AND AFTER HIS CAREER.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TALKED WITH SOME LOCAL PEOPLE BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE BOXING WORLD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAN KNOWN AS "THE GREATEST" AND HIS TIES TO THE AREA.

>> ON THE WALL AT CENTRAL CITY BOXING AND BARBELL IN SPRINGFIELD, HANGS A PICTURE OF MUHAMMAD ALI.

KNOCKING OUT SONNY LISTEN IN 1965.

ALI TRAINED FOR THAT FIGHT AT THE SHINE INN IN CHICOPEE.

>> HE RIEWFGIZED WHAT -- REVOLUTIONIZED BOXING IN THE RING.

EVERYTHING WAS TRADITIONAL AND ORTHODOX.

HE CAME IN WITH AN UNORTHODOX STANCE, WOULD SWITCH IT UP, AND YOU KNOW, ME AS A BOXING COACH, WHEN I WATCH HIM, I GO, JESUS, EVERYTHING HE'S DOING IS WRONG.

BUT IT'S WORKING!

>> BORN CASSIUS CLAY, HE WAS NO STRANGER TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, HAVING LIVED ON UNION STREET IN SPRINGFIELD ON AND OFF DURING THE EARLY 1960s.

AND HE WOULD MEET WITH FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE NATION OF ISLAM.

BUT FOR MANY, IT IS THE SPORT OF BOXING THAT ALI IS MOST KNOWN FOR.

>> HE CAME IN AND HE KNEW HOW TO PLAY THE MENTAL GAME, HOW TO PLAY THE EMOTIONAL GAME.

AND WHEN HE GOT IN THERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOT JUST A PHYSICAL BATTLE.

IT WAS A MENTAL BATTLE AND AN EMOTIONAL BATTLE.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU TRY TO SEE MIMICKED NOW, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE DIEWNLCATED, NOT LIKE -- DUPLICATED.

NOT LIKE HE DID.

HE DID IT AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS UNHARDT OF.

>> ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY HAS BEEN A FIGURE IN THE LOCAL BOXING SCENE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

THE CONNECTICUT NATIVE OWNS AND OPERATES CHARTER OAKS BOXING.

>> AS A KID I USED TO READ MY -- MY FATHER HAD THESE BOOKS.

THREE BOOKS.

SUGAR RAY ROBINSON'S BOOK, WILLY PEPP'S BOOK, AND MUHAMMAD ALI'S BOOK.

ALI'S WAS BY FAR THE MOST INTERESTING.

AT THAT TIME ROBINSON AND PEPPER WERE PAY REPAIRED -- WAY RETIRED.

I WAS EXPERIENCING IT IN REALTIME.

I COULD PRETEND TO BE ALI.

YOU KNOW, IN THE GYM.

IN THE FIGHTS IN MY MIND, I WAS HIM.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THINGS, BUT I WOULD PRETEND I WAS HIM.

>> IN 1984, ALI WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PARK WRINGSONS SYNDROME -- PARKINSON'S SYNDROME.

HIS MOTOR SKILLS SLOWLY DECLINED AND HIS MOVEMENT AND SPEECH WERE LIMITED.

IN SPITE OF THIS, ALI REMAINED IN THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT, TRAVELING THE WORLD TO MAKE HUMANITARIAN, GOODWILL, AND CHARTABLE APPEARANCES.

>> IN 1990, I MET HIM, AND HE WAS VERY -- HE COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK THAT LOUD.

BUT THE INTERACTION WAS PHENOMENAL.

WE SHADOW BOXED WITH EACH OTHER AND IT SHOWED ME THAT IN HIS MIND, HE WAS VERY CLEARHEADED.

HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE COULD EXPRESS IT.

HE JUST COULDN'T DO IT LOUDLY AND HE COULDN'T DO IT ENERGETICALLY.

BUT FROM THINGS HE SAID TO ME, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HE WAS VERY, VERY MUCH ON THE BALL.

SO THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A GOOD DAY.

>> IN 1991 ALI VISITED SPRINGFIELD AT THE INVITATION OF THE ROCKY MARCIANO FOUNDATION.

PAUL AND TONY WERE CO-CHAIRS OF THE EVENT.

>> THIS AMAZING LUMINARY, THIS INTERNATIONAL PLAYER, ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, STAYED TO SIGN SIGNATURES FOR -- AND AUTOGRAPHS ON PHOTOGRAPHS, ON MUHAMMAD ALI DOLLS, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

IT WENT ON FOR HOURS.

EVERY HUMAN BEING THAT WAS THERE, 1500 PEOPLE, THEY GOT AN AUTOGRAPH.

>> ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS HE RECALLS WAS ALI'S VISIT TO THE PEDIATRIC WING AT BAY STATE MEDICAL CENTER.

HE WAS REMINDED OF THE IMPACT THAT VISIT HAD JUST A SHORT TIME AGO.

>> A FEW MONTHS AGO, ACTUALLY, THIS YEAR, THE MOM OF ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN WAS SAYING TO PAUL, GOSH, PAUL, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT I WAS THE DAY THAT -- THERE THE DAY YOU BROUGHT MUHAMMAD ALI TO VISIT MY SON.

MY SON NEVER BELIEVED THAT MUHAMMAD ALARY HAD -- ALI CAME.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OR ANYTHING.

PAUL SENT HER A PHOTOGRAPH OF MUHAMMAD ALI KISSING HER SON.

THAT IS GIGANTIC TO THAT FAMILY.

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE'VE SEEN EVERYWHERE.

I'VE BEEN TO WAKES AND SEEN A PHOTOGRAPH OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH MUHAMMAD ALI IN THE CESKET OR NEXT -- CASKET OR NEXT TO.

I'VE SEEN IT ELIMINATED 0 PEOPLE'S REFRIGERATORS.

THIS WAS NEW AMEND ALI.

ONE OF THE -- MUHAMMAD ALI.

ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN REVERED FIGURES ON THE PLANET, AND HE CAME HERE TO SPRINGFIELD.

>>> AND WE LEAVE TONIGHT WITH SOME BIG NEWS TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR!

"CONNECTING POINT" HAS A NEW DAY AND TIME, STARTING NEXT WEEK.

YOU CAN CATCHES -- CATCH URS ON -- CATCH US ON THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 7:30 P.M. AND YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT WEEK, JANUARY 6th, AT OUR NEW DATE AND TIME FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN 2022!

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