The Nordy Pod
Pete Nordstrom
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Ep 31. Bob Love, NBA Legend of the Chicago Bulls & Former Nordstrom Employee
Bob Love dreamed of playing professional basketball when he was a little kid. Listening to games over the radio he would practice his jump shot, tossing a rolled-up ball of his grandfather’s smelly old socks into a wire coat hanger he stole from his grandmother's closet. Humble beginnings for a man who would later become one of the greatest players of all time. Honing his skills through high school, Bob was destined for more than his small Louisiana hometown could offer. And despite struggling with a debilitating speech impediment, he became the first person in his entire family to go to college. After graduating Bob spent the first year of his professional career playing in a minor league, earning the Rookie of the Year award and making him very difficult for NBA recruiters to overlook. Bob’s dream of playing in the NBA was finally realized in 1966, playing a few short years in Cincinnati, then in Milwaukee, until he eventually found a long-term home with the Chicago Bulls. During his nine-year stay with the Bulls, Bob led the team in scoring for seven straight seasons, had three All Star appearances and set multiple records, some that still stand to this day. He still holds third place in points scored for the Bulls, just under Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, and his is one of only a handful of retired numbers hanging in the United Center today. As a kid I remember watching Bob play on TV and interestingly enough he wound up playing a portion of his last season in the NBA in 1977 with the Seattle Supersonics. But his life took a dramatic turn after his basketball career ended. Bob says he found himself in an unfamiliar city, struggling to find work. The speech impediment that plagued him his entire life didn’t affect his ability to score points, but it did make it near impossible to find a job off the court. The next chapter of Bob's life would actually bring him to Nordstrom of all places, working downtown in our restaurant washing dishes and bussing tables. And though I wasn’t old enough at the time to be a part of the decision making, I look back with admiration as my Dad and the other Nordstrom leaders took notice of Bob’s situation and offered to send him to speech therapy. This in turn gave Bob more opportunities to grow, and confidence to move back to Chicago to work for the Bulls as their Director of Community Affairs. Now Bob regularly speaks in front of large crowds about his experiences playing basketball and overcoming this life-long handicap. I’m just super grateful for the chance to speak with Bob after all this time to hear about his journey, and I know you’re going to enjoy listening to his story. After my conversation with Bob, you’re going to get a taste of one of the more delicious portions of the business as we talk with our Vice President of the Restaurant Division, Vince Rossetti. Thanks for tuning in to episode 31. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation!
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