Rumors

"Just because something's improbable doesn't mean it's impossible," insists Dan Grunfeld, who has authored a powerful multigenerational saga that serves as proof. In "By the Grace of the Game: The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream," the son of former NBA star and front-office executive Ernie Grunfeld shares the incredible story of his family's journey from Auschwitz to New York City, the Olympics and pro basketball fame.

KTVU

Smith: And what made you want to visit Auschwitz specifically? Ray Allen: There's so many different stories that have come out of the Holocaust, so many different movies that I've watched that really show the human condition, people's will to survive. And, you know, I always ask myself, if I was in those situations, what would I do? Would I be brave? It's easy for me to say I'm brave now, you know. I'm tall. I'm, you know, strong. I've played in the NBA for many years. You know, I come from a good family. You know, it's easy to talk about being brave Now in the position I'm in, but would I be brave if I was under those circumstances where, you know, I had to fight for my survival, having not eaten in days, weeks or months? Like, how tough would I have been then? How strong would I have been?

NPR