Dunkmaster Is A Dream Maker For Some

(CBS)  If you've ever dreamed of a rim-rocking slam dunk, then you should meet Gil Thomas. He claims he can teach just about anybody to dunk a basketball, CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports.

"That's my job. The dream maker, the dunkmaster," Thomas says.

He's a taskmaster for Michael Jordan wannabees like Frank Jara and Sergio Siderman. The key to dunking, says Gil, is quick strong leg muscles, strong backs and abs — so he has them lifting, jumping, running and reaching higher than they ever imagined.

"The first time I worked out, I threw up after the workout," Jara says.

"You have to be willing to you know, kill yourself," Siderman adds.

Reaching your fantasy doesn't come easily. So why do it? Siderman, a 34-year-old businessman, couldn't let go of the dream he'd had since high school.

"6-foot-3, not getting any younger, never dunked a basketball," Siderman says.

For Jara, it was a gift he gave himself after winning a battle with testicular cancer.

"You kind of think to yourself, you know, there are some things in life I could have done or should've done," Jara explains. Dunking was one of those things.

Thomas had the same dream when he was 13. At 5-foot-8, nobody believed he could dunk. But he studied the best athletes, read hundreds of books and trained harder than anyone — and by 15 years old, he was dunking.

"It was just the ability to just leave the ground for seconds. It felt good," Thomas says.

That was 30 years ago. Now, he teaches. He says it might take someone about a year to learn, depending on what shape they're in. He says he can teach even baby boomer journalists to dunk.

After a few months, 5-foot-11 Jara is almost there. And Siderman, after seven weeks of training and trying, made a slam dunk.

"They want me to make their fantasy come true," Thomas says.

Kobe Bryant, watch out.

[sharncedar]

The news should cover the news. Movies should be about movies. Songs should be about the music business. That's what I say.

[long_rider]

Well publishing this article confirms it, the news editor of this web site is on crack.

This is one of those famous CBS "who really cares" news articles.

How about covering "How Feds' Top Environmental Prosecutor Built Home With Big-Oil Lobbyist"
?

I guess that would b e to tough an assignment for modern day news people.

Or, how about obtaining and releasing to the public the videos from the BP station and hotel across from the Pentagon - you know the tapes that would show Americans the big bad 757 that hit the Pentagon.

I guess it is easier to write a story about dunking, seems that is all that CBS is capable of these days.

Please come back Walter, please come back, America needs you.