Nelson (00:00): The US Memory Championships were held recently and for the third time, the winter was Nelson Dellis. SNL (00:05): Oh, nuts. I wanted to win that. New Speaker (00:07): Oh, you competed? SNL (00:08): Competed in what? New Speaker (00:09): The US memory championships. SNL (00:10): Oh, you talking jibberish, Nelson Dellis. New Speaker (00:14): No, that’s the guy who won; I’m Collin Gibbs. SNL (00:15): No, I’m Cecily Strong. New Speaker (00:18): And I’m Collin Gibbs. SNL (00:19): And here are tonight’s top stories. Chris (00:25): My name is Chris Cooper. In late March, 2014, I was in Manhattan for the USA Memory Championships. I was on assignment from CrossFit HQ to write an article for the CrossFit Journal about how exercise helps your brain store and recall memories faster. I figured there was no better place to learn about memory than from the people with the best memories objectively measured in America. I was standing in a very packed lobby waiting to get my press credentials when this guy walks in, and he’s taller than everybody else in the room and immediately everyone turns toward him and starts saying, “Hey Nelson, Nelson Nelson, over here.” He’s a charismatic dude and he’s surrounded by people and he talks to everyone: fans, other competitors, the press. There are people waiting, lining up to talk to this guy. I’m standing on the periphery of a large circle forming around him and I overhear these words: “Are you still doing that CrossFit thing?” Chris (01:26): At that moment, worlds collided. I bought him lunch and he gave me a full hour of his attention in between competitive cognitive events at the highest level. This is the depth of generosity, but the height of wisdom in Nelson is much bigger than the mountains he’s climbed. We’re going to be talking about Everest. We’re going to be talking about his upcoming ...
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