7-Foot-Tall 'Giant' Leads Orchestra, Busts a Move

NBA Player Tacko Fall led Boston Pops in "Sleigh Ride" at Symphony Hall
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 24, 2019 2:06 PM CST
Crowd Goes 'Wild' When NBA Player Conducts
In this Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, photo provided by Boston Pops, Boston Celtics player Tacko Fall, right, poses for a photo with Boston Pops Orchestra conductor Keith Lockhart in Boston.   (Robert Torres/Boston Pops via AP)

Boston Celtics player Tacko Fall made his debut as a guest conductor during the renowned Boston Pops orchestra's holiday concert, the AP reports. The 7-foot-6 center took the stage to lead the orchestra in a rendition of the song "Sleigh Ride" at Boston's Symphony Hall Monday night. Fall was wearing a custom-made, size-48 double extra-long tuxedo. Fall used a baton that was given to him by longtime conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Globe reported. Lockhart wrote "Congratulations to Tacko!" on the baton in green marker. Lockhart called Fall "the tallest person to ever conduct the Boston Pops" before inviting him to come up on stage.

"Someone has come on the scene here and in a few short months has stolen everybody's hearts—not just because of his athletic ability but also because of the size of his spirit and the broadness of his smile," Lockhart said. The audience cheered during Fall's performance as he did a spin and wiggled his arms in time with the music. No word on whether he has musical training, but ESPN notes it was the "first time he had worn a tuxedo," and TMZ says "shout out to Tacko ... one of the nicest guys in pro sports." See a tweeted video of it here. (In related—if less Christmassy—news, an NBA fan has been hit with a lifetime ban.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X