The Tie-Dye Dream Team

Back in 1991, Lithuania had just broken free from the old Soviet Union. Imagine finally leaving a lousy boss behind, only to realize you’ve also lost your paycheck. That was Lithuania: independent, but broke. Their basketball team, stacked with legends like Arvydas Sabonis and Šarūnas Marčiulionis, didn’t even have the money to get to the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Then, out of left field, the Grateful Dead showed up. Yep, the jam-band kings of tie-dye. After reading about the team’s struggles, Jerry Garcia told them: “You’re all about liberty and freedom and, man, we’re all about that, too, so we dig what you guys are doing.” The band kicked in cash and permitted the team to sell wild tie-dye jerseys designed by artist Greg Speirs, featuring Lithuania’s flag colors and a skeleton slam-dunking.

Drummer Mickey Hart said the story resonated because it was “a struggle for life, liberty and freedom.” Even Bob Weir and Phil Lesh chimed in that they were fans of freedom and basketball, and wanted to help.

Fueled by that support, Lithuania made an improbable run in Barcelona. In the bronze medal game, they faced the very team of ex-Soviets who once controlled them. And they won. When the buzzer sounded, the Lithuanians pulled on those rainbow tie-dye shirts and celebrated.

It was like two worlds colliding, the rock posters on our teenage walls teaming up with the driveway hoop dreams of our youth. Long story short, the Grateful Dead didn’t just help a basketball team; they helped a country celebrate freedom with style. And honestly, who doesn’t love a good underdog story in tie-dye?

Doug O’Brien