JERRY WEST, ALL-TIME BASKETBALL GREAT, HAS DIED AT 86

            This news struck me because West has always been a symbol of basketball, not only because that’s his image on the NBA logo, but because I grew up with basketball and he was almost always in the center of it, one way or another. He was an All-American at West Virginia, coming from a little town known as Cabin Creek. His team mate on the Lakers, the great Elgin Baylor, called him “Zeak from Cabin Creek”. His first name being Jerry has had nothing to do with my special admiration for him. :O)

            Perhaps the thing I remember most, aside from the fact that he helped win more NBA Championships for the Lakers than any team except the Boston Celtics, is that he once won a game by making a 65-foot shot on the run to win the finals championship series. And that was before there were three-pointers. Don’t get me wrong, I have never been a Lakers fan. I have always been a Celtics fan from back in the days of Cousey, Russell, Sharman, and Havlicek. And sometimes the Seattle Super Sonics when my friend Les Habegger was the Assistant Coach. But it was hard to root against the talent of West, Baylor, and Kareem.

            For the last twenty years of his life, West was in the front office of the Lakers in various capacities. He guided them to many championships and special record setting seasons. Besides all this, Jerry West was always known as a fine gentleman, never getting into fights or scandals. I sit now waiting for the end to come to Bob Cousey, who is still with us while being well over 100 years of age. All the others from that era, including Russell and Chamberline, have gone on ahead, but “the Cous” continues to hold out. Although he and Jerry West were sometimes opponents, they shared that special something that makes basketball players great – talent and the drive to do better. Thanks for the memories, Jerry West !!