Bill Dwyre on Jerry West

by MichaelCage on Feb 5, 2009 9:05 PM PST

This is not directly Clippers related, but after reading this article by Bill Dwyre in the LA Times today, I couldn't help but be jarred by the discrepancy between the Clippers recent performance and this description of Jerry West:

Dwyre quoted Keith Erickson, who was a teammate of West, that "West was the only player he has ever seen who could score 40 points in a game in which his hamstring was torn and he couldn't run."

Jerry West loved the game with passionate intensity. It was why even his fiercest competitors loved and respected him; why Bill Russell would embrace and commiserate with him after beating the Lakers. Can you ever imagine West jogging down the court and not trying very hard? I think he would have rather shot himself in the head.

How did we ever go from Jerry West to Baron Davis? Are these guys even playing the same sport? Are they even part of the same family of man?

Tweet Comment 2 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Those were different times...

People feared god, and had much stronger ethics. Doctors would come to your house if you were sick and try to fix you up. Even if it was inconvenient, they thought it was their duty. Obviously, now things are a bit different.

by ghost_ride on Feb 6, 2009 9:40 AM PST reply actions

That and

Jerry was always motivated by the chance of a championship every year. Something tells me if somehow the clips were in the running for the playoffs there would be less guys out with injuries.

by bestclipfan on Feb 6, 2009 9:07 PM PST reply actions