View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
UKUGA Starting Rotation
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 703 Location: 22033
|
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:57 am Post subject: "The Athletic" article on 83-year old Jack McKinney (Westhead's predecessor) |
|
|
https://theathletic.com/437812/2018/07/19/the-memories-may-be-lost-but-jack-mckinney-once-briefly-the-lakers-coach-remains-an-inspiration/
Worth a subscription . . .
Quote: | He no longer remembers the bicycle accident.
That’s a good thing, right?
With a foggy brain comes foggy recollection skills. So Jack McKinney, 83-year-old Post Traumatic Brain Injury sufferer and newest resident of the Juniper Village at Naples (Florida) assisted living and memory care center, lacks the ability to replay the morning of Nov. 8, 1979.
He does not remember that, at the time, he was the recently hired head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, plucked from the Portland staff to replace Jerry West and guide a team headlined by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a rookie from Michigan State named Earvin. He does not remember that the 10-4 Lakers had an off day; does not remember that he and his assistant, Paul Westhead, were scheduled to meet up for a game of tennis in Palos Verdes; does not remember pulling out the red-and-white Schwinn La Tour II from his garage.
He does not remember approaching the intersection of Whitney Collins Drive and Stonecrest Road; does not remember tapping the breaks and having them freeze; does not remember soaring over the silver handlebars and crashing headfirst into the concrete.
He does not remember arriving in a coma at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.
He does not remember being a John Doe.
He does not remember his wife Claire, sobbing at his bedside.
He does not remember having to step aside from coaching.
He does not remember Westhead taking over and leading the Lakers to the NBA title.
He does not remember learning via a call from his son that Los Angeles had fired him.
He does not remember the ensuing Showtime dynasty that could have—should have—been his legacy.
He does not remember.
Any.
Of.
It.
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
UKUGA Starting Rotation
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 703 Location: 22033
|
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
Does this crowd even know who Jack McKinney is? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AirKobe8 Star Player
Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 8586
|
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 4:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
I read about his story on Jeff Pearlman's "Showtime". Sad stuff. _________________ www.lakersbrasil.com
Fan site made by me and others, dedicated to posting Laker news and articles in portuguese. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
UKUGA Starting Rotation
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 703 Location: 22033
|
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
AirKobe8 wrote: | I read about his story on Jeff Pearlman's "Showtime". Sad stuff. |
there's an older, Sports Illustrated article out there, with much more detail about everything that went down.
can't find it right now, but it's really quite a tale. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
JohnDoe Starting Rotation
Joined: 14 Jun 2018 Posts: 128 Location: Shenzhen, China
|
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 12:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
UKUGA wrote: | AirKobe8 wrote: | I read about his story on Jeff Pearlman's "Showtime". Sad stuff. |
there's an older, Sports Illustrated article out there, with much more detail about everything that went down.
can't find it right now, but it's really quite a tale. |
_________________ "Less is more." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
lakersboy Star Player
Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 8518 Location: Left coast
|
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2018 5:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That changed history. Pat Riley likely wouldn't have the achievements he does today if not for this accident. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Basketball Fan Franchise Player
Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 24744
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 7:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
lakersboy wrote: | That changed history. Pat Riley likely wouldn't have the achievements he does today if not for this accident. |
After watching Winning Time this is completely accurate. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
lakez34 Star Player
Joined: 24 Apr 2001 Posts: 6077
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|