Laker legend Jerry West made an appearance this past Wednesday at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Los Angeles. He was there promoting his new book "West By West: My Charmed, Tormented Life". This appearance was supposed to be part of the NBA's opening day festivities, but sadly the lockout was still in effect.
Mr. West was scheduled to appear from 6-7 pm. He would sign one book and one outside item per person. My buddy Tom and I arrived an hour early. We were about 75 people from the front. After us, only a few more people showed up. I'd say there was about 100 people there.
When 6 o'clock rolled around, we were told Jerry West was running 15 minutes late. Once he did arrive, he went straight to the media and did interviews. He didn't start signing until 7:00. The line moved very slowly.When we got into the signing area, we noticed he was chatting with people and taking pictures.
At around 8:00 we finally got to the table. Mr. Clutch was very nice. I thanked him for everything he's done for Laker Nation. He signed my book and one basketball card.
Thanks to Jerry West and the ESPN Zone.
Nice!
ReplyDeleteThank you sir!
ReplyDeleteVery cool story thanks for sharing.Except for the waiting it sounded like you had fun. I almost went to that event at LA Live but something came up and I could not make it. :-(
ReplyDeleteI actually met him when I was just a kid. My brother was a HUGE laker fan at the time Mr Clutch played for the Lakers so I went with him to the signing. If my memory serves me correctly he did a signing at the local May Co. store here in the South Bay. He signed a Black and white picture for me that the store supplied. I actually lost track of that pic until about 2 or 3 years ago and I was cleaning out a closet and found it. I then put it in a sheet protector and it is put away, from what I remember jerry was really nice. I must have been 9 or 10 at the time.
As a added bonus when I was cleaning out the closet I found all the sets of the LAPD Dodger Bsseball cards I had collected. the 1982 set which commerated the 81 Dodgers World champion ship I had a number of cards from that set autographed. They are now in baseball card pages protected and are still in pretty good shape. In 1982 my brother was living in San Diego. He found out the hotel they were staying at and we went down there on a sunday morning and that is where I got the cards signed. I was really cool to do that.
Its nice to run across stuff that like that it brings back memories from when i got those things signed.
Bruce - Great memories. I'd love to see your West auto.
ReplyDeleteGive me a couple days and I will post it on your FB page. I think I am going to pass on the F&S event tomorrow. I already have a number of players that will be there tomorrow. Kind of pricey for some of the players especially Dusty it is like $60.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to F&S one of these days I will have to make it out there and see what it is like.
Hello, I was wondering if you were going to post any pics from the dodgers reunion show at Frank and Sons. I was there, it was awesome. thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnon- Sorry, I wasn't there. I was at the Derrick Rose appearance.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great time and I would have gone here too but was in Vegas where I got the Larsen Auto. Guess we both lucked out.
ReplyDelete