B/R Exclusive: Jerry West on NBA All-Star Game And More at Northern Trust Open
Play at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades has come under stress from inclement weather, but it would take a lot more than just rain, wind and cloudy skies to keep Jerry West from lighting up a room.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend is currently the executive director of the event and was on hand at the Patriot's Outpost, by the 10th hole at Riviera, to present the Ronald Reagan Foundation with a giant $5,000 check on behalf of the Northern Trust.
I had a chance to catch up with "The Logo" after the presentation while on assignment with Max Flower TV. Read on to see what Mr. Clutch himself had to say about having his own statue, the NBA All-Star Game and playing golf with U.S. presidents.
Jerry West on Having a Statue in His Likeness at the Staples Center
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B/R: What was it like for you having a statue of yourself unveiled at the Staples Center?ย
Jerry: Well, I never played to have a statue. Thatโs not the kind of person that I am. That being said, it is a tremendous honor to have them make a statue after me.
The ceremony was wonderful. I was surrounded by people I admired, players and others there that arenโt even in the basketball world, who made it even more special. It was just great.
Mr. Clutch on The Northern Trust Open
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B/R: Tell us about your involvement with the Northern Trust Open and the event here today with the troops and giving back to the Ronald Reagan Foundation.ย
Jerry: Today has been great, having all these kids out here from the First Tee program from all over, and then also the military, which is nearest and dearest to me.
And again, I feel like I canโt thank the Annenberg Foundation enough for providing this opportunity for our veterans. These are the things I enjoy doing.
The Logo on Presidents and The Founding Fathers
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B/R: Who was your favorite president?ย
Jerry: Oh my goodness, Iโve had a number of favorite presidents. It would probably be grossly unfair to pick from them, to be honest with you. I mean, Iโve had a number of them.
B/R: Letโs narrow it down to the ones youโve played golf with.ย
Jerry: I would say probably the thing thatโs most interesting about our presidents is that theyโve all faced different challenges, and as the world has become more complex, theyโve become different kinds of presidents.ย
At one time, they seemed to be more simple in terms of how they dealt with all the adversities. But today, you have so much more media involved.
Weโre here with the Reagan Foundation today, and it was interesting about out there, they have Air Force One at that time and obviously, every once in a while, on the Discovery Channel, you can see Air Force One of today, and itโs just a little bit different. Trust me. Even though it was probably great then."
Some of the presidents I admired, I really admired FDR. I thought at a time when this country was really being faced with a lot of peril, and his ability to speak, on the day of the Pearl Harbor bombing with his speech, "This day will forever live in infamy."
Iโll never forget that speech. Iโve listened to a lot of old speeches because theyโre very very interesting. I particularly like Harry Truman because, to me, he kind of reminded me of someone from West Virginia. I liked him a lot.ย
I think Ronald Reagan was a great president. All of them have faced their struggles.
Obviously, if you read any books on our forefathers, those guys were remarkable. Iโve always said, I think the greatest document ever written is our Constitution. I wish weโd follow it more closely. Those guys were unbelievably way ahead of their time."
West on NBA All-Star Weekend
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B/R: Best part of the NBA All-Star weekend?ย
Jerry: I donโt really have an answer to that, because Iโve never, except for being a player, experienced all the hooplah around the day, and thatโs probably one of the things that I wouldnโt have wanted to attend anyway.
To me, I would like to see the game become more serious. Instead of 160 or 170 points, Iโd rather it become a more serious game.
Jerry West on Fred Couples
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B/R: Youโre friends with Fred Couples. To see him out here leading this tournament, given the state that his back is in, whatโs that like for you?ย
Jerry: Itโs pretty special. You know, Iโve met a lot of these golfers, but a lot of them I donโt know as well as I know him. Iโve had the chance to play golf with him about three different times.
What you see with him is what you get. He is one of the truly nice people in golf. If they were to take a popularity vote among all the players out here, I think he would be close to a unanimous choice for most popular, but he has such a nice way about him.
Iโve always said, the most disarming thing in the world is a smile, and heโs got a great one, but heโs gracious too.
Quick Questions For Mr. Clutch
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B/R: Lady Gaga isโฆย
Jerry: Lady Gagaโฆover the top.
B/R: Miniature golf or driving range?ย
Jerry: Forget miniature golf. Thatโs no challenge.
B/R: How many Valentineโs Day candies did you eat?
ย Jerry: None. Zero.
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.jpg?w=2560 "BTJ Suffers Shoulder Injury")
