PAYING HOMAGE

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, former Laker,
was by far one of the best basketball
players who ever lived. Not to be ignored,
(but took 13 years to finally honor him
when it comes to identification, a statue
outside of Staples Center, is now set
to join Lakers icons Magic Johnson, Jerry
West and Chick Hearn).
It's about time. What took so long?
Staples Center opened in 1999 and now
we are just getting around to giving the
Big Fella his statue?
Possibly we all paid so much attention to
Michael Jordan we forgot who the real giant
of Basketball is. Yes, we give our hearts to
Magic and our respect to Kobe Bryant. We
give our soul to West and all the while are
we forgetting the 7 footer who kept to himself
while re-writing the NBA record book and
revolutionizing the center position?
How did this intelligent awe-inspiring 7 ft.
center with the un-blockable, beautifully
conceived sky hook go from being the best
high school player to nearly be overlooked
in a sport whose record book he dominates?
He won 3 NCAA titles at UCLA and 6 NBA
championships between the Milwaukee Bucks
and Lakers and has won as many MVF trophies
as Michael Jordan. Quite a bunch of accomplishments!
Yes, finally, the man deserves his statue because
he certainly is one to be right up there on top.

And, lastly today, let's not forget a big man that
worked for the past 30 years as a fun loving and humanity
pleasing, smiling person. Always willing to stop and listen
to you plus pass on a word of praise. Artie Williams
of local channel 7 news for ABC has passed away this week.
A photographer everybody working there felt a closeness to.

Artie died while partaking in a sport he dearly loved, Scuba Diving.
He was a very noticeable fan of our Lakers team. His Celebration
of Life - memorial service, took place August 28th.
Many farewells and even a few jokes were said.
Today we bid farewell and thank him for all of his
kindnesses, loyalties and joviality.
Babs Wells