“Time to Win” HBO recently renewed for a second season, follows the Los Angeles Lakers at the start of the “Showtime” era in the 1980s, a legacy spearheaded by players like Earvin “Magic” Johnson Y Kareem Abdul-Jabbaras well as leaders within the basketball organization such as jerry buss Y Pat Riley. jerry west Is interpreted by Jason Clarke in the series, who plays West as a passionate executive shaken by his multiple NBA Finals losses as a player.
“You took a happy and super successful era of the Lakers and turned it into a pulpy soap opera,” the letter reads. “You represented people in a false light, not knowing who they are, to get qualifications and make money.”
The letter also contains testimonials from people who worked alongside West at the time, including words of claire rothman and Abdul-Jabbar, who also appear in the series, played by Gaby Hoffman Y Solomon Hughesrespectively.
West’s legal action comes just hours after Abdul-Jabbar offered his own critique of the series via his personal blog, in which he also distinguished West from his portrayal on the series.
“Instead of compassionately exploring his problems as a way to better understand the man, they turn him into a Wile E. Coyote cartoon for laughs,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “He never broke golf clubs, he never threw his trophy out the window. Sure, those actions create dramatic moments, but they reek of easy man-man exploitation more than character exploration.”
Below is the full statement Skip Millerthe lawyer of jerry west and the Los Angeles law firm Miller Barondess, LLP, below:
“The portrayal of NBA icon and LA Lakers legend Jerry West in ‘Time to Win’ is fiction purporting to be fact, a deliberately false characterization that has caused Jerry and his family great distress. Contrary to the unsubstantiated portrayal in the HBO series, Jerry had nothing but love and harmony with the Lakers organization, and in particular owner Dr. Jerry Buss, during an era in which he brought together one of the best teams in NBA history.
“HBO’s characterization of Jerry is so egregious and cruel that several former Lakers players, executives and associates, some of whom also appear on the series and worked directly with him for many years, have weighed in:
- Michael Cooperformer Lakers forward who worked closely with Jerry West as a special assistant to the general manager.
- jamaal wilkesfour-time NBA champion and former Lakers forward.
- Mitch Kupchackpresident of the Charlotte Hornets who played for the Lakers and worked for Jerry when he was general manager of the Lakers.
- Frank Marianilongtime business associate of Lakers owner Dr. Buss.
- Claire L Rothmanone of Dr. Buss’s closest associates who ran operations at The Forum for 20 years.
- bob steinerformer director of public relations for the Lakers, LA Kings and The Forum, as well as personal assistant to Dr. Buss.
- charline kenneyexecutive secretary to Dr. Buss, who worked in the office with Jerry for 20 years.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbarwho played for Jerry as his coach and also worked with Jerry in the front office of the Lakers.
“Jerry West was an integral part of the success of the Lakers and the NBA. It is a farce that HBO knowingly downgraded it for its shock value and ratings pursuit. As an act of common decency, HBO and the producers owe Jerry a public apology and, at the very least, should retract their baseless and defamatory portrayal of him.”
Source: Ambito
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