Former Lakers government Jerry West demanded a retraction and an apology for what he known as “a baseless and malicious assault” on his character within the HBO sequence “Profitable Time,” in a letter despatched by his authorized crew to the community and producer Adam McKay on Tuesday night, which was distributed to a number of media retailers.
West’s legal professionals allege that “Profitable Time falsely and cruelly portrays Mr. West as an out-of-control, intoxicated rage-aholic,” which “bears no resemblance to the actual man,” and ask for a retraction no later than two weeks from the receipt of the letter.
“The portrayal of NBA icon and LA Lakers legend Jerry West in ‘Profitable Time’ is fiction pretending to be truth – a intentionally false characterization that has induced nice misery to Jerry and his household,” wrote Skip Miller, a associate on the Miller Barondess, LLP regulation agency in Los Angeles and lawyer for West. “Opposite to the baseless portrayal within the HBO sequence, Jerry had nothing however love for and concord with the Lakers group, and specifically proprietor Dr. Jerry Buss, throughout an period through which he assembled one of many best groups in NBA historical past.
“Jerry West was an integral a part of the Lakers and NBA’s success. It's a travesty that HBO has knowingly demeaned him for shock worth and the pursuit of scores. As an act of widespread decency, HBO and the producers owe Jerry a public apology and on the very least ought to retract their baseless and defamatory portrayal of him.”
West’s legal professionals say HBO’s disclaimer, which is included with each episode, that the sequence is a “dramatization” doesn't insulate the community from legal responsibility.
As of Tuesday night time, HBO had but to publicly remark or reply to West’s letter.
The docuseries, which has been airing Sunday nights since early March on HBO, is predicated on creator Jeff Pearlman’s e-book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the Nineteen Eighties,” although there have been questions and criticism in regards to the limits of editorial license which can be being taken with what is essentially a real story. The Lakers’ group has mentioned little in regards to the sequence publicly, however it's understood to be unpopular with many related to the franchise, notably the place the portrayal of West is anxious.
West’s legal professionals allege that the sequence creators acted with “authorized malice” as a result of most of the scenes depicted within the sequence exhibiting West’s purported rage didn't seem in Pearlman’s e-book and didn't occur. The letter contains statements from gamers reminiscent of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper and Jamaal Wilkes, in addition to Lakers staff reminiscent of Claire Rothman, Mitch Kupchak, Bob Steiner and Charlene Kenney, who labored with West through the time interval coated within the present denying that they ever noticed West, who's performed by Australian actor Jason Clarke, commit any of the rage-filled acts or drink alcohol within the workplace, as depicted within the present.
The letter comes on the heels of an essay by Abdul-Jabbar, who known as “Profitable Time” “boring” and “intentionally dishonest” in an prolonged assessment of the sequence on his substack on Tuesday.
“The characters are crude stick-figure representations that resemble actual folks the best way Lego Hans Solo resembles Harrison Ford,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “Every character is decreased to a single daring trait as if the writers had been afraid something extra advanced would tax the viewers’ comprehension. Jerry Buss is Egomaniac Entrepreneur, Jerry West is Crazed Coach, Magic Johnson is Sexual Simpleton, I’m Pompous P—. They're caricatures, not characters.”
Added Abdul-Jabbar: “It’s a disgrace the best way they deal with Jerry West, who has brazenly mentioned his wrestle with psychological well being, particularly despair. As an alternative of exploring his points with compassion as a method to higher perceive the person, they flip him right into a Wile E. Coyote cartoon to be laughed at. He by no means broke golf golf equipment, he didn’t throw his trophy by way of the window. Positive, these actions make dramatic moments, however they reek of facile exploitation of the person reasonably than exploration of character.”
Rothman, who ran operations on the Nice Western Discussion board for greater than 20 years and is portrayed by Gabby Hoffman within the sequence, mentioned, “Jerry handled me and everybody else within the Lakers group with dignity and respect. I by no means noticed Jerry break or throw something in anger or rage, nor did I hear anybody ever say he did such issues.”
Kupchak, who's now the Charlotte Hornets’ common supervisor, performed for the Lakers from 1981 to ’86, then labored alongside West within the entrance workplace from ’86 to 2000. He mentioned “throughout my time with the Lakers as a participant and within the entrance workplace, Jerry was all the time skilled, even-keeled and gentle spoken. He was all the time optimistic and inspiring with me. I additionally discovered Jerry to be trustworthy and honest. I by no means noticed or heard Jerry lose his mood with anybody. I additionally by no means noticed or heard Jerry go on an indignant rant or tirade nor did I ever see or hear Jerry scream or yell at anybody. That was not his character. Jerry is gentle spoken and doesn't like confrontation. He all the time retains his composure and stays calm even when he has a disagreement with somebody. Final, I’ve by no means heard or seen Jerry ever break or throw something in anger.”
West’s legal professionals say he's due a retraction, apology and damages from HBO and the present’s producers as a result of “reasonably than comply with the e-book, the present goes out of its method to denigrate Jerry West regardless of his accomplishments as an government. It exhibits Jerry launching into expletive-filled tirades in regards to the determination to draft Magic, implying that Jerry had private animus towards Magic. Worse, the present implies that Jerry tried to sabotage the drafting of Magic Johnson. This by no means occurred. All Jerry did was level out that Sidney Moncrief was a prolific scorer and that the Lakers ought to contemplate him. It was not Jerry’s determination who to draft. It was the proprietor (Jack Kent Cooke) who made the decision.
“So as an alternative of seeing the true Jerry West – an excellent GM who was the architect of one of many nice NBA dynasties – anybody who watched the present can be left with the misunderstanding that West is incompetent, that he didn’t need Magic Johnson. It is a fabrication. You depict Jerry as a clueless bumpkin-wearing a fishing hat to follow, which additionally by no means happened- reasonably than a devoted and succesful GM.
“You omit any reference to Jerry being probably the most achieved and well-regarded NBA executives in historical past. As an alternative, you degrade him by exaggerating his urging the Lakers to not draft Magic Johnson. Opposite to the present, the e-book leaves readers with the true impression of Jerry as an excellent and considerate GM. Your excessive departure from the e-book exhibits malice in your false portrayal.”
