Jerry West At 2011 LA Watts Summer Games

 

Story by L.T.Willis

Jerry West was honored at The 12th Annual NBA Legends
Brunch during The NBA All Star Weekend. Photo by
Eric Wade 29 Gems Images.

The  2011 LA Watts Summer Games will have a special quest who dazzle the crowd back in 2009 at the L.A.Watts Summer Games Jerry West. West is the Logo of the NBA will be hanging out with us at Southwest College. Jerry West was honored back in February at the 12th Annual NBA Legends Brunch during the NBA All Star Weekend here in Los Angeles. In 2009  Jerry told fans that basketball was the ultimate team sport and all it takes is for bad attitude to mess up a team. All the players coaches and parents cheered as they all agreed with what he said. There was a player dribbling in front of him and before the kid could blink Jerry west stole the ball from him and everyone was having a blast on what they just witness right before their eyes. Jerry West will be at  Southwest College on Sunday June 12, 2011 from 9-11 am so get out your  cameras, ink pins and come out and support the games and have a great time. If you would like information about the 2011 L.A. Watts Summer Games go to the Los Angeles Junior Chambers of Commerce website at http://www.lajcc.org/.



Marques Johnson Honored At The 2011 LA Watts Summer Games Fundraiser


Story by L.T.Willis

Marques Johnson honored at LA Watts Summer Games Fundraiser
Summer Games Hall of Fame.Photo by Eric Wade 29 Gems Images.

One of the best forwards in NBA history Marques Johnson  was honored at the Los Angeles Champions Ball Cocktail Soiree Fundraiser for the L.A.Watts Summer Games at the Stone Rose Lounge at The Hotel Sofitel in Los Angeles. Marques  Johnson was inducted as the first honoree into the L.A.Watts Summer Games Hall of Fame and shared why the games were so important to him. As a kid growing up and attending Crenshaw High the back then Watts Summer Games gave me a chance to be seen by a college coach.In 1972 playing against Morningside in the championship had his best game by scoring 32 points and 18 rebounds.I played against a guy name Jackie Robinson who was a star player for Morningside. Well back then dunking was not allow and Jackie tried to dunk on me several times, but i block all his dunks. After the game UCLA offer me a scholarship. If it wasn't for the Watts Summer Games i would have never been seen. These games have open so many door for student athletes.

Former NBA super stars Jerry West and Marques Johnson at the 2009
L.A. Watts Summer Games.



The L.A.Watts Summer Games allow so many kids to showcase their skills and have so many get into college and even gone on to play pro sports. When i went to UCLA i had a chance to meet Roy Hamilton now one of the main person at Fox Sports who has mentor me as a sports announcer. This has been truly a honor for me to be part of the L.A.Watts Summer Games Hall of Fame. I enjoy being part of the games and supporting anyway i can.This writer has seen so many great ones who have played in the Watts Summer Games. I wonder who will be the next great one? If you would like to be a sponsor or a volunteer go to the Los Angeles Junior Chambers of Commerce website at http://www.lajcc.org/ for more information. Here is the video coverage of Marques Johnson great speech.





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R.Rick Moos Honored at LA Watts Summer Games Fundraiser



Story by L.T. Willis

R.Rick Moos one of the original co-founders of the Watts Summer Games
was honored at The Los Angeles Champions Ball Cocktail Soiree and
Fundraiser benefiting the LA Watts Summer Games.Photo by
Eric Wade EW/Gems Images.



I thought the greatest moment of my life was when i meet Jerry West at the 2011 L.A.Watts Summer Games until i met Rick Moos at the Los Angeles Champions Ball Cocktail Soiree Fundraiser at The Stone Rose Lounge at The Hotel Sofitel in Los Angeles. Rick Moos took time to share with me about being part of the Los Angeles Jr Chambers  back in 1968 and the civil unrest that Afro Americans and others were going thru. As Rick was talking to me my mind was listening to him as drifted back to the times he was talking about as a kid i lived on 83rd street and Broadway. I remember that Black Panther  head quarters  was just around the corner from where my family and i went to church at Solid  Rock Baptist Church. I remember the national guard chasing people thru are yard and my mother telling my brother and me to get down. Rick Moos and other members of the chambers were tired of nothing being done to ease the tension so they came up with ideal of making a difference by reaching the youth and the Watts Summer games were created. What a difference 44 years make for the Watts Summer Games now call The L.A.Watts Summer games have made a big difference in so many lives of youths, coaches and communities. Hearing the passion and love in his voice he has  for young people  was the reason he was being honor at the event.




Rick Moos and his family attending The Los Angeles Champions Ball
Fundraiser for The LA Watts Summer Games.Photo by Eric Wade
EW/Gems Images.

 

Meeting Rick Moos at the fundraiser that night really let me know how much people really care about the changes that were going on back in 1968 as this event has change my life and many more people like myself  to be involve in the L.A.Watts Summer Games.Rick Moss also is part owner of The Lobster House located in Santa Monica and the food is really great. If you would like to be part of the 2011 L.A.Watts Summer Games you can go to Los Angeles Jr.Chambers website at http://www.lajcc.org/. Here is video coverage of this great event.

The Sparks's Draft Party at the ESPN Zone





 Story by L.T.Willis






Sparks' fans having a great time at the 2011 Sparks' Draft Party at the
ESPN Zone. Photo by Eric Wade EW/Gems Images.




 There was new energy at the ESPN Zone on Monday at the Sparks' 2011 Draft Party as everyone was waiting to see what draft pick would the Sparks select. The other Top story of the night was that Joe Bryant was back for a second rounds with the Sparks as a assistant coach .Sparks' head coach Jennifer Gillom was all smiles to have Joe as part of her coaching staff and so were the fans. One of the most funniest question that was ask from a fan are we getting someone who can dunk not just at home games but also on the road? The crowd was really laughing very hard  and both Jennifer Gillom and Joe Bryant couldn't stop from laughing.

 

Ohio State's Jantel Lavender was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks.
photo by Eric Wade EW/Gems Images





When it was time for the Sparks to select a player in the first round the selected 4 time Big Ten Player of The Year from Ohio State 6' 4 Center Jantel Lavender and the room really got loud as everyone was cheering with the selection. At Ohio State Jantel Lavender average 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Sparks' Director of Communication Ben Akaly and i had a phone interview with here and this what she said." I'm very happy to be drafted by the Los Angeles  Sparks and to be playing with Candace Parker and Tina Thompson two superstars of the WNBA". I ask her what will she bring to the team." I will bring a physical presence to the team because i love to bang and run up and down the court and also the great weather in Los Angeles."

Sparks' head coach Jennifer Gillom and assistant coach Joe Bryant
having some fun at the Sparks' 2011 Draft Party.