I actually agree with Plaschke for once here: https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-04-22/hbo-winning-time-jerry-west-wrong?_amp=true The thing is, they didn’t have to go so far and manufacture incidents that didn’t happen. That’s where Jerry has a case - it’s one thing to depict events that happened but when you knowingly make things up (as in throwing his MVP through the office window etc.) that’s when you start to invite trouble.
All “based on a true story” movies and shows do this. Even the biopic ones, which this is not. They always add stuff that didn’t happen, change events, make some people look bad, dramatize things, that’s just Hollywood. I could provide a giant list of examples.
1. huge shocker that plaschke would come to the aid of a high profile enemy of the organization. no way! 2. it's weird that they keep pointing to the throwing of the trophy and breaking of a golf club, as if these things tarnish people's opinion of west beyond repair or something. kareem telling a kid to f*** off (supposedly entirely false) is WAY worse, imo. and honestly, west working against the lakers drafting magic was known prior to this and is the most damning west portrayal in the whole thing! problem is: it's accurate!
Hi Weezy yes it’s true that Hollywood takes plenty of “artistic license” in telling stories and that’s understood and allowed. The problem comes in with intent and what the writers are depicting and how it’s perceived. In this case they are painting Jerry West as an out of control rageoholic and as a public figure this is not how people see his legacy - he was emotional but kept it tight to the vest while being considered one of the very best, if not the greatest GM of all time and a brilliant professional in that capacity. The guy delivered us James Worthy, Kobe and Shaq. The issue of defamation surrounds the overall depiction and I think Jerry has at least the right to take them to task. If you show a bunch of “history” that is not only uncorroborated but knowingly false you are going to face some trouble. I feel like HBO can’t have this both ways: they say their depiction is based on all this research, but those rage scenes and pathetic tidey whitey underwear scene are not in the book the script is based on and as such are simply and purposely untrue. That’s the problem. It’s a defamatory depiction. Kareem himself said none of that happened. The writers of the show are making up scenarios that make Jerry look bad and that’s not too cool. Is he a complicated person with demons? No doubt. But inventing scenarios for your own agenda is walking a dangerous line.
And again, I can list 20 of the same type of depictions people could and maybe did get mad about. It’s Hollywood, it’s what they do, Jerry West is not above this.
Right and neither are they above a lawsuit if they cross the line into defamation. I guess we’ll find out as it doesn’t look like he and his lawyer will be backing down. Personally I find the portrayal awful and cartoonish as I’ve mentioned and even if I’m not the hugest Jerry West fan of late, the guy deserves better than this IMO.
did you know Jerry West back in the 80s everyone has a revisionist history of their past I'm not saying your wrong, but he's easily proving their point, yes the character is played up a few notches it's ment to show his intensity, but sure let's have a boring version of him on the show, this is entertainment and not a documentary
Wood Harris and Sally Fields! Fantastic performances. Also digging the chemistry developing between the Magic and Cap characters. Love the Skyhook teaching moment: the most devastating but elegant weapon ever created in the game by the GOAT.
Yeah, the dramatic tension and acting performances in this one was great all around. Harris, Field, John C, Clarke, Brody, Segal, and Hughes all brought A+ in that one.
You think Jerry Buss doing the things back in the day, he could be an owner today with his playboy lifestyle, visiting the hefner mansion, hanging out with young women in public, plus the behind of scenes parties in this soft a** society in todays time.