PORTLAND — Former teammates, friends, colleagues and droves of Trail Blazers fans of all ages gathered Monday afternoon at the Memorial Coliseum to celebrate the life of Blazer legend Jerome Kersey.
Over 1,850 people attended the memorial which was emceed by legendary retired Blazers broadcaster and Kersey’s friend Bill Schonley, telling stories of Kersey’s career, life and essence.
Kersey died Feb. 18 at age 52 after a blood clot traveled to his lungs and caused a pulmonary embolism.
Blazers president emeritus Harry Glickman told the story of how the Blazers acquired Kersey, remembering they told him to go to Europe first.
“Hell, no, I’m not going to Europe,” Glickman remembers Kersey saying. “I’m coming to camp and I’m going to make your team.”
Former teammates in attendance included Clifford Robinson, Tracy Murray and Kersey’s dear friend Terry Porter, who was with him the day before he passed away.
Porter told the story of Kersey diving for a loose ball and making a perfect pass to Clyde Drexler to win Game 7 of the 1990 Western Conference Finals against San Antonio to cheers from the crowd.
Mixed with the loss of Kevin Duckworth in 2008, their coach during those glory years, Rick Adelman, still can’t believe 40 percent of their starting lineup is gone.
“That’s the sad thing about this: Two-fifths of our starting line-up is gone,” Adelman reflected. “I still can’t comprehend that. They all grew together. Jerome, Terry and Duck especially just grew.”
Adelman remembered the tenacity with which Kersey lived.
“I played golf with him way back when. I understand he was a better golfer now, but, he wasn’t very good then. But he didn’t care,” Adelman said. “He just went out and attacked life. I think that’s how Jerome did things.”
Adelman continued: “Getting back here and now I’m retired, I’m supposed to see him. And he’s not here. And that really is really upsetting.”
Traci Rose, former Blazers vice president of community relations, said that she could not imagine the Beatles getting a bigger reception in their day than the Blazers did those years in Portland.
Prior to their second NBA Finals in three seasons, Rose told the story of a team that was treated as larger than life and Kersey, who never acted as if he were.
“I was sitting at my desk and Jerome called me,” she said. ” ‘I need you to bring down an autographed basketball, a shirt, hat or anything you might have. Bring it down to me.’ ”
After hearing story about a young Blazers fan in the hospital, Jerome called the starting five and they spent the afternoon at the hospital.
Every story seemed to jerk more tears and bring more laughter.
His best friend Ron Sloy was overcome by the emotion of losing his buddy, whom he always told: “I love you.”
Sloy told of how Kersey would collect uneaten food in the suites at the Moda Center, wrap it up and take it to Old Town in Portland to give to the homeless.
“He would take it to the homeless and say, ‘This is from the Portland Trail Blazers,’ ” Sloy said.
“It just amazes me that a guy who didn’t have to be that way really connected with people on that level,” said team president and CEO Chris McGowan. “That’s something I’ll never forget, how many people in this community can tell you a story about a personal connection that he made.”
His daughter Kiara, with Jerome’s granddaughter Harley, told the story of a sightseeing trip to Seattle with her father and how Kersey dropped everything and got supplies for a nursery when he found out he would be a grandfather.
Teri Kersey, Jerome’s widow, gave the final remarks, to a standing ovation.
“He once told me the reason why he would stop to sign the autograph or take a picture was that he was grateful that people still remember him,” she said. “Clearly, he’s remembered.”
The ceremony concluded with a happy moment, showing Kersey and teammates in the “Bust-A-Bucket” video, in which Kersey famously has his own verse.
