Jerry West: ‘If I have to, I will take this all the way to the Supreme Court’

Jerry West couldn’t assist himself.

The NBA legend just lately spoke to former Instances sports activities editor Invoice Dwyre about “The Dream Whisperer,” a documentary movie in regards to the unbelievable journey of West’s former Lakers teammate Dick Barnett.

However West additionally used the chance to make his first public touch upon his beef with HBO’s “Successful Time.”

West, 83, instructed Dwyre he shall be available for the premiere of “The Dream Whisperer” on Saturday at 7 p.m. on the Pan African Movie & Arts Competition, in a theater complicated on the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Based on Dwyre, West added that it will likely be good to observe one thing correct and constructive.

That, in fact, is a reference to “Successful Time,” which dramatizes, and typically fictionalizes, components of the Lakers’ Showtime period.

Final week, West expressed his unhappiness with the best way he’s portrayed within the sequence by way of a letter to HBO from his legal professional, Louis R. Miller.

“You changed the actual Jerry West — a consummate skilled — along with his polar reverse, then portrayed this misinform the general public as real,” the letter learn. “You thereby violated the legislation.”

The letter additionally stated: “To mitigate the hurt you could have brought about, we request the issuance of a retraction of Successful Time’s false depiction of Jerry West no later than two weeks from the date of this letter. You additionally owe Mr. West an apology to your hurtful misrepresentation of his work and legacy, plus damages for the hurt you brought about to his well-earned and stellar repute.”

Though the letter appeared to counsel some authorized motion may happen if these calls for aren’t met, West apparently confirmed that to be his intention throughout his dialogue with Dwyre.

“The sequence made us all [the Lakers] seem like cartoon characters,” West instructed Dwyre. “They belittled one thing good. If I’ve to, I’ll take this all the best way to the Supreme Courtroom.”

HBO has indicated it has no intention of honoring West’s calls for.

“‘Successful Time’ will not be a documentary and has not been introduced as such,” HBO stated Tuesday in an announcement. “Nevertheless, the sequence and its depictions are based mostly on in depth factual analysis and dependable sourcing, and HBO stands resolutely behind our proficient creators and solid who’ve introduced a dramatization of this epic chapter in basketball historical past to the display screen.”