Topps comic art brings back memories of Rudy T and K Washington - A sad time in BKB history

Stone193

I've been working on filing and cataloguing my Topps comic art and came across this one - it's the Rudy T. art from the 80-81T set - I don't have the card - would like to get it tho.



And it brought memories of an event that sickened most people who watched sports of any kind in the US.

It was Dec 9, 1977 - Rudy was playing for the Houston Rockets and Kermit for the Lakers.

Some say Kermit was a goon - an enforcer - like they have in hockey I would guess - he made up with muscle what he lacked in offensive skills. Others say he was OK and this was a "scape" job?

Most know, a fight ensued - Rudy was just trying to go break up the fight and ran right into a punch that nearly killed him.

Washington never recovered from the incident - being traded a few times and finally retiring around 1982.

Rudy won a 3 million dollar settlement against the Lakers.

David Stern - then NBA chief counsel - realized "big men" like that can't go around fighting and took the position - throw a punch - whether it hits or misses the target? And you're out of the game.

In 2002, they met for the first time - I believe and discussed that day that changed both their lives forever. Rudy's body language tells it all IMO.

Personally? I think Rudy forgave him to let it go - but I don't think they'll be sharing turkey day any time in the future.

Kermit whined about being branded the villain - but some say - to include a few of his own teammates - that he didn't appear very contrite after the incident.



Does anyone remember the incident? It was one of the saddest moments in sports for me.

mike

itzagoner

a sad day indeed.....both men were truly talented players, but that incident altered them both.....i think Kermit felt at that instant that he was under attack by someone of similar size and stature and simply wished to land the first blow.....emotions may have been running high, but for an early season game? seems odd.....meanwhile, it has been proven time and time again that this kind of violence has no place in pro sports, and yet here we are 30 years later with plenty of evidence to support the theory that not much has been learned from this

bobbybakeriv

I remember it. My father liked Rudy Tomjanovich and was very upset about this ordeal. He actually stopped watching NBA games, in part, because of it. I think it was a goon move on Washington's part.

Bosox1976

John Feinstein wrote a book - the Punch - about the incident and its effect on both men. Pretty good read - available in bargain bins everywhere (got mine at a dollar store).

VitoCo1972

<< <i>John Feinstein wrote a book - the Punch - about the incident and its effect on both men. Pretty good read - available in bargain bins everywhere (got mine at a dollar store). >>



Love Feinstein's stuff. My favorite was Open - about the 02 US Open at Bethpage

Ironmanfan

<< <i>John Feinstein wrote a book - the Punch - about the incident and its effect on both men. Pretty good read - available in bargain bins everywhere (got mine at a dollar store). >>



A definite read ...

jimq112

I remember watching the game and seeing it happen, and I thought it was just a normal punch, but with the force added by Rudy T running full force it became devastating.

Just a mistake that became huge because of the outcome. Kind of like when Jack Hamilton threw high and tight to Tony Conigliaro. You might get away with it 1000 times but the one time things go wrong they go real wrong.