Page 8 April 4, 2013 Championship Ring from front page Famer “Big Game” James Worthy on Saturday, they played Georgetown--in the NCAA Finals think he has three championship rings, MVP married and have a family,” he said. “It is April 6, at 6 p.m. with entertainment by the and Worthy lit ‘em up…and it was like that of the finals in ’88, I think.” hard on you physically and hard on your incomparable Jeffrey Osborne with Master guy can really play and there was a big play. Vitti has been the athletic trainer for the family emotionally. We travel first class. We of Ceremonies Chris McGee of Time Warner This guy Freddy Brown threw James Worthy Lakers for 29 seasons and he told me that he do the best job we can do for our players and Cable SportsNet. Special tributes to Worthy the ball at the end of the game and he sealed has been around the league and great teams our staff, but it’s still taxing. There are times by other Showtime Lakers including Gary the victory for North Carolina and everybody a long time--going to the finals eight times. when I’ve gotten to my hotel room in another Vitti, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis, Norm city. We play in one city, we leave right after Nixon, Mitch Kupchak and Claire Rothman, “Yes, you heard me right. For $10, you could own the game and go to the next city for the next President and General Manager of The Great night and when I get to my room, in front Western Forum for 20 years, are scheduled. Bill Sharman’s 2010 championship ring!” of the door is a USA Today newspaper with Later that day, I headed to El Segundo to the article with the game we just played in the Lakers practice center to speak with Gary that watched that game remembers that play Wow. He said, “Since I’ve been here, we’ve another city! So someone wrote the article, Vitti, the team’s athletic trainer who will be and remembers James Worthy. Two years won 12 times.” When I asked him about they printed the article and they delivered it sharing at the Worthy Evening. It was the first later, I was working with him. Was like when being the top athletic trainer in the league, to the hotel room before I could get there.” time I had ever been to the center and frankly, Traveling did sound like a lot, but then the building is most impressive. I parked Vitti smiled and told me what keeps him in the large lot on the side of the building going. Winning. He told me winning makes and walked toward the black gate beside an him want to go to work and winning makes intercom. I heard a voice even before I pressed him want to come back. Losing is tough--so the button asking me if I needed help. After if you can win more than you lose, then you saying I had an appointment with Mr. Vitti, I have more “better days.” was buzzed in through the black iron gate. As “My happiness really truly relies in the I walked along the side of the building, I saw fact that I have the health of all my loved a huge team bus idling. Walking through the ones,” said Vitti. “My mom and dad are 92 front door, I saw Jose Solano sitting behind years old and in great health mentally and the front desk. He happened to be the voice physically. Good genes. I don’t think they’ve I spoke with behind the gate and he turned abused their bodies as much as I have with out to be a very pleasant man who loves his the travel, so I don’t know if I’ll live that job. Jose told me he has worked at the Lakers long. I give thanks every day for that and my office for five years and he lives in Torrance Bill Sharman wearing his 2010 ring he will raffle off. Lakers Athletic Trainer Gary Vitti. Photos by TerriAnn Ferren. kids, my wife, my sisters, my friends. Knock right near City Hall. Gary Vitti was finishing I saw him, ‘I know who you are.’” he humbly told me, “I don’t know where I on wood, everybody that is close to me is in up with one of the players, so I waited a few Vitti went on to tell me that at that point, stand in terms of quality of an athletic trainer good health.” minutes as very, very tall basketball players Worthy had only been in the league a couple as compared with the other athletic trainers Vitti realizes he is with a world-class team and went in and out of the office. of years and he had left the league and came around the league. I think they’re all very this is evident in the fact that everywhere the Soon, Vitti came out to meet me wearing back. He went on to say, “I left the Jazz and talented guys…but I am probably the luckiest team goes, he can find someone wearing a Los a Lakers t-shirt and escorted me into the the University of Utah and I went up to the one. I’m with this team.” No kidding. Then Angeles Lakers t-shirt. He has been a supporter Players Lounge where we had a chance to University of Portland and I was there for two I asked Vitti the obvious question: “Do you of the galas put on to benefit Toberman and talk. I first asked him when he met James years and then I came here in 1984. I knew like your job?” He replied, “Most of the time. supports the cause and then added, “Joyce Worthy and he shared, “The first time he who he James Worthy was obviously ‘cuz It’s not really a job. It’s more of a lifestyle. and Bill Sharman Good people.” was on the map in my life, it was in the ’82 of his college game and then in the two years I love what I do. I absolutely love the Los Note to self: get online and take a chance NCAA Finals. I was working for the Jazz that he had played here. Right around the Angeles Lakers. It is part of who I am. It is on winning the two-time Hall of Fame Bill at the time and we were in the locker room time I got here in ’84, he transitioned into the part of my identity.” Sharman’s 2010 Lakers championship ring, getting ready for our game and we were starting lineup and from there his career just Vitti shared a story with me about traveling. the Ring of Hope. How often does one have watching the North Carolina game--I think took off--perennial all-star, bunch of rings. I “The travel is difficult, especially if you are the opportunity to purchase a bit of history? • Local Alliance Global Reach I wanted a banker that shared my passion for making a difference for generations to come. I Bank Manhattan. -Jeami Duncan Mercy’s Village International 888.657.6523 | www.bankofmanhattan.com South Bay . Glendale . Pasadena . Montebello NMLS #401422 ©2013 Bank of Manhattan, N.A.
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