The Kermit Washington Story - Redemption 6 of 7

[darius070]

Awww, the poor guy had to keep making money playing basketball in too many different cities after nearly killing a guy. Let's all feel sorry for him because he's the victim. This guy doesn't seem to take any responsibility for what he did. Apparently "the stories" keep following him because of the media. Yeah, become a coach and teach other players how to throw cheap suckerpunches. Always tired and full of stress, no championships. Boo hoo. He deserved to be in jail.

[stalbansrecords]

he doesn't seem like a bad guy, but things happen in the heat of playing at times. Look at Roger Clemens throwing at Piazza's head, and wasn't even suspended, then he throws at bat. Juan Marichal & john Roseboro, Bert Campenaris, a lot of these things have happened.

[wovokanarchy]

Boo Hoo who's the victim here?

[Narutolover55109]

i feel bad for both men

[adam75south]

somebody needs to say it, so i will. you shouldn't have hit him. you're welcome.

[TheTdim10]

woe is me, woe is me. maybe if kermit apologized publicly i'd have some sympathy for him.

[ballinout17]

the main reason was that a black guy hit a white guy... calling him a thug and everything... well i bet it would have been different if bill walton hit larry bird or something

[kevjay777]

"If *that thing* didn't happen that night *with Rudy* I might have ended my career as a Laker."

the more of this I watch the sicker and madder I get. What a fucking punk he is STILL. He can't even *think* in terms of responsibility. *HE* didn't do anything. It's just that *that thing* happened *with Rudy*.

Yea it's Rudy's fault for running over to try and help. Some asshole even blamed Rudy for this in #4 I think it was. What a mentality this world has.

[CelestialWoodway]

We reap what we sow.

[badgermaniac1]

It is important to realize how often fights broke out in the NBA during that era. This doesn't excuse anything, but Washington did the same thing that hundreds of players have done over the years. He just landed ("unluckily") better than any of the others.

Also, do not underestimate the racial overtones: strong black player hitting a popular white player at a time when the racial tension was dominant in the NBA.

[Liface]

@badgermaniac1 Yeah, I read something like there were over 40 fights in the 1977 season.

[groobz]

does anyone know if rudy T and kermit washington ever played against eachother after the punch?

[wilsondylanmccartney]

Just like Morgan Freeman says, he doesn't WANT a black history month. Let's just for a second picture a time 30-50 years in the future when racism doesn't exist for a second. And then introduce black history month to them. They'll say "Well wait, you mean there's separation?" Like Morgan Freeman says, Stop talking about it!! Let it keep sliding off. It has been fading for a long time now, and continues to do so. Having a black history month helps to KEEP racism in existence.

[termanogue]

@wilsondylanmccartney I agree, I also don't like how they're making latin American month there's no need. we can't suit every race, we can just celebrate togetherness on days like Martin Luther king day to thank him for the movement that made steps towards uniting everyone.

[illmatic95]

yall need to understand that during this particular era in the 70's racism was OUT THERE!!!

Racism still exists now but everyone is so PC (politically correct) so there's more "closed door racism" now in contrast to racism that was more out in the open....

watch the sitcoms and movies from the 70's there were no "oh no don't say that" or "you can't say that you might offend someone" rhetoric you could say any and pretty much everything back then

[wilsondylanmccartney]

Would you stop it with the racism crap? Racism is more non-existent now than it EVER has been. EVER. It's gotten better, and better, and better, and better. And is still getting better. Some people are just ignorant, and are not going to change; then will be racist no matter WHAT you say. They're stupid. But the thing to be thankful for, is that it's been fading for a long time now, continually, and it will die out. Be thankful that this has been happening, and that it will continue to happen.

[cLGenocide]

Exactly.

[mgalore]

@wilsondylanmccartney racism is just as existant now as any time in t he past as displayed with the anger of some of the tea party protesters ..maybe a small isolated number of people however great disparities across racial lines are still stark interms of criminal justice and health care etc .

[cdonkin7]

@wilsondylanmccartney Agreed



[npscotty]

RUDY T looked like rocky lol

[BigDaddyG13]

i agree!

[MerkinMuffly]

Yeah, poor Kermit, sucker punches two guys, I really feel for him, poor thug. He got what he deserved. I bet Spike Lee directed this shit, poor kermit the victim, hahaha

[Sierra688]

Kermit did pay a heavy price, but that's really the lesson of violence. Sometimes there is no second chance when one resorts to violence. Rudy was not known to be a violent guy at all. In fact, Rudy is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth people you'd ever want to meet. It's hard for me to believe that Kermit really thought Rudy was coming to seriously attack him.

[davidp899]

dude, don't be dumb. it happened in the blink of an eye, he didn't have time to think about who it was and whether they were nice or not. it was the wrong thing to do, but your logic is retarded.

[whateveritsnoyes]

his logic is NOT retarded. Kermit didn't react in self-defence, as Clifford Murphy, his own teammate, surmised. When someone is defending themselves in a split second, you pick your hands up or back up. THEN you determined whether you need to throw a punch or not. Obviously his reaction was to throw the punch, but that wasn't Rudy's fault. Kermit reacted quickly yet harshly. That's on him.

[whateveritsnoyes]

Calvin Murphy*

[Sierra688]

the thing that has always bothered me is that Kermit has never seemed to express true remorse for what he did to Rudy. He's always seemed to be more concerned about what the incident did to his life.

[deyoungparker]

Even though Kermit Washington does seem like a legit nice guy, I totally agree. In the book, in this documentary, and in various interviews, he always seems to be filled with more self-pity and confusion than serious remorse. Like "Why me? What did I do? Why is everyone being so mean?" I think if he had apologized sincerely and repeatedly, and said nothing else, things would have been different.

[termanogue]

@deyoungparker He did apologize sincerely. Do you think someone with that much self pity, with that much of a price to pay is not truly going to be sorry for what he did? He was sorry the moment he stepped out of the stadium when it happened.

[termanogue]

@deyoungparker And It's reasonable that he has so much self pity, mean one bad decision destroyed his whole reputation, he couldn't fulfill his dream even if he wanted to and the point is he could have fulfilled it, he had the talent, he was on a team with talent, he could have fulfilled his dream, but he made one bad judgement call that cost him everything. We only live once.

[AHawkins25]

@Sierra688 I think the judgement in the court of public opinion is why. You include the death threats towards him and his family. In moments like that, the focus is mostly on the one that initiated it. Its unbelievable how one moment, however it turned out, could change the lives of two men. Could you imagine how one moment could change your life no matter how many good deeds you have done before and after it? And the death threats, that will keep you on edge at all times.

[2refinish]

I just have to say, Kermit was--and still is--beloved in Portland. He was a bright spot in the early '80s for fans who were saddened by the implosion of the '77 championship team they'd adored. Be well, Kermit.

[hylk]

2:18 is Shawn kemp