It was an evening of memories, some sadness, and laughter, when Trailblazer fans and other interested patrons at CJ’s Sports Bar in Milwaukie gathered for a book signing event to mark the publication of Jerome Kersey: Overcoming the Odds.
Former Oregonian and Portland Tribune sportswriter Kerry Eggers has written a comprehensive biography of a man whose gracious spirit and on-court excellence combined to make Jerome Kersey one of the most beloved Blazers in team history.
To the shock and grief of all who knew him, and many who simply revered him from afar, Kersey died young, age 52, from a pulmonary embolism caused by a blood clot after routine knee surgery.
In his riveting opening pages, after a Foreword written by teammate Terry Porter, Eggers recounts the day in 2015 that Kersey died.
From there the narrative returns to the star forward’s beginnings in Clarksville, Virginia, moves through his standout years in high school and at Longwood College, his run as an invaluable player on the talented and reliably playoff-bound late 1980s-early 1990’s Blazer teams, and finally documents the ultimate achievement, Kersey’s claim—albeit in a diminished role–to a 1999 NBA Championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs.
At the November 4th book signing at CJ’s, Egger’s took to a microphone and delivered brief remarks about the book’s inception. Interestingly, as detailed in the Acknowledgements pages, it was a project Egger’s took on after another writer—the sports director during Kersey’s years at Longwood–had begun working on a manuscript. After first declining, Eggers reflected on the personal relationship he’d forged with Kersey on the sports beat, and agreed to write his own book using notes and pages from the initial effort.
A special surprise awaited those gathered for the signing that night: an appearance by former Blazer Vice President of Basketball Operations, 1991 NBA Executive of the Year, and Oregon Sports Hall of Famer Bucky Buckwalter.
As operations VP, Buckwalter was right in the thick of the day-to-day challenges and victories that characterized one of the winningest Blazer eras.
Like with every recollection and reminiscence offered at the signing, Buckwalter affirmed that Jerome Kersey was one of the nicest guys, nicest people, he’d ever met. Terry Emmert, president of Emmert International, organized the event, and had also enjoyed a personal relationship with Kersey. After thanking Eggers and Buckwalter, Emmert offered a few salutary recollections of his own.
It wasn’t all hoops and roses. Kersey’s reputation as a “ladies’ man” disrupted what could have been a traditionally happy family life. Though they were regularly in contention, Kersey and the dream team of Drexler, Duckworth, Porter and others came close but fell short of bringing home the NBA crown for Portland. And Kersey became quite frustrated with his utilization in his final years as a Blazer.
Despite these off notes, the story is replete with fiery performances and instances of Kersey’s talented determination. For readers interested in game history play-by-play, Eggers doesn’t disappoint. This excerpt from the book runs down the action in Game 5 of the 1989-90 Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Spurs, under coach Rick Adelman:
“Game 5 was a classic, the Blazers prevailing 138-132 in double overtime in a 3-hour 11-minute marathon.
Portland led 91-69 midway through the third quarter, but the Spurs stormed back and the Blazers, playing without Duckworth and Cooper—who had suffered a back injury in Game 3—couldn’t hold the lead.
‘That’s the most exciting game I’ve ever played in,’ said Kersey, who totaled 23 points and ten rebounds in 54 minutes, and made a pair of free throws with 11.1 seconds left in the second extra session to give the Blazers a 137-132 lead and put the game on ice.”
While the basketball action is hot and heavy in Overcoming the Odds, and Kersey’s contribution to team successes well-documented, the overarching theme rings true for everyone who ever met Jerome Kersey.
Taken too soon, he was one of the most genuine, likable, heartwarming men you could ever hope to meet.
Obtain a copy of the book by filling out an order form on kerryeggers.com or jeromekersey.net. Books can be personalized with an inscription from the author. Book signings are scheduled in December at Huber’s Restaurant (Dec. 6 from 5-7 p.m.) and at Mountain Park Racquet Club (Dec. 15 from 4-6 p.m.; public is welcome).
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