Page 12 Portland Observer Decem ber 6, 1979
Kermit Washington: Blazers' modest hero
Hy UUysses Tucker Jr
When most National Basketball
Association players egos are high as
Am erica’ s in fla tio n
rate, its
refreshing to know people like Ker
m it “ Chairm an o f the boa rd s"
Washington exist.
The new member o f the Portland
Trailblazers is articulate, mellow,
and modest; a rare quality in these
days o f inega-buck contracts, all
Black teams, and players not willing
to give up their selfish desires for the
good o f a team.
Webster defines the word modest
as: “ Having or showing a moderate
opinion of one’s own value, abilities,
achievement, etc; not vain or boast
ful; unassuming, not extreme, hum
ble, not forward...” The characters
fit Kermit like a fat rat in a barrel o f
cheese. Proof?
--Upon the return o f power forward
Maurice Lucas: “ It doesn't matter to
me who starts. Whatever Coach
Ramsay wants me to do, I ’ll do and
be happy to do it If I come oft the
bench, it won’ t affect me at all. I
came o ff the bench with L.A. and
Boston. If you hear me complain, I'll
give you half o f my paycheck," he
said.
After the Blazers 90-88 victory over
Kansas City in which Kermit tapped
in the winning basket at the buzzer:
" I t was just as much luck as it was
anything. I remember I put tny hand
up and that’s about all I remember.
Anybody could have done it...”
In Denser earlier this season Ker
mit shot the winning free throws to
help Portland's 88-87 victory. “ To
be honest, loin Owens actually was
the one fouled, not me.”
Most recently, Kermit scored 27
points and gangstered 17 rebounds as
Portland beat Cleveland I03-96. A f
terwards he said, “ Sometimes I
shoot good, sometimes I don't. It
even continues over to rebounding,
sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
I’ m insecure in my shooting. On the
teams I've played on my role has
been to rebound, pass and play
defence.
Before the Blazers I0O-95 victory
over Seattle, (. oach Ramsey told
Kermit that there was more pressure
on him to score since Portland had
only eight healthy players. Wash
ington responded with 15 points, 15
rebounds and four blocked shots. “ I
don’t want to hurt the team with iny
Portland Meadows
shooting,” he said after the game.
“ I f 1 had missed a few, 1 would have
stopped. I was just amazed.” Con
vinced?
The 6’ 8 power forward was ob
tained by the Blazers along with
Kevin Kunnert as compensation
from San Diego for Bill Walton.
A degree holder from the
playgrounds o f Washington, D.C.
and a 1969 graduate o f C alvin
Coolidge High School, Kermit learn
ed the game in a city that produce
standouts like Elgin Baylor, Dave
Bing, Tatty Taylor, A ustin Carr,
Kenny C arr, East Eddie Jordan,
Adrain Dantley, Duck Williams, and
a host o f others N .B.A. greats. At
American University, which is also in
the Nation’s Capital, Kermit became
one o f the seven players in N.C. A. A.
history to average 20 points and 20
rebounds a game.
The others were “ D octor J.,
(Massachusetts). A rtis G ilm ore,
( Jackson-Ville), Bill Russell, (San
Francisco), Elgin Baylor, (Seattle
U .), Paul Silas, (C reighton), and
Walter Dukes, (Seton Hall,. Kertnit
was also Am erican's A ll-T im e
leading rebounder with 1,478 and the
school’ s th ird leading scorer with
I, 467 points. The Los Angles Lakers
drafted W ashington in the first
round in 1971.
W ashington’s first three seasons in
the N .B.A were tough, averaging
only 3.8, 4.5, and 3.4 points per con
test. He played just 400 minutes, 949
minutes, and 492 minutes.
In 1976-1977, Kermit played 1,617
minutes, averaged 10.8 rebounds and
II. 6 points per game, while playing
for the Boston Celtics and the Los
Angeles Lakers.
Last season Kermit was a defen
sive and rebounding specialist with
the San Diego C Uppers. He grabbed
ten or more rebounds 41 times, led
his team 26 tunes and pulled in 17 on
three occassions.
Washington led the (. Uppers with
800 rebounds, 296 of those coming
on the offensive end o f the court
which placed Inin fo u rth in the
National Basketball Association.
He also averaged 11.3 points a
game, shot 562 from the field (sixth
m the N B A ), and played a total of
1,617 minutes.
W ith the Blazers Washington is
averaging 10.2 points and ten
rebounds per contest. He has led the
team in rebounding 15 times this
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K E R M IT W A S H IN G T O N
season, and is one o f the key reasons
why Portland leads the league in
defence with a 94.5 average. Kermit
blocks two shots a game. “ I like his
style,” said W illie Smith, a former
Ira ilb la z c r who is now w ith
Cleveland. “ He rebounds, block
shots, dives tor loose balls, and plays
within his lim itations. Kermit is a
total team player and a scrapper.”
Ron Brewer said, “ I ’ve been im
pressed with his game from day one.
He plays so aggressively. And he
takes so much pride in his game.
You’ re never going to get less than he
gives.”
I he biggest problem Kermit has
laced this season is being away from
his family. “ It won’ t be possible for
my family to move here, at least not
this season,” he said. “ I ’ m going to
miss my family, thats the only thing
that disturbs me.”
By the N B A. allowing the Ians to
have a vote in who plays on the all-
star team, Kermit is a sure bet to
represent Portland this season. The
" Blazertnaniacs” love him and his
contributions.
W ashington was voted the
“ I railblazer o f the M onth” recently
and donated the $500.00 check to
Shriners Hospital to aid handicapped
children.
T o m a to Sauce
P rim o S a ls a
Chow M e in
Chun Kir,g Dinnery
Chicken Beet Pork. Shrimp
■ JT
Chun King E n tr e r
P .p p « St»oh or Fgg Foo Yung
When asked about Kerm it’s play,
C oach Jack Ramsey said, ” 1 have
never seen a player who is as deter
mined and consistent at the boards.
He’ s a truly dedicated team player
which is probably his greatest at
tribute. He is the special one.”
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