Aug. 22, 2002, 9:44PM Almost 25 years later, Rudy T, Washington put infamous incident in past By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle OAKLAND, Calif. -- They touch again. Skin connects with skin. Kermit Washington's right hand -- that right hand -- reaches out to Rudy Tomjanovich. This time, after all these years, it is a welcome sight. Inextricably linked for the worst reasons for almost 25 years, Tomjanovich and Washington greet each other like old army buddies, sharing stories over laughs. Washington jokes that Larry Smith, Tomjanovich's assistant coach with the Rockets, still looks as if he could be a punishing player and they talk about how that in their day, every team came equipped with such powerful men. They seem unaware of the irony of such a conversation between them because it no longer matters. That horrible night and all the pain that has followed them, finally is behind them. The rest of the world would not let Tomjanovich and Washington escape the most horrific moment in NBA history. On Dec. 9, 1977, in the Forum in Los Angeles, Washington threw the hardest of straight rights into a running Tomjanovich's face, sending Tomjanovich close to his death, months of surgeries, years of pain and nightmares, a lawsuit and labels neither has escaped. Tomjanovich became known as "the player punched. ... " Washington remains "the player who threw the punch. ... " But today, they shared a court again. All is not forgotten and never could be. But it is forgiven. "When something like that happens in a person's life, there has to be healing, physical healing and emotional healing," Tomjanovich, 53, said. "The physical heals. Nature and medicine take care of that. I have nothing to do with that. The emotional healing has everything to do with me. "If I want to dwell on hatred and resentment and self-pity and being a victim, it's just self-destructive. I believe having hatred and resentment is like taking poison and expecting it to hurt the other person. This is the only way to get rid of that poison. I chose to sincerely forgive. This is living it." Washington had been searching for a tryout for Sonny Watson, 25, a talent he had found, in an odd irony, while consulting last season in China. Tomjanovich, in Oakland to watch Yao Ming, not only consented to take a look at Watson, he insisted. After a long workout Thursday, Tomjanovich invited Watson to join Rockets training camp in October. But more than that, he unintentionally announced to the NBA the label should be lifted from Washington. "That's irrelevant," Tomjanovich said. "That is not what this is about. If I just say it and don't live it, saying it, forgiving, is worthless. This is about me living a good life. But if that happens, that would be great. I'm all for that." Washington said he never will escape his image, but that Thursday's meeting and a book to be published in November about the incident and their lives called The Punch could remove some of the stigma. Washington had become entangled with Rockets center Kevin Kunnert that night. Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar restrained Kunnert. Tomjanovich, 6-8, ran to similarly separate players before a brawl began. He did prevent a fight. Instead, there was a punch. Seeing Tomjanovich approach in a blur, the 6-8 Washington threw his punch. It landed just below Tomjanovich's nose, shattering his face, dislodging his skull and sending spinal fluid leaking from his brain capsule for days. Washington was fined $10,000 and suspended a record 60 days. After months of surgeries, Tomjanovich, then a four-time All-Star, returned the next season, but never regained his role with the Rockets. He sued the Lakers for failing to control their player, won $3.25 million, and reached a $2 million settlement before the appeal. Over the years, Tomjanovich and Washington had accidental contact. Washington said he apologized in 1987 in Sacramento. They rarely made more than small talk. But after reading advance copies of the book by John Feinstein, Washington called Tomjanovich about six weeks ago. They have spoken six to eight times since, at first briefly about the incident and their lives since, but usually about Watson. By the time they got together Thursday, Washington said, the leading characters in the most violent episode in NBA history, had become friends. "When I told people I was coming here to see Rudy," Washington said, "they couldn't believe it. They said, `no you're not.' They can't believe it. It is amazing. "Many, many years ago, I said to Rudy `I am sorry about what happened. I'm very sorry. It's my fault. Please forgive me.' I didn't think he could be that forgiving." The incident has been more than a label to Tomjanovich and Washington. Washington never has been able to move past the assumptions about him that he earned that night. Tomjanovich for years had visions of his own death. But even when he moved past that, there was bitterness that gnawed at him. "If I keep those other things, self-destructive things, a part of who I am, I'm missing a good life," Tomjanovich said. "All that matters is where people are today. For me, what happened in the past has nothing to do with where I am today. I have to live today. Analyzing, judging on the past doesn't do anybody any good. It's meaningless to me. What matters to me is how I'm going to live today. I made my choice. "I'm just growing up and learning how to live. It takes time and it takes lessons and it takes pain. I've lived in a lot of self-constructed pain because of my thinking. It has nothing to do with other people. I have to live with me. When I'm happy in my mind and my conscience, and everything is clear, it's a good life." Washington was an assistant coach for three seasons at Stanford, but never has been hired by an NBA team since his brief comeback as a player with Golden State in the 1987-88 season. He had a radio show in Portland and owned a restaurant, but never went more than an hour or two without facing questions about the night in Los Angeles. He has led humanitarian efforts, bringing medicine to Africa. He ran the legendary Pete Newell's Big Man camp for years, working for the coach that had drafted Tomjanovich for the Rockets and Washington for the Lakers. But Washington said he has been effectively blackballed from the NBA. "I would love to coach because of Pete Newell and what he did for me and what I learned from him," Washington said. "I want to pass that on. Now somebody might give me an opportunity because it won't be looked on as negatively. "I used to run Pete Newell's camp. That didn't help me get in the league at all. A lot of these guys ... have said, `Kermit I can't hire you because of the way it would make me look to the public. The way they think about you might be the way they think about me and it would put my job in jeopardy. I can't hire you.' "But if Rudy and I don't dislike each other, if he has no animosity, why should people who are not a part of it think that way? And people will see that Rudy is a magnanimous person. It will show people you have to let go of things. "If he can forgive, anybody can forgive." He forgave years ago. Thursday, they touched again. So many years after they came together so violently, Tomjanovich and Washington met and moved on together.
Props to the Chron on the "exclusive". And just in time to promote John Feistein's book on "The Punch" due out this fall. os
Who is this................ Watson? Come on Sherlock. Now there is a name I havent heard, or should I type read, in a while. Any body know his where abouts?
Originally posted by rockHEAD ===== Wow! That brought back memories. I use to hate Kermit back in the 80's (after Rudy had already left the game). I think he's paid, and then some, for his past mistakes more than we can imagine. Back then, I never thought that guilt would have torn him down like it did.
Back then I did not think Rudy's damages from Washington affected Washington at all. He never showed remorse at the time. That was a very violent, career ending injury. Granted Rudy played after that, but never at his old form. Rudy had permanent injuries to his sinuses and I read he developed sleep apnias after the attack by Washington. The forgiving nature of Rudy is testament to his high moral values. Rudy is a very good man.
I found some info on Sonny Watson. He's 6'11" and was a teammate of Yao's in the Chinese league. Can't seem to locate anything else.
The book is due out in October and is available for preorder now. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=42U9IOUMGH&isbn=1402524846
Wouldn't that be a wild story if someday Rudy hires Kermit as an assistant? I know, that will never happen.
AP - Two men greet each other like old friends 25 years later I'm not sure if this is posted anywhere else or if this is in the right forum, but I found this very interesting... HOUSTON (AP) _ Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich, linked for almost 25 years by one of the worst moments on an NBA court, greeted each other like old friends Thursday in Oakland, Calif. Washington recommended to Tomjanovich a player he found while consulting last season in China. After giving Sonny Watson a long tryout, Tomjanovich invited Watson to join the Rockets' training camp in October. It was Dec. 9, 1977, that Washington threw a right into Tomjanovich's face in a game at the Forum in Los Angeles. Months of surgeries followed for Tomjanovich. Tomjanovich became known as ``the player punched'' and Washington as "the player who threw the punch.'' Tomjanovich believes it is time for the label on Washington to be lifted, the Houston Chronicle reported from Oakland in its Friday editions. ``If I just say it and don't live it, saying it, forgiving, is worthless,'' Tomjanovich said. ``This is about me living a good life.'' If the label on Washington disappears, ``that would be great. I'm all for that,'' Tomjanovich said. Washington said he never will escape his image. He said, however, that some of the stigma could be removed by Thursday's meeting and a book to be published in November about the incident. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Man, 25 years......and they meet again....
im surprised that rudy didnt give one back to him when he got the chance. rudy, you were the bigger man...even from the floor.
Man, I bet Kermit keeps that picture of Rudy-T in his wallet, so he can whip it out and say, "See this! That's what happened to the last guy who pissed me off!!!!" Now that's scary.
I dont mean to be rude but talk about a one hitter quitter. I wasnt alive when it happend but I've seen the footage of it. Kermit Washington should've been a boxer. But anyway that says a lot about Rudy T as a person. I probably would never forgive a person for hitting me like that. Rudy has my respect.
