Tommy Hawkins, former Los Angeles Laker, broadcaster and Dodger executive, spoke at Arcadia Rotary last Friday. His message was full of fun stories of his life’s lessons and the people who helped shape him.

Hawkins, who was a member of the first Lakers team in Los Angeles, remembers the reception that he and his teammates received when the team moved to LA in 1960. “When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn,” Hawkins says, “they were greeted at the airport by tens of thousands of people, given a ticker tape parade up and down Broadway, and an official welcome to the city on the steps of city hall.” Hawkins laughs as he said “The Lakers came in on a Greyhound bus through San Bernardino at midnight. Nobody knew they were here and nobody cared.” Their first year in Los Angeles, Laker games not even broadcasted. To raise awareness, players drove the city streets inviting people to the games via a loud speaker. By end of the season, the Lakers caught on with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor leading the team. Chick Hearn began his long career with the team that year as well, announcing for the playoffs.

Hawkins graduated from Notre Dame with an average of 23 points and 17 rebounds per game and was the Lakers first round draft choice. Having played center his whole career at Notre Dame, Hawkins assumed that’s where he would be playing for the Lakers as well. He was rudely awakened when his coach told him he was too short to play center and he would be playing forward. Hawkins says, “I had never played forward in my life. I went out to forward and yelled back to the coach, ‘I can’t see from out here.’” It was a challenging situation for Hawkins; he had to learn to play forward or go home. His first game for the Lakers was in New York and he didn’t get 1 minute of playing time. Just a year earlier he played in Madison Square garden against NYU, scored 39 points, picture in every paper, the city was his. One year later he was left out in the cold.

The next stop for the Lakers was Syracuse, NY. Hawkins went looking for a church to see a priest. The team had no counselors, no trainers, and no assistant coaches on the road. “Father I need some help,” Hawkins said. That one visit turned his whole world around. The priest told him that his pride and ego were eating him alive. The priest said, “When you get to your next site, hang them up on a hook with your clothes. I know you don’t have an outside shot, but look for ways you can contribute; there’s defense, rebounding, there’s floor execution.” The team moved on to St. Louis, Missouri. Bob Pettit was beating everyone on the team, and coach yells, “Can anyone guard this guy!” Hawkins raised his hand. Hawkins said he would have guarded Godzilla to get into the game. He shut Pettit down for the rest of the game and in that one night I became the team’s defensive stopper and 6th man. Hawkins learned that night how important it was to look for input from others and learn from others who are different from you. “You don’t have all the answers,” said Hawkins.

Another important person in Hawkins’ life was Jack Kent Cooke, former owner of the Lakers and Kings. Cooke taught Hawkins about determination. Hawkins was with the Cincinnati Royals at the time he met Cooke. Cooke tells Hawkins that he is going to buy the Lakers and is going to bring a hockey franchise to Los Angeles. He told Hawkins that when he buys the Lakers, he is going to buy Hawkins’ contract and bring him back to Los Angeles. Hawkins though this guys was crazy but Cooke did bring him back to LA and more. Cooke went to the Coliseum Commission and demanded preferential dates for his teams. The Commission said that Ice Capades and the Circus were on the schedule and they couldn’t give the Lakers and Kings preferential treatment. Cooke told them that if they didn’t give him preferential dates, then he would build his own arena. He was laughed out of the meeting. Next thing Hawkins knew he was on the end of a shovel breaking ground for the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood.

Tommy Lasorda is another significant person in Hawkins life. Lasorda, according to Hawkins, was the most competitive person he’s ever known. Lasorda and Hawkins would regularly compare accolades trying to top one another. Hawkins thought he had bested Lasorda when he was honored at Notre Dame as the Alumni of the Year. Hawkins placed his plaque on Lasorda’s desk with a note that said, “Top this!” When he returned from lunch, his plaque was back on his desk, face down, with a framed document on top of it. It was a Papal Blessing to Lasorda from Rome with a note at the bottom, “TOP THIS!”

Hawkins then shared about his book, “Life’s Reflections: Poetry for the People.” It is designed as a colorful coffee table book and can best be described as an eclectic collection of vernacular poetic narratives, full of insights and surprises. Each narrative is accompanied by a captivating painting or photograph that illustrates his words including works by famed artists Leroy Neiman and Ernie Barnes among others. Tommy promises readers won’t be bored. In fact, everyone will enjoy his unique indulgence into rhyme, meter, metaphor, symbolism and free verse. It is his hope that “Life’s Reflections: Poetry for the People” will be a dynamic, entertaining and uplifting experience for life. The wide spectrum of areas covered, include love, women, sports, psychiatry, travel, music, family, relationships, the 1960s and much more.

[by John Wilson]