Jordan Goodwin beat the odds. As a Lakers fan since youth, I have appreciation for his path

Former SLU player had his contract converted to a standard deal Thursday

Growing up as a fan of the Lakers, I had the opportunity to watch Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar play in person at the Fabulous Forum, which was about a 5-minute drive from where my father was raised in Inglewood.

Dad is now at rest in Inglewood Park Cemetery, which sits across the street from the Forum. You can exit the cemetery grounds on Manchester Blvd. and cross into the parking lot at the arena where we went together, usually sitting in the nose-bleeds.

I had moved away from Southern California in the 1980s, but could count on phone calls after the Lakers won another game during their march to five championships.