Lakers Top Bullets in Fiery Contest

Feb. 19, 1965 - There was more excitement off the floor than on it at the Baltimore Civic Center tonight where the fabulous Jerry West led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 119-111 victory over the Baltimore Bullets before a frenzied crowd of 6,192.

Everyone tried to get into the act in the second quarter after Bullet coach Buddy Jeannette was tagged with two quick technicals and banished from the game.

Jeannette, outraged by a goaltending call by referee Don Murphy against center Walt Bellamy, upended the team bench. When Murphy spotted the fallen bench, he yelled, “Technical!”

This time, the angry Bullet coach wasn’t taking any chances. He tucked the bench under his arm like he was carrying a football and raced right after his whistle-tooting adversary.

Fellow referee Norm Drucker quickly cut off Jeannette and his portable bench and, with a flourish of his thumb, gave Buddy the heave-ho.

Equipment man Billy Ford came rushing to the coach’s rescue, flying out of the stands to grab Drucker. But Drucker, who had tossed Ford off the Bullet bench earlier this season, came swinging right back at his tormentor.

Only the quick intercession of Bullet general manager Paul Hoffman prevented a full-scale brawl. But as soon as the hassle ended, a fight broke out between fans in the stands, and it was 10 minutes before order was finally restored and the game continued.

As things turned out, Jeannette’s temper tantrum resulted in a five-point play for the Lakers.

After getting credited with the field goal, West netted the free throw and then added the two technical foul shots.

While West practiced his foul shooting, the resourceful Bullet coach conceived a communications system to use for the rest of the game.

Borrowing a trick from the Indians, Jeannette, watching surreptitiously between a crack in a door behind the stands while balancing himself on a stool, wig-wagged signals to interim coach Bob Ferry — an ingenious but futile effort.

It was the Lakers’ sixth victory in their last eight games and boosted their lead over the Hawks to six games and eight over the Bullets. 

Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s