I can’t believe I forgot to write about Jill Kinmont, the Olympic hopeful skier who in the fifties was rendered quadriplegic by a skiing accident.  She made an inspiring comeback to a productive life, which was chronicled in two movies (The other side of the mountain, parts one and two), and two books by E.G. Valens, a writer for Sports Illustrated who became entranced by Jill’s story and her courage. (I read the first book “A long way up”, and am halfway through the second, “The other side of the mountain, part two”.)  Jill became a teacher in her hometown of Bishop, California, teaching native American children.  She married John Boothe, a truck driver and rancher, and lived to the age of 75, dying two years ago. (It is unheard of for a quadriplegic to live to such an advanced age.)

I would recommend the first book and movie to all interested persons.  The second book is remarkable in that Jill is able, with the support of her family, to build a “normal” life for herself despite her disability.  It also provides some interesting glimpses into the making of the first movie, which captured the essence of her experience but disagreed with reality in many Hollywood-pleasing ways.

Somehow I missed the last three Lakers preseason games, including some wonderful plays by Jeremy.   They are shown on Youtube,  so I don’t feel that I missed too much.  Tonight is the first regular season game, against the Houston Rockets, and Jeremy is getting the nod at point guard.  Unfortunately, Steve Nash has aggravated a serious back injury (a disc I believe) and is out for the season.  Ronnie Price, another promising point guard, is also injured.  Anyway, I look forward to Jeremy giving his old team (and their good-for-nothing coach Kevin McHale) a hard time…