Today, Jerry West is best known as "The Logo," as a picture of him from Sport magazine was the basis for the silhouette that has literally symbolized the for the past 55 years. In 2011, however, when West's statue outside what was then known as Staples Center was unveiled, legend Bill Russell, said, "As you all know, Jerry is the logo man, but to us [players], Jerry was not a silhouette. He was a man with a soul.
" West, who , is a man of many monikers. Fellow Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, West's teammate for 12 years with the , called him "Tweety Bird" (because of the high-pitched voice that came with his West Virginia accent); "Zeke from Cabin Creek," which he hated (because he's actually from Chelyan, not Cabin Creek) and Louella, which he hated even more (because it was a reference to gossip columnist Louella Parsons -- West loved to talk). During his playing career, though, his most prominent nickname was "Mr.
Clutch." Chick Hearn, the Lakers' legendary play-by-play announcer, bestowed the title on him. Mr.
Clutch is a perfect nickname because it requires no explanation. This is particularly true if you happen to have played against West. "Jerry West was the best clutch player I ever saw, the best shooter, and one of the best competitors," Hall of Fame Oscar Robertson wrote in his memoir, .
"His biggest talent, perhaps, was emerging at the right moment to take advantage of a well-timed pick or pass. Jerry hated to lose so much that you could see it transform him. Jerry and .