My Gen X Playlist: With a Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker

I had no idea what to do with this prompt today. I sat for awhile and finally put something down. It was about people being named after sandwiches. Meh. Under the circumstances, good enough.

I typically read others bloggers posts before I hit the publish button. Thank goodness I did this morning. 50 Happens post this morning jogged my memory of a more meaningful story.

Jim Sterkel’s name is in giant cardinal letters, striped across two sides of the University of Southern California’s basketball court inside Galen Arena. Sterkel played two basketball seasons at USC in the 1950s, never averaged more than 10 points a game, and didn’t even graduate. But in an institution chock full of celebrity athletes and 9-figure donors, Sterkel was a megastar to one person. And that’s all that matters.

– norkarussia

Even Sterkel’s wife, Joanne, was confused when she first heard about the honor. “His name is on what?”

– wbur

Two unique factors in the naming rights were the obscurity of the name choice and that the Sterkel family was not aware that the court was named after the late Jim Sterkel until after the facility had already opened. An anonymous donor and longtime friend of Sterkel made the $5 million dollar donation under the agreement that his name never be revealed.

In an interview with Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke, Anonymous revealed that he grew up with Sterkel: both attended Mark Keppel High School, both began at USC in 1955 and were roommates, and though Sterkel never graduated from USC, the two remained friends. Later in life, Sterkel was hired by Anonymous, who had become a successful businessman.

When Sterkel contracted cancer, Anonymous helped with his treatment. When Anonymous’ own son contracted leukemia, Sterkel wrote a poem for Anonymous, sealed it, and ordered it only to be read if Anonymous’ son died. Sterkel died from cancer in 1997, Anonymous’ son succumbed less than two years later. Touched by the poem and Sterkel’s care, Anonymous made the donation to the Galen Center noting: “Some people don’t deserve to be forgotten.”

– sports venue

Bill Plaschke is a great sportswriter here in Los Angeles. I finally found the article he wrote on Sterkel. It’s worth the time to read.

In honor of Anonymous and Sterkel’s friendship, here is Joe Cocker’s cover of With a Little Help From My Friends.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

What would you do if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody
I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody
I want somebody to love

Would you believe in a love at first sight
Yes I'm certain that it happen all the time
What do you see when you turn out the light
I can't tell you but I know it's mine

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody, I just need someone to love
Could it be anybody, I want somebody to love

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
with a little help from my friends