Hearn's life celebrated at Mass

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn was eulogized Friday as a broadcaster who loved his team and listeners, and whose legacy is a unifying enthusiasm among fans in an extremely diverse city.

Basketball stars present and past filled St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church in Brentwood for a funeral Mass celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony. Among them were Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Phil Jackson, John Wooden and No. 1 fan Jack Nicholson.

"He just loved his work, he loved his audience and more importantly he loved the Lakers," former team star and executive Jerry West said in his eulogy.

West, now a Memphis Grizzlies executive, recalled watching this year's Lakers championship parade on television.

"I must tell you just looking at the faces in the crowd and how he brought these people together, that will be his legacy," West said.

Johnson recounted Hearn's concern when the former Lakers star announced he was diagnosed with HIV.

"He pulled me aside in the office and we both cried together," Johnson said. "And I remember he put his right hand on my face, and ever since then, 10 years, every game, he would come up to me and put that right hand on my face and ask how I was doing."