1984. The year of the rat. Super Bowl 18 was between the Los Angeles Raiders and Washington Redskins, with Los Angeles winning 38-9. The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, winning their 15th championship. the Portland Trail Blazers drafted a player by the name of Jerome Kersey, in the second round (46th overall) in the draft out of Virginia’s Longwood University.

Kersey in his 11 seasons in Portland was a fan favorite. Given the nickname “Mercy Kersey” by legendary Blazers announcer Bill Schonley, the 6’7” forward along with Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Buck Williams, and Clifford Robinson helped lead the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.

In 1995, Portland left Kersey unprotected in the expansion draft between the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies. The Oregonian reported in 1995 that, “Portland agreed to pick up all of Kersey’s salary for the next season if, Toronto selected him.” The Raptors waived Kersey before the start of the 1995-1996 season. The Golden State Warriors signed him for the 95-96 season where he averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 76 games.

After the one season with Golden State, Kersey went on to play with the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle Sonics, San Antonio Spurs, and Milwaukee Bucks, During his career, Kersey averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. Not only did he help Portland get to the Finals those two years, but he also won a championship with the Spurs in 1999. He was also a First-Team Division II All-American in 1984, First-Team All-Mason-Dixon (a now-defunct NCAA Division II Athletic Conference), and Mason-Dixon Player of the Year in 1984. His number 54 was retired by the Longwood Lancers. He wore 25 with the Blazers.

After retiring from playing, Kersey served in various roles in the NBA, including as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, assisting former teammate Porter. He’d return to the Blazers as an alumni, and later as director of alumni relations.

On Feb. 18, 2015, Kersey passed away from a blood clot that, broke loose from his left calf, and went to his lungs, causing a pulmonary thromboembolism, likely caused by knee surgery.

“Jerome was a kind person who wanted to make a difference,” said Kerry Eggers who was at one point, the Blazers beat reporter for various publications, and the author of, “Jerome Kersey, Overcoming the Odds. “He was a regular at Doernbecher Hospital for Children and one of the best Blazer players ever for community service.”

North Coast residents, and other fans of Kersey and the Trail Blazers in general, can come to learn more about Kersey, meet Eggers, and purchase a copy of his book, on Saturday, April 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Seaside Library, 1131 Broadway.

Eggers said he interviewed more than 80 people, including coaches, teammates, opponents such as Charles Barkley and John Stockton, former teammates, and classmates at Longwood as well as several family members, including his widow (Teri Kersey Valentine) and daughter (Kiara Kersey). He thinks the result was an accurate reflection of Jerome’s life.

“He pressed the flesh with hundreds and thousands of Blazer fans throughout the state, his welcome smile and good personality making a great impression for the Blazers among their clientele. It’s no exaggeration to say Jerome may be the most popular Blazer in the franchise’s 50-plus-year history.

As I’ve gone around the Northwest doing book events — Seaside will be No. 37 since our first one in October — I’ve heard countless personal stories from people who had an encounter or friendship with Jerome and regarded him in the highest esteem.”