U.S. OLYMPIC FESTIVAL : LOS ANGELES--1991 : MEMORABLE MOMENTS

JAMES WORTHY

Basketball

Having just finished his freshman year at the University of North Carolina, James Worthy was playing in the 1979 Festival at Colorado Springs when one of his rivals, Sam Perkins, caught his eye. They later became teammates with the Tar Heels and the Lakers.

“I knew he was being recruited by North Carolina,� Worthy said. “We played against each other. He was on the East team. I had met him previously for about five minutes. I just told him I hope he chooses to go to North Carolina.

“We ended up being roommates. When he came down (to Chapel Hill), we went out. We kind of clicked. We both were kind of quiet, laid back. We weren’t really getting into each other’s business. Just roommates.�