KING CASE AFTERMATH: A CITY IN CRISIS : At Game’s End, Reality : Lakers’ Scott Uncorks Emotions About Violence

Byron Scott, homeboy turned millionaire, heard the Rodney King verdict driving to Wednesday’s Laker-Portland Trail Blazer game. With a job at hand, he corked his emotions.

Thursday he let them out.

His was no politically correct call for an end to violence on both sides.

This is an angry man.

“I’m upset by the verdict,” Scott said. “I thought it was pretty obvious what (the acquitted police officers) did was unjustified. Then again, it’s been happening here in L.A. for so many years, it’s no surprise to me. . . . This is no different than then--except this time they were caught on videotape. And it still didn’t seem to make much difference.”

Does he condemn the rioters?

“No, I don’t condemn them because I know how they feel. . . . I wish they’d show their anger in a different direction, but people are going to be people and they’re going to show the way they feel one way or another. You know, I don’t condemn what they’re doing. I understand exactly what they’re doing. I understand why they’re doing it, and I can’t condemn that. . . .

“There have been a number of cases that have gone against (blacks). The girl (Latasha Harlins) who was shot in the back of the head by the Korean lady (Soon Ja Du, convicted of voluntary manslaughter and put on probation) in the liquor store--she was walking away. I mean, it was not justified.

“And I think all the things leading up to the Rodney King case and them being acquitted--I think it builds up inside you, and sooner or later you have to let it out some way or somehow. And their way was burning buildings, vandalizing, fighting, shooting, whatever the case may be. And that’s how you get the frustrations out. And I don’t think the frustrations are done with. I think it’s going to carry on for a while.

“The Watts situation (in 1965)--the only difference was they had rocks and bottles. Now they’ve got AK-47s and things like that--guns and knives and things. There’s going to be a lot more people injured very badly, or killed, and that’s the shame about this whole thing.”

By the time Scott arrived at the Forum Wednesday, TV sets throughout the building were tuned to news reports.

The entire night was surreal. Patches of empty seats showed in sold-out sections. The Lakers announce tickets sold, as opposed to actual attendance, but Wednesday’s crowd was probably more like 15,000 than the listed 16,690.

Magic Johnson held an informal pregame press conference.

“People sometimes see police get away with things, and they think they can get away with things,” Johnson said. “It’s just too bad.

“(The acquitted policemen) should have gotten something. Not guilty on this, not guilty on that, but not guilty on every charge? Come on.”

Among the active Lakers, the discussion was subdued.

“The guys on the team were in disbelief,” Scott said. “There wasn’t a lot to be said. It was just a lot of head-shaking. When it was about 6:15, I got dressed and watched tapes of the Portland Trail Blazers and I had to dismiss it.”

Among the Trail Blazers, heads were shaking too.

Buck Williams, approached about the game, instead discussed the King trial for five minutes.

Asked a perplexed Williams: “But it’s different here, isn’t it?”

By game time, news of nearby rioting was sweeping the Forum.

In the second half, the Forum announcer began issuing suggested routes for leaving the area--”west on Manchester toward the beach, north on Prairie toward Culver City.”

Said Scott: “When they said, ‘Don’t go east on Manchester,’ I knew exactly what was going on, that the riots had pretty much started. . . . I just knew there were going to be a lot of innocent people hurt. . . . I heard it and listened to it and blocked it off. I’d go into the huddle and listen to what Mike Dunleavy was trying to tell us to do.”

The Lakers and Trail Blazers cranked up a fantastic game.

They were never separated by more than three points in the fourth quarter.

In the five-minute overtime, the lead changed hands eight times, including one stretch of seven consecutive possessions.

Then the game was over and real life was back.

“Emotionally, I’m drained in two senses,” Scott said Thursday. “Because of the game and because of what happened in the Rodney King trial. A little bit down, emotionally, but I’ll kick it back up for the next game. I’ll try to keep the TV off as much as possible. . . . It makes it tough. My family’s scared. Every neighbor around us is a little frightened.”

In the end, had he had enough faith in the system to be surprised?

“No,” he said with a sad smile. “I never had too much faith in the system, and this has pretty much solidified that for me. Like they say, you can’t fight City Hall. No matter what they do, they seem to be right and (blacks) seem to be wrong. And that’s just the way of life.

“I don’t think the judicial system is going to be anything for (poor people), because of where they are and who they are. I’m in a better position, and it doesn’t mean much to me. So I know it probably doesn’t mean anything to them.”

Laker Notes

Game 4 of the Laker-Trail Blazer playoff series is scheduled for tonight at 7:40. The Lakers and the City of Inglewood will decide this morning whether to play. Inglewood imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew Thursday. Laker officials met to discuss dates should tonight’s game be postponed. . . . The Trail Blazers lead the series, 2-1. . . . Portland’s Cliff Robinson suffered a sprained ankle Wednesday but said he would play in Game 4.