
4-17-14
"& we're back. Thank you for tuning in with us and thank you the audience who's in attendance."
Crowd cheers
"For those of you just now tuning in I'm John Lewis and welcome to this Lewis Show Special where we talk to some from very interesting people."
Crowd cheers
"We've come to our final guest of the night. He is a former NBA general manager, the youngest of in that franchise's front office history, and was considered possibly one of the most popular businessman to have ran a front office in the NBA. Everybody join me in welcoming Mr. Richard Ortiz!"
Crowd explodes in cheers as Richard Ortiz walks on stage with John Lewis, shaking his hand immediately as they meet.
Both John & Richard takes a seat
"I'm very excited that you could join us today, Richard."
Richard replies, "Come on, John, you're a good friend of mine. Of course if you ask imma come running." John and Richard both laugh at his comment.
"Well I'm gonna start by saying you have been through a tough time these pass 2 years."
Richard nods and replied saying, "Yeah. Things were going so tremendously & then things went down quickly & drastically."
"Tell us about that, my friend."
"Well like you all know I was a successful general manager of the Houston Rockets & in the process of feeling good about the franchise in its current state & it's future I knew big bucks were soon pouring in and life for my family would be easy."
"Wait let's show the fans watching a picture of your amazing family. Look at em aren't they just beautiful!"
Image of Ortiz's family is shown on the big screen behind them as the crowd applaud.
"Continue Richard."
"I loved my family so much and it pains me everyday to remember that life altering call during the 12-13 season."
"Tell us what that call was, Richard."
Richard pauses for a second looking back at the image of his wife & son then looks out into the crowd before continuing, "My family were murdered by my cousin who I've considered a brother."
Crowd murmurs in disbelief
"My cousin Keith Ortiz came to my home while I was in the office late and his mental condition took over & he took a kitchen knife and killed my wife & son. After he came to I guess he called me and told me what happened before turning himself in. Once I got to the house he was in handcuffs & put into a police car."
"Again I'm sorry that this transpired the way it did. Folks here's your murderer."
Immediately as Keith Ortiz's picture was shown on the screen the crowd boos.
John speaks again to calm the crowd down saying, "Look I know he murdered his family but he was a very sick man. During his court trial he confessed that an evil spirit made him do it."
Crowd murmurs in confusion
John continues, "I know I know but he's still in a mental hospital getting help for his condition. What was it again?"
Richard answers, "Schizophrenia. Something I never realized he had till the doctors treated him. He always believed in this spirit named 'Godfrey' since we were kids but it was never this bad. I don't hate him for what he did but I was devastated."
"This drove you to do something that nearly ruined your life, correct?"
"Yeah it did. I went to drugs & alcohol to drown my pain away I soon became an addict. After I disappeared the Rockets's front office did what they could to keep the franchise together since I, the acting GM, vanished. A good friend of mine found me nearly dead in an abandon warehouse & helped me."
"Who was this friend?"
Richard laughs then answers, "you, John Lewis."
Crowd cheers
"I had to help you its what real friends do & since you sold your house to use the money for drugs & alcohol. You were messed up, homeless, & once the front office got the news jobless."
"Yeah, I went to rehab & decided I would get my life back on track. Which I did."
Crowd explodes in cheers
"As you see we're all proud of you. What are you doing now my friend?"
"I'm living in a nice home in a suburban area outside of Houston. The people are nice out there. I'm working at this factory in Houston so I'm managing but oh do I miss the life I was living before my fall offs."
"You were living well but don't worry you'll be back in that just gotta have patience."
"Yeah. I'd love to get back being a general manager again. I'd GM any team."
"With the way you ran the Rockets I'm pretty sure someone will give you a chance. Plus sources from the Rockets's front office say that it was on your wishlist to get Dwight Howard."
"Yeah but it was just my wishlist they acted on it when I told them about my wishlist. Heck, who knew things turn out the way it did & he'd leave."
"Well we're running out of time. & before I bring out our live entertainment to close us out. I got 1 last question to ask you, Richard."
"Go ahead."
"Do you believe in the 'evil spirit Godfrey' like your cousin too?"
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