Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/609129
VOL. 52 ISSUE 48 DECEMBER 1, 2015 P93 ten in big yellow letters above. It clearly showed my left knee being smashed between my Renthals, tank and Scott boots, so I wrote, "To Dr. Wall, How's that for a post- op knee? Thanks for everything." The oddest thing happens when you quit racing: You stop getting hurt. As the years rolled by, every so often I stopped by the Riverside S.P.O.R.T. Clinic to say hello to my old friend. We would talk for a minute or two, he would tell me about his latest Ferrari and I would tell him what I had been doing. Then, poof, he would be gone. In May of 2013, I tore both rota- tor cuffs on the job, so of course I called Dr. Wall. He referred me to Dr. Heinen, a fantastic shoulder surgeon in his office. After my ap- pointment with Heinen, I stopped to say hi to Jerry. He looked fit and had barely aged. Best of all, he had his same wiseacre de- meanor and gave me a hard time for being "a lardass." I loved it. He asked me about my Big Air Kids Fair at Loma Linda Children's Hos- pital, saying he was proud of me. He also mentioned that he would be retiring "after next year." During a physical therapy visit at the S.P.O.R.T. clinic following two shoulder surgeries, I learned that Dr. Wall had retired as planned. I reflected on my relationship with the man who had healed my body countless times over the past forty years. Although I always thought of him as a friend, we had never hung out, or even had a drink together. I wondered if he con- sidered me a friend, also, or as just another one of the thousands of athletes that he helped make right again. No matter, I felt good, knowing that Jerry was enjoying his retirement, driving his Ferraris and enjoying the fruits of his hard work. In February of this year, I was humbled to be inducted alongside Josh Grant, Gordon Ward and the late AMA Supercross referee, Ron Crandall as the first Motocross Honorees to the City of Riverside Sport Hall of Fame's Wall of Dis- tinction. Dr. Wall had nominated me and I regretted not having his number to call and thank him. On Wednesday, November 11, I received an email with a link to a Press Enterprise obituary: "Dr. Wall, Philanthropist and founder of SPORT Clinic, dies." He had died on Monday, following an accident at his home. It was inconceivable and it felt like I was hit in the face with a shovel. I cried and cried, even while thinking that if Jerry were there, he would be telling me to stop being such a wimp. Two days later, I attended his funeral at St. Catherine's Catho- lic Church. The place was full of people who had come to pay respect to this great man who had done so much, for so many in the community. It was impossible not to feel the pain his family was going through as they walked past me in the church. I considered skipping the reception at Victo- ria Country Club, but I wanted to meet and pay respect to the family of this man who I admired so much, yet knew almost noth- ing about. Prior to his passing in 1995, my dad was their family dentist and I remembered how much he had respected Jerry. I signed the guestbook and was watching the slideshow, when I saw Jerry's son, Craig, talking with some people near the entrance. I walked up, introduced myself and expressed my sorrow for his loss. It is hard to explain what hap- pened next. Craig screamed "Oh, my God!" and hugged me as though we were lifelong friends. He said Jerry would love that I was there and that he had always wanted to meet me; how he used to ask his dad about the guy on the motorcycle in that poster. He said Jerry had talked about me many times, about the crazy motorcycle racer that had been there since the start of his practice. He had fond memories of my dad being his dentist, which made me feel good. He repeated how much he wished Jerry could be there, which made us both laugh, for obvious reasons. I started to tear up, so I said that I could hear Jerry telling me to stop being a wimp. Craig said that earlier he had whispered the same thing to his mom, who had men- tioned her fear of public speaking before the eulogy. By the way, Craig is also an or- thopedic surgeon, if he's anything like his dad, he's the best you can get. R.I.P., Jerome Wall, MD, and thank you for everything. You will be missed, my doctor, my friend. CN