LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn was eulogized Friday as a broadcaster who loved his team and listeners, and whose legacy is a unifying enthusiasm among fans in an extremely diverse city.

Basketball stars present and past filled St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church in Brentwood for a funeral Mass celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony. Among them were Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Phil Jackson, John Wooden and No. 1 fan Jack Nicholson.

"He just loved his work, he loved his audience and more importantly he loved the Lakers," former team star and executive Jerry West said in his eulogy.

West, now a Memphis Grizzlies executive, recalled watching this year's Lakers championship parade on television.

"I must tell you just looking at the faces in the crowd and how he brought these people together, that will be his legacy," West said.

Hearn, who made "slam dunk," "air ball" and expressions involving mustard, hot dogs, Jell-O, butter, eggs and refrigerators part of the basketball lexicon during 42 years with the Lakers, died Monday night of brain injuries suffered in a fall. He was 85.

He had overcome heart surgery and a broken hip in less than a year, and was eager for the next season to start, Lakers forward Rick Fox said in an emotional eulogy in which he recalled running into Hearn at a Hollywood event three weeks ago.

"He said, 'Let's gooo.' I said, 'All right Chicky, let's go,"' Fox said.

Johnson recounted Hearn's concern when the former Lakers star announced he was diagnosed with HIV.

"He pulled me aside in the office and we both cried together," Johnson said. "And I remember he put his right hand on my face, and ever since then, 10 years, every game, he would come up to me and put that right hand on my face and ask how I was doing."

Mahony said Hearn created "a spirit of unity and harmony" in the community.

"They came to see the Lakers play, but they came to hear the vivid descriptions that Chick gave," the cardinal said.

Hearn's widow, Marge, helped release white doves from the church steps at the end of the service.

Current Lakers Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Brian Shaw, Mark Madsen and Samaki Walker attended. Center Shaquille O'Neal was in Florida.

Also on hand were former Lakers stars Michael Cooper, Norm Nixon, James Worthy and Walt Hazzard. Former Lakers coaches Pat Riley, Mike Dunleavy and Randy Pfund were there, with Dodgers announcer Vin Scully and former NBA center and current Los Angeles Clippers broadcaster Bill Walton.

Wooden and Nicholson listened to the cardinal liken Hearn to a meteor that passed over Los Angeles, which has celebrated three consecutive NBA championships and nine in all with Hearn at the microphone.

"And next spring, should we have a four-peat, should we win the 10th title here in Los Angeles, I am going to go outside and look up in the sky, because I think for the last time we will see the meteor go by, and we will wave so long. This man's in the refrigerator," Mahony said.

Fans also gathered at a public tribute at the Staples Center, the Lakers' home court. About 20,000 were expected during the day, spokesman Michael Roth said.

Fans at Staples were allowed to visit Hearn's broadcast desk. Each visitor was encouraged to bring books to donate to schools, and there were soon hundreds.

Anthony Taylor, 42, and his sister Carolyn Hamilton, 49, said their father used to tell them to be quiet during Hearn's broadcasts. Like many fans, Tyler got in the habit of watching games on TV while listening to Hearn's play-by-play on the radio.

"He made basketball fun to listen to," Taylor said.

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