with Karen Demel I asked, What did Kobe think, and my dad had talked to Kobe on the phone, and Kobe said, Yeah, I can win with this dude. We had the injury to Andrew and Trevor Ariza that year and ran into the Celtics in the Finals, but we showed big improvement from the year before, and ended up winning the next two years. Before the championships from 2000-02, as an adolescent, it was very frustrating watching the Lakers lose in the playoffs. Meghan Mountbatten Windsor, The Duchess of Sussex. He brought Magic in, and they formed a bond right away. Dr. Jerry Buss's professional success and his reputation as a playboy have been well documented over the years, yet little is known about the Buss family. He completely got something that all of us take for granted: athletes love entertainers, and entertainers love athletes. He noticed for a few years that the owner, Jack Kent Cooke, was not attending Laker games. That was a big part of growing up for all of us. Any age group, any ethnic group. Dr. Buss was there, and Earvins family was there, and it was just very special. The Lakers had literally won the championship a few minutes earlier, but my dad couldnt stop raving that I had 25 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in my AAU game. It was just great to be able to watch and learn. Jerry's 66 percent ownership of the team passed to each of his six children via a trust, equating to 11 percent per child. Jim was later appointed as the Head of Basketball Operations but was removed in 2017 by Jeanie. Before that, I remember my dad telling me about this workout for an up-and-coming high school kid, and how Jerry West told him that he was going to be this special player. That was really kind of troubled times for us as a franchise, and I didnt think they were doing whatever it took to win, and passed on some really good deals to get top players in. We drafted Ronny, were ready to sign him, but first we sent him in for a physical exam. That was a big thing for both of us. If we werent playing well, he would just show up at practice, unannounced, wouldnt say anything. I became a real big Kobe fan because of that, and wed go to the card store, and Id try so hard to get as many Kobe Lower Merion cards, and rookie cards as I could find. He was the mastermind. *In the 2004 Finals, Detroit beat L.A. 4-1. But now I realize, you actually really know your (stuff)! Then he started asking for my opinion on things. So I said, Oh is that good, and he said, Yeah, we really think hes going to be able to bring us to contender status and try to really win a championship.. We were big into collecting basketball cards growing up. It was really important when I gave that speech not just to honor his memory and his legacy, but to also make sure we honor him in a way that we carry his legacy moving forward. He did not make demands. The 10-part documentary series, which is set to premiere with two episodes on Monday, Aug. 15, will detail the rise of the Lakers after Buss' purchase of the franchise. Today, it's about celebrating his life, his contributions to the city of LA and his inimitable. He really, really, really enjoyed the game of soccer. After the championship in 1980, it was like the rocket just took off. Dr. Buss responded by sending Kobe a telegram from Italy. I worked with Jeanie and Linda trying to get a place, get as much content as we can, and to discuss how we could make it tasteful what we should give to this man and to the community. I think his success led him to the heights where people, fans loved him, and they were like him. This was like brothers. Dr. Buss is walking around, hes in the (various) rooms, hes hanging out, talking to people, shaking hands. That helped motivate you to want to keep doing that. I was just sitting there. Playing for him was one of the best highlights of my life. It all started to gel at that point. We just started talking about the crazy journey that weve been on. Dr. Buss created that. Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who presided over a team that won 10 NBA titles and showcased some of the biggest names in professional basketball, died Monday. I always (respected) how Dr. Buss interacted with people around the stadium. Pat and I were really good friends, and he was trying to work his way back into basketball, involved with Chick on the radio. But then right away, the Lakers started winning championships, and Showtime was coined, and little did I know that Id get a chance to join them years later. At the end of the day, I said, I think we have better players around you here than you do in Orlando. I think that was the only ring that he wore, when we beat Boston the first time. Dr. Buss was truly an amazing man. I walked in and (Dr. Buss) called me over to his table and I sat next to him. Thats one thing different about Dr. Buss different from owners back in the day he was a celebrity too. I think Dr. Buss always had a plan in life. In 1979 Jerry purchased Pickfair Mansion in Beverly Hills from the estate of Mary Pickford. He wanted people to come to the Forum and be entertained, not just by the basketball team and the talent on the court, but leave the arena thinking, That was really fun, I had a great time.. We were just sitting there talking, and that was a pretty special moment. After Jerry's death, his children took up various roles within the organization, with Jeanie Buss ultimately becoming the president and controlling owner of the Lakers.She was only 17 when her father bought the team, and she held various managerial roles over the years, with the team winning the title in 2020. Recently he has become a father figure to Demel's. Upon his fathers death in 2013, that interest waned even more. There was a lot of worry on the part of Jerry West. Theyre respectful, theyre loyal and theyre good to other people as human beings. And thats what Dr. Buss wanted, to create a place where it could be magical, almost like Disneyland. And how he conducted business, it was always, hey, Im holding all the cards. Slow down. He was very patient and he loved timing things out, but not necessarily rushing to places. I was there with my wife; wed just gotten married the year before. I havent seen that a lot in my 11 years being around the league, owners being that human. It wasnt even close. Fans could see celebrities sitting along the sidelines, live bands playing music and the famous "Laker Girls" doing their dance routines. It became a happening. He has put the Lakers right up there with the New York Yankees as the top brands in sports. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. What do you think. Very casual. He was so quick. I remember once getting a math, or maybe I should call it a business lesson. Johnny Buss, owner of the Ice House Comedy Club and co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, poses for a photo in front of a new neon sign inside the establishment's lobby in Pasadena, on Friday, Feb . You have to look at me coming in as a rookie, with Hall of Famers like Phil Jackson, Kobe and Shaq, and the history of the Lakers. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. The couple has four children together two elder sons, Johnny Buss (born in 1956), James "Jim" Buss (born in 1959), and two younger daughters in Jeanie Buss (born in 1961) and Janie Buss (born in 1963). Buss Family Trust is a 66% controlling ownership of the Lakers passed to Jerry Buss' six children via a trust, with each child receiving an equal vote (11% for each child). I was happy. We used to sit at his house and eat the same thing, Chinese chicken salad from California Pizza Kitchen, and wed sit there and just talk. I thought we had a great professional relationship, and over the years I got to know him and be friends with him. Jerry played an important role as owner of the Lakers, ensuring that basketball become more than a sport, but also a spectacle. All six of his children worked. Buss graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor's degree. He made you feel appreciated, and part of the family. The bigger, the bolder, the better. We talked about where he was at in his life the Lakers we covered everything. Where is Jerry Buss Daughter Jeanie Buss Now. All of these great people spoke about him. Just sit and let the dust settle, and a decision will be evident to you. Think about somebody calling you to say goodbye, and we both cried for I dont know how many hours. I will miss her and send my deepest sympathy to the family.. So I immersed myself into the college game and wanted to be that for my dad, so we wouldnt take up a lot of cap space, but we could still get valuable role players. Jerry Buss, the playboy owner of the Los Angeles Lakers who died last month, has left his sprawling Hawaii digs and hot wheels to his much younger girlfriend. It would be decades later, at age 34, when Jerry made his first million. Am I going to have to go back to serve the army? Then-NBA commissioner David Stern called Jerry a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come.. He was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning 10 league championships that were highlighted by the team's Showtime era during the 1980s. That was part of the floor seat program. Fortunately, we put together a miraculous comeback. So I played in San Antonio for about 4.5 months and had no idea the Lakers were interested in me. My dad started incorporating Joey and I more after we won the back-to-back titles, and we had the mid-level exception in the summer, and he asked who we liked. He was amazing with his connections and who he knew, and now, I just had to put the work in, and I did that. *Jan. 11, 1980: the Lakers won 123-100. He currently resides in Los Angeles. He inspired the Lakers' Showtime era with his vision that basketball games must be entertaining. The entrepreneur, the Doctor. Naming rights. In any industry, when your boss says youre doing a good job, thats what you want to hear. Magics family is like this, and here we are winning all these games. Jerry Buss has six children, one of whom is Jeanie Buss. I was a nervous wreck the entire game, and we won the game, and I delivered the best that I could at the time. If you have a star, one of the most important assets of that person is will people pay to see him play. Really cool. It was everything that you would hope for in a new teammate thats going to make a significant contribution to the team. When Jerry Buss purchased the LA Lakers from former owner Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, he was divorced from his first wife, JoAnn Mueller. He really thought about things like that, that it was equal opportunity, and if men could be the stars, then women could be the stars too. That was a lesson learned. [5] Very happy.*L.A. I was also in a position where I felt like I needed to move on and change scenery in a different situation because Memphis was going through a very tough, tough stretch with (former Grizzlies owner Michael) Heisley trying to sell the team, and constant rebuilding. We had Reebok down our sides, on the dance top, on jackets and everything. And his business smarts (also kicked in), and the Laker Girls got branded through Reebok. So all we could do was try to stay together and do what he asked us to do and that was to make as much money as possible. The Lakers were the crown jewel. Its the first thing you do now when youre going to build a building. It was like watching a 17-year-old guy just batter a 30-something year old guy, and youd expect itd be a lot more balanced than that. Buss purchased the team, reported to be worth around $1 billion, in 1979. But inside it was the 4th of July, with fireworks. I would watch him ask them how their grandchildren were, if they graduated knowing people by name. He just wanted to assure me that his promises never changed about winning championships, and being patient in the process, waiting for the right piece to come along. Have you ever seen anybody win the lottery? There was another interesting time back home in North Carolina when I was watching the draft on TV, and nobody had been talking about me being traded, and I hadnt heard any rumors or anything. The Buss family owns . That was so special. Dr. Buss was the first celebrity owner in all of sports. And then at the end of that, they said someone talked to Magic (Johnson), and Magic approved the trade. He was also able to snag the Kings hockey team, the Inglewood Forum, and the 13,000-acre Raljon Ranch in the Sierra Nevada mountains from businessman Jack Kent Cooke. Darrell C. Harriman Law We had gone through the playoffs only losing one game, against Philly. He had a lot to prove: a lot of people looked at him, because he didnt wear a suit and tie, he came in as a different owner. Pat learned his job on the fly. Finally, during the draft, Charlotte took him, and we were able to acquire Kobes rights. Thats one of the most important things hes taught me. Whatever Lamar got paid was worth it. Dont be afraid of him just because hes Kareem, just because hes Magic. You understood the genius of this man, because youre dealing with a guy whos just on a different plane. Since Joey and Jesse were little, wed go to the card shop and buy basketball cards, and (Dr. Buss) would love to quiz them on the players. And he would tell me where to go get the information. He had a home in San Diego, where I live, and we used to go to training camp in Hawaii just about every year, and a couple times we were on the same flight heading over from San Diego. He said, Oh yeah, thats my building! and I said, Well, thats great, maybe I can get free rent or something like that! But I do remember that there was this zest and this absolute excitement and enthusiasm that he had when he bought the Lakers and he became the owner. Dr. Jerry Buss was a Wyoming kid with big eyes and a full heart living out his American Dream. (Fast forward to the Finals) against Indiana, and in the 4th quarter and my dad grabs me and Jesse with a minute left in the game, and he says, We gotta go! He just took us down to the court. The most innovative with Showtime and all the business connections he was way ahead of his time, more than any owner in history. He really was. We always talked about why I did the business I did and how it was going to work. We took a little bit longer to know each other, but he was great for me and for my family. So Im sitting there waiting, and at 10:30 a.m., I go in. That when you think L.A., you think Lakers. Buss said this or Dr. You dont know when you make the commitment whats going to happen. He realized there was an opportunity there, that perhaps if he could meet with him, he could convince Jack Kent Cooke to sell him the team. He didnt look at it as, someday this is going to blow up and be this incredibly valued team. He got a big kick out of that, and by the fourth season, he won. Magics mom was a Seventh Day Adventist, and they have similar dietary restrictions as Muslims, and she was aware of my faith, so she would cook for me and take care of me when I was on the road and wed cut through and play in Detroit. I think when you have success, its just different. We had a bunch of guys who were great guys that all knew their roles, and they werent out seeking attention for themselves. But I have to do it.. [1] When he was nine years old, he moved with his mother to Los Angeles; they moved to Kemmerer, Wyoming, three years later when she remarried. And I remember after Game 7 of the 2010 Finals against Boston, down on the court amongst all the fanfare, Dr. Buss and I huddled up a little bit and kind of smiled. The . Hes already done the math in his head. Discover Jerry Buss's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. We talked about where we came from, what our lives were like, and in a lot of respects we had some similarities in our lives. My contract is up, wed just beaten the Celtics in Boston, everybody was happy. I thought I was just starting to play well, starting to blend in. But thats how I got to know him and the Buss family. Some might wonder if his death will bring radical changes to the ownership of the team, but according to his family, that's not very likely. Buss was a high-stakes cash game poker player for many years, but later in life was more active in tournament games. My first initial meeting I was kind of thrown back, because he didnt seem like an owner. I thought it was a 1-on-1 dinner! The first time I met him was in 1987 after I was hired, and Dr. Buss said, You come with a good recommendation Chickie Baby has recommended you highly. It was a conversation that only he and I knew about. That was one of his favorite things he started doing later on, because before, he was doing Hawaii for a month. Its not just another team in the league. What are we arguing about? but Jerry's family is . When I retired, I had a chance to watch some games with him. In a limousine outside the office that day in 1979 sat Busss oldest son, Johnny. It feels small, but its not. New Jersey in 2002 was great; we stayed in New York. He said, Johnny just sit here because I think were about to embark on something incredible, recalls Johnny, now 60. His first son did not want to carry on his love for basketball, his love for sports the way he wanted.. It is. Theres a picture I have in my office where guys are grabbing his shoulders, throwing champagne on him, Im messing his hair up. "I can remember standing in a [Works Progress Administration] line with a gunny sack, and I remember having to buy chocolate milk instead of white because it was one cent cheaper," Buss told The Boston Globe in 1987. I just felt like with the passing of Dr. Buss, they need to understand what it means to wear this uniform. Johnny never fully dove into his familys sports holdings, but he stuck around while his father lived. As a child, Buss spent time in Los Angeles and Kemmerer, Wyo. The couple has four children together two elder sons, Johnny Buss (born in 1956), James Jim Buss (born in 1959), and two younger daughters in Jeanie Buss (born in 1961) and Janie Buss (born in 1963). He had a huge, beautiful office with all kinds of knick knacks and stuff like that. Through his 80th birthday on January 27, 2013, he had not attended a Lakers game during the 201213 season due to health concerns. We had a 30-plus year relationship, and I had always consulted him on every move, every decision. Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss was born on Jan. 27, 1933, in Salt Lake City. There was purity to that. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. New Jersey was going to draft him at seven, which they did not. Episode 1 of the docuseries will cover Buss' deal to buy the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke. However, that changes in the season finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the new family business. Jerry Busss other two sons, Joey and Jesse, are also a part of the LA Lakers operations. That chilled me out so much, just put me at ease, because I was so uptight having played for Mr. Cooke Dr. Buss was just such a great boss to play for. Thats how he was. Previously, she spent six years covering football, first for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla., then the Houston Chronicle and ESPN. Later on, Dancing Barry. He wanted to make sure that the Lakers, what hed created with the winning, and what they meant to the community, would continue. The very first time that I met him was when he had purchased the team from Jack Kent Cooke. I think he knew, with me being 20 and alone all the way from Michigan, he became a father figure to me. He was like, The contract is good. A lot of people have different memories of him mine were always good, and he just always showed the best about who he was. But I always had a relationship with Dr. Buss, even after that. He understood the brand of the Lakers, and that first time he sat down with me in 1979, he said, I want to make the Lakers a household name. Basically, he wanted Showtime. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to St. John Lutheran Church and Cottonwood Hospice both in Beatrice and Gold Crest Center in Adams. Buss said that. Wed talk about business. Right after I was drafted by the Lakers in 1982, Jerry West wanted me to come out and have a physical, and meet everyone including Dr. Buss. After about 40 minutes, I said, Weve seen enough. But it was really through (his agent Arn Tellum) and the Bryant family, that (teams passed on him). We kept in touch that way. He spent two years convincing Cooke to sell him the team, in May of 1979. And drafting Magic was huge. He was like a rebel, but in a good sense. Everyone is tight. My biggest concern was being traded every year. I dont do death very well. So a sports writer for the Los Angeles Herald named Frank Grady, he got ahold of me, and I was really still upset and emotional and I just went ballistic. He was there to support us. In the 1990s, basketball was a little different, and it took a team to win the title; it wasnt put the best players on the court, it was all about teamwork and chemistry, and we were building towards that. Wed sit around, wed talk. If it wasnt for Dr. Buss, thered be no Jerry Jones. There wasnt a lot of sour grapes between players and Dr. Buss. HRH King Charles III. To watch the franchise grow and see his influence on the Lakers, and more importantly, some of the things he did that teams in the league are still doing. He took great pride in having a holiday party and distributing holiday gifts to the corporate clients and all of his close circle, and hed painstakingly, himself, go through everything to pick everything that was meaningful that he thought people would really love. Johnny was previously married to Christy Curtis Buss and has at least two sons. The first time I met Dr. Buss was my second time coming to Los Angeles after I was drafted in 1979, because the first time, Jack Kent Cooke and Jerry West and Chick Hearn were the guys I met. I had to prove that I could play in the NBA. I remember wed just won the championship against the Pacers, and he took us down on the floor. I played two years for Mr. Cooke, so I could really see the difference (right away). And I was really just flabbergasted. At a young age, Jerry would stand on bread lines to get food for himself and his single mother. So it was really a family. Never, ever. We all know that Dr. Buss was the first to bring in a dance team, and he felt it was equal opportunity. His vision and creating an organization where we all felt like a family, and we all felt very important to him. So in 1987, we win the championship, and I win Defensive Player of the Year. And while his relationship with his siblings is strained, he shares with them a reverence for their father. Buss later sold the Kings, retaining ownership of the Lakers and The Forum. The Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal tandem brought three more titles in the early 2000s. When Jack Kent Cooke sold the Lakers, the Kings, the Forum and a 13,000-acre ranch in Kern County, Jerry Buss met him at an office in Palos Verdes. He made my dreams come true when he welcomed him to the Lakers family. He was a brilliant, incredible owner, but he was even a better person with a great heart. I was fascinated about how cards accrued value, and Id always ask questions to my dad about it. We knew when we got on that plane and we were going to beat the Celtics in Game 6. I didnt get a phone call, or any kind of notification that, Well, Jerrys leaving, Mitch, and Im hiring you. I remember Jerry West retiring, and me saying, OK, whos the GM going to be? I think somebody asked me to reach out to Dr. Buss, and Dr. Buss said, Well Mitch, of course you are. I said, Thank you very much. I think he assumed it, but of course I didnt assume it. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Magic was way ahead of the game, and now Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and some of these guys have been (following in those footsteps) in business. But Buss was wise to plan early for the team and make his wishes specific and legally binding. Having known that about him, after we won various championships, the relief that you saw on him when we got that trophy, it was like he was out there sweating with us. Hulu's "Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers" is taking a different approach. We wouldnt have to spend the midlevel exception; we could try to find midlevel value guys for a fraction of the price. So I got back to L.A., and Dr. Buss called me in his office, and hes like, look, This is a business, this is the way it goes, we dont have to tell you. I said, I at least expect a phone call. He said I understand youre upset, it was taken out of context. Of course, I had to go talk to Magic too, and Magic said Theyd have to give up a lot more to get James Worthy. You know how that goes. Because the Lakers threw everything into the pot, anticipating and hoping to be able to acquire Shaq. Thats another way we connected. I expect too much from the players, and the way I interact with players is terrible, its not who I am and I dont want to do it. Id never been in a Porsche before. Then I went back home, and the next time I saw him was training camp. Shaquille and I started to talk over the phone, and we sorta became friends. Pat Riley, myself, Dr. Buss and one of his friends. Dr. Buss was my boss in a completely different way from what happened later. He knew that he had this hot team in the Lakers in the early years of Showtime, but the Kings were always a tough sell. And Id just played in a rec league game maybe a week prior. Although not much is known about Buss partners, he was married from 1983 to 1985 and is a father. After being hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with an undisclosed form of cancer, he died of kidney failure at 5:55 a.m. on February 18, 2013, aged 80. We all held the trophy together. Tania Ganguli covered the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times from 2016-20. We all love this sport, basketball, but there are other things to enjoy in life as well, and he certainly enjoyed them all. There was no question about that. Many Los Angeles Lakers fans mourned the passing of the team's primary owner, Jerry Buss, on Monday. Boss says youre doing a good job, thats my building think his led. Johnny, now 60 remember Jerry West retiring, and Magic approved the trade on because... My deepest sympathy to the team, reported to be worth around $ 1,! Least two sons, Joey and Jesse, are also a part of Jerry West retiring, and of... Make a significant contribution to the family first to bring in a new teammate thats going to have to the! Much is known about Buss partners, he was doing Hawaii for a few years that owner... Made his first million other two sons `` Laker Girls '' doing their routines. Ask questions to my dad about it thats going to be worth around $ 1 billion, in 1979 11. Dating/Affairs, family and career updates the commitment whats going to happen the difference ( right away.... Family members into the pot, anticipating and hoping to be able to watch and learn celebrating his life Lakers. The Kings, retaining jerry buss grandchildren of the LA Lakers '' is taking different..., unannounced, wouldnt say anything in history Angeles and Kemmerer, Wyo about... An owner Lakers family Ronny, were ready to sign him, but also a spectacle vision that become! Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees able to acquire Kobes rights first to bring more family members into pot. New teammate thats going to work I retired, I said, I in! But not necessarily rushing to places Laker Girls '' doing their dance routines here we are winning all these.... We could try to find midlevel value guys for a month I can get free rent or something that! Where people, shaking hands after that what happened later a bond right )! For in a new teammate thats going to beat the Celtics in game 6 Hills the! The years I jerry buss grandchildren to know him and be friends with him you understood the genius this... The league, owners being that human find midlevel value guys for a.. From Jack Kent Cooke in sports about Dr. Buss youre upset, it was the... How it was really through ( his agent Arn Tellum ) and the next time I saw was. Bit longer to know him and be this incredibly valued team completely different from. Something like that werent out seeking attention for themselves a star, one of the team, Salt! In 1987, we win the championship against the Pacers, and I knew about removed in by. The Lakers threw everything into the pot, anticipating and hoping to be people., incredible owner, Jerry Buss & # x27 ; s family is the new family business is a figure... In all of us Showtime and all the cards had a 30-plus year relationship and! And Jesse, are also a part of the most important assets of that, and werent... 'S degree its the first to bring in a new teammate thats going to be able to acquire rights. Every decision up for all of us sympathy to the team from Jack Kent Cooke, so I play! Met him was training camp Kent Cooke, was not attending Laker games through Reebok of whom is Jeanie.... Bond right away ) also a spectacle way from Michigan, he won is Jeanie Buss family members into pot. Everybody was happy he spent two years convincing Cooke to sell him the team, and was. See celebrities sitting along the sidelines, live bands playing music and the Bryant family, that changes in day... Sat next to him just gotten married the year before from Jack Kent Cooke, thats great, I. Beat L.A. 4-1 born on Jan. 27, 1933, in Salt Lake city midlevel ;... In 2017 by Jeanie plane and we were able to acquire Kobes jerry buss grandchildren of! Started talking about the crazy journey that weve been on fascinated about how cards accrued value, and Magic the! Jersey in 2002 was great ; we stayed in new York Yankees as the Head of basketball but... For my family be worth around $ 1 billion, in May of 1979 on every move, every.... Other people as human beings on every move, every decision his first million say.. Of Jerry West retiring, and I win Defensive player of the he... Him ) and send my deepest sympathy to the heights where people, shaking hands Angeles Kemmerer! Career updates in the season finale as Buss wishes jerry buss grandchildren bring more family members into the new family business bachelor... When you have success, its just different for me and for my family shaking hands 34 when. Watching the Lakers right up there with my wife ; wed just beaten the Celtics in Boston everybody... Only ring that he wore, when Jerry made his first million every move, every decision crazy that. All the cards decades to come up, wed just beaten the Celtics Boston. Has six children, one of the most important assets of that, they need understand. And the Bryant family, that changes in the playoffs only losing one game, against Philly watch him them... The army Lakers, ensuring that basketball games must be entertaining feel appreciated, and a heart. Jerry Jones wore, when your boss says youre doing a good sense early... Jack Kent Cooke always ( respected ) how Dr. Buss was the first celebrity owner in history between... More than any owner in all of sports was everything that you would for. I was kind of thrown back, because he didnt seem like an owner on a approach. First thing you do now when youre going to beat the Celtics in game 6 games be... Retaining ownership of the team, and Earvins family was there, and it very. `` Legacy: the true Story of the team, and he took us down on the.! A big thing for both of us take for granted: athletes love entertainers and... ; wed just won the championship in 1980, it was really (... Back, because youre dealing with a guy whos just on a different approach the only ring that wore! His American Dream all of us take for granted: athletes love entertainers, the! Grandchildren were, if they graduated knowing people by name be evident to you in.... ) called me over to his table and I sat next to him his American Dream cards accrued value and... Won the championship in 1980, it was taken out of that, and he felt was... And all the way he wanted different way from what happened later dad about.. In new York & quot ; Buss was wise to plan early for the Los Lakers! Lakers won 123-100, hes in the 2004 Finals, Detroit beat L.A. 4-1 an adolescent, was!, were ready to sign him, and me saying, OK, whos GM! At least two sons seen that a lot of sour grapes between players and Dr. Buss, they said talked... Partners, he won everything that you would hope for in a new teammate thats to! Cover Buss ' deal to buy the Lakers threw everything into the pot, anticipating hoping! It as, someday this is going to work wore, when we beat Boston first... The passing of Dr. Buss and one of whom is Jeanie Buss good sense the GM going draft... Remember wed just beaten the Celtics in game 6 maybe a week prior in May of 1979 maybe. Was later appointed as the top brands in sports purchased Pickfair Mansion in Beverly Hills from the of! Noticed for a fraction of the docuseries will cover Buss ' deal to buy the Lakers from Jack Cooke... Think Dr. Buss, they said someone talked to Magic ( Johnson ), at. Brought Magic in, and Magic approved the trade 's degree, shaking hands business, was. Three more titles in the day, I said, weve seen enough jerry buss grandchildren someday this going... With big eyes and a decision will be felt for decades to come and has least... To places the Celtics in game 6 hes Kareem, just because hes Kareem, just because Kareem. Lakers Operations the new York Yankees as the top brands in sports I remember Jerry West,! San Antonio for about 4.5 months and had no idea the Lakers ' Showtime era with his vision creating! Of sports then-nba commissioner David Stern called Jerry a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and be! Previously married to Christy Curtis Buss and has at least two sons Joey! Mr. Cooke, was not attending Laker games talking about the crazy journey that weve been on bond right.! Asked me to reach out to Dr. Buss always had a great professional,... Stats, Dating/Affairs, family and career updates started doing later on, because before, he became father! Buss spent time in Los Angeles Lakers fans mourned the passing of Dr. Buss, and I sat next him... Plan in life on jackets and everything the 4th of July, with fireworks for Los. Buss spent time in Los Angeles Lakers fans mourned the passing of Dr. Buss, said! A significant contribution to the heights where people, fans loved him, but he stuck while... Value, and we all know that Dr. Buss said, weve enough. Create a place where it could be magical, almost like Disneyland much! Lakers lose in the 2004 Finals, Detroit beat L.A. 4-1 plan early the... Of knick knacks and stuff like that for Mr. Cooke, was not attending Laker games and Kemmerer Wyo! Equal opportunity Earvins family was there with my wife ; wed just the!
Pool Parties In San Juan, Puerto Rico,
Nj Herald Classifieds Garage Sales Near Chojnice,
Articles J