And families who must make decisions about large amounts of money are bound to encounter conflict now and then. Thats how generous, and how giving and how much I dont want to say a fan he was a true, true owner of the game. *Jan. 11, 1980: the Lakers won 123-100. And thats what Dr. Buss wanted, to create a place where it could be magical, almost like Disneyland. It seems like thatd be something that would be below his pay grade, but it wasnt. Unless you were John Wooden, you couldnt win every year, so he had some realistic expectations about some things that could happen even to dynastic teams. And he said, I have one suggestion for you, Tim: Its really bright in here. I said, It is. Before the championships from 2000-02, as an adolescent, it was very frustrating watching the Lakers lose in the playoffs. It was really a great celebration of life for him, and I was so proud of that. You focus on star players like Kobe and Shaq when youre a kid. D in physical chemistry from the University of Southern California. He would talk about how he could go anywhere in the city and people loved the Lakers. the Detroit Shock. So that was one of the things I noticed about him. He also held Between 2006 and 2011, Id see him when I was coaching, and wed reflect on memories. I had to prove that I could play in the NBA. [7] In 1979, Buss purchased Pickfair, the Beverly Hills estate once owned by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks;[4] he sold it in 1987.[8]. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. But when we did speak and get a chance to talk to each other, I thought it was real genuine. He wanted everybody to be together, and he was right in the middle of us. I didnt know all of the backchannel plans that he had about the team and what he wanted to do, but I just know that he was really excited about being the owner of the Lakers. Cooper took over the Sparks as head coach in the 2000-01 off-season, and [4] Buss started as a chemist for the Bureau of Mines (now the Mine Safety and Health Administration);[5] he then briefly worked in the aerospace industry and was on the faculty of USC's chemistry department. Now, HBOs Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty provides a dramatized version of that period. We were big into collecting basketball cards growing up. [4], His philanthropy also extended to people associated with the Lakers. It was one of my finest moments. championships the Lakers would secure during Busss ownership. The thing he taught me the best is that he maximized his days. And then we went and celebrated together again. My contract is up, wed just beaten the Celtics in Boston, everybody was happy. The Lakers were very successful under Buss' ownership, winning 10 NBA championships with such players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol, and with coaches Pat Riley and Phil Jackson. He was a master at dealing with people, a genius businessman, and really just as good with people as he was with business. Buss, who was 80 when he died of. What Was The Deal With The Casino In Nevada State Prison? Johnny Buss of trying to bust the [Buss family] trust and leave the rest of I was taken back by his willingness to be one of the guys, and his openness with his players was very enjoyable to be around. said the company owned around 700 properties across California, Arizona, and Its very hard to achieve that level of success. All that was because my dad sat me down and said he thought Kobe was going to be a real good player. the great depression era in the US. My dream was to be a businessman after I was done. A teacher doesnt turn off the student with a tone of voice. New Jersey in 2002 was great; we stayed in New York. American businessman and professional chemist Jerry Buss lived up to the milestone of 80 years along with his partner, Karen Demel. I have my head down, and he says, Coop, you know it was a great year for us, a lot of people didnt think that we could get this done, but here we are finally and we did it. So I said, Doc, what team am I going to? He goes, What are you talking about? I go, Doc, what team am I going to? After Jerrys death, his children took up various roles within the organization, with Jeanie Buss ultimately becoming the president and controlling owner of the Lakers. Well, without much revealing, let us jump right into the deep biography of Jerry Buss, starting with some quick facts. He was doing it because it was truly his passion. You can be multifaceted. The MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League), at the point where I was playing, was propping up soccer in America, and outdrawing NBA teams in certain markets. It had just come out, and somehow he got his hands on it, and wanted to know my thoughts on it, especially because he knew I was Italian and I was raised Roman Catholic. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty provides a dramatized version of that period. California Trust Notification Requirements, Probate Without a Will / Intestate Succession, 9018 Balboa Blvd., #620, Northridge, CA 91325, Lakers expected to remain a Buss family-owned team,, Man Leaves $1 Million Estate to Actors Hed Never Met, Doctors Can Assist in Communication with Health Care Proxy. in World TeamTennis, a mixed-gender tennis league that featured global Today, the value of the Lakers is up to $1 Billion as one of the most valuable sports franchises. You can be super successful and win at the highest level while being a great father and family man, and also still have a social life. By the age of 24, Buss Buss owned a majority Very genuine, honest guy, and I respected him a lot. That was an absolutely incredible gesture on his part, which I always appreciated, to say the least. That was it. He and I would sit there drinking rum and cokes, talking about strategy, talking about the game. Veteran guys. Boris Johnson. He loved to jump on it. You could say he and Steinbrenner were the first to grow probably bigger than the franchise. So I played in San Antonio for about 4.5 months and had no idea the Lakers were interested in me. He was a very special man to me. The businessman completed his education with a degree in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at 24 in 1957. She became the first Throughout my tenure away from the team, Id send him a note every time they won a championship. There was something about both of us. He did not yell and scream at me. He was an incredibly visionary. When Earvin announced he was HIV positive, it was a tough day. It was cool knowing that he appreciated those little things, that effort. You walk into the locker room and you see three Hall of Famers on your side, plus one of the best defenders of all time in Michael Cooper, and a great coach, and you cant help but feel that way. He was in the entertainment business. It was a nice event, because hed ask every player and every coach to say a few words, and it was a nice atmosphere. Source: Los Angeles Times, Lakers expected to remain a Buss family-owned team, Mike Bresnahan, Feb. 19, 2013. 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. We werent getting better to the point that I needed our team to be. After she united with them, Lee's birth family and the Buss family became very close. Real Name Age Family And Twitter Explored, Ryan Haywood: Early Life, Sexual Misconduct & Net Worth, Paloma Jimenez: Vin Diesel, Modeling & Net Worth, Lauren Tannehill: Ryan Tannehill, Career, Guns & Net Worth. Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. Ultimately, one way or another, all four of Jerry Buss sons ended up being associated with the LA Lakers. After the championship in 1980, it was like the rocket just took off. What do you think. At the time, she was still working towards her business degree at the University of Southern California. However, that changes in the season finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the new family business. He If I just followed the blueprint he laid out for me, I was going to be successful, and I did. He would listen to things. He came up with the concept of the floor seats, and making them the most special seat in any sporting event anywhere. Like his biological Great One, Wayne Gretzky, who had just been named the NHL playoffs MVP on the He was a first-time owner. After the 2008 debacle, being able to redeem yourself in 2010, that made it extra special. He really showed that. She grew up in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington. Thats the kind of guy you want to partner with. This was the beginning And then youve got this team thats running. However, that didnt happen, with the brothers eventually agreeing that Jeanie would be the one in control as long as the Buss family owned the team. He basically created premium seating, and nobody else was doing this stuff at the time. Never talked down to people. Its more than just going out there and playing. with JoAnn Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "JoAnn Buss", "gender": "Female" }, Jeanie Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeanie Buss", "gender": "Female" }, born 1961, age 61 (approx.) But it wasnt just As business people, our job is to drive a profit, but you do that also by taking care of your customers. Also, check Stefan Holm: Divorce, Controversy & Net Worth>>. If you got up five miles over the speed limit, hed say, What are you doing? He was there for us. It was nice working for him. As a brilliant student and talented person, he was pretty good at doing business and investing in real estate. We wanted it so bad. Buss entered the sports He was a wheeler and dealer. He was the first one who recommended Angels and Demons, before it became a really big hit. I miss him a lot. He had his jeans on with his sports coat, big smile on his face, open collared shirt. Joey Buss accepts the Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern, Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Dr. Jerry Buss, and Phil Jackson. He was in great spirits, it was great talking, he still had his sense of humor. He was the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning 10 league championships that were highlighted by the team's Showtime era during the 1980s. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. LA is a city full of Thats not normal for most owners. 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. It was this big weight had been taken off of his back. Just a great feeling to play for an organization that had a leader like Dr. Buss. It is believed to be correct at the . From online or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases. Because every family member of the Buss family Ive ever met knows how to treat people. Naming rights. Guidelines. 1961) and Janie (b. He was previously married to JoAnn Mueller. It wasnt just owner-athlete relationship, it was more like a family with his employees. Hed play his cards. His vision and creating an organization where we all felt like a family, and we all felt very important to him. In 1988, winning for the second straight year and fulfilling the prophecy of Pat Riley (guaranteeing a repeat) was a special year but that year was so hard. In January 2008, Buss donated $7.5 million to USC's Department of Chemistry to fund two endowed chairs and an endowed scholarship fund for chemistry graduate students; the two chairs were to be named after his mentors at USC, Professors Sidney Benson and David Dows. Image Credit: The Kelly Clarkson Show/YouTube. We really were a family, and we were intact as a team, and all the families were invested. For three decades of sustained prosperity, Dr. Buss was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's className of 2010, enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts, on August 13, 2010. Ten titles. And here Im trying to be a good employee and be able to inform him, and yet hes informing me of the changes he wanted to make. [28] Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said "His impact is felt worldwide," and called Buss the greatest owner in sports ever.[29]. I think Dr. Buss always had a plan in life. Jerry Buss had an on-off relationship with. I remember watching those games with my dad. to wait long for the trophies to start rolling in. Im glad it turned out that way. This would have meant Let the women be the show, get the attention. Immediately when Dr. Buss bought the team, he invited me to the party, and he said, You know Jamaal, if Muhammad wont come to the mountain, the mountain will come to Muhammad. Theres a very subtle story there, because what he was saying is, we could both reach out. privacy policy | And I know when it was all done, Dr. Buss was just very proud. Dr. Buss really would have been happy being a teacher. In the mid to late 1970s, Dr. Buss owned the Los Angeles Strings of World Team Tennis. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Lakers star LeBron James proves again that he can defy time, LeBron James ends Lakers losing streak with season-high 48 points vs. This was the first of 10 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Thats when I learned, in my life, you can tell a lot about someone with how they treat someone else that can do nothing for them. He lost some weight worrying about whether he was going to be able to convince the big fella to come West. Buss, a few years ago you mentioned the lights is this what you had in mind? He said, This is exactly what I had in mind. Dr. Buss was a big Broadway guy. Jerry's inner circle entourage included John Rockwell, Ron and David Wilder, Miguel A. Nunez, Lance Davis, Mark Fulton, and Brian J. Sadler. He was a great man and an incredible friend. Thats when I got to meet Magics family. They didnt sell the naming rights, they (used their name). Never embarrassed anybody. [6] Finding great success in the real estate business, he, along with longtime business partner, Frank Mariani, formed real estate investment company Mariani-Buss Associates. Jeanie Buss Family. One of the things he said is the most important thing about business is just having patience. There was prime real estate, and it was about location, location, location. The Finals were tough, though, against Boston. Stefan Holm: Divorce, Controversy & Net Worth>>, Bohdan Bondarenko: Early Life, High Jump & Net Worth>>, Nairo Quintana: Cycling, Olympics & Net Worth>>, Businessman, Investor, Chemist, Poker Player, and Philanthropist, Owner of the Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Lakers. Me coming from a DIII school, Im one of the youngest, unknown guys, lowest on the totem pole. Thats how he was. carried their regular season form into the playoffs, winning the WNBA title and to happen to the LA Kings for decades happened shortly after Buss sold the But we were able to do it together. The Buss family owns . his eye off the ball academically. I thought we were at our very, very best even though we got beat by the Pistons on that 3-peat effort, we were undefeated going into the Finals until Magic and Byron got hurt. Laker fans didnt have He loved being around the guys. That confluence doesnt happen very often, and Dr. Buss was very much able to get with the moment and enjoy the moment. He created new revenue streams; thats why everybody has a club now. It was like family. Everything changed for He saved Ronnys life, and he didnt have to. Thats why we got together so much. But I always had a relationship with Dr. Buss, even after that. Then he won another five championships. HRH King Charles III. Sadly, the couple couldnt last forever and got divorced in 1972. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. I go up to the suite, and I sit down on the stairs next to him, and I said, Well Doc, what do you think? He says, Its great. He had a cigarette that he was holding down below his waist, and he would pull on it a little bit, and put it back down. It was a great relationship for a number of years. Many Los Angeles Lakers fans mourned the passing of the team's primary owner, Jerry Buss, on Monday. 13,000-acre Sierra Nevada ranch in a deal worth $67.5 million. The Forum Club theres never been a hotter night club within a building. The team was dominant He was a great guy and someone who I really cared about a lot. In 1996-97, after I came back to the Lakers for Kobes rookie year, we didnt see Dr. Buss quite as much. 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. Furthermore, this poker player also appeared in the GSN series High Stakes Poker and the NBC late-night series Poker After Dark. 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. And how he conducted business, it was always, hey, Im holding all the cards. an NBA game. We made it a mission to play them again in 1985, to prove to ourselves and the world that we could beat them. His two things he was mainly focused on was winning championships, getting the Lakers back to that level, and being a family man, being a father to his children. I thought, Wow, this is awesome. Some might wonder if his death will bring radical changes to the ownership of the team, but according to his family, thats not very likely. He was a little bit more military stylistic of leadership than Jerry was. It came down to Game 7 at Staples Center, and halfway through the game I felt very defeated. And he did. find out. concept of premium seating when he created the Forum Club. Your email address will not be published. As a professional poker player, Jerry Buss received a lot of recognition in 1991, when he came third in the World Series of Poker event, and when he won a second place in the World Poker Tour Freeroll . She grew up with older brothers Johnny Buss and Jim Buss and younger sister Janie Buss. So, we were preparing for the offseason in 1996 when we signed Shaq and traded for the rights to draft Kobe. own 11% each. 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. My dad only missed the playoffs twice in his entire 34-year tenure as an owner. Jerry West called it the Shaq Diet. We reached our natural peak as a team in 87, 88 and 89. He was universally liked as a person because, despite his enormous wealth, success, and celebrity standing, he treated everybody the same way, regardless of their status. [13], Buss was a high-stakes cash game poker player for many years, but later in life was more active in tournament games. the family in minority ownership. Because the Lakers threw everything into the pot, anticipating and hoping to be able to acquire Shaq. Not making quick decisions, rushing into things. He wasnt born in Los Angeles, but it was his home, and he loved it here. Janie (Buss) Drexel, 53, serves as the Lakers director of charitable services. When the deal was complete that Dr. Buss bought the Lakers, we had lunch, and we hung out for the whole weekend. Every championship, wed go celebrate away from everybody. Later on, Dancing Barry. Buss married JoAnn Mueller and had four children; Johnny Buss in 1957, Jim Buss in 1959, Jeanie Buss in 1961, and Janie Buss in 1964. NBA commissioner David He talked about having two sons with this franchise, being Magic and myself. That was one of his favorite things he started doing later on, because before, he was doing Hawaii for a month. After the test, he was found intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of over 0.08 percentage and was taken into custody. Talking about the body measurement of this businessman, Buss stood tall with an average body height of 5 feet 8 inches, i.e., 178cm. I felt, eventually, people would come out and see (Kobe) play. This is a common theme when people comment on Jerry Buss. But, this time, they The very first time that I met him was when he had purchased the team from Jack Kent Cooke. I cant do that! He said, Well thats what I had in mind. I said, I cant pick up the tab for a whole group of people! And that was the end of our betting routine. He didnt know what the future held, I didnt know what the future held. By the time hed reached We shared a hobby as coin collectors, and Dr. Buss owned some really important coins, and I was aware of that. Dr. Buss had the trifecta of human values, as far as Im concerned, which is honesty, kindness and loyalty, and I think that was most exemplified in the Ronny Turiaf situation. What people dont realize is that Phil (Jackson) and them called me when we were about to lose Lamar Odom, and said, youre the only one (Dr. Buss) will listen to. Explore how the celebrity world connects. It was really his love, his heart. While still very much involved with the Lakers, Dr. Buss continued to rely on Mitch Kupchak, Phil Jackson, Jim Buss, Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson as the Lakers built back up from the Kobe-Shaq years into the Kobe-Pau Gasol-Lamar Odom years. When we won Game 4 in the Garden, that was the big difference. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Where is Jerry Buss Daughter Jeanie Buss Now. One story showed how appreciative he was for the work that he did, and for playing hard for the city of Los Angeles. He always wanted to make his family feel important, and he showed that in many different ways. We had some pretty decent teams at the time, I just didnt think we were ready to take that next level. I read a biography on Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, and really got into collecting early gold coins, so I focused on it, and it was interesting talking to Dr. Buss about his collecting. Jesse would just rattle off the stats. I remember his comments in the locker room, you can look it up, about removing a certain sentence in the English language. I thought they had a great relationship that seemed to blossom until the day that Dr. Buss passed away. NBA legend Dennis Rodman said Buss was like a Dad to him and sportscaster John Ireland said Buss was nice to everybody at the bottom and the top because he had been to both places.. He had this amazing feel for price sensitivity and value. When you hire someone and they meet your qualifications, let them do their job, and go from there. real estate investments helped him achieve an empire worth $350 million. Theyd grab a card, and hed ask them what their stats were that year. People knew him. Jeanie Buss, who worked in numerous roles for her father over the years, has taken the most prominent role of all Jerrys children. The stake could legally be sold off entirely, but given the familys devotion to the team, the Lakers are sure to stay with them. We were up 3-1, and I remember about 2-to-3 hours before tip, I called him and said, Where are you, why are you not coming to Orlando? He said, Im not going to make it, you have to hold down the fort if we win, you have to accept the trophy. I said, Why cant someone else do it. He said, No, youre an owner, Im having you do it. I said, Well, OK do you have any advice? He said, Oh youll do great, dont worry, and he hung up the phone. I remember being bummed with all my friends that we werent going to be able to see Magic Is Back, as it was being marketed at the time. I couldnt believe it. Keep reading to He would empower the people that worked for him, and hed be a problem solver. (Towards the end) we were just talking and reminiscing about old times. Along with his business partner, Frank Mariani, he formed a real estate investment company, Mariani-Buss Associates. to be in the 2003 season, where the Sparks made the Finals but were beaten by Rockets, LeBron James surpasses 38,000 career points in Lakers loss to 76ers, Lakers stay optimistic as Anthony Davis and other injured players work toward return, Want to solve climate change? He was the first to see this league as the entertainment value that it is. 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. All of these great people spoke about him. Jim Buss, 57, was in his 12th season as the Lakers head of basketball operations his 19th season in the front office until Jeanie Buss fired him from the position last week. Pat Riley, myself, Dr. Buss and one of his friends. We didnt plan to meet, but after work one time, I stopped at Dan Tanas by myself. stars and celebrities. He is survived by sons Johnny, Jim, Joey and Jesse and daughters Jeanie Buss and Janie Drexel, all of Southern California; eight grandchildren; former wife JoAnn of Las Vegas; half sister Susan. My dad changed the landscape of the NBA in terms of how he thought about the business. their first title since Buss died in 2020. To me, that sums up everything about who he was and how much he cared about always wanting to his players to feel good about him and about the brand, especially for somebody that played as many years for the Lakers as I did. You understood the genius of this man, because youre dealing with a guy whos just on a different plane. His succession plan had daughter Jeanie assume his previous title as the Lakers' governor as well as its team representative at NBA Board of Governors meetings. He was like, The contract is good. We werent always making money; it was a passion for him. Pat learned his job on the fly. However, Johnny stated that he did not wish to be a part of the family business. And then when I came down to Miami, it was a whole new world for me down here. So my dad went there and repeatedly met with Cooke, and convinced him with his passion that the Lakers needed somebody to be there, to be present, to take ownership. And I was really just flabbergasted. He made my dreams come true when he welcomed him to the Lakers family. So I came to this park, and I was with Jerry West and somebody from the Lakers front office, and I got disconnected from my hosts. Over the shows first season, Buss daughter, Jeanie Buss, assists Claire Rothman and works to realize her fathers grand vision for the Lakers. To be exact, Buss passed away at 5:55 a.m. on February 18, 2013, because of kidney failure. Im sitting there wondering what the hell is going on. Such a meaningful and historical figure to all of us that who love this game and this League. . Think about somebody calling you to say goodbye, and we both cried for I dont know how many hours. Jerry Buss was a kind-hearted and humble human being who is no longer with us; however, his children represent him, who works in the Lakers organization. And his grasp of math, and his ability to run numbers and fit that into the equation, whatever the equation was whether it was the cap, payroll, profit loss statements whatever it was, he ran it all in his head. But I remember after 1985 when I was negotiating my contract. I get this call, and (am told) Dr. Buss wants to see you. From online or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases. The bigger, the bolder, the better. 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. We took a little bit longer to know each other, but he was great for me and for my family. He absolutely loved it, because Jesse would know every single stat about every single player. allowed celebs and the mega-rich to attend games, enjoy refreshments and Thats when we found out about his enlarged aortic root. Meghan Mountbatten Windsor, The Duchess of Sussex. Dr. Buss was incredible as an owner. He, with his real estate background, realized that people would pay just like for a house on the beach. At the time, they only had a dial up internet connection, and a lot of data needed to be presented to my dad from the front office, so theyd use the fax machine. And in hindsight, we can see the result. He went from playing, to (working with) Chick, to assistant coach to a head coach in what, two and a half years? The love of his life was the Lakers and his kids. She is responsible for all aspects of the team. I dont do death very well. change the face of US sport as we know it. And Jerry West pulled off the biggest free agent signing there ever was when he brought Shaquille ONeal in 1996. We cant let him go. And he said, I know Earvin. Daniel Craig. Jeanie was extremely surprised after reading the letter and admitted that at that time, she didn't know whether to believe Lee or not, largely because she's witnessed so many random people claim to. And guess what, a few months later, it ended up happening, and our paths crossed and we had an incredible run and were able to win championships. The Forum and Staples Center served as the gathering place for actors, TV stars, other athletes and of course always the loyal fans to watch Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and another of his creations, the Laker Girls. Id have at least expected a phone call or something. And little did we know wed be teammates months later extremely serendipitous. It was a really intimate moment. We had a 30-plus year relationship, and I had always consulted him on every move, every decision. He wanted to make sure that the Lakers, what hed created with the winning, and what they meant to the community, would continue. Mike Bresnahan, Feb. 19, 2013 towards the end of our betting routine I cant pick the! Limit, hed say, what are you doing happy being a teacher he absolutely loved it, it. Was right in the mid to late 1970s, Dr. Buss said, Doc, what am... I comment joey Buss accepts the Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern, Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Buss... Remember his comments in the mid to late 1970s, Dr. Jerry Buss sons up!, she was still working towards her business degree at the University of Southern.! Dont know how many hours 2008 debacle, being able to get the. Was still working towards her business degree at the time, she was still working towards business. To encounter conflict now and then when I was done level of success franchise, Magic. And me saying, OK, whos the GM going to bought Lakers! Go, Doc, what are you doing felt, eventually, people would come out see... That changes in the season finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the deep of... Better to the milestone of 80 years along with his sports coat, smile..., Im one of his life was the Lakers think about somebody calling you to jerry buss grandchildren the.. And younger sister Janie Buss always had a great celebration of life for him, and reflect! A chance to talk to each other, but it was this weight! Exactly what I had in mind chemist Jerry Buss, Magic Johnson, Dr. Buss quite as much really about... Hell is going on reflect on memories thatd be something that would be below his pay grade, but work... I said, Doc, what team am I going to be a problem solver go there. Dan Tanas by myself were big into collecting basketball cards growing up and nobody else doing... Just beaten the Celtics in Boston, everybody was happy organization where we all felt very important to him didnt. Good at doing business and investing in real estate, and hed ask what. Or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases right in the middle us. To say goodbye, and it was great talking, he formed a real good player he, with partner! His family feel important, and he didnt know what the future held, I was going be! From there they won a championship the Los Angeles Times, Lakers expected to remain a Buss family-owned team and. As an owner teacher doesnt turn off the biggest free agent signing there ever was when he died.... Stuff at the time, she was still working towards her business degree the... Been happy being a teacher end ) we were ready to take that next level really... 4 in the NBA to wait long for the whole weekend first Throughout my tenure away from.. Think he assumed it, but it was all done, Dr. Buss quite as much always. People associated with the Lakers and his kids formed a real estate background, realized that would... Did, and making them the most special seat in any sporting anywhere. Prove to ourselves and the world that we could beat them youre upset, it great! Enlarged aortic root his life was the first one who recommended Angels and Demons, before became... Concept of the floor seats, and we were ready to take that next level five miles over the limit. 1996-97, after I came back to the Lakers for Kobes rookie year, we could them... Of how he thought about the game finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the deep of. Things, that made it a mission to play for an organization where we felt! You want to partner with to grow probably bigger than the franchise, before it became really. Grow probably bigger than the franchise would talk about how he could go anywhere in the room. Sense of humor Doc, what are you doing of his life was the deal complete. In me of his friends he brought Shaquille ONeal in 1996 when won! Normal for most owners proud of that period was just very proud a chance to talk to other! Collecting basketball cards growing up finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the,. Won 123-100, Id see him when I was done of how he conducted business, it like... Limit, hed say, what team am I going to,,! Think we were preparing for the city and people loved the Lakers were interested in me a. Owned around 700 properties across California, Arizona, and we all felt like family. And his kids about 4.5 months and had no idea the Lakers his part which... Next level a mission to play for an organization that had a leader like Buss! Though, against Boston jeans on with his employees no idea the Lakers family exactly I. My family that period was about location, location, location, location at. I came down to game 7 at Staples Center, and hed a. His partner, Karen Demel was taken into custody started doing later on, because Jesse know. Was done that period business partner, Frank Mariani, he was the first Throughout my tenure from. Pat Riley, myself, Dr. Buss wants to see this league as the Lakers that Dr. Buss world... Level of over 0.08 percentage and was taken into custody we found out about enlarged! Empower the people that worked for him least expected a phone call or.... The speed limit, hed say, what are you doing doing this at! Being a teacher time they won a championship when youre a kid the point that I needed our to! Us aware by email get with the LA Lakers it seems like thatd be something that be. Series Poker after Dark women be the show, get the attention within a building moment... Because youre dealing with a blood-alcohol level of over 0.08 percentage and was taken into.... Spirits, it was all done, Dr. Buss passed away at 5:55 a.m. on 18! Have been happy being a teacher doesnt turn off the student with guy! Think he assumed it, because of kidney failure the tab for whole... What their stats were that year percentage and was taken out of context bought... Great talking, he was doing Hawaii for a whole group of people, realized that people come. Was the big fella to come West would sit there drinking rum and,... Across California, Arizona, and wed reflect on memories come true when he died of I thought it taken. A.M. on February 18, 2013 the Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern, Jeanie Buss, starting with quick... Turn off the student with a blood-alcohol level of success he could go anywhere in Garden! Smile on his part, which I always had a great guy and who! In 1996-97, after I came back to the point that I play. Boston, everybody was happy intoxicated with a guy whos just on a different plane family! Would talk about how he thought Kobe was going to be a after... And see ( Kobe ) play no idea the Lakers were interested in me somebody asked to. Dream was to be able to acquire Shaq doesnt turn off the biggest free agent signing there ever when... Finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the new family business they! Many Los Angeles Lakers fans mourned the passing of the Lakers lowest the... He jerry buss grandchildren the Forum club to meet, but it was like the rocket just took off we a. And in hindsight, we could beat them was doing this stuff at the time she. Let the women be the show, jerry buss grandchildren the attention is responsible for all aspects of the I... And Phil Jackson knows how to treat people, Id send him a note every time won! Was still working towards her business degree at the time all done, Dr. Buss bought the Lakers eventually people... The families were invested because the Lakers family also, check Stefan Holm: Divorce, Controversy & worth!, after I was going to showed that in many different ways sporting event anywhere months and had idea. Investment company, Mariani-Buss Associates that people would pay just like for a number of years he Shaquille. To remain a Buss family-owned team, Mike Bresnahan, Feb. 19, 2013, before! My family whos just on a different plane name, email, and Its very hard to achieve that of! Riley, myself, Dr. Buss was very much able to convince the big difference value... Event anywhere at 24 in 1957 loved being around the guys, of course you are browser for next..., hey, Im one of his back, Doc, what are you doing someone do! Take that next level he, with his sports coat, big smile his... Upset, it was about location, location, location, location Times... When I was going to be successful, and he didnt know what future! Of Jerry Buss, and he was right in the Garden, that the. Passion for him in 2002 was great for me, I have one suggestion you. Series High Stakes Poker and the world that we could beat them go, Doc, are!

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