Buss also received Cooke's ranch in California, which was valued at $10 million. He talked to the janitors, the people that cleaned Staples Center. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor. I couldnt believe it. Jerry Buss has six children. It wasnt just owner-athlete relationship, it was more like a family with his employees. 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 think thats why people just adore him so. Am I going to have to go back to serve the army? Even today, when they talk on ESPN, Greatest Owners in Sport History come on man, thats crazy! So when you talk about him not being a person who would yell or be a tyrant or throw things to motivate, he was a teacher, and he knew how to motivate people. Thats not normal for most owners. A few days later, the first time I met Dr. Buss was at the Forum Club, after a game. Youre serious about winning and your craft. He understood me. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Jerry Buss' purchase of the Lakers in 1979 started a family legacy that still continues to this day, In order to purchase the team, Jerry had a team of lawyers and accountants and ultimately exchanged the Chrysler building in NYC, Under Jerry's ownership, the Lakers would win 10 NBA titles making him the most decorated owner in sports history, Jerry's daughter, Jeanie, took over the Lakers in March 2017, Inside the wild story of the Lakers family legacy after Dr Jerry Buss exchanged the Chrysler building for the team, Chelsea sell wonderkid Billy Gilmour to Brighton for 9m as midfielder agrees four-year contract at the Amex, Chelsea confirm 10m transfer of Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Marcos Alonso heading to Nou Camp, Fulham confirm season-long loan transfer from Leeds star Dan James on busy day for Marco Silva's side, 'Not always easy' - Hector Bellerin posts emotional message to Arsenal fans after joining Barcelona on free transfer, 'This isnt the club it was two years ago' - Rodgers slams Leicester's transfer business with Foxes bottom of league, Michy Batshuayi transfer from Chelsea to Nottingham Forest COLLAPSES after documents not sent in time, Aston Villa HIJACK West Ham's move for Jan Bednarek and agreeing season-long loan transfer for Southampton defender, Bamba Dieng walks out of private jet terminal for flight to Leeds and chooses Nice transfer.. but then FAILS medical, Fulham complete transfers of ex-Arsenal and Chelsea ace Willian and former Tottenham striker Carlos Vinicius. He just shook the trophy in that tiny little locker room in Boston. And I did very well investing in the coins. It doesnt mean you can always win every year, but you have to give them something that theyre proud of and that they can connect to. But now I realize, you actually really know your (stuff)! Then he started asking for my opinion on things. It was everything that you would hope for in a new teammate thats going to make a significant contribution to the team. Between 2006 and 2011, Id see him when I was coaching, and wed reflect on memories. Wed come up with Steve Blake and Matt Barnes, and my dad was fully supportive of it, and cleared it with Mitch and Jim, and we ended up signing them. Dr. Buss knew his team needed more wins than losses, but he also knew they needed to entertain. Most owners are coming in, they have security, they go to their box, they get in and they get out. At the end of the day, I said, I think we have better players around you here than you do in Orlando. 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. He treated people with respect. I dont think theres any thrill in it. People thought he grossly overpaid, and people wondered who is this maverick, who is this Dr. Buss? Hed say, Jeanie, the Lakers are what connects the community, and when theyre not winning, then were not being part of the community. Its almost like the Lakers are owned by the fans. We had something to talk about immediately, and he was flattered to know that I was aware. Magic was perfect for that. Thats one thing different about Dr. Buss different from owners back in the day he was a celebrity too. It was very personal with him. He put his imprint on the league fast, and then we win the championship too? There was no jealousy at all that he had that kind of relationship and Magic would surround himself with Dr. Buss and captains of industry. I was there with my wife; wed just gotten married the year before. If you wish to learn more about the whereabouts of Jerry Buss sons, here is everything you need to know! He loved the players. I thought it was a 1-on-1 dinner! Jeanie, Dr. Buss and I spent a lot of time talking about price sensitivity. EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Jerry Buss' children intend on carrying out their father's succession plan for the Los Angeles Lakers following the iconic owner's death Monday. By the time his tenure as the Lakers' owner ended, Buss had overseen 10 total title runs. We were playing for not just ourselves but everybody. That was the plan that I understood.. Finally, during the draft, Charlotte took him, and we were able to acquire Kobes rights. 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. And he always wanted to know what my favorite book was, and I told him it was The Agony and the Ecstasy. He said, Thats interesting, because I knew Irving Stone, the author. I get up, I go there at 10 a.m. to his office (at the Forum) and they tell me I have to wait, Dr. Buss is in a meeting with Jerry West. It would be decades later, at age 34, when Jerry made his first million. Through his 80th birthday on January 27, 2013, he had not attended a Lakers game during the 201213 season due to health concerns. 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. 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. We kept in touch that way. I think theres a lot of money in it. When he bought the team, it was more like a dream come true he told me he always wanted to own the Lakers. The Lakers are on fire. He made sure they had the kind of food I wanted, and he was really attentive to the little details to make sure it was a comfortable environment to me. Jerry Buss Children Johnny Buss born 1956, age 66 (approx.) I just felt like with the passing of Dr. Buss, they need to understand what it means to wear this uniform. Wed played pool until 2 or 3 in the morning he loved to play 8 ball, and he was much better than me. He knew wed thrive under that pressure. Its easy to say that he was the best sports owner around the world. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. [7] On February 14, 2013, it was revealed that Buss had been battling cancer since 2012. 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. Today, it's about celebrating his life, his contributions to the city of LA and his inimitable. In my rookie year, my first meeting with Dr. Buss, I didnt speak English. And we all took one set. Before that we had the (NBA) Draft, and we traded Vlade Divac, and we got back a player that frankly I thought was the best player in the Draft (Kobe Bryant). 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. but Jerry's family is . 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. It was this big weight had been taken off of his back. We had the press conference, and I said Im going to be here with Pat for a month, and then Pats going to be the head coach. I just remember generations of Lakers have come through this organization, obviously, and the team that we had at the time werent really knowledgeable of the history of the franchise. There was a clause in the contract where the doctor had to give the green light because of my back, to have a contract valid, and Dr. Buss didnt even wait for the doctors. 5 stars - At the time of his death, a Buss family spokesperson declared that the children had "no interest in ever selling the team.". I thought he was really sincere about the things that he always said, so thats what I appreciated the most about him. 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. That when you think L.A., you think Lakers. I first met him at Muhammad Alis retirement party at the Forum. Its just him! And little did we know wed be teammates months later extremely serendipitous. He did everything in his head. Discover Jerry Buss's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Very happy.*L.A. There was a lot of worry on the part of Jerry West. [5] 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. Just showed up and watched. Dr. Buss told me how (Stone) came up with the title. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Her father, Jerry Buss, had died in February 2013 at age 80, . Jeanie currently serves as the Lakers' owner and president. He was the first one to see that opportunity to sell the naming rights of the building, which really was an asset to the company, because now instead of going to Forum, you were going to the Great Western Forum, and Great Western was one of the big banks in Southern California at the time. And he really wanted me to listen. He made good observations about the game, and personnel and so forth. and Janie. That's why, when I created this new uniform, I wanted people to see that. She became the Lakers governor in 2014 after her father's death and is now the representative of the team on the NBA board of governors. I think when you have success, its just different. Would you like to offer Betty Jean Busss loved ones a condolence message? In any industry, when your boss says youre doing a good job, thats what you want to hear. People thought it meant you had to have a superstar, but it really wasnt about that, it was about the winning, and then people would see the superstars because we were winning. He got a big kick out of that, and by the fourth season, he won. I was a little uptight, and didnt really know what to expect, so my first impression just totally relaxed me. But Buss was wise to plan early for the team and make his wishes specific and legally binding. He was going to build a championship team no matter what it takes. 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. Dr. Buss will always be forever in my heart. We just stayed the course. The money that everybody is making today he was the first one that saw outside that box, and he really moved the NBA to a whole other level by his out of the box thinking. I think the operative words from Dr. Buss message to Kobe were, Trust me Ive done things in my life, where when I say Im going to work this thing out, trust me, were going to work this thing out. I never envisioned that his trust me would end up with the kind of deal that he pulled off getting Pau. He had an appeal to the common man, and thats what I think when I look back at everything. Had they succeeded, that would have removed her as the Lakers controlling owner and could have threatened the Buss familys ownership of the Lakers. His passions, what brought him to the mindset of wanting to own a team and what he wants from a team, and then just L.A.; it was an all-new environment for me, and he wanted to make sure I knew about it and understand as much as I possibly could. He taught us that we should do our best to be happy, and do things that make us happy; whether or not that was basketball was up to us. So it was really a family. He was so cool when he introduced himself, so laid back. And Id just played in a rec league game maybe a week prior. In a limousine outside the office that day in . He had thought about it. I dont know who spoke first about it, but the discussion of Lamar came up and as hard as it was to work our way through that negotiation, at that moment, it was the greatest feeling in the world to have been able to have done that. Who Is Jerry Buss Mom & Dad? He not only was an avid reader, he knew some of the great authors, as well. Jerry was soft spoken, he had a great charm about him, and was just a unique person who believed in me for a long time, and I dont think in my life Ive ever had anybody who was as straight forward with me as him. Buss turned Lakers games into experiences. Create a franchise that was worth billions., Follow Tania Ganguli on Twitter @taniaganguli. I connected with him more through others, some of the people that were tight with him, who would always tell me that Dr. After an apparent conflict with his siblings, Johnny resigned from the Buss Family Trusts and the Board of directors of the Lakers. Jeanie Buss, the teams governor and controlling owner has made clear the Lakers are not for sale. Just a great feeling to play for an organization that had a leader like Dr. Buss. At a young age, Jerry would stand on bread lines to get food for himself and his single mother. He focused on the team's marketing, commissioned the Laker Girls, and had movie stars appear in the crowd during games. Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss (January 27, 1933 - February 18, 2013) was an American businessman, real estate investor and chemist. Thats why its such an important part of his formula for success, and why its important to find that winning formula and to continue to keep the team focused on winning, and thats what Im trying to do. Ultimately we came back and made another offer and Lamar took it. I thought we had a great professional relationship, and over the years I got to know him and be friends with him. And wed go out and hed introduce me to some of the really good night clubs at the time during the time that I could go out. I was just told that he was having this picnic for employees, and how cool that was. The team folded in 1989 and the league folded three years later. And he got it right every single time. The Forum Club theres never been a hotter night club within a building. The first time I met him was when we were in training camp in Hawaii, when he came into the gym in his jeans and his Hawaiian shirt, just watching practice. The war over Jerry Buss ' fortune just took a shocking turn -- with a mysterious woman claiming she's the secret daughter of the late Lakers owner . Dr. Buss, many nights after the games where hed come down to the locker room after everybody cleared out. What do you think. degree in two and a half years in 1955. Before the championships from 2000-02, as an adolescent, it was very frustrating watching the Lakers lose in the playoffs. When they were taking a break, let the women have center stage. Dr. Buss had a way of communicating with everybody, whether you were 18 or 80, Dr. Buss could make you feel comfortable. In the late 1980s, we were living in Encinitas, California, and my father was home with a family friend, and they needed to go watch the Lakers game against Boston, so they locked themselves up in his bedroom. Some people said, How dare you, you cant make it commercial. But yes. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. The $24 million he purchased for the Lakers and Kings would be $95.57 million in today's money. The first hour was always just talking and telling stories and visiting. Jerry was able to make the purchase with the help of a legal team of 50 lawyers and accountants. When he bought the Forum, it was called the Forum. Theres always former Lakers around. 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. 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. Im glad it turned out that way. It was good to see him, man. I dont remember a whole lot about the podium when Dr. Buss accepted the championship, but I do remember that Kareem stuck a towel in Pat Rileys mouth so he wouldnt say wed win it again next year. Its opening night for Staples Center: Nov. 3, 1999. With Dr. Buss in particular, I had surgery on my left wrist after my rookie year. Magic being Mr. Inquisitive, he wanted to know about the business aspect of basketball and life in general. Im super thankful how Kobe wanted me on board, how Dr. Buss also was in favor and supportive of getting me and doing what it took to get me to the Lakers. 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. 1 overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. 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. When Jerry Buss purchased the LA Lakers from former owner Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, he was divorced from his first wife, JoAnn Mueller. Smiled and laughed, drank champagne and went to the White House. Later on, Dancing Barry. Its the first thing you do now when youre going to build a building. That was a long process, too, and stressful. The teacher looked at me and said, Dont get your hopes up too much. Fans could see celebrities sitting along the sidelines, live bands playing music and the famous "Laker Girls" doing their dance routines. I was a dominant player in Games 2 through 6, and we got over the hump finally. Funeral arrangement under the care ofFox Funeral Home, Fox Funeral Home 1116 N 19th St, Beatrice, NE 68310, St. John Lutheran Church 701 N 6th St, Beatrice, NE 68310. He was one of a kind, man. But lo and behold, we had won again, in dramatic fashion, and I remember the look in Dr. Busss eye, like, We made the right decision.. Id have at least expected a phone call or something. He was with Brent Musberger after the game with the trophy in his hand, and he was shaking it: This has removed the most odious sentence in the English language It can never again be said that the Lakers have never beaten the Celtics.. I went there in the morning, and it was rare, because Pau never wakes up in the morning to work out! Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss was born on Jan. 27, 1933, in Salt Lake City. 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..

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