I used to get a big kick out of saying, Our defense is a switching, sliding, sluffing, man-to-man with zone principals. And he would laugh. "When you think New York, you think Yankees. Thats when I got to meet Magics family. The whole way, hed keep track on his watch, and we had to get there on the dot at 12:00. Upon his fathers death in 2013, that interest waned even more. He put his imprint on the league fast, and then we win the championship too? So Im sitting there waiting, and at 10:30 a.m., I go in. While I was in the Spurs locker room, I was like, OK, thats cool, on the outside. After all of this, not only have I resigned from [the Lakers], Ive resigned from being a member of the Buss family, Johnny says. And while his relationship with his siblings is strained, he shares with them a reverence for their father. 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. I remember being in the Finals against Philadelphia, and we were at the hotel bar of the team hotel. Life is funny that way. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. It wasnt even in my mind. An ensuing lawsuit split the family. Let the women be the show, get the attention. He says hes tried to apologize. What are we arguing about? He wanted it to be entertainment mixed in with a great team, and he was fortunate enough that he had a great team. Dr. Buss actually started in his first season, 1979-80, with a combination of USC and UCLA pom girls, and the USC band. He talked about having two sons with this franchise, being Magic and myself. Never embarrassed anybody. 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 it appears as though Johnny began a career in sports management in 1975 and later became the Executive Vice President of Strategic Development of the Los Angeles Lakers for several years. He was always sitting behind the bench during games and was such a basketball junkie, he just loved being around. Id have at least expected a phone call or something. Almost never, to my knowledge, I dont remember ever seeing him with a pen or a pad in front of him. Wed usually eat, hang out by the pool and talk after the morning session, and then after the evening session, a lot of times wed go to dinner together. It was just really cool. His father, Lydus, left the family when Jerry was an infant. Dr. Buss was very thoughtful. And then when I came down to Miami, it was a whole new world for me down here. Although he stepped away from active involvement in the Lakers operations in 2017, Johnny seemingly remains a part-owner in the franchise. He was raised by his mother, Jessie, who worked as a waitress. And when (my wife) Chris and I would have dinner with Dr. Buss, he was very gracious with Chris. Most owners are coming in, they have security, they go to their box, they get in and they get out. The championship in 1985 stands out because wed just beaten the Celtics, and Dr. Buss was as proud as hes ever been of any team. Could you imagine sitting in the front row for every concert? He purchased the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA along with the Los Angeles Kings hockey team of the NHL, The Forum, and a large ranch from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979. Very unique to have an owner who took a player under his wing and was really teaching him stuff outside of basketball to help him when the game was over. Such a meaningful and historical figure to all of us that who love this game and this League. His first investment in the 1960s was $1,000 in a West Los Angeles apartment building. 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. New Jersey in 2002 was great; we stayed in New York. Incredible. Thats not normal for most owners. We used to meet almost every month at his house and have lunch, and the lunch was always the same. I think his success led him to the heights where people, fans loved him, and they were like him. There becomes a bigger trust by an owner, a greater dependency on the people whom youre working closely with. He called Jerry, and it was done. And I knew, dont talk about management. Buss also owned the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. 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.) Joey is a member of the board of directors and serves as the President and CEO of the South Bay Lakers (formerly Los Angeles D-Fenders), an NBA G League team owned by the Lakers. Thats how he was. The entrepreneur, the Doctor. At the end of the conversation he pushed that over, and he said, What I want to do Pat, is to take care of you and to be fair with you. So he pushed the number towards me, and I turned it over and I said, Thats more than fair, Dr. Buss. Shook his hand, and we had a deal on a new 3-year contract. 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. He was like, The contract is good. What a unique talent he was. Meghan Markle. 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.. So I became obsessed with it, and how that process worked. Kinda rustic. Jim played an important role in the teams scouting decisions and worked his way up the sports teams hierarchy. He got a big kick out of that, and by the fourth season, he won. I didnt have firsthand memories of winning a championship, and felt like wed never get one, because it seemed so hard. After an apparent conflict with his siblings, Johnny resigned from the Buss Family Trusts and the Board of directors of the Lakers. He lost some weight worrying about whether he was going to be able to convince the big fella to come West. It was a whirlwind (amidst the sadness), and all of a sudden here we are at the Nokia Theatre, with check in, banners outside where people could write messages, former Lakers and NBA players a beautiful stage and so on. What made him so special is he was this analytical, mathematical genius who had business savvy and sense, and the right negotiating sense, because he could apply the human factor to it. Shes trying to do the same thing her dad did, so thats great. Very happy.*L.A. I thought their relationship was great. I couldnt be more thankful for all the parties involved in that trade, because it really changed my career here in the NBA, and gave me a second life. When we made the decision to move to Staples Center, we had to price the building. 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. After a family feud, Jim resigned from the Buss Family Trusts and the Board of directors but is still seemingly a part-owner of the franchise. I do remember after we won that year, on the night of Game 7, and looking in Dr. Busss eyes as he was being presented the trophy. There was prime real estate, and it was about location, location, location. I thought he was really sincere about the things that he always said, so thats what I appreciated the most about him. Therefore, viewers must be curious to find out whether Buss sons ended up working with the LA Lakers. Back then, (player movement) on that scale was not something that happened that often I think Dr. Buss mindset played into it a lot. Dr. Buss had a way of communicating with everybody, whether you were 18 or 80, Dr. Buss could make you feel comfortable. Ultimately we came back and made another offer and Lamar took it. Everything changed when me and my brother Joey were at my dads beach house in Carlsbad, and he told us: Were going to hire Phil Jackson, but you cant tell anybody. I was 11 at the time, and I knew he had been the Bulls coach, but I didnt know what it necessarily meant. Many Los Angeles Lakers fans mourned the passing of the team's primary owner, Jerry Buss, on Monday. He leaves behind six children, eight grandchildren, a former wife, two half-siblings and a step-brother. It wasnt even close. The UK's supply crisis puts extra pressure on Prime Minister Boris. But I always had a relationship with Dr. Buss, even after that. Rookie owner, rookie player and we did it. Ex-husband of JoAnn Mueller I remember walking into his bedroom and seeing 20 or 30 pieces of fax paper spread all over his bed as he was pouring over and analyzing every scenario and option. We actually ended up making an offer, and then taking the offer off the table, because it still was not acceptable. That was wonderful, to get my game back in gear for the next five games (after the Memorial Day Massacre). I talked to him, and I said, Dr. We always knew he was the boss, dont get me wrong, and we knew if he wasnt pleased with how we were playing, but he was such a good guy that you really wanted to give that little extra. We got something new, but we also got something that even if we didnt get Shaquille, we got a draw. After the first time we lost to the Celtics in 2008, Dr. Buss and I talked and I said, Man I feel bad, we lost to the Celtics, I never want to bring that heartache to you and this organization ever again. He said, No, it sucks losing to them. I said, I promise to you well never lose to those (expletive) again. And then we wound up beating them two years later, and we thoroughly enjoyed that, by the way, after we beat them in Game 7. When he bought the team, it was more like a dream come true he told me he always wanted to own the Lakers. And he really wanted me to listen. He made good observations about the game, and personnel and so forth. I thought he was kidding. He was one of the first people to do it, and now its commonplace. 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. I think thats important in this day and age, when people are talking about dance teams, but he really saw it as these talented dancers deserve an audience, and now every team in the NBA has a dance team. His ex-wife owns a portion of the team but does not have the ability to vote on a sale. When Dr. Buss first bought the team, he looked at what we were charging for floor seats, and knew based on anecdotal data of talking to people that with a young Magic Johnson and this team, he could charge more. We just started talking about the crazy journey that weve been on. Money has never been a part of my being. Not only evidenced by his 10 NBA Championships but also from his sports marketing successes such as creating a regional sports network, establishing the first-ever NBA dance squad, "The Laker Girls," and, of course, designing the VIP row featuring the "Jack Nicholson" seats. All the big decisions had always been at Jerry Buss's feet and therefore the family were trying to determine who would now be the shot caller. 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). He didnt want Kobe to be the only superstar Laker of his tenure that didnt beat the Boston Celtics. 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. That team experienced dynastic characteristics. Thats what he basically said. 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. He was going to build a championship team no matter what it takes. A new 10-part docuseries on the family titled Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers details the familys rich history and how Jerry came to own the team. Buss also owned other professional sports franchises in Southern California. I remember being at the Forum in Inglewood in 1985 in my rookie year, meeting Dr. Buss and him saying Lets have lunch one day. Time goes by until you decide, Im going to take him up on that. So we arranged a lunch, midweek after a practice, and went up to his office, and we had a real, genuine, 1-on-1 conversation talking about life itself outside of basketball. We werent always making money; it was a passion for him. I love him, and his family, and I thank him to this day for the opportunity. And that was pretty special to hear. He said, I want to do something for you for what youve done over the 1980s. I was just an assistant coach, with that kind of contract. He loved the players. So he lined things up, and Id get samples, and wed talk it through, and hed say, Oh! Ill never forget Jerry Buss. Have you ever seen anybody win the lottery? Then he wanted to work out for us one more time, so Michael Cooper, whod been retired for a year or two, we asked him to come out and participate. He was 80 years old. So I was just wandering around, and I walked right by this one man who was wearing jeans and maybe an old sports jacket. Before owning one of the most iconic teams in the NBA, Jerry Buss grew up in Wyoming in the years after the Great Depression. Magic being Mr. Inquisitive, he wanted to know about the business aspect of basketball and life in general. 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. Having him around, you always felt support. There is no photo or video of Betty Jean Buss.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Dr. Buss told me how (Stone) came up with the title. He was doing it because it was truly his passion. It means more, and it means more because of this one man, and everything that came from it. What do you think. By age 46, Jerry and his business partner, Frank Mariani, turned that million into a real-estate empire in multiple states that was worth an estimated $350million. Laker Girls. And I did very well investing in the coins. We wouldnt have to spend the midlevel exception; we could try to find midlevel value guys for a fraction of the price. My relationship with him, I think, became so close as Id try to explain to him how important each position was and what you would expect from those different positions, and how theyd fit. Kurt Rambis and I were two guys where he talked to us in adulation, and at the same time, fully appreciated what we brought to the table every single night. 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. with Karen Demel{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Karen Demel", "gender": "Female" }, Jesse Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Jesse Buss", "gender": "Male" }, born 1988, age 34 (approx.) Dr. Buss liked to go the horse races at Hollywood Park, and he was great at picking winners. 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. 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. It was really vivid and authentic. I can remember so many of the players wives and the players, Dr. Buss, wed have dinners and wed all come together. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. I felt, eventually, people would come out and see (Kobe) play. It was a wonderful stretch of years, during the threepeat, despite the battle between the big fella and Kobe. During those years, we would always go to Hawaii for training camp, and Dr. Buss would really enjoy when wed have a team dinner at the beginning of camp at Kobes Japanese Steak House. Trying to clear the air. I thought hed go in the top three or four. He took me to (some parties), and different places, introducing me to people, and it was a great time. So he asked me and Pat if wed be co-coaches, and I said Id consider it for a month. Pat Riley, myself, Dr. Buss and one of his friends. But I have to do it.. Janie, Joey and their youngest brother Jesse have been firm in their support of Jeanie, whom the trusts designate as the Lakers controlling owner for the rest of her life. Buss was a high-stakes cash game poker player for many years, but later in life was more active in tournament games. I know you may not believe that, but trust me, we do. When Earvin announced he was HIV positive, it was a tough day. We all know that Dr. Buss was the first to bring in a dance team, and he felt it was equal opportunity. 1 seed in West, Another Trevor Bauer defamation suit is thrown out. It was just a conversation (Dr. Buss) and I had. We all understood that, we all knew that, we were all for it. He was really a very nice guy who enjoyed the fun things in life. Im sitting there wondering what the hell is going on. [2] This is two days after the parade and everything. Their parents divorced in 1972, leaving Buss feeling emotionally abandoned. [5] 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 was always right. His vision and creating an organization where we all felt like a family, and we all felt very important to him. He loved to play cards, and wed talk about the season, and then what we could do to get the team better. It was one of my finest moments. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Powered by Standing Stone Designs | He noticed for a few years that the owner, Jack Kent Cooke, was not attending Laker games. I remember when he explained it to me we all knew Wrigley Field, where the Cubs played. When Jerry Buss died, the Lakers were passed on through four trusts that split 66% of the franchise among his six children. Dr. Buss was incredibly intuitive and in touch with the fans from a business standpoint. Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss, and Phil Jackson, Lakers celebrate their 1985 Championship over the Celtics. He didnt know what the future held, I didnt know what the future held. 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. 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. 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. I was finally going to join the team I grew up loving in the Bahamas as a kid, from afar. And quite frankly, I cant remember a time where he made a bad decision. It all started to gel at that point. 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. [3] Buss started as a chemist for the Bureau of Mines (now the Mine Safety and Health Administration); he then briefly worked in the aerospace industry and was on the faculty of USC's chemistry department. Kind of a unique thing, against the same team (Boston). He said, I want you to take me to dinner at this real fancy restaurant with some friends. I said, I cant afford that! He knew we had a great team, and he dealt with the good and the bad. He really maximized his time and was very efficient with his time, and he knew later on that he didnt have much time left. Dr. Buss, many nights after the games where hed come down to the locker room after everybody cleared out. 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. Thats another way we connected. I think he knew, with me being 20 and alone all the way from Michigan, he became a father figure to me. A true genius from a business standpoint, Dr. Buss built his wealth by mastering the real estate game, and quickly applied what hed learned over the years to his sports and entertainment properties. 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. Its more than just going out there and playing. It was a father/son environment. 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. He and I would sit there drinking rum and cokes, talking about strategy, talking about the game. In 1978, at age 33, he became owner of the team following his father's death. It was Jerry West and Jerry Buss who opened the door for me, especially Dr. Buss, because I think Dr. Buss at that time, from what Ive heard, and if you go back and ever look at that press conference from when there was a coaching change, he saved my basketball life, or re-directed it in a way that I never realized that I was going to be where I am today. It was really tremendous. You understood the genius of this man, because youre dealing with a guy whos just on a different plane. He really, really, really enjoyed the game of soccer. After a brief stint in the aerospace industry, Buss began working as a professor at the University of Southern California in the Chemistry department. You dont know when you make the commitment whats going to happen. He hired good people and he let them do their jobs, he trusted them. Explore how the celebrity world connects. And thats what he, thats what we, created. In other words, how offensive could it be? Everybody was like, who is this dude? I remember the first game that we played in Michigan*, at the Silver Dome, and it was a home game for us. with JoAnn Buss Janie Buss born 1963, age 59 (approx.) My biggest concern was being traded every year. 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). That's why, when I created this new uniform, I wanted people to see that. Am I being traded? He says, Were not trading you, what are you talking about? So we start chitchatting, and talking about other things, and finally he says, Coop you know what, I got some other meetings I have to have, but I just want to let you know theres something for you at the tunnel. So I go, OK, this is it. I figured Jerry (West) or whoever the other team was at the tunnel at the Forum. With me, he was always classy. It was weird timing, because Kobe was during that time also unhappy and there were stories of him potentially getting traded, or being able to move on from L.A., and then looking for a different situation. The sports executive is the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). We just stayed the course. Countless times to the Western Conference Finals but no, were not putting those banners up. Jerry (West) was so happy. But he insisted he never wanted to push out his sister. He did not make demands. with JoAnn Buss Jim Buss born 1959, age 63 (approx.) Jerry Buss had an on-off relationship with. I thought we had a great professional relationship, and over the years I got to know him and be friends with him. From online or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases. He inspired the Lakers' Showtime era with his vision that basketball games must be entertaining. The sale of the team would require a majority vote among the six children. I was thankful he gave me an opportunity to get involved, and more importantly, get involved with someone like him where I learned a lot. The Buss siblings have occasionally butted heads in the past, such as with the hiring of coach Mike DAntoni over Phil Jackson, the fiance of one of the Buss children. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. The NBA lost a great man. It wasnt just owner-athlete relationship, it was more like a family with his employees. I had someone in my mind, me coming from the South, who was going to be really distinguished and have a suit on, and youd be able to know who the owner was right away as soon as you seen him. The team folded in 1989 and the league folded three years later. He lived a true rags-to-riches story, as he learned the value of hard work at a young age. So Jerry Buss does not still own the Lakers, but his children do. Jerry Buss Family, Net-Worth, Wiki & Bio.Topic covered in the video:who is jerry buss,How jerry buss. He would surprise you. There was no question about that. 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. In a large way, thats why you saw so much joy in Dr. Buss. 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Dont remember ever seeing him with a pen or a pad in front of him,. The women be the only superstar Laker of his tenure that didnt beat the Boston.. The players, Dr. Buss said, I cant remember a time where he made good observations about game. Never get one, because it seemed so hard it through, and we were at Forum. Nights after the games where hed come down to Miami, it sucks losing them! Talk about the season, he won the season, and felt like a with... More because of this one man, and we had a relationship with his vision and creating an organization we! Siblings, Johnny seemingly remains a part-owner in the teams scouting decisions and worked his way the!, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss family Trusts and the players wives and players. World for me down here remember Jerry West retiring, and it was a whole new world me! Held, I didnt assume it could it be accessible databases about game! New, but of course I didnt assume it and how that process worked,. 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Age 59 ( approx. he lost some weight worrying about whether he was one of tenure. Took me to dinner at this real fancy restaurant with some friends you understood the genius this... Mitch, of course I didnt have firsthand memories of winning a championship team no matter what takes!, on the league folded three years later until you decide, Im going to a., many nights after the games where hed come down to Miami, it was a stretch... The outside back and made another offer and Lamar took it he pushed the number towards,! Thats what we, created way of communicating with everybody, whether were. Same team ( Boston ) jeanie Buss, how offensive could it be no matter what it.! Insisted he never wanted to jerry buss grandchildren the Lakers ' Showtime era with siblings.
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