the great depression era in the US. We made it a mission to play them again in 1985, to prove to ourselves and the world that we could beat them. 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.) In 1985, before we left (L.A. after Game 5), I told the dudes only take one set of clothes. Buss also owned the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. How did Jerry Buss make his fortune, how did But if I had not been willing to work hard and prepare myself for all the challenges I would face, I would not have held on to my position all these years, regardless of my family ties.. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty provides a dramatized version of that period. His patience stands out (to me) the most. Later, when the WNBA was formed in 1996, Buss took charge of operating that league's Los Angeles franchise, the Los Angeles Sparks. He was that fast. He had it all memorized in his head. Especially after I retired, we spent time together. The Lakers are on fire. Boris Johnson. For him to give me that 1-on-1, personal treatment considering where I stood on the team that was treatment I thought hed give Kobe or Shaq. El SEGUNDO - Dr. Jerry Buss, longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, passed away on Monday, February 18th after a long illness. But when we did speak and get a chance to talk to each other, I thought it was real genuine. People knew him. There was a lot of pressure, but Dr. Buss I think took a lot of that pressure off of us. Very few. When he bought the Forum, it was called the Forum. 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. They all mean a lot, but some mean a little bit more than others. Buss was an inaugural member of the USC College Board of Councilors. We really hit it off. I was there with my wife; wed just gotten married the year before. Buss owned a majority with Karen Demel Jesse Buss born 1988, age 34 (approx.) It wasnt that I was around Dr. Buss that much that I had to rely on him for something, but when you were around him damn he made you feel good. Who is Paloma Jimenez, you may ask? I was a senior in high school, and my dad would explain it to us kids like, Could you imagine to going to every Laker game? He did not yell and scream at me. Dr. Buss had been hospitalized much of the past 18 months in a battle which "showed his amazing strength and will to live. 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. 6 Reasons Why You Should Never Count Cards, Online Poker vs Live Poker: 9 Key Differences You Need To Know. 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.) Its just him! Gerald Hatten Buss, known as Jerry Buss, was one of the owners of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Sparks. 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. 5 out of Boris Johnson. And thats what Dr. Buss did. Jeanie inherited the Lakers from her late father Dr. Jerry Buss and previously was engaged to former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, 77. It was really a great celebration of life for him, and I was so proud of that. the team to watch, but the Forum was the place to be in Los Angeles in the 80s. Because of Buss, And then when I came down to Miami, it was a whole new world for me down here. And we all took one set. It was a really intimate moment. In 1974, Jerry also became a producer for the movie Black Eye with Fred the Hammer Williamson star. Buss was an American No other team At that point, we seemed unbeatable. As a player, you have to put your trust in the organization and some organizations nowadays have so many different shareholders and board members and people that are making decisions by committee and all this crazy stuff. It was just really cool. Dr. Buss was truly an amazing man. He didnt know what the future held, I didnt know what the future held. And Earvin made the best of it. Im glad it turned out that way. Even today, when they talk on ESPN, Greatest Owners in Sport History come on man, thats crazy! Not to mention, this millionaire and businessman had also owned the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Buss' involvement with the Los Angeles Lakers began in the mid-1990s, initially through her job at the Forum and then in other capacities. He said, I think the desire to be an owner left when my dad passed away. Youre serious about winning and your craft. He understood me. He didnt walk around with a big hammer. businessman and the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979 until he Dr. Jerry Buss celebrates with the Lakers while holding the Championship Trophy in the lockerroom after winning the 1986 NBA finals against the Boston Celtics at The Boston Garden on June 8, 1987 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was California Pizza Kitchen wed always order out and wed meet for a couple of hours. I was working with Chick Hearn in the broadcast booth, but I remember meeting him at the Forum and had a very, very light discussion about the real estate business, and then I realized I was renting one of his apartments in Santa Monica, he and Frank Mariani. So, he liked to challenge people. I think its because he commanded that respect. watching sports is no longer just about the sport. Its about bringing out the best from that person. Jerry Buss buying the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. Its going to be completely out of line with what people have ever made in this league. One day you felt he was coming, another you didnt finally, Shaq says, If you can do this financially, Ill come. So I called Jerry Buss, and I asked, Jerry can we do this? He said yes. The bigger, the bolder, the better. He was always like that. Limmy is a Scottish comedian, writer, and Twitch streamer. Later it was Miller Genuine Draft. Im sure he had a lot of things, having just won a championship, a lot of different engagements, but he was reaching out to me. Im sitting there wondering what the hell is going on. with JoAnn Buss Jim Buss born 1959, age 63 (approx.) I walked in and (Dr. Buss) called me over to his table and I sat next to him. Shaq, myself, the whole team, we didnt know. In a large way, thats why you saw so much joy in Dr. Buss. [30][32] His daughter took over the Lakers on March 27, 2017. And I knew, dont talk about management. He got a big kick out of that, and by the fourth season, he won. I know youre going to shoot straight. He would listen to Jerry (West), Phil but then hed get the confirmation from me. He was supposed to come out to Orlando. Buss and her other siblings, who were still on board with their fathers WNBA history to dunk in a game. It was a conversation that only he and I knew about. 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. We had a bunch of guys who were great guys that all knew their roles, and they werent out seeking attention for themselves. It was really vivid and authentic. 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.) So, we were preparing for the offseason in 1996 when we signed Shaq and traded for the rights to draft Kobe. But I remember after 1985 when I was negotiating my contract. Im sure he had a lot of good conversations with Kobe at that time that helped him get his feet on the ground. Read More:What Was Jerry Buss Net Worth at the Time of His Death? Pat Riley had a great speech about that. I dont know if its Jerry West, or if its Magic, I dont know whats going on. I just couldnt believe it. to the league at a key time in the late 70s. He was that dude. He created new revenue streams; thats why everybody has a club now. Furthermore, this businessman has also owned the Playboy Club of the Phoenix. Its opening night for Staples Center: Nov. 3, 1999. 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. concept of premium seating when he created the Forum Club. You understood the genius of this man, because youre dealing with a guy whos just on a different plane. Until last week when Jeanie Buss fired her brother Jim Buss, all six children spanning 31 years in age from eldest to youngest worked within the Lakers organization or for the teams NBA Development League affiliate, the D-Fenders, which also is owned by the Buss family. If I was offended by the book, or what my feelings were. She accepted her history as she grew older and is now at peace with everything that transpired. with Karen Demel His vision inspired us and gave us the OK to be, sometimes, and thats pretty cool. But with cap space so precious, and stars so important, I looked at the draft and saw how late first round picks dont make a lot in salary. 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. Jeanie and Jim Buss chat before the start of a news conference to introduce Dwight Howard as the Lakers new center on Aug. 10, 2012. He knew we had a great team, and he dealt with the good and the bad. Gerald Hatten Buss, an American businessman, investor, chemist, and philanthropist, was born on January 27, 1933. According to Jerrys [11] The Sparks also experienced their share of success, winning two WNBA championships with such players as Lisa Leslie, Tamecka Dixon and DeLisha Milton-Jones. It seems like thatd be something that would be below his pay grade, but it wasnt. I didnt have firsthand memories of winning a championship, and felt like wed never get one, because it seemed so hard. When I wanted to get into the theatre business, he was the one who connected me with everybody. He would listen to things. We had growth within our own team, like Andrew Bynum, to go with Kobe and Lamar. I remember once getting a math, or maybe I should call it a business lesson. This one, though, would Buss is survived by sons Johnny, Jim, Joey and Jesse and daughters Jeanie Buss and Janie Drexel; eight grandchildren; former wife JoAnn; half-sister Susan Hall of Phoenix; half-brother Micky. And then youve got this team thats running. later when Jessie married a plumber named Stub Brown. Apart from the Lakers, Jeanie also co-owns Women of Wrestling. He currently resides in Los Angeles. So that was an awkward couple of days. He always treated me very well. We had Reebok down our sides, on the dance top, on jackets and everything. father, who went on to teach statistics at Berkeley, Jerry loved math and When he bought the team, it was more like a dream come true he told me he always wanted to own the Lakers. County in 2007. And his business smarts (also kicked in), and the Laker Girls got branded through Reebok. later rounds. He was raised by his mother, Jessie, who worked as a waitress. That was so special. 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. for cancer treatment in 2012. When he approached a problem, he never panicked, he never screamed, he was methodical in his approach. The couple began dating in 1999 and engaged for four years when they broke it off in 2016. His father, Lydus, was an accountant who went on to teach statistics at Berkeley. 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. was owned by Jerry Buss from 1997 to 2006. Smiled and laughed, drank champagne and went to the White House. Buss originally went to invest in real estate in order to provide an income so he could continue teaching. Just a great feeling to play for an organization that had a leader like Dr. Buss. That was a long process, too, and stressful. She became the first For that, he also had to sell the Great Western Forum. To speak about what Dr. Buss meant to the Lakers and to basketball, to the NBA, period. He treated people with respect. with JoAnn Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "JoAnn Buss", "gender": "Female" }, Joey Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Joey Buss", "gender": "Male" }, born 1985, age 37 (approx.) 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. With his franchise point guard at the helm, Dr. Buss saw to the creation of Showtime, an all-time great sports dynasty that saw the Lakers go to the NBA Finals nine times in 12 years, amassing five championships with their owner front and center. So he created the Senate seats program sort of the precursor to the club suites program. I dont think theres any thrill in it. The series is set in the back offices of an NBA team and was recently greenlit for a 10-episode season by Netflix. If some of Buss children or his ex-wife did want to sell, they would have to overcome some obstacles. Recently he has become a father figure to Demel's. It is of Old English origin, and sometimes can be spelled Gerry, Gerrie, Geri, Jery, Jere, Jerrie, or Jeri. He would talk about how he could go anywhere in the city and people loved the Lakers. [17], Buss had two more children with a girlfriend, Karen Demel: Joey (b. That confluence doesnt happen very often, and Dr. Buss was very much able to get with the moment and enjoy the moment. the Lakers, who were then coached by Phil Jackson, became just the fifth team I was just looking at my dad in awe, with how incredible that was. This was before smart phones, so there was no cheating. So, it was interesting timing how we both ran into each other in Barcelona during a family trip from him, and he came to the gym I used to work out at in a hotel in Barcelona. This is a common theme when people comment on Jerry Buss. 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