A few days ago saw the passing away of arguably the greatest franchise owner in sports history. For 34 years, he has made one team a household name, with just about an equal amount of lovers and haters and some bewildered living things in between.
I had always wondered why this gentleman has a “Doctor†prefixed before his name but upon exploring the unlimited wonders of the world wide web, I got to know the reason.
Born in Utah but raised in Wyoming, Jerry Buss earned his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Southern California in 1957 at the age of 24. At such a young age, his brilliance has shown. He taught at USC for a few years before getting involved in the aerospace industry.
With some capital, he ventured into real estate that led him to acquire valuable properties which thru the years created his vast real estate empire within California, Nevada and Arizona.
In 1979, he bought the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and their homecourt The Forum from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million. At that time, the purchase was the largest multiple sports transaction in history. This is the same year that he drafted a guy from Michigan called Earvin Johnson. Buss also introduced on this same year the Laker Girls, making the Lakers as the NBA’s first franchise to have a dance team.
With Earvin “Magic†Johnson, Dr. Buss created “Showtime†in LA, giving him his first NBA title as an owner in 1980, followed by four more titles in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. He made LA’s games more interesting by letting Hollywood stars sit courtside. Upon the establishment of the WNBA, he acquired the LA Sparks and until he relinquished ownership in 2007, savored two consecutive WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002.
Dr. Jerry Buss was honored with his own star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. This same year, he purchased the LA D-Fenders, becoming the first NBA team owner to also own an NBA Development League team.
In 2010, he was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It was also on this year that for the 16th time, the Lakers reached the NBA Finals and eventually winning his tenth and final title as an owner.
Dr. Buss has a gambler’s mentality, never afraid to spend money thereby turning the Laker franchise into one of the most dominant and successful teams in any team sport. From $67.5 million three decades ago, the team is now valued at $1 billion.
He kept Laker legend Jerry West to handle the front office who was responsible for the core of the 80’s Showtime squad of Magic, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis and Michael Cooper. The Logo, as what West is also known, brought in Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson and the three earned him another championship before he left the team for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2000. West also had a hand in the Pau Gasol deal between LA and Memphis.
Buss’ hiring of Phil Jackson in two separate occasions enabled him and the franchise to equal the five titles of the Showtime era. The Doctor’s children, Jeannie, John and Jim had been running the affairs of the team for some time. Hopefully, they will do so with smarts and the foresight that their father had shown. If not, then its gonna be from Showtime to Slowtime.
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Be it family, friend or just plain acquaintance, death will always cast a pall of gloom. Knowing that someone died because he or she was suffering from some illness somewhat eases the pain of death as we are in a way being prepared to face the impending loss. Dying unexpectedly, in this case, violently puts everyone in the victim’s circle in a state of shock. I am speaking in relation to a tragic event that happened last week to a close friend who was shot in the head at close range. I still could not fathom the reason behind the shooting. But whatever it was, the end was too extreme.
To his wife Liza, children Katrina and Carlo, let us all take comfort in the thought that Titi had lived his life well and has touched and helped the lives of a good number of people which we only knew of during this sad moment. He had his faults but he had been a good husband, father and friend. Tomorrow, we will bury him but not the memories and the good deeds he left behind. We bury his head but not his dreams. We bury his eyes, but not his vision. We bury his mouth but not his words, and yes, his funny moments. We bury his heart but not his generosity and kindness. We bury his hands but not the work he has done. We bury his feet but not the path he has laid for us. Rest easy, Bai, you have done well. Godspeed.
In relation to this, is the Commission on Human Rights only after the rights of those radicals and left-leaning groups who get injured or killed? Ordinary citizens, military and police personnel lose their lives in acts of violence but the Commission is deafeningly quite. Alright lang? Maim or injure anyone from cause-oriented groups, they shout to high heavens of human freaking rights. If there’s a standard here, do let the people know so we can adjust appropriately.