WATERCOOLER CHAT: END OF A SHOWTIME ERA, JERRY BUSS PASSES

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, some sad news out of the Lakers organization.  At the age of 80, Lakers owner Jerry Buss has died from cancer.  He was admitted to the hospital on Thursday of last week, and passed away with his family yesterday.  Jerry Buss was one of the most fascinating owners in sports.  He created a real estate empire with just a $1000 investment in an apartment complex.  He bought the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Forum (where they play) for just $67 million in  1979.  They are now worth more than 30 times that amount.

Jerry Buss was responsible for associating the Lakers with LA in the eyes of the country.  His goal was that anytime someone thought of Los Angeles and everything it means, they also think of the Lakers — just how you immediately think of the Yankees when you think of New York culture.  Jerry Buss understood that star power was what mattered and that the games were entertainment for fans more than anything else.  He came up with the idea of the ‘Showtime’ Lakers (Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabar, James Worthy, etc…), which was must see entertainment around the country.  The Lakers were flashy, and perfect for the highlight reel, and Buss also came up with the concept of in-game entertainment for the fans (e.g. The Laker girls and halftime spectacles), which is now commonplace in sports worldwide.  He will be sorely missed in the sports community.

This now begs a very interesting question in the Lakers organization, which is who will run the team.  Buss essentially left the team to his kids Jim and Jeanie Buss, and it’s uncertain who will have the final say when it comes to the purse strings.  It’s reported that Jim Buss will handle basketball operations and Jeanie Buss will handle business operations, but even then, it’s hard to determine who will give the final say on big, blockbuster trades.  Plus, the Lakers are in peril right now, and need to make some serious moves.  Jerry Buss always knew which moves to make, which is why the Lakers won so many championships under him.  Now, the future of the organization is uncertain.

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