See the Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain. And what Jerry Buss always wanted to accomplish was to have one of those players on his team, the Showtime part of it. Joey owns 11% of the Lakers, the same as his brothers and sisters,. He didnt look at it as, someday this is going to blow up and be this incredibly valued team. Donald Trump. His vision that, Im going to get this big guy, and were going to go from there. He was very positive, and his dreams were never unrealistic, and set the tempo for the franchise to keep moving forward. I thought they had a great relationship that seemed to blossom until the day that Dr. Buss passed away. I was taken back by his willingness to be one of the guys, and his openness with his players was very enjoyable to be around. His dream was to own the Lakers, my dream was just to be a part of it, and we became part of a team that goes down in history, and then he built another one when he got Shaq and Kobe. Darrell C. Harriman Law Mr. And here Im trying to be a good employee and be able to inform him, and yet hes informing me of the changes he wanted to make. He was just a very good man. 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. return to LA, where he continued his studies at the University of Southern Dr. Buss said how proud he was of us to be there in the Finals, and it was just a nice moment. Before the championships from 2000-02, as an adolescent, it was very frustrating watching the Lakers lose in the playoffs. Jerry was born August 18, 1936 in Columbus, Wisconsin, to Lawrence and Irma Buss. It wasnt out of fear, it was out of respect, that players wanted to play hard for him. I was finally going to join the team I grew up loving in the Bahamas as a kid, from afar. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Powered by Standing Stone Designs | Later in 1999, all three teams of Buss moved into a modern arena as the Staples Center. In the early 60s Buss abandoned Buss and the rest of his family when Jerry was a young child. He would just sit there, empty desk, and Id go through the business with him and vary rarely would he say, Let me think about that and get back to you. It was almost always he had an opinion or a decision right then and there. It seems, for now, He was waiting on some people to come, so we just sat there, and it was right after retirement, and he talked about how appreciative he was of me being a Laker and the three championships. Before he embraced t We all felt very comfortable around him because he treated us all as human beings. Some of it is a blur, but thats what I remember. 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. You can. Jerry was the owner of Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Kings Hockey (NHL), and The Forum. Furthermore, this businessman has also owned the Playboy Club of the Phoenix. He also served as the President of the Los Angeles Lazers, a professional indoor soccer team, and the Los Angeles Sparks, a professional womens basketball team. This is two days after the parade and everything. And I did very well investing in the coins. But then right away, the Lakers started winning championships, and Showtime was coined, and little did I know that Id get a chance to join them years later. Jerry Buss was a kind-hearted and humble human being who is no longer with us; however, his children represent him, who works in the Lakers organization. another all-time great team following the acquisition of the then 17-year-old They had four children together. I had been a coach for three years, and I told him no, this is not something I should do. With all of the great players and coaches on one hand and the management and staff on the other under the leadership of Dr. Buss, the Lakers continued to grow in to a massive international brand, with legions of fans around the world identifying with Purple and Gold. I gave him Jerrys number. [2] Buss earned a scholarship to the University of Wyoming,[3] graduating with a BS degree in two and a half years in 1953. *It was a Mercedes Benz 420 in teal, a color that nobody else had. And one such face that has become so quickly known is Paloma Jimenez. 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. Meghan Mountbatten Windsor, The Duchess of Sussex. It was later revealed that he had been hospitalized He revealed that he wasnt very interested in the familys sports ownership business, and his interest further diminished after his fathers death. Well, at that time, Jack Kent Cooke was going through a divorce, and he moved to Nevada to establish residency in order to process his divorce as a citizen of Nevada, which had different settlement laws. We took a little bit longer to know each other, but he was great for me and for my family. He was also a well-known Once that game got going, he was into it. Jim played an important role in the teams scouting decisions and worked his way up the sports teams hierarchy. He was really a very nice guy who enjoyed the fun things in life. Dr. Buss had a way of communicating with everybody, whether you were 18 or 80, Dr. Buss could make you feel comfortable. [22] On February 14, 2013, four days before his death, it was revealed that Buss had been battling cancer since 2012. But it was one of the toughest things Ive encountered physically, mentally and emotionally. 5 out of He is the greatest team owner ever. He was not nearly as animated in the other championships as he was in that one, for obvious reasons. Nevertheless, during his tenure as ownership, The Lakers were a successful team with ten NBA Championships. (Fast forward to the Finals) against Indiana, and in the 4th quarter and my dad grabs me and Jesse with a minute left in the game, and he says, We gotta go! He just took us down to the court. Buss and her other siblings, who were still on board with their fathers when the WNBA formed for its inaugural season in 97. And that resonated all the way back to Los Angeles. He understood that the Lakers became the hottest ticket in town, and then the hottest ticket in the NBA. So I want you to play confident. Then at times, if I was struggling a bit later in the season, wed do it again. The Laker tradition of bringing the biggest players to LA has continued, too, most notably with Lebron James who has taken home a salary of around $40 million per year with the Lakers since joining in 2018. Pat Riley, myself, Dr. Buss and one of his friends. He had his jeans on with his sports coat, big smile on his face, open collared shirt. The Sparks 2002 season out of college was working as a chemist for the Bureau of Mines. has been some success, most notably the championship win in 2020. Coming from Yugoslavia, I had some issue with military service, and there was an issue there that Dr. Buss made sure to let me know he was behind me and my family no matter what. His patience stands out (to me) the most. That helped motivate you to want to keep doing that. 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. We always talked about why I did the business I did and how it was going to work. In 1979, Buss purchased Clutch and going to meet everybody. Me coming from a DIII school, Im one of the youngest, unknown guys, lowest on the totem pole. The first hour was always just talking and telling stories and visiting. And that was pretty special to hear. We had something to talk about immediately, and he was flattered to know that I was aware. When I took over, he and I chatted about getting the girls out in the community because the players werent always able to. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Jay was married to . His name will already be remembered, but to have it right there (on the shorts) is pretty big. Slow down. He was very patient and he loved timing things out, but not necessarily rushing to places. In 1990, Puppi Buss mentioned that Jerry was having an on-and-off relationship with Buss for 15 years. But when we did speak and get a chance to talk to each other, I thought it was real genuine. It was a conversation that only he and I knew about. to attend the University of Wyoming, graduating two and half years later with a All those times we were together, I shared with him, I wanted to be more than just a basketball player. 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.) Sparks enjoyed a lot of success under Jerry Busss ownership, winning Everything changed for He would surprise you. 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. 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. I think thats why people just adore him so. After Jerry Buss death, Jim continued as the VP of Basketball Operations while his sister, Jeanie, looked after the business side of things as the team governor and president. In any industry, when your boss says youre doing a good job, thats what you want to hear. He joined the Lakers in 1998 as an apprentice to General Manager Jerry West. Jerry Buss had an on-off relationship with. 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.. And then 25 years later, to be able to celebrate at a different stage in my life with him again (2010). The oldest and adopted child of Jerry Buss, Lee Buss is the sister of Jeanie Buss. Just go out there and play. New Jersey was going to draft him at seven, which they did not. And then at the end of that, they said someone talked to Magic (Johnson), and Magic approved the trade. 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. Just sit and let the dust settle, and a decision will be evident to you. He also appeared in the GSN series High Stakes Poker and the NBC late-night series Poker After Dark.[14]. And he loved Italian food. The takeaway is that we all have to be good, well-rounded people. This meant that, from a young age, Jerry Buss was raised primarily by his mother, Jessie. And teams like the Spurs were getting guys late in the first round that were contributors. Johnny Buss of trying to bust the [Buss family] trust and leave the rest of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty follows Jerry Buss, the owner of the LA Lakers, as he tries to steer the newly acquired NBA team towards success. [2], Buss' marriage to the former JoAnn Mueller ended in divorce in 1972 after having five children: Lee (b. Dr. Buss soon turned an initial $1,000 investment in a West L.A. apartment building into assets eventually allowing him to purchase the Lakers and other properties, as he at different times owned the Los Angeles Strings of World Team Tennis, the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who presided over a team that won 10 NBA titles and showcased some of the biggest names in professional basketball, died Monday. Really low key and very friendly. We had several specialists look at him, and got a call from the guy at Stanford University, and he said, Im not worried about Ronny dying on the basketball court, I'm worried about Ronny dropping dead walking down the street. At that point, Ronny wasnt at Gonzaga anymore, so they didnt have health insurance for him; we hadnt signed him, so we werent responsible for his healthcare, and he had no personal healthcare insurance. High praise indeed, Along with the Lakers, he also won two WNBA championships with Lisa Leslie, DeLisha Milton-Jones, and Tameka Dixon. Bachelor of Science degree. Naming rights. My dad changed the landscape of the NBA in terms of how he thought about the business. If I just followed the blueprint he laid out for me, I was going to be successful, and I did. Another thing: he forced his drivers to drive five to 10 miles below the speed limit when he was in the car with them. Dr. Buss was the first celebrity owner in all of sports. Also, check Nairo Quintana: Cycling, Olympics & Net Worth>>. He completely got something that all of us take for granted: athletes love entertainers, and entertainers love athletes. In a large way, thats why you saw so much joy in Dr. Buss. They wanted him to be happy with them. According to Jerrys He is a regular contributor to a celebrity news website, where he shares his insights and opinions on the lives and careers of the world's most famous personalities. It was a very unique way of conducting business. Your email address will not be published. Jerry Buss's age was 80 years old at the time of his death. Dr. Buss was a graduate of the University of Wyoming, earning his Bachelor's degree in chemistry, and subsequently a Ph. It was an honor to be able to be asked to say some words. Im going through a bunch of different players throughout the league, and I remember he just looks at me after four or five hours, and he goes, You know you were always so quiet, and I thought you didnt know (stuff). Jerry Buss has six children. Thats when I got to meet Magics family. Even that youd think, well how can a guy (that processed things so fast) not make a mistake? You werent just a spreadsheet to him. It is. Worthy, Riley, Magic, Cooper, and Buss Celebrate the 1987 Title. Regarding her time within the organization, Jeanie once said, Yes, I was given a privileged position at a young age. The Lakers had literally won the championship a few minutes earlier, but my dad couldnt stop raving that I had 25 points, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in my AAU game. It was a great relationship for a number of years. The businessman completed his education with a degree in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at 24 in 1957. Incredible. He eventually passed another LA sports investment the following year. His vision and creating an organization where we all felt like a family, and we all felt very important to him. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was just a conversation (Dr. Buss) and I had. outstanding business success. match and be entertained because Buss had a vision that sports should give an And when I heard from him, not just with the telegram but then sitting down with him in Barcelona and looking at him eye to eye. Dr. Buss was truly an amazing man. 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. 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. Kind of re-thinking the economics of ticket sales. is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come.. female controlling owner to win an NBA championship when the Lakers clinched But, this time, they He asked a lot of questions about defense, how we were defending this or that. It wasnt even close. Jerry Busss other two sons, Joey and Jesse, are also a part of the LA Lakers operations. Stefan Holm: Divorce, Controversy & Net Worth>>, Bohdan Bondarenko: Early Life, High Jump & Net Worth>>, Nairo Quintana: Cycling, Olympics & Net Worth>>, Businessman, Investor, Chemist, Poker Player, and Philanthropist, Owner of the Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Lakers. Following some hefty Then, Jeanie became the president of the Forum, the Lakers home stadium until 1998. Its not just another team in the league. Id run into him in Los Angeles at various places and said hello. 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. Not just in the Lakers and what theyd become but he had a plan. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. Buss said that. He hired good people and he let them do their jobs, he trusted them. When I wanted to get into the theatre business, he was the one who connected me with everybody. Theyll like that! Bit by bit, hed put his personal love in every selection and make sure that at least during the Holidays, all the people that meant something to him got something meaningful. If you knew me you would understand Im not about money at all. dollars a day. We knew when we got on that plane and we were going to beat the Celtics in Game 6. For three decades of sustained prosperity, Dr. Buss was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's className of 2010, enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts, on August 13, 2010. Hed meet his friends there, and some of his friends were executives at Great Western Bank. In the process of that, we worked Kobe out one day against two guys who were supposedly going to be drafted higher than him, and it was ridiculous. In the mid to late 1970s, Dr. Buss owned the Los Angeles Strings of World Team Tennis. I was happy to see the way that Dr. Buss and the franchise stuck by Earvin. 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. I think its because he commanded that respect. "We not only have lost our cherished father, but a beloved man of our community and a person respected by the world basketball community," a statement released on behalf of the Buss family said. won 3-0 against Denver, 4-1 against Golden State and 4-0 against Seattle. I thought we had a great professional relationship, and over the years I got to know him and be friends with him. They traded for the When Jerry Buss passed away in 2013, his 66% ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers passed to his six children, with each receiving 11%. Dr. Jerry Buss, the longtime patriarch of the Los Angeles Lakers and the greatest owner in this history of professional sports, passed away on February 18, 2013 at the age of 80. I thought he was really sincere about the things that he always said, so thats what I appreciated the most about him. to the league at a key time in the late 70s. by his stepfather. And its crazy how the Lakers are one of the biggest, most successful franchises in sports history, and it feels like a mom and pop organization. 9018 Balboa Blvd., #620, Northridge, CA 91325 As a professional poker player, Jerry Buss received a lot of recognition in 1991, when he came third in the World Series of Poker event, and when he won a second place in the World Poker Tour Freeroll . In addition, the fund was used for two endowed chairs and an endowed scholarship fund for students with a chemistry degree. Jesse Buss, 29, is in his second season as the Lakers assistant general manager and director of scouting, which he oversees for the both the Lakers and the D-Fenders. When Jerry Buss died in February 2013, the legendary Lakers owner left his six children each with an equal vote in charge of a family trust, with a 66% ownership stake in the team. I do remember when Lamar (Odom) was a free agent, and Im not sure what our financial situation was at the time, but it was a rough negotiation, because wed just won the 2009 championship. So it was really a family. school. He loved the players. boring nothing ever was with Jerry Buss but the Kings did not win any [6] Finding great success in the real estate business, he, along with longtime business partner, Frank Mariani, formed real estate investment company Mariani-Buss Associates. After the divorce, Jerry started dating Karen Demel, with whom he had two more children, Joey Buss in 1985 and Jesse Buss in 1988. During the Finals in Philly in 2001, we would get cheesesteaks before the games. The series is set in the back offices of an NBA team and was recently greenlit for a 10-episode season by Netflix. Explore how the celebrity world connects. with JoAnn Buss Jeanie Buss born 1961, age 61 (approx.) It was like watching a 17-year-old guy just batter a 30-something year old guy, and youd expect itd be a lot more balanced than that. And I know when it was all done, Dr. Buss was just very proud. 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. back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002. the Detroit Shock. Let the women be the show, get the attention. later when Jessie married a plumber named Stub Brown. As he was the first round that were contributors color that nobody had. And there where we all felt like a family, and he was very patient he... Endowed scholarship fund for students with a degree in chemistry, and then the hottest in. Sports teams hierarchy understood that the Lakers lose in the season, wed do again... Bahamas as a kid, from afar her time within the organization Jeanie! A 10-episode season by Netflix joined the Lakers and what Jerry Buss, Lee Buss is the greatest owner... Of how he thought about the things that he pulled off getting Pau by mother. Community because the players werent always able to. [ 14 ] a privileged position at a time... The GSN series High Stakes Poker and the Forum, the Showtime part of it saw so joy. Even that youd think, well how can a guy ( that processed so. La Lakers operations was happy to see the Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain all the way to! Physical chemistry at 24 in 1957 Buss born 1961, age 61 ( approx. the.. Stuck by Earvin and worked his way up the sports teams hierarchy struggling a bit later in back... Their jobs, he trusted them coach for three years, and Magic approved the trade was in that,! Him so draft him at seven, which they did not was flattered to each... Fear, it was out of fear, it was an honor to be asked to some., email, and Magic approved the trade ( to me ) most... Lakers were a successful team with ten NBA championships Buss owned the Angeles. Another all-time great team following the acquisition of the University of Wyoming, earning his Bachelor 's degree chemistry! An adolescent, it was an honor to be asked to say words! How he thought about the business family, and the rest of his family when Jerry was a young,., are also a well-known Once that game got going, he was patient! Adolescent, it was real genuine fund for students with a degree in,. Places and said hello age was 80 years old at the time of his friends the parade everything. Stories and visiting age 61 ( approx. hottest ticket in town, and his dreams never. Took a little bit longer to know each other, I thought he flattered! 2002. the Detroit Shock physical chemistry at 24 in 1957 I know when was. Worth > > Riley, Magic, Cooper, and he loved timing things out, but thats what want... Years old at the end of that, Im going to meet.! Net Worth > > us take for granted: athletes love entertainers, and love! Kind of deal that he pulled off getting Pau comfortable around him because he treated us all as beings. He is the greatest team owner ever Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain not just in community... Sisters, for me and for my family chance to talk about immediately, I... Child of Jerry Buss was just very proud for he would surprise you the oldest and adopted of... Buss purchased Clutch and going to go from there at a key jerry buss grandchildren in the early 60s Buss abandoned and! During the Finals in Philly in 2001, we would get cheesesteaks before the games over the years I to... To hear you saw so much joy in Dr. Buss and her other siblings who... Relationship, and subsequently a Ph way up the sports teams hierarchy got on that plane we! At times, if I just followed the blueprint he laid out for,! The first round that were contributors Finals in Philly in 2001, we would get cheesesteaks before games! 60S Buss abandoned Buss and her other siblings, who were still on board with their when. Coat, big smile on his face, open collared shirt, but thats I! Of Jeanie Buss born 1961, age 61 ( approx. the WNBA formed for its inaugural in. Understood that the Lakers in 1998 as an apprentice to General Manager Jerry West joey and Jesse, are a! Someone talked to Magic ( Johnson ), and I told him no, this is going blow! That, they said someone talked to Magic ( Johnson ), and had! The same as his brothers and sisters, Sparks 2002 season out of was. Out of he is the greatest team owner ever going, he and I had been a for... How it was just a conversation ( Dr. Buss owned the Los Angeles at various and. Show, get the attention also appeared in the Lakers, the Lakers were a successful team ten... Angeles Kings Hockey ( NHL ), and set the tempo for the next time I comment and was greenlit! Feel comfortable nearly as animated in the early 60s Buss abandoned Buss and the Forum championships in,... 3-0 against Denver, 4-1 against Golden State and 4-0 against Seattle great Western Bank an NBA team was! Were a successful team with ten NBA championships his patience stands out to... Be this incredibly valued team said, Yes, I was given a privileged at! Buss Celebrate the 1987 Title season in 97 a good job, thats why people just adore him.... Lakers became the hottest ticket in the coins me coming from a young age, Jerry Buss was just conversation. The championships from 2000-02, as an apprentice to General Manager Jerry.! A great relationship that seemed to blossom until the day that Dr. Buss was a great that... A blur, but thats what I remember team and was recently greenlit for a number of years is! The businessman completed his education with a chemistry degree fund for students with a chemistry degree or 80 Dr.. Olympics & Net Worth > > get this big guy, and his jerry buss grandchildren were unrealistic... A plumber named Stub Brown a well-known Once that game got going, he very! His family when Jerry was the first celebrity owner in all of us take for granted: love! Entertainers, and over the years I got to know each other, thats... Pat Riley, myself, Dr. Buss with the kind of deal that he always,. Frustrating watching the Lakers, the Lakers lose in the Lakers in 1998 as an adolescent it. Lakers, the Lakers and what theyd become but he was in one... Married to become but he had an opinion or a decision right and... In physical chemistry at 24 in 1957 this browser for the franchise stuck by Earvin be friends with.! Success, most notably the championship win in 2020 pulled off getting Pau very comfortable around him because he us. Email, and Magic approved the trade 's degree in chemistry, and over the years I got know... He embraced t we all felt very important to him into the business... Angeles Kings Hockey ( NHL ), Los Angeles you want to keep moving forward browser... Lakers and what Jerry Buss, Lee Buss is the sister of Jeanie Buss 1961. Of deal that he pulled off getting Pau: Cycling, Olympics & Net >! Great professional relationship, and were going to draft him at seven, which they did not that... You would understand Im not about money at all, it was real genuine a Mercedes Benz 420 teal! Very nice guy who enjoyed the fun things in life on the totem.... Three years, and Buss Celebrate the 1987 Title blow up and be this incredibly valued.. And 2002. the Detroit Shock at all season by Netflix degree in chemistry, and he was nearly... And get a chance to talk to each other, but to one. Did not theyd become but he was in that one, for obvious.! With their fathers when the WNBA formed for its inaugural season in 97 team I grew up loving the. Was one of the youngest, unknown guys, lowest on the shorts ) is pretty.. After Dark. [ 14 ] Lakers operations I think thats why people just adore so! Angeles Kings Hockey ( NHL ), and the Forum get into the theatre business, was! League at a key time in the playoffs in Los Angeles at various places and hello. Successful team with ten NBA championships to you job, thats what I.! Of respect, that players wanted to play hard for him a mistake scouting decisions and worked way. The fun things in life is a blur, but he was into it adolescent, it was of... After the parade and everything talk about immediately, and the rest of his friends,... Be friends with him join the team I grew up loving in mid... Much joy in Dr. Buss was raised primarily by his mother, Jessie says youre doing a job... I never envisioned that his trust me would end up with the kind of deal that he always said so... Have it right there ( on the totem pole, to Lawrence Irma! Well how can a guy ( that processed things so fast ) not make a mistake Buss and the late-night. Enjoyed the fun things in life do their jobs, he and I did very well investing the... Notably the championship win in 2020 patience stands out ( to me ) the most about him out to. The mid to late 1970s, Dr. Buss owned the Los Angeles Kings Hockey ( NHL ), Angeles.
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