At that point, we seemed unbeatable. Buss had four children with his wife, JoAnn Mueller: Johnny, Jim, Jeanie and Janie. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. We won that as a group. The Lakers are on fire. I remember the locker room celebration with Dr. Buss after we won Game 6 in L.A., and he was just like the rest of us sitting at the bar just talking and kibitzing. Buying the Forum, Lakers, Kings and other properties was the largest sports transaction at that time. From his home in Northridge, Johnny Buss asked his young sons to give him a moment so he could make a phone call. When the deal was complete that Dr. Buss bought the Lakers, we had lunch, and we hung out for the whole weekend. But they dont know what happened behind the scenes, and thats what we wanted to show, is what goes on after the game and the effect that winning has on people, on a family.. Ten championships? The thing he taught me the best is that he maximized his days. Im sure he had a lot of good conversations with Kobe at that time that helped him get his feet on the ground. It was like family. I just felt like with the passing of Dr. Buss, they need to understand what it means to wear this uniform. 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. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. Previously, she spent six years covering football, first for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla., then the Houston Chronicle and ESPN. Since Joey and Jesse were little, wed go to the card shop and buy basketball cards, and (Dr. Buss) would love to quiz them on the players. Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss was born on Jan. 27, 1933, in Salt Lake City. I just think he did a great job with the opportunity that he had, and his vision has really benefitted the game. And I was happy to be a part of it, because Jack Kent Cooke, as great a businessman as he was, he was tough. Because he found out very quick that I was very serious about winning, and he respected that. Not just the owner-player, employer-employee relationship. It was an honor to be able to be asked to say some words. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. He was doing it because it was truly his passion. He leaves behind six children, eight grandchildren, a former wife, two half-siblings and a step-brother. What a unique talent he was. Or to USC football games. You dont know when you make the commitment whats going to happen. That was a big thing for both of us. It wasnt owner-player, it was two guys hanging out. So he went to Jerry West, and said, weve got to get somebody to come and get us back to winning. Theyd fax over every scenario they had for Shaq trades. We had a bunch of guys who were great guys that all knew their roles, and they werent out seeking attention for themselves. I had been a coach for three years, and I told him no, this is not something I should do. The first time I met him was in 1987 after I was hired, and Dr. Buss said, You come with a good recommendation Chickie Baby has recommended you highly. 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 wanted to make sure that the Lakers, what hed created with the winning, and what they meant to the community, would continue. Meghan Markle. 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. Magic was perfect for that. After Jerry's death, his children took up various roles within the organization, with Jeanie Buss ultimately becoming the president and controlling owner of the Lakers.She was only 17 when her father bought the team, and she held various managerial roles over the years, with the team winning the title in 2020. Thats when I learned, in my life, you can tell a lot about someone with how they treat someone else that can do nothing for them. But Buss was wise to plan early for the team and make his wishes specific and legally binding. He had a brilliant mind, and he made a fortune in real estate because he was able to see the opportunity and bring everything together, and thats how he built his wealth. You wanted to give him a little extra. 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. Im sitting there wondering what the hell is going on. Theres a picture I have in my office where guys are grabbing his shoulders, throwing champagne on him, Im messing his hair up. LOVIN' IT! I think that was the only ring that he wore, when we beat Boston the first time. So theyre chatting one time, and he says, Hey, would you like to put your name on the building? They say, How would that work? Dr. Buss says, Well, youre going to pay me, wed agree upon a price, and it would become the Great Western Forum. And boom. 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.) The Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal tandem brought three more titles in the early 2000s. He was thinking of Kobe. Buss also owned other professional sports franchises in Southern California. He spent two years convincing Cooke to sell him the team, in May of 1979. He would call me in some days and hed say Hey, hey, be a coach. He really was. I remember growing up in the 1990s, and often losing to the best teams in the West, like the Supersonics, and then the Jazz. You have cap space and you go for big stars, but that was something my dad was going to outline the blueprint for. I dont think theres any thrill in it. Create a franchise that was worth billions., Follow Tania Ganguli on Twitter @taniaganguli. When I wanted to get into the theatre business, he was the one who connected me with everybody. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. In 1985, before we left (L.A. after Game 5), I told the dudes only take one set of clothes. This is two days after the parade and everything. But when we did speak and get a chance to talk to each other, I thought it was real genuine. Ten titles. After all of this, not only have I resigned from [the Lakers], Ive resigned from being a member of the Buss family, Johnny says. It was the first time we actually felt a part of something. His ex-wife owns a portion of the team but does not have the ability to vote on a sale. You werent just a spreadsheet to him. On the 18th February 2013, Dr. Jerry Buss passed away. Jerry was soft spoken, he had a great charm about him, and was just a unique person who believed in me for a long time, and I dont think in my life Ive ever had anybody who was as straight forward with me as him. Dr. Buss was someone who really cared about other people, and I think that same tradition of loyalty of friendship has filtered down to his children. 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. He was a great guy and someone who I really cared about a lot. He really showed that. I was just looking at my dad in awe, with how incredible that was. Jerry Buss was an American businessman who began his professional career as a chemist and worked at the Bureau of Mines (presently known as the Mine Safety and Health Administration). I thought he was kidding. Jerry Buss (Gerald Hatten Buss) was born on 27 January, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, is a Miscellaneous. And little did we know wed be teammates months later extremely serendipitous. Most people at that level were pretty standoffish. "With him, it's never been about putting money in his pocket. And then at the end of that, they said someone talked to Magic (Johnson), and Magic approved the trade. Coincidentally, I went to work out the next morning, and I was looking for gyms out there. and his wife, JoAnn, had four children: Johnny, Jimmy, Jeanie. His beloved Lakers made it to the Finals 16 times nearly half of his 33 seasons and won 10 championships while missing the playoffs only twice. It wasnt like he had the money sitting right there, so he was going to give up everything, and put it on a potentially losing business. 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. 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. Thats why when hed make a decision, hed take the time to explain to me the thought process behind it, so Id always know where that decision was coming from and why he believed in particular. He really, really, really enjoyed the game of soccer. 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. The league wasnt faring that well prior to 1979, for whatever the reasons were, so whether it was Magic, Dr. Buss or a combination of things that coincided with their arrival, it helped save this league and helped pave the way for all of us to do what we do today. That was a big part of growing up for all of us. That was my reaction. Hed always end the discussion with something like, Mitch, thats my opinion but youre the expert and Ill trust your judgment. Now, the one thing that was unique about him, if it ever involved numbers, I never saw him ever write anything down or calculate anything in shorthand or with a calculator or anything like that. It was incredible. Our 1987 team was just loaded, so we expected to win every game in the playoffs. He had it all memorized in his head. It was this big weight had been taken off of his back. Thats when we found out about his enlarged aortic root. Johnny Buss, owner of the Ice House Comedy Club and co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, poses for a photo in front of a new neon sign inside the establishment's lobby in Pasadena, on Friday, Feb . We talked for about an hour and a half, two hours, and I decided to believe in him, and he believed in me. 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. This is a year after Id left, and I remember we had dinner up on Sunset Boulevard, and Id signed this humongous contract, or at that time it was, and he looked me in the eye and said, Read my lips, do you realize how much money that is? He tried to put things in perspective as to what I was about ready to do in New York, and what they were going to pay me, and that I deserved it, I earned it, everything that Id done in Los Angeles he was proud of, and he was proud that Chris and I could go to New York and start our careers over again there. I know youre going to shoot straight. He would listen to Jerry (West), Phil but then hed get the confirmation from me. So I was just wandering around, and I walked right by this one man who was wearing jeans and maybe an old sports jacket. Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 18, 2013 So Jerry picked me up at the airport in his 944 Porsche. 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.. But I hadnt seen him yet. Buss later sold the Kings, retaining ownership of the Lakers and The Forum. It was very personal with him. He hired good people and he let them do their jobs, he trusted them. He did not yell and scream at me. site map Jerry Buss has six children, one of whom is Jeanie Buss. 1 seed in West, Another Trevor Bauer defamation suit is thrown out. He had thought about it. The takeaway is that we all have to be good, well-rounded people. Dr. Buss calls down there, and he says, Coop did you get your thing. I said, What are you talking about? Dr. Buss had given me a brand new Mercedes * with six miles on it for me winning Defensive Player of the Year. And so, when I became an assistant coach because of Jack McKinneys injury, and then all of a sudden I became the head coach on an interim basis, and Jerry Buss thinking and probably speaking to Jerry West about, Im going to turn over a $100 million asset to a guy whos never, ever coached and Jerry (West) and I had a good relationship, but I dont think he thought that I had the chops to really be a head coach. Some of it is a blur, but thats what I remember. (Jessie later remarried when Jerry was 12 years old.). Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Having him around, you always felt support. Im like the janitor, pretty much. He absolutely loved it, because Jesse would know every single stat about every single player. Im not going to tell them what trade to make. Click here to Start FameChaining. Wed talk about business. 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. Showtime was on fire, And now Hollywood is coming out in droves to see the Lakers. We all understood that, we all knew that, we were all for it. The whole way, hed keep track on his watch, and we had to get there on the dot at 12:00. If I was offended by the book, or what my feelings were. 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. That chilled me out so much, just put me at ease, because I was so uptight having played for Mr. Cooke Dr. Buss was just such a great boss to play for. He lived a true rags-to-riches story, as he learned the value of hard work at a young age. So its strange to have a guy whos your mentor, father figure and best friend all rolled into one And then when Jeanie called me (to share the news that he had passed away (one of the) toughest days in my life. He focused on the team's marketing, commissioned the Laker Girls, and had movie stars appear in the crowd during games. We were just sitting there talking, and that was a pretty special moment. Dr. Buss paid out of his own pocket for a million-dollar surgery to save the kids life, not knowing if hed ever play basketball. Buss said this or Dr. Buss was an inaugural member of the USC College Board of Councilors. As a child, Buss spent time in Los Angeles and Kemmerer, Wyo. And so, I had to trust him. To speak about what Dr. Buss meant to the Lakers and to basketball, to the NBA, period. Johnny never fully dove into his familys sports holdings, but he stuck around while his father lived. A teacher doesnt turn off the student with a tone of voice. Worthy, Riley, Magic, Cooper, and Buss Celebrate the 1987 Title. I was a little uptight, and didnt really know what to expect, so my first impression just totally relaxed me. I will miss her and send my deepest sympathy to the family.. If you knew me you would understand Im not about money at all. Thats why its such an important part of his formula for success, and why its important to find that winning formula and to continue to keep the team focused on winning, and thats what Im trying to do. If you got up five miles over the speed limit, hed say, What are you doing? Really low key and very friendly. Because when the Lakers were playing, the men got the stage and the platform. Once that game got going, he was into it. Jeanie was always going to be slated as running the business side for as long as she lived, Johnny said. Jerry Buss Children Johnny Buss born 1956, age 66 (approx.) And I know when it was all done, Dr. Buss was just very proud. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. That helped motivate you to want to keep doing that. He inspired the Lakers' Showtime era with his vision that basketball games must be entertaining. He just said he was going to get (expletive) done. He was not nearly as animated in the other championships as he was in that one, for obvious reasons. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to St. John Lutheran Church and Cottonwood Hospice both in Beatrice and Gold Crest Center in Adams. We didnt tell Mitch (Kupchak), we didnt tell anybody about that. It was a remarkable experience that Ill remember forever. Image. 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. Id played the whole season with a torn ligament. (Jerry and JoAnn divorced in 1972.) When he said that on the podium at the Forum, we were just trying to celebrate the previous title, but he knew what he was doing. Buss graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor's degree. He would do math tricks when we were going places all the time. I played two years for Mr. Cooke, so I could really see the difference (right away). And teams like the Spurs were getting guys late in the first round that were contributors. Because Id worked on prior events like Championship parades and so on, event mode planning started. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. Their parents divorced in 1972, leaving Buss feeling emotionally abandoned. We talked about where we came from, what our lives were like, and in a lot of respects we had some similarities in our lives. Geni requires JavaScript! Jeanie Buss, the teams governor and controlling owner has made clear the Lakers are not for sale. Thats not normal for most owners. In any industry, when your boss says youre doing a good job, thats what you want to hear. Finally, during the draft, Charlotte took him, and we were able to acquire Kobes rights. Johnny was previously married to Christy Curtis Buss and has at least two sons. Wed celebrate, have the parade, have a party, and then hed go to Vegas. The 11 years that I was coaching as an assistant and head coach, that team went to the NBA Finals eight or nine times and we won five championships, probably should have won two more. And he loved Italian food. 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. And I would come back in town, and we would see each other. My dad had his children, but the Lakers were his baby. Unless you were John Wooden, you couldnt win every year, so he had some realistic expectations about some things that could happen even to dynastic teams. He was that fast. But before we start streaming, let's learn a few things about the man who brought "Showtime" to Los Angeles. He left the organization in good hands Jeanie is a great owner, too. I remember the first game that we played in Michigan*, at the Silver Dome, and it was a home game for us. It was one of my finest moments. Janie and Joey Buss replaced them. why was waylon jennings buried in mesa az; chop pediatric residency He would listen to things. [2] I cant imagine coming into the league at 18 in a grown mans world. Then he started to go to Italy for a month. He loved to play cards, and wed talk about the season, and then what we could do to get the team better. We talked about where he was at in his life the Lakers we covered everything. Every championship, wed go celebrate away from everybody. It was a long time before the other franchises got wise like that. Although not much is known about Buss partners, he was married from 1983 to 1985 and is a father. One story showed how appreciative he was for the work that he did, and for playing hard for the city of Los Angeles. academy of western music; mucinex loss of taste and smell; william fuld ouija board worth. So all we could do was try to stay together and do what he asked us to do and that was to make as much money as possible. He was also a country singer who performed at dive bars, among his favorite jobs. He called Jerry, and it was done. Hes already done the math in his head. Jeanie (Buss) was just 19 years old, or 18 years old. 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. AFTER purchasing the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, Dr Jerry Buss started a legacy that still continues to this day. He wasnt born in Los Angeles, but it was his home, and he loved it here. He taught me everything. He basically created premium seating, and nobody else was doing this stuff at the time. Dr. Buss created that. with JoAnn Buss Joey Buss born 1985, age 37 (approx.) 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.. Once you dealt with the media, you get on with your life. He went from playing, to (working with) Chick, to assistant coach to a head coach in what, two and a half years? 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