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Jerry Buss dead at 80...

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A

Adam Blade

WWKC
As per ESPN.

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. He was 80.

Buss died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said Bob Steiner, his assistant. Buss been hospitalized for cancer, but the immediate cause of death was kidney failure, Steiner said.

Under Buss' ownership, the Lakers won NBA titles in 1980, '82, '85, '87, '88, 2000, '01, '02, '09 and '10. Among the all-time greats who played for the Lakers during Buss' tenure were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Worthy tweeted on Monday, "Condolences to the Buss family. Dr Buss was not only the greatest sports owner, but a true friend & just a really cool guy. Loved him dearly."

Buss was credited with introducing "Showtime" to Los Angeles, bringing entertaining basketball to the Entertainment Capital of the World. He once said his goal was to make the Lakers synonymous with Los Angeles, which had been a Dodgers town up until the time he bought the team. Most would say he succeeded.

"RIP Jerry Buss. Your encouragement and support along with your stories of staying true to yourself had an enormous impact on me," tweeted Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Buss bought the Lakers -- along with the Los Angeles Kings, the Forum and real estate in central California, from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979 for $67.5 million. Forbes magazine now estimates the Lakers are worth $1 billion, second to the New York Knicks among NBA franchises.

Recently, Buss had passed the day-to-day operation of the teams on to his children, Jim (who oversees basketball operations) and Jeanie (who oversees the business side of the franchise). He was involved, however, in the offseason acquisition of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, and with the inseason coaching move of Mike Brown's firing and Mike D'Antoni's hiring.

Buss reportedly had been hospitalized several times in the past two years. The Lakers confirmed he was in the hospital in December 2011 for blood clots in his leg, which they said was caused by excessive travel.

He has not attended a game this season.

Buss graduated from USC, where he received a doctorate in physical chemistry. He was born in Salt Lake City and attended the University of Wyoming as an undergraduate.

Buss was born on Jan. 27, 1933 as Gerald Hatten Buss. He made his money in real estate, starting with a $1,000 investment in a Los Angeles-area apartment building. At one point in his life, he owned Pickfair Mansion in Beverly Hills, a famous estate once owned by actress Mary Pickford.

He also was a noted poker player, making frequent trips to Las Vegas as well as local casinos. He was third in the 1991 World Series of Poker seven-card stud event.
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RIP.
 
G

greatestjediever

Member
RIP.

Got a chance to meet him in person once in his box suite a few years back during a Lakers/Mavs game (friend of friend played poker with him and got us in). Didn't say much, but seemed like a decent guy.
 
M

Meier

Member
Wow, that's sad news. I hate the Lakers but Buss always came across as a classy guy. I am sure they will continue to flourish.
 
R

ReturnOfTheRAT

Member
The investment paid of incredibly. That's how you turn a purchase into a goldmine. The success speaks for itself.

I also hope his passing helps to meld the issues within the Buss family.

RIP Jerry Buss.
 
G

Grover Cleveland

Member
RIP to the greatest owner in the history of sports.

Not a Laker fan in the slightest, but I hope Jim doesn't piss on everything his father built. Doing things like not signing the best available coach because he's dating your sister, that kind of thing.
 
G

GamePnoy74

Member
Thank you, Dr. Buss. ='(

CMUJO1U.jpg


swag, yo.

(Originally posted this in the NBA thread)
 
F

Fenderputty

Banned
Grover Cleveland said:
RIP to the greatest owner in the history of sports.

Not a Laker fan in the slightest, but I hope Jim doesn't piss on everything his father built. Doing things like not signing the best available coach because he's dating your sister, that kind of thing.
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He's just waiting to get him on the cheap after Phil has been married into the family. Believe.
 
S

See You Next Wednesday

Banned
Meier said:
Wow, that's sad news. I hate the Lakers but Buss always came across as a classy guy. I am sure they will continue to flourish.
Click to expand...

rvy said:
Because God knows Jim is fucking everything up.

Wonder if Phil is allowed at the service.
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In Phil Jacksons book, on his last season with Shaq & Kobe, he wrote how Dr. Buss was in his mid 70's & hanging out/dating with much younger girls/teens in nightclubs & that he should act his age.
I'm guessing that had to do with a lot of animosity with them & not wanting Phil back.
 
G

GaimeGuy

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16
Ken Masters said:
that would be Peter Holt, wining 4 titles in small market of SA is more impressive then 16 in LA where every player would want to live



RIP Jerry Buss
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The Lakers have 17 NBL/BAA/NBA championships, 6 of which were won while they were in Minneapolis.
 
K

Ken Masters

Banned
GaimeGuy said:
The Lakers have 17 NBL/BAA/NBA championships, 6 of which were won while they were in Minneapolis.
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So as an owner he has only 10, only proves my point why Peter Holt is the better owner


Imagine if the Spurs, who can't get a free agent to save their life, was in a New York or LA. They don't have location to fall back on while having the highest wining % in all of pro sports in America for the last decade.
 
Amory

Amory

Member
One of the great owners in pro sports

He and Al Davis were some creepy looking dudes near their respective ends though, my god.
 
F

Forceatowulf

G***n S**n*bi
He was the greatest owner in sports.... feels bad man... especially after how horrible this season is going. Fuck everything. This shit isn't right. God damn I had so many good times because of what this man built.

I feel like I just got slapped in the face. =/
 
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