RIP Dr. Jerry Buss

[HammerDown]

 

[starbigd]

WHOA

 

[HammerDown]

In better times...

 

[HammerDown]

And...

 

[beardown07]

Damn, I knew he was getting up there, and admittedly don't follow BBall like I used to, but I don't believe I'd ever heard anything about his health declining? As someone who follows em' HD was this something fans were somewhat expecting? I had heard nothing, so it seems like kind of a shock...I realize he was 80 and all...but still..

 

[HammerDown]

Seems like all the 18 yr old girls would have kept him young but he was a very old 80. He had been in declining health due to cancer and had been in the hospital for months in ICU.

 

[beardown07]

Seems like all the 18 yr old girls would have kept him young but he was a very old 80. He had been in declining health due to cancer and had been in the hospital for months in ICU.

Did not know this...thx

 

[starbigd]

10 titles......SHOWTIME......this cat innovated the game, and built a dynasty like no other. He will be missed. We need more Jerry Buss's in this league and less Donald Sterlings

 

[beardown07]

10 titles......SHOWTIME......this cat innovated the game, and built a dynasty like no other. He will be missed. We need more Jerry Buss's in this league and less Donald Sterlings

werd

 

[HammerDown]

Anyone who thinks that Jerry Buss simply made another shrewd real estate investment by purchasing the Lakers and fell into a good thing should read about the state of the franchise when he took it over. Jack Kent Cooke's style would have resulted in nothing but losing and a cloud of negativity. Magic wouldn't have lasted in LA more than a few seasons.

 

[BF4L]

RIP

 

[whyoh]

RIP, Mr. Wyoming alum Lakers owner, sir

 

[wildturkey]

Thought this might happen over the weekend when reports came out Thursday that he was in ICU. Like Hammer said, he had been in and out of the hospital for months. No official reports said how bad he was but if you followed the Lakers dirt sheets, you sort of knew it was a matter of time. Sad indeed.

Dr. Buss is the greatest owner in all of team sports. What he did for not just his team but for the league in general is matched by no one. Business wise he took the Lakers franchise in 1979 valued at 16 mil and today Forbes has it valued over 1 billion. Think about that for a second. By virtue of that success, the NBA itself benefited. His franchise was the rising tide that floated all other boats so to speak. Because of his stewardship, other franchises in small markets could be profitable from the popularity growth of the sport due to LA and to revenue sharing.

He revolutionized the fan experience as well. You just didn't go to a Lakers game, you went to a Lakers experience. He turned a basketball team into a world recognized brand. And apparently he was just as good in person as he was at business. While other owners with similar success get negative press (think Steinbrenner or Jones), you've never heard any ill will towards Buss.

He will be missed greatly but his presence he left on the league will be felt for years to come

 

[HammerDown]

Yes, he ultimately contrived and built Showtime with Jerry West a most able accomplice. The stars aligned perfectly when Boston put their team together and the NBA arose from the ashes to result in the greatest decade of basketball we'll ever see in our lifetime.

It will be interesting to see where the Lakers go from here with Jr. in charge and estranged from Jeanie. I foresee some rebuilding unless something extraordinary happens. I just can't help thinking though that Kobe is probably one of the very last superstars to play their entire career with one team.

 

[wildturkey]

The kids aren't entirely estranged. Jeanie runs the business side of the Lakers. Jim's roll is in basketball operations. So they have to have some sort of interaction. I know their relationship has been icy of late but maybe this will warm things up with them

 

[HammerDown]

Videos from the Jerry Buss Memorial are starting to show up on YouTube.com

jerry buss service - YouTube

 

[HammerDown]

Without a doubt, the best is Jerry West. If you only watch one, watch him.

 

[wildturkey]

Was the service televised? I didn't see any clips on the major sports shows or websites.