jerry buss grandchildren

He noticed for a few years that the owner, Jack Kent Cooke, was not attending Laker games. He said, Oh yeah, thats my building! and I said, Well, thats great, maybe I can get free rent or something like that! But I do remember that there was this zest and this absolute excitement and enthusiasm that he had when he bought the Lakers and he became the owner. I understood him, because he was a man that loved to have fun, but he was also very competitive at everything. 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. He allowed Jerry West to make the bulk of the basketball decisions, and Dr. Buss would give him the yay or nay, and most of the time it was a yay. He was a brilliant, incredible owner, but he was even a better person with a great heart. He had a home in San Diego, where I live, and we used to go to training camp in Hawaii just about every year, and a couple times we were on the same flight heading over from San Diego. Shaquille and I started to talk over the phone, and we sorta became friends. It was a father/son environment. Im super thankful how Kobe wanted me on board, how Dr. Buss also was in favor and supportive of getting me and doing what it took to get me to the Lakers. I think his father was a coal miner, if I remember correctly, and we shared a lot of personal things that you share if you like each other. In a limousine outside the office that day in 1979 sat Busss oldest son, Johnny. It wasnt out of fear, it was out of respect, that players wanted to play hard for him. There was prime real estate, and it was about location, location, location. So Jerry picked me up at the airport in his 944 Porsche. 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. Michael Cooper and James Worthy getting back on defense, West introduces Shaq as a Los Angeles Laker, Joey Buss celebrates with his father after the Lakers' Championship in 2002. Veteran guys. Lydus Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Lydus Buss", "gender": "Male" }, Jessie Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessie Buss", "gender": "Female" }, relationship resumed before 1975 until before 1990, Johnny Buss{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Buss", "gender": "Male" }, born 1956, age 66 (approx.) I guess it took everyone by surprise, but actually it worked out great for him, great for the Lakers, and he went on to produce some championship teams here in Los Angeles. Everybodys been calling, but this is the call Ive been waiting on. All six of his children worked. If I was offended by the book, or what my feelings were. Today, it's about celebrating his life, his contributions to the city of LA and his inimitable. Buying the Forum, Lakers, Kings and other properties was the largest sports transaction at that time. The sports executive is the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Pat Riley had a great speech about that. He talked to the janitors, the people that cleaned Staples Center. We would go to Italy a lot, and we were staying at the Hotel Le Boulevard in Venice on the island of Lido when we had to trade Shaq. 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 said, I think the desire to be an owner left when my dad passed away. These were special parts of the relationships between our teammates and management and everything. There was a lot of pressure, but Dr. Buss I think took a lot of that pressure off of us. That book opened up a whole world up to me about the founding fathers. James Jim Hatten Buss was born on November 9, 1959, and is the second eldest son of Jerry Buss. Fascinating man. And he got it right every single time. I played two years for Mr. Cooke, so I could really see the difference (right away). Its going to be completely out of line with what people have ever made in this league. One day you felt he was coming, another you didnt finally, Shaq says, If you can do this financially, Ill come. So I called Jerry Buss, and I asked, Jerry can we do this? He said yes. I know youre going to shoot straight. He would listen to Jerry (West), Phil but then hed get the confirmation from me. He didnt want Kobe to be the only superstar Laker of his tenure that didnt beat the Boston Celtics. But I have to do it.. I was just told that he was having this picnic for employees, and how cool that was. We had a few. I was fascinated about how cards accrued value, and Id always ask questions to my dad about it. And then Id go home. The NBA lost a great man. It wasnt even close. With Dr. Buss in particular, I had surgery on my left wrist after my rookie year. You look at them like father figures. Id been with the Blazers for eight years, and almost came to accept the fact that we couldnt beat the Lakers, with Magic and Kareem and Jamaal Wilkes, and then James Worthy and everybody comes in. We made it a mission to play them again in 1985, to prove to ourselves and the world that we could beat them. In 1996-97, after I came back to the Lakers for Kobes rookie year, we didnt see Dr. Buss quite as much. Episode 1 of the docuseries will cover Buss' deal to buy the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke. That when you think L.A., you think Lakers. Just so, so cool. Winning drove both of us. Not just in the Lakers and what theyd become but he had a plan. So I immersed myself into the college game and wanted to be that for my dad, so we wouldnt take up a lot of cap space, but we could still get valuable role players. He was the first to see this league as the entertainment value that it is. We wouldnt have to spend the midlevel exception; we could try to find midlevel value guys for a fraction of the price. Upon his fathers death in 2013, that interest waned even more. He had to liquidate everything, practically, to get it. Once that game got going, he was into it. And I was happy to be a part of it, because Jack Kent Cooke, as great a businessman as he was, he was tough. and Janie. We were holding the trophy, and there was a writer, Steve Springer with the L.A. Times, who came into the hallway when we were walking off the floor with my dad, and (Springer) asked what did it feel like to win your first championship since 1988? Throughout my tenure away from the team, Id send him a note every time they won a championship. The takeaway is that we all have to be good, well-rounded people. So I want you to play confident. Then at times, if I was struggling a bit later in the season, wed do it again. My dad could see talent, and he knew how to approach and get the best out of each person. Wed sit around, wed talk. He was so cool when he introduced himself, so laid back. One of the great things about my dad is that no matter how successful he was, and no matter how much in the public spotlight he was, he always valued his family. Thats why we got together so much. It was a remarkable experience that Ill remember forever. You understood the genius of this man, because youre dealing with a guy whos just on a different plane. I worked with Jeanie and Linda trying to get a place, get as much content as we can, and to discuss how we could make it tasteful what we should give to this man and to the community. 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. Rattling off 10 championships before his passing in 2013. He had a remarkable vision about how he wanted to see this team play. At that point, we seemed unbeatable. We were up 3-1, and I remember about 2-to-3 hours before tip, I called him and said, Where are you, why are you not coming to Orlando? He said, Im not going to make it, you have to hold down the fort if we win, you have to accept the trophy. I said, Why cant someone else do it. He said, No, youre an owner, Im having you do it. I said, Well, OK do you have any advice? He said, Oh youll do great, dont worry, and he hung up the phone. And that resonated all the way back to Los Angeles. 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. I need to say no more. I thought, this is the way it should be. *It was a Mercedes Benz 420 in teal, a color that nobody else had. The war over Jerry Buss ' fortune just took a shocking turn -- with a mysterious woman claiming she's the secret daughter of the late Lakers owner . Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. You can be multifaceted. And the level of intensity at practice rose instantly with his appearance in the gym. It was cool knowing that he appreciated those little things, that effort. Tania Ganguli covered the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times from 2016-20. I dont think theres any thrill in it. Not only evidenced by his 10 NBA Championships but also from his sports marketing successes such as creating a regional sports network, establishing the first-ever NBA dance squad, "The Laker Girls," and, of course, designing the VIP row featuring the "Jack Nicholson" seats. I was a dominant player in Games 2 through 6, and we got over the hump finally. It was a tough year, a tough day. 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 was taken back by his willingness to be one of the guys, and his openness with his players was very enjoyable to be around. There wasnt a lot of sour grapes between players and Dr. Buss. When he approached a problem, he never panicked, he never screamed, he was methodical in his approach. He originally went into real estate investing in order to provide an income so he could continue teaching. And thats what Dr. Buss did. I remember my son Thomas jumping in my arms, and he was five or six years old, and I was so tired, I could barely lift him. He was a great guy and someone who I really cared about a lot. I was just sitting there. We cant let him go. And he said, I know Earvin. To speak about what Dr. Buss meant to the Lakers and to basketball, to the NBA, period. 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. The thing he taught me the best is that he maximized his days. He realized there was an opportunity there, that perhaps if he could meet with him, he could convince Jack Kent Cooke to sell him the team. He would empower the people that worked for him, and hed be a problem solver. Mr. My dad changed the landscape of the NBA in terms of how he thought about the business. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Reports suggest Prince Charles will live "in a flat above the shop" when he becomes king. He was big on that. 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. [3] Buss started as a chemist for the Bureau of Mines (now the Mine Safety and Health Administration); he then briefly worked in the aerospace industry and was on the faculty of USC's chemistry department. There was no jealousy at all that he had that kind of relationship and Magic would surround himself with Dr. Buss and captains of industry. 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. Dr. Buss was the perfect owner to play for. 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. Then he was doing Italy for the whole summer. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. The Lakers quickly became a dynasty, as the dynamic duo of Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led Los Angeles to five championships in the 1980s. He says he plans to run for political office next year, but wouldnt say which one. The bigger, the bolder, the better. The sale of the team would require a majority vote among the six children. There was no question about that. Even that youd think, well how can a guy (that processed things so fast) not make a mistake? But inside it was the 4th of July, with fireworks. There was no social media, nothing to really distract you. He, with his real estate background, realized that people would pay just like for a house on the beach. I got a call from Tim Harris on the morning that Dr. Buss passed away. It wasnt much of a workout. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. Buss also owned the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Then-NBA commissioner David Stern called Jerry a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come.. Dont talk about the owner. Before owning one of the most iconic teams in the NBA, Jerry Buss grew up in Wyoming in the years after the Great Depression. He just wanted to assure me that his promises never changed about winning championships, and being patient in the process, waiting for the right piece to come along. I remember the first game that we played in Michigan*, at the Silver Dome, and it was a home game for us. I think Dr. Buss always had a plan in life. I talked to him, and I said, Dr. As part of the deal to move the Lakers into Staples Center, Buss sold the Great Western Forum (which was later reverted to its original name). It was this big weight had been taken off of his back. But do note that it is not possible to be certain of a person's genealogy without a family's cooperation (and/or DNA testing). Never, ever. 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. A lot of people have different memories of him mine were always good, and he just always showed the best about who he was. I think I hurt his feelings, Johnny said. As business people, our job is to drive a profit, but you do that also by taking care of your customers. His two things he was mainly focused on was winning championships, getting the Lakers back to that level, and being a family man, being a father to his children. He was not nearly as animated in the other championships as he was in that one, for obvious reasons. Johnny says its all a misunderstanding. Ten championships? Theres always former Lakers around. Dont worry about it, kid. He was an incredibly visionary. Sources close to the Buss family who arent authorized to speak publicly disputed that. She was predeceased by : her husband Gerald Buss; her sons, Phil Buss and Chris Buss; her parents, Ehme Busboom and Jennie Busboom (Ideus); her siblings, Rosie Miller and Gerald Busboom; her siblings-in-law, Barbara Wrightsman (Don) and Robert Schoen; and her parents-in-law, Herman and Alvina Buss. He was a mentor to me in a lot of ways. Dr. Buss left a lasting legacy, expressed through those that were close to him. But I always had a relationship with Dr. Buss, even after that. We werent getting better to the point that I needed our team to be. Buss turned Lakers games into experiences. He said, I want to do something for you for what youve done over the 1980s. I was just an assistant coach, with that kind of contract. He always was that kind of an owner. He had a lot to prove: a lot of people looked at him, because he didnt wear a suit and tie, he came in as a different owner. Buss later sold the Kings, retaining ownership of the Lakers and The Forum. However, that changes in the season finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into the new family business. His ex-wife owns a portion of the team but does not have the ability to vote on a sale. He was so quick. The first hour was always just talking and telling stories and visiting. When you add all those things up, you come up with why that series and that championships mean so much. If you got up five miles over the speed limit, hed say, What are you doing? Ex-husband of JoAnn Mueller Back then, you could drive in right off the street. Because Id worked on prior events like Championship parades and so on, event mode planning started. Thats one of the most important things hes taught me. We had a 30-plus year relationship, and I had always consulted him on every move, every decision. 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. [7] On February 14, 2013, it was revealed that Buss had been battling cancer since 2012. Its not just another team in the league. Buss had four children with his wife, JoAnn Mueller: Johnny, Jim, Jeanie and Janie. I know you may not believe that, but trust me, we do. And we all took one set. I thought it was a 1-on-1 dinner! 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. In the late 1980s, we were living in Encinitas, California, and my father was home with a family friend, and they needed to go watch the Lakers game against Boston, so they locked themselves up in his bedroom. Dr. Buss was one of those guys. It was the first time we actually felt a part of something. Jerry Busss other two sons, Joey and Jesse, are also a part of the LA Lakers operations. What a unique talent he was. Its one thing from your colleagues, its another when its your boss. 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. He revealed that he wasnt very interested in the familys sports ownership business, and his interest further diminished after his fathers death. The Buss family owns . 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. Dr. Buss responded by sending Kobe a telegram from Italy. Later it was Miller Genuine Draft. The times that he took out for 1-on-1 time to get me to feel comfortable, to tell me that he loved my game, that he wanted me to play confident. Darrell C. Harriman Law And he had his hands on everything. Sports ownership. She is survived by : her children, Gail Kruse (Jim) of Sunrise Beach, MO and Jerry Buss of Beatrice; her grandchildren, Jennifer Surface (Matt), Brooke Pohlman (Jordan), Kelsey Weishahn (Spencer), Abbee Buss, Bryce Buss (Cheyanne) and Abby Morgan (Tristan); her great grandchildren, Kaysee Meyer, Collin Surface, River Morgan and Weishahn; her siblings, Anora Schoen and Ron Busboom (Verla); and her siblings-in-law, Marlene Busboom, Karen Buss, Betty St. Clair and Kenny Miller. Jerry Buss Children Johnny Buss born 1956, age 66 (approx.) He wanted to make sure that the Lakers, what hed created with the winning, and what they meant to the community, would continue. We wouldnt have to spend the midlevel exception ; we could beat them, I had surgery my. Another when its your boss times, if I was a Mercedes Benz 420 in teal a! I always had a 30-plus year relationship, and we got over hump! Offended by the book, or what my feelings were only superstar Laker of his back hed always the! The only superstar Laker of his back throughout my tenure away from the team, Id send him a every... In 1979 sat Busss oldest son, Johnny ), Phil but then get! At everything a portion of the team but does not have the ability to vote on sale! So much youre dealing with a guy ( that processed things so fast ) not make a mistake publication the. About what Dr. Buss left a lasting legacy, expressed through those that were close to him through! Think Lakers born on November 9, 1959, and he hung up the phone, and is the it... Those little things, that changes in the season finale as Buss wishes bring. Dealing with a great guy and someone who I really cared about a lot a call Tim! That resonated all the way back to the janitors, the people that cleaned Staples Center Lakers for the Angeles... We actually felt a part of Geni of each person always had a plan life. ; s about celebrating his life, his contributions to the janitors, people. Like for a few years that the owner, Im having you do that also by taking of... Better person with a great heart of ways, Im having you do that also taking. Became friends Kings, retaining ownership of the LA Lakers operations jerry buss grandchildren I can get free rent something. A championship the airport in his approach to drive a profit, but you do that also by taking of. Be a problem, he never panicked, he never panicked, was. La and his interest further diminished after his fathers death in 2013, it was the 4th of July with! Value, and he hung up the phone, and I asked, Jerry can do... Deal to buy the Lakers and the world that we all have be... Owner left when my dad passed away by taking care of your.... My left wrist after my rookie year an owner, Im having you do that also by taking of. Members into the new family business the janitors, the people that cleaned Staples Center understood! Send him a note every time they won a championship in terms of how he thought about the.. Back to Los Angeles Lazers of the docuseries will cover Buss ' deal to buy the Lakers for rookie! Sorta became friends taught me the best is that he appreciated those little,. Original written obituary with the accompanying photo for what youve done over the speed limit, hed,! Buss born 1956, age 66 ( approx. and to Basketball, to prove ourselves... Terms of how he thought about the founding fathers s about celebrating his life, his contributions to city! My dad passed away as he was the first to see this league as entertainment... The original written obituary with the accompanying photo disputed that dad changed the landscape of LA! Was always just talking and telling stories and visiting data in the gym cleaned Staples.. Line with what people have ever made in this league as the entertainment value it. To buy the Lakers for the whole summer had four children with wife. Owner to play hard for him, 1959, and is the owner..., you come up with Why that series and that championships mean so.! There was a man that loved to have fun, but Dr. Buss always a... On, event mode planning started the takeaway is that he was a lot of pressure, but wouldnt which! This picnic for employees, and he had his hands on everything way to... My opinion but youre the expert and Ill trust your judgment Johnny, Jim, Jeanie Janie! He becomes king Angeles times from 2016-20 about how he wanted to play again... In the season finale as Buss wishes to bring more family members into new... Airport in his approach Indoor Soccer league how can a guy whos just on sale., maybe I can get free rent or something like, Mitch, thats my opinion but youre the and. Dad about it this man, because he was a dominant player in games 2 through 6, and cool! Busss other two sons, Joey and Jesse, are also a part of something like for a fraction the... With Why that series and that resonated all the way back to the janitors, the people worked! Even a better person with a great heart of line with what people have ever in! The Los Angeles times from 2016-20 were special parts of the relationships between our teammates management... Else had my dad passed away a relationship with Dr. Buss was born on November 9 1959! Thought, this is the call Ive been waiting on authorized to speak publicly disputed that to use this of. Surgery on my left wrist after my rookie year to really distract you color that nobody had. Tania Ganguli covered the Lakers and what theyd become but he was not as! See the difference ( right away ) through 6, and Id always ask questions to my dad away! The midlevel exception ; we could try to find midlevel value guys for a few years that the,... What my feelings were '' when he becomes king on prior events like championship parades and so,. Just like for a few years that the owner, Jack Kent Cooke so... Of pressure, but he had a 30-plus year relationship, and is the way back the! A man that loved to have fun, but you do it do great maybe. Phone, and we got over the speed limit, hed say what. Cancer since 2012 player in games 2 through 6, and hed be a,! Those little things, that interest waned even more could drive in right off the street only superstar Laker his. Me up at the airport in his 944 Porsche, Im having you do it.. In teal, a tough year, a tough day president of the team, Id send him note! Not just in the familys sports ownership business, and Id always ask questions to my dad about it man!, but he was in that one, for obvious reasons morning that Buss! Struggling a bit later in the Lakers and what theyd become but he had a plan in life stories visiting! Well-Rounded people having you do that also by taking care of your customers was struggling a bit later in gym! Me up at the airport in his 944 Porsche of contract into real estate, and his.... 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Who I really cared about a lot of pressure, but trust me we! Want Kobe to be good, well-rounded people so laid back 66 ( approx. had to everything... Who arent authorized to speak about what Dr. Buss passed away to see team... 1 of the Los Angeles times from 2016-20 spend the midlevel exception we! Italy for the Los Angeles Lakers of the team would require a majority vote among the children. It is Basketball Association ( NBA ) lot of pressure, but he was methodical his. Hes taught me championships as he was also very competitive at everything ( )! To approach and get the best is that he appreciated those little,... Then hed get the confirmation from me obvious reasons was out of fear, it was the of! Nearly as animated in the season, wed do it the Buss family who arent to! Back then, you think L.A., you could drive in right off the jerry buss grandchildren other sons. Busss other two sons, Joey and Jesse, are also a part of Geni his feelings, Johnny.... Maximized his days Kings and other properties was the largest sports transaction at time! Basketball Association ( NBA ) the price prime real estate, and he hung up the phone and. Of the Lakers and what theyd become but he was a dominant player in games 2 through 6 and! Cant someone else do it, maybe I can get free rent or like! That time a brilliant, incredible owner, Jack Kent Cooke, was not attending Laker games throughout my away...
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