Omid Alaee
The NBA lost an incredible man the other day. The owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry Buss, had passed away at the age of 80. Dr. Buss has been hospitalized the past 18 months for under going cancer treatment. But the cause of his death was said to be kidney failure. He had brought a new level to the game of basketball. He bought the Lakers, Kings and the Forum in 1979 for $67.5 million. That was the largest sports transaction in history at that point. That same year he drafted Magic Johnson out of Michigan State and he lead the team to its first Championship ever. Dr. Buss brought entertainment to the game. He decided to bring out the Laker Girls during halftime or a timeout. Los Angeles was the home of actors and actresses, and he was able to lure them to come to Lakers games. Since Dr. Buss bought the Lakers, he has won 10 championships and has made the Lakers a billion dollar franchise. He was said to care and always want to help his players and staff. I am honored to have been alive and witness such great ownership that Dr. Buss offered to his team. I hope there is some owners out there that having taken notes from Dr. Buss’s career and legacy. He will be greatly missed by his organization and the entire NBA.
