espnlosangeles interview with Jerry Buss

[dockingsched]

i'll copy and paste some of the answers that might be of a little more interest than the others. good interview.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/n ... id=4990899

Question: Are you comfortable with your current level of involvement with the Lakers?

Answer: I'm exactly where I want to be. Eighty percent of the basketball decisions are made by [my son] Jimmy and all of the business side is handled by [my daughter] Jeanie. I don't have anything to do with that.

I now have the time to pursue another profession. I'm going to become a professional poker player. Well, let's say I'm going to become a poker player. Whether I can earn a living at it is questionable. But I do play in the World Series of Poker all the time.

Q: Any regrets about the last 31 years?

A: Some of the trades have been tough on me. When Nick Van Exel left, that was hurtful. The Norm Nixon trade was very hurtful, but he made it easy for me because he understood and, still today, Norm and I hug as much as any two guys. So I feel good about that. Firing Paul Westhead was a very, very rough thing because, as a man, I really admired him. When Pat Riley and I realized it was time to part ways, that was sad, the end of an era.

Q: There was a claim in a recent Internet story that, because of the failure of the Lakers to offer Phil Jackson a contract extension to this point, there is a tension among members of the Buss family. Is that true?

A: We really want to get through the year and then take a deep breath and see where we are. If I were to go to Phil right now and say, "Will you coach next year?" he'd say, "Well, let's wait until the end of the year and see how I feel." So, I don't think it causes any tension. I know I have to wait until season's end before a discussion begins.

Q: There was a story on the Internet that you had paid the $800,000 that Lane Kiffin, the Trojans' new football coach, was required to come up with to buy out his contract at Tennessee. Is that true?

A: I heard about that story. There is absolutely zero truth to it. I had never even heard of Lane Kiffin until I picked up the newspaper and saw he had been hired.

[Danny Darko]

Thanks for the link.

Not really worried about Phil's contract at the moment, but even when he's a stubborn bull headed weirdo there is no doubt that he's the best coach ever. When he goes, you never know what we'll get out of our guys.

[Sedale Threatt]

Eighty percent of the basketball decisions are made by [my son] Jimmy

I had to choke back a little vomit when I read that...

[semi-sentient]

Eighty percent of the basketball decisions are made by [my son] Jimmy

I had to choke back a little vomit when I read that...

My thoughts exactly.

[H00PDREAMS]

I thought he was saying that his kids took care of 80% and he takes care of the rest. I dunno... Maybe I am wishful thinking.

I thought the Nick Van Exel comment was interesting. I don't remember that being too dramatic.

[That Nicka]

Eighty percent of the basketball decisions are made by [my son] Jimmy

I had to choke back a little vomit when I read that...

I dunno for how long thats been true but if Jimmy has been making the decisions since 07/08 then I cant complain

[Viol8tor Mode]

Eighty percent of the basketball decisions are made by [my son] Jimmy

I had to choke back a little vomit when I read that...

Same here. The only person i want making decisions for the team is JERRY Buss and Mitch.

Each time they interview his sons, they seem SOOOOO out of it. Pisses me off.

[Kreuk]

lol. rememeber when it was all about "in buss we trust" and if you didnt agree with his decisions or lack of decisions... then you were just an idiot because surely jerry's record speaks for itself! and now that it comes out that his son has been making the decisions... well now everyone's sick to their stomachs... but do you see the irony here. let's blindly trust buss... except when he puts his son in charge. then let's be upset about what buss did..

well let me tell you guys that if jim buss is the reason we have gasol, artest, shannon brown, etc... well hey... im happy jim buss is running the show. and look forward to his future moves!

[Sofa King]

lol. rememeber when it was all about "in buss we trust" and if you didnt agree with his decisions or lack of decisions... then you were just an idiot because surely jerry's record speaks for itself! and now that it comes out that his son has been making the decisions... well now everyone's sick to their stomachs... but do you see the irony here. let's blindly trust buss... except when he puts his son in charge. then let's be upset about what buss did..

well let me tell you guys that if jim buss is the reason we have gasol, artest, shannon brown, etc... well hey... im happy jim buss is running the show. and look forward to his future moves!

Hey Jimmy, long time no see. You found time to post on the Lakers board again. Well, it's been fun.

[DubaLakers]

thanks cashman.

[Slava]

Well.. the man still gets more tail in a month than all of Real GM combined so its worth reading any word that comes out his mouth.

[salmahayek]

Having always been a big Buss (Jerry) and Mitch supporter on this board...Buss may be the best professional sports owner of all - time.

He may have always had good management and coaching making decisions, but he always had a lot of input and could see the big picture.

Buss interceded when there were disputes between the GM and head coach and was able to work with them, help in making a decision for the franchise, and then be a leader and give support to both sides so that the organization still operated as it should in pursuing championship level basketball.

Not to mention - he has signed a lot of big checks to bring entertaining basketball to LA, the NBA, and the entire world.

[TommyTheCat]

lol. rememeber when it was all about "in buss we trust" and if you didnt agree with his decisions or lack of decisions... then you were just an idiot because surely jerry's record speaks for itself! and now that it comes out that his son has been making the decisions... well now everyone's sick to their stomachs... but do you see the irony here. let's blindly trust buss... except when he puts his son in charge. then let's be upset about what buss did..

well let me tell you guys that if jim buss is the reason we have gasol, artest, shannon brown, etc... well hey... im happy jim buss is running the show. and look forward to his future moves!

if jerry put jim in charge and jim does well, then it's still 'in jerry buss we trust'


and thanks for the post dcash

[crazyeights]

lol. rememeber when it was all about "in buss we trust" and if you didnt agree with his decisions or lack of decisions... then you were just an idiot because surely jerry's record speaks for itself! and now that it comes out that his son has been making the decisions... well now everyone's sick to their stomachs... but do you see the irony here. let's blindly trust buss... except when he puts his son in charge. then let's be upset about what buss did..

well let me tell you guys that if jim buss is the reason we have gasol, artest, shannon brown, etc... well hey... im happy jim buss is running the show. and look forward to his future moves!

Hey Jimmy, long time no see. You found time to post on the Lakers board again. Well, it's been fun.

hey man Kreuk makes a good point.