Those crazy 80s and the Showtime Lakers

[Slava]

The episode in November 1991 when Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers announced he was HIV-positive is recounted in a new book by Roland Lazenby, "Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon."

Lazenby writes that Johnson's announcement was "a stunning event that brought revelations about the climate of sexual frivolity around the Lakers."

Johnson at the time said he had 300 to 500 sexual partners a year.

"The team's locker room, and its sauna, had been a place where the star and other players had entertained women, even right after games," Lazenby writes. "Johnson would retire to the sauna after a game, have sex, then put on a robe and return to the locker room for his postgame media interviews."

Lazenby asked West how far the team went in "condoning such questionable behavior" like that. West's exact response:

"I cared. I did things for those guys. It was ridiculous, some of the things I did for those guys. If the public knew, they'd be outraged. It was a pretty crazy period for us."

Link

Can Deep and any other old school fans confirm if this was pretty much an open secret during those times?

[SashAlex]

Wow ! 300 to 500 ?!

[Sofa King]

Makes me wonder how much did Jordan and the other superstars had.

If you're not married, its okay to sleep with that many and people won't care.

But if you are, just one comes out (*coughsKobe*) or 14 even... (*coughTiger*) and you'll lose millions.

[Anklebreaker702]

No j-far, it was pretty much on hush. For those of us that were around during that era we were shocked & saddened. Had we knew it was going down like that it would have taken some of the edge off of the announcement. At that time, guys like myself, DEEP, & butter17 use to "live" at the forum & never got wind to any of that stuff until after Magic retired & the stories he told were mostly about him forfilling womens fantasy's at their jobs mostly.

That locker room then post game interview stuff is wild!

[Magicontinues]

It was defininatly on the hush, I remember the disappointement hearing about James Worthy, who seemed like a great famly man, then Magic Johnson, ever since then I am not surprised at all when I hear about Athletes doing this stuff anymore

[Slava]

Well.. may be if Magic never contracted the HIV this stories would have never come out. The Jerry West quote was the most startling revelation to me, he's basically saying that he was a pimp for Magic and the guys during that time.

[SashAlex]

^^^ Basically, yes.

[DEEP3CL]

Well back during that time off court news was pretty hard to get access to, it might have happened but you just didn't hear about it.The only time we really first heard something was when James Worthy had the prostitute come to his hotel in Houston, or the time a women (another prostitute) went crying to Magic about how she didn't get paid by an unnamed player during the 80's. I remember reading it a book, but I always remember the line Magic gave. He called it "a case of the cash boo boo's".

Overall Jerry know about a lot of things, they never said they were saints. I mean look at the owner and he was way way out there with the young honey's in the 80's.

[Sedale Threatt]

Jerry's still like that. I saw Buss and his entourage at the ATT Center in San Antonio about five years ago, and it was borderline repulsive. About six or seven kids, male and female, none of them older than 21, all in really skimpy club gear.

Regarding the Lakers back in the day -- young, rich, famous, popular, Hollywood...I can only imagine. I'd seriously doubt much has changed.

[semi-sentient]

300-500? That's a hell of a range.

Anyway, I remember him coming out and stating that he had lived a "bachelor lifestyle" with Cookie by his side, but I didn't know he was getting that much booty. That's Wilt-like booty.

[TommyTheCat]

Well back during that time off court news was pretty hard to get access to, it might have happened but you just didn't hear about it.The only time we really first heard something was when James Worthy had two prostitutes come to his hotel in Houston, or the time a women (another prostitute) went crying to Magic about how she didn't get paid by an unnamed player during the 80's. I remember reading it a book, but I always remember the line Magic gave. He called it "a case of the cash boo boo's".

Overall Jerry know about a lot of things, they never said they were saints. I mean look at the owner and he was way way out there with the young honey's in the 80's.

fixed it for you........................also that bust was pregame..................what a warm up

in the late 80s i had a friend who's brother worked for the organization and we got some juicy tales from him. we knew about riles leaving a few days before it was announced publicly............and there's a bit of a story behind that

[Anklebreaker702]

Well back during that time off court news was pretty hard to get access to, it might have happened but you just didn't hear about it.The only time we really first heard something was when James Worthy had two prostitutes come to his hotel in Houston, or the time a women (another prostitute) went crying to Magic about how she didn't get paid by an unnamed player during the 80's. I remember reading it a book, but I always remember the line Magic gave. He called it "a case of the cash boo boo's".

Overall Jerry know about a lot of things, they never said they were saints. I mean look at the owner and he was way way out there with the young honey's in the 80's.

fixed it for you........................also that bust was pregame..................what a warm up

in the late 80s i had a friend who's brother worked for the organization and we got some juicy tales from him. we knew about riles leaving a few days before it was announced publicly............and there's a bit of a story behind that

Tell the story!!

[Slava]

I heard Riley and all the head coaches that were with the Lakers during West's time were jealous of the attention Jerry got for all the team's achievements. It was always Jerry West's team and everyone else is just another staff member.

[Viol8tor Mode]

Good lord, imagine if Wilt had been a part of the Showtime era?

100 in one night would of meant a whole different thing.

[AmusingFiddle]

I am surprised no one has mentioned it yet. Did any of you hear/read about what Jerry West said about the showtime Lakers? He talked about orgies the players had in the locker rooms etc. and how it made him sick. Can anyone dig up some dirt?

[Slava]

Already posted.

[Sofa King]

Jfar, you could have named the title a little better there bro.

I am surprised no one has mentioned it yet. Did any of you hear/read about what Jerry West said about the showtime Lakers? He talked about orgies the players had in the locker rooms etc. and how it made him sick. Can anyone dig up some dirt?

I have to admit, those orgies might have explained the smile Magic Johnson always had in those days.

Maybe that explains why Dwight is always happy too.

[ShowtimeFan]

Before I met my wife, she was at a Club with two of her GFs and they met (3) Lakers at a Club (in Hollywood) and went to back to their pad. After smoking some herbs, two of the Lakers took her GF's upstairs for some action. My Wife was not much interested in the remaining Laker, so when one of her GF's was finished, she pulled some double-duty and took the remaining guy upstairs.

I am bummed that she forgot their names because I have always wondered who they were, had to be somewhere between 1993 and 1996...

Bottom line is, probably MOST famous Athelets, Bands and Stars get way more action then is EVER reported in the media...

[JimMurray]

Before I met my wife, she was at a Club with two of her GFs and they met (3) Lakers at a Club (in Hollywood) and went to back to their pad. After smoking some herbs, two of the Lakers took her GF's upstairs for some action. My Wife was not much interested in the remaining Laker, so when one of her GF's was finished, she pulled some double-duty and took the remaining guy upstairs.

I am bummed that she forgot their names because I have always wondered who they were, had to be somewhere between 1993 and 1996...

Bottom line is, probably MOST famous Athelets, Bands and Stars get way more action then is EVER reported in the media...

At least that's the version of the story that she told you...

[DEEP3CL]

Before I met my wife, she was at a Club with two of her GFs and they met (3) Lakers at a Club (in Hollywood) and went to back to their pad. After smoking some herbs, two of the Lakers took her GF's upstairs for some action. My Wife was not much interested in the remaining Laker, so when one of her GF's was finished, she pulled some double-duty and took the remaining guy upstairs.

I am bummed that she forgot their names because I have always wondered who they were, had to be somewhere between 1993 and 1996...

Bottom line is, probably MOST famous Athelets, Bands and Stars get way more action then is EVER reported in the media...

At least that's the version of the story that she told you...

+100............C'mon 3 Lakers in the 80's ? Believe me she knows who all 3 of the guys were, no women will forget a night like that.