RIP Dr. Buss

[noog]

Lifelong Lakers fan and it is more difficult today than I thought it would be.

I was a Lakers fan before I liked any other pro sports. It wasn't just about the championships ... it was about the bitter rivalries with those east coast teams like the Celtics, Pistons and 76ers. And also the western teams like the Jazz, Blazers and Suns trying to thwart the Lakers who were kings of the hill but always being challenged. Watching the teams battle the Lakers with such fervor and attitude on both sides drew me in. I fell in love with the Magic-Worthy-Green-Kareem-Cooper-Rambis-Scott team from 86 and 87 and became a fan with some of my older cousins. As a kid it was like watching the sports version of the A-team.

With Dr. Buss, what you saw is what you got. An old-school owner who took his chances and won big, but didn't let it get to his head. Nonetheless, he had his fun and lived large with no apologies. In today's world where a lot of owners are corporate suits, control freaks or guys who try to please everyone and not step on any toes, I already miss Dr. Buss and his very wise yet devil-may-care ways. There'll never be another like him.

Becoming a Lakers fan was sort of a silent rebellion in my childhood. Those flamboyant and decadent teams, living wild and free in the big city, yet laid-back and with a nod to calm perspective were an anti-thesis the more uptight and overbearing things going on in my family and my community that I really didn't like seeing or dealing with. Thank you Dr. Buss for showing another midwestern boy that life could be better, to travel and take some chances and set your sights big and then take things as they come. My best goes out to Dr. Buss family and friends.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 532.column[/url]

[gsjackson]

I knew he was a high liver, but didn't know all of the back story until reading the obits today. He grew up dirt poor. Kind of an American original. Too bad he had to go with the regret of not signing his son-in-law to coach one more go-round. Whatever Phil was asking probably would have been worth it.

[jamesbond]

I knew he was a high liver, but didn't know all of the back story until reading the obits today. He grew up dirt poor. Kind of an American original. Too bad he had to go with the regret of not signing his son-in-law to coach one more go-round. Whatever Phil was asking probably would have been worth it.

I agree, I wish Phil Jackson was signed to coach the Lakers again, they asked him but apparently he wanted to be able to trade players or not trade players. I guess he wanted to be the GM in a way.

I think the Lakers would have a much better record if Phil Jackson was the coach and not Mike D'Antoni. Who knows, maybe they would win another championship or two if Phil became the coach again for a couple of years.

Maybe if the Lakers have a poor record at the end of the season, the Lakers will fire Mike D'Antoni and hire Phil Jackson! I want to see Phil and Kobe get another ring!

[noog]

I love Phil, but he is getting old and creaky and that body can't handle all the travel. I hope he enjoys his retirement and spends time supporting Jeanie, especially now.

Mike Brown was better than D'Antoni, but now that they are in this predicament they will need to go with a good younger coach once they ditch D'Antoni. They need to look hard this time and try to find the next young unknown and hope they get it right like they did with Pat Riley. It will be pricy because keep in mind both D'Antoni's and Brown's contracts are guaranteed so they will essentially have to pay 3 coaches for a while.

I hope they do not build the team around Dwight Howard who has suspect work ethic, leadership ability and bricks free throws. I also hope the Buss family can do a good job of managing the team and if they remain too splintered I'm afraid the best thing could be to sell the team.