My theory is, that when it comes about an important subject, there’s only two ways a person can answer. Which way they choose tells it who that person is. For instance, there’s only two kinds of people in the world: Beatles people and Elvis people. Now, Beatles people can like Elvis, and Elvis people can like Beatles, but NOBODY likes them both equally. Somewhere, you have to make a choice, and that choice tells it who you are.
Los Angeles Lakers Owner, Dr. Jerry Buss Passes Away at 79
Dr. Jerry Buss grew up in squallor in rural Wyoming. A self-made man, Buss turned a real estate business into a multimillion dollar company, before buying the Los Angeles Lakers and changing the face of the NBA today.
By drafting Magic Johnson, putting celebrities courtside, and turning up the tempo on his beloved “Showtime” offense, Buss became the most successful owner in American Professional Sporting History.
In his 33 years of owning the Lakers, the team made 31 playoff appearances, won the Western Conference and made the NBA Finals 16 times, and captured 10 NBA Championship trophies.
Life, however, isn’t best summed up by career accomplishments, but by the lives you have touched during yours.
Ronny Turiaf was drafted by the Lakers in 2005. Soon thereafter, Turiaf was discovered to have a serious heart condition that required him to either quit basketball, or have open-heart surgery.
“We had numerous conversations about it. He (Dr. Buss) told me that the Laker family would take care of it (the surgery). So, in hindsight, in retrospect, Dr. Buss saved my life.”
Dr. Buss, you changed the NBA. You changed people’s lives.
May you rest in peace.
