Dr. Jerry Buss passed away at the age of 80 on Monday and left behind a legacy as amongst the most influential executives in the history of American professional sports. Buss purchased the Kings, the Lakers and the Forum from Jack Kent Cooke for 67.5 million dollars in June, 1979, a pivotal moment in Los Angeles sports culture. He owned the Kings from 1979 to 1988 before selling his remaining shares of the team, while the Lakers won 10 NBA Championships under his guidance.
Earlier today I had a conversation with broadcaster Bob Miller centered around his recollections of the Los Angeles Kings under the ownership of Dr. Jerry Buss.
Godspeed Dr. Buss! You brought many championships to LA and a lot of happiness to this Laker fan. You, as the controlling owner, are already missed.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 10:07 pm
@DesertKing, Jerry Buss is hands down the best owner of all professional sports franchises in my time! Prayers to the family.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 8:01 am
@tornado12,
He epitomizes what an owner should be. Unfortunately, I don’t think his son learned anything from him.
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Rest in peace Dr. Buss. Thank you so much for all you have done as the best owner in sports. You will be missed but never forgotten.
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King Alex Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 8:00 pm
@King Alex, the above reference was to his ownership & stewardship of the Lakers. As Kings owner, lets just say hockey was not his passion.
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R.I.P. Jerry Buss. Your son will never even remotely fill your shoes.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
@Gustavo, … and hopefully your daughter won’t either (esp if you’re Phil).
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It’s a shame Dr. Buss had to go out on such a low note this year but man did he ever achieve absolutely amazing success here. I know he was ill for quite some time but I never heard about his reaction to the Kings win. Or maybe I’m just forgetting.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), That’s why I have no comment for Buss AS a Kings owner!
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RIP Dr. Buss. Thanks for the showtime Lakers, Laker Girls, and being the best owner anyone could ask for. You will be missed but in no way forgotten.
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@Jon Rosen,
Thank you for incorporating the interview soundbite. I’m sure it saves you typing, but it’s wonderful hearing the actual interview!
Well done, Jon!
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RIP
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Just wanna say that not only was Jerry Buss a great owner and a class act, but he showed me and many other guys that you can date plenty of 19 year old women when you are in your 70′s.
Damn, gettin excited abouted gettin over the hill!
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
@puck73, or 17 year olds , or 15 year olds
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puck73 Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 6:43 pm
@phil sykes, So, Columbo, care to share? Should I call Chris Mathews?
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
@puck73, nah , just talking about your typical male tendencies
jet Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
@phil sykes, not appropriate
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
@jet, ty
Jeff Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
@puck73, Yeah, you can 19 year old models when you are in your 70s if you have a billion or so in your bank account.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:43 pm
@Jeff, i did not know that …… maybe he just had a good sense of humor though
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Duncanz Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
@phil sykesy, in this case you should have legions of them battering on your trapdoor to get in! ….lol …. just kidding p s … i know you said your last one was back in the 80s or sometime …. no biggie …. lol
phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 8:05 pm
@phil sykes, duncanz ….. bad phil ….. story of my life
phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
@phil sykes, and not last – only
No offense JR…..and RIP Buss……BUT…..I would prefer this topic as a “side note.” Jerry Buss was ONLY the owner of the Kings-nothing else. He never “invested” in the Kings organization per se, but his wallet book was open for the Lakers.
Just as Miller points out in his interview…he let you do things on your own tells me he didn’t really have vested interest in hockey, and the Kings for that matter. He showed it in his wallet.
Today’s organization cares about the business of winning, and therefor gives DL the “credit card” to purchase talent. Buss did not want do this.
Maybe we could’ve had a winning tradition or at least more respect had Buss were at least interested in hockey and the Kings.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
@rogiesbackup, he did leave a certain game in april of 82 just a tad bit early didnt he
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puck73 Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:00 pm
@phil sykes, …And so would you, if you had a date with Cathy Lee Crosby in a Limo !
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
@puck73, scary thought …. but to each their own
puck73 Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
@rogiesbackup, I am a big fan of Jerry Bus as a person, and even the owner of the Lakers. That being said, The LA Kings from 1982-1988 really sucked ! I know, I watched plenty of that crap hockey, I dont miss it.
As much as it pains me to post it, That coin collecting, bank defrauding, soap on the rope boy Bruce “Lompoc” McNall was actually a better hockey owner then Dr. Buss.
That being said, I will still actually take Phil Anshutz over the coin collecter anyday.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 7:38 pm
@puck73, nah 82 – 88 was the golden years for me ………… facts of life girl nancy running the show from the kings tunnel ……….. 14 or 15 year old alyssa milano chasing wayne mcbean ……… ahhhhh the good ole days
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tornado12 Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 10:02 pm
@puck73, I never thought I would live to see the day that puck73 would complement Bruce McNall (as backhanded as it was but still one). Getting soft in your old days eh my friend?
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JD Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 5:31 am
@puck73, mc nall did two things that I’ll be forever thankful for. First be brought the greatest player of all time to Los angeles. Second and maybe more important he got rid of those awful, ugly, hideous purple jerseys, probably the worst jerseys in sports. thank you Bruce
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 11:08 pm
@rogiesbackup, No question he was much more involved with the Lakers than Kings but he was quite willing (and did) put money into the team. In fact, he gave the players lavish gifts after an 80-81 season where they played well in the regular season but flopped big time in the playoffs. Buss wasn’t the problem in those days — it was incompetent coaching, incompetent general managers and players who were (rightfully) regularly questioned as to whether they had the heart and desire. Some of the frequently negative bloggers around here must not have been alive or been King fans back in those days because there were plenty of examples of Kings players back then, unlike now, who really DIDN’T backcheck, play with any desire, care about the team, whined about playing time and had no clue. True, that turned around when McNall took over and got Gretzky, but we were also fortunate that Pocklington wanted to deal him and Gretzky wanted to come here IF he had to be dealt.
Incidentally I too left that game as soon as Edmonton scored that 5th goal. It was the first game I ever left early and the only one I ever will. So it’s hard for me to fault Dr. Jerry Buss for that one either.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:13 am
@HockeyNerd, What I mean, if he forked out more money to the Kings, they can afford more competent coaches, GM’s and even better players.
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Quick off topic note (no disrespect intended)
For those who enjoy Kings News Daily, please give a hearty welcome to new blogger Jon Gillette. You may know him as @LAKingsJon here. Two Jon’s are better than one, right? He has written for other sites in the past but now makes his home on KND and will be offering up original commentary about the Kings.
http://kingsnewsdaily.com/fanatic-panic/
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puck73 Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Much obliged.
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I wonder how Dr Buss would have been as owner of a streeeeeeaaaaaking Ducks hockey team ….
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phil sykes Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 8:52 pm
@Duncanz, nothing going on around here … i guess i better go eat dinner – a bag of peanut m and ms .. and watch the 3rd period eh ?
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Duncanz Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
@phil sykes, 2-1 ducks in the 3rd … jackets playing em tight …. seeing its a kings blog … what about that jddj guy in the no.7 jersey for cbj eh? geddit ….. jddj…. just kiddin doughy freak peeps … gotta be careful around here … peanut m&m anybody? …. lol lol
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 9:32 pm
@Duncanz, Lovejoy has to be one the most unique last names in the NHL.
Duncanz Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 10:06 pm
@Mikey J, Sure is and good on you for noticing, but have you seen how since the Kings won the Stanley Cup all the other teams are trying to copy them now?
It seems like everyone has either a Brown, a Carter, a Richards, a Bernier, a Greene, a Mitchell, or a Fraser – even a Miller!
The problem for them is they just don’t have them all together.
As you can see I am trying to earn my chops as an amateur scout so maybe I can get a Cup ring like Brent McEwen did in Jon’s story, this morning.
That thing would really be worth all the countless unpaid hours of televisual research I do for this blog.
Mikey J. Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
@Duncanz, Cheers to you for your diligence which is why I asked you that. May it pay off big someday. Though I’m not religious, I get pretty passionate and superstitious about our Kings and appreciate the all the knowledge available from all the bloggers here. For another unusual name I’ve got to go with Clutterbuck.
Duncanz Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
@Mikey J, Cal Clutterbuck, no less!
Speaking of streaky, that guy fits the bill perfectly.
King worked him brilliantly last year and his personal meltdown they caused him was a key in winning the game.
One of my favorite NHL names of all time, although not a popular guy by some accounts; Zarley Zalapski !
If you can beat that one, you beat me!
Mikey J. Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:05 am
@Duncanz, Hard to top ZZ right now. Excellent pick.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:50 am
@Mikey J., Lol. In his own mind, at least, one ZZ topper might have been ‘The Disease’, Darius Kasparaitis !
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RIP Jerry Buss, loved those showtime years at the fabulous forum.
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KJ Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 9:49 pm
@Mikey J., aside from winning the Stanley Cup, definitely the best of times!
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Dr. Buss was the only owner of LA sports teams who made me feel like anything was possible for “my” team. 33, 32, and 42 and them together for so long. Not forgetting Laker Girls, Dancin’ Berry and Marcy. Showtime!
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All appears to be quiet on the Western (Canadian) front.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 9:08 am
@Michael J.,
We need Phil and Terrence to rile things up.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 9:52 am
@DesertKing,
No we don’t!
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