Wednesday February 20, 2013
Los Angeles Lakers owner Buss dies
LOS ANGELES: Jerry Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers owner who transformed the team into the glamour franchise of a revitalised NBA, died on Monday at the age of 79, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Buss had been reported to be in hospital last week fighting an undisclosed form of cancer.
Buss purchased the Lakers, their former Forum arena, the Los Angeles Kings National Hockey League team and a 13,000-acre Kern County ranch from Jack Kent Cooke for US$67.5mil in 1979.
When Buss bought the Lakers, they had won one championship in the previous 25 seasons.
Buss made the Lakers one of the biggest draws in Los Angeles with a combination of shrewd personnel moves on and off the court and a feel for show business glamour.
The Lakers have the highest payroll in the NBA at US$100mil, but they were recently valued by Forbes magazine as being worth US$1bil – second in the NBA only to the New York Knicks.
Buss’s 10 championships as an owner are the most in NBA history and he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Buss has handed over control of the franchise to son Jim, who looks after the basketball side of the club, while his daughter Jeanie oversees business matters. — AFP
- Ice queen Nicol into British Open quarters
- National badminton team’s lack of depth a glaring factor in home tourney
- Khim Wah-V Shem perform above expectations in Sudirman Cup debut
- Dane Jorgensen’s wish is to avoid Chinese ace Lin Dan in World Championships
- Dong-keun shows he’s a capable replacement
- Kenichi’s goal is to take Japan into Sudirman Cup semi-finals
- Indonesia drawn to meet China again – in knockout stage
- Squash group on final push for Olympic bid
- Only Nicol David left to fly Malaysian flag
- Australia to consider following ban on anchor putters
- Olazabal urges Woods and Garcia to settle row
- McIlroy slumps as Ilonen shines at wintry Wentworth
- Dominant Williams fearful of enemy within
- Nadal back in old routine and looking invincible
- French slam drought set to drag on at Roland Garros
- Rosberg on top for Mercedes in first Monaco practice
- Evans to lead BMC team in Tour, says team boss
- Sponsor Adidas criticises Garcia over Woods jibe
- Rugby: Former All Black coach Henry on misconduct charge
- Analysis - Has the anchor ban come too late?
RSS
