Jerry Buss, Lakers' flamboyant owner, dies at 80

[littlemissmartypants]

Jerry Buss had been a chemist and a mathematician long before he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. The self-made millionaire with a head for business and an impresario's heart assailed the NBA with every skill he acquired along the way.
With his personal alchemy and charisma, he blended two generations of marquee basketball stars and big-name coaches into 10 championship teams. His financial wizardry allowed him to pay top dollar to get the best players and keep them together without a huge personal fortune.
Buss built a glittering life for himself and the Lakers, playing a huge role in the NBA's move from a second-tier pro sport into can't-miss Hollywood entertainment while polishing his oddly nicknamed franchise into a glamorous global brand.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/basketball/nba/wires/02/19/2030.ap.bkn.obit.jerry.buss.1st.ld.writethru.3026/index.html#ixzz2LKcN7Asi

[joeybee12]

1. Not a Lakers fan, but this is a big loss to the sport...RIP

I rented an apartment in Palm Springs that he owned, way back when...he was mega-rich.