LOS ANGELES– Once upon a time in 1979 a business man named Jerry Buss purchased the, ” Fabulous” Forum,” the Kings hockey team and the Lakers. He paid what was then then a staggering sum of $67.5 million dollars.
The NBA was struggling with low television ratings and many people questioned the move. Now forty six years later the investment has paid off handsomely. Mark Walter has purchased the Los Angeles Lakers for an astonishing $10 billion dollars. The owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers now has two of the most coveted sports franchises in the history of professional sports.
Thus it is certainly the end of an era. The magic that the Buss family brought to the Lakers franchise cannot be understated. With Jack Kent Cooke the Lakers were pretty good. When the Buss family came in and took over the reins of the team you now had something that was legendary.
Jerry West- Wilt Chamberlain- Kareem Abdul Janbar- Norm Nixon- Earvin “Magic” Johnson- Pat Riley- James Worthy-Kobe Bryant- Phil Jackson Shaquille O’Neal-Derrick Fisher-Pau Gasol-Lebron James- Anthony Davis- Luka Doncic.
Jerry West’s half court shot at the buzzer.. Kobe to Shaq alley oop against Portland.
Robert Horry last second three pointer against Sacramento that sent the Staples Center crowd into an unmatched frenzy.
And Ron Artest hitting the three against the hated Celtics in game 7 of the finals. After a rare pass from Kobe Bryant, Artest exclaiming with sheer joy, ” he passed me the ball!”
Memories to last a lifetime.
His daughter, Jeanie Buss, took over as principal owner after Jerry died in 2013, making her one of the most powerful women in sports.Jeanie Buss will stay on as governor after the sale.
Her tenure as principal owner helped usher stability, and restored pride in the Purple and Gold.
Magic Johnson, five time Laker champ and minority Dodgers owner knew Walter and Buss shared the same vision for the Lakers. That vision means winning.
“Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand,” Johnson posted on X.
“The proof is in the pudding on what he’s been able to accomplish with the LA Dodgers. Mark has been nothing short of a winner notching 2 World Series and 11 NL West divisional titles in the last 12 years!”
By Christopher Floch