Dr. Jerry H. Buss 1933 - 2013 the Impossible Dream
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Dr. Jerry H. Buss 1933 - 2013 The Impossible Dream To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go To right the unrightable wrong To be better far than you are To try when your arms are too weary To reach the unreachable star This is my quest, to follow that star No matter how hopeless, no matter how far To be willing to give when there's no more to give To be willing to die so that honor and justice may live And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest And the world will be better for this That one man scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To dream the impossible dream To reach the unreachable star Jerry Hatten Buss January 27, 1933 - February 18, 2013 Survived by children Johnny, Jim, Jeanie, Janie and former wife JoAnn; children Joey, Jesse, their mother Karen, half brother Sean and his two children; eight grandchildren; half sister Susan Hall; half brother Micky Brown; and stepbrother Jim Brown. ORDER OF SERVICE Welcome / Opening Remarks - Tim Leiweke Jim Hill (emcee) Johnny Buss Frank Mariani David Stern * Randy Newman performance * Jerry West Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Phil Jackson * USC band performance - “Amazing Grace” * Shaquille O’Neal Pau Gasol (in spanish) Pat Riley * Davis Gaines performance * Kobe Bryant Earvin “Magic” Johnson Closing Remarks - Jim Hill Program Ends - Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” In 1979, Jerry Buss ushered in an era of success unrivaled in the history of Southern California professional sports when he acquired the Los Angeles Lakers. In what was at the time the largest ever sports transaction, Buss purchased the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League, The Forum in Inglewood and a 13,000-acre Kern County ranch in June of that year. The rest, as they say, is history. Under his watch, the Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals nearly every other year, totaling 16 appearances in all while claiming 10 Larry O’Brien trophies. While the success of the Lakers is directly attributable to the combined efforts of great players, outstanding coaches, intelligent management and imaginative marketing, it was this teamwork, fostered by Buss, that helped create the enormous popularity and acceptance that the NBA enjoys today. A graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Buss earned his Ph. D in Physical Chemistry from the University of Southern California. After a brief career in the aerospace industry, Buss and Frank Mariani, an aerospace engineer, drew upon their scientific training to launch a career in real estate. For Buss, the venture was intended only to provide income which would enable him to pursue his love for teaching. Soon, however, the real estate firm of Mariani-Buss Associates was expanding so fast that its demands would not allow time for other professions. Ultimately, Buss was able to parlay his original $1,000 investment in a West Los Angeles apartment building into assets that eventually enabled to him to achieve his second love, ownership of a major league sports team. From the year he entered the NBA, Buss initiated numerous innovative marketing changes. Perhaps most notably, Buss struck a major advertising agreement with Great Western Bank in 1988 that resulted in the Lakers’ former home being named the Great Western Forum. Many of the marketing strategies he employed are now emulated today by various NBA franchises as well as teams in other leagues. In addition to his role with the Lakers, Buss served two terms as President of the NBA Board of Governors. Among other accomplishments, he helped launch Prime Ticket Network (now FS West/Prime Ticket) in 1985. Changing the face of sports television, Prime Ticket televised all of the Lakers home games and shortly became the nation’s premier regional sports cable network. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch purchased the network in 1996, making the valuable commodity the center piece of the FOX family of regional sports networks. On October 30, 2006, Buss’ pioneering spirit enabling fans to never miss a home game earned him a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in a ceremony attended by current Lakers players and staff, Hall-of-Famers Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, Jerry West and Phil Jackson, celebrities, the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant, Lakers fans, close friends and family. And of that family, each of Buss’ six grown children (Johnny, Jim, Jeanie, Janie, Joey and Jesse) are now actively involved in his business operations. Yet for all of his accomplishments in the business and sports world, Buss was equally respected for his philanthropic efforts on behalf of highly divergent causes. While he was specifically drawn to supporting education, the needs of disadvantaged youth and the elderly, his contributions were all encompassing and as diverse as the community in which he lived and worked. For his efforts he was honored by such organizations as the City of Hope, NAACP, the B’nai B’rith, United Negro College Fund, United Indian Development Associations, American Hebrew University, National Organization of Women, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission and Heart of Los Angeles Youth among many others. He also funded scholarships at his alma maters, Wyoming and USC, while also having endowed the Magic Johnson Scholarship at Michigan State University. Buss and his entities annually donated thousands of dollars, tickets, merchandise and autographed items to support countless neighborhood schools, libraries and churches as well as non-profit organizations which attend to the needs of communities in Southern California. Among his donations, Buss made a personal contribution of $100,000 in April of 2009 to New Image Shelter to support their efforts on behalf of homelessness in Los Angeles. In addition, when natural disasters and tragedies struck, such as the Southern California wildfires in 2003, 2007 and 2008, Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami in Southeast Asia, Buss and the Lakers were quick to offer assistance with sizable donations to charities providing immediate frontline disaster relief and long-term recovery support for those in need. An avid poker player, Buss, who hosted tournaments to benefit charities such as Smile Train, reached a level of proficiency where he achieved success competing against the best professionals in the highest level tournaments. One of his most recent successes, however, fittingly capped three-plus decades of excellence leading the Lakers. Named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010, Buss was enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts on August 13, 2010. One of eight individuals and two teams comprising the 2010 class, Buss became the third Laker to enter the Hall as a contributor (Chick Hearn, Pete Newell). “The NBA has lost a visionary owner whose influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to come,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern upon Buss’ passing. “More importantly, we have lost a dear and valued friend.” Blue Jeans As most of you know, my Dad was almost always in jeans. If you noticed, he liked to cut his jeans at the bottom so they would fringe. I actually saw him comb the fringe one time...so it didn't curl. Needless to say, it may not be the best fashion statement, but I ask that everyone, as a tribute to Jerry Buss, cut the bottom of one of your blue jeans each January 27th and think of this wonderful man as you wear them. - Johnny - My Way “For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels The record shows I took the blows and did it my way! Yes, it was my way!” - Frank Sinatra, covered by Jim and Jerry Buss You did it your way and I’m so proud of you. - Jim - My Promise To My Father I promise to honor the values you instilled in me of humility, education, hard work, loyalty, family and community. You treasured Los Angeles, the city that welcomed you and your ambitions with open arms and in return dreamed of giving her a team the citizens would be proud of and a rival to the dominating Boston Celtics. Your innovations and commitment to winning changed the landscape of the NBA and forced the sports media to end their east coast bias. It will at times be heartbreaking to live without you and I know there will be plenty of challenges ahead on the path you set for us, but I will draw comfort from your teachings. When questions and doubts creep into my mind, I will draw from your wisdom for you were my professor, my ally, my captain. You educated me so thoroughly and believed in me with all your heart that I will never be without you. You gave us a gift which we will continue to nurture and preserve. I am humbled by the many who have shared stories with me of how you inspired them to pursue education and invest in their ideas, and will continue to find joy and comfort every time I hear another story. You will always be my Dad-E-O and I, your little Jeanie-pie. I love you. - Jeanie - Leader Of The Band “The Leader of the Band is tired and his eyes are growing old but his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul.