Whatever your feelings on the Lakers, there are fewer greater Americans than Jerry Buss. Raised poor by a single mother in Wyoming, Buss went on to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry from USC before dominating the real estate market and buying the Lakers and Kings.
No great American story would be complete without a visit to the Playboy Mansion, and indeed Buss was there — multiple times, in fact.
“I was caught before this interview trying to remember exactly how our paths initially crossed and I suppose it was probably Playboy parties,” magazine mogul Hugh Hefner said of Buss in an interview with ESPN Los Angeles on Thursday. “That’s where most of my social gatherings are connected to at the mansion. I was also repaid the pleasure by going to a number of Lakers games over the years as a guest of Jerry’s and sitting in his box.”
The founder of Playboy magazine recalls Buss as a “very dear and very special” man in his interview with Max and Marcellus. Hefner said that Buss brought the flair of Hollywood into the arena, and that’s one of the reasons the Lakers were successful.
On more personal topics, Hefner wasn’t as forthcoming when asked how big of a playboy Buss was. However, the 86-year-old that Buss did have a certain reputation none to dissimilar to his own.
“He, as I have tried to do over the years, defied the limitations in terms of age and it was more than simply — he was young for his years and he had as many female friends as males, but he had a great many male friends, too,” said Hefner.
Moreover, Hefner went on to say in the interview that their common friendship was not based on business, publishing or basketball, but their love of socializing.
“The common connection was the socializing, and as I said before, I don’t remember how exactly we met, but I think it was probably at a Playboy party and we threw a lot of them and he was at a lot of them.”
Photo of the Night
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!
Quote of the Night
“It’s not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will. And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone — Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver … whoever. I have zero nervousness about that.”
–Kobe Bryant being much, much more confident than he probably should be
Tweet of the Night
Good memory.
[tweet https://twitter.com/ChrisSaysThis/status/304772489161101313 align=’center’]
Video of the Night
For the record, yes, this kid (amazingly) ended up no worse for the wear.
