The lakers took Jerry Wests lifetime tickets promised him by Jerry Buss.

[Kblaze8855]

And didn’t even have balls enough to tell him. They sent a text to his wife.

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2202020021030342.jpeg



That man had a legendary playing career for the lakers, coached the lakers, was the gm who largely built showtime after installing Riley as coach(Buss wanted West to coach with Riley in a 1A/1B arrangement he refused), drafted Kobe, signed Shaq, talked Kobe out of going to the Clippers after he agreed to leave(he told the story after Kobe passed about how he couldn’t let him play for Sterling) and he’s the gotdamn logo of the NBA. I don’t care who he works for now….





https://youtu.be/Q1-2gHZm4HY





Lakers are cursed till they do right by Jerry.

[Spurs m8]

Hmm I wonder what the driving force was behind this?

Horrid behaviour

[L.Kizzle]

That's some petty sh!t.
You can compare the the Charles Oakley/MSG drama a few seasons back but this is 100x worse.
This is Hall of Famer Jerry West who was with the organization some 40+ seasons.

[beasted]

Could have just moved him to a different section if this was about money or convenience. But outright repealed? Not a good look, but people have a short attention span and will forget.

[ArbitraryWater]

Disgusting

[Full Court]

Well, in the end the joke's on the play-in Lakers.

[jlip]

I saw that earlier on FB. The way they communicated the message to him is objectively wrong.

With that being said, I'm a little conflicted. West has done so much for and been so much to the Lakers organization for over 50 years that to call him merely a Laker "legend" would still be an insult to him. He's much more than just a Laker legend. So if anyone deserves life- time tickets, it's he.

But... with that being said, one comment that I read on FB also made a little sense. It stated, "He is taking up space and not showing up to all the games. I'm sure if he called in he would get free tickets ahead of time. But there isn't any point holding a good seat for him if he isn't gonna be showing up."

Also, he does literally work for the rival franchise in the same city.

So I'm a little torn as to how I feel about this. I understand, and can't condemn it, but I don't necessarily like it.

[hold this L]

That Troy scene is incredible.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

I doubt West probably even goes to Laker games...

Still a bunch of ingrates though. Post Dr. Buss, the Lakers have been a shitshow :lol

[Full Court]

To be fair though, the Lakers probably need the ticket money from that reserved seat to pay Westbrook's salary.

[John8204]

The man is 83 years old...you couldn't wait five years until after he passes to do this...shameful.

[warriorfan]

Gloria made them give the seats up to Da Real Lambo

[Kblaze8855]

I saw that earlier on FB. The way they communicated the message to him is objectively wrong.

With that being said, I'm a little conflicted. West has done so much for and been so much to the Lakers organization for over 50 years that to call him merely a Laker "legend" would still be an insult to him. He's much more than just a Laker legend. So if anyone deserves life- time tickets, it's he.

But... with that being said, one comment that I read on FB also made a little sense. It stated, "He is taking up space and not showing up to all the games. I'm sure if he called in he would get free tickets ahead of time. But there isn't any point holding a good seat for him if he isn't gonna be showing up."

Also, he does literally work for the rival franchise in the same city.

So I'm a little torn as to how I feel about this. I understand, and can't condemn it, but I don't necessarily like it.


I feel like when you’re the first pick of the franchise(in LA), have an amazing career bringing the city it’s first ring and build/draft the core of 10 more rings you get a seat no matter what. Jerry. Magic. Kareem. Kobe. A few others….they get a seat. Hell I’d give Jack a seat too. I’d build him a statue and put it in his seat when he’s gone.

Some things are bigger than revenue.

[Akeem34TheDream]

Should have called him and told it. He is part of the Clippers organization. No more explanation is needed. There is no need to get emotional over it.

[HunterSThompson]

Hmm I wonder what the driving force was behind this?

Horrid behaviour




But West and the Lakers have had a complicated relationship for quite some time. He left the team in 2002 in part because of conflict with Jackson, who, at the time, was dating Buss herself. In 2007, Bryant publicly asked that West be rehired as the team's general manager




jerry west and the buss kids have hated each other for a long time

[FultzNationRISE]

I think it’s easier to say “just give him the tickets” if youre the Clippers or Blazers with Microsoft money, or the Warriors with Oracle money or whatever.

If Im not mistaken, LAL are one of the few franchises whose owners’ primary source of revenue IS team ownership. I know the Lakers make a lot of money, but it also costs a shit ton of money to operate the franchise. And as people have mentioned, the guy probably hardly uses the seats anyway.

IMO it’s an understandable decision, but I agree the communication was terrible (if the report is accurate). Reach out to the man and explain the situation, then go from there. Dont sully your relationship with a franchise icon.

That said, this seems like the kind of thing that can easily be patched up in the future. LeMediator will step in if necessary and get the two sides back in each other’s good graces.

[bullettooth]

LOL, what a dumpster fire the Lakers have become.

[FultzNationRISE]

LOL, what a dumpster fire the Lakers have become.

The fact Lebron won them a championship amidst all this disarray is remarkable.

[Kawhi_Why_Not]

Since jerry buss died, his kids have turned their franchise into the james Dolan knicks. They got super lucky that LeBron recruited AD and their the LA lakers. No wonder west publically called them a shithole. That bubble season was the one exception but besides that they been the definition of mediocrity since about 2014

[bison]

The ghost of jerry buss has truly put a hex on the team. The hex will not be lifted until honor is restored to jerry west and lakers front office stops worshipping a false king.

[bullettooth]

The fact AD won them a championship amidst all this disarray is remarkable.

Fixed that for you.

[John8204]

I think it’s easier to say “just give him the tickets” if youre the Clippers or Blazers with Microsoft money, or the Warriors with Oracle money or whatever.

If Im not mistaken, LAL are one of the few franchises whose owners’ primary source of revenue IS team ownership. I know the Lakers make a lot of money, but it also costs a shit ton of money to operate the franchise. And as people have mentioned, the guy probably hardly uses the seats anyway.

IMO it’s an understandable decision, but I agree the communication was terrible (if the report is accurate). Reach out to the man and explain the situation, then go from there. Dont sully your relationship with a franchise icon.

That said, this seems like the kind of thing that can easily be patched up in the future. LeMediator will step in if necessary and get the two sides back in each other’s good graces.

He's 83 years old, helped you win for 30 years and bloody the logo.

[FultzNationRISE]

He's 83 years old, helped you win for 30 years and bloody the logo.

Did the Lakers not help Jerry West for 30 years?

Does he become the rich and famous logo if the Lakers dont hire him, pay him, promote him, and so on for their basketball product?

Does Jerry West become “The Logo” fixing mufflers at Midas?

Things like this go both ways.

Itd be great if they kept a good relationship but their history together had been a business partnership and I dont see either side “owing” anyone anything.

[WhiteKyrie]

LeBron probably had a hand in this too.

[FultzNationRISE]

LeBron probably had a hand in this too.


:durantunimpressed:





May I have a word with you in my office?

[La Frescobaldi]

Did the Lakers not help Jerry West for 30 years?

Does he become the rich and famous logo if the Lakers dont hire him, pay him, promote him, and so on for their basketball product?

Does Jerry West become “The Logo” fixing mufflers at Midas?

Things like this go both ways.

Itd be great if they kept a good relationship but their history together had been a business partnership and I dont see either side “owing” anyone anything.

#44 on Knicks or Sixers either team beats late ‘60s Boston on the regular. Put #44 on the Royals and there would still be shrieking skyrockets out of that town today

[Kblaze8855]

With those real pioneers I’d say it’s a bit different. Jerry and Elgin were literally riding around LA on the back of pickups hopping out and playing unpaid exhibitions in neighborhoods to drum up interest in the Lakers their first years in LA. They were the only pro basketball team within 1800 miles in a time before cable. Nobody gave a shit about the nba on the west coast and Jerry and Elgin were ambassadors building interest and saving the team as an investment. Jerry is from a time of having to strike to get a 7 dollar per diem to eat. Jerry is from the broke nba and he was a load bearing part of the bridge to the days of big money.

Id say the pioneers might just be owed a little more respect than todays players from some perspectives. The current players and teams live in an economy that guys like Jerry helped provide for similar money to good office jobs and running car dealerships.

I’m not saying both sides didn’t benefit. I am saying when a guy puts in 30 years of exemplary work building a business and it’s owner promises him something for life his kids taking it feels scummy to me.

It reminds me of an old Trick Daddy line. “You treating me like Shaq….and you Kobe. I ain’t saying you owe me but act like you know me”.

[Kblaze8855]

“One disappointing thing (about my career) is that my relationship with the Lakers is horrible,” West, a Clippers consultant since June 2017, told The Athletic. “I still don’t know why. And at the end of the day, when I look back, I say, ‘Well, maybe I should have played somewhere else instead of with the Lakers, where someone would have at least appreciated how much you give, how much you cared.’” (https://theathletic.com/3095914/2022/02/01/nba-75-at-no-14-jerry-west-was-mr-clutch-and-forever-will-be-brutally-honest-about-himself/)


MORE ON LAKERS FRONT OFFICE (https://*********.com/storyline/lakers-front-office/)8 hours ago (https://*********.com/rumor/1631016/)– via Sam Amick @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3095914/2022/02/01/nba-75-at-no-14-jerry-west-was-mr-clutch-and-forever-will-be-brutally-honest-about-himself/)

But those memories of his Lakers past just aren’t the same anymore because of his Lakers present, one where the dynamic between the two old friends, so to speak, has devolved so publicly and painfully in recent years. His frustration, unmistakable even in this loud and crowded room, surfaces in full force approximately 10 minutes into this conversation that lasted nearly 40 minutes. “They’re in complete denial,” he said of the Lakers. “It’s insulting to me that I’m not …” He stops briefly. “I’m not seeking any apologies from no one — no one — ever,” he said. “I just said to myself, ‘How petty can this be?’” (https://theathletic.com/3095914/2022/02/01/nba-75-at-no-14-jerry-west-was-mr-clutch-and-forever-will-be-brutally-honest-about-himself/)


8 hours ago (https://*********.com/rumor/1631015/)– via Sam Amick @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3095914/2022/02/01/nba-75-at-no-14-jerry-west-was-mr-clutch-and-forever-will-be-brutally-honest-about-himself/)

For West, though, the final straw came when the Lakers repealed the lifetime season tickets he said the late Dr. Buss had promised him so many years ago. Without any warning or explanation, his wife, Karen, received a text message from the Lakers last season informing her that the family’s seats for their games would no longer be granted. “It was a cold phone text to my wife,” West recalled. “No one had the nerve to call me, but that’s how petty they are, OK? (https://theathletic.com/3095914/2022/02/01/nba-75-at-no-14-jerry-west-was-mr-clutch-and-forever-will-be-brutally-honest-about-himself/) And I love the Lakers, OK? I love to see them do well. It’s great for basketball. I’m proud of everything that happened when I was there. I’m proud of everything that happened when I wasn’t there — the positives.


8 hours ago (https://*********.com/rumor/1631014/)– via Sam Amick @ The Athletic (https://theathletic.com/3095914/2022/02/01/nba-75-at-no-14-jerry-west-was-mr-clutch-and-forever-will-be-brutally-honest-about-himself/)



“But sometimes you feel like you’re discarded, like a piece of trash. And there’s a couple of people over there — not Jeanie — but there’s a couple of people over there that, uh … I don’t get it. I don’t. … I always had a great relationship with Jeanie — at least I thought I did. I don’t know where it is now.” (https://theathletic.com/3095914/2022/02/01/nba-75-at-no-14-jerry-west-was-mr-clutch-and-forever-will-be-brutally-honest-about-himself/)Just as the retelling of it all starts to rile West up, he stops just short of naming names. Still, as he’s well aware, the Lakers’ circle that surrounds Buss is a small one. A message has been sent. When asked if there was any hope for reconciliation, West shook his head. “No, it’s too late; it’s too late,” he said. “I don’t need to do that, OK? I really don’t need (it). It’s just (bothersome) how people change so much. And I don’t understand it, but it’s fine. It’s fine.”



Doesnt it feel like he wants to go David Ruffin?




https://youtu.be/2ZnbmWSkO7Y


Just yell “I made your asses!”.

And he kinda did. I mean…..14-15 of the teams initial years in LA. Partially building Showtime who won 5 rings….drafting Kobe and signing Shaq for 5 more(and trading them Gasol as well). You know he’s thinking the Lakers wouldn’t be the Lakers without him. And he might be more qualified to say that than anyone.

[bladefd]

It's disappointing to watch the Lakers organization plummet. Horrendous job done by Jeannie and management. So incompetent and foolish just to save a few bucks. The fools have multi-billion dollar television contracts & huge revenue from tickets, products, etc coming in, and they are penny-pinching over a legend like Jerry West?? Shameful. :facepalm

The greatest organization and arguably the 2nd winningest sports organization in North America (behind Yankees) is now scrapping the dumpster.

All this backlash will compel their PR department and Jeannie to reverse the decision. Just watch her come running on ESPN to seek public forgiveness like she did after the Magic fiasco. It's a joke.

[John8204]

Did the Lakers not help Jerry West for 30 years?

Does he become the rich and famous logo if the Lakers dont hire him, pay him, promote him, and so on for their basketball product?

Does Jerry West become “The Logo” fixing mufflers at Midas?

Things like this go both ways.

Itd be great if they kept a good relationship but their history together had been a business partnership and I dont see either side “owing” anyone anything.

In 1959 the Lakers were 25-50 when they drafted West #2...if he fell to #3 he would have been in a better situation and the Knicks would have gotten him.
As rookie he became Captain and the team with Elgin Balor relocated to Los Angeles they went 36-43
In his 2nd season he took his team to the finals against the Celtics where they took the Celtics to 7 games
Jerry West never let his team have a losing record after his rookie season
When Jerry retired the team the team dropped to 30-52

That alone should grant a man a seat for life...but West wasn't done with the Lakers.

two seasons of sub-500 basketball and Jerry West returns to coach Kareem (who went 40-42 the year before)

Year 1 - 53-29 - takes them to the Conference finals
Year 2 - 45-37
Year 3 - 47-35

After that he moves into his executive tenure how did he do as a scout/GM/exec

1980 - Magic Johnson
1983 - James Worthy
1985 - AC Green
1990 - Vlady Divac
1996 - Derek Fisher
1997 - Kobe Bryant(via trade)

[HunterSThompson]

I mean. how many laker games has Jerry been to over the past 20 years. probly zero. I bet he sells or gives away every ticket.. hes a rival. he's employed by other teams constantly. if he was retired it would be a different story I'm sure. they were probly just tired of him being at odds with them. both Jerry and the buss family are stubborn assholes tbh

[iamgine]

Could this just be a misunderstanding? Like a low level ticket manager was just doing his job and didn't realize he revoked Jerry's tickets. That's why it's only a text to his wife, may be an automated text too.

[John8204]

I mean. how many laker games has Jerry been to over the past 20 years. probly zero. I bet he sells or gives away every ticket.. hes a rival. he's employed by other teams constantly. if he was retired it would be a different story I'm sure. they were probly just tired of him being at odds with them. both Jerry and the buss family are stubborn assholes tbh

Oh well if The Lakers are rivals with an 83 year old than everything is just great..you can't wait 5 years for the guy to pass he built the damn franchise.

[Full Court]

Oh well if The Lakers are rivals with an 83 year old than everything is just great..you can't wait 5 years for the guy to pass he built the damn franchise.

Given West's age, he'd fit in well on the current Lakers team. They should be trying to recruit him. We all know that certain people whose names I won't mention need more help.

[Axe]

He.. didn't draft kobe into the lakers lol. But they immediately did acquire him after he got drafted.

[Axe]

Since jerry buss died, his kids have turned their franchise into the james Dolan knicks. They got super lucky that LeBron recruited AD and their the LA lakers. No wonder west publically called them a shithole. That bubble season was the one exception but besides that they been the definition of mediocrity since about 2014
The lakers have been a shithole since 8 years ago, yet they were able to win a championship first in that span than the laughingstock clippers. :oldlol:

[John8204]

He.. didn't draft kobe into the lakers lol. But they immediately did acquire him after he got drafted.

It was the same day and he won exec of the year for doing it.