My children, Casey and Emmett, are remarkable little creatures who—over the course of Showtime—introduced me to Bop magazine, attacking cicadas, blueberry skies, MC Hammer flute renditions, 16 Handles obsessions, Popcorn Friday, splashes of vanilla, oddball world-record facts and (as always) unyielding love. That my two miracles know all the words to Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” only reinforces their awesomeness.
Let’s hope we all keep chillin’ and coolin’ just like a snowman.
NOTES
The page numbers in this notes section refer to the printed version of this book. To find the corresponding locations in the text of this digital version, please use the “search” function on your e-reader. Note that not all terms may be searchable.
PROLOGUE
x“I’d like to run very much more than we have here” Scott Ostler, “Jack McKinney: Low-Key Coach with Upbeat Offense,” Los Angeles Times, July 31, 1979.
xiOn the morning of November 8, 1979 Ian Thomsen, “The Man Who Could Have Been Pat Riley,” National Sports Daily, April 19, 1990.
CHAPTER 1
4–5“I asked to see a profit and loss statement” Roland Lazenby, The Show, p. 97.
6According to a former Kings player, Cooke once Rick Reilly, “Larger than Life,” Sports Illustrated, December 16, 1991.
6Chick Hearn, the longtime Lakers announcer Bill Brubaker, “The Golden Rule: A Cooke’s Tour of Life,” Washington Post, July 17, 1988.
6“He was,” said Rod Hundley, the former Lakers player Roland Lazenby, The Show, p. 99.
7The result was a divorce that, over a two-and-a-half-year William Oscar Johnson, “Jerry Is Never Behind the Eight Ball,” Sports Illustrated, June 18, 1979.
8He once turned down an offer to play the Marlboro Man Neil Amdur, “A New Type of Owner in Sports Establishment,” New York Times, May 30, 1979.
8While trying to sign Jimmy Connors Ted Green, “Buss Unmatched as a Big Wheel of Sports,” Sporting News, June 23, 1979.
8He would sell his Los Angeles holdings Matthew Walker, “Skyscraper Mystique,” Fortune, October 8, 1979.
9The deal is this William Oscar Johnson, “Jerry Is Never Behind the Eight Ball,” Sports Illustrated, June 18, 1979.
CHAPTER 2
12At the time, league rules mandated that the Jazz had to compensate Los Angeles Scott Ostler and Steve Springer, Winnin’ Times, pp. 68–69.
12When Larry O’Brien, the NBA’s commissioner, prepared to flip the coin Scott Ostler and Steve Springer, Winnin’ Times, pp. 70–71.
13“Gentlemen,” Cooke bellowed, “I’m going to order lunch for you!” Bruce Newman, “From High above the Western Sideline,” Sports Illustrated, April 9, 1984.
13Cooke, a man who knew a high-quality sand dab Chick Hearn and Steve Springer, Chick, p. 66.
14Aware that Abdul-Jabbar, arguably the NBA’s best player, was making $650,000 annually Earvin Johnson with William Novak, My Life, p. 100.
15Despite winning 47 games and reaching the playoffs Ted Green, “Lakers Book a Magic Show into the Forum,” Los Angeles Times, May 17, 1979.
17Hadn’t authorities been looking for Cy Egan, “Sports biggie is found slain in trunk of his Rolls-Royce,” New York Post, June 19, 1979.
18Was Tark, as most people called him Mike Douchant, “Sutton, Tarkanian Decline Other Offers,” Sporting News, July 21, 1979.
20What detectives later learned was that Weiss Michael Connelly, “Who Shot Vic Weiss? A Trail Gone Cold,” Los Angeles Times, June 11, 1989.
22“I can remember standing in a WPA line with a gunny sack” Lesley Visser, “It’s All That Glitters,” Boston Globe, June 2, 1987.
22To help with the bills, Jerry worked odd jobs Ross Siler, “Buss Station,” Daily News of Los Angeles, April 8, 2007.
22Garrett saw true genius Ross Siler, “Buss Station,” Daily News of Los Angeles, April 8, 2007.
23“I couldn’t stand wearing a pinstripe suit and carrying a briefcase” Lesley Visser, “It’s All That Glitters,” Boston Globe, June 2, 1987.
23The two men—now officially Mariani-Buss Associates—flourished Neil Amdur, “A New Type of Owner in Sports Establishment,” New York Times, May 30, 1979.
23Though married to his second wife, Veronica, since 1972 No byline, “Suit Seeks $100M Turnover by Basketball Tycoon,” New York Post, April 15, 1983.
CHAPTER 3
27They spoke for a while, the fifty-three-year-old GM and the forty-four-year-old assistant coach Jack McKinney and Robert Gordon, Tales from the Saint Joseph’s Hardwood, p. 18.
28–29“The next day in class, Sister Edward Francis” Jack McKinney and Robert Gordon, Tales from the Saint Joseph’s Hardwood, pp. 10–11.
30“I had other offers,” he said, “but I always rejected them” Richard O’Connor, “After the Fall,” Sports Illustrated, October 20, 1980.
30That year, 1973–74, the Hawks No byline, “Jack McKinney: Low-Key Coach with Upbeat Offense,” Los Angeles Times, July 31, 1979.
31“There hasn’t been a word said to me all year in a negative way” Jack Scheuer, “McKinney Fired by St. Joseph’s,” Spartanburg Herald-Journal, March 19, 1974.
31One day later, approximately eight hundred students attended Jack Scheuer, “Students Protest Firing,” Gettysburg Times, March 20, 1974.
31“It’s a funeral,” said Kevin Furey, a Hawks player Jack Scheuer, “St. Joseph’s Coach Fired Despite Top Cage Record,” Gettysburg Times, March 19, 1974.
33“bland and businesslike,” wrote Joe Gilmartin Joe Gilmartin, “Sharp Coach?,” Sporting News, November 17, 1979.
33“The Lakers need a change from the style of play” Phil Elderkin, “New Navigator on the Lakers’ Bridge,” Christian Science Monitor, August 9, 1979.
33“All he does,” wrote Scott Ostler in the Los Angeles Times Scott Ostler, “Jack McKinney: Low-Key Coach with Upbeat Offense,” Los Angeles Times, July 31, 1979.
35“I ran into Earvin’s fourth-grade teacher” Roland Lazenby, The Show, p. 189.
36“I was a dreamer” Mark Heisler, “He’s Still Taking Care of Business,” Los Angeles Times, November 2, 1990.
36When he was ten, Earvin cut neighborhood lawns Richard Hoffer, “Magic’s Kingdom,” Sports Illustrated, December 3, 1990.
36“If I was going on an errand for my mother” Earvin Johnson and Roy S. Johnson, Magic’s Touch, p. 27.
36“My father would point out the subtleties” Earvin Johnson with William Novak, My Life, pp. 23–102.
38“Coach Fox was the perfect coach for me” Chris Solari, “Magic Johnson, in 5,000 of His Own Words,” Lansing State Journal online, August 3, 2012.
39When, on April 17, 1977, he returned from Seth Davis, When March Went Mad, pp. 39–48.
39“What does Earvin mean to us?” Douglas S. Looney, “And for My Next Trick, I’ll . . .” Sports Illustrated, April 30, 1979.
41Only a day earlier, the team announced that Johnson Scott Ostler, “L.A. Soaks Up Its 1st Magic Moment,” Los Angeles Times, July 28, 1979.
43“Some teams need a power forward, others need an outside” Jim Murray, “Lakers Smile? It’s Magic,” Los Angeles Times, August 9, 1979.
44“I felt like he was going to have to adjust his game” Malcolm Moran, “Magic Show Has Cut Nixon’s Role in Half,” New York Times, January 23, 1980.
45–46“I could see right off that my intensity was very different” Earvin Johnson with William Novak, My Life, p. 107.
47During a particularly heated practice Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson, with Jackie MacMullan, When the Game Was Ours, pp. 77–78.
47“Brad,” Sharman raved Scott Ostler, “Lakers Sign Holland,” Los Angeles Times, September 7, 1979.
48Around the same time Dantley learned of his ba
nishment Scott Ostler, “Did the Lakers Merely Get the World’s Tallest Flutist . . . ?” Los Angeles Times, September 21, 1979.
CHAPTER 4
52He was, as author Jackie Lapin once wrote, “a Gulliver in a world of Lilliputians” Jackie Lapin, “The Tall Men: Life Grows Complicated Away from Arenas,” New York Times, June 8, 1976.
53Born on April 16, 1947, in New York City Gene Boswell, “Lew Warms to the Spotlight,” New York Post, May 5, 1965.
53“The store manager decided we were dangerous customers” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, pp. 8–9.
53–54His first best friend was a white child Ibid., pp. 23–24.
54“At ten or eleven my father recognized that I was going to be taller than normal” Ronald B. Scott, “Remember That Famous Scowl—the New Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Is Trying to Phase It Out,” People magazine, November 24, 1975.
54The Alcindors were particularly impressed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, p. 27.
54“I had gone over to watch a CYO game” Maury Allen, “A Reunion with ‘Lewie,’” New York Post, December 26, 1968.
55“He was fifteen when he matured” Ibid.
56“One day I stumbled upon a strange and delightful experience” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, p. 18.
57“People stare,” he said William Gildea, “Little Old Ladies Frighten Alcindor,” Washington Post, March 25, 1967.
57A woman once jabbed him Arnold Hano, “The Heart of Lew Alcindor,” Sport magazine, April 1967.
57“On the surface,” wrote Gerald Eskenazi Gerald Eskenazi, “Lew Alcindor in Search of College,” New York Times, March 28, 1965.
57A white religious instructor, Brother D’Adamo Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, pp. 50–63.
58“And you!” he screamed. “You go out there and you don’t hustle” Ibid., pp. 66–67.
58“The toughest job was to treat him the same as all” Maury Allen, “A Reunion with ‘Lewie,’” New York Post, December 26, 1968.
58“This is the worst place to go to school,” he was told Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, p. 110.
59Alcindor enjoyed an in-flight meal of filet mignon Joel E. Boxer, file to Sports Illustrated, 1965.
59“The varsity had no one able to guard me in close” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, p. 136.
60“There was warm, mutual respect” Ronald B. Scott, “Remember That Famous Scowl—the New Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Is Trying to Phase It Out,” People magazine, November 24, 1975.
60Alcindor began forgoing standard collegiate attire George Kiseda, stringer file to Sports Illustrated, August 28, 1968.
60“A white boy from Santa Maria. That’s all” Curry Kirkpatrick, stringer file to Sports Illustrated, March 23, 1969.
60“Frankly, this new rule doesn’t affect Alcindor” Gordon S. White Jr., “Ban on Dunking May Hamper Shorter Men,” New York Times, April 6, 1967.
60“We tried to front him, hoping his teammates” Dean Fischer, file to Sports Illustrated, February 2, 1967.
61On November 23, 1967, Alcindor was one of 120 attendees Chuck Brown, stringer file to Sports Illustrated, November 24, 1967.
61J. D. Morgan, UCLA’s athletic director Lois Dickert, stringer file to Sports Illustrated, February 29, 1968.
61“Kareem gets along OK with white guys” Robert Landauer, stringer file to Sports Illustrated, March 14, 1972.
61It was in August of 1968 that Alcindor made a bold shift Peter Carry, “Center in a Storm,” Sports Illustrated, February 17, 1973.
62“The Nets . . . were in real pursuit” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, p. 191.
63“This is not the way to do business” Alex Mistress, “U.C.L.A. Star Asks Halt to Bidding,” New York Times, March 30, 1969.
63“I wasn’t,” he wrote, “the happiest guy to be there” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, p. 196.
64“I met Alcindor for the first time when he came to Detroit” Joe Falls, “Farewell, Alcindorella,” Sporting News, November 15, 1969.
65“I’m not criticizing the people here” Steve Cady, “Abdul-Jabbar Traded by Bucks for Four Lakers,” New York Times, June 17, 1975.
66Johnson, the most heavily hyped player to enter the NBA in years Earvin Johnson with William Novak, My Life, p. 108.
68“Jerry Buss has replaced Jack Kent Cooke as owner” Yvonne Parks, “Los Angeles,” Sporting News, October 13, 1979.
70“Johnson’s enthusiasm was infectious, as usual” Scott Ostler, “The Magic Numbers Are Simply Dazzling,” Los Angeles Times, October 27, 1979.
71Praised the Lakers as the “prototype of a well-run team” Joe Gilmartin, “Sharp Coach? Lakers Have One,” Sporting News, November 17, 1979.
CHAPTER 5
74While riding to the tennis courts, McKinney approached Richard O’Connor, “After the Fall,” Sports Illustrated, October 20, 1980.
75“I drew up to the stop sign” Scott Ostler, “Condition of McKinney Is Serious but Improved,” Los Angeles Times, November 10, 1979.
75McKinney suffered a severe No byline, “Lakers Coach M’Kinney Hurt in Cycle Fall,” Los Angeles Times, November 9, 1979.
75When her husband woke from his Steve Springer, “The Fall Guy,” Los Angeles Times, October 27, 2006.
76The Nuggets were not only playing Scott Ostler, “Nuggets, Like Gold, on Way Up,” Los Angeles Times, November 9, 1979.
78“If [Johnson] is as good as his first month Bruce Newman, “Magic,” Sports Illustrated, November 19, 1979.
78“I think he has done a great job” Scott Ostler, “He’s Just Watching the Store for McKinney,” Los Angeles Times, November 15, 1979.
78Once, in a particularly depressing moment Scott Ostler and Steve Springer, Winnin’ Times, p. 181.
79“After seven or eight days of not sleeping” Scott Ostler, “Lakers Name Pat Riley Assistant Coach,” Los Angeles Times, November 26, 1979.
80On December 18, 1979, readers of the Los Angeles Times Scott Ostler, “Lakers Have a Family Problem,” Los Angeles Times, December 18, 1979.
80Upon arriving in the NBA in 1970 Frank Harway, “A New Russell? It’s Haywood’s Goal,” Sporting News, February 28, 1970.
80–81“Ford is so disliked as a player” Peter Vecsey, “Sitting on Laker Bench Makes Haywood Sick,” New York Post, December 17, 1979.
81Haywood started smoking marijuana Spencer Haywood with Scott Ostler, The Rise, the Fall, the Recovery, pp. 182–190.
82He and his wife, Iman Sue Reilly, “Tall, Dark and Handsome: That’s L.A. Laker Spencer Haywood and His Wife, the Model Iman,” People magazine, April 21, 1980.
84After Los Angeles clinched the Pacific Division Scott Ostler, “Lakers Take a Big Step in Stride,” Los Angeles Times, March 24, 1980.
84“I’ve been in the league seven years” Scott Ostler, “Jabbar Moves Lakers a Giant Step Closer,” Los Angeles Times, April 16, 1980.
85“I think we’re the better team” Scott Ostler, “Lakers’ Chones Issues a Challenge,” Los Angeles Times, February 26, 1980.
85The series opened at the Forum on April 22 Scott Ostler, “L.A. Doesn’t Have a Downtown, but Seattle Does,” Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1980.
85Westhead took one look at the gym and deemed it Scott Ostler, “Lakers Get Hec of a Win, 104–100,” Los Angeles Times, April 26, 1980.
86Afterward the Sonics sat in their dilapidated locker room Scott Ostler, “Lakers Have the Champions of the World on a String,” Los Angeles Times, April 28, 1980.
86Even though the Lakers had the better record Scott Ostler, “Lakers Flex Their Championship Muscles, 111–101,” Los Angeles Times, May 11, 1980.
87As Haywood departed Loyola Marymount Spencer Haywood with Scott Ostler, The Rise, the Fall, the Recovery, pp. 203–207.
89He’d played his prep ball at nearby Crescenta Valley High Marc J. Spears, “Groomed to Coach; Holand Learned Game from the Best,” Daily News of Los Angeles, December 2, 1997.
89“If you say please,” he responded curtly Scott Ostler and Steve Springer, Winnin’ Times, pp. 120–121.
93On the night of May 13, two days after Carrie Seidman, “McKinney in Dark,” New York Times, May 15, 1980.
93“Dad, have you heard the news?” Richard O’Connor, “After the Fall,” Sports Illustrated, October 20, 1980.
94The hurt, he said, was like a wound constantly being reopened Carrie Seidman, “McKinney Makes Fresh Start after Ordeal,” New York Times, October 13, 1980.
94“I had so many things [affected] by the fall” Jay Searcy, “McKinney Feels He Has Plenty to be Thankful For,” Oregonian, November 29, 1987.
96“Can I hurt it any more?” Abdul-Jabbar asked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with Peter Knobler, Giant Steps, pp. 315–316.
96“I felt just sick inside” Ted Green, “Are the Lakers a Foot Away from the Championship?,” Los Angeles Times, May 16, 1980.
99“I wasn’t sure what Westhead’s intent was” Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson, with Jackie MacMullan, When the Game Was Ours, p. 61.
99Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sightings were reported left and right John Papanek, “Arms and the Man,” Sports Illustrated, May 26, 1980.
101“Magic was born to play and born to win” Ted Green, “Magic Tells the Captain: Let’s Dance,” Los Angeles Times, May 17, 1980.
CHAPTER 6
103“It’s highly structured,” Westhead explained at the time Scott Ostler, “Wanted: Magic Formula,” Sporting News, October 11, 1980.
104The players even appreciated the goofy sincerity Scott Ostler and Steve Springer, Winnin’ Times, p. 142.
Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty ofthe 1980s Page 54