“peripheral distractions” philosophy, 183, 275, 278, 312–313, 386
as player, 163–164, 178
relationship with Magic, 154, 156, 352, 379
role in Showtime, 178–179
team dissatisfaction, 365–368, 385–387
tribute to McKinney, xiii, 275
Rivers, David, 352–355, 368–372
Roberts, Fred, 310
Robertson, Alvin, 301
Robertson, Oscar, 50, 63, 342
Robey, Rick, 228n
Robinson, David, 318
Robinson, Truck, 180
Robisch, Dave, 45, 50, 70–71, 220
Roche, John, 164
Rockford Lightning (CBA), 372
Rockwell, John, 24, 202, 267
Rodman, Dennis, 327, 335–339, 341, 344–345
Rose, Lynden, 281
Rosenfeld, Josh, 52, 192, 195, 207, 212, 219, 222, 232, 243, 247–249, 251, 262–263, 275–276, 290–291, 310, 318–320, 346–347, 350, 376, 379
Rosen, Lon, 47, 155, 195, 211, 219, 230, 248–250, 258, 285, 288, 309, 320, 359, 413–416
Rothenberg, Alan, 5, 7, 9
Rothman, Claire, 3–8, 14, 52, 107, 194, 199, 277
Roundfield, Dan, 325
Rubin, Bob, 310
Rupp, Anthony, 157, 160–162, 279
Russell, Bill, 43, 50, 55, 230, 250
Russell, Cazzie, 65
Ruth, Babe, 27–28
Sacramento Kings, 298–299, 351
Sager, Carole Bayer, 223
Salley, John, 200, 337–338, 369
Sampson, Ralph, 181–183, 197, 219, 245–246, 249, 280–282, 386
Sanders, Jeff, 380
San Diego Clippers (formerly Buffalo Braves), 24, 66–67, 71, 105, 127, 167–168, 181–183, 196, 206, 219, 222, 225–226, 254–255
San Diego Conquistadors (ABA), 9
San Diego Rockets, 157–158, 163
Schayes, Danny, 168, 178, 349
Scheer, Carl, 127
Scholz, Dave, 60
Schulian, John, 374
Scott, Anita, 254, 279, 304, 312, 322, 422
Scott, Byron, 219–227, 253–259, 271–274, 278–279, 293–295, 302–305, 309–313, 321–323, 368, 422
Scott, Dawan, 45
Seattle SuperSonics, 48, 70, 77, 84–87, 127, 260, 305, 323–324, 360
Shackelford, Lynn, 78
Sharman, Bill, 6, 41, 47, 70, 74, 76, 107, 111, 125–127, 140, 149, 158, 164, 166, 168, 180–182
Sheen, Charlie, 201
Short, Bob, 4–5
Showtime, 419–420. See also Buss, Jerry
about the origins, x, 154–155
as basketball philosophy, 154–157, 179, 238, 251, 255, 321, 338, 405
catering to celebrities, 155, 178
“Dancing Barry,” 155
end of an era, 357–358, 389, 410, 419–421
Forum Club, 200–205
the Forum Club, 420
Laker Girls, 69, 155, 178, 200–204, 385
Magic Johnson and, 68–72, 417, 421
The Magnificent Seven, 147, 192
other team attempts at, 220, 329
Riley and the return of, 155, 391, 422
“Slam Duck” (mascot), 155
Westhead changes to, 102–105
Shue, Gene, 66–67, 340
Sichting, Jerry, 310
Sikma, Jack, 70, 77, 84–85, 292
Silas, Paul, 167
Smith, Elmore, 65
Smith, Larry, 206
Smrek, Mike, 292, 299, 303, 321, 337, 423–424
Sporting News, 33, 64, 68, 71, 80, 220, 257
Sport (magazine), 57, 101
Sports Illustrated, 9, 56, 61, 62n, 78, 123–125, 179, 215, 285, 332, 335, 354
Spriggs, Larry, 39, 51, 171, 202, 225, 237, 239, 242, 248, 250, 260, 262, 276, 279, 289, 337
Springer, Steve, 107, 111, 114, 137, 145, 152–153, 195, 251, 308
Stabley, Fred, Jr., 37
Staples Center, 419–420
Starr, Anthony, 20
Steiner, Bob, 34, 69, 74, 376
Sterling, Donald, 127, 181–183, 219–220
Stern, David, 229, 263, 324, 416
Stewart Lane, 123–124
Stipanovich, Steve, 217, 218
Stockton, Dick, 236, 238
Substance abuse. See Drugs
Tanter, Lawrence, 156, 370, 372
Tarkanian, Jerry, 17–21, 26
Tarkanian, Lois, 20
Tarkanian, Pamela, 19
Tarpley, Roy, 286 & n
Terzian, George, 131–133
Theokas, Charlie, 169
Therkelsen, Karen, 59
Theus, Reggie, 68, 110–111, 177
Thibault, Mike, 117, 125, 169, 173–177, 195, 255
Thomas, Irving, 408
Thomas, Isiah, 125, 285, 326–328, 330, 332, 335–336, 338–339, 342–344, 369–370, 415
Thomas, Lynn and Joshua Isiah, 339
Thompson, Billy, 289, 291–293, 303, 310, 334, 349, 405, 422
Thompson, Bob, 186
Thompson, David, 125, 300
Thompson, Mykal, 299–305, 321, 328, 337, 352–354, 360, 369, 380, 398
Thorn, Rod, 12
Threatt, Sedale, 414
“Three-peat,” coining the term, 366
Tolbert, Ray, 126
Tomjanovich, Rudy, 105
Toney, Andrew, 190, 215, 254
Tormohlen, Gene, 244, 246, 269, 380
Toronto Maple Leafs, 4
Traum, Joseph, 57
Travolta, John, 201
Triano, Jay, 422
Trigueiro, Jack, 186–187
Tucker, Charles (Dr.), 13
Tulsa Fast Breakers (CBA), 349, 372
Tyler, Steven, 280–281
Tynum, Tim, 221
Tyson, Mike, 298
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 5, 8, 23, 58–60, 187, 220–222, 422
Utah Jazz (formerly New Orleans Jazz), 24, 47–48, 79, 84, 141, 166, 175, 335, 404, 413
Utah Stars (ABA), 47
Valente, Renée, 386
Vanderschaaf, Ron, 422–423
Vandross, Luther, 201
Vecsey, George, 348
Vecsey, Peter, 80–81, 303
Vernon, Duane, 39
Vertlieb, Dick, 188
Virginia Squires (ABA), 220
Vitti, Gary, 52, 177, 247, 260–262, 273–274, 290, 312, 327, 357, 367–370, 383, 386, 413
Wagner, Milt, 334
Wakefield, Andre, 13, 134
Walker, Foots, 154
Walker, Wally, 85
Walton, Bill, 221–222, 226, 294, 299, 310
Warner, Cornell, 330
Warren, Mike, 59, 61
Washington Bullets, 109, 124, 126–127, 134, 245, 260, 318, 325, 333–334, 340, 350
Washington Redskins, 4, 6–7, 8
Weiss, Victor, 17–21
Weltman, Harry, 354
Wennington, Bill, 319
West, David, 317
Westhead, Cy and Jane, 91
Westhead, Paul, xi, 45, 72–79, 89–92, 102–105, 121–125, 135–146, 149
Westhead, Pete, 91
West, Howard, 317
West, Jerry
consultant role, 107
as general manager, 207–208, 243–244
head coach, x–xi, 16, 78, 109, 149–157
idiosyncrasies and depression, 316–318
Kareem and, 50, 349
Magic Johnson and, 14
as player, 164, 317
Ruth’s Chris Steak House incident, 378–379
teaching Carter to drink, 201–202
trade negotiations, 286, 303
training camps, 131
Whisenant, John, 133
Whitney, “Hawkeye,” 106
Wicks, Sidney, 61
Wilder, Dave and Ron, 202
Wilkens, Lenny, 26
Wilkes, Arainni Julise, 184
Wilkes, Jamaal Abul-Lateef (aka Jason Keith), 15, 20, 27, 35, 65, 77, 102, 105n, 133, 136, 184–189, 191–194, 206, 212, 218, 227, 271, 306, 379, 417
Wilkes, Joycelyn, 184, 189
Wilkes, Leander and Thelma, 184, 186, 189
Wilkes, Leonard Bruce, 184
Wilkes, Lucy, 187
Wilkins, Dominique, xii, 255
Wilkins, Gerald, 354
Williams, Buck, 125
Williams, Freeman, 66–67
Williams, Gus, 77, 111
Williams, Herb, 175, 322, 358
Williams, John, 396
Williams, Pat, 127
Willis, Bruce, 311
Willoughby, Bill, 120
Winters, Brian, 65
Winter, Tex, 408
Wohl, Dave, 231, 247, 354–355
Women’s National Basketball Association, 422
Wood, Al, 125
Wooden, John, 26, 59–60, 143, 187, 222
Woolridge, Orlando, 354–355, 358, 361, 372, 375, 386, 388–389, 396
World Basketball League (WBL), 320
World Invitational Tournament, 39, 40, 228
World Team Tennis, 7–8, 23, 25
Worthy, Angela, 277, 284, 399–400
Worthy, James, 147, 197–198, 205–206, 210, 218, 228, 239–240, 251, 255–257, 269–270, 272–276, 284–288, 293–295, 302, 305, 309–314, 330, 355–356, 384, 386, 399–400, 402–405, 420, 422
Yothers, Tina, 386
Youngstown Pride (WBL), 320
Zafrani, Debbie, 25
Zeigler, Mark, 361, 365
Ziegler, Mark, 365
Zoubul, Harold, 200, 203, 204
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Though the NBA has seen its fair share of center-guard tandems, few—if any—have matched the production and entertainment value of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Earvin (Magic) Johnson.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
The No. 1 pick in the 1982 NBA Draft, James Worthy overcame early struggles to become a centerpiece of the Showtime dynasty. His long arms and deadly low-post moves made him nearly impossible to guard.
A largely ignored prospect out of New Mexico, Michael Cooper (here with Bill Bertka, an assistant coach) emerged as the Lakers’ defensive stopper, as well as a deadly three-point shooter.
Dick Raphael/Getty Images
The Lakers thrived with Norm Nixon in the backcourt, but his unease with surrendering control of the team to Magic Johnson ultimately resulted in a blockbuster trade that sent him to the Clippers for Byron Scott.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
A rugged kid from Inglewood (here passing to Magic Johnson against the Celts), Scott opened the floor with his long-distance shooting.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Although Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar received much of the attention, the Lakers would not have owned the 1980s without the low-post contributions of Kurt Rambis (above), Bob McAdoo (photo 7), and A. C. Green (photo 8). Rambis reveled in taking supplies from the locker room, Green was America’s most famous virgin, and McAdoo believed he could beat anyone in anything.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Courtesy of Saint Joseph’s University
Forgotten by most Laker fans, Jack McKinney designed a coaching blueprint that proved the cornerstone of Showtime.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Pat Riley was both a coaching genius and a fashion icon during his time at the Forum.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Paul Westhead took over after McKinney’s bike accident and led the Lakers to the 1980 title.
Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Acquired by the Lakers before the 1979–80 season, Spencer Haywood was thought to be the answer to the Lakers’ power forward prayers. Instead, drug abuse ruined him.
Ron Koch/NBAE Via Getty Images
Mark Landsberger was a useful low-post player who infuriated teammates by telling his wife the details of the Lakers’ away-from-home, off-the-court activities.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Wes Matthews joined the Lakers as a lightly regarded backup guard—but earned his teammates’ respect with his feisty play and toughness.
Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Life was but a dream for the Laker players, who celebrated on the Boston Garden court after downing the Celtics in game 6 of the 1985 championship series.
Life wasn’t always but a dream for the Laker wives, who were asked to cook, clean, raise the children, and turn a blind eye to off-court activities. Here, from left, Angela Worthy, Christine Vitti, Anita Scott, Wanda Cooper, Linda Rambis, and Chris Riley (sitting) enjoy time together.
The Lakers bid farewell to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with a rocking chair (and myriad other gifts) before the April 23, 1989, regular season finale against Seattle. Abdul-Jabbar retired as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer but was a shell of his former self during the final year.
* In Johnson, nineteen, and Kiffin, twenty-eight, the Lakers had the league’s youngest and oldest rookie training camp invitees.
* Boone was contacted for this book, and spoke at length. He was gregarious. However, when asked about the fight, he said, pointedly, “I don’t wish to go there.”
* Few people have ever grown like Alcindor. He left the seventh grade standing 6-foot-3, grew two inches by September and, by the end of eighth grade, was 6-foot-8. One year later, he was 6-foot-10½.
* Just how good an athlete was Alcindor? In grade school he longed for a new pair of ice skates. One of the local newspapers announced that it was sponsoring a speed-skating contest, with all semifinalists winning a new pair of skates. Having never before speed skated, young Lew practiced intensively, won his races and snagged the skates. He didn’t even bother competing in the championship round.
* He did not officially change his name until the spring of 1971. “I waited until I knew this is how I wanted to be,” he told Sports Illustrated. “And when the time came, I would just change my name and let the world know. Before it was no secret. But people just ignored the fact.”
* He was suspended three games for this statement.
* In the early 2000s, Haywood spoke with Slam Magazine’s Alan Paul. He told the writer: “Years later, I sat down with Magic, Kareem, Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon and they said, ‘You were doing so much that we thought you might die if you had the money and live if we delayed it.’ And there’s something to be said for that, because I was very sick.”
* Wrote Abdul-Jabbar in his autobiography, Giant Steps: “The only truly dirty player I’ve run into, a man who took real pleasure in his viciousness, was Dennis Awtrey. . . . He was great with the blindsider, never saw him go face to face. He was a mediocre player, and that one shot kept him in the league for several extra years.”
* Said Butch Lee, who was acquired from Cleveland before the season: “The Lakers were all about class. With Cleveland they gave us soda in the locker room after games. With the Lakers it was juices and fruit and all sorts of stuff. It was a whole different mentality. A winner’s mentality.”
* Though the game was being televised live in California, CBS aired it on tape delay in most other parts of the country so as not to preempt two of its highest-rated shows, The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas (both of which were already in reruns). The NBA
had come a long way in Johnson’s first season—but also had a long way to go.
* The game against the Kings included arguably the greatest pass of Johnson’s career—a no-look bullet through three defenders and into the waiting arms of Jamaal Wilkes beneath the basket. It is still discussed by players who were on the floor that day.
* The injury actually initially occurred on November 11, when Atlanta’s Tom Burleson fell across the back of Johnson’s knee. It wasn’t discovered, however, until after the Kings catastrophe.
* Times readers shared Buss’s anger. Anti-Littwin letters poured into the newspaper’s offices—including one, from Kelvin D. Fuler of Compton, that read: “The reason the Lakers lost to Houston? One Mike Littwin.”
* Yes, Joe (Jellybean) Bryant—Kobe Bryant’s father.
* Although, in the case of Bill Laimbeer, the upside exceeded what the Lakers envisioned. They would meet him later, when he starred for Detroit’s back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams.
* Kentucky’s Joe B. Hall was the coach. The starting lineup for the American team included Rick Robey, Kyle Macy and Jack Givens—all Wildcats—while future stars like Joe Barry Carroll, Darrell Griffith, Sidney Moncrief, Bird and Johnson sat on the bench. “That’s the first time probably in both our lives that we sat on the bench,” Johnson told David Letterman in 2012. “And I don’t think neither one of us liked that at all.”
* Before the start of Game 7, Carr jogged onto the court in goggles, a direct mocking of Abdul-Jabbar. Boston fans loved it.
* Not his real middle name.
* In 1985 Abdul-Jabbar also sued the North American Bear Co. for selling a goggles-wearing teddy bear named Kareem Abdul-Jabear. The two sides settled out of court, with the company handing over its remaining bears to the basketball star. Said Barbara Isenberg, the company’s owner: “It was fine. It got us some publicity and him some free toys.”
Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty ofthe 1980s Page 60