The Lakers celebrated their 15th championship as a franchise on Wednesday with a parade through the streets of downtown Los Angeles. The event culminated with a rally in front of 80,000-plus at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, but one person noticeably absent from the festivities was the team's owner, Jerry Buss. Buss wasn't sick or out of town or anything, it's just that parades aren't really his thing. And actually, while all of this was going on, he was spotted sitting alone at a poker table inside a nearby casino.
TMZ has the photographic evidence, which shows Buss at the Bicycle Casino with the parade being shown on a television above the poker table.
The point is, besides the financial aspect of more championships increasing the value of the franchise, the senior Buss could care less about all that goes with celebrating "another" title. After all, it is his ninth since taking ownership of the club back in 1979.
Just another reason for those outside of Los Angeles to hate the Lakers, I guess.
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Former Los Angeles Lakers player Magic Johnson waves to the crowd during the Lakers victory parade in Los Angeles, California, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (Mark Rightmire/Orange County Register/MCT)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Earvin "Magic" Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates the 2009 NBA Championship during the Los Angeles Lakers Championship Parade and rally on June 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Earvin "Magic" Johnson
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Earvin "Magic" Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates the 2009 NBA Championship during the Los Angeles Lakers Championship Parade and rally on June 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Earvin "Magic" Johnson
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Earvin "Magic" Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates the 2009 NBA Championship during the Los Angeles Lakers Championship Parade and rally on June 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Earvin "Magic" Johnson
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - JUNE 17: Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame player and team executive Earvin "Magic" Johnson waves to the crowd from the top of a double decker bus at the start of Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship victory parade outside the Staples Center on June 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ervin Magic Johnson
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame player and team executive Earvin "Magic" Johnson waves to the crowd from the top of a double decker bus at the start of Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship victory parade outside the Staples Center on June 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ervin Magic Johnson
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Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives as his wife Vanessa holds a trophy after they arrived in Los Angeles with the Lakers team at the Los Angeles International airport Monday, June 15, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic on Sunday night to win the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
AP
Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, left, is directed to his car after he arrived in Los Angeles with the Lakers team at the Los Angeles International airport Monday, June 15, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic on Sunday night to win the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
AP
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson waves to members of the media as he arrives with his team at the Los Angeles International airport Monday, June 15, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic on Sunday night to win the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
AP
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, left, and Derek Fisher arrive at the Los Angeles International airport Monday, June 15, 2009. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday for the NBA championship. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
He's the owner, he can do what he wants. IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING!
i hope he won enough money to cover the check he wrote for that parade. BRAVO JERRY ALL IN !
ISN'T IT ILLEGAL TO TAKE PHOTOS ON A CASINO FLOOR AREA UNLESS ALLOWED BY THE CASINO. THOSE PESKY TMZ PEOPLE
not in the poker room. You can use your phone in the poker room because your gabmling against the casino. just the other players
in the past people was not alowed to take photo inside the casino but today they can only if they take the individual person photo at the table.
I hate TMZ or anything to do with TMZ
And your point is....? I've watch Jerry play cards. He is not THAT good, I could beat him on the poker table. It is just that he has the money to buy into BIG poker games that I can't afford. If he wants to skip a parade (which I can't blame him for,) more power to him. PS..TMZ is just a bunch of scumbags.
TMZ SUCKS
I Love TMZ... thats what I watch for entertainment other than ET wahahahha...
"...the senior Buss could care less...." That was what he was doing! Now, if he couldn't care less, it would make sense.
Number one: If you all "hate" TMZ so much, why do you take the time to read their stories, and then comment on them? Maybe it's YOU all who need to get a job, or a life, or both. Second, this is far from a shocking development. "Dr." Buss is a notoriously addictive personality. Alcohol, gambling, loose women . . . he loves 'em all. I'm just surprised that he wasn't at a strip club. He's just another jerk with too much money and too much time on his hands. And as for you Laker "fans" (funny how none of you come out unless the Lakers win a championship), if you don't like what I'm saying . . . do something about it!
Jerry is a huge poker freak. But hey, this is LA-LA land--and we all know that those from Caleeeeefornia are a few fries short of a happy meal.
I dont blame him for that move,I play poker every dang day...have for about 6 years straight now and I much rather do that than watch some parade or be in a parade..CONGRATS to him.
Owners don't care about the fans, JUST THE MONEY ! And that's why, After Al Davis took the Raiders out of Oakland I stopped buying Season Tickets. I personally will NEVER support a professional sports team again. Why are people so willing to pay SO MUCH for entertainment And SO LITTLE for things like Emergency Services? I will NEVER understand Paying a baseball pitcher 125 Million Dollars to throw a ball And A Fireman 60 thousand dollars to save our Homes, Businesses, AND LIVES There is NO logical explanation for such behavior. I heard that a Coast Guard rescue swimmer had to save 6 former NFL players and then had to be left out in the ocean because the winch cable broke. So after saving 6 lives they throw a life boat out the door and had to come back Hours Later to pick up the swimmer. The Swimmer was a 2nd Class Petty Officer. Now I don't know how much they make now But when I was a 2nd Class Petty Officer in the Navy 30 years ago I know it wasn't enough to Risk My Life For SIX BIG FAT CHUCKLEHEADS who probably have more money than that Petty Officer will ever see in his entire life. GOD BLESS Our Servicemen And Women And The Vets Who Are Motivated NOT BY MONEY But By HONOR and A SENSE OF PRIDE And DUTY ! It was an HONOR to serve my country But when I see the way some of those citizens I Helped Protect Spend their money IT MAKES ME SICK !
one name. robert kraft
Guess what Mario Lemiux and Dan Rooney where at both of there parades. And 80k people is nothing compared to the great city of pittsburgh 350k + at both of there parades. NBA and LA both are weak!
Apparently a lot of people posting comments on this board don't understand the concept of RESPECT ! Yes, he is the owner and can do what he wants. But What About RESPECT for the fans. Although the fans are another story altogether. Who are those idiots ? Hey the Lakers won, Let's go tear up buildings and make a big mess. Remember those people are someones children that would have been better off aborted as fetuses
His absence at the city's celebration is tantamount to spitting in the face of the fans and the community at large . . . these folks supported you all year, the least you can do is show up. They bought tickets, jerseys, food, drinks . . . all at outrageously inflated prices, I'm sure. The moral of the story . . . when you reach out to the community, it shouldn't ALWAYS be with your palm up. Degenerate gamblers like Ryan should remember that before they post assinine comments. Case closed.
Hey idiot, If you have any common sense you would see that the Lakers (Jerry Buss) payed for the parade while the other major sports teams made there city's pay for them. Jerry Buss has passed day to day operations down to his children and they have proved they are worthy by winning the CHAMPIONSHIP. I guess you wouldn't know about passing a business down to your children as odds are you are a slug who will not pass anything to your children other then bills. I'm sure he wants them to get the credit they deserve so he stayed away. If he were there he would have taken the spotlight instead of them. Being the classy man he is he did the right thing.
Can you say GAMBLING ADDICT?