Laker Girl [Hardcover]

Jeanie Buss (Author), Steve Springer (Author), Phil Jackson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2010

The life story of Jeanie Buss could only have been written in Hollywood.
Her father, Jerry Buss, emerged from a childhood of financial struggle to improbably become one of California s most successful real estate developers. Though her life was not without turmoil her parents divorced when she was still a child Jeanie s world was forever changed for the better when her father bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979.
By the time Jeanie was 19, she was already a high-ranking executive with World Team Tennis. Today, she is the Lakers executive vice president of business operations and one of the most influential women in professional sports.
But Jeanie s business accomplishments only begin to tell the tale of her incredible journey. In true Hollywood fashion, Jeanie eventually found love where she least expected: with Phil Jackson, the Lakers head coach and one of the most successful coaches in NBA history. Along the way, she s rubbed elbows with everyone from Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, John McEnroe, and Shaquille O Neal to Ryan Seacrest, Khloe Kardashian, Hugh Hefner, and Jack Nicholson. And she s done it all in her own unique, inimitable style.
Laker Girl is the never-before-told story of the Buss family and of one woman s rise to the top in a man s world. It is also a behind-the-scenes journal of the 2009 10 Lakers season, a year in which Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Ron Artest led the franchise to its 16th world championship.
From star-studded celebrity weddings to meetings at the White House to the STAPLES Center court after Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Jeanie takes you behind the velvet ropes for an unprecedented glimpse into the glamorous world of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeanie Buss is entering her 11th season as the Lakers executive vice president of business operations and is responsible for overseeing all of the Lakers business operations, including relationships with the team s broadcast partners, FSN West, KCBS/KCAL 9-TV, and ESPN Radio. Working closely with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and assistant general managers Jim Buss and Ronnie Lester, she is also involved with the team s marketing, sponsorships, and other business dealings.
Steve Springer is a former sportswriter who spent 25 years at the Los Angeles Times. This is his eighth book, and his fourth on the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also the co-author of the New York Times best seller American Son with boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books; First Edition edition (October 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600785115
• ISBN-13: 978-1600785115
• Product Dimensions: 1.3 x 6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #676,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jeanie Buss - the grace of genetics, the dint of hard work, and rolling with Boobah October 30, 2010

By H. Bala TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jeanie Buss started out sort of like the Ricky Schroeder of the professional basketball world, and I know that's a weird analogy. But she took that shiny silver spoon handed to her by her rich genius dad and she worked her tail off and took no guff and exercised her business acumen. As the Executive Veep of Business Operations for the Buss empire, she makes the hard decisions, and she's earned the right to do that. She claims she's not comfortable with the "female role model" label except she's so damn good at being one. Jeanie Buss, in her various interviews and public functions, has never come off as less than engaging and personable and amazingly down-to-earth. In many ways, she's become the face of the business side of the Lakers franchise, and always seemingly accessible. Jeanie has stated that she struggled with writing this book, that she's really not a writer, that it's a bit irritating to her that while it took her around nine months to finish this book, her boyfriend scribe Phil Jackson, well within that same span of time, had sharpened his quill, dipped into his ink bottle, and flourished off yet another potential best-seller. But does any of Phil's tomes come off as warm and engaging as Jeanie's LAKER GIRL?

Jeanie offers such a unique, interesting perspective. As she writes in her intro, "This is the story of a family business in which the owner's daughter is dating her father's star employee. No matter what the business is, who wouldn't be interested in that?" And she's right. This is a good hook. And, it turns out, Jeanie has things to say. Co-author Steve Springer helps her to say them. Phil Jackson himself writes the foreword....

If you're still soaking in the 2009-2010 Lakers season and that unbelievable Game 7 in the Finals, LAKER GIRL keeps you in that honeymoon phase. Alternate chapters serve as Jeanie's diary of this past season, from opening night thru the playoff run to that Game 7 and a bit beyond, up to when her father finally gets inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August. Jeanie knows basketball, loves basketball, but this book isn't about in-depth analysis of the game as much as it is about the more human, personal aspects of it. Throughout this book, Jeanie's devotion to the Lakers is palpable. And she gives us full access beyond anything her Twitter friends usually get.

Jeanie details her father's rough childhood during the Depression era, and you can't help but note the dichotomy between the life of privilege Jeanie was born into versus her parents' skimping and penny pinching and barely making ends meet before Jerry amassed his stack of greens. But Jeanie is one of those folks who makes the most of what she's given. In watching and listening to her in various public appearances, I've always walked away with the impression of how grounded she is, and I could totally see how she was able to be so successful. Yep, her father gave her that foot in the door, but you can't front on what she's accomplished once she was given the opportunity. She touches on her own struggles as a professional woman executive battling prejudice in a predominantly male-oriented business field. You get an inside look on how she does business, on how she treats people. One thing is clear: She cares about the Laker brand. She loves the Lakers fans, who then gladly reciprocate.

I love how frank and forthcoming she is and the insights she gives us. The most important men in her life get a lot of run in her book. Her dad, of course. And her boyfriend. Jeanie has strong opinions, and she discusses her occasional disagreements with Phil, and she doesn't mince words. She gives you a peek into a side of Phil Jackson that no one but his intimates ever get to see. You see Coach Jackson on the sidelines and he's always calm and stoic and doesn't call timeouts. Jeanie informs us that Jackson is very passionate about the game, that losses would always result in restless nights. There's one anecdote Jeanie recounts in which, following a loss to Dallas, Phil in his sleep rips the pillow out from under Jeanie because he was dreaming that it was a loose ball and he was trying to steal it. When Jeanie told him about this in the morning, Phil was pretty proud of himself. Heh.

For those who think TMZ is a cool thing, there are bits here that smack of gossipy gossipy. Jeanie gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Lamar's wedding and the Lakers' visit at the White House. She talks about her decision to pose for Playboy when she was 32. She touches on her divorce. She mentions Sasha Vujacic's feud with the coaching staff and puts to rest that rumor about the Laker wives hating on each other. She even talks about how actor David Arquette helped a Staples Center security guard subdue an overly aggressive fan. Yeah, this book comes with the juicy.

Maybe it's because I'm an avid Lakers fan, but I found LAKER GIRL to be really engrossing. Jeanie and Steve Springer have written a book that is informative and entertaining. It does give you a feel for what makes Jeanie Buss tick and the warmth she exudes and how real she is. It's been a charmed life for her, absolutely. But she's worked for it, too. She deserves it. For my money, Jeanie Buss is THE Laker Girl. Let me gently push Paula Abdul to the side.

And did you figure out yet who "Boobah" is in her dedication blurb? Read more ›

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definite Three-Pointer December 10, 2010

By Gary Tallman

Format:Hardcover

I am not a Laker fan or much of a basketball fan but this book blew me away. I loved all the behind the scenes stories of what it takes to put together an NBA championship team and all the history of Dr. Buss's climb through the ranks to being such a humble but proud hall of fame owner. You get a wonderful glimpse into Phil Jackson and his relationship with Jeanie. Jeanie and Mr. Springer write with great attention to detail and the pacing of the chapters was terrific. There is not one uninteresting section of this book. I would recommend it to any sports fan seeking a behind the scenes glimpse of a team in action. It is also a book of empowerment. The cover photo and the inside pictures were also excellent.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars PURPLE & GOLD: THE LIFE & TIMES OF JEANIE BUSS, HER FAMILY & THE LAKERS October 30, 2010

By RBSProds TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Four and a half ENGAGING Stars! Essentially a Jeanie Buss 10-month wide-ranging and varied journal of "the highs and lows" and interesting trivia in a long NBA championship-winning season that stretches from October 2009 to the Jerry Buss Basketball Hall of Fame induction in August 2010. More importantly, interspersed is the inside story of the business and social acumen of Ms Buss, the Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the Los Angeles Laker basketball team organization and the story of her family. It also specifically covers her father, Dr Jerry Buss, the owner of the Lakers, from his humble beginnings in Wyoming during the Great Depression to a Ph.d. in physical chemistry to the founding of the massive and lucrative Mariani-Buss Associates real estate empire, paving the way to ownership of the Lakers. There is also some inside information on her boyfriend, Laker coach Phil Jackson, "the love of her life" (and answers the question on her possible marriage to Jackson.) She can be down-to-earth: despite being a privileged Laker executive and Los Angeles insider, she travels coach on airlines. There are some inside views, such as: the Jerry Buss-Jack Kent Cook mega-deal for the Lakers (and more) purchase, the Lamar Odom-Khloe Kardasian wedding, the effect of Kareem's leukemia announcement, Chick Hern's influence, how hard Magic Johnson's HIV diagnosis hit Dr Buss personally, the Buss divorce, the Playboy photo shoot, marriage and divorce, that Phil Jackson was NOT in on the trade for Pau Gasol, and information on Phil's coaching future. While there are lots of overviews, the book contains many nuggets that make it a worthwhile, enjoyable read.... This is an insiders-view of life (and operations) at the top of the Laker organization, the Buss family and associates, and some views of the Los Angeles entertainment upper crust. Laker fans will love the inside information. And her remarkable saga continues. Very Definitely Recommended. Four and a half INTERESTING Stars! (This review is based on an Amazon Kindle download in Mac, iPhone, and Kindle text-to-speech (using female voice, of course) modes: 31 color/B&W photos.) Read more ›

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BUS 120 March 26, 2013

By Rafe Sanders

Format:Hardcover

Jerry Buss is a must-read for anybody interested in mastering techniques for successful management. He is by far one of the most successful management gurus ever. The tactics he used were exceptional and could be used in any field of management. Buss's Lakers are known as one of the best dynasties in sports history, which is something special. Without him, the Los Angeles Lakers would be nothing like they are today.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the Lakers February 6, 2012

By Lmicky

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love the Lakers and reading bout them. Plus this is the owners daughter and I wanted to see how she does business. Plus the price was pretty cool.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jeanie Rocks! February 3, 2011

By California Dreamer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a fascinating look inside a sports empire that Jerry Buss has created and then allowed his children to help run it. Jeanie Buss reveals a love for the Purple and Gold along with a sharp sense for business. She is forthcoming about her childhood, her many relationships, and professional life, sprinkled with lessons she has learned through the years. Women in particular will admire how she has become a respected executive with integrity, a sense of humor, loyalty and sensitivity in a male dominated business.