I graduated from high school more than 20 years ago. Still, as sports fans, we can all enrich our fanhoods with a good book about one of our favorite sports subjects. There are few topics in sports history more fascinating or important to the development of a major North American sports than the Showtime era Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s. Author Jeff Pearlman (once again) captivates the interest of sports fans with his tell-all book, "Showtime".
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WHAT YOU ALREADY KNEW
Magic Johnson was the centerpiece of the Showtime era in Lakers basketball. From how the Lakers acquired the pick to draft him to how he was convinced to leave Michigan State University a year early to enter the NBA to the backdrop of Magic's rivalry with Larry Bird in college and the pros, Peralman explores all things Magic.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest players in NBA history, a vocal minority would argue the greatest. Kareem was also private and somewhat aloof. Many reports, after his carer was over, from those who covered him describe him as not necessarily the most likable person (or coworker) in the sporting lexicon. Pearlman goes into extensive detail on the background and behind-the-scenes persona of the enigmatic yet transcendent talent.
Former Lakers Coach Pat Riley was the captain of the Showtime ship. The GQ posterboy guided the Showtime dynasty to four NBA titles ad launched what is certain to be a Hall of Fame coaching career. "Showtime" discusses Riley's metamorphosis throughout the 1980's from a former player turned-announcer turned-assistant turned-head coach. Riley's rise and fall with the Lakers organization is a classic story of man's determination and shortcomings.
Dr. Jerry Buss is the Father of the Los Angeles Lakers as we know them today. What became showtime was Buss' vision. Pearlman extensively reveals how Buss made his unlikely Showtime dream into a reality.
This should surprise no one. 2
WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW
What even the most ardent Showtime Lakers fans don't know about this team could fill a book. That is what Jeff Pearlman did. His text is filled to the brim with stories, scandals, anecdotes, and secrets that only an author like Pearlman can deliver to the masses. The Showtime Lakers were like rock stars. The phrase "sex, drugs, and rock & roll" is a cliche for a reason. "Showtime" reveals why the 1980's Lakers were no exceptions.
There is a new, original, and often unbelievable tale of frat house mischief in every chapter. Cocaine is a "helluva" drug and the Lakers were not immune to its wonders - good, bad, and otherwise. There is sex, nightlife, sex, glamour, sex, fame, sex, and in case I forgot to mention it, more sex. Sex always sells, but it is also critical to the complete story of the Showtime Lakers. That roughly a quarter-century has passed since the end of the Showtime dynasty did little to silence the first-hand witnesses to the excitement and debauchery that was the backdrop of the Lakers' story.
There's more where this came from. 3
NO STONE UNTURNED
This book isn't just about the stars and the sensational. In addition to Magic, Kareem, and Riley, Pearlman writes about Buss, Jerry West, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Kurt Rambis, Bob McAdoo, Norm Nixon, trainers, P.R. people, draft busts, the former owner - Jack Kent Cooke, the X's and O's architect of Showtime (no, not Pat Riley) and many others with fascinating stories about all of them. Simply put: if you are familiar with Pearlman's work, you know what to expect and your expectations should be high. If you have never read any of his gems like the biography of the late Walter Payton and the story of the 1986 World Series champion New York Mets, you will not be disappointed with "Showtime".
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The Daily Hat Trick would like remember
influential people in the sports world who left us during the past year.
Stan Musial (1920-2013)
Baseball Hall of Famer Stan “The Man” Musial died on January
19, 2013 of natural causes. He was 92. Musial was arguably the most beloved St.
Louis Cardinals player of all time.
Musial has a .331 lifetime batting average in over 3,000
games played, 475 home runs, 3,630 hits (4th all time), and 1,951
RBIs (6th all time). He was voted a member of MLB All-Century Team.
He was a pillar of the St. Louis community. In 2011, President Barack Obama
awarded Musial the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Jerry Buss (1933-2013)
Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss died on February 18,
2013 of intestinal cancer. He was 80. Buss oversaw the most prosperous era of
Lakers basketball in the franchise’s storied history.
Dr. Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979. The birth of the
Showtime Lakers commenced immediately with the acquisition of point guard Magic
Johnson with the first pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. Other stars playing under
Buss included Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, and former
league MVPs and future Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and current Lakers
shooting guard Kobe Bryant. The Lakers won ten NBA Championships during Buss’
ownership.
2
Mal Moore (1939-2013)
University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore died on
March 30, 2013 of pulmonary problems. He was 73. Moore was a college coach for
three decades and an administrator at Bama for nearly 10 years.
As a player, assistant coach and administrator, Moore won 10
national championships at Alabama. Moore directed nearly a quarter-billion
dollars of facility improvements at Alabama. He oversaw the hiring of current
Head Football Coach Nick Saban, which led to the resurrection of the dominance
of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program.
3
Carl Williams (1959-2013)
Former heavyweight boxer and undisputed heavyweight
championship contender Carl “The Truth” Williams died on April 7, 2013 of
esophageal cancer. He was 53. Williams fought in several high profile
heavyweight title fights, but never winning.
Williams’ most noteworthy fight was a 1989 loss to Mike
Tyson in a first round knockout. The undisputed heavyweight championship of the
world was at stake. Williams also lost to former heavyweight champions Larry
Holmes, the late Tommy Morrison, Frank Bruno, and Trevor Berbick. His career
record was 30-10 plus a no contest with 21 knockouts.
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Boston Marathon Bombing Victims – April 15, 2013
Three people were killed and nearly 300 more were injured
when two pressure cooker bombs exploded at the home stretch of the 2013 Boston
Marathon on April 15, 2013. Two American brothers were the accused assailants
and were hunted in the ensuing days. One was killed after being shot by police
and run over by his brother in the getaway car. The other was arrested and
charged with the crime on April 19, 2013.
5
Pat Summerall (1930-2013)
Former NFL placekicker and legendary football play-by-play
announcer Pat Summerall died on April 16, 2013 of cardiac arrest following hip
surgery in Dallas, Texas. He was 82. Summerall and his long-time broadcast
partner, John Madden, were among the most (if not the most) premiere in-game sportscasters
in American History.
Summerall delivered NFL game commentary for CBS from 1962
until 1994 and for Fox from 1994 until 2002 in addition to some part time
announcing assignments after his 2002 retirement from Fox. Summerall remained active in broadcasting, as
recently as 2011 for the Cotton Bowl pregame show.
One of a kind....
Chuck Muncie (1953-2013)
Former New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers running
back Harry “Chuck” Muncie died on May 13, 2013 of a heart attack. He was 60.
Muncie is probably best remembered for his role with the Chargers “Air Coryell”
offense in the early 1980s.
Muncie was a three time Pro Bowl player. He ran for 6,702
yards and 71 touchdowns in his nine year NFL career. He is a member of the San
Diego Chargers 40th and 50th Anniversary Teams.
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Deacon Jones (1938-2013)
Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end David “Deacon” Jones
died June 3, 2013. He was 74. Jones spent most of his NFL career with the Los
Angeles Rams.
Jones is remembered as one of the greatest pass rushers of
all-time. A member of the Rams “Fearsome Foursome”, Jones is credited for
coining the term “sack”. Sacks were not an official statistic during Jones’
time in the NFL, thought Pro Football Weekly estimated that he had 194.5 sacks
in his career, including 26 sacks in a 14 game 1967 season, which would place
him near the top among all-time sack leaders.
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Emile Griffith (1938-2013)
International Boxing Hall of Fame middleweight Emile
Griffith died on July 23, 2013, suffering from dementia pugilistica. He was 75.
Griffith may be best remember for a 1962 title fight in which his opponent,
Benny Paret, died ten days after being knocked out (TKO) by Griffith. Griffith
had a career record of 85-24-2 with 23 knockouts plus a fight ending in a
no-decision.
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Art Donovan (1924-2013)
Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Art Donovan died
on August 4, 2013 of respiratory disease. He was 89. Donovan spent most of his
career with the Baltimore Colts.
Donovan was a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time first team
All-Pro (1954-1957), and a member of the 1950s All-Decade Team. He was a member
of the 1958 and 1959 NFL Champion Baltimore Colts teams. His #70 is retired by
the Colts organization.
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Tommy Morrison (1969-2013)
Heavyweight boxer Tommy "The Duke" Morrison died on September 1, 2013 of complications of AIDS. He was 44. Morrison was the former WBO heavyweight champion of the world.
Morrison won the WBO belt by winning over George Foreman by unanimous decision in 1993. He had one successful title defense. Morrison retired from boxing in 1996, announcing that he was diagnosed with HIV. Morrison would fight two more times following his HIV diagnosis, in 2007 and 2008, winning by knockout.
10
Bum Phillips (1923-2013)
Former NFL Head Coach Oail Andrew "Bum" Philips died on October 18, 2013. He was 90. Phillips was the Head Coach of the Houston Oilers from 1975-1980 and the New Orleans Saints from 1981-1985.
Phillips led the Oilers to consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship Game in the 1978 and 1979 season. He led the Saints to within one win of their first, ever, playoff appearance in 1983 before losing on the last game of the season to the Los Angeles Rams on a Mike Lansford field goal in the final seconds.
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Bud Adams (1923-2013)
Tennessee Titans owner Kenneth "Bud" Adams died on October 21, 2013. He was 90. Adams was among the founding owners of the American Football League.
Adams founded the Houston Oilers who were among eight teams that played in the AFL's inaugural season of 1960. The Oilers won the first two AFL Championships in 1960 and 1961. Adams relocated the team to Tennessee following the 1996 season.
The franchise changed its name to the Tennessee Titans in 1999, which it is named today. The Titans won the 1999 AFC Championship. They lost to the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.
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Todd Christensen (1956-2013)
Former NFL tight end Todd Christensen died on November 13, 2013 of complications from liver transplant surgery. He was 57. Christensen spend most of his career with the Raiders organization.
Christensen was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. He was a member of the Oakland Raiders Super Bowl XV championship team in the 1980 season and the Los Angeles Raiders Super Bowl XVIII championship team in the 1983 season.
Paul Blair (1944-2013)
Former MLB center fielder Paul Blair died on December 26, 2013 of a heart attack. He was 69. Blair spent most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. He also plead with the New York Yankees.
Blair won eight gold gloves. He made two All-Star Game appearances. Blair was a member of four World Series championship teams - the 1966 and 1970 Baltimore Orioles and the 1977 and 1978 New York Yankees.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss passed away this morning at the age of 80. The Hat Trick reflected, earlier today, about why this was such a profound loss for the sports world, though I doubt many people needed much convincing.
However, even the death of a legendary sports figure is not immune from humor and sarcasm. Interestingly, if Dr. Buss had any sense of humor, I am sure today's retweet, from Onion Sports Network (@OnionSports), would make him crack a smile in Heaven.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss died this morning of
kidney failure. He had been battling cancer for the past year. He was 80 years old.
Buss is one of a handful of executives, along with NBA Commissioner
David stern, Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and select few others, who
lifted the NBA from being a fringe sport struggling for exposure to a world renowned
outlet of sports entertainment and marketing personalities. Dr. Buss purchased
the Lakers in 1979. While showcasing Hall of Fame players like Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul
Jabbar, and James Worthy and winning ten NBA championships as the Lakers’ owner,
Buss’ greatest overall contribution was merging NBA basketball and show business.
Buss’ Lakers will forever be associated with the “Showtime”
atmosphere that emerged at Lakers games in the 1980s. Lakers games became an
A-list event for A-list people to see and be seen. From the players to the
cheerleaders, to Jack Nicholson’s ubiquitous appearance courtside leading the
host of celebrities that could be seen at Lakers games, Buss established the
Lakers as one of the NBA’s two premier franchises. The rivalry that the Lakers
battled out with the other premier franchise, the Boston Celtics, three times in the 1984, 1985, and 1987 NBA
Finals played a major role in making the NBA a water cooler topic all across
America.
Buss’ front office leadership continued into the 21st
century. The Lakers won five more World Championships after Y2K (2000, 2001,
2002, 2009, 2010) under Coach Phil Jackson with future Hall of Fame guard Kobe
Bryant. Buss’ shrewd decision making, such as the trades that brought future
Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal and Bryant to L.A. in 1996 and, later, the
decision to trade Shaq from the Lakers kept the Lakers at the forefront of NBA
discussions as well as contention.
Buss is survived by six children, including Jim and Jeanie
Buss, who will run the Lakers’ day-to-day operations.
