Buss Asking Phil Jackson To Take A Paycut (While Reportedly Having No Problem Paying Up For Kiffin)
by Nestor on May 29, 2010 7:58 AM PDT
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PrintI was shocked when I opened up the sports section in this Saturday's Washington Post and read this in an article about Lakers possibly positioning themselves for a long run in the coming years (emphasis added throughout):
The Lakers aren't just on the cusp of repeating this season; they may have championship mettle until Bryant retires. If they can dispense of Phoenix and the Eastern Conference champion, they might be on the cusp of becoming the Chicago Bulls of their era, the first team to win two and three in a row since the breakup of the Bling Dynasty -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, circa 2002.
Of course that involves Jackson, whom owner Jerry Buss wants to take a pay cut and stay after his contract expires this year. He's the biggest pending free agent for the franchise. But if he wants to coach and he feels good -- and both sides can come up with a fee that's not $10 million per year but also not insulting -- Jackson stays.
I read that in a hard copy (Yes Fox and 66, I still read hard copies of paper during weekends) and couldn't believe the bolded lines (I don't follow pro teams with the same dedication I follow UCLA). So when I logged on I ran up and unbelievably found posts about Jerry Buss asking Jackson to take a staggering 60 percent pay cut per ESPN's Michael Wilbon:
"I was told yesterday that Phil Jackson's been told that not only will he not be making $12 million dollars next year, it's going to be a $5 million dollar cap on his salary."
Wilbon apparently dropped that bomb while appearing on Tony Kornheirser's radio show in DC (via SportsByBrooks).
Let's put this in perspective here. Phil Jackson is the greatest coach ever from the NBA and arguably the second greatest teacher ever to coach in the game of basketball (next to Wooden). Jerry Bus is actually contemplating a pay cut for this living legend, while he had (reportedly) no problem forking up almost a million bucks for the most over-rated jerk in college football who doesn't even have a .400 winning percentage?
Note Buss denied reports in a recent interview with ESPNLA that he paid for HelloKiffin's buyout but he also said that be believed that Tim Floyd "had nothing to do with athletes allegedly receiving money." Uh yeah, so he doesn't come across as very credible b/c if Timmeh had "nothing to do with athletes allegedly receiving money," Mikey wouldn't be so lighting quick to throw him under the bus. So whatever Jerry.
Anyway, if the Lakers and Phil Jackson cannot agree on a K extension, it will be all on Jerry Bus. It is a joke that he is jerking around the Zen Master, while he (allegedly according to Trojan friendly sources) had no problem piling in cash for the most over-rated joke coach in college football.
GO BRUINS.
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Maybe its getting more expensive
for Jerry Buss to pay 18 year old girls to pretend they like him now that he is well into his 70s? Maybe the dye job and combover aren’t working like they used to?
by silverlakebruin on May 29, 2010 8:31 AM PDT reply actions
I guess Buss is slowing down since he dating girls as old as 18 now
by Gen2Bruin1987 on May 29, 2010 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
i shouldn;t say this but I will
its revolting, but you aren’t being untruthful.
I have heard that from reliable sources that is allegedly true.
it also is allegedly true the jerry has spent more on women and blow that he is trying to pay phil next year.
by silverlakebruin on May 29, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Not surprising
Asking Phil to take a pay cut isn’t that shocking, considering he is the highest paid coach in American sports by nearly $5 million over second place Bill Belichick (among others) and twice as much as the next highest paid NBA coaches like Popovich. Is Phil twice as good a coach as Popovich is right now? I would say no.
Now, if it is as big a pay cut as Wilbon mentioned, that would be ridiculous. I can’t imagine Jerry Buss asking Phil to take such a massive cut. While I know he would love to pay Phil “only” $5 million per year, he’s not that stupid (his sons are, but that’s another story). Phil should remain the highest paid coach in the NBA, certainly. And if the Lakers repeat as champions, I don’t see how Buss is going to justify cutting Phil’s salary other than, “I just don’t want to pay that much.”
Hopefully both sides work out an agreement because I don’t see another coach out there working as well with this Laker team, and I don’t think Phil really wants to coach the New Jersey Nets.
by McNown to Farmer on May 29, 2010 8:31 AM PDT reply actions
No Way
I have a hard time to believe the rumor, considering Phil Jackson’s girl friend is Jeannie Buss.
Might not be news to you ...
But has there anyone made the connection on how bad the optics look for Buss if these reports are true?
"I was told"
I love Wilbon’s source, “I was told” which tells us nothing about who, what, when and why; the key elements of any press report. Further, negotiations are by nature fluid and if they are ongoing, $5 million is not Buss’s final, final answer. Finally, ESPN just spent valuable air time several weeks ago predicting the NCAA sanctions decision on the Figueroa State Penitentiary was imminent and we are still waiting.
ESPN provides some excellent coverage and commentary. But when some producers and on air talent start guessing about stuff like this, you’ll get more valuable information out of the National Enquirer.
Incidentally, I think it is important for this community to evaluate stories like this because it makes sc look goofy and it is important to judge sports and other journalism given the vital role they play in society (well maybe the sports reporters do nothing vital to speak of but you get my point.)
by peggysue69 on May 29, 2010 9:03 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
At this point
The size of proposed pay cut is not as relevant. What is relevant here is an owner basically insulting one of the greatest coaches ever to take a substantial pay cut while having no problems ponying up almost a million (reportedly) for a coach who has a .363 winning percentage. The optics is ugly.
Here's the thing
when you’re ironing out the payroll for the Lakers you have to pay the players first and foremost. When you’re ironing out the payroll for SUC you outsource that task to agents and boosters.
Nestor--you have mastered the art of the subtle understatement
Talk about ugly optics!
Now that I have had a chance to have brunch and get some food in my stomach (which remains flatter than Coach Neuheisel’s), I went back and looked at the on line piece in the Post and the sportsBYbrooks report which quotes Jeannie Buss (Lakers’ operations manager, owner’s daughter and head coach’s main squeeze) as complaining about the alleged pay cut and wondering out loud if Jackson should cut back on his hours commensurate with his purported potential pay cut.
Father’s Day this year in the Buss household is gonna be chillier than a cast iron toilet seat in a drafty outhouse in the Klondike in the midst of a raging Artic blizzard.
Questioning ESPN sources/integrity
Wilbon is one of the few talking heads on ESPN but the amount of a cut such as this is stupid. The Laker fans should be concerned but looking at the ESPN record of unbiased and truthful reporting of all things SUC is highly suspect-as a case in point Shilly Smith.
If this is true
It is ridiculous. So, the best coach of this era will make 5 million and the unproven weasel that garrett hired will make 4 million? Unacceptable.
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Haha
I hope the Zen Master is shown the door by that retard Buss. Then when the Lakers start to suck again and Kobe forces a trade out, I hope Buss eats it hard.
Hopefully someone who is not a total moron will buy the Lakers and bring them back to their glory.
Imagine what will happen if Phil goes back to Chicago and the Bulls pick up LeBron or D-Wade. Go ahead and pencil them in as Eastern Conference champs for the next 4 to 5 seasons. Which sucks because that dickwipe Noah will get to taste success in the NBA.
Haha
I am not questioning your dislike of Buss. However, a few years ago when the Lakers were having their preseason in Honolulu Buss visited our store on the Big Island. He paid with a Laker credit card and I mentioned he must be quite a fan.
Then I noticed his name on the credit card. We got to talking and realized we both had worked at Douglas in Culver City. I asked what he had done there and he replied he was “a rocket scientist”. Well, space exploration is what we were involved in, and another post mentions his degree, so he may be many things, but a moron is not one of them. His doctorate is legitimate, even if his hair isn’t.
by bigislandbruin on May 31, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
A little history lesson
That ‘retard’ got his BS in 2.5 years and earned his PhD (in physical chemistry) by age 24.
He then built up a real estate empire from scratch, which he eventually flipped into the most successful franchise in all of American sports during his tenure.
“Return to glory’? The Lakers are in their third consecutive finals, with a chance to win their 10th championship in 30 years under Buss. In the previous 25 years to Buss taking over, the Lakers won a grand total of 1 championship.
well
Buss’s recent actions haven’t reflected well on him. I am not sure if Jackson would have put up w his nonsense if not for his relationship w Jeannie (who seems to be getting tired of her old man herself).
If anyone deserves the credit for what the Lakers are today, its the other Jerry … Mr. Logo. Without him the current foundation and the epic era under Magic and Big Fella would have never taken place. I have as much regard for Buss as lot of Yankee fans have for the Steinbrenner … Not much.
by Nestor on May 30, 2010 11:19 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Clearly not getting it
Ability in the classroom and intelligence out of it are two completely different things. Anyone, and I repeat this: anyone dumb enough to tell Phil Jackson to take a paycut (while somehow finding money to fund the buyout of a no-talent "football coach" with a winning percentage under .400) is a complete moron.
Buss cuts the checks. He is not the reason the Lakers are the Lakers, I hate to break it to you. Like N said, Buss is nothing more than the basketball version of Steinbrenner (albeit a less entertaining version).
And my "return to glory" gibe is not talking about the present. If you learned to read, you’d see I’m talking about what happens when Phil leaves and Kobe (being Kobe) engineers a trade to another contender. Without Kobe, the Lakers are maybe the 6th or 7th seed in the West. At best.
by Bellerophon on May 31, 2010 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
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