1 00:00:02,171 --> 00:00:04,801 [distant sirens wailing] 2 00:00:04,801 --> 00:00:07,264 PERSON: So let's go to Brian live now at the courthouse 3 00:00:07,264 --> 00:00:08,559 in Simi Valley. 4 00:00:08,559 --> 00:00:09,978 PERSON: The trial of four policemen 5 00:00:09,978 --> 00:00:11,690 continues today in Los Angeles for the charge 6 00:00:11,690 --> 00:00:13,443 of beating motorist Rodney King. 7 00:00:13,443 --> 00:00:15,823 PERSON: Well, now everybody is in a state of nervousness, 8 00:00:15,823 --> 00:00:18,328 just waiting for the decision to come down. 9 00:00:18,328 --> 00:00:21,334 BYRON: As clear as can be, 10 00:00:21,334 --> 00:00:24,508 it's on tape, 11 00:00:24,508 --> 00:00:25,802 but they ain't going to jail. 12 00:00:25,802 --> 00:00:27,054 That's how I felt. 13 00:00:27,054 --> 00:00:28,431 And I'm sure a lot of other people in L. A. 14 00:00:28,431 --> 00:00:30,227 felt the same way. 15 00:00:30,227 --> 00:00:32,106 PERSON: Not guilty of the crime of assault 16 00:00:32,106 --> 00:00:34,611 by force likely to produce great bodily injury 17 00:00:34,611 --> 00:00:36,155 and with a deadly weapon. 18 00:00:36,155 --> 00:00:38,326 JAMES: We were really taken aback 19 00:00:38,326 --> 00:00:40,582 by what we saw in the courtroom. 20 00:00:40,582 --> 00:00:43,044 PERSON: Technical political nonsense. 21 00:00:43,044 --> 00:00:44,673 This is not [indistinct]. 22 00:00:44,673 --> 00:00:45,800 It's crap. 23 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:46,927 It's terrible. 24 00:00:46,927 --> 00:00:49,725 - The jury gave the okay to continue 25 00:00:49,725 --> 00:00:51,937 to abuse and oppress and suppress 26 00:00:51,937 --> 00:00:53,566 Black people in this country. 27 00:00:53,566 --> 00:00:54,985 BYRON: You know, you're looking at a team 28 00:00:54,985 --> 00:00:56,947 that has, you know, 80%, 29 00:00:56,947 --> 00:00:58,617 85% African American on it. 30 00:00:58,617 --> 00:01:01,205 So all of us probably have gone through some incident 31 00:01:01,205 --> 00:01:02,458 with LAPD. 32 00:01:02,458 --> 00:01:04,546 ALL: [chanting] No justice, no peace! 33 00:01:04,546 --> 00:01:07,051 - We could still keep going here. 34 00:01:07,051 --> 00:01:08,512 A.C.: There was a lot going on 35 00:01:08,512 --> 00:01:10,265 off the court that day, 36 00:01:10,265 --> 00:01:13,104 but we had our work cut out for us. 37 00:01:13,104 --> 00:01:15,233 - The team was in the first round of the playoffs. 38 00:01:15,233 --> 00:01:17,321 PERSON: The Lakers trail in this five-game series 39 00:01:17,321 --> 00:01:18,824 two to none. 40 00:01:18,824 --> 00:01:21,287 PERSON: There is no tomorrow if they lose tonight. 41 00:01:21,287 --> 00:01:23,124 - I remember like it was yesterday 42 00:01:23,124 --> 00:01:26,965 this sort of hubbub building through the Forum 43 00:01:26,965 --> 00:01:29,554 that shit was going down outside. 44 00:01:29,554 --> 00:01:31,432 PERSON: Departing the Forum tonight, 45 00:01:31,432 --> 00:01:35,023 go westbound on Manchester or north on Prairie. 46 00:01:35,023 --> 00:01:36,694 A.C.: You know, I'm in the game thinking, 47 00:01:36,694 --> 00:01:38,823 "Did I hear what I think I just heard about 48 00:01:38,823 --> 00:01:41,620 going a certain direction, don't go east?" 49 00:01:41,620 --> 00:01:43,123 PERSON: [indistinct] 50 00:01:43,123 --> 00:01:45,878 No, the buzzer. The Lakers win! 51 00:01:45,878 --> 00:01:47,381 BYRON: We win the game. 52 00:01:47,381 --> 00:01:50,888 And they told us that there were rioting going on outside, 53 00:01:50,888 --> 00:01:53,978 you know, so you might wanna take a different route home. 54 00:01:53,978 --> 00:01:55,313 It was crazy. 55 00:01:55,313 --> 00:01:57,025 PERSON: Give us as wide a shot as we can. 56 00:01:57,025 --> 00:01:58,988 PERSON: I don't see how we could play a game here. 57 00:01:58,988 --> 00:02:00,616 With the situation the way it is, 58 00:02:00,616 --> 00:02:02,745 it's just too dangerous for people. 59 00:02:02,745 --> 00:02:04,666 [tense music] 60 00:02:04,666 --> 00:02:06,294 VLADE: We had to move to Vegas 61 00:02:06,294 --> 00:02:10,302 and play in Vegas against Portland. 62 00:02:10,302 --> 00:02:11,930 PERSON: The best of a bad situation, 63 00:02:11,930 --> 00:02:14,603 moving the game from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. 64 00:02:14,603 --> 00:02:16,648 STEVE: Now, the Lakers are totally displaced. 65 00:02:16,648 --> 00:02:18,151 And they lose. 66 00:02:19,236 --> 00:02:21,575 BYRON: That was a tough one to take. 67 00:02:23,077 --> 00:02:24,706 Back home in Inglewood, you see, 68 00:02:24,706 --> 00:02:27,002 in the aftermath, I still was upset. 69 00:02:27,002 --> 00:02:29,758 PERSON: The fires continue to burn in various pockets 70 00:02:29,758 --> 00:02:31,385 of the community. 71 00:02:31,385 --> 00:02:33,181 PERSON: A fella told us a little while ago, 72 00:02:33,181 --> 00:02:34,518 "If we have to burn it down, 73 00:02:34,518 --> 00:02:36,103 "we'll burn it down to make our point. 74 00:02:36,103 --> 00:02:37,774 And we'll start all over." 75 00:02:37,774 --> 00:02:39,694 - There wasn't no rich people lootin'. 76 00:02:39,694 --> 00:02:40,988 I promise you that. 77 00:02:40,988 --> 00:02:42,617 - We already at the bottom. 78 00:02:42,617 --> 00:02:44,411 You know, what else can we do? 79 00:02:44,411 --> 00:02:45,915 Nothin' but violence. 80 00:02:45,915 --> 00:02:47,042 - It came to that point 81 00:02:47,042 --> 00:02:48,963 where people were just tired of it. 82 00:02:48,963 --> 00:02:51,300 You know, I'm not condoning any violence whatsoever, 83 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:54,641 but I understood. 84 00:02:54,641 --> 00:02:55,977 You know, I feel like I feel. 85 00:02:55,977 --> 00:02:58,231 I'm not gonna, you know, sugarcoat it. 86 00:03:01,530 --> 00:03:05,453 - I can hear Byron saying, "I know how they feel." 87 00:03:05,453 --> 00:03:07,709 BYRON: Yeah, I said it. I meant it. 88 00:03:07,709 --> 00:03:09,169 End of the story. 89 00:03:09,169 --> 00:03:11,132 And I got some backlash for that. 90 00:03:11,132 --> 00:03:14,138 TODD: People have a hard time 91 00:03:14,138 --> 00:03:19,189 dealing with racial injustice in America. 92 00:03:19,189 --> 00:03:21,068 They don't wanna hear an NBA player, 93 00:03:21,068 --> 00:03:23,114 they don't wanna hear anybody say anything that 94 00:03:23,114 --> 00:03:25,410 might be sympathetic to people 95 00:03:25,410 --> 00:03:28,751 they are identifying as the rioters. 96 00:03:28,751 --> 00:03:30,128 BYRON: I think we pretty much accepted 97 00:03:30,128 --> 00:03:31,506 that's the way it was. 98 00:03:31,506 --> 00:03:34,638 You know, you play basketball, stick to basketball. 99 00:03:34,638 --> 00:03:37,602 SNOOP DOGG: Byron Scott was a product of this environment. 100 00:03:37,602 --> 00:03:39,773 He had watched police violence happen 101 00:03:39,773 --> 00:03:41,275 for years and years and years. 102 00:03:41,275 --> 00:03:42,862 And because he made it successfully, 103 00:03:42,862 --> 00:03:45,200 he's supposed to turn a blind eye to it? 104 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,039 He understood how we felt because he's one of us. 105 00:03:48,039 --> 00:03:49,458 We one of him. 106 00:03:49,458 --> 00:03:52,840 - Sometimes you get lambasted for telling the truth. 107 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,928 But if it's the truth, 108 00:03:54,928 --> 00:03:58,434 then you have nothin' to be ashamed of. 109 00:04:01,065 --> 00:04:02,527 SINGER: ♪ California love ♪ 110 00:04:02,527 --> 00:04:04,739 [Remix of Tupac Shakur's "California Love"] 111 00:04:04,739 --> 00:04:06,702 ♪ California ♪ 112 00:04:06,702 --> 00:04:10,291 ♪ Knows how to party ♪ 113 00:04:10,291 --> 00:04:13,423 ♪ California knows how... ♪ 114 00:04:13,423 --> 00:04:15,594 ANNOUNCER: There he is, his first shot as an owner. 115 00:04:15,594 --> 00:04:16,847 Do you think he likes it? 116 00:04:16,847 --> 00:04:17,974 SINGER: ♪ California ♪ 117 00:04:17,974 --> 00:04:19,853 ♪ ♪ 118 00:04:19,853 --> 00:04:22,315 - At this moment, I can't believe it. 119 00:04:22,315 --> 00:04:24,738 SINGER: ♪ California ♪ PERSON: What's the future? 120 00:04:24,738 --> 00:04:26,240 Want to replace your father at the top? 121 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,202 - Yeah. [laughs] 122 00:04:28,202 --> 00:04:30,290 SINGER: ♪ In the city ♪ 123 00:04:30,290 --> 00:04:31,960 BUSS: Between my daughters and my sons, 124 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,799 there's certainly enough sports teams to go around. 125 00:04:34,799 --> 00:04:37,304 ♪ ♪ 126 00:04:37,304 --> 00:04:38,682 SINGER: ♪ In the city ♪ 127 00:04:38,682 --> 00:04:40,644 PERSON: Are you and the rest of the family, 128 00:04:40,644 --> 00:04:42,439 are you guys all on the same page? 129 00:04:44,026 --> 00:04:45,654 ANNOUNCER: The Lakers, caught in the middle 130 00:04:45,654 --> 00:04:47,867 of a family power struggle. 131 00:04:47,867 --> 00:04:51,541 ♪ ♪ 132 00:04:52,250 --> 00:04:54,254 BUSS: I think I've really left them with something. 133 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:02,020 [Dr. Dre's "Let Me Ride"] 134 00:05:02,020 --> 00:05:04,191 PERSON: ♪ You look good inna ya car, eeh ♪ 135 00:05:04,191 --> 00:05:06,487 ♪ Longtime mi watch ya and mi wah chat to ya ♪ 136 00:05:06,487 --> 00:05:08,909 ♪ And ya a gwaan like ya nuh wah chat to me ♪ 137 00:05:08,909 --> 00:05:12,374 ♪ So wha'ppen Dre, tell 'em weh di fuck a gwaan nuh ♪ 138 00:05:12,374 --> 00:05:14,587 DR. DRE: ♪ Creepin' down the back street on D's ♪ 139 00:05:14,587 --> 00:05:15,631 [gun clicks] 140 00:05:15,631 --> 00:05:17,134 ♪ 'Cause niggas want these ♪ 141 00:05:17,134 --> 00:05:19,681 ♪ No soon as I said it, seems I got sweated ♪ 142 00:05:19,681 --> 00:05:23,229 ♪ By some nigga with a TEC-9 tryin' to take mine ♪ 143 00:05:23,229 --> 00:05:26,068 KRS-ONE: Nothing that has happened to Rodney King 144 00:05:26,068 --> 00:05:27,237 is new. 145 00:05:27,237 --> 00:05:29,366 America has always been about this. 146 00:05:29,366 --> 00:05:32,790 Cops out there feel that they got a license to kill anyway. 147 00:05:32,790 --> 00:05:38,510 And a beatdown just goes with the program. 148 00:05:38,510 --> 00:05:41,223 BYRON: In 1992, you get the Rodney King rise. 149 00:05:41,223 --> 00:05:42,935 But if you look at the history of hip-hop, 150 00:05:42,935 --> 00:05:46,735 this was a time when music changed. 151 00:05:46,735 --> 00:05:48,614 SNOOP DOGG: Like, we stayed on the "Chronic" album 152 00:05:48,614 --> 00:05:51,578 the day that niggas took over, 04-29-92. 153 00:05:51,578 --> 00:05:53,497 It took that incident for America 154 00:05:53,497 --> 00:05:56,630 to finally see that, "Wow, I guess all these songs 155 00:05:56,630 --> 00:05:58,675 like "Fuck the Police" and, you know, 156 00:05:58,675 --> 00:06:00,679 these records that they been making 157 00:06:00,679 --> 00:06:03,434 really make sense because the police do act a fool 158 00:06:03,434 --> 00:06:04,771 when it ain't no cameras on 'em. 159 00:06:04,771 --> 00:06:06,608 Actually, when there are cameras on 'em. 160 00:06:06,608 --> 00:06:07,860 We not the problem. 161 00:06:07,860 --> 00:06:08,946 We tryin' to solve the problem by bringin' 162 00:06:08,946 --> 00:06:11,158 these problems to your face. 163 00:06:11,158 --> 00:06:15,542 - We were showing the ugly underside of 164 00:06:15,542 --> 00:06:19,174 being young and Black in America. 165 00:06:19,174 --> 00:06:21,345 BYRON: And people far beyond the Black community 166 00:06:21,345 --> 00:06:24,226 are actually listening to this music. 167 00:06:24,226 --> 00:06:26,648 PERSON: Their rhyming lyrics to a thundering beat 168 00:06:26,648 --> 00:06:29,486 are angry, violent, and profane. 169 00:06:29,486 --> 00:06:32,576 - We were a mirror to what was going on. 170 00:06:32,576 --> 00:06:35,331 And instead of solving the problem, 171 00:06:35,331 --> 00:06:37,335 people wanted to break the mirror. 172 00:06:37,335 --> 00:06:38,880 BYRON: Honestly, looking back 173 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:40,926 on it as part of hip-hop's appeal 174 00:06:40,926 --> 00:06:42,680 is that it was notorious. 175 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,934 BOB MCADOO: Society was changing at that time. 176 00:06:44,934 --> 00:06:49,569 And you were seein' it on the basketball court. 177 00:06:49,569 --> 00:06:52,950 ♪ ♪ 178 00:06:52,950 --> 00:06:56,624 - The league was definitely changing, and I loved it. 179 00:06:56,624 --> 00:06:59,254 The players looked like people that I knew. 180 00:06:59,254 --> 00:07:02,302 They dressed like the hip-hop community in Los Angeles. 181 00:07:02,302 --> 00:07:07,145 ICE CUBE: It was cool to see hip-hop and the NBA 182 00:07:07,145 --> 00:07:09,399 merge and grow together. 183 00:07:09,399 --> 00:07:11,028 [cheers and applause] 184 00:07:11,028 --> 00:07:14,786 PERSON: Welcome to the 1993 NBA Draft. 185 00:07:14,786 --> 00:07:16,413 STEVE: The Lakers needed a point guard, 186 00:07:16,413 --> 00:07:17,541 but you're spoiled. 187 00:07:17,541 --> 00:07:19,086 You're looking for the next Magic. 188 00:07:19,086 --> 00:07:20,839 I think Jerry West was just gonna take 189 00:07:20,839 --> 00:07:22,300 the best player he could get. 190 00:07:22,300 --> 00:07:23,762 - Now, the Los Angeles Lakers 191 00:07:23,762 --> 00:07:26,225 selected while we were away Nick Van Exel, 192 00:07:26,225 --> 00:07:28,730 the excellent point guard out of Cincinnati, 193 00:07:28,730 --> 00:07:31,276 although his stock, as you can tell by where he was selected, 194 00:07:31,276 --> 00:07:32,530 has slipped. 195 00:07:32,530 --> 00:07:34,992 GARY: Nick had a chip on his shoulder. 196 00:07:34,992 --> 00:07:37,288 You want a guy with a chip. 197 00:07:37,288 --> 00:07:40,044 It's just the question is, is can you channel it? 198 00:07:40,044 --> 00:07:43,050 [funky music] 199 00:07:43,050 --> 00:07:46,558 ♪ ♪ 200 00:07:46,558 --> 00:07:49,020 - I definitely wanted to prove people wrong, you know. 201 00:07:49,020 --> 00:07:51,776 And it was just to go out there and crack heads. 202 00:07:51,776 --> 00:07:54,657 You know, at the end of the day, just make people pay. 203 00:07:54,657 --> 00:07:56,368 PERSON: Passes over Hardaway. 204 00:07:56,368 --> 00:07:58,289 And it [indistinct]. 205 00:07:58,289 --> 00:07:59,542 SNOOP DOGG: That's my guy. 206 00:07:59,542 --> 00:08:00,961 I remember when the Lakers got him, 207 00:08:00,961 --> 00:08:02,673 we used to go over his house and hang out-- 208 00:08:02,673 --> 00:08:04,384 you know what I'm saying-- and do what grown folks do. 209 00:08:04,384 --> 00:08:05,929 You understand me? 210 00:08:05,929 --> 00:08:08,392 Before the season, during the season, and after the season. 211 00:08:08,392 --> 00:08:10,188 ICE CUBE: Nick was just a baller. 212 00:08:10,188 --> 00:08:12,442 You know, some guys come in 213 00:08:12,442 --> 00:08:15,198 and they're not scared of anything. 214 00:08:15,198 --> 00:08:17,118 FLEA: I loved Nick the Quick. 215 00:08:17,118 --> 00:08:20,542 I loved the shave thing in his eyebrow. 216 00:08:20,542 --> 00:08:22,755 NICK: That was just what we did in my hometown. 217 00:08:22,755 --> 00:08:24,216 That was our thing. 218 00:08:24,216 --> 00:08:25,928 You know, Big Daddy Kane, Kwamé, 219 00:08:25,928 --> 00:08:28,015 those guys putting two parts in the eyebrows. 220 00:08:28,015 --> 00:08:29,894 So that's what we did. 221 00:08:29,894 --> 00:08:31,230 TODD: These players are younger 222 00:08:31,230 --> 00:08:32,691 and they have their own style. 223 00:08:32,691 --> 00:08:35,154 And that style was very much rooted in hip-hop culture. 224 00:08:35,154 --> 00:08:36,616 You know, they're wearing everything 225 00:08:36,616 --> 00:08:38,494 baggy and then super baggy. 226 00:08:38,494 --> 00:08:40,958 PERSON: Eddie Jones from Templar University. 227 00:08:40,958 --> 00:08:42,460 EDDIE: When I got drafted, 228 00:08:42,460 --> 00:08:46,093 the whole dress code, baggy shorts, long jerseys out. 229 00:08:46,093 --> 00:08:48,347 You know, we were trying our best to get, you know, 230 00:08:48,347 --> 00:08:50,727 an inch here or a inch there. 231 00:08:50,727 --> 00:08:52,982 - The shorts that you guys wore 232 00:08:52,982 --> 00:08:56,071 are not the shorts you see guys wearing today. 233 00:08:56,071 --> 00:08:58,994 - Change and evolution 234 00:08:58,994 --> 00:09:00,706 clearly was happening. 235 00:09:00,706 --> 00:09:02,585 Players getting more power. 236 00:09:02,585 --> 00:09:04,589 - The game prior to Michael Jordan 237 00:09:04,589 --> 00:09:07,803 didn't have this flair of individuality. 238 00:09:07,803 --> 00:09:10,016 ♪ ♪ 239 00:09:10,016 --> 00:09:12,103 - More of a league based on superstars 240 00:09:12,103 --> 00:09:14,817 rather than on super teams. 241 00:09:14,817 --> 00:09:18,198 - Guys that dunk, showboating. 242 00:09:18,198 --> 00:09:19,744 After they'd make a long shot, 243 00:09:19,744 --> 00:09:23,208 they'd look at the bench and point at you. 244 00:09:23,208 --> 00:09:25,922 And I was like, "I never saw that." 245 00:09:25,922 --> 00:09:27,383 NICK: The music probably 246 00:09:27,383 --> 00:09:29,555 had something to do with it as far as being a little bit 247 00:09:29,555 --> 00:09:31,308 more, like, as a show. 248 00:09:31,308 --> 00:09:34,899 We're gonna talk a little trash to you. 249 00:09:34,899 --> 00:09:37,946 EDDIE: 20-year-old kids, hip-hop is running the world. 250 00:09:37,946 --> 00:09:40,117 That's how we got hyped up to go out and play. 251 00:09:40,117 --> 00:09:41,788 You know, Mary J. Blige is there. 252 00:09:41,788 --> 00:09:42,956 You know, Snoop Dogg's there. 253 00:09:42,956 --> 00:09:44,919 You know, Dre is there. 254 00:09:44,919 --> 00:09:46,463 You wake up in the morning and you start listening 255 00:09:46,463 --> 00:09:48,300 to their music getting ready for the game, 256 00:09:48,300 --> 00:09:51,014 you wanna put a show on for them. 257 00:09:51,014 --> 00:09:53,018 SNOOP DOGG: Our music got them going, 258 00:09:53,018 --> 00:09:55,231 just like the way they play got us going. 259 00:09:55,231 --> 00:09:57,110 So I'm, like, bonding with these guys. 260 00:09:57,110 --> 00:09:58,195 You know what I'm saying? 261 00:09:58,195 --> 00:09:59,364 I'm like, "Oh, we got a nice squad. 262 00:09:59,364 --> 00:10:00,617 "We gonna be all right. 263 00:10:00,617 --> 00:10:02,078 "They young, they get down, they killers, 264 00:10:02,078 --> 00:10:04,082 they move, they shoot, they talk shit, they back it up." 265 00:10:04,082 --> 00:10:07,004 You know, they was giving us some great games. 266 00:10:07,004 --> 00:10:08,967 PERSON: Now one of the youngest teams in the NBA, 267 00:10:08,967 --> 00:10:11,723 the new Lakers must establish an identity of their own 268 00:10:11,723 --> 00:10:13,977 and find a way to continue the legacy 269 00:10:13,977 --> 00:10:15,479 of the great teams of the past. 270 00:10:15,479 --> 00:10:16,691 EDDIE: We were like, 271 00:10:16,691 --> 00:10:18,528 "We wanna make a name for ourselves," 272 00:10:18,528 --> 00:10:19,739 We're saying, "We're not Showtime anymore. 273 00:10:19,739 --> 00:10:21,283 We the Lake Show." 274 00:10:21,283 --> 00:10:23,120 And that was all Nick. 275 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:24,414 - You know, we had to try to create 276 00:10:24,414 --> 00:10:26,586 our own image, our own identity. 277 00:10:26,586 --> 00:10:28,965 I don't know what the hell made me think of it, 278 00:10:28,965 --> 00:10:30,635 but I just started sayin, 279 00:10:30,635 --> 00:10:32,180 "We'll be the Lake Show." 280 00:10:32,180 --> 00:10:34,017 And it just stuck. 281 00:10:34,017 --> 00:10:35,478 [indistinct PA] 282 00:10:35,478 --> 00:10:38,777 PERSON: It is the way they were matched up tonight. 283 00:10:38,777 --> 00:10:40,822 NICK: You know, we were the team that, 284 00:10:40,822 --> 00:10:43,076 you know, after Showtime, they was like, 285 00:10:43,076 --> 00:10:45,791 "It's about to be a downtime." 286 00:10:45,791 --> 00:10:48,546 STEVE: When Erving announces he's HIV positive, 287 00:10:48,546 --> 00:10:50,884 that clearly was the end of Showtime. 288 00:10:50,884 --> 00:10:55,142 And then Byron Scott left and then A. C. Green left, 289 00:10:55,142 --> 00:10:58,858 and there wasn't much left. 290 00:10:58,858 --> 00:11:00,612 No matter what they do now, 291 00:11:00,612 --> 00:11:03,701 it's gonna be compared to the '80s, compared to Showtime. 292 00:11:03,701 --> 00:11:05,622 And it's always gonna come up short. 293 00:11:05,622 --> 00:11:08,085 - We had went to the championship 294 00:11:08,085 --> 00:11:10,590 almost every single year in the '80s. 295 00:11:10,590 --> 00:11:13,680 So I just thought, 296 00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:16,184 "End of the day, Lakers gonna be there." 297 00:11:16,184 --> 00:11:17,646 - We Lakers. 298 00:11:17,646 --> 00:11:20,861 We won a championship every year, no matter who we got. 299 00:11:20,861 --> 00:11:22,656 - Everyone expected it to be like those guys. 300 00:11:22,656 --> 00:11:23,825 And it wasn't gonna be like that. 301 00:11:23,825 --> 00:11:25,411 This was gonna take a while. 302 00:11:25,411 --> 00:11:26,747 I think we have to be realistic 303 00:11:26,747 --> 00:11:28,208 about what this team really is right now. 304 00:11:28,208 --> 00:11:30,589 We're not a great team at this point in time. 305 00:11:30,589 --> 00:11:32,091 KURT: Sometimes you got booed. 306 00:11:32,091 --> 00:11:34,763 You could hear it in the crowd. 307 00:11:34,763 --> 00:11:36,601 That just leaves, like, a nasty taste. 308 00:11:36,601 --> 00:11:40,274 You just walk away like, "What's the point?" 309 00:11:40,274 --> 00:11:42,529 STEVE: Jerry Buss won a championship his first year, 310 00:11:42,529 --> 00:11:44,407 won most times in a decade. 311 00:11:44,407 --> 00:11:45,702 And now, he's going through what 312 00:11:45,702 --> 00:11:47,413 many owners do at the beginning, 313 00:11:47,413 --> 00:11:49,543 which is take a team and build upward. 314 00:11:49,543 --> 00:11:51,129 JEANIE: And it's hard to rebuild. 315 00:11:51,129 --> 00:11:54,511 It's hard to pull yourself back from being so great. 316 00:11:54,511 --> 00:11:57,224 - You know, we got down to a very low point. 317 00:11:57,224 --> 00:11:59,437 And I don't think he enjoyed that at all. 318 00:11:59,437 --> 00:12:01,776 - I mean, you don't have the superstars. 319 00:12:01,776 --> 00:12:03,988 You don't have a lot of the other guys. 320 00:12:03,988 --> 00:12:07,078 And there's no definite coach who's gonna be here forever. 321 00:12:07,078 --> 00:12:10,417 - So basically, we're on a coaching carousel. 322 00:12:10,417 --> 00:12:12,756 - I start with Pat Riley, obviously, 323 00:12:12,756 --> 00:12:15,260 and Mike Dunleavy, 324 00:12:15,260 --> 00:12:17,139 Randy Pfund, 325 00:12:17,139 --> 00:12:19,102 legendary Bill Barker, 326 00:12:19,102 --> 00:12:21,189 Magic. 327 00:12:21,189 --> 00:12:23,110 PERSON: Nearly three years after retiring 328 00:12:23,110 --> 00:12:24,905 from the Los Angeles Lakers, 329 00:12:24,905 --> 00:12:27,703 Magic Johnson returns to coach the team. 330 00:12:27,703 --> 00:12:29,665 JEANIE: Having Magic back was really 331 00:12:29,665 --> 00:12:31,961 something my dad wanted 'cause he never 332 00:12:31,961 --> 00:12:34,967 wanted the tie cut with Magic. 333 00:12:34,967 --> 00:12:38,181 And maybe coaching was the right answer. 334 00:12:38,181 --> 00:12:39,768 MAGIC: I never wanted to coach. 335 00:12:39,768 --> 00:12:42,607 Dr. Buss said, "Can you do this for me?" 336 00:12:42,607 --> 00:12:44,402 And when he hit me with that one, 337 00:12:44,402 --> 00:12:46,741 then I said, "Yeah, okay." 338 00:12:46,741 --> 00:12:50,497 I am happy to be back with the Laker family. 339 00:12:50,497 --> 00:12:52,084 PERSON: Is there any way to predict what your 340 00:12:52,084 --> 00:12:53,838 coaching style will be like? 341 00:12:53,838 --> 00:12:57,136 - Aggressive. [laughter] 342 00:12:57,136 --> 00:12:58,681 NICK: When Magic came back to coach, 343 00:12:58,681 --> 00:13:01,227 I thought it was great. 344 00:13:01,227 --> 00:13:02,939 His motivational speeches--I mean, 345 00:13:02,939 --> 00:13:05,319 you were gonna run through a wall playing for Magic. 346 00:13:05,319 --> 00:13:06,404 JAMES: He was hard, man. 347 00:13:06,404 --> 00:13:08,033 He practiced the shit out of us. 348 00:13:08,033 --> 00:13:10,622 And he'd run us like Pat Riley used to run 349 00:13:10,622 --> 00:13:13,753 'cause that's all he knew. 350 00:13:13,753 --> 00:13:16,299 To see him come in and try to deal with some 351 00:13:16,299 --> 00:13:19,681 of these young players, it was hard for Magic 352 00:13:19,681 --> 00:13:22,436 to see players not hustle all the time. 353 00:13:22,436 --> 00:13:26,319 - They say now, we don't practice hard. 354 00:13:26,319 --> 00:13:28,323 We play hard in the game. 355 00:13:28,323 --> 00:13:29,910 They say, "We don't wanna hear about the '80s." 356 00:13:29,910 --> 00:13:31,747 I understand that. 357 00:13:31,747 --> 00:13:33,125 We're the '90s team. 358 00:13:33,125 --> 00:13:34,503 - You're old. You're old. 359 00:13:34,503 --> 00:13:36,381 - You know, I was a baby. 360 00:13:36,381 --> 00:13:39,095 You know, I didn't have a clue about, you know, 361 00:13:39,095 --> 00:13:41,099 the things that they had to go through 362 00:13:41,099 --> 00:13:43,103 to get to a championship level. 363 00:13:43,103 --> 00:13:45,942 That used to drive Magic crazy because he saw 364 00:13:45,942 --> 00:13:48,029 something that maybe was in us, 365 00:13:48,029 --> 00:13:50,450 but we wasn't ready for that yet. 366 00:13:50,450 --> 00:13:52,162 MICHAEL: When I was assistant coach, 367 00:13:52,162 --> 00:13:55,795 Magic used to always say, "Can these guys run a three on two? 368 00:13:55,795 --> 00:13:57,507 "We're going down on offense, three players on two. 369 00:13:57,507 --> 00:13:58,634 You gotta score." 370 00:13:58,634 --> 00:14:00,137 Well, we would throw the ball away. 371 00:14:00,137 --> 00:14:02,642 That was perplexing to him. 372 00:14:02,642 --> 00:14:06,692 - You're coming to understand that what we had was special. 373 00:14:06,692 --> 00:14:09,322 And you see that now. 374 00:14:09,322 --> 00:14:11,409 JAMES: Well, he was trying to figure out why, 375 00:14:11,409 --> 00:14:13,831 you know, we couldn't get it done because 376 00:14:13,831 --> 00:14:17,421 he thought it was just fuckin' easy, you know? 377 00:14:20,010 --> 00:14:21,722 NICK: We on a losing streak. 378 00:14:21,722 --> 00:14:24,185 Before practice, and he said, "Come on, everybody, 379 00:14:24,185 --> 00:14:25,312 let's go outside." 380 00:14:25,312 --> 00:14:27,024 When I go outside, it was fine. 381 00:14:27,024 --> 00:14:29,111 Weather's great. 382 00:14:29,111 --> 00:14:31,324 So he was like, "Everybody take a deep breath. 383 00:14:31,324 --> 00:14:33,955 "Like, enjoy the air, 384 00:14:33,955 --> 00:14:35,541 'cause some of you motherfuckers ain't gonna be here 385 00:14:35,541 --> 00:14:37,211 next year to enjoy this good air." 386 00:14:37,211 --> 00:14:39,215 - "You like this weather out here? 387 00:14:39,215 --> 00:14:40,760 "It's nice and sunny. 388 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,471 "Shit, you wait. 389 00:14:42,471 --> 00:14:44,810 You think I'm fucking with you?" 390 00:14:44,810 --> 00:14:47,941 - We was like, "Oh, shit." [laughs] 391 00:14:47,941 --> 00:14:50,278 - I just had to put my head in the towel and laugh. 392 00:14:50,278 --> 00:14:52,282 "You fuckin' guys wanna be in Cleveland?" 393 00:14:52,282 --> 00:14:55,665 PERSON: Magic out on the floor again flirtin' with ejection. 394 00:14:55,665 --> 00:14:57,042 PERSON: Here comes Magic. He's gone. 395 00:14:57,042 --> 00:15:00,591 Magic's gone. Magic's gone. 396 00:15:00,591 --> 00:15:02,554 - Now, he used to say, "Coop, you know what?" 397 00:15:02,554 --> 00:15:06,477 [laughs] "I'm not gonna be here a long--" 398 00:15:06,477 --> 00:15:08,356 MAGIC: So I did it all the way 399 00:15:08,356 --> 00:15:10,152 to the end of the season. 400 00:15:10,152 --> 00:15:12,364 Dr. Buss said, "What you think?" 401 00:15:12,364 --> 00:15:15,830 I said, "I never wanna do that ever again." 402 00:15:15,830 --> 00:15:18,251 [laughs] 403 00:15:18,251 --> 00:15:20,757 PERSON: How would you assess your performance as a coach? 404 00:15:20,757 --> 00:15:23,261 - It really doesn't matter how good I can be. 405 00:15:23,261 --> 00:15:24,598 It really doesn't. 406 00:15:24,598 --> 00:15:26,100 The players are gonna make you great 407 00:15:26,100 --> 00:15:30,985 or they gonna make you lousy, one way or another. 408 00:15:30,985 --> 00:15:33,073 VLADE: I don't think we made the playoffs that year. 409 00:15:33,073 --> 00:15:35,953 That was a big blow. 410 00:15:35,953 --> 00:15:40,170 NICK: The Lakers playoff stretch 411 00:15:40,170 --> 00:15:42,007 for so many years had been broken. 412 00:15:42,007 --> 00:15:44,303 And, you know, I was a part of that. 413 00:15:44,303 --> 00:15:45,765 [laughs] 414 00:15:45,765 --> 00:15:47,560 - Jerry Buss was not thrilled 415 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,148 because it was the first time he'd ever missed the playoffs. 416 00:15:50,148 --> 00:15:52,236 And that hit him hard. 417 00:15:52,236 --> 00:15:54,115 - It was that feeling of, 418 00:15:54,115 --> 00:15:56,912 are we ever gonna get to the top again? 419 00:15:56,912 --> 00:15:59,125 Did we have so much success 420 00:15:59,125 --> 00:16:03,717 that we're now gonna pay for it at the bottom? 421 00:16:03,717 --> 00:16:07,391 GARY: The Lakers sold a lot of winning. 422 00:16:07,391 --> 00:16:10,438 If you're a Laker fan, you're gonna win. 423 00:16:10,438 --> 00:16:12,902 And when a team can't sell winning, 424 00:16:12,902 --> 00:16:15,407 what they sell is, is hope. 425 00:16:15,407 --> 00:16:19,415 And we couldn't sell hope because we were that bad. 426 00:16:19,415 --> 00:16:21,837 There was no hope for us to win. 427 00:16:24,843 --> 00:16:25,970 [bell rings] 428 00:16:25,970 --> 00:16:28,976 [mellow music] 429 00:16:28,976 --> 00:16:35,990 ♪ ♪ 430 00:16:37,702 --> 00:16:40,123 JIM: I like the mornings. I like the afternoons. 431 00:16:40,123 --> 00:16:41,125 I like the people. 432 00:16:41,125 --> 00:16:43,254 And I love the animals. 433 00:16:43,254 --> 00:16:46,052 And that's what you're surrounded with all the time. 434 00:16:46,052 --> 00:16:47,639 When you're dealing with horses, 435 00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:50,227 you are just really focused. 436 00:16:52,899 --> 00:16:56,155 All of a sudden, it's years later and you don't even know. 437 00:16:56,155 --> 00:16:58,493 So it was hard for me to sit there and go, 438 00:16:58,493 --> 00:17:01,708 "I wonder what's happening over at the Forum." 439 00:17:01,708 --> 00:17:04,171 You know, Hollywood Park was right next door to the Forum. 440 00:17:04,171 --> 00:17:05,758 So then I could train horses there, 441 00:17:05,758 --> 00:17:07,637 and then go over and eat dinner with my dad 442 00:17:07,637 --> 00:17:09,975 at the Forum Club. 443 00:17:09,975 --> 00:17:12,814 He'd get the racing form and look at my horses and say, 444 00:17:12,814 --> 00:17:15,110 you know, "You might wanna do this with this one." 445 00:17:15,110 --> 00:17:17,907 So we were just probably best friends more than 446 00:17:17,907 --> 00:17:19,451 father, son, maybe. 447 00:17:19,451 --> 00:17:20,705 It's close. 448 00:17:20,705 --> 00:17:23,376 - I mean, my brother was a wild man, you know? 449 00:17:23,376 --> 00:17:25,255 I mean, he was the partier. 450 00:17:26,967 --> 00:17:29,514 You know, my father didn't help that. 451 00:17:29,514 --> 00:17:30,933 Dad's going out to this club. 452 00:17:30,933 --> 00:17:32,144 Let's go. 453 00:17:32,144 --> 00:17:35,066 He taught him how to gamble. 454 00:17:35,066 --> 00:17:37,321 My dad wanted that partner, 455 00:17:37,321 --> 00:17:40,995 and Jimmy was his partner for that. 456 00:17:40,995 --> 00:17:42,665 You know, the horse-racing business, 457 00:17:42,665 --> 00:17:45,253 it was coming off of its peak. 458 00:17:45,253 --> 00:17:47,174 You could see it was declining. 459 00:17:47,174 --> 00:17:48,927 JEANIE: If it was something that 460 00:17:48,927 --> 00:17:50,848 was raking in a lot of dough, 461 00:17:50,848 --> 00:17:53,854 I think we'd still have a stable. 462 00:17:53,854 --> 00:17:57,528 But I think my dad wanted Jimmy to find something 463 00:17:57,528 --> 00:18:00,868 that fit more what he wanted the family 464 00:18:00,868 --> 00:18:03,707 to focus on as opposed to the horses. 465 00:18:03,707 --> 00:18:05,001 - He said it was time for me 466 00:18:05,001 --> 00:18:07,924 to understand the basketball business and, 467 00:18:07,924 --> 00:18:11,013 "Can you come back?" And I said, "In a heartbeat." 468 00:18:11,013 --> 00:18:13,769 He said, "I want you to work with Jerry West 469 00:18:13,769 --> 00:18:15,313 so you can learn." 470 00:18:15,313 --> 00:18:16,858 And I said, "Well, what am I learning?" 471 00:18:16,858 --> 00:18:19,864 "Well, one of the most important things is scouting." 472 00:18:19,864 --> 00:18:23,162 JEANIE: If you were gonna learn how to scout, 473 00:18:23,162 --> 00:18:27,254 you would learn from Jerry West because he is one of the best, 474 00:18:27,254 --> 00:18:29,174 if not the best ever. 475 00:18:29,174 --> 00:18:31,638 - Do you know how many people want that job? 476 00:18:31,638 --> 00:18:35,019 You know, Jim was chosen to learn 477 00:18:35,019 --> 00:18:36,606 that part of the business. 478 00:18:36,606 --> 00:18:39,696 Salary caps and contracts, 479 00:18:39,696 --> 00:18:43,327 it was kind of a whole mathematical thing. 480 00:18:43,327 --> 00:18:45,791 And Jimmy is really good with numbers. 481 00:18:45,791 --> 00:18:48,379 - I like to apply math to, 482 00:18:48,379 --> 00:18:51,928 you know, sports, obviously, or anything else like that. 483 00:18:51,928 --> 00:18:54,224 - Now, was he gonna be successful? 484 00:18:54,224 --> 00:18:59,026 Well, that kinda comes down to individuality. 485 00:18:59,026 --> 00:19:00,863 JEANIE: The Lakers are losing. 486 00:19:00,863 --> 00:19:02,533 Magic's retired. 487 00:19:02,533 --> 00:19:07,125 So my dad wanted to bring us back together as a family 488 00:19:07,125 --> 00:19:10,381 because that's where he drew his strength. 489 00:19:10,381 --> 00:19:14,139 But at that point, my siblings and I really didn't spend 490 00:19:14,139 --> 00:19:16,310 all that much time together. 491 00:19:16,310 --> 00:19:20,443 We came together for family events, 492 00:19:20,443 --> 00:19:22,322 which weren't very often. 493 00:19:22,322 --> 00:19:27,457 We just didn't really have similar lifestyles. 494 00:19:27,457 --> 00:19:30,881 After my divorce, I felt such a sense of relief. 495 00:19:30,881 --> 00:19:34,597 I was free to pursue the things that I was interested 496 00:19:34,597 --> 00:19:36,810 in doing for myself. 497 00:19:36,810 --> 00:19:42,738 I was over 30, comfortable in who I was, in my sexuality, 498 00:19:42,738 --> 00:19:45,118 being a woman. 499 00:19:45,118 --> 00:19:50,295 And I'd always admired the women who posed in Playboy. 500 00:19:50,295 --> 00:19:51,715 I admired the magazine. 501 00:19:51,715 --> 00:19:54,804 I knew Hugh Hefner through my dad. 502 00:19:54,804 --> 00:19:58,394 And I thought I would like to see 503 00:19:58,394 --> 00:20:01,526 if I would be considered for the magazine. 504 00:20:01,526 --> 00:20:03,487 And I didn't tell my dad 505 00:20:03,487 --> 00:20:07,705 because I didn't want him to call in a favor. 506 00:20:07,705 --> 00:20:09,792 I went through the test photoshoot, 507 00:20:09,792 --> 00:20:12,130 and I was accepted. 508 00:20:12,130 --> 00:20:16,055 SINGER: ♪ 'Cause all I wanna do is have some fun ♪ 509 00:20:16,055 --> 00:20:20,564 ♪ I got a feeling I'm not the only one ♪ 510 00:20:20,564 --> 00:20:22,526 ♪ All I wanna do... ♪ 511 00:20:22,526 --> 00:20:26,785 - I took my pictures at the Forum, which was unusual. 512 00:20:26,785 --> 00:20:29,122 As a woman in this business for all these years, 513 00:20:29,122 --> 00:20:33,632 I've always felt left out in terms of not being able to go 514 00:20:33,632 --> 00:20:35,761 into the locker room and not knowing 515 00:20:35,761 --> 00:20:39,434 that feeling of camaraderie. 516 00:20:39,434 --> 00:20:43,484 And so to me, that was mysterious and sexy, 517 00:20:43,484 --> 00:20:47,827 to go into the locker room and, you know, make believe. 518 00:20:47,827 --> 00:20:51,417 Finally, when I told my dad, he had no idea. 519 00:20:51,417 --> 00:20:52,920 He said the funniest thing. 520 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,010 He said, "It's the first issue of Playboy magazine 521 00:20:56,010 --> 00:20:58,807 I haven't read in 26 years." [laughs] 522 00:20:58,807 --> 00:20:59,851 PERSON: He wouldn't look at it? 523 00:20:59,851 --> 00:21:02,272 - No, he would not look at it. 524 00:21:02,272 --> 00:21:05,403 It was something that I was very proud of. 525 00:21:05,403 --> 00:21:09,704 It was empowering for me to express my sexuality 526 00:21:09,704 --> 00:21:12,375 in a way that I wanted to. 527 00:21:12,375 --> 00:21:15,465 - When she posed for Playboy, 528 00:21:15,465 --> 00:21:18,387 I was aghast. 529 00:21:18,387 --> 00:21:22,395 I was concerned, would the promoters, 530 00:21:22,395 --> 00:21:25,819 would the agents and the managers 531 00:21:25,819 --> 00:21:28,407 look at her differently? 532 00:21:28,407 --> 00:21:30,996 LINDA: I was just worried people 533 00:21:30,996 --> 00:21:35,338 would objectify her more and not look at her 534 00:21:35,338 --> 00:21:38,219 as a serious business woman. 535 00:21:38,219 --> 00:21:43,647 But I understand the liberation that she felt from doing that. 536 00:21:43,647 --> 00:21:45,943 JEANIE: My dad's attorney was like, 537 00:21:45,943 --> 00:21:48,239 "You're gonna hurt your chances. 538 00:21:48,239 --> 00:21:52,372 You know, people are not gonna accept this from you." 539 00:21:52,372 --> 00:21:54,794 But it wasn't a business decision I made. 540 00:21:54,794 --> 00:22:00,471 That was a personal decision that I wanted to do for me. 541 00:22:00,471 --> 00:22:04,062 - Dr. Buss did exactly what he wanted to do 542 00:22:04,062 --> 00:22:06,483 and didn't care what you thought about it. 543 00:22:06,483 --> 00:22:11,285 Jeanie Buss is the same way, and she should be. 544 00:22:11,285 --> 00:22:13,540 - That was a time in my life. 545 00:22:13,540 --> 00:22:16,044 And then I was on to the next thing. 546 00:22:17,631 --> 00:22:20,721 And by then, my dad wanted me to move into 547 00:22:20,721 --> 00:22:22,933 the basketball side of things. 548 00:22:22,933 --> 00:22:26,733 And in 1995, I was named 549 00:22:26,733 --> 00:22:30,489 an alternate governor of the Lakers. 550 00:22:30,489 --> 00:22:34,414 Joining the board was a huge step 551 00:22:34,414 --> 00:22:38,464 to really understanding how this business works. 552 00:22:38,464 --> 00:22:41,554 MARK CUBAN: Jeanie and I and the guys from Sacramento 553 00:22:41,554 --> 00:22:43,725 were the only ones that, you know, 554 00:22:43,725 --> 00:22:45,646 felt like we were under 80 years old. 555 00:22:45,646 --> 00:22:47,232 That generation didn't take kindly 556 00:22:47,232 --> 00:22:48,860 to women in the boardroom. 557 00:22:48,860 --> 00:22:50,279 - In a room of 100 people, 558 00:22:50,279 --> 00:22:54,371 there might have been 2 other women besides me. 559 00:22:54,371 --> 00:22:57,503 I was in line at the buffet, 560 00:22:57,503 --> 00:22:59,715 you know, loading up my plate. 561 00:22:59,715 --> 00:23:04,725 And all of a sudden, someone grabs my butt. 562 00:23:04,725 --> 00:23:07,606 You know, at first, I was, like, so shocked. 563 00:23:07,606 --> 00:23:09,944 And then I was embarrassed. 564 00:23:09,944 --> 00:23:13,284 [somber music] 565 00:23:13,284 --> 00:23:15,872 - You feel violated, 566 00:23:15,872 --> 00:23:20,674 like...a piece of dirt. 567 00:23:22,010 --> 00:23:25,433 I remember when it happened to me like it was yesterday, 568 00:23:25,433 --> 00:23:29,065 and it's gotta be 35 years ago. 569 00:23:29,065 --> 00:23:32,823 - I didn't take it so much as a sexual advance, 570 00:23:32,823 --> 00:23:36,956 but more like a, putting me in my place. 571 00:23:36,956 --> 00:23:39,336 You don't get a seat at the table. 572 00:23:39,336 --> 00:23:43,803 You're just a piece of ass. 573 00:23:43,803 --> 00:23:46,559 - I didn't know about that. 574 00:23:46,559 --> 00:23:50,149 - Holy crap. Really? 575 00:23:50,149 --> 00:23:52,028 - That's horrible. 576 00:23:52,028 --> 00:23:55,076 - Did my dad know? 577 00:23:55,076 --> 00:23:56,495 JEANIE: I think it would've hurt him 578 00:23:56,495 --> 00:23:58,625 too much for me to tell him. 579 00:23:58,625 --> 00:24:01,046 I didn't really wanna tell anybody. 580 00:24:01,046 --> 00:24:02,966 - That's what happens to you. 581 00:24:02,966 --> 00:24:06,473 You're ashamed that it happened. 582 00:24:06,473 --> 00:24:08,853 JEANIE: But as time went on, 583 00:24:08,853 --> 00:24:11,776 I realized that... [sighs] 584 00:24:11,776 --> 00:24:16,953 You know, it's not my shame to carry. 585 00:24:16,953 --> 00:24:19,792 It made me more determined than ever 586 00:24:19,792 --> 00:24:22,088 to be successful in the business. 587 00:24:22,088 --> 00:24:24,969 - I saw this woman 588 00:24:24,969 --> 00:24:28,560 emerge in confidence, 589 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,983 so I started to think about leaving. 590 00:24:31,983 --> 00:24:33,528 JEANIE: And so now, her position 591 00:24:33,528 --> 00:24:37,201 as the general manager of the Forum was available. 592 00:24:37,201 --> 00:24:39,330 My dad said, "As your boss, 593 00:24:39,330 --> 00:24:42,170 "I would like to offer you the job. 594 00:24:42,170 --> 00:24:43,631 "As your father, 595 00:24:43,631 --> 00:24:45,677 "I'm recommending you don't take it. 596 00:24:45,677 --> 00:24:48,390 You will have no social life." 597 00:24:48,390 --> 00:24:52,440 LINDA: Running the building was a huge responsibility. 598 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:56,156 It's 200+ nights a year, 599 00:24:56,156 --> 00:24:59,830 long days, and... 600 00:24:59,830 --> 00:25:03,588 that was challenging. 601 00:25:03,588 --> 00:25:06,301 JEANIE: It was a lot of work. 602 00:25:06,301 --> 00:25:09,975 But the thing that I gravitated to the most was 603 00:25:09,975 --> 00:25:14,192 creating success for myself in the family business. 604 00:25:14,192 --> 00:25:17,741 ♪ ♪ 605 00:25:17,741 --> 00:25:18,952 - And my father was taking a little bit 606 00:25:18,952 --> 00:25:20,747 more time off at that time, 607 00:25:20,747 --> 00:25:24,337 so he just wanted everything in place. 608 00:25:24,337 --> 00:25:26,551 He called me in and said, "Hey, John, 609 00:25:26,551 --> 00:25:29,557 do you know anything about women's basketball?" 610 00:25:29,557 --> 00:25:33,773 And I go, "Uh, not a thing." [chuckles] 611 00:25:33,773 --> 00:25:36,069 And he says, "Well, me neither." 612 00:25:36,069 --> 00:25:38,031 DAVID STERN: I am pleased to announce 613 00:25:38,031 --> 00:25:39,660 that the Board of Governors approves 614 00:25:39,660 --> 00:25:43,375 the concept of the NBA establishing 615 00:25:43,375 --> 00:25:45,922 a Women's National Basketball Association. 616 00:25:45,922 --> 00:25:48,260 JOHNNY: And he said, "David Stern called 617 00:25:48,260 --> 00:25:51,809 "and they're starting a women's league. 618 00:25:51,809 --> 00:25:55,692 "And it would be great if I knew that 619 00:25:55,692 --> 00:25:59,658 you would be okay heading up a WNBA team." 620 00:25:59,658 --> 00:26:03,290 I mean, I just felt like should I even do this? 621 00:26:03,290 --> 00:26:05,503 Everything that had happened. 622 00:26:05,503 --> 00:26:07,381 The fallout of the Lasers. 623 00:26:07,381 --> 00:26:09,010 I was racing. 624 00:26:09,010 --> 00:26:10,722 I was doing music. 625 00:26:10,722 --> 00:26:12,475 I had gotten married. 626 00:26:12,475 --> 00:26:14,730 I was, you know, trying to find my way. 627 00:26:14,730 --> 00:26:17,151 I just liked the enjoyment of a nice quiet life. 628 00:26:17,151 --> 00:26:20,282 I didn't like being in the limelight. 629 00:26:20,282 --> 00:26:24,708 But, you know, I missed being involved in something big. 630 00:26:24,708 --> 00:26:26,086 I was ready. 631 00:26:26,086 --> 00:26:30,970 I was ready to commit myself to women's basketball. 632 00:26:30,970 --> 00:26:33,976 JEANIE: David Stern said to my dad, 633 00:26:33,976 --> 00:26:37,400 "I assume Jeanie is gonna run the WNBA team." 634 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:38,903 But my dad said, 635 00:26:38,903 --> 00:26:42,493 "I'm gonna have my son Johnny run the team." 636 00:26:42,493 --> 00:26:44,205 So that kinda surprised David. 637 00:26:44,205 --> 00:26:46,084 - You know, you'd hear, 638 00:26:46,084 --> 00:26:47,921 "Why wasn't Jeanie the one to-- 639 00:26:47,921 --> 00:26:49,508 you know, she's the woman in the business." 640 00:26:49,508 --> 00:26:51,595 - To have a woman run a women's team 641 00:26:51,595 --> 00:26:53,306 really would have been special. 642 00:26:53,306 --> 00:26:54,643 - I didn't sit there and say, 643 00:26:54,643 --> 00:26:56,104 "Oh, well, why don't you give it to Jeanie? 644 00:26:56,104 --> 00:26:57,816 You know, why are you picking me to do it?" 645 00:26:57,816 --> 00:26:59,193 And I just jumped at the chance, 646 00:26:59,193 --> 00:27:01,406 not even thinking about who else 647 00:27:01,406 --> 00:27:04,495 might have been chosen for the WNBA. 648 00:27:04,495 --> 00:27:06,332 JANIE: You could tell when there was, 649 00:27:06,332 --> 00:27:07,627 you know, a little tension. 650 00:27:07,627 --> 00:27:11,342 But the end goal was to create sports 651 00:27:11,342 --> 00:27:13,765 and, you know, make the most money, 652 00:27:13,765 --> 00:27:16,227 bring championships to Los Angeles. 653 00:27:16,227 --> 00:27:19,358 Are you gonna sit there and hold a grudge forever? 654 00:27:19,358 --> 00:27:21,404 I hope not. 655 00:27:24,870 --> 00:27:26,122 PERSON: Hey, Tupac. 656 00:27:26,122 --> 00:27:27,249 A little disappointed in the Lakers today? 657 00:27:27,249 --> 00:27:28,376 - No, not at all. They played they best. 658 00:27:28,376 --> 00:27:29,546 -It was a good game. PERSON: Yeah? 659 00:27:29,546 --> 00:27:30,840 -Happy Magic's back? -Yeah. 660 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,218 STEVE: When they lost in '94, 661 00:27:32,218 --> 00:27:34,388 I think people kinda sat down and thought, 662 00:27:34,388 --> 00:27:35,767 "This could be a long haul. 663 00:27:35,767 --> 00:27:37,687 "The Lakers could just be another team, 664 00:27:37,687 --> 00:27:39,650 "although it's hard to envision after living 665 00:27:39,650 --> 00:27:40,902 through Showtime." 666 00:27:40,902 --> 00:27:44,033 - I mean, for me, it was an exercise 667 00:27:44,033 --> 00:27:45,954 in how the other half lives, 668 00:27:45,954 --> 00:27:47,749 - It wasn't exciting. 669 00:27:47,749 --> 00:27:50,964 It wasn't the same. 670 00:27:50,964 --> 00:27:54,220 Ticket sales dropped. 671 00:27:54,220 --> 00:27:56,349 STEVE: The '94 in terms of attendance, 672 00:27:56,349 --> 00:28:00,315 it was the lowest since Jerry Buss bought the team. 673 00:28:00,315 --> 00:28:02,821 MITCH: The building did not sell out. 674 00:28:02,821 --> 00:28:06,077 I would say it was, you know, 70% capacity 675 00:28:06,077 --> 00:28:07,789 and a lot of empty seats. 676 00:28:07,789 --> 00:28:10,168 - I wasn't struck by its emptiness 677 00:28:10,168 --> 00:28:13,926 so much as its lack of energy 678 00:28:13,926 --> 00:28:17,809 and way reduced star power. 679 00:28:17,809 --> 00:28:20,022 FLEA: And I remember a lot of people fell off, you know? 680 00:28:20,022 --> 00:28:21,609 People didn't care as much. 681 00:28:21,609 --> 00:28:23,153 You know, it wasn't like when the Lakers-- 682 00:28:23,153 --> 00:28:24,155 when they repeated in '88, or whatever. 683 00:28:24,155 --> 00:28:25,908 You know what I mean? 684 00:28:25,908 --> 00:28:28,079 - Who wants to come and watch, 685 00:28:28,079 --> 00:28:30,000 you know, guys lose ballgames? 686 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,756 - In the minds of the public, they're spoiled. 687 00:28:32,756 --> 00:28:34,342 They had seen so much success. 688 00:28:34,342 --> 00:28:36,722 And if they didn't win a championship, 689 00:28:36,722 --> 00:28:38,141 it was a bad year. 690 00:28:38,141 --> 00:28:40,688 JIM: Every other owner had businesses, 691 00:28:40,688 --> 00:28:43,151 you know, cruise lines, you know, that kinda thing. 692 00:28:43,151 --> 00:28:45,155 My dad didn't. This was it. 693 00:28:45,155 --> 00:28:47,034 This was the only one. 694 00:28:47,034 --> 00:28:49,163 When you have everything leveraged, 695 00:28:49,163 --> 00:28:52,086 every game was so important because we needed to win 696 00:28:52,086 --> 00:28:54,465 and we needed to keep this up. 697 00:28:54,465 --> 00:28:56,427 - We weren't selling tickets. 698 00:28:56,427 --> 00:28:59,768 We couldn't raise ticket prices. 699 00:28:59,768 --> 00:29:04,360 That was not the model that my dad wanted to operate under. 700 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,909 We were gonna have to figure it out. 701 00:29:07,909 --> 00:29:10,915 GARY: Jerry West sees this really young team, 702 00:29:10,915 --> 00:29:15,800 and so he brings in a brilliant coach 703 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:20,685 to teach these young guys how to actually play the game. 704 00:29:20,685 --> 00:29:25,193 - Coaching is the most exciting thing you can do legally. 705 00:29:25,193 --> 00:29:29,745 I was really glad to be able to take a young team. 706 00:29:29,745 --> 00:29:33,376 I was a teacher first, coach second. 707 00:29:33,376 --> 00:29:35,422 - Him being my friend and someone 708 00:29:35,422 --> 00:29:38,219 I've known a long time really had nothing to do with it. 709 00:29:38,219 --> 00:29:40,558 He's one of the smartest basketball minds 710 00:29:40,558 --> 00:29:43,606 I have ever been involved with in my life, 711 00:29:43,606 --> 00:29:45,275 incredibly smart. 712 00:29:45,275 --> 00:29:46,862 - He's probably known as the most 713 00:29:46,862 --> 00:29:48,239 intellectual of the coaches. 714 00:29:48,239 --> 00:29:51,120 So I find that easy to relate to. 715 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:52,832 And I enjoy talking to him. 716 00:29:52,832 --> 00:29:55,546 - You know, he was just a old school kinda guy. 717 00:29:55,546 --> 00:29:58,051 - And I was like, "Who is this guy?" 718 00:29:58,051 --> 00:30:00,640 - I'm Lieutenant Frank Drebin, police squad. 719 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,729 - Leslie Nielsen, that was my first impression. 720 00:30:03,729 --> 00:30:05,273 - He's a little weird dude. 721 00:30:05,273 --> 00:30:09,073 - You're talking about coaching during the cultural change. 722 00:30:09,073 --> 00:30:11,662 PERSON: Del Harris, underneath his left shoulder, 723 00:30:11,662 --> 00:30:12,747 he showed it to us today. 724 00:30:12,747 --> 00:30:13,874 Thank you very much. 725 00:30:13,874 --> 00:30:15,418 EDDIE: He even got a tattoo, 726 00:30:15,418 --> 00:30:16,880 trying to be cool with the guys. 727 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:20,428 - I just like to think I'm an adjustable person. 728 00:30:20,428 --> 00:30:22,307 You know, you roll with it. 729 00:30:22,307 --> 00:30:26,023 KURT: As my career was ending at that point in time, 730 00:30:26,023 --> 00:30:30,490 Del created this position to kinda keep me around 731 00:30:30,490 --> 00:30:33,496 a special assistant coach. 732 00:30:33,496 --> 00:30:36,920 He was a great teacher and a tremendous basketball mind, 733 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,216 but he wanted control. 734 00:30:39,216 --> 00:30:42,599 - Del was up all the time, you know, conducting. 735 00:30:42,599 --> 00:30:44,226 NICK: Del was old school, 736 00:30:44,226 --> 00:30:46,105 so he was all about the Xs and Os 737 00:30:46,105 --> 00:30:47,567 and doing things the right way. 738 00:30:47,567 --> 00:30:50,196 KURT: He wanted real structured 739 00:30:50,196 --> 00:30:51,365 organization out there. 740 00:30:51,365 --> 00:30:53,077 And that's not how Nick wanted to play. 741 00:30:53,077 --> 00:30:54,288 He wanted his freedom. 742 00:30:54,288 --> 00:30:56,375 EDDIE: They bumped heads. 743 00:30:56,375 --> 00:30:59,340 Like, you can see it was a disconnect there. 744 00:30:59,340 --> 00:31:02,387 - There were times where I may do something on the court... 745 00:31:02,387 --> 00:31:04,809 PERSON: Van Exel winds it up and in a masterful feat. 746 00:31:04,809 --> 00:31:06,312 PERSON: Up and under his arm. 747 00:31:06,312 --> 00:31:07,732 NICK: Do a little dance or somethin', 748 00:31:07,732 --> 00:31:09,360 and he's, "Oh, no, get back on defense. 749 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:10,780 Get back on defense." 750 00:31:10,780 --> 00:31:14,286 GARY: We have a really talented, competitive, 751 00:31:14,286 --> 00:31:19,338 gritty point guard that doesn't like to be told what to do. 752 00:31:20,967 --> 00:31:25,601 Well, that's what the head coach does. 753 00:31:25,601 --> 00:31:27,772 NICK: When you're young and you go into sports, 754 00:31:27,772 --> 00:31:29,066 you don't know shit. 755 00:31:29,066 --> 00:31:30,443 You're just playing. 756 00:31:30,443 --> 00:31:34,034 I was just out there hoopin'. 757 00:31:34,034 --> 00:31:36,330 He probably felt we was playin' more, 758 00:31:36,330 --> 00:31:38,251 you know, bad basketball than good basketball. 759 00:31:38,251 --> 00:31:40,046 And he's just tryin' to hone it in. 760 00:31:40,046 --> 00:31:41,800 Just calm down. Calm down. 761 00:31:46,142 --> 00:31:47,729 PERSON: He got labelled as having a bad attitude. 762 00:31:47,729 --> 00:31:48,772 EDDIE: Yeah? 763 00:31:48,772 --> 00:31:50,776 I think it's a bunch of bullshit. 764 00:31:50,776 --> 00:31:52,613 NICK: You know, stereotype people give you. 765 00:31:52,613 --> 00:31:55,243 People just see, you know, through the camera lens, 766 00:31:55,243 --> 00:31:57,582 through the TV, you just goin' crazy, 767 00:31:57,582 --> 00:31:59,878 always jabbin' at the referee. 768 00:31:59,878 --> 00:32:01,548 PERSON: Be careful. PERSON: There's the team. 769 00:32:01,548 --> 00:32:04,053 PERSON: Boy, this guy's got a short temper. 770 00:32:04,053 --> 00:32:06,683 - Baby-ass temper tantrums, that's what they see. 771 00:32:09,814 --> 00:32:12,486 PERSON: You ever clash on the court with Del? 772 00:32:12,486 --> 00:32:14,031 NICK: He said he was trying to get my attention. 773 00:32:14,031 --> 00:32:16,368 But he said I ignored him, and he pulled me out of the game, 774 00:32:16,368 --> 00:32:17,496 like, in the first quarter. 775 00:32:17,496 --> 00:32:19,124 And we got into this argument. 776 00:32:19,124 --> 00:32:21,838 And of course, the media blew it up. 777 00:32:21,838 --> 00:32:26,556 - It was blown up being bigger than it was. 778 00:32:26,556 --> 00:32:28,894 - You know, my stubbornness would always 779 00:32:28,894 --> 00:32:32,150 be, like, say something first and then shut up, you know, 780 00:32:32,150 --> 00:32:36,450 as opposed to just don't say anything. 781 00:32:36,450 --> 00:32:38,037 I didn't like authority. 782 00:32:38,037 --> 00:32:41,043 I didn't like authority because I never had that. 783 00:32:41,043 --> 00:32:42,964 I never had nobody say, "Sit yo' ass down." 784 00:32:42,964 --> 00:32:44,551 [laughs] I didn't have that. 785 00:32:49,143 --> 00:32:51,230 I grew up in a single-parent home. 786 00:32:51,230 --> 00:32:52,859 My mom worked second shift. 787 00:32:52,859 --> 00:32:56,700 Didn't have a father figure and pretty much raised myself. 788 00:32:56,700 --> 00:32:59,914 [upbeat music playing] 789 00:32:59,914 --> 00:33:03,254 [mellow music] 790 00:33:03,254 --> 00:33:05,676 PERSON: We see Van Exel building up. 791 00:33:05,676 --> 00:33:07,555 NICK: I've always been a shy person. 792 00:33:07,555 --> 00:33:10,185 So I don't know if me playing on the basketball court 793 00:33:10,185 --> 00:33:14,276 was a way for me to let my hair down. 794 00:33:14,276 --> 00:33:16,740 Maybe I was hiding something when I got on the court. 795 00:33:16,740 --> 00:33:18,744 You know, where I grew up, 796 00:33:18,744 --> 00:33:20,956 we played against the older guys 797 00:33:20,956 --> 00:33:22,417 all the time. 798 00:33:22,417 --> 00:33:25,758 In Kenosha, you know, those guys, they'd kick your butt. 799 00:33:25,758 --> 00:33:28,639 And they weren't playin', and so you had to get tough quick 800 00:33:28,639 --> 00:33:31,603 or you was gonna get dominated. 801 00:33:31,603 --> 00:33:33,189 And basketball, I'm just emotional. 802 00:33:33,189 --> 00:33:37,197 I'm like, "Rrr," like, "let's go." 803 00:33:37,197 --> 00:33:39,911 EDDIE: I'm telling you, he was so intense. 804 00:33:39,911 --> 00:33:42,123 He would bring everyone in all the time like, 805 00:33:42,123 --> 00:33:44,211 "You with me? We going hard." 806 00:33:44,211 --> 00:33:46,549 And it was all about just tryin' 807 00:33:46,549 --> 00:33:49,012 to come together and win. 808 00:33:49,012 --> 00:33:50,724 DEL HARRIS: Nick, Eddie, and Cedric, 809 00:33:50,724 --> 00:33:54,022 that was the nucleus of the team. 810 00:33:54,022 --> 00:33:56,443 It was a great roster, I'm telling ya. 811 00:33:56,443 --> 00:33:59,784 - The second year in L. A., we were a tight bunch. 812 00:33:59,784 --> 00:34:02,038 Guys, you know, looked out for each other 813 00:34:02,038 --> 00:34:03,374 on and out of the court. 814 00:34:03,374 --> 00:34:06,005 We played a lot better that second year. 815 00:34:06,005 --> 00:34:07,758 - In '94, '95, the Lakers came back 816 00:34:07,758 --> 00:34:10,138 with the best record they'd had since the Showtime days. 817 00:34:10,138 --> 00:34:12,100 - Our team was trending upward at the time. 818 00:34:12,100 --> 00:34:14,271 We were trying to build something. 819 00:34:14,271 --> 00:34:16,066 PERSON: A capacity crowd. 820 00:34:16,066 --> 00:34:18,404 The Lakers in the playoffs for the first time in two years. 821 00:34:18,404 --> 00:34:20,450 They're making the most of it. 822 00:34:20,450 --> 00:34:21,995 STEVE: They made it to the second round 823 00:34:21,995 --> 00:34:23,122 of the playoffs. 824 00:34:23,122 --> 00:34:24,792 But the Lakers went on to lose. 825 00:34:24,792 --> 00:34:26,629 But that was definitely progress, 826 00:34:26,629 --> 00:34:29,426 coming back after not even being in the playoffs. 827 00:34:29,426 --> 00:34:32,057 PERSON: He led the Lakers to their fourth largest 828 00:34:32,057 --> 00:34:34,227 improvement from one season to the next. 829 00:34:34,227 --> 00:34:36,148 The Coach of the Year award goes to-- 830 00:34:36,148 --> 00:34:37,818 PERSON: Why do you think he got Coach of the Year? 831 00:34:37,818 --> 00:34:39,321 EDDIE: Pretty simple. 832 00:34:39,321 --> 00:34:41,785 We played our asses off that year. 833 00:34:41,785 --> 00:34:44,707 I mean, we all felt like we had something to prove. 834 00:34:44,707 --> 00:34:46,377 - And we were winning, but not winning 835 00:34:46,377 --> 00:34:48,548 like we thought we should. 836 00:34:48,548 --> 00:34:50,844 Jerry said, "It's been a long time, 837 00:34:50,844 --> 00:34:53,850 "and I really need a championship. 838 00:34:53,850 --> 00:34:55,521 You know, I just gotta have it." 839 00:34:55,521 --> 00:34:58,944 Well, so did we. 840 00:34:58,944 --> 00:35:00,446 NICK: A buddy of mine would say, 841 00:35:00,446 --> 00:35:03,452 "Man, y'all nice. Y'all athletic. 842 00:35:03,452 --> 00:35:06,458 But y'all ain't gonna win shit." [laughs] 843 00:35:06,458 --> 00:35:08,672 Because he was like, "Y'all gotta have some veterans. 844 00:35:08,672 --> 00:35:10,843 Y'all gotta have some veterans." 845 00:35:17,355 --> 00:35:19,192 PERSON: Good. 846 00:35:19,192 --> 00:35:20,696 Go back. Go back. 847 00:35:20,696 --> 00:35:23,451 EDDIE: We played with Magic all summer long at UCLA. 848 00:35:23,451 --> 00:35:26,457 And it was like, "Man, Magic still can play." 849 00:35:26,457 --> 00:35:28,377 - You know, he came out in '79. 850 00:35:28,377 --> 00:35:32,260 There's no way that this dude can do this at that age. 851 00:35:32,260 --> 00:35:34,014 - He was still running the pros outta there. 852 00:35:34,014 --> 00:35:35,057 - I had been working out. 853 00:35:35,057 --> 00:35:37,395 And I worked out every day at UCLA. 854 00:35:37,395 --> 00:35:39,567 And I played pickup games. 855 00:35:39,567 --> 00:35:43,032 And I'm playing like Magic. 856 00:35:43,032 --> 00:35:45,244 [laughs] 857 00:35:45,244 --> 00:35:47,750 - Even though Earvin has retired from the NBA, 858 00:35:47,750 --> 00:35:50,463 he's still dazzling fans. 859 00:35:50,463 --> 00:35:52,091 The fans gave a big welcome home 860 00:35:52,091 --> 00:35:53,720 to Magic as he hosted an All-Star game 861 00:35:53,720 --> 00:35:54,722 in Santa Barbara. 862 00:35:54,722 --> 00:35:55,891 ALL: Magic! 863 00:35:55,891 --> 00:35:57,143 Magic! 864 00:35:57,143 --> 00:35:58,939 Magic! Magic! 865 00:35:58,939 --> 00:36:00,567 [cheers and applause] 866 00:36:00,567 --> 00:36:02,111 STEVE: None of us from the beginning 867 00:36:02,111 --> 00:36:04,282 understood that there was a difference 868 00:36:04,282 --> 00:36:05,911 between HIV and AIDS. 869 00:36:05,911 --> 00:36:07,288 We thought it was the same thing. 870 00:36:07,288 --> 00:36:10,044 We thought this was a death sentence. 871 00:36:10,044 --> 00:36:12,090 And he admitted to me later that he thought the same thing. 872 00:36:12,090 --> 00:36:14,302 MAGIC: It was a lot going on back then. 873 00:36:14,302 --> 00:36:19,145 HIV and AIDS, people were not educated enough. 874 00:36:19,145 --> 00:36:22,402 But finally, they got educated. 875 00:36:22,402 --> 00:36:24,364 STEVE: All the medications came along. 876 00:36:24,364 --> 00:36:26,744 And so he began to think, "Well, you know, 877 00:36:26,744 --> 00:36:29,709 I can do this. I can come back." 878 00:36:29,709 --> 00:36:31,003 PERSON: Magic [indistinct]. 879 00:36:31,003 --> 00:36:33,340 PERSON: Johnson pulls up from 40 feet. 880 00:36:33,340 --> 00:36:35,846 And that's the way you're supposed to end it! 881 00:36:35,846 --> 00:36:37,641 - It was like, "Yeah, he can teach us some shit. 882 00:36:37,641 --> 00:36:39,520 He definitely can teach us some shit." 883 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:41,356 - Why is he playing with us? 884 00:36:41,356 --> 00:36:43,277 We went to him and were like, "Hey, dude. 885 00:36:43,277 --> 00:36:44,780 Jump on. Let's go." 886 00:36:44,780 --> 00:36:46,366 PERSON: What about that phone call you and Nick made? 887 00:36:46,366 --> 00:36:47,912 What was that all about? 888 00:36:47,912 --> 00:36:49,582 - Hey, it worked. 889 00:36:49,582 --> 00:36:52,295 We got him back, and everybody's happy. 890 00:36:52,295 --> 00:36:54,550 But I mean, we wanna make a run at it. 891 00:36:54,550 --> 00:36:56,846 MAGIC: I love Eddie and Nick. 892 00:36:56,846 --> 00:36:59,560 Those were my young guys. 893 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,608 - For Magic's first practice at LMU, 894 00:37:02,608 --> 00:37:05,029 there were cameras all over the place. 895 00:37:05,029 --> 00:37:07,283 PERSON: Is this gonna be like a Showtime 2 out there? 896 00:37:07,283 --> 00:37:09,245 - Well, this is the Lake Show, 897 00:37:09,245 --> 00:37:12,043 so we better stick with that. [laughs] 898 00:37:12,043 --> 00:37:14,632 Lake Show Part 2. 899 00:37:14,632 --> 00:37:16,468 - We all wanted him-- you know what I mean-- 900 00:37:16,468 --> 00:37:18,974 'cause we knew he was gonna take us to another level. 901 00:37:18,974 --> 00:37:20,936 - I've been there five times. 902 00:37:20,936 --> 00:37:22,021 I know what it tastes like. 903 00:37:22,021 --> 00:37:24,192 I'd like to go one more time. 904 00:37:24,192 --> 00:37:26,531 - Even though he hadn't played for five years, 905 00:37:26,531 --> 00:37:30,079 here was a guy that we thought 906 00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:33,670 would add to the maturity of the team. 907 00:37:33,670 --> 00:37:36,551 - Now, I come in at 36. 908 00:37:36,551 --> 00:37:37,886 I'm a leader. 909 00:37:37,886 --> 00:37:39,682 I'm making sure that the locker room is straight. 910 00:37:39,682 --> 00:37:41,476 I'm making sure that our heads are straight. 911 00:37:41,476 --> 00:37:43,773 I'm making sure that we're prepared and ready 912 00:37:43,773 --> 00:37:47,280 for the game, and then add what I can on the court. 913 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:48,700 - He's just gonna help us out a lot. 914 00:37:48,700 --> 00:37:50,704 And I think the most important thing is his experience 915 00:37:50,704 --> 00:37:53,375 and his knowledge of teaching to help other players be, 916 00:37:53,375 --> 00:37:54,879 you know, what they should be. 917 00:37:54,879 --> 00:37:56,131 EDDIE: As a shooting guard, 918 00:37:56,131 --> 00:37:58,302 who wouldn't want Magic on his team? 919 00:37:58,302 --> 00:38:01,893 From top to bottom, I think every guy was so excited. 920 00:38:01,893 --> 00:38:03,563 DEL HARRIS: I'm sure a guy like Earvin 921 00:38:03,563 --> 00:38:07,153 would be able to fit in just about any position. 922 00:38:07,153 --> 00:38:10,535 I talked to the kids and I said, "Now look, 923 00:38:10,535 --> 00:38:12,623 "I'm bringing him in as a big man. 924 00:38:12,623 --> 00:38:14,877 "He's not gonna be the point guard, Nick. 925 00:38:14,877 --> 00:38:16,923 "He won't be the off guard, Eddie. 926 00:38:16,923 --> 00:38:19,970 "And he's not gonna be the small forward, Ced. 927 00:38:19,970 --> 00:38:21,431 But he'll be a great teammate." 928 00:38:23,435 --> 00:38:26,776 - Put me in. [laughter] 929 00:38:26,776 --> 00:38:30,241 PERSON: Here comes Magic. Magic's coming in right now. 930 00:38:30,241 --> 00:38:31,744 Listen to this crowd. 931 00:38:31,744 --> 00:38:34,332 [cheers and applause] 932 00:38:34,332 --> 00:38:35,919 The Magic is back. 933 00:38:35,919 --> 00:38:37,881 PERSON: Van Exel makes a good pass to Magic. 934 00:38:37,881 --> 00:38:40,554 [indistinct] Underneath Floyd! 935 00:38:40,554 --> 00:38:42,891 - Whatever the '80s Showtime felt like, 936 00:38:42,891 --> 00:38:44,645 that's what the Lake Show was feeling like. 937 00:38:44,645 --> 00:38:47,441 PERSON: Rebound Divac, to Magic. 938 00:38:47,441 --> 00:38:49,112 Four points! 939 00:38:49,112 --> 00:38:51,074 PERSON: This is what the fans have come to see. 940 00:38:51,074 --> 00:38:52,786 - It was pandemonium. [laughs] 941 00:38:52,786 --> 00:38:55,166 We felt like we were stars-- you know what I mean-- 942 00:38:55,166 --> 00:38:56,459 seeing everybody there yelling 943 00:38:56,459 --> 00:38:58,297 and screaming and so excited. 944 00:38:58,297 --> 00:39:00,760 PERSON: Magic running. 945 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,558 Finding Eddie Jones! 946 00:39:03,558 --> 00:39:06,479 - That was the first time I ever seen 947 00:39:06,479 --> 00:39:09,235 the Forum packed before the game. 948 00:39:09,235 --> 00:39:11,532 PERSON: Los Angeles, over the past four years, 949 00:39:11,532 --> 00:39:13,327 hasn't had a whole lot to smile about. 950 00:39:13,327 --> 00:39:16,291 This city is absolutely rejuvenated. 951 00:39:16,291 --> 00:39:18,086 - I welcome back Magic. 952 00:39:18,086 --> 00:39:20,299 Whoo, it's Showtime, baby. 953 00:39:20,299 --> 00:39:21,510 - It was sold out. 954 00:39:21,510 --> 00:39:23,263 And it was because of Magic. 955 00:39:23,263 --> 00:39:26,562 - Immediately, ticket sales are through the roof. 956 00:39:26,562 --> 00:39:27,898 - Magic is great. 957 00:39:27,898 --> 00:39:29,359 I don't give a damn how old he is, what he got, 958 00:39:29,359 --> 00:39:30,904 what he been through. 959 00:39:30,904 --> 00:39:32,908 That's motherfuckin' Earvin "Magic" Johnson. 960 00:39:32,908 --> 00:39:34,285 - They've won 11 of their last 13, 961 00:39:34,285 --> 00:39:36,206 and Magic's been largely responsible. 962 00:39:36,206 --> 00:39:37,709 - And talking to Magic, 963 00:39:37,709 --> 00:39:39,462 it was, "Instead of sitting on the bench talking about it, 964 00:39:39,462 --> 00:39:42,051 I can be in the game and show you how to do it." 965 00:39:42,051 --> 00:39:43,303 - I'll say this about his teammates. 966 00:39:43,303 --> 00:39:44,640 Boy, even though Magic's gettin' 967 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:45,850 all the headlines right now, 968 00:39:45,850 --> 00:39:47,019 the others aren't saying a word. 969 00:39:47,019 --> 00:39:48,690 They're just applauding, going along, 970 00:39:48,690 --> 00:39:50,902 and still playing even better than before. 971 00:39:50,902 --> 00:39:52,238 - We started out pretty hot. 972 00:39:52,238 --> 00:39:54,033 Like, we was really rollin'. 973 00:39:54,033 --> 00:39:59,503 And then, you know, things just kinda went south pretty quick. 974 00:39:59,503 --> 00:40:01,089 MICHAEL: You know, the young kids, 975 00:40:01,089 --> 00:40:02,341 the young guns are coming up. 976 00:40:02,341 --> 00:40:04,345 And here, you have the old veteran marshal 977 00:40:04,345 --> 00:40:05,598 that's like, "Okay, no. 978 00:40:05,598 --> 00:40:07,101 Now, we gonna do it this way." 979 00:40:07,101 --> 00:40:09,147 It was a rift. 980 00:40:09,147 --> 00:40:11,443 EDDIE: You're talkin' 'bout the greatest 981 00:40:11,443 --> 00:40:13,698 point guard in the history of the game. 982 00:40:13,698 --> 00:40:16,411 Whatever Magic says is gonna go. 983 00:40:16,411 --> 00:40:19,417 - Of course, Del had to be the one to mesh it. 984 00:40:19,417 --> 00:40:21,547 He had to be the guy to try to figure it out. 985 00:40:21,547 --> 00:40:24,469 So I'm sure it was really tough on him. 986 00:40:24,469 --> 00:40:26,139 And then, you know, Magic, you know, 987 00:40:26,139 --> 00:40:28,060 started sayin' he wanted the ball more. 988 00:40:28,060 --> 00:40:30,481 And I'm like, "Well, shit, if he got the ball more, 989 00:40:30,481 --> 00:40:32,861 then it won't be in my hands no more." 990 00:40:32,861 --> 00:40:35,324 But I'm not gonna lie, it was tough. 991 00:40:35,324 --> 00:40:36,535 EDDIE: You know, I was being 992 00:40:36,535 --> 00:40:37,871 a little selfish about it, of course. 993 00:40:37,871 --> 00:40:39,332 I think we all were. 994 00:40:39,332 --> 00:40:40,877 - [laughs] I'm not gonna tell Magic, 995 00:40:40,877 --> 00:40:42,296 "No, you can't have the rock." 996 00:40:42,296 --> 00:40:43,800 I'm not gonna do that. 997 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,137 PERSON: They were 29 and 11 after his return 998 00:40:46,137 --> 00:40:49,102 and, for a while, looked every bit the team to beat out West. 999 00:40:49,102 --> 00:40:51,565 - We just fightin' each other so much. 1000 00:40:51,565 --> 00:40:53,193 Little things like who got the points, 1001 00:40:53,193 --> 00:40:55,615 whose name was in the paper. 1002 00:40:55,615 --> 00:40:58,078 - You know, I'm arguin' with the referees more. 1003 00:40:58,078 --> 00:40:59,957 I'm arguin' with Del more. 1004 00:40:59,957 --> 00:41:01,836 And there was a lot of frustration. 1005 00:41:01,836 --> 00:41:03,338 - Nick was very hard to watch 1006 00:41:03,338 --> 00:41:05,175 and very hard to be around at times. 1007 00:41:05,175 --> 00:41:06,971 - Nick Van Exel won't play 1008 00:41:06,971 --> 00:41:09,016 for the rest of the regular season. 1009 00:41:09,016 --> 00:41:10,645 That's his punishment for shoving 1010 00:41:10,645 --> 00:41:12,941 referee Ron Garretson in last night's game with Denver. 1011 00:41:12,941 --> 00:41:15,362 PERSON: What's up? MAGIC: Man, yeah. 1012 00:41:15,362 --> 00:41:16,489 Yeah. 1013 00:41:16,489 --> 00:41:18,786 I should have stayed retired, I guess. 1014 00:41:18,786 --> 00:41:20,582 It just sends a bad message. 1015 00:41:20,582 --> 00:41:21,959 You know, it's bad. 1016 00:41:21,959 --> 00:41:25,550 And I want him to know that you just don't do it. 1017 00:41:28,013 --> 00:41:29,432 PERSON: Even more disheartening 1018 00:41:29,432 --> 00:41:31,436 was the way Magic himself lost his cool. 1019 00:41:31,436 --> 00:41:32,689 PERSON: Technical foul. PERSON: Technical foul. 1020 00:41:32,689 --> 00:41:34,150 And now, he just bumped the official. 1021 00:41:34,150 --> 00:41:37,114 And he's gone. 1022 00:41:37,114 --> 00:41:40,580 MAGIC: I want to be the best example 1023 00:41:40,580 --> 00:41:42,249 for these young guys. 1024 00:41:42,249 --> 00:41:44,630 You know, I'm harpin' on them and I'm stayin' on 'em. 1025 00:41:44,630 --> 00:41:48,971 And then I come up and do something like this. 1026 00:41:48,971 --> 00:41:52,061 PERSON: No place in basketball for that, 1027 00:41:52,061 --> 00:41:55,025 as Magic clearly told us before the game. 1028 00:41:55,025 --> 00:41:56,486 PERSON: The storybook season 1029 00:41:56,486 --> 00:41:58,699 Magic had hoped for closed dismally 1030 00:41:58,699 --> 00:42:01,120 with a first-round playoff defeat. 1031 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:03,584 PERSON: Houston takes on Los Angeles 1032 00:42:03,584 --> 00:42:05,379 three games to one. 1033 00:42:05,379 --> 00:42:06,840 [foreboding music] 1034 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:08,719 [announcer shouts indistinctly] 1035 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:11,850 ♪ ♪ 1036 00:42:11,850 --> 00:42:13,896 EDDIE: We got on the plane after we lost. 1037 00:42:13,896 --> 00:42:16,067 He was in tears. 1038 00:42:16,067 --> 00:42:19,575 MAGIC: I was in tears 'cause I knew it was over. 1039 00:42:19,575 --> 00:42:20,994 That was it. 1040 00:42:20,994 --> 00:42:24,333 - When Magic's comeback didn't work, 1041 00:42:24,333 --> 00:42:27,172 I think that's when we finally accepted 1042 00:42:27,172 --> 00:42:29,928 that Showtime was over. 1043 00:42:33,853 --> 00:42:35,607 MAGIC: I didn't bring the championship 1044 00:42:35,607 --> 00:42:36,900 back here in Los Angeles. 1045 00:42:36,900 --> 00:42:40,867 I think you know that 1046 00:42:40,867 --> 00:42:44,081 it's time to go when it's time to go. 1047 00:42:44,081 --> 00:42:46,127 PERSON: It's over. 1048 00:42:46,127 --> 00:42:47,964 NICK: It wasn't Magic's fault. 1049 00:42:47,964 --> 00:42:49,843 Magic was just like, you know, 1050 00:42:49,843 --> 00:42:51,930 "I don't think I can do this anymore, you know? 1051 00:42:51,930 --> 00:42:53,976 It's a new era." 1052 00:42:53,976 --> 00:42:56,690 [somber music] 1053 00:43:00,447 --> 00:43:03,328 [mellow music] 1054 00:43:03,328 --> 00:43:10,300 ♪ ♪ 1055 00:43:14,726 --> 00:43:16,145 KOBE: [indistinct] 1056 00:43:16,145 --> 00:43:18,191 I'm 'bout to give a oral presentation 1057 00:43:18,191 --> 00:43:20,362 for 2 1/2 minutes, 3 minutes. 1058 00:43:20,362 --> 00:43:22,909 I haven't prepared anything, so I'm 'bout to wing it. 1059 00:43:22,909 --> 00:43:24,955 Da-da-da-da. 1060 00:43:27,627 --> 00:43:29,296 My name is Kobe Bryant. 1061 00:43:29,296 --> 00:43:31,175 I'm 17 years old. 1062 00:43:31,175 --> 00:43:35,225 Here I am today giving a oral presentation in English class 1063 00:43:35,225 --> 00:43:37,229 not only in front of Mr. Rigby's camera, 1064 00:43:37,229 --> 00:43:41,446 but camera of Prism and ESPN. 1065 00:43:43,784 --> 00:43:46,330 My father played professional basketball for eight years. 1066 00:43:46,330 --> 00:43:48,126 PERSON: Bryant hangs the building shaker. 1067 00:43:48,126 --> 00:43:49,504 Look at this. 1068 00:43:49,504 --> 00:43:50,923 KOBE: He decided that it would be best for him 1069 00:43:50,923 --> 00:43:52,969 to take his talent elsewhere. 1070 00:43:52,969 --> 00:43:55,182 So we moved to Italy for eight years. 1071 00:43:55,182 --> 00:43:58,188 [speaking Italian] 1072 00:43:59,524 --> 00:44:02,112 My father told us that he was retiring 1073 00:44:02,112 --> 00:44:04,074 from the game of basketball and that it was time for us 1074 00:44:04,074 --> 00:44:07,624 to come back to America. 1075 00:44:07,624 --> 00:44:09,961 It was very hard gettin' adjusted. 1076 00:44:09,961 --> 00:44:13,343 So on Fridays and Saturdays, I would go into my rec room 1077 00:44:13,343 --> 00:44:14,930 with my basketball and basically 1078 00:44:14,930 --> 00:44:17,936 dribble myself to sleep. 1079 00:44:17,936 --> 00:44:19,898 And I think that that was the best thing that could've ever 1080 00:44:19,898 --> 00:44:22,654 happened to me 'cause during those lonely hours 1081 00:44:22,654 --> 00:44:25,325 in the rec room, I discovered the hunger, 1082 00:44:25,325 --> 00:44:29,083 the motivation, and the desire to be the best possible 1083 00:44:29,083 --> 00:44:30,753 basketball player that I could be. 1084 00:44:30,753 --> 00:44:33,007 - Kobe is the best player by far. 1085 00:44:33,007 --> 00:44:34,845 But if we can't continue with it, 1086 00:44:34,845 --> 00:44:36,430 the team can't really do much, I think. 1087 00:44:36,430 --> 00:44:38,059 - The question is if. 1088 00:44:38,059 --> 00:44:39,813 Two of them said, "Well, you know, 1089 00:44:39,813 --> 00:44:41,107 we think we can contain him." 1090 00:44:41,107 --> 00:44:43,278 And I'd like to know what you think. 1091 00:44:43,278 --> 00:44:44,531 BUSTA RHYMES: ♪ When I step up in the place ♪ 1092 00:44:44,531 --> 00:44:45,950 ♪ A-yo I step correct ♪ 1093 00:44:45,950 --> 00:44:48,371 ♪ Woo-hah, got you all in check ♪ 1094 00:44:48,371 --> 00:44:51,127 ♪ I got that head nod shit that make you break your neck ♪ 1095 00:44:51,127 --> 00:44:53,632 ♪ Woo-hah, got you all in check ♪ 1096 00:44:53,632 --> 00:44:56,345 ♪ And you know we come through to wreck the discotheque ♪ 1097 00:44:56,345 --> 00:44:59,018 ♪ Woo-hah, got you all in check ♪ 1098 00:44:59,018 --> 00:45:00,353 ♪ Throw your hands up in the air ♪ 1099 00:45:00,353 --> 00:45:01,940 PERSON: Kobe Bryant from Philadelphia 1100 00:45:01,940 --> 00:45:04,320 hasn't even been drafted yet, 1101 00:45:04,320 --> 00:45:07,242 and has already lined up an endorsement deal with Adidas. 1102 00:45:07,242 --> 00:45:08,787 STEVE: I'd never seen a 17-year-old 1103 00:45:08,787 --> 00:45:10,165 with that much hype. 1104 00:45:11,752 --> 00:45:14,674 I mean, the fact that Kobe got a shoe deal before he even 1105 00:45:14,674 --> 00:45:16,845 was drafted was very impressive. 1106 00:45:16,845 --> 00:45:19,016 He was in Sports Illustrated. 1107 00:45:19,016 --> 00:45:21,145 The hype machine was going. 1108 00:45:21,145 --> 00:45:23,232 But there was always kind of that, 1109 00:45:23,232 --> 00:45:26,447 "Are we building this guy up too much?" 1110 00:45:26,447 --> 00:45:28,953 Although Jerry West was highly impressed, 1111 00:45:28,953 --> 00:45:31,792 which counts for a lot. 1112 00:45:31,792 --> 00:45:34,798 MITCH: He came into the office glowing 1113 00:45:34,798 --> 00:45:37,219 and said, "Mitch, I wanna have a workout. 1114 00:45:37,219 --> 00:45:39,724 And I want you to be there and watch." 1115 00:45:39,724 --> 00:45:41,185 MICHAEL: I'd never heard of Kobe, 1116 00:45:41,185 --> 00:45:43,231 but Jerry called me and said, "Coop, I want you 1117 00:45:43,231 --> 00:45:44,609 "to come over, but bring your gear. 1118 00:45:44,609 --> 00:45:46,028 We want you to work him out a little bit." 1119 00:45:46,028 --> 00:45:48,032 MITCH: Michael Cooper, he had just retired, 1120 00:45:48,032 --> 00:45:50,705 so he was still in pretty good shape and athletic. 1121 00:45:50,705 --> 00:45:53,209 MICHAEL: We always taped our workouts. 1122 00:45:53,209 --> 00:45:56,465 But for some reason, that tape came up missing. 1123 00:45:57,259 --> 00:45:58,554 BILL BERTKA: Testing 1, 2, 3. 1124 00:45:58,554 --> 00:46:00,933 Testing, testing. 1125 00:46:13,834 --> 00:46:15,253 MICHAEL: Now I'm 40 years old, 1126 00:46:15,253 --> 00:46:16,673 and I hadn't done basketball in a while. 1127 00:46:16,673 --> 00:46:20,639 And it was probably one of the most intense workouts. 1128 00:46:20,639 --> 00:46:23,144 MITCH: Kobe was just a ball of energy. 1129 00:46:23,144 --> 00:46:26,610 17 playing against an All-NBA defensive player, 1130 00:46:26,610 --> 00:46:28,112 that takes some courage. 1131 00:46:28,112 --> 00:46:29,783 It was impressive. 1132 00:46:50,031 --> 00:46:52,620 - The workout didn't last very long 1133 00:46:52,620 --> 00:46:54,958 because I didn't want Michael to get any more embarrassed. 1134 00:46:54,958 --> 00:46:57,170 - Some people say Kobe kicked my ass. 1135 00:46:57,170 --> 00:46:58,549 I'm gonna disagree with that. 1136 00:46:58,549 --> 00:47:00,426 But I'll tell you what. [laughs] 1137 00:47:00,426 --> 00:47:02,557 The young kid, he got the best of me. 1138 00:47:05,270 --> 00:47:08,192 I don't know what happened to the tape of the workout. 1139 00:47:08,192 --> 00:47:10,405 I don't ever want anybody to see that. 1140 00:47:10,405 --> 00:47:11,950 [laughs] 1141 00:47:14,121 --> 00:47:15,958 JERRY: I sat there and said, "Oh, my God. 1142 00:47:15,958 --> 00:47:18,129 You know, I would like to see him in a Laker uniform." 1143 00:47:18,129 --> 00:47:19,799 - Getting Kobe sounded great, 1144 00:47:19,799 --> 00:47:22,638 but nobody knew that Kobe was gonna be 1145 00:47:22,638 --> 00:47:25,519 who Kobe was at that time. 1146 00:47:25,519 --> 00:47:28,984 And we might not be able to draft him anyway. 1147 00:47:28,984 --> 00:47:32,073 - It is so tightly kept what you see 1148 00:47:32,073 --> 00:47:34,203 and what you know on a player. 1149 00:47:34,203 --> 00:47:36,415 They were very secretive, you know? 1150 00:47:36,415 --> 00:47:38,336 They don't need that to get out in any way 1151 00:47:38,336 --> 00:47:42,093 because the guy that's one jump ahead again 1152 00:47:42,093 --> 00:47:45,141 in the Draft could take him. 1153 00:47:45,141 --> 00:47:47,647 JEANIE: We had players like Nick Van Exel 1154 00:47:47,647 --> 00:47:50,235 and Eddie Jones. 1155 00:47:50,235 --> 00:47:55,370 But now, it's about who's our leader gonna be on the court? 1156 00:47:55,370 --> 00:47:56,581 [funky music] 1157 00:47:56,581 --> 00:47:58,710 PERSON: For Shaquille O'Neal! 1158 00:47:58,710 --> 00:48:02,092 SINGERS: ♪ Can we rock, what's up doc ♪ 1159 00:48:02,092 --> 00:48:03,887 ♪ Can we rock, what's up doc ♪ 1160 00:48:03,887 --> 00:48:06,433 [announcers talking excitedly] 1161 00:48:06,433 --> 00:48:09,147 [Fu-Schnickens' "What's Up Doc? Can We Rock?"] 1162 00:48:09,147 --> 00:48:12,153 - Our next guest is a four-time NBA All-Star 1163 00:48:12,153 --> 00:48:14,241 and the starting center for the Orlando Magic, 1164 00:48:14,241 --> 00:48:16,997 Shaquille O'Neal. 1165 00:48:16,997 --> 00:48:19,711 Are you gonna be a member of the Orlando Magic next season? 1166 00:48:19,711 --> 00:48:22,465 - I'll be a free agent come July 1st. 1167 00:48:22,465 --> 00:48:25,597 - He was the biggest, most dominant player in the league. 1168 00:48:25,597 --> 00:48:26,641 PERSON: Shaquille back pass Hardaway. 1169 00:48:26,641 --> 00:48:28,102 Got it back. 1170 00:48:28,102 --> 00:48:29,396 JERRY: Even though there were other really good 1171 00:48:29,396 --> 00:48:31,483 free agents out there, he was the one 1172 00:48:31,483 --> 00:48:34,615 that would supply everything that the Lakers needed. 1173 00:48:34,615 --> 00:48:36,828 PERSON: You know, he's 7' 1", 300 pounds, 1174 00:48:36,828 --> 00:48:39,834 strength, finesse, a $42 million contract, 1175 00:48:39,834 --> 00:48:42,213 and a license to print mo' money. 1176 00:48:42,213 --> 00:48:43,759 SINGERS: ♪ You out ♪ SINGER: ♪ Let me see you ♪ 1177 00:48:43,759 --> 00:48:46,096 SINGERS: ♪ Can we rock, what's up doc ♪ 1178 00:48:46,096 --> 00:48:47,432 ♪ Can we rock ♪ 1179 00:48:47,432 --> 00:48:49,771 EDDIE: There was no one able to stop him. 1180 00:48:49,771 --> 00:48:52,985 I don't care who you were, there was not one individual 1181 00:48:52,985 --> 00:48:55,657 that could stop him alone, not even Vlade. 1182 00:48:55,657 --> 00:48:59,916 Even though I love Vlade, but Vlade had no chance. 1183 00:48:59,916 --> 00:49:01,628 PERSON: Shaq thwarts around Divac. 1184 00:49:01,628 --> 00:49:02,838 [indistinct]. Back to his baseline. 1185 00:49:02,838 --> 00:49:04,132 Playoff! 1186 00:49:04,132 --> 00:49:05,426 VLADE: I realized how strong he is. 1187 00:49:05,426 --> 00:49:07,848 You're pushing, but he's not moving. 1188 00:49:07,848 --> 00:49:09,977 ♪ ♪ 1189 00:49:09,977 --> 00:49:11,940 EDDIE: Even if you send a double team on Shaq-- 1190 00:49:11,940 --> 00:49:13,985 I'll never forget running down to double him-- 1191 00:49:13,985 --> 00:49:17,117 he would just move you out of the way, lay it in. 1192 00:49:17,117 --> 00:49:19,287 PERSON: Here comes Teddy. To Shaq! 1193 00:49:19,287 --> 00:49:21,125 [cheers and applause] 1194 00:49:21,125 --> 00:49:22,460 - ♪ Forget Tony Danza, I'm the boss ♪ 1195 00:49:22,460 --> 00:49:24,841 ♪ When it comes to money, I'm like Dick DeVos ♪ 1196 00:49:24,841 --> 00:49:27,513 MITCH: Huge personality, 1197 00:49:27,513 --> 00:49:29,182 big smile. 1198 00:49:29,182 --> 00:49:32,355 He had Los Angeles written all over him. 1199 00:49:32,355 --> 00:49:34,359 - L. A. is the land of superheroes. 1200 00:49:34,359 --> 00:49:36,948 And that's the Superman. 1201 00:49:36,948 --> 00:49:38,618 MITCH: If you have a player 1202 00:49:38,618 --> 00:49:42,375 who wins and is charismatic, 1203 00:49:42,375 --> 00:49:45,757 you know, in L. A. that really sells. 1204 00:49:45,757 --> 00:49:49,014 JEANIE: I think my dad was always looking, 1205 00:49:49,014 --> 00:49:51,811 you know, "How am I gonna reinvent Showtime?" 1206 00:49:51,811 --> 00:49:54,399 Landing Shaq, that was the answer. 1207 00:49:54,399 --> 00:49:56,905 But first, we had to figure out how to afford him. 1208 00:49:56,905 --> 00:49:58,407 - What kinda money are we talking about here? 1209 00:49:58,407 --> 00:50:00,537 - Your salary. - No. 1210 00:50:00,537 --> 00:50:02,958 Nobody's worth that kind of money. 1211 00:50:02,958 --> 00:50:04,294 - You know, Lakers are Lakers. 1212 00:50:04,294 --> 00:50:05,379 They're gonna figure out, you know. 1213 00:50:05,379 --> 00:50:08,052 And I knew they're gonna find a way. 1214 00:50:08,052 --> 00:50:09,931 I didn't know that I'm gonna be part of it. 1215 00:50:09,931 --> 00:50:13,688 - To win in the NBA almost always 1216 00:50:13,688 --> 00:50:16,360 takes a big 7-foot center. 1217 00:50:16,360 --> 00:50:20,159 And we have one, of course, with Vlade Divac. 1218 00:50:20,159 --> 00:50:24,585 JEANIE: We had Vlade Divac, who the fans loved. 1219 00:50:24,585 --> 00:50:29,386 But in order to make the cap space work and afford Shaq, 1220 00:50:29,386 --> 00:50:30,889 you know, he had to go. 1221 00:50:30,889 --> 00:50:35,147 - To get Kobe Bryant, a very bright prospect, 1222 00:50:35,147 --> 00:50:37,360 and to get Shaquille O'Neal, 1223 00:50:37,360 --> 00:50:41,578 we have to trade Vlade before we are sure 1224 00:50:41,578 --> 00:50:43,790 that we can get the other two. 1225 00:50:43,790 --> 00:50:46,169 That defines the gamble. 1226 00:50:46,169 --> 00:50:47,673 - The risk that my dad took 1227 00:50:47,673 --> 00:50:51,681 was similar to a high-stakes poker game. 1228 00:50:51,681 --> 00:50:54,352 You know, you put your chips in the pot 1229 00:50:54,352 --> 00:50:56,899 and you hope that you have the cards to win the whole thing. 1230 00:50:56,899 --> 00:50:59,487 - Jerry Buss was a massive gambler. 1231 00:50:59,487 --> 00:51:00,616 - Stay very humble. 1232 00:51:00,616 --> 00:51:01,868 Be very cautious. 1233 00:51:01,868 --> 00:51:04,915 And only play when you have the best hand. 1234 00:51:04,915 --> 00:51:07,378 STEVE: Among his peers, other owners, 1235 00:51:07,378 --> 00:51:08,965 he was the risk taker. 1236 00:51:08,965 --> 00:51:11,219 - And unless you're a risk taker, 1237 00:51:11,219 --> 00:51:12,514 you can't get it done. 1238 00:51:12,514 --> 00:51:13,975 - So Jerry West makes 1239 00:51:13,975 --> 00:51:18,484 a deal to trade Vlade to the Hornets for their 13th pick. 1240 00:51:18,484 --> 00:51:20,614 - Bob Bass was the GM in Charlotte at the time. 1241 00:51:20,614 --> 00:51:24,997 Jerry told Bob Bass when it comes time to pick, 1242 00:51:24,997 --> 00:51:26,918 to draft Kobe. 1243 00:51:26,918 --> 00:51:28,505 JERRY: I said, "There's no way 1244 00:51:28,505 --> 00:51:30,634 "that this guy's not gonna be drafted 1245 00:51:30,634 --> 00:51:32,095 "in top four or five picks in the Draft. 1246 00:51:32,095 --> 00:51:33,807 That's the problem." 1247 00:51:33,807 --> 00:51:36,144 MITCH: And we had to get past a certain date 1248 00:51:36,144 --> 00:51:38,775 to pursue Shaquille, so we couldn't 1249 00:51:38,775 --> 00:51:40,821 consummate the deal right away. 1250 00:51:40,821 --> 00:51:43,075 There were several problems, actually. 1251 00:51:43,075 --> 00:51:45,329 PERSON: The best young players in the world 1252 00:51:45,329 --> 00:51:47,960 stand at the doorstep to the big time. 1253 00:51:47,960 --> 00:51:52,093 It is the 1996 NBA Draft. 1254 00:51:52,093 --> 00:51:53,470 - That was intense, 1255 00:51:53,470 --> 00:51:55,726 you know, 'cause we didn't know if Kobe would fall 1256 00:51:55,726 --> 00:51:58,021 to where we were gonna pick at. 1257 00:51:58,021 --> 00:51:59,608 DAVID STERN: With the first pick, 1258 00:51:59,608 --> 00:52:03,825 the Philadelphia 76ers select Allen Iverson. 1259 00:52:03,825 --> 00:52:06,956 With the second pick, Marcus Camby. 1260 00:52:06,956 --> 00:52:08,417 JERRY: The gamble was, 1261 00:52:08,417 --> 00:52:09,754 "Here, I'm gonna give you $100. 1262 00:52:09,754 --> 00:52:11,214 "You go to Las Vegas. 1263 00:52:11,214 --> 00:52:13,010 "You go and play one-handed Blackjack. 1264 00:52:13,010 --> 00:52:15,014 You lose it, you gamble." 1265 00:52:15,014 --> 00:52:17,728 DAVID STERN: Shareef Abdur-Rahim. 1266 00:52:17,728 --> 00:52:19,063 Stephon Marbury. 1267 00:52:19,063 --> 00:52:20,065 - I don't believe in gamble. 1268 00:52:20,065 --> 00:52:21,527 I believe in risk. 1269 00:52:21,527 --> 00:52:23,782 DAVID STERN: Ray Allen. Antoine Walker. 1270 00:52:23,782 --> 00:52:25,911 Lorenzen Wright. 1271 00:52:25,911 --> 00:52:27,956 JERRY: People passed him. 1272 00:52:27,956 --> 00:52:30,294 It wasn't in vogue to draft a high school kid. 1273 00:52:30,294 --> 00:52:31,672 It was not. 1274 00:52:31,672 --> 00:52:34,010 And I think that was probably the saving grace. 1275 00:52:34,010 --> 00:52:37,433 DAVID STERN: With the 8th pick, the 9th pick, the 10th pick-- 1276 00:52:37,433 --> 00:52:39,647 - Some teams wanted instant gratification. 1277 00:52:39,647 --> 00:52:41,692 They thought they'd be a more finished product. 1278 00:52:41,692 --> 00:52:44,824 - With the 11th pick... With the 12th pick... 1279 00:52:44,824 --> 00:52:50,167 The Cleveland Cavaliers select Vitaly Potapenko. 1280 00:52:50,167 --> 00:52:51,629 PERSON: Up next, the Charlotte Hornets. 1281 00:52:51,629 --> 00:52:54,677 Back at you in a minute. 1282 00:52:54,677 --> 00:52:57,139 JERRY: I was so happy. 1283 00:52:57,139 --> 00:53:00,605 And I called Jerry and, well, I said, "Jerry," I said, 1284 00:53:00,605 --> 00:53:03,151 "You just got the number one pick in the Draft." 1285 00:53:03,151 --> 00:53:04,572 DAVID STERN: With the 13th pick, 1286 00:53:04,572 --> 00:53:08,203 the Charlotte Hornets select Kobe Bryant 1287 00:53:08,203 --> 00:53:10,082 from Lower Merion High School. 1288 00:53:10,082 --> 00:53:11,293 EDDIE: It was a shock. 1289 00:53:11,293 --> 00:53:12,754 It was a shock. 1290 00:53:12,754 --> 00:53:16,344 What were they trading Vlade for? 1291 00:53:16,344 --> 00:53:19,142 PERSON: Last question for Kobe, please. 1292 00:53:19,142 --> 00:53:20,520 VLADE: My agent called me to tell me. 1293 00:53:20,520 --> 00:53:23,776 And I felt that somebody took the baseball bat 1294 00:53:23,776 --> 00:53:25,864 and just hit me, you know, straight in the head. 1295 00:53:25,864 --> 00:53:27,784 That was the ping. 1296 00:53:27,784 --> 00:53:30,122 I didn't care about the business and the contracts 1297 00:53:30,122 --> 00:53:31,374 and all that stuff. 1298 00:53:31,374 --> 00:53:34,172 I cared about, you know, a family. 1299 00:53:34,172 --> 00:53:37,596 Literally, I decide, "Okay, I'm done. 1300 00:53:37,596 --> 00:53:41,311 I'm not gonna play anymore." 1301 00:53:41,311 --> 00:53:43,231 MITCH: He did not wanna leave Los Angeles. 1302 00:53:43,231 --> 00:53:47,031 You know, he loved the city. He loved the team. 1303 00:53:47,031 --> 00:53:49,160 JEANIE: If Vlade doesn't go to Charlotte 1304 00:53:49,160 --> 00:53:52,584 and we don't get the 13th pick back, 1305 00:53:52,584 --> 00:53:56,717 we can't afford Shaquille and we wouldn't get Kobe. 1306 00:53:56,717 --> 00:53:58,053 MITCH: It was a problem. 1307 00:53:58,053 --> 00:54:00,767 Maybe this whole deal is gonna go south. 1308 00:54:00,767 --> 00:54:02,269 It was pretty intense. 1309 00:54:02,269 --> 00:54:04,315 And Jerry, he was a mess. 1310 00:54:04,315 --> 00:54:06,361 - So my dad tells Vlade, 1311 00:54:06,361 --> 00:54:08,741 "You'll always be family, 1312 00:54:08,741 --> 00:54:11,496 but this is what's best for the Lakers." 1313 00:54:11,496 --> 00:54:13,584 - Vlade said, "Well, if it's gonna 1314 00:54:13,584 --> 00:54:18,051 make the Lakers better, then it's all right." 1315 00:54:18,051 --> 00:54:19,847 VLADE: So I went there and tried. 1316 00:54:19,847 --> 00:54:23,855 And I found something that could work. 1317 00:54:26,109 --> 00:54:28,573 - And Kobe, this is for you. 1318 00:54:28,573 --> 00:54:30,159 - Thank you very much. 1319 00:54:30,159 --> 00:54:32,581 JEANIE: Kobe, hopefully, would pan out for us. 1320 00:54:32,581 --> 00:54:36,797 But Shaq really was the most important piece. 1321 00:54:36,797 --> 00:54:40,597 And now with Vlade traded, we could afford Shaq. 1322 00:54:40,597 --> 00:54:41,849 - If there is demand for a product, 1323 00:54:41,849 --> 00:54:43,310 the price of the product goes up. 1324 00:54:43,310 --> 00:54:45,272 If a bidding war ensues, the price of the product 1325 00:54:45,272 --> 00:54:46,817 goes way, way up. 1326 00:54:46,817 --> 00:54:48,069 JERRY: There was a lot of twists 1327 00:54:48,069 --> 00:54:50,115 and turns along the way. 1328 00:54:50,115 --> 00:54:51,284 Money demands change. 1329 00:54:51,284 --> 00:54:53,079 And every time money demand changed, 1330 00:54:53,079 --> 00:54:54,708 that mean you had to do something else 1331 00:54:54,708 --> 00:54:57,338 to remove a player from your roster. 1332 00:54:57,338 --> 00:54:58,633 - Dr. Buss would talk to Jerry, 1333 00:54:58,633 --> 00:55:00,385 and Jerry would talk to Dr. Buss. 1334 00:55:00,385 --> 00:55:01,555 JERRY: He'd asked me questions 1335 00:55:01,555 --> 00:55:02,849 about where we're going. 1336 00:55:02,849 --> 00:55:04,477 And I said, "Well, we have to trade these players." 1337 00:55:04,477 --> 00:55:06,272 And he's, "Oh, my God, these are pretty good players." 1338 00:55:06,272 --> 00:55:08,861 And I said, "Yes, but look, you can trade your whole team 1339 00:55:08,861 --> 00:55:10,657 and this guy's worth it." 1340 00:55:12,409 --> 00:55:14,330 JEANIE: Now, free agents started 1341 00:55:14,330 --> 00:55:16,251 signing with other teams. 1342 00:55:16,251 --> 00:55:19,842 And there was really no other backup plan. 1343 00:55:19,842 --> 00:55:23,181 My dad was trying to teach me that in poker, 1344 00:55:23,181 --> 00:55:25,854 if you rush a hand when it's not ready, 1345 00:55:25,854 --> 00:55:27,941 you'll probably fail. 1346 00:55:27,941 --> 00:55:29,778 - The Tampa Tribune reports the Lakers are now 1347 00:55:29,778 --> 00:55:32,199 prepared to offer O'Neal a seven-year deal 1348 00:55:32,199 --> 00:55:34,872 worth just over $117 million. 1349 00:55:34,872 --> 00:55:37,752 And they could go as high as 140 mil. 1350 00:55:37,752 --> 00:55:39,005 - I'm just waitin'. 1351 00:55:39,005 --> 00:55:43,388 And I just want a fair, good deal. 1352 00:55:43,388 --> 00:55:44,892 JEANIE: You have to be patient, 1353 00:55:44,892 --> 00:55:49,400 and you have to wait for the right cards. 1354 00:55:49,400 --> 00:55:50,778 - The Tampa Tribune reports 1355 00:55:50,778 --> 00:55:52,574 Shaq turned down a seven-year 1356 00:55:52,574 --> 00:55:54,953 $119 million deal from the Magic. 1357 00:55:54,953 --> 00:55:57,333 JEANIE: But once you get the right cards, 1358 00:55:57,333 --> 00:56:00,632 then you have to go all in and play the hand. 1359 00:56:02,051 --> 00:56:03,512 JERRY: We finally got to a point 1360 00:56:03,512 --> 00:56:05,098 where we can do the deal. 1361 00:56:05,098 --> 00:56:07,436 I went to Atlanta in a hotel room, 1362 00:56:07,436 --> 00:56:09,608 the 90th floor or something. 1363 00:56:09,608 --> 00:56:11,235 And I was looking out the window 1364 00:56:11,235 --> 00:56:16,079 and I said, "Hmm, if he doesn't get here, that's a long fall." 1365 00:56:16,079 --> 00:56:19,878 JEANIE: If we do all this, and he goes to another team 1366 00:56:19,878 --> 00:56:22,466 or resigns with his existing team, 1367 00:56:22,466 --> 00:56:25,389 then we've really done a lot of damage, 1368 00:56:25,389 --> 00:56:28,395 and it may take years to get it back. 1369 00:56:29,648 --> 00:56:31,359 - We're breaking into programming right now 1370 00:56:31,359 --> 00:56:34,115 to bring you a live news conference at which 1371 00:56:34,115 --> 00:56:36,244 Shaquille O'Neal is expected to announce that he has 1372 00:56:36,244 --> 00:56:40,545 signed a seven-year $120 million contract 1373 00:56:40,545 --> 00:56:43,466 to join the L. A. Lakers. 1374 00:56:43,466 --> 00:56:45,888 JERRY: The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired 1375 00:56:45,888 --> 00:56:48,936 a 24-year-old superstar, who we feel 1376 00:56:48,936 --> 00:56:51,149 is going to bring us to that incredible level 1377 00:56:51,149 --> 00:56:53,988 that this franchise has enjoyed in Los Angeles. 1378 00:56:53,988 --> 00:56:56,660 - Jerry West always got it done. 1379 00:56:56,660 --> 00:56:59,373 And that's the one miraculous, remarkable, 1380 00:56:59,373 --> 00:57:01,335 fantastic thing about him. 1381 00:57:01,335 --> 00:57:03,381 - I was excited. 1382 00:57:03,381 --> 00:57:05,343 That whole summer, I was telling my boys, 1383 00:57:05,343 --> 00:57:06,597 "Man, we gettin' Shaq. 1384 00:57:06,597 --> 00:57:08,433 We gonna win the championship." 1385 00:57:08,433 --> 00:57:09,728 - At that moment, I thought 1386 00:57:09,728 --> 00:57:11,064 for sure I was winning the championship 1387 00:57:11,064 --> 00:57:13,193 that following year. 1388 00:57:13,193 --> 00:57:15,405 PERSON: Right here, Shaq. 1389 00:57:15,405 --> 00:57:17,409 - That summer, I had to go to hospital 1390 00:57:17,409 --> 00:57:18,537 for, like, four days. 1391 00:57:18,537 --> 00:57:19,915 I was exhausted. 1392 00:57:21,459 --> 00:57:24,340 JIM: GM job, it's incredibly stressful, 1393 00:57:24,340 --> 00:57:25,927 so is an ownership. 1394 00:57:25,927 --> 00:57:28,724 My dad probably was pretty stressed out too, you know, 1395 00:57:28,724 --> 00:57:30,686 'cause he had to figure out how to pay him. 1396 00:57:30,686 --> 00:57:31,939 PERSON: Not coincidentally, the Lakers 1397 00:57:31,939 --> 00:57:33,526 have also announced today that 1398 00:57:33,526 --> 00:57:35,738 they're raising their ticket prices. 1399 00:57:35,738 --> 00:57:38,243 MITCH: Our ticket department went nuts, 1400 00:57:38,243 --> 00:57:39,830 and everything sold out. 1401 00:57:39,830 --> 00:57:42,167 I think that gives you an indication 1402 00:57:42,167 --> 00:57:44,213 of how Dr. Buss felt. 1403 00:57:44,213 --> 00:57:46,217 There was a juggernaut now. 1404 00:57:46,217 --> 00:57:49,390 Not only are we gonna win games, 1405 00:57:49,390 --> 00:57:52,437 but now you've got charismatic personalities 1406 00:57:52,437 --> 00:57:54,441 that people will pay to see. 1407 00:57:54,441 --> 00:57:59,243 ♪ ♪ 1408 00:57:59,243 --> 00:58:00,872 SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: Oh, shit. 1409 00:58:02,584 --> 00:58:05,046 [clears throat] Get that camera out my face. 1410 00:58:05,046 --> 00:58:06,382 PERSON: Sorry.