<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Dr. Jerry Buss c/o Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center Los Angeles, Ca. Dear Jerry, Over the years I've written your friend, Donald T. Sterling, to offer my help. I think we've made progress and can make even more if Donald starts reading my letters before he has the servants line the birdcage with them. I haven't written you much because you didn't look like you needed help, until recently. First, about your lottery party. I'd suggest calling Donald to see about caterers, parking attendants, etc. Or how about you guys getting together and doing one event? This would be good experience in case you need to do it alone next season, because you're likelier to be in next year's lottery than Donald is. I'm serious. Everyone around here acts as if this season is a surprise or a temporary inconvenience. This is who you are without Shaquille O'Neal ? and will be for a while. You don't have surplus talent anyone wants in trade, or cap room until 2007. The prospects available where you'll draft this spring aren't likely to make an immediate impact. These days, denial is a river that runs through Lakerdom. Everyone thinks there's a savior out there and if it's not Phil Jackson, how about Jerry West or Pat Riley? Jerry and Riles will be here April 11 when you honor your 1985 champions and the theme will be, "Won't one of you come back and save us?" West has another season left on his Memphis contract. Beyond his commitment to the Grizzlies, his son, John, started on a high school team that won a state title when he was a sophomore and he's going into his senior year. In any case, West would never come back above Mitch Kupchak, his friend. It would be nice if you could hire Jerry as a consultant when he moves back here after he finishes up in Memphis, but that's a long way off. Riley is about to become a 20% owner of the Heat and insists he won't coach again. No one believes him but last spring when you invited him out for dinner and it was clear he could have had the Laker job, he wasn't interested. We're not hearing much about Phil since it doesn't look like he'll come. The Knicks are still running around in circles as everyone back East calls your daughter, Jeanie, for updates. The New York Post had her putting Phil on the plane for Gotham last week. The next day ESPN's Dan Patrick called her, perhaps to see if Phil had had any new thoughts in the last 24 hours.</div> Source
