<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Why Don't The Lakers Want Him?" The headline was about Phil Jackson. The column was about Jerry Buss. The opinion was that the reluctant Laker owner needed to stifle his ego, open his wallet and make the only move that could save his basketball team. The publication date was, when, yesterday? Last week? The end of March? Try, six years ago. The story ran in this newspaper, under this byline, on May 28, 1999. The more things change, the more they stay insane. It's deja-boo this week for Buss, his debit card needing another swipe, his pride needing another shove. The best coach in basketball history is unemployed. The best franchise in the NBA is unwatchable. Only Buss can bring the two together. So why won't he? The coach who led the Lakers to their last three championships lives here. His girlfriend works here. His offensive system is partially in place here. Teams have flown cross-country trying to get him out of here. Buss can walk down the street with a contract that will keep him here. So where is he? Is Jerry Buss waiting for something? Or, instead, is he afraid of something? Is Buss afraid that to hire Jackson less than a year after running him and Shaquille O'Neal out of town would be a multi-million-dollar admission of guilt? Too late. Been there, hung that. In the court of public opinion, Buss has already been tried and convicted.</div> Source
