. . . . back in the Shaq/Kobe days and. . . . .I was blown away at:
1. the fact that he was actually a really good friend of Dr. Buss
2. that he shared a suite with Vin Diesel & the families of Karch Kiraly/Scott Ayakatubby (they were all there too, and major fun-times people)
3. that Dr. Buss is insanely smart, gracious, that sarcastic, and self-deprecating

It was the self-deprecating part that I was most surprised by. And no- he didn’t have a legion-o’-ladies with him. He had 3 or 4- none of ’em past the age 45. And that 45-year old was a hottie-a-saurus!

And one more thing. . . . .you can order Hennessey Cognac Paradis and Remy-Martin Cognac Extra (2 very expensive ones), as well as shots of ‘75 Glenrothes/ ’71 Balvenie/ ’73 Bruichladdich – if you’re guests in those Laker-suites? I also had some of their Bowmore selections, and came away slightly unimpressed.

Mr. Buss (the younger) was even more drunk than I was. Me and my jiu-jitsu buddy (who also attended the game) had to pay for 2 separate cab rides after the game because we failed to remember where we parked? When we finally realized that Rigan actually drove us to the game from Hermosa Beach- and only because of the magic-like therapeutic affects of a Norm’s appetizer platter, a Bigger Better B-fast, and hot-fudge sundaes- the Buss family arranged for us to be picked up at the restaurant on Slauson and driven to downtown’s Standard Hotel for a free-night’s stay. (that turned into ONE more night. now THAT is a long story)

Flash forward to 2008 before Dr. Buss went on this Asian vacation: I’m at a jazz concert at the Hollywood Bowl when my date and I get questioned at our table and then escorted to Dr. Buss’ cordoned-off section/party-within-a-concert area. Not only did he remember me, I got to win $5 off Dennis Hoppers’ agent! (this woman then ordered a glass of 1980 Talisker after I told her I’d get her a drink and. . . . . .gave the drink to Dr. Buss, to which he sniffs, sips down slowly, then looks directly at me. Smiling. The people at this table started to crack the fuck up.

Later, when I’m saying good-bye to all the fine people I met that night, Dr. Buss tells me, “If you hang around me long enough, you’ll find that I’m a pretty expensive guy. How’s your car by the way?” (my car was broken into the night of that Lakers game from way back.. they took everything they could. they fucked up trying to remove the air-bags and when I got to my car. . . .it looked a parachute landed inside it and exploded!) I didn’t have the courage nor energy to ask him, “Did you hear what happened to it. . .?” He knew somehow, and left cracking up/coughing/wheezing while I just stood there dumbfounded at how cool and funny that man truly is.

He’s not exactly “my pal”, I barely know him- but he IS ONE COOL-ASS TRUE-CARDINAL MUTHAFUCKING-PLAYA!