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Jim Buss, the son of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, sat down with the Times' T.J. Simers to do damage control about the hiring of Mike Brown as coach. Some critics of the decision have written that Jim jumped too soon and made a rash decision — and flubbed it further by not keeping Kobe Bryant in the loop. Buss tells Simers it's mostly not true, that the decisions are made as a group, though he admits they didn't seek Bryant's input on Brown.
Not too many happy campers in Lakers Land these days, so much criticism that shortly before sitting down, he put a call into new Coach Mike Brown to apologize....As for Buss, he knows he's being portrayed "as some Looney Tune running down the streets." But he doesn't get it, which is why he wants to talk, willing to answer any question, however long it takes.
So for the next 2½ hours he talks about Kobe Bryant, his hopes of retaining Phil Jackson, Rudy Tomjanovich, Carmelo Anthony-for-Andrew Bynum and next year's roster.
Buss said he and his father wanted Phil Jackson to stay, and that they interviewed Brian Shaw and Rick Adelman before hiring Brown.
Saturday sports note: Barcelona defeated Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium in England to win the Champions League title in soccer.