The first episode was last night. It is absolutely fantastic. John C Reilly stars as Jerry Buss who was buying the Lakers from stodgy Jack Kent Cooke. Anyone my age will love, if you are an NBA fan you will love it. It also shows you how low the NBA was on the American sports totem pole, it was lower than the NHL is now believe it or not.
It chronicles how Buss managed to get the money to buy the Lakers. The Lakers won a coin flip to get the #1 pick. And Magic Johnson was the standout pick. Larry Bird was already selected by the Celtics the year before, but he stayed in school (different rules then). Norm Nixon (Duquesne) was already the Lakers PG and a good one at that. Jerry West was the Lakers coach and did not want to draft Magic because he was "too tall" for a point guard. It is hilarious, Jerry West is portrayed as a childish jackass throughout the first episode. And every other word from him was an F bomb. Can take the Boy away from the Hoopies, but can't that the Hoopie out of the boy I guess.
Anyway, Buss is convinced that Magic was going to be a star, not just because of his talent but also is personality especially compared with the sullen Kareem Abdul Jabbar. So last night was Episode 1 but I really suggest you guys watch it if you can. It has gotten pretty good reviews. Interesting cast with Reilly as Buss, "Danny Noonan from Caddyshack" plays Jack Kent Cooke, Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) plays West. The actors portraying Magic, Nixon and Bird are spot on.
It is fun and again for folks my age who can remember having to stay up and watch the NBA finals on CBS ......ON TAPE DELAY at 11:30 at night will certainly appreciate it.
It chronicles how Buss managed to get the money to buy the Lakers. The Lakers won a coin flip to get the #1 pick. And Magic Johnson was the standout pick. Larry Bird was already selected by the Celtics the year before, but he stayed in school (different rules then). Norm Nixon (Duquesne) was already the Lakers PG and a good one at that. Jerry West was the Lakers coach and did not want to draft Magic because he was "too tall" for a point guard. It is hilarious, Jerry West is portrayed as a childish jackass throughout the first episode. And every other word from him was an F bomb. Can take the Boy away from the Hoopies, but can't that the Hoopie out of the boy I guess.
Anyway, Buss is convinced that Magic was going to be a star, not just because of his talent but also is personality especially compared with the sullen Kareem Abdul Jabbar. So last night was Episode 1 but I really suggest you guys watch it if you can. It has gotten pretty good reviews. Interesting cast with Reilly as Buss, "Danny Noonan from Caddyshack" plays Jack Kent Cooke, Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) plays West. The actors portraying Magic, Nixon and Bird are spot on.
It is fun and again for folks my age who can remember having to stay up and watch the NBA finals on CBS ......ON TAPE DELAY at 11:30 at night will certainly appreciate it.