Jerry Buss Chills With Kwame, Robs Cradles

Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke hits the goldmine by following around suddenly sunny Lakers owner Jerry Buss for a day. There is California Pizza Kitchen, there is the statement that he knew his current 24-year-old girlfriend six years ago (carry the one... hmm), and then there is this:

We forget that he had the smarts to help engineer the NBA's deal of the season by getting rid of Kwame Brown ... because, well, you see that seemingly empty house across the narrow street from his house?

"Kwame Brown lives here," Buss says, shrugging. "Seriously. We used to hang out. We're friends."

I despise the Lakers. You think you hate the Lakers? Get in a time machine, set the ray to Sacramento, May 2002, and tell me you hate the Lakers. I hate the Lakers. But ...

With all due respect to Kevin Garnett and LeBron James and cupcakes and Supermen everywhere, this Lakers team is the greatest thing to happen the NBA in a long time. It is going to be one giant party until May, and then it's probably going to be another long party to June. And, my hatred aside, I cannot wait.

All reporters and columnists in the Los Angeles area, your mission (should you choose to accept): Please capture all this stuff. Cut the D.C. bureau, shrink the city beat and focus efforts of rebuilding American morale by giving us pages and pages of happy Kobe Bryant and happy Jerry Buss and happy Phil Jackson. We need this... even us yokels in Sacramento.