Franchise Notes

Jim Buss (c) Taking On More Responsibility  From His Dad, Jerry Buss (r)

In L.A., Mike Bresnahan writes as the "responsibilities get handed down from Lakers owner Jerry Buss to his son and daughter, more and more will be asked and demanded of" Exec VP/Player Personnel Jim Buss. Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss has "already been given the business side of the Lakers by her father, but Jim is now entrusted with about 90% of his father's decision-making processes on the basketball personnel side." The Lakers have the NBA's "highest payroll and are on pace this season to pay additional luxury taxes that would leave them with a total bill" of $112.7M, and Jim Buss has "expressed a degree of discomfort with how much money was being doled out." Jim said of his father, "He yells at me every day, basically, for the payroll. Of course it would be great to spend $60[M] instead of $90[M] and have the same team, but to maintain that team, it's pretty difficult to do" (L.A. TIMES, 11/24).

NATIONAL CRISIS: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Reed Albergotti writes of the Redskins, "The complaints many fans and former players are hurling at the team seem to suggest something more serious is happening: that its essence -- whatever it is that made the Redskins 'the Redskins' -- has gone away." Pro Football HOFer John Riggins: "It's very possible that the ownership of this team has ruptured themselves in a way with the fans where a lot of them are through." Redskins historian Michael Richman said "this could go down as the worst season in Redskins' history." U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) said, "A team should stand for something ... the Washington fans are great, but [Redskins Owner Dan] Snyder doesn't deserve them" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/24).

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: In Buffalo, James Fink notes the Sabres have created the "Sabres Road Crew," which "offers fans in select cities a chance to spend some time with team officials." The first event, which was held last month in Tampa, "attracted more than 150 people." The next road crew event is scheduled for December 22 at Kelly's Irish Times in DC. The Sabres are "believed to be the first NHL team to have team-organized fan events for away games." Sabres Dir of PR Michael Gilbert: "We thought it would be a good idea to help mobilize our fans in other cities" (BUSINESS FIRST OF BUFFALO, 11/20 issue).