Perhaps the highlight of “Laker Girl” is Jeanie’s account of the Lakers’ road to repeat. The book goes month by month detailing many of the key games in the Lakers’ season. This book can put things into perspective for us Lakers fans, especially during this season, because it makes us realize that the Lakers went through many ups and downs last year too. Yet the end result was what we all wanted. So in a way, the month-by-month recaps can help Lakers’ fans realize that it may not be time to push the panic button so quickly this season.
Buss gives her account on many games during the season, which includes several behind the scenes stories. A good example is her account, that the seemingly calm and cool Phil Jackson is actually extremely competitive. With his calm demeanor from the bench even in the most hostile of moments, it can be shocking for any Lakers fan to read that Phil actually takes losses very hard – even if they are simply regular season games.
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Another good example of some of the behind the scenes action is Buss’ description of Ron Artest’s Christmas Day fall, which caused him to miss some time with a concussion. Jeanie states that both Dr. Jerry Buss and Phil Jackson were not upset with Artest and they did not investigate what had happened, instead they just looked out for Artest’s well being. This can come as a surprise given Artest’s history.
Aside from inside scoops on the ups and downs of the season, Buss’ story of the 2010 season also gives us an inside look at her day-to-day operations, which include her input on things, providing input on the 2009 championship rings, distributing seats for celebrities wishing to attend games at the Staples Center, working with sponsors, attending NBA Board of Directors meetings and planning the Lakers championship trophy presentation and parade. Those duties are just the tip of the iceberg as to what Buss does on a day-to-day basis. The book’s details provide great insight as to why Jeanie is now such a prominent figure within the Lakers organization, and no, it’s not just because she is Jerry Buss’s daughter.
