To Get Past the Mess, Buss Must Relive Past

“Why Don’t The Lakers Want Him?”

The headline was about Phil Jackson.

The column was about Jerry Buss.

The opinion was that the reluctant Laker owner needed to stifle his ego, open his wallet and make the only move that could save his basketball team.

The publication date was, when, yesterday? Last week? The end of March?

Try, six years ago.

The story ran in this newspaper, under this byline, on May 28, 1999.

The more things change, the more they stay insane.

It’s deja-boo this week for Buss, his debit card needing another swipe, his pride needing another shove.

The best coach in basketball history is unemployed. The best franchise in the NBA is unwatchable. Only Buss can bring the two together.

So why won’t he?

The coach who led the Lakers to their last three championships lives here. His girlfriend works here. His offensive system is partially in place here. Teams have flown cross-country trying to get him out of here.

Buss can walk down the street with a contract that will keep him here.

So where is he?

Is Jerry Buss waiting for something?

Or, instead, is he afraid of something?

Is Buss afraid that to hire Jackson less than a year after running him and Shaquille O’Neal out of town would be a multi-million-dollar admission of guilt?

Too late. Been there, hung that. In the court of public opinion, Buss has already been tried and convicted.

For those few who still don’t believe the Laker owner made one of the biggest personnel mistakes in professional sports history -- certainly the biggest in the history of Los Angeles -- O’Neal will be appearing on national television during the next two months with closing arguments.

So, then, is Buss afraid that a Jackson hiring would make Kobe Bryant angry?

That’s just silly, there being two words that best describe Bryant’s opinion in this matter.

Who. Cares.

Bryant had his say, last summer, all winter, and there are few remaining words to describe the damage it inflicted.

The fourth-fewest wins (34) in club history. Finishing behind the Clippers for the third time in club history. Empty courtside seats. Darkened suites.

Under Bryant’s leadership -- which led to Jackson’s dismissal -- the Lakers lost a head coach at midseason and thousands of fans by the end of the season.

Bryant had his chance. It didn’t work. Buss needs to regain control. Starting now. Starting with where this all began.

Phil Jackson is 59, and it looks as if he can barely walk, and he still won’t call timeouts, and he’ll always come across as arrogant and condescending, and who knows what secrets he’ll spill in his next book.

But if anybody can get Lamar Odom and Bryant to share the same geometric shape, it is him.

If anybody can figure out how to use Caron Butler and Chris Mihm, it is him.

The word is, few free agents want to play with Bryant. History shows, they all want to play for Jackson.

He’ll bring credibility, calmness, competitiveness.

As important to Buss as all that, he’ll bring buzz.

Is Jackson the missing piece to another championship? No, that guy is on South Beach.

But in the center-scarce West, could Jackson put them in a position to be playing in June again? Probably.

And could he make the Lakers an attraction again? Absolutely.

For validation on this opinions, look no further than Jackson.

Jackson has told friends he thinks the Lakers are close. He would not return if they weren’t.

And, believe it, if the offer is right, he will return.

The New York Knicks are forever in his heart, but forever hopeless. The Cleveland Cavaliers are a nutty team with a new owner, and Jackson needs neither.

The biggest drawback to the Laker job could also be its biggest benefit.

If Bryant can’t get over the tough things Jackson wrote about him in his book, many of them true, then Bryant could agree to waive his no-trade clause, allowing the Lakers to truly rebuild, and quick.

As it was six years ago, it all makes sense, if Buss would put down his stubbornness and send over a contract.

Certainly, for one as young-minded as Buss, it’s hard to admit your mortality.

Yes, for one as competitive as Buss, it’s tough to say that you need help.

But six years ago, another prominent Laker executive said exactly that.

This man didn’t really want Phil Jackson and the circus that follows him. This man was reluctant to leave his hardscrabble team in the hands of a dude who meditated.

But this man knew that, for the Lakers to take the next step, they had no choice.

So Jerry West put his ego aside and convinced Buss to make the hire.

Now it’s time for Buss to do it on his own.

Is there a Dr. Clutch in the house?