Chapter 175 – Birds of a Feather
Jerry Buss and Donald Sterling both made their fortunes in real estate, and the two had known each other for years.
Back when Jerry Buss acquired the Los Angeles Lakers for $67.5 million, he sold off a large number of properties—many of which were taken over by Donald Sterling.
In fact, it was Buss himself who had suggested that Sterling buy an NBA team. Sterling later purchased the San Diego Clippers for $12.5 million, and three years later relocated the franchise to Los Angeles.
"Birds of a feather, indeed."
Inside his Bel Air villa, Aaron lounged on the sofa, casually flipping through background info. on Donald Sterling and Jerry Buss.
Both men were notorious playboys. Though they were no longer young, their lives still revolved around young women—it was something they simply couldn't live without.
At present, the Lakers still played their home games at The Forum in Inglewood.
Staples Center? It didn't even exist yet.
Because Bram Stoker's Dracula received mixed word of mouth, its second weekend box office dropped to $15 million, bringing the ten-day domestic total to $53 million.
Industry forecasts suggested that the film's chances of surpassing $100 million in North America were slim.
---
West Hollywood – Chateau Marmont
At a party, Aaron and Jack Wells sat together on a couch, drinks in hand.
"I've already asked around," Jack said. "Neither Jerry Buss nor Donald Sterling has any intention of selling their NBA teams."
"The Lakers' momentum right now speaks for itself. As for the Clippers…"
Jack shrugged. "Even Commissioner David Stern wants Sterling to sell."
Donald Sterling's reputation within the sports world—and among Los Angeles elites—was abysmal.
After moving the Clippers from San Diego to Los Angeles, the team showed little improvement and remained perennial bottom-feeders.
Aaron curled his lip slightly.
"The Lakers are basically Jerry Buss's core asset now, and their performance has been exceptional."
"Leveraging Los Angeles's spending power, and blending sports with entertainment—Buss really played that hand brilliantly."
Front-row seats at The Forum were routinely used by Buss to attract Hollywood A-listers, turning celebrity presence into free publicity.
NBA tickets were already expensive, and the only teams that consistently sold well were the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks.
"So," Jack said after a sip of his drink, "are you interested in the Clippers?"
"But Donald Sterling—that old Jewish guy—isn't easy to deal with."
"I've heard Heidi Fleiss is pretty close to him," Jack added with a smirk.
"After all, he's been one of her longtime clients."
Heidi Fleiss.
Heidi Fleiss was the most infamous madam in Los Angeles at the time. At her peak, she controlled nearly five hundred young women.
In Hollywood's high-end escort industry, she was practically royalty.
"You know quite a lot," Aaron said with a faint smile.
Jack shook his head.
"Some celebrities hire private investigators. Fleiss expanded too fast—she's already on the police radar."
"She'll probably end up like her predecessor, Madame Alex."
Madame Alex had been Fleiss's mentor and former boss—the previous queen of Hollywood's escort underworld.
After being indicted for money laundering and illegal prostitution, she fell from power, allowing Fleiss to inherit her clients and expand even further.
Aaron shrugged.
"Forget it. Let's wait and see if teams in other major cities become available."
He wasn't fixated on Los Angeles. With Dawnlight headquartered here, Aaron was confident he could eventually turn it into a Hollywood powerhouse.
Owning a team elsewhere could expand his influence into another major market.
"By the way," Jack added, "if you're willing to take a minority stake in the Lakers, that's absolutely doable."
"With your money and your influence in Hollywood, Jerry Buss would gladly bring you in. It would be great for the team."
"A minority stake?" Aaron shook his head.
"No control, no interest."
Buying a team was never just about investment returns.
Jack sighed.
"Alright. I'll keep an eye out for other opportunities."
"And let me know if any NFL teams come up for sale as well," Aaron added.
In the NFL, teams could only be owned by individuals—not corporations—and sales were rare, as franchises were usually passed down through families.
"There's something else," Jack said quietly.
"Time Warner's chairman and CEO, Steve Ross, is critically ill. The news says he's on his deathbed."
"President Gerald Levin recently convened a board meeting and replaced nine directors."
Aaron narrowed his eyes.
"Ross's people?"
"Exactly. Levin is clearing house. Once Ross passes, Levin will fully take control of Time Warner."
Aaron tapped his fingers against his knee.
"Earlier this year, I heard Edgar Bronfman Jr. wanted Seagram to invest in Time Warner," he said.
"CAA's Michael Ovitz even visited Ross at his Long Island home."
"And now—nothing?"
If Ross had still been in control, he might have welcomed Bronfman.
But with power shifting to Levin, giving up authority was unlikely.
---
Awards Season Begins:
As Thanksgiving arrived, Scent of a Woman began its limited theatrical release.
Meanwhile, The Mask of Zorro moved its production from Spain to Mexico.
Upon release, Scent of a Woman quickly earned strong critical praise.
The Hollywood Reporter:
"In Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino and Matt Damon form a compelling partnership, helping each other escape adversity in pursuit of a better life."
Los Angeles Times:
"While Matt Damon's performance is solid, Al Pacino dominates the film. His presence turns the movie into a near one-man show, overshadowing every other performance."
With such reception, Dawnlight officially added Scent of a Woman to its Oscar campaign slate.
Its limited release was designed specifically for awards consideration.
The same strategy applied to The Crying Game, as well as Schindler's List, set to release the following month—minimal screens, maximum prestige.
---