When Gold Met Purple (The Carrie Negaverse for the LA Lakers)
[]Meeting the Team: The Lakers, and really all sports teams, are always dominated by the male demographic especially at the highest levels, where millions of dollars are at stake. So you're going to meet the team, and do what you do best. Put on a show, and tell them exactly what you want. Rolled:
D100 => 70+10=80
It was rather strange to think about, but there was really nothing scarier than meeting the team after everything. Most of everyone seemed to think that you were just a surrogate, someone to be the face while other people worked around you.
You were agreeing to that, but there was also the fact you wanted to do things. You wanted to win. And that was why you went to practice one day and basically sat down and watched them. Of course, it was strange at first, most of the players never really saw you that much, and when they did it was only to rubber-stamp things for their contracts.
Yet all and all, you decided to talk to them after things went well. And you were utterly convincing as you did it. "Gentlemen, I'm just going to say it. You have no right to really trust me, or even respect me coming in here with no understanding of the game, and expecting to win."
That earned the confusion of almost everyone. But there was a simple smile that seemed to catch all their attention. "But that's the thing. No one thinks I can win. All they see is a woman who has a successful husband, a few good films, and that's it." You then looked at them. "But my mom didn't help me get my start... My husband did, but he isn't the one here right now. and honestly, I can get how every one of you might hate him for beating Ali like that."
That earned a murmuring of truth. "But that doesn't matter. because I'm not interested in the past that you all seem to cling to. All I am going to say is that I am interested in winning."
There was a lot of murmuring now. "and honestly, I don't think you all can if all you see is the girl from Star Wars."
That made them all quiet. "Because while I had success... I want the same to you. And all I am asking for, is you to do the job I am about to pay you for. And when we win, there will be far more money to go around."
That earned a murmur of approval. "So, Mister Riely will be running practice again. and if you do... you will be continuing your work."
"But if I find out any of you are doping or doing drugs." There was a hushed silence. "I will fire you all, and find someone else to replace you."
Reward: It seems the team really likes you. And the fact that there is more money on the line.
Also, your reputation of being incredibly anti-drug has scared most of them into at least secretly... stopping their visits to the dens.
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[]A Magical Showtime: Ervin 'Magic' Johnson, is the first-round pick that was drafted by the Lakers, and a rookie who has quite literally shocked the world as one of the best young players in college, now going to the bigs. He's also a young man, who, like Bruce and even you, knows his worth. Now comes the fun part, balancing the budget that you set for him, and what Ervin wants. And Ervin wants quite a bit. Rolled:
D100 => 97+10=107
To anyone observing it made for a rather hilarious image, Earvin "Magic" Johnson a 6 foot 9 giant and you a petite 5 foot 1 pregnant woman with twins sitting across from each other. Anyone wouldn't fault you for being intimidated, but instead, it was Magic who was sweating and radiating an air of nervousness and apprehension. It was for good reason as for all of Magic's athleticism, you were the one with the checks and whose leadership would determine his future.
Perhaps this was a bit extra considering you seemed to make a good impression in the locker room and Kareem had led the team in warming up to you, but you had a gut feeling that Magic was going to be the Laker's golden goose for the next decade and you didn't want to screw this up.
"Listen Magic, or Earvin if you prefer."
"Magic is fine Mrs. O'Brian." Magic said neutrally.
You nodded, "In the past few months I've read more books about basketball and watched more film reels of games than I probably have sports all my life, and that's something considering Bruce is a Yankee zealot." You say, making Magic chuckle a bit with the joke.
"I may not be as experienced as the other owners, but what I do have is an eye for talent. From everything I've read, you're the best of the Rookies, perhaps one of the best in the game." You say firmly.
"Some people would disagree and say I got hubris." Magic says with caution.
"You did do something rather bold by entering the draft after only two years of college." You say, head nodding in agreement, "From my personal experience, people who take risks like that are either delusional idiots, or bold because they got the immense talent to back it up. I know plenty of the latter, one of them created Lucasfilms, and I think I'm sitting across another one." You praise, as Magic's draft entry was indeed a very much Bruce-like move.
"You know you have talent, I know you have talent. Work not just for me, but
with me, and I'll do everything I can so that the whole world knows of the legend of Magic Johnson, a champion who will change the way Basketball is played. All that's left is to come up with some numbers and sign the dotted line."
At your words of praise and acknowledgment, Magic smiles, "Here's what I want."
It took about ten minutes of talks, but you fortunately managed to procure a deal with the rookie. $400,000 per year for four seasons with room for renegotiation after 1980-1981 where Magic would have hopefully settled in the team and proved his worth by then.
After the contract was signed, Magic seemed to warm up to you heavily, speaking high praise of your leadership to the press and often being your first supporter on the team. Your faith was also greatly rewarded as Magic went above and beyond your expectations, often being the lead scorer with his play being the deciding factor between a win or loss.
Reward: Magic Johnson has taken a HUGE liking to you and is now one of your biggest fans and supporters. Under your leadership, Magic has grown to dominate the court and is now regarded as a superweapon that can build a Lakers dynasty with talks of him being a shoe-in for Rookie of the Year.
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[]The Front Office Respect: Jerry West is your only ally within the front office. Your coach doesn't respect you, the other managers, and the executives think you are just some actress who is looking to coast around and not do anything. That is not going to do, because you are interested in success. And that means winning. Rolled:
D100 => 76+10=86
It was rather easy to see how Jerry respected you. You didn't get in the way, asked lots of questions, and honestly stayed out of the way. Unless of course, he needed your help. And that seemed like a lot because the executives were always trying to get in the way on how he was running things, trying to get their people in there to get pay raises, or when they didn't agree with how he handled things.
There was also a possibility that many of them were racist and didn't like the culture of inclusivity that you were building. Maybe it was because you had many things in your mind that just made you cringe at them. You didn't care. And that angered them.
Pat Riely was another person who you actually thought to win over, but after you basically gave him a free hand around the place... You saw him come around and quietly support you.
With those two in your corner, it was pretty clear that you had several things that would be on your end and things went to normal buissness. There was murmuring and talks of several things...
But you honestly didn't care about the outliers. You had the office under control.
Reward: Your Front office is now under control and won't do anything stupid like undermine your control or do things that are just... not what you want.
At least for now. You have competent and trusted people to make those decisions.
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[]Ticket Prices: Ticket prices for a game have remained relatively stable for Lakers Home Games for the last decade. You are going to change them, seeing as how you have more than enough income to supplement the maintenance of the Stadium.
-[]Lowering the Price by Ten Dollars (making the Price 20 dollars at the door) Rolled:
D100 => 22+10=30
The Front office refused to change prices. And that was a shame, but considering you just bought the team, and they were trying to get more money... you understood their hesitation so you backed off.
Failure.
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Current record at the end of the Year: 23-7
