Jerry Buss memorial, Magic gets crowd on its feet (VIDEO)

Dr Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers was buried on Friday, after a touching memorial service last night, held at the Nokia Theatre in downtown L.A.

The Lakers issued a press release on Friday to members of media. Here is the text of the statement received today.

"Dr. Jerry H. Buss was laid to rest this morning in a private burial ceremony in front of family and close friends at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. Buss, whose life was celebrated yesterday afternoon in a memorial service at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, passed away at age 80 on Monday morning after a long illness. The Buss family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the public for their tremendous outpouring of love and support over the past several days."

The L.A. Times reported on the ceremony that packed the house with friends, celebrities, sports figures of the last three decades, team owners, players and of course the large and extended Buss family.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson eulogizes Dr. Jerry Buss at private service in Los Angeles, February 21, 2013Earvin "Magic" Johnson eulogizes Dr. Jerry Buss at private service in Los Angeles, February 21, 2013

With a roster of speakers that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA Commissioner David Stern, former coach Phil Jackson, former coach of the Showtime Lakers Pat Riley and son Johnny Buss, it was left to Earvin "Magic" Johnson to close the service.

In his inimitable style, Johnson spoke lovingly and with humor about the man who transformed him into an international sports icon, and then helped launch his stellar business career.

The loyalty shown to him by Dr. Buss was never greater than after Magic was diagnosed with HIV.

"As we cried for hours -- him not knowing if I would be here 22 years later -– thinking he would lose a son, an adopted son, he picked up the phone and started calling hospitals to make sure I had the best health care possible -- the best doctors.

"He would call me all the time, 'Are you taking your meds? Are you doing what you're supposed to do?' That's when I knew this man loved me and cared about of me outside of winning championships, outside of making no-look passes."

Johnson ended by exhorting the crowd to get on its feet and make the "L" symbol with their hands and give a rousing ovation to a man who loved fun, life, his family and his beloved Lakers. Watch the video clip of Magic's part of the service posted to the left.