The assassination of Victor Weiss, detailed in HBO’s Winning TimeTh, and Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, should have raised some suspicions.
After meeting with Jerry Buss to finalize a deal for his friend and client Jerry Tarkanian, Victor Weiss was murdered in 1979 and his body was placed in his trunk. The Las Vegas basketball coach would join the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the deal. According to the authorities, the assassination was carried out by a mob.
The killing was carried out, according to the HBO show, to keep Tarkanian at UNLV. Max Borenstein, the film’s screenwriter and executive producer, commented on the veracity of the events depicted on screen, saying:
“Our criteria for going in was that anything that would make the audience’s jaw drop and make them say, ‘Wait, this couldn’t have happened,’ had to be 100 percent authentic, and we followed that guideline in the Vic Weiss example. .”
Victor Weiss
How was Victor Weiss killed?
In Pasadena, California, Victor Weiss attended the same high school as Tarkanian. He accepted the coach’s negotiations as a side venture after they became great friends. Before becoming a sports promoter, Victor had success in real estate and insurance.
On June 14, 1979, Victor met with Jerry Buss and Jack Kent Cooke to explore the possibility of Tarkarian becoming the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He was last seen in his Rolls-Royce leaving a hotel in Beverly Hills, California, where a conference was held that day. He was supposed to have dinner with his wife Rose, but he didn’t show up.
Victor’s car was found in a motel parking lot in North Hollywood, California, after his wife reported him missing on June 17, 1979. He was found curled up in the trunk of the car, wrapped in a blanket. His wrists were tied behind his back, and his health was impaired.
After investigators had no additional identification, fingerprints were used to confirm the identity of Victor Weiss. There were no further signs or evidence in the car that could lead the police to the perpetrator. Victor was shot twice in the back of the head and once in the temple, suggesting that he had been killed.
Authorities were initially confused because Victor’s diamond ring and watch were still there, despite the fact that his wallet and briefcase had been removed. Robbery has been ruled out as a likely motive or consequence. To this day, the authorities have not been able to solve the murder.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education