tonight on "nightline," mystery of the magi. it's one of the oldest stories ever told. the three kings, bearing gifts. but who were the real magi? we visit the holy land on a christmas quest. laker girl. she's the queen of the los angeles lakers franchise. a businesswoman and spirit booster with a racy side. and she's also the coach's significant other. tonight, we go on the town with je ae nnie buss. and the year that was. ecstasy and agony. a giant spill and a giant bill. >> this is a big [ bleep ] deal. >> marriages and breakups and a heck of an election. >> i'm not a witch. >> we look back at 2010.

>> announcer: from the global resources of abc news with terry moran, cynthia mcfadden and bill weir in new york city this is "nightline," december 23rd, 2010. >> good evening, i'm terry moran. we're going to begin tonight with an ancient story which is woven into the fabric of this christmas season. yet, it remains mysterious until, perhaps, now. it's the story of the three kings, who came bearing gifts to worship the infant jesus. and it's straight in the gospel of matthew. wise men came from the east the verse raeldzs. but who were the magi? incredibly a new discovery has offered new insight into that question, and the revelation of the magi is tonight's "faith matters." it is one of the most mysterious and meaningful journeys in all the world. a hard journey across fierce

deserts and forbidden mountains. a journey that is told and retold every year at christmas time. ♪ we three kings ♪ >> reporter: the journey of the magi. in every nativity scene, for nearly 2,000 years, there they are. the three wise men from the east bearing their gifts. who were they? in the holy land where we traveled last week they are still wondering. >> they represent blessing. maybe unexpected blessing. >> reporter: paul wright is the president of the jerusalem university college, and like so many biblical scholars, he sees in the journey of the magi deep resonant meaning. >> there's something here, there's something about coming from the east into this land of israel, the area of jerusalem, that brings people home to the place they're supposed to be. somehow they were coming to a place they belonged. >> reporter: the story of the

magi is brief, just 12 verses in the gospel according to matthew. that's all. but now, a rediscovery of an ancient text has parked new debate. it's called "the revelation of the magi," and amazingly, it purports to be the account of that journey by the magi themselves. >> it ends up being the most complex, the richest, most strange -- the strangest story about the wise men to come out of christian antiquity, and until now, it had never been translated into english. >> reporter: brent land draw translated the work, which has just been published. he's a scholar of ancient languages and teaches at the university of oklahoma. so this is on its surface their own story. >> it's an incredibly grand story. so, who the magi are, in this text, is, they are descendants of adam and eve's third son,

seth. they live in this far eastern land, the text calls the land shir, and from other ancient texts, seems like the place had in mind is the land of china. and theems magi are practicing their rich warms year after year, in expectation of this star's coming, and eventually the star comes. >> reporter: the star comes. and it leads them of course to bethlehem and so that's where we went. to the city of david, modern noisy, eye-popping displays of nativity crafts trinkets and mementos. but in the middle of it stands in massive serenity the church of the nativity built where tradition holds where jesus christ was born. down through the centuries, countless pilgrims have come this way, in the place where god himself entered human history. in the hustle and bustle of

modern bethlehem, it's hard to get a feel for that until you bow your head and you go through this ancient door. to this day, from all over the world, they come. they come so many because they believe. they have followed what they believe to be the light. just like the magi in matthew's gospel. in biblical times, travelers from the east would have come up to bethlehem over the dry hills. and even today 2,000 years later, it's easy to imagine them, the caravans coming up the ridgeline over that long hard journey that may have taken months or years. so, let's talk about the east. at the time of the birth of jesus, who could have crossed this desert? was there anybody that would have come from the east as the gospel of matthew says the wise men, the magi did? >> yes. there are roads which lead up to bethlehem, especially from the

southeast. >> reporter: helping us map this ancient route, shimon gibson author of several books, including "the final days of jesus," the archaeological evidence. >> indeed, there is one road that goes all the way out to china and it's called a spice route. and this is where we are at the moment, we're next to one of those sort of roads which came up from the desert, and, so it could have been a common sight to see tradesmen coming along with their caravans with their wagons. >> reporter: so, you can see in this landscape, what the gospel of matthew depicts, a caravan of men from the east. maybe even on camels. >> there's a sense there. whether or not we can prove that those specific wise men came to bethlehem bethlehem, it's an impossibility. but there is a tradition there, which is linked to it.

>> reporter: scholars debate the historical reality of the magi story, but the meaning of their miraculous journey has been part of christian worship from the very beginning. >> this is the kind of a story that is evocative enough mysterious enough, magical enough, if you will and historical enough to ground down into, to be rooted in to see ourselves in either as giver or recipient, for instance. and at the same time to want to make ourthe story our own. >> reporter: that's exactly what an unknown writer did 1700 years ago in "the revelation of the magi." it's an ancient text. >> yes absolutely. >> reporter: brent land draw translated from the only known copy of it kept in the vatican library. it's a very different story from the traditional one. the star is the most startling and mystical difference.

>> the star kind of -- its light concentrates and reveals the small, luminous human being. >> reporter: the star becomes -- >> a star child, if you will. >> reporter: and it's god. >> it's christ. as excited as they are, though christ tells them, this is one of many occasions on which i have appeared to the peoples of the world. so, this text may be even is saying that there are no nonchristian religions because christ is the revelation behind everything. >> reporter: in every faith, there is christ. >> yes. >> reporter: that's what "the revelation of the magi" is saying. >> that's what i think it's saying. >> reporter: a controversial message. but also one filled with awe and wonder. the emotions written on so many faces in the church of the nativity in bethlehem, the magi's destination. every day, they come to this place, to the back of the church, and step down into a tiny grotto.

this is the end of the journey. by an an chebt tradition, this star, down here, marks the spot. what was it like that transforming moment for so much of the world, that birth at the hinge of history? >> if you, 2,000 years ago, werebethlehem, and somebody said, we're going to give you this stable to sleep in. they're not trying to be rude to you. they are actually being nice. because it's the warmest room in the house. >> reporter: the nativity story makes sense. you can see it. you can visualize it. >> yes. if we look at the archaeological and historical data that we have, the story, as presented in the gospel, made sense. >> reporter: fireworks on the night the christmas lights went on in manger square in bethlehem. a different kind of celebration of the season. but for so many around the

world, the significance of bethlehem is the same and abides, echoing everywhere in that familiar carol. the hopes and fears of all the years, are met in thee tonight. such an incredible place, such an amazing journey. the journey of the magi. when we come back she's the queen of the lakers franchise. and, the coach's long-time significant other. we're going to go on the town with jeanie buss.

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in a town that worships money, power and fame l.a. lakers executive jeanie buss has acquired a measure of all three. she's one of the most powerful women in all sports she's the boss's daughter, and for her public relationship with head coach phil jackson. but chris connelly found there's a lot more to this self-describe self-described laker girl when he went on"on the town" with jeanie buss. >> reporter: it's game day at staples center for the los angeles lakers. that puts executive vice president jeanie buss in charge -- >> did she call and say thanks? >> reporter: and on the go. in the exclusive chairman's lounge -- >> how much time is left? >> reporter: through the hallway. and onto the floor.

>> hi how are you? >> reporter: even in her office where she goes through her morning e-mail overlooking the court where the team practices. sharing her space with the lakers many championship trophies. >> i like to think of myself as a revenue producer. that i'm on the side of the business operation that generates the revenue so that the basketball department can spend it. >> reporter: there's a lot in 48-year-old jeanie buss' portfolio. from the lakers mega-million dollar broadcast rights. to courtside tickets for celebrities. >> jacking nicholson, denzel washington. they are season seat holders. we really have one guy who was trying to convince us how important he was and that he should get tickets. so he sent a package of photos of him with celebrities, so it was kind of like see? here's me and bono.

it's -- i don't blame them you know. everybody wants to go to a lakers game. >> reporter: with more than 25 years of experience on the business side of sports she doesn't make trades or hang out with the players. the head coach? that's another matter. because she and phil jackson have been a romantic couple and, an hr department's worst nightmare since 1999. >> it's been 11 years now and i think our instincts, you know paid off, that you know there's still something really really great between us. i still think he's really handsome, so -- >> reporter: phil jackson is also the most successful coach in nba history. he's won 11 championships. five of them with the lakers. and is known throughout basketball as the sevenzen master. >> i like to control things. i like to know and do my homework and have notes and, you know eliminate uncertainty. hi honey.

this is good. i've been waiting for this. are you ready for lunch? >> yeah. >> this is yours. >> reporter: they're unmarried, but together. for richer, for poorer. even for lunch. >> how was practice today? >> we didn't have practice today. >> yeah, i saw you -- >> we had a shooting game. >> reporter: how she's balanced the professional and the personal gets told in her new memoir, "laker girl." a journey from a shy childhood steeped in privilege to life in the family business once her father bought the lakers. >> you're the boss's daughter. people go, well is she really serious or is she going to drop out after a couple of weeks? >> reporter: when he marriage ended, she decided to pose nude for "playboy" in 1995. >> i wanted to appear in "playboy" because i wanted to be part of the family. it wasn't like hey, i want to be naked, who is going to pay me the most money?

and i'm glad that i did it. >> reporter: by now, it's almost 4:00 p.m. in l.a. time to drive to staples center. >> the traffic is driving me nuts! >> this is my companion, phil jackson. and, i think sometimes he only dates me because then we can drive in the diamond lane together. >> reporter: to her followers on twitter -- >> hang with me. >> reporter: and now in person at staples center. >> laker girls. hi laker girls. hi laker girls. >> reporter: jeanie buss is the smiling face of the franchise. for fans and celebrities, like khloe kardashian. >> i love how into it she is. i love how passionate she is. she wasn't just handed this position, she really lived and loves it. >> reporter: she appears on the pregame show. >> oh, where is everybody? >> reporter: before arriving at the owner's suite. >> don't you love the crowd?

>> reporter: and she spends a few moments with her father. >> i love you. thank you for stopping by. >> reporter: she heads for her second-row seat. directly across from phil jackson. >> my girlfriends are here they'll be like tell them to turn around and sit down and watch the game. here, with her long-time friends, she watches the game. vocally. >> lamar, yeah! >> reporter: tonight, it's an easy win. making for a happy night at home for the couple. >> you had a hard night tonight. >> i worked hard. >> you did. you spread the message. >> when i first met him, i was so enamored with him, and, you know, i wanted -- i wanted to be his wife. it's clear to me that he doesn't want to get married again. it isn't so much that he doesn't want to marry me it's just that he's been married twice before so -- i've made my peace with it. >> reporter: phil jackson says

he'll retire after this season. perhaps to travel the world. or, to head for his montana retreat. >> i hope he doesn't two to montana, because that's not in the cards for me. i can't move away. he knows that this is my career and that i'm dedicated to this team. >> reporter: what does that feel like personally to be -- >> it stresses me out, but -- i have to be more zen-like. >> reporter: this year's championship ring ceremony led to this image of their romance. >> i love that photo, because it looks like a wedding picture. and it's kind of like you know which, i guess, we kind of are married by the nba, but you know, i know i'll never have a wedding picture so that's as close to it as i'm ever going to get. >> reporter: i'm chris connelly for "nightline" in los angeles. >> l.a. story. you can see the lakers when they host the miami heat on christmas day at 5:00 eastern time 2:00 pacific on abc. thanks to chris connelly for

that. and up next, well from tiger woods to lebron james, the gulf oil spill to the haiti earthquake, we're going to look back at the biggest stories of 2010. and if you wake up often in the middle of the night... rest is here on the wings of lunesta. lunesta helps you fall asleep and stay asleep, so you can wake up feeling rested. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you.

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ab >> announcer: "nightline" continues from new york city with terry moran. >> just like every year 2010 saw its highs and its lows. it began with that devastating earthquake in haiti, and now it's ending with a rare lunar eclipse. and even rarer, some would say, a flurry of activity on capitol hill. to jog your memory of what came in between here's john berman with a very brief history of the

year that was. >> reporter: larger than reality -- >> this is a big [ bleep ] deal. >> reporter: weirder than reality. >> i'm not a witch. >> reporter: realer than reality. 2010. more than a year in the life. a year in reality. america's next top model. >> it's the people's seat. >> reporter: scott browns win senate race in massachusetts. the bachelor. kate middleton gets the rose. the bachelorette. marc mezvinsky gets the rose. deal or no deal. >> this is a big [ bleep ] deal. >> reporter: obama signs health care bill. survivor. chilean mine edition. sad reality. earthquake decimates haiti. minedy aster in west virginia. 29 die. oil spill in gulf. bp dumps more than 200 million gallons. the biggest loser?

you make the call. tony heyward, ceo of bp. julian assange founder of wikileaks. critics say he endangerers thousands of lives. lebron james. the man's national televised special sticks it to his hometown. >> i'm going to take my talents to south beach. >> reporter: the amazing race. candidates don't just get down but also -- >> man up. >> reporter: the rhetoric might be low, but -- >> the rent is too damn high. >> reporter: and the president? >> can take the endorsement and shove it. >> reporter: extreme makeover white house edition. not just a paint job, but -- >> shellacking. >> reporter: real world white house edition. can we believe his popularity dropped so much? >> yes we can, but -- >> reporter: but it could be worse. the apprentice. donald trump, what do you say to tony heyward? >> you're fired. >> reporter: general stanley mcchrystal. >> you're fired. >> reporter: how about nearly the entire democratic house of representatives?

>> you're fired. >> reporter: but when it comes to reality, there is no reality like palin reality. bristol on "dancing with the stars," sarah on "sarah palin's alaska." let's hear from the judges. bruno? >> five. >> reporter: jon stewart and stephen colbert. carrie ann? >> six. >> reporter: apple introduces the ipad. len? >> ten! >> reporter: can we finally move onto next year? >> yes we can, but -- >> reporter: but not before one more joke. what comes after 2010? >> these go to 11. >> reporter: let's go to 11. happy new year. >> a very brief history from john berman. thanks, john. we'll be right back with tonight's closing argument but first, here's jimmy kimmel with what's coming up next on "jimmy

kimmel live". >> jimmy: tonight, darius rucker and next year's armless lessless oscar wsllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll