Nicholson, Spike, Eddie Murphy And More At Lakers Game

LOS ANGELES — Jack Nicholson was in his familiar courtside seat wearing his traditional sunglasses Tuesday night, cheering on the Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA finals.

It was a scene reminiscent of the 1980s, when Nicholson supported the Lakers at The Forum in Inglewood in their three finals matchups with the Celtics.

Actress Dyan Cannon, another fan dating to the Magic Johnson-led "Showtime" Lakers, was also on hand as was soccer star David Beckham, a Staples Center regular since joining the Los Angeles Galaxy last summer.

Actors Denzel Washington, Dustin Hoffman, Timothy Hutton, Kristin Davis, Hilary Duff, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were others who showed up along with directors Spike Lee and Penny Marshall, along with Playboy boss Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends, the stars of the reality show "The Girls Next Door."

Former Lakers standouts Rick Fox and A.C. Green, ex-Celtics Jo Jo White and Bill Walton, and European soccer players Didier Drogba and Darren Bent were in attendance. Boston's Kevin Garnett got the tickets for Drogba and Bent.

Comments

[Pyrrhus]

Well it's good to see that the NBA is having celebs show up to the finals again. Because America doesn't care about fair competition, they care about how many celebs show up to games. It makes them feel special and want to spend money.

And all it took was a little "discussion" with the refs.

[Bobleblah1]

I wonder what spike and Jack think about the NBA now?

[vmonter]

Yea Damon and Affleck! They didn't show you on TV but glad to hear some glitterati are out supporting the C's... and you had better be supporting the C's! Get Wahlberg out there too eh??

[vmonter]

Nothing against the fabulous, but Kobe sucks and enjoy watching LA get it handed to 'em.

[johnnygoodwud]

question, who's that dude to the left of jack in the picture. he always wears that funky hat. also, who's the very young hottie to the right of jack? please don't tell me that's his date.

[vmonter]

His name is Donald Sutherland.
Actor.

[observing]

Looks like it was Bob Towne, writer of Chinatown. The hottie was Lorraine Nicholson - Jacko's daugther.

[galaxian]

it's Lou Adler, record producer. Always cracks me up to think that so many people see Donald Sutherland.

[Chavez08]

Long live hockey!

[sandiegoconservative]

Spike Lee watched game 3, then wrote a recent rant about how there are not enough white males portrayed in NBA games. The current make up of games does not support all the work that white players contributed to the league. Clint Eastwood then told him to shut his face.

[Sportswoman]

Rick Fox's commentary from his stint as an LA Times guest columnist: (excerpts)FOX VIEWS
Lakers can credit toughness for victory

You don't win a championship. You take one, forcefully and aggressively. That was the mind-set of the Lakers Tuesday night and it enabled them to win, 87-81.
It was not their mind-set in the first two games. I thought they approached the Celtics in a polite fashion and the result was two losses. Yes, the Lakers' victory in Game 3 was ugly. They junked it up. Doesn't matter. All that is important is that they got on the board in the NBA Finals. People like to call this city Gloss Angeles. Let the celebrities and the rest of the fans fill Staples Center with all the glitz and glamour. On the court, the Lakers have to play a rough, bruising style to deal with the bullies on the other side. Tuesday, they showed that fight.. And Kobe Bryant led by example. ..
Three things the Lakers must do in Game 4:
1. Allow themselves to continue to play ugly if necessary. That means not being concerned with a Showtime image and being concerned only with the numbers on the scoreboard.

2. Continue to follow Kobe's lead and play in a relentless fashion.

3. Stand up defensively to a tough Celtics team and hit first.

[PrairieDog]

Bullies? You mean like Turief?
I stopped carinf about the Lakers after they got rid of local guy Brian Cook.
I'm pulling for the Celtics (with a hard "C").

[shroomingnewman]

doesn anyone know who they guy is next time him, in the funny hat and sunglasses. he always appears with nicholson at the games.

[aubrey8]

it's fred sanford.

[vmonter]

Nah.

[UnknownSoldier]

I think its Donald Sutherland, or Fred Sandford

[NealHib]

Redd Foxx - dead or alive?...
Donald Sutherland - dead or alive?

[zengentleman]

The funny looking old guy in the white shades always sitting next to Nicholson is legendary music producer and manager, Lou Adler. He ran labels in the 60's, produced a bunch of hit records, won a couple of Grammy's producing Carole King's "Tapestry", managed Jan & Dean, among others and is the long time owner of the famous Sunset Strip club The Roxy in Los Angeles.

[vmonter]

Nah..

[voicefromafar]

It's Lou

[Sportswoman]

I don't quite know how to explain this phenomenon without sounding glib and geographically pompous, so I'll apologize on advance if this offends someone living in a shoe, or, still blowing around somewhere in a dustbowl, but THIS IS LOS ANGELES FOLKS. It is the ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
As such, for anybody following the Lakers these past 40-something years, this is not only nothing new, but a courtside ritual EVERYgame.Jack Nicholson is considered a fixture at Staples Center. In fact, everybody named in this article, except Spike Lee, (an east-coaster, but a voracious follower of the game of basketball),Hef--who is there on occasion--and Garnett's buddies are regular fixtures at many games. Kareem and Magic are there for most home games, unless Magic is commentating on TNT. Garnett shows up at UCLA in the summer for pick up games between NBA and college players. I'm a die-hard Laker fan, but let me tell you, Garnett dunking, viewed close up, is scary.
What I am wondering, is, when are we going to get some Obama endorsements from these tall trees? I read months back that a straw poll in the NBA produced heavy lean toward Obama. Given Obama's love of basketball--and I heard he picked the Lakers to win-- perhaps we can expect some campaign involvement from these citizens. After all, to whom much is given much is expected, and not just at the free throw line.

[SHOPARAZZI]

they wont win the next game. this is the year of the celtics.