Los Angeles and Staples Center to host All Star Game in 2011
I'd received a couple emails today from the league about a "special announcement" before Sunday's Game 2, one that would have AEG's Tim Leiweke, Antonio Villaraigosa (he's the mayor), David Stern, and Ruthie from Real World Hawaii (left) together at the podium. Thanks to 710 ESPN/KCAL's John Ireland, I think it's safe to say the cat is out of the bag:
"...I've learned that the NBA will announce tomorrow (Sunday) that the 2011 NBA All Star game will be played at Staples Center.
This is a major acquisition for the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), who will have their billion dollar hotel complex--half Ritz-Carlton and half Marriott--open for business long before the game. It will be the second All Star game played at Staples, which last hosted the game in 2004. But this time around, the entire LA Live complex (which had not been built in '04), is expected to host a variety of events surrounding All Star weekend..."
I was at the '04 game, and it was a great time. To repeat the show with all the new stuff around the arena will be that much better. Mark your calendars!
BK
**One of those people was not actually invited to the press conference. I'll let you decide which.
Mmmmmm. Just thinkin'. The All-Star Game AND the NBA Finals in the same city in 2011.... I'm just sayin'.
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To Laker Tom, >>> Considering how nightmarish the wait is for us fans, imagine what it must be like for the average NBA player.
I don't know about the average NBA player, but for the NBA player in the Finals, it's much better than it is for us fans.
1. They have practice.
2. They watch film.
3. They meet with the media.
They have plenty to do. It's just we fans who do all the nightmarish waiting.
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As to all the reporting, prognosticating and analysis about Game 2: I'm only hoping that the Lakers go into Game 2 thinking that it's Game 1. Whatever that game was on Thursday night was unreal. No way a team as good as the Magic could play that poorly. The Lakers team we saw executed almost perfectly. The key that unlocks the series will be turned on Sunday.
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Is it Sunday, yet?
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | June 06, 2009 at 07:14 PM
By the time the ASG in 2011 unfolds, Kobe will be one of the senior legends of the NBA, going on 33 years old. Much like how MJ was during Kobe's first ASG. Like Kobe said in his interview with Magic, it goes by so quickly. Hopefully, KB24 will have 1 or 2 more C'ships on his resume and All Star teammates Pau Gasol AND Andrew Bynum to share the moment with.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | June 07, 2009 at 10:12 AM