Looking at Pau Gasol's cameo appearances
Making cameo appearances has become so common for Lakers forward Pau Gasol that he has an active IMDB page, treats stints with a ho-hum attitude and is ready to start receiving awards beyond All-Star honors and the Larry O'Brien trophy.
"My movie career is really taking steps forward," Gasol said, jokingly.
That's because Gasol will appear in the season finale of the telenova "Eva Luna" tonight at 8 on Univision, which Gasol says is the highest rated show in Latin America. Gasol appears to have this acting thing down pat, considering he revealed no secrets about the upcoming show, other than saying he's a friend of one of the main characters. But Lakers Coach Phil Jackson will likely have more ammunition to needle Gasol, beyond occasionally questioning his toughness. It certainly wouldn't be the first time after joking that Gasol's hamstring injury last season happened when he was on set of "CSI: Miami" and telling him he should "keep his day job."
With Gasol's contract running through the 2013-14 season and worth up to $64.7 million, depending on NBA salary-cap figures to be determined later this year, that's not a bad gig. But so is appearing in numerous television shows. Below the jump I look into the other appearances Gasol makes.
CSI: Miami
Jackson had good reason to question Gasol's acting abilities in this episode. The same polite demeanor he displays to teammates during practice and reporters after games is in evidence when he's trying to save a woman's life from a burning car. Either Jackson's Zen philosophies have really touched Gasol into hiding his boiling emotions and handling pressure, or Gasol really doesn't know how to sound frantic making a 9-1-1 call. Regardless, Gasol's appearance gave everything Jackson needed to tweak Gasol about his prolonged left hamstring injury that made him miss the first 11 games of the 2009-10 season.
Gasol actually "got injured on CSI and he's not telling the truth," Jackson joked. "I actually watched that program just to see if that's what happened. When he dragged that kid out of the car, I'm sure that's where he got his injury."
Playful insults flew with Jackson making fun of Gasol's acting, El Spaniard firing back and questioning Jackson's acting where he didn't say a single word in a T-Mobile commercial, and the media more than willingly played along. Nearly a year removed from that episode, Gasol acknowledged this season that Jackson's tweaking at the time really bothered him.
"He was joking around with it a little too much," Gasol said. "To me, I'm unhappy when I'm not playing and I'm not helping my team. It wasn't a time to joke around with it."
Numb3rs
Spectators crammed the entrance to the gym. Some tried to snap pictures with a camera or cell phone. Others just tried to catch a glimpse.
Whenever Gasol connected on alley-oop lobs from Jordan Farmar, fans let out loud cheers. But this wasn’t at the Staple Center. It was at Cal Tech’s Brown Gymnasium in Pasadena two years ago where they played alongside the Cal Tech men’s basketball team.
“They were all great,” said Han Bin Man, then a senior guard with the Beavers. “Gasol dunks like it’s nothing.”
Gasol, Farmar and members of the Cal Tech men’s basketball team filmed a cameo “Numb3rs,” a CBS drama that entails an FBI agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) and brother and mathematician Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz) solving a wide range of criminal cases in Los Angeles.
“I want to do as much as I can while I’m home,” Farmar said at the time. “There’s no guarantee how long I’ll be here so for me it’s a matter of enjoying my life and having fun. It’s just another chapter.”
In this episode, Charlie tries to end the losing streak of the Cal Sci men’s basketball team (modeled after Cal Tech’s current 310-game losing streak in conference play that ended this year). After realizing mathematical equations won’t solve the team’s shooting woes (Farmar says in the show the Pi Triangle is “the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”), professor Larry Fleinhardt (Peter MacNicol) brings in Gasol and Farmar as ringers.
“We kept saying ‘We have to find some way to touch on Cal Tech’s basketball team,’” said co-executive producer Cheryl Heuton, whose show frequently films on campus. “Every year we’re preempted for March Madness, so why not try to tie it in a bit?”
And even though Beavers Coach Oliver Eslinger acknowledged “the storyline feeds the stigma about Cal Tech,” most of his players didn’t want to pass up the chance to appear on TV and meet Gasol and Farmar. Nine of the 17 players on Cal Tech’s roster spent the entire day on set (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) while most squeezed in homework between shots.
“It’s a long time to come back home and then go to Phoenix,” said Gasol, who returned to L.A. the morning after a road game against the Jazz and three days before the NBA All-Star Game. “There were a bunch of things you had to do, but at the same time it’s a good opportunity for us.”
That opportunity entailed Gasol and Farmar both memorizing two lines before playing in a full-court game as Cal Sci players. They found out that brief appearance requires multiple takes from multiple angles.
“I was going to give them notes, but I decided not to because they were a lot better than I thought they would be,” said Judd Hirsch, who plays Alan Eppes, Don’s and Charlie’s father. “They looked eager. I think they came prepared to have what is known as fun.”
Producers and actors alike noticed a fun atmosphere, thanks to a larger presence of 190 members of cast and crew on hand. During a promotion filming, Farmar gave Krumholtz a breezer. In between shots, fans surrounded Gasol and Farmar for autographs and pictures, including Cal Tech junior guard Jie He, who says he snapped between 30 and 40 pictures. Even on their way from lunch at an off-site trailer, Farmar and Gasol were greeted with similar attention. “It’s part of the gig,” Farmer said, matter-of-factly.
“You like to listen to all possibilities and opportunities that might come along,” said Gasol. “Maybe I’ll be in a movie someday.”
NUMB3RS - Jordan Farmar & Pau Gasol by kokobystander
--Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
I hear what Tom Daniels and other bloggers are saying about how difficult it is going to be for this Lakers team to three-peat but I still think there are sound reasons to expect the Lakers to dominate once the playoffs begin and return to being the great team that went 17-1 after the all-star break.
…
First, there is no team in the NBA that can beat the Lakers when they bring their A-game and there is no way you can convince me that this group of players won’t be ready to play once the playoffs start. In fact, I’m so sure I’m spending hundreds of dollars to fly down to LA to see Game 1 at Staples with iheartbk24, KobeMVP888, and htj. These guys have shown up 2 years in a row to become champs. I’m betting they will show up again and if they do, all bets are off because nobody can beat them.
…
Second, the playoffs are entirely different animal than the regular season. Over a 7-game series, advantages like the Lakers have in size and length and experience are greatly magnified while team disadvantages like lack of size and length and inexperienced are mercilessly attacked. Hot shooting, unfair officiating, and the bounce of the ball tend to even out. The playoffs favor the better team and make it hard for the underdog to pull of an upset. I don’t think any team can beat us in 7-games.
…
Third, this team is built for the playoffs to the extent that sometimes it stumbles and struggles as team after team get up for a chance to upset the champs. Ron Artest’s defense and Derek Fisher’s clutch shooting become big pluses for the Lakers once the playoffs start. Phil Jackson’s coaching savvy in the playoffs is unmatched as he tightens his rotations and manages the series. And the coup is having a healthy, focused Andrew Bynum to anchor the half court defense that dominates the playoffs
…
Bottom line, I don’t think it is being a homer to suggest that the Lakers will roll through these playoffs like the 2001 Lakers. Nor is it naïve. It’s just understanding that the real games just haven’t started for this group of players and as arrogant and frustrating as that may be, most smart analysts, once you get past their hit seeking headlines, are still putting their money on the Lakers to three-peat. For me, it’s pretty simple. Nobody is going to beat a focused Lakers team with a healthy Andrew Bynum.
…………………………………………
TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | April 11, 2011 at 06:13 PM
I agree with "LT," so let's all “Chill Out" and let the playoffs do all the talking :-) while we sit back and enjoy the remainder of the run!
http://youtu.be/43yvS6bPZDs
"Everything about the Lakers is geared toward winning playoff games. It's what they do." J.A. Adande
"Even when we didn’t make the playoffs, I thought we'd win the championship." Dr. Buss
"...they're shaking like virgins on prom night... Faithdalakerfan
Go Lakers & In Buss We Trust!!
Posted by: frmkt | April 11, 2011 at 06:18 PM
@JON K … OK, I can do you one better with my bear story. About 20 years ago, my wife and I and my son and daughter-in-law went on a 2-week unguided kayaking tour in Glacier National Park in Alaska. We kayaked among whales, soared with eagles and camped out among bears every night.
…
One night as it was getting dark, we hadn’t found any fresh water to camp by until we saw a stream on this island. So we pulled over and made camp and hung our food up high out of reach of bears. That night was one of the scariest in my life as our camp was overrun with foraging bears, thankfully blacks and not grizzlies. The bears tore up the camp but thankfully left us in the tents alone.
…
At any rate, after a frightening night in our tents, we got out of there at first light. The ground was covered with giant bear prints. As we were leaving, Mrs. LakerTom pulled out her map and located where we were. It was an island aptly named Bear Island with a warning not to stop or camp there.
…………………………………………
TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | April 11, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Well, the Wizards sure did the Lakers a little solid tonight by beating the C's. Now let's hope that the Rockets can do the same in Houston against Mark Cuban and the Mavs...
Posted by: jefe101 | April 11, 2011 at 07:26 PM
Lakers, your NBA champs, say worrying is for chumps http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-spurs-20110412,0,6166168.story
"Here we really don't have any question marks. These are executional things, these are correctable things. From that standpoint, we all feel comfortable about it. You don't even see anybody here feeling like it's doom and gloom because these are problems that can be corrected and will be corrected." #24
"Everything about the Lakers is geared toward winning playoff games. It's what they do." J.A. Adande
"Even when we didn’t make the playoffs, I thought we'd win the championship." Dr. Buss
"...they're shaking like virgins on prom night... Faithdalakerfan
Go Lakers & In Buss We Trust!!
Posted by: antyfed | April 11, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Mavs lead by 4 with 1:34 minutes left...first lead of the game
Posted by: hopalong | April 11, 2011 at 07:42 PM
I love the Lakers
Posted by: sam hollow | April 11, 2011 at 07:42 PM
love
Posted by: sam hollow | April 11, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Rockets lead by 1.....10 seconds Dallas ball
Posted by: hopalong | April 11, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Houston fouled with 1 second.....frivilous at best...off balance shot.
Terry shooting 2.
Posted by: hopalong | April 11, 2011 at 07:51 PM
Overtime...Tery missed his 2nd shot..........wwhhhheeewww.
Posted by: hopalong | April 11, 2011 at 07:52 PM
Dallas by 3 points 21 seconds in OT. Houston pulled a Butler in OT.
Posted by: hopalong | April 11, 2011 at 08:04 PM
The Rockets only seem to be playing with 7 players!
Posted by: jefe101 | April 11, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Mavs win...........................
Posted by: hopalong | April 11, 2011 at 08:07 PM
OK...well, the Kings are up by 6 on the Thunder at halftime...
Posted by: jefe101 | April 11, 2011 at 08:09 PM
LakerTom,
I've convinced myself that I need to go back and deal with that bear.
Any advice as to how to best deal with a black bear?
I guess I need to buy some pepper spray and a bowie knife.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 11, 2011 at 08:18 PM
Well,fortunately I missed Sunday's game(LOL). Am I concerned with this 5 game losing skid? Naw,not really,I believe the guys will work things out in time for the PO.
~
@LRob:Yeah,it's kinda hard not to like '311'.:-)
~
For today's musical contribution,here's another group that I've really come to like...the last track is kinda timely...enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__PU5CVSegg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbzt1HnVzIQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJnYyRZjB_w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjnLflNZMA0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phHe6aNcocQ&feature=relmfu
~
Let's go Ls...all the way to a 3-peat!!!!!
Posted by: G in DC(aka GDUB) | April 11, 2011 at 08:25 PM
Hopefully He Would Start Appearing at Some Basketball Games
The weakest link. Sucks big time. Cant do with; cant do without.
Posted by: whodattalking2 | April 11, 2011 at 08:59 PM
This one goes out to the Visionaries, LRob, LakerTom & KobeMVP888:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z0OWfi96TI&feature=youtube_gdata_player
KOBE BEAN BRYANT IS STILL "THE LOGO OF PROFESSIONALISM!"
LAMAR ODOM IS "THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE!"
"AND THE BEAST GOES ON..."
Posted by: The Triangulator | April 11, 2011 at 09:04 PM
@Triangulator: Nice, McCoy's one of my all-time favorites, a true master...thanks for posting that.
Let's go Ls...all the way to a 3-peat!!!!!
Posted by: G in DC(aka GDUB) | April 11, 2011 at 09:12 PM
@JON K … Actually, we were advised not to run because not only are bears much faster than humans but you probably look much more like food to the bear. We saw a Grizzly that the ranger told us was 800#. When he got within 100 yards, we pulled up camp and got into our kayaks as fast as possible. Best is just slowly slip away and don’t attract any attention. Or don’t move at all when the bear bumps into and sniffs your tent as you cower in fear. Worst is probably what you did by injuring yourself running away. Consider yourself lucky. There are some books out there that show what bears can do.
…………………………………………
TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | April 11, 2011 at 09:13 PM
Whoa, MVP888
Psycorp been a member of this blog for many years, something a short-timer like you wouldn't know.
So calling him a poser because you don't happen to agree with him on a particular subject is just soooo yoouuu.
you want respect? best to respect
Posted by: Troll Man | April 11, 2011 at 10:12 PM
OKC and Dallas both won tonight...GOOD! The Lakers don't need any wiggle room to hold on to the #2 seed. They need to beat SA and Sactown to hold on. Might as well simulate a wee bit of playoff pressure.
SA will have motivation to beat the Lakers to try to hold on to the best overall record. If SA lose to the Lakers and finish tied with the Bulls then Chicago would win the tie-breaker between them. They split the season series and would have the same record within their conference, but the Bulls have a better record vs. playoff teams in the east than SA have vs. playoff teams in the west. (Of course, none of this matters because SA ain’t getting to the finals!)
Posted by: LRob | April 11, 2011 at 10:27 PM
Kobe 15th technical got rescinded. Cool. He can play with a little edge tomorrow.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6332479
BTW...did anyone see Perkins lay a hard block on Kobe (like a pulling guard) early in the 1st quarter? The was over the top even by Perkins standards.
Posted by: LRob | April 11, 2011 at 10:33 PM
As I explained to Mark Medina, I was hiking alone up a desert canyon between 29 Palms and Palm Springs. Beautiful place. A stream runs through the canyon. Just gorgeous.
I was about four miles off trail up the canyon and I turned a corner and found a 500 pound black bear staring at me from about 15 yards away.
I put on my shirt, quickly sprained my ankle, and got the heck out of there.
Posted by: Jon K. | April 11, 2011 at 06:12 PM
If there was a Church close by would you run in with bear behind?
Posted by: Pastor | April 11, 2011 at 10:53 PM
Whoa, MVP888
Psycorp been a member of this blog for many years, something a short-timer like you wouldn't know.
So calling him a poser because you don't happen to agree with him on a particular subject is just soooo yoouuu.
you want respect? best to respect
Posted by: Troll Man | April 11, 2011 at 10:12 PM
You want respect you can't handle respect!!
Posted by: GoodFella | April 11, 2011 at 10:54 PM
Jon K,
leave the bear alone. or bring a large bore gun.
Posted by: hobbitmage | April 11, 2011 at 11:10 PM
@mclyne – Come Alive – another good one by Foos.
@frmkt – John Lee and Carlos...now that’s chillin in style.
@Gdub – I like Cake from the early stuff to the current….they’re just cool.
@Triangulator – Like Gdub said McCoy is truly a legend. Here’s one more back at cha…add a string section with Cobham and brother Ron…Voila…because its almost time for the Lakers to fly…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXVnXVuj4Ps
Posted by: LRob | April 11, 2011 at 11:26 PM
@LRob for some unknown reason your link wouldn't load. Oh well. Please try posting it again...
Posted by: The Triangulator | April 12, 2011 at 12:09 AM
@Tri - Try this one. But in case it doesn't work it's "Fly with the Wind"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZIXDTH-sLA&feature=related
Posted by: LRob | April 12, 2011 at 12:47 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVfZ-CU-bx0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpPCKn9ZX3w&feature=related
The Saint has been doing it since he came into the league.
Cheap shot artist.
This is just one year, part of one series.
Year after year, the same ol' crap.
And you wonder why L.A. championships mean nothing to anyone,
except you?
The entire team, its ownership, and fan base should be caned
when they don't win the Championship.
I mean, what excuse could you possibly have not to?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ5DjJFCEXI
DMC man-handled Perkins.
Can't wait to see him get his hands on Andrew...
He gonna spank him again!
Go Kings/Royals!
Go SF Giants! (Have those Dodger hooligan cowards been arrested yet?)
Go SF Forty Niners!
Sonnybelfast
Posted by: Sonnybelfast | April 12, 2011 at 09:02 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi-DjS_9tuA&feature=related
Carrying on the tradition.
Come on now...Time to bask in the memory of tainted championships!
Let's hear it!
Posted by: Angelino Sewer Dweller | May 07, 2011 at 01:51 AM