Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant's Achilles Tendon Surgery Successful, But His Return Is Still In Question

Surgery to repair Kobe Bryant's torn Achilles tendon was successful today, the Lakers announced. But that success doesn't necessarily mean fans can breath easy, at least not yet. Bryant's still looking at 6 to 9 months of recovery, the premature end of his season, even potential retirement.

AEG Sale Off; Tim Leiweke Steps Down As L.A.-Based CEO

The for sale sign outside the door of Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of Staples Center, LA Live and London's 02 arena, has been taken down, the company announced. Not only that but Tim Leiweke, the company's L.A.-based president and CEO and the architect of plans to build a $1.5 billion stadiu ... More >>

Jerry Buss Dead At 80

Jerry Buss passed away this morning at the age of 80, the Lakers announced. The longtime team owner "had been hospitalized much of the past 18 months," the Buss family said in statement. Last week it was reported that he was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as a result of cancer. According ... More >>

Jerry Buss At Cedars-Sinai With Cancer, Reports Say

Jerry Buss is in the hospital with cancer, with some reports indicating that he's gravely ill and that family, friends and members of his Lakers basketball organization such as Kobe Bryant have come to his side. However, Buss was hospitalized in summer and he bounced back despite some media specula ... More >>

NFL Dreams For Downtown Los Angeles Fading In Face Of Team Transfer Deadline

Time might be running out for L.A.'s NFL dreams. A deadline for team owners to express interest in moving to Los Angeles is looming, but few if any have expressed serious interest in coming here. The problem might be the would-be sale of the developer of the proposed downtown stadium, Anschutz Ent ... More >>

Mike D'Antoni Is Lakers' New Coach

Phil Jackson was the man everyone seemed to want. But it was former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni who got the job as the next coach of the Lakers following the abrupt firing of Mike Brown at the team's dismal 1-4 mark this season. According to a team statement Lakers spokesman John Black ...

Kendrick Lamar Flash Mob Near Staples Draws LAPD Response (PHOTOS)

Updated at the bottom with some info from the LAPD. First posted at 6:06 a.m. See also: *Skateboard Riot in Hollywood ... Another youth gathering gone out of control in L.A? Not entirely. It looks like this one was behaved. But a Compton rapper named Kendrick Lamar did appear to attract hundreds ... More >>

Sam Choy Launches Pineapple Express Truck This Week

It's been a while since we've gotten revved up over a mobile eatery, but when Sam Choy, a James Beard Award winner and the so-called "father of modern Hawaiian cuisine," decides to open a food truck, it's time to bust out your hula shirt. The Pineapple Express truck will serve breakfast, lunch, an ... More >>

The Time I Whooped a 14-Year-Old Kid at Basketball

You (probably) don't know him, but trust when I tell you that T is a real shitbag. In our little cluster of townhomes, there are six boys who live there. A quick scouting report: There is a family that lives across from us. They have three boys; J and D and L. They're sweet kids, and the boys' ... More >>

Andrew Bynum, Lakers Center, Caught Parking in Two Handicap Spaces

NBC Los AngelesBynum shoots for two.​NBC Los Angeles investigative reporter Joel Grover is at it again (is it sweeps?), and this time he bags a big one: Lakers center Andrew Bynum. The reporter and his crew shot the baller with his car parked in two handicap spaces as he loaded up groceries a ... More >>

Breaking News: White People Riot Too

YouTubeWhite-on-car violence in Vancouver.​A sad echo of the Lakers championship riots of 2010: Racists seemed to come out of the woodworks to blame the mayhem on Latinos. Guilty. But here's the thing: One out of every two people in L.A. is Latino. So, yeah, when shit goes down, good or bad, ... More >>

Kids Don't Need Sports or Energy Drinks: OMG, You Can Actually Drink Water

Flickr/96dpia glass of water​ If you've ever spent much time at a kids' soccer game -- much less a middle school basketball jam session at Staples Center sponsored by Gatorade -- you'd think that kids required sports drinks as much as adults training for triathalons or the NBA finals (go Mavs! ... More >>

Lakers: Five Reasons L.A.'s NBA Dynasty Isn't Over Yet

The best player in the NBA is still with us.​The Lakers flamed out like Charlie Sheen in rehab -- in spectacular, unprecedented fashion (via a sweep the likes of which coach Phil Jackson has never seen). And now Phil Jackson says he's coached his last NBA game and Kobe Bryant is talking about ... More >>

Lakers Rookie Arrested at New Orleans IHOP

Flickr user bridgetdsLakers rookie Derrick Caracter, chatting with forward Ron Artest​With the NBA Playoffs underway, things haven't exactly gone according to plan for the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. They've split their first four games with the plucky New Orleans Hornets, and now n ... More >>

Raves: How Do You Get L.A. Politicians to Get Behind Parties and Ecstasy? Here's How ...

Caesar Sebastian / InsomniacRavers at 'EDC.'​It was a day of magical thinking Wednesday at the L.A. Coliseum, where officials essentially said yes to another edition of a two-day rave that saw 60 mostly drug-related arrests, more than 200 medical emergencies and the ecstasy-related death of a ... More >>

Chicken and Waffle Fight: Roscoe's Vs. Pann's

No one knows exactly how the combination of waffles and fried chicken came about, but a lot of people are very glad it did. Salty and sweet have long made for a satisfying pairing, and why, after all, should bacon, sausage, and sliced ham have all the fun? Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles is on ... More >>

Armenians In Glendale Reeling Over Kobe Bryant's Ad Deal With Turkish Airlines, Or 'Direct Flight to Inhumanity'

NBAHigh like a [Turkish] G6​Turkish Airlines had just barely announced its deal with Lakers stud Kobe Bryant yesterday, when the massive Armenian population in SoCal came out in full force. The Armenian Youth Federation reported being "bombarded with phone calls from concerned Armenian youth ... More >>

Top 10 Men With Meat Names

Men With Meat Names is an ad-hoc website that lists, you guessed it, men with meat names. We compiled the ten best into one, easy-to-read top-10 list for your reading (or is tasting?) enjoyment. Are the photos a bit large? Sure they are, but you don't want to see tiny thumbprint shots of these guys, ... More >>

Villaraigosa's Vanishing Veracity

His executive directive No. 1 in 2005 vowed to halt even the appearance of sleaze and conflicts

FOURTH UPDATE Exclusive: Antonio Villaraigosa free tickets are worth $50,000 to $100,000. Full list here of 80 free events; corruption laws ignored

By Tibby Rothman and Jill StewartDid the mayor lose, misplace -- or destroy -- his records? ​ L.A. Weekly is publishing below its exclusive ticket price list for the 80 events to which Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa accepted free seats.But first the hot news from City Hall moments ago. The below is a ... More >>

D.A. Looking Into Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Ethics Surrounding Free-Tickets Scandal

Fox 11 NewsVillaraigosa at a Lakers game.​The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office is looking into Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's free-tickets controversy, with a spokeswoman telling LA Weekly that the office will "review" findings of the city's Ethics Commission in the matter. The may ... More >>

NBA Champion Ron Artest Has Wheaties, Vodka and The SLS Hotel

The Lakers are NBA Champions again (not World Champions, as some teams like to claim), and there's a parade at 11 o'clock this morning to help commemorate that fact. But if you simply turned off the T.V. after game 7 and decided that you were done following basketball this year, you missed a few imp ... More >>

LAPD Arrests Nine People At Lakers Parade

​The downtown parade celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA championship wrapped up Monday afternoon with no major incidents to report, according to fire and police officials. Officer Rosario Herrera told the Weekly nine people were arrested, but she did not have details. Two children were re ... More >>

Despite Tickets Controversy, Mayor Villaraigosa Says He'll Be At Lakers Game

​Despite a snowballing controversy about his acceptance of often four-figure tickets, sometimes from sources who have business before City Hall, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says he'll be at the Lakers championship match-up with the Celtics at Staples Center Thursday night. Because, while accept ... More >>

LAPD Declares 'Unlawful Assembly' As Crowds Amass Near Staples Center Following Lakers Victory

​[Updated at 10:55 p.m.]. Some fans were starting to get out of control Thursday night following the Lakers' 83-79 win over the Boston Celtics. A few people appeared to have been beaten up as unruly men gathered at Flower Street and Olympic Boulevard near Staples Center. Some hooligans attacke ... More >>

City Ethics Commission Investigating Mayor Villaraigosa, According To Report

​Fox 11 News reported that the city Ethics Commission has opened a formal investigation into Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's acceptance of sports and entertainment tickets, which could be a no-no as their value was not reported by the city leader as gifts. Reporter John Schwada says that the comm ... More >>

If It's Lakers vs. 'Los Suns,' Does L.A. Boycott?

​If the they beat Utah Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers could complete a rare postseason sweep for the squad, matching the purple and gold against ... Arizona's pro team in the Western Conference finals. That's the state that enacted a controversial law empowering police to ask people they ... More >>

Short Attention Span Dinner Theater: Your Week in Food, 12/28 - 12/31

In which we highlight the past week in food, either at home or abroad. Happy New Year everybody. "Sweetened and condescended milk." Squid Ink Top 10: Foodie Typos. "I kind of lost a little faith in Spanish restaurants in L.A., because the quality wasn't nearly as good as I thought it could be. ... More >>

Continued Decline For L.A. Crime According To Latest FBI Stats

​It could be a blessing or a curse for new Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck: Rates for major crimes in Los Angeles continued to dip in 2009. With continuing joblessness, a city struggling to find money to hire officers, and a looming release of 40,000 state prisoners, the only direction f ... More >>

Lakers Proclaimed Most Valuable NBA Team

NBA​The Lakers can add ad another crown to their collection as Forbes magazine on Thursday proclaimed the squad the most valuable team in the NBA. Hot off last season's championship, the magazine valued the franchise at $607 million, which topped the New York Nicks (#2; $586 million), the Chi ... More >>

Ask Mr Gold: The Sunday Meal. Burgers, Beers and Fries

Photo credit: Anne FishbeinMr. Gold, with dim sum menuDear Mr. Gold: We have friends in town from Seattle, and they're hungering for a really fine burger, excellent fries and a primo beer selection. (Is there such a place, a place that offers all three under one roof? A place that's open on Sunday? ... More >>

Lakers From Row 6: Homie, You're In My Seat

IT’S JIMMY KIMMEL’S WORLD, WE JUST EAT ZEPOLE IN IT

AREN'T YOU NICK LACHEY'S BROTHER?

Transformers, Bel-Air Brats and Kobe, Oh My! Lakers Parade at Coliseum Brings L.A. Together

Jeff CowanLakers fans: Storm Troopers and Transformer Bumble BeeLos Angeles doesn't really do civic pride. We're too aloof and jaded for that sort of thing. We're a secular, sunglasses indoors, windows up, bowling alone type of town (except that when we bowl, it's usually at some swanky alley with a ... More >>

Morning Sixpack: A News Roundup

Social Insecurity A federal "desktop raid" that exposed false Social Security numbers of 260 undocumented workers has left a Vernon food processing plant devastated. L.A. TimesEvicted for Following Orders Residents of a North Hollywood apartment building that was foreclosed upon were told by a bank ... More >>

Morning Sixpack: A News Roundup

Eyesore or Landmark? The Century Plaza Hotel and its fate are a bone of contention between city preservationists enamored with its curving, Jet Age architecture, and the hotel's owner, who wants to raze it and raise a mixed-use development in its stead. L.A. TimesNo YouthTube for L.A. Times The city ... More >>

If the Lakers Were Rappers: A Study in Similitude

Prediction: If Kobe doesn't grow a mullet, the Lakers will take it in June. Kobe Bryant = Kanye West Raised in more affluent circumstances than their peers, Kobe and Kanye are not only among the best in their respective fields, they share a severe lack of humility and empathy. Mutually ol ... More >>

Fideua: The Poor Man's Paella

The Spanish staple with a Catalan accent

Paper Dolls

The high road and the low road

Generation Chef

Fred Eric

One Hot Restaurant

Eastside Story

The day we caught the night stalker

Alpha Coach

Phil Jackson is back in control — and dreaming of a point guard named Oprah

El Encuentro Mágico

Laker great stakes claim as Nuevo Ali

The Lakers Lesson

Maybe the NFL wouldn't be the worst thing for L.A.

Mood Indigo

The LAPD’s big test

Hogwarts’ Webmistress

Parks in Charge

Police chief has convention and council firmly under control