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 accepting tix without declaring who they came from or how much they're worth might be shady and even illicit, the value of getting his face on national television during an NBA showdown is priceless. More from LA Observed.

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