
So last night I’m at Staples Center, watching the Lakers vs. Utah, honoring the late, great Rudy LaRusso.
Rudy was friend and family, literally - also a respected former NBA player who passed away from Parkinson’s Disease six months ago.
A 6-7 power forward, Uncle Rudy led Dartmouth to Ivy League glory, started with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959, moved west to LA for seven solid seasons (Jerry West and Co. - Hollywood too!), saving his best numbers for last, ending strong with a two-year stint in San Francisco for the Warriors.
Rudy was tight with Hot Rod Hundley and Elgin Baylor, just to name a few.
In 1969, Rudy prematurely retired from professional basketball so he could earn more money on Wall St.
Oh, and FIVE times he was an NBA All-Star - speaking of five, check out this photo.

Jerry Buss and the Lakers were kind enough to set up a pre-game mixer honoring Rudy, wife Roslyn and son Corey in a private executive suite.
Some attendees…
Andy Garcia, me, Kurt Rambis and “Bookman” from Good Times.
Spoke to Rambis, told him I was on hand as a youth, in the stands watching when Kevin Mchale of the Boston Celtics so viciously clothes-lined him.
Remember that one? I certainly do. There with my dad, mid-80’s NBA Finals, the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood - may have already changed over to the Great Western Forum?
That play shaped a culture (at least here in So. Cal and New England) - over the years, ingrained through media and folklore - part of the fabric woven within me and millions of others.
Where’s Chick Hearn or Dancing Barry when you need them?

Next morning I’m in the mood for breakfast, so I head on over to V.I.P. in Tarzana aka John Wooden’s favorite coffeehouse. I pick up the LA Times, turn to the sports section, and who do I see on page two?
John Wooden.
So I’m eating at John Wooden’s favorite coffeehouse (it’s on their business cards) reading the LA Times and seeing a picture of John Wooden (Coach Wooden wasn’t there, he’s a 5am guy).
According to the article, they were naming a school after him, and that school was in Reseda - where I just so happened to spend grades 7 - 12.
Not my exact same school, but down the block, close enough to share a zip code.
So far, some of you would say this story is a stretch. And I did too - grasping the newspaper, thinking of high school life and the Wizard of Westwood.
But suddenly, I peered into a far corner booth, drawn to a force, something or someone letting me know that I’m on the right path.
Just what or who do I see?
You got it, CHRIS TUCKER - star of Rush Hour, Friday and Money Talks.
And it doesn’t end there…
So I head to Fox for Best Damn Sports, great audience, Marines and golfers. Some pros in town for the PGA Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club. So I talk to them, one guy is named Jimmy Walker, he’s legit, on the tour.
Remember last night, backstage at Staples, who did I see? “Bookman” from Good Times. Then today, Jimmy Walker the golfer not Jimmie “Dynamite” Walker from, you guessed it, Good Times.
Do you see the connections, are you a believer?
BTW, left out several smaller facts that would certainly help in solidifying my interest and YOURS in the occult.
In this entry, I went from honoring a great man to witchcraft.