The Lakers checked in at the tiny Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, about a 45-minute drive to the Palace at Auburn Hills, last Wednesday night. As expected, about 100 Pistons fans were in the streets to heckle the invaders.
Someone said a Detroit radio station tried to rouse the rabble by offering free CDs to fans who would gather at a rooftop parking lot close to the hotel and make noise at night. Policemen rushed to the scene to disperse the crowd of a few dozen noisemakers around midnight.
The Townsend is a ritzy hotel and caters only to customers who can afford its pricey rates. Hotel doormen are dressed in crisp green suits and wear top hats. Its fine-dining restaurant is called the Rugby Grille.
"It got pretty crazy," said Commander John Van Gorder of the Birmingham police, quoted by Mike Martindale of the Detroit News. "We’re used to seeing sports figures and entertainers who stay, shop and dine here. People normally treat them with respect, at worst, ask them for an autograph. But that wasn’t the case (with the Lakers)."
Fans trooped to the Townsend even during the day to pester the visitors. At a hotel lounge where some Lakers were gathered, a fan pounded on the window panes and said something disgusting to Kobe Bryant about his court case in Colorado.
The cold reception was nothing new to Lakers coach Phil Jackson. During the NBA Finals in 1998, Utah fans assembled at dawn to wake up the Chicago Bulls, then coached by Jackson, at their mountain resort hotel about 30 minutes from Salt Lake City. They came in buses and played musical instruments to deafening levels. Some fans also phoned the Bulls in their rooms at odd hours to disturb their rest.
Curiously, one of the Lakers in this year’s Finals–Bryon Russell–was on the Jazz team that played the Bulls in the 1998 Finals.
At the Palace before Game 3, more fans shouted derogatory words at the Lakers. Bryant was a primary target–obviously because he bailed the Lakers out of certain defeat in Game 2. Someone yelled about a day care center. Another screamed something objectionable about Bryant’s penetration "on and off the court." A fan said Bryant was destined to lose on and in court. Fans held up posters that were not only insulting but also distasteful.
Two fans at courtside showed their attention on Karl Malone during the pre-game warmups. The going rate for a courtside seat is $2,400 so the fans felt the dent in their bank accounts because they were ejected by police.
The fans insulted Malone about his injured right knee. Malone was quoted in the papers as saying he would never agree to wear a brace because no samurai would ever do it. Apparently, he was prevailed on by Lakers trainer Gary Vitti to wear a brace, notwithstanding his comments.
Malone heard the comments, turned towards the fans, confronted them and even poked one of the hecklers twice or thrice on the forehead with his two fingers. The fans were then ejected. There is talk that they are now considering to file a suit against the Mailman.
At the Palace, the Pistons weren’t to be outdone. In Game 3, showing up to support Detroit were rapper Eminem, actress Renee Zellweger of the "Bridget Jones Diary" fame, D12’s Proof, Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, boxer Tommy Hearns and filmmaker Spike Lee (a New York diehard who probably followed Knicks president and ex-Pistons guard Isiah Thomas to Motown).
Nicholson was reported to be in the building but made himself scarce. He was said to be hiding in a tinted lounging suite, afraid of the Detroit mob.
Recording artist Anita Baker led in the singing of the national anthem. A speaker glitch spoiled an otherwise soulful rendition. At halftime, the aging Motown soul group Contours failed to rock the crowd despite their red suits because the notes in their oldies medley were too high.
Kid Rock, who’s been bashing Nicholson in the Detroit press lately to spark a Motown versus Tinseltown feud, will sing the Star Spangled Banner before Game 4 and Aretha Franklin takes her turn before Game 5.
"Sure, I know about Filipino basketball," said Lanier, a Hall of Famer who now manages the NBA’s Read-to-Achieve program. "I know it’s competitive."
Lanier, 55, was the Pistons first round pick in 1970 and played 14 years in the NBA. He was the MVP of the 1974 All-Star Game. The 6-11 center saw action in over nine seasons for the Pistons before he was traded to Milwaukee where he retired in 1984.
Is he rooting for the Pistons in the Finals? "I work for the NBA now," he said. "I’m not cheering for either team. All I want is for both teams to play their best and give the fans an exciting series."
Lanier’s eyes lit up when he was told that former Detroit teammate Kevin Porter ended his career in the PBA in the early ‘80s. "Did Kevin really?" he asked. "I think Kevin still lives in Detroit." Lanier was also surprised that NBA referee Leon Wood, once a first round draft pick from California, had played in the PBA.
Has he ever been to Manila? "Nope," he replied. "Because I’ve never been asked."
Lanier is flying to China to attend the NBA preseason games between the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings on Oct. 14 and 17. An NBA official said if an invitation is made, Lanier may be able to visit Manila before or after the China games.
Lanier was a guest on Solar Sports TV’s introduction of Game 3 at the Palace.