fakers fans dissing other fakers "fans". to me, they're all the same:
"Maybe only 50% of the Finals crowd is Laker fans, and that makes a huge difference," said Geno Apicella, a 22-year season-ticket holder from Burbank.
"When things happen, most people are either afraid to wrinkle their shirts or standing in line at McDonald's."
Or waiting for Justin Timberlake to dance, or Will Smith to kiss, or David Beckham to clap.
"Think about it -- has anyone ever seen David Beckham actually clap?" Apicella said. "Do many of these people even watch the games?"
Judging from the reaction during Thursday night's historic 24-point meltdown, the answer is no.
While the skidding Lakers bounced off guard rails and bumpers, many of the 20,000 witnesses simply rolled up their windows and stared.
Kobe Bryant was shooting free throws down the stretch, yet there were no huge chants of "MVP, MVP, MVP."
A weary team was trying to guard a refreshed team, yet rarely were there cries of "Dee-fense, dee-fense."
"Late in Thursday's game, my wife whispered to me that the woman sitting next to her had no idea what was going on," said Michael Balzary, a season-ticket holder better known as the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Flea."
"More people are coming for the big-deal event, and fewer for the basketball," Flea said. "And I notice that when the Lakers get down, people have gotten real quiet."
"I looked down my row and realized that the only person I recognized was the guy sitting next to me," he said. "These are all new people here, people who came for the one-time thrill."
How do they get tickets?
Some season-ticket holders are transplants whose love for the Lakers is nonetheless surpassed by their love for the big bucks. So they are willing to sell a Finals seat that a lifelong Boston fan would never relinquish.