Yet another Hollywood publicist has called upon Tim Harris to get her client Lakers tickets -- preferably courtside -- for the next playoff game.
This particular request comes on behalf of the actress Mo'Nique and, like so many times, Harris must turn to his assistant for help.
"Chianti!" he will call out. "I have no clue who this is."
The team's senior vice president of business operations, Harris might not be particularly hip or up to date with the entertainment scene, but industry insiders know him as the go-to guy when celebrities want camera-ready seats at Staples Center.
That makes him the unlikely keeper of Lakers Cool or, as actor Andy Garcia says, "a good person to know."
An easy talker, sharply dressed if not overtly trendy, Harris walks through the arena with a bundle of VIP passes in his jacket pocket, tending to the pop culture vibe that makes this team unlike any other in professional sports.
Jack Nicholson in sunglasses at courtside. Dyan Cannon sitting next to Magic Johnson along the baseline. Denzel Washington and Leonardo DiCaprio nearby.
At Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz, soccer star David Beckham posed for pictures with fans while Jodie Foster hurried back from the snack bar during a timeout. "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau scored courtside seats not far from producer Brian Grazer.
"The entertainment world loves the Lakers," said Harris, keeping tabs from a spot at the far end of the arena. "And we love the fact that fans like to see who's coming to the games."
Harris, 46, appreciates the importance of celebrity guests, even if they represent a small portion of his overall duties. Last week, he worried about finding four seats in a row for Heather Locklear.
"I really want to help her," he said. "She's a big fan. A Lakers fan. Plus, a very nice person."
On most nights, the Lakers put aside several hundred of the arena's 18,997 seats for corporate sponsors, broadcast partners, the visiting team and VIPs.
Not all the stars need help getting inside. Nicholson and Cannon, among others, have held season tickets since the Forum days. Many of the major studios, record companies and talent agencies also keep season seats on hand.
The house seats are distributed by several well-placed team executives. Save for a few exceptions, VIPs must pay face value, which ranges as high as $3,000 for the second round of the playoffs.
