Sure Kobe’s the best player in the NBA, Jordan Farmar is a home town kid and is making a bit of an impact off the bench, and Andrew Bynum’s the league’s youngest player with huge upside.

But our favorite Laker is Ronny Turiaf. He may not be the smoothest offensive player, he may miss his rotation on defense sometimes, but he’s a fierce defender, can be clutch when it counts, and most of all plays with more heart and soul then anyone else on the team if not the league. This is kind of ironic, given that Ronny almost had to end his career after being diagnosed with an enlarged aortic root and underwent open-heart surgery before his rookie year. The Lakers, despite having no guarantees that he would ever be able to play for them and having voided his original contract, underwrote the surgery and Ronny came back in a big way to make a real impact with the team this season. Next time you’re watching a game, and Ronny’s not in, watch the bench. He’s the first one to get up and celebrate a big play, he’s the first one to welcome his teammates back to the sideline, and he never misses a second of the action. When he does get in the game, he can be a stopper on defense and a superb offensive rebounder. Here are some things you may not know about Ronny:

- He’s French. He was born on the French Island of Martinique, and attended High School in France.

- It’s pronounced Rone-y, rhymes with Pony.

- He went to Gonzaga, and was conference player of the year in 2005.

- He was offered more money post-surgery to play in Spain, but signed with the Lakers instead.

- He’s 6′10″, making him the Lakers’ 3rd tallest player after Andre and Kwame. (Lamar is also 6′10″).

- Someone loves Ronny as much as us and has put together a remix of his best on-court plays and a couple bench dance moves:

Los Angeles ~ CA

(Continued)

The Crab Pit ~ 1220 N La Brea Ave. Inglewood, CA 90302 ~ (310) 673-1677

Driving to an assignment up one of my favorite alternate north-south routes through the megaopolis, I spotted The Crab Pit and its banner promising “tacos with a lot of soul!” At that moment, I knew I would have to cover it for LA Taco. With so much in the news about Hispanic v. Black tension in our beloved Southland, could it be that food might be something that we could agree upon? To paraphrase and extend the logic of a well-known angeleno, “Can’t we all just sit down together, eat some tacos, and get along?” Maybe it would be too much to ask of The Crab Pit to unite working class interests equipped with only its Mexican/Cajun/Sea Food/Soul Food fusion menu items. While a turkey “Killer Taco” alone might not enable us to overcome our differences, I had all the faith in the world that it would allow me to overcome the hunger in my belly.
(Continued)

Taking photos in Los Angeles can sometimes feel like an extreme sport, with pissed-off, flash-fearing “businessmen” shadowing you down the street and chicks telling you you’re going to get smoked while taking shots of murals in their hood. Snapping pictures of this Caddie one early weekend morning, this tough-as-nails old white guy came onto his porch smoking a cigarette in his terrycloth bathrobe and studied me through squinty eyes. Even though he was sixty-something, he was ripped straight from a Tarantino film and looked like he could have kicked my ass. Before he had time to pin me as a repo man or P.I., I put on my best nice guy voice and explained my intentions with his vehicle. He didn’t smile or say anything, but just kind of flicked his chin in approval and stood staring and smoking…

It was a few hours before I filled my numb mouth to the brim with some gasoline-flavored promotional vodka in an attempt to repulse the gorgeous spokes-gals schlepping said rotgut at a chi-chi party, but I still think I might have fucked up with Dennis Franz as a direct result of overindulging. It was definitely well before a certain toe-headed TACO O.G. saucedly started shite with his camp over seating, because Dennis Franz was the absolute nicest celebrity I’ve ever met. He doesn’t even act like a celebrity, but I know he is. I’ve never watched NYPD Blue, but the man was gracious, patient, and cool when discussing tacos with me in Los Angeles.

It wasn’t until hours later, when I was beyond shitcanned that I ran into Dennis FARINA, and became paranoid that I’d been calling Mr. Franz: “Mr. Farina,” all night. Oh well, you know the deal, this tall, unassuming actor is great at playing determined, tough, good guys and is basically a stud in real life as well, even when playing mediator to real-life hostilities.

Mr. Franz, my apologies if I called you “Mr. Farina” all night, and apologies that our spiritual advisor jumped and landed splat on two seated members of your crew, that probably wasn’t very cool. It was pretty funny. Ummmm…yeah….’so like, what’s your favorite taco, Mr. Far-, uh… Franz?’

“My favorite tacos in Los Angeles…that’s hard. Because living now in Santa Barbara, you know, Super-Rica Taqueria, there’s nothing like it…But we used to go to that place across from Paramount Studios. What is it? We used to love going there for margaritas. What is it called? Sorry, I’m a bad source. Maybe my wife can tell you. Well, anyway, yes it’s that spot across from Paramount. Is it El Coyote? I’m telling you, there’s probably better people to ask.”

No, no, sir, there are not. There are no wrong answers here at TACO. We think the embracing Mr. Franz must mean Lucy’s El Adobe, which is a dynamite spot to get loaded at, despite non-essential eats. Thanks Dennis, the lengua tacos are on us next time.

Burbank ~ CA

Glendale Blvd. ~ Echo Park

Silverlake ~ CA

Punk Rocker Arrested in Slaying
Tony Lovato, left, former lead singer for suburban Chicago punk rock band Mest was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of fatally stabbing a 25-year-old man during an argument in a Studio City parking lot. The band had been trying to get back together after having parted ways with Lovato some time ago.

200 Birds to be Killed in Cockfight Euthanasia Bloodbath
Officers responding to a report from a neighbor in La Sierra Hills and found nine people watching cockfights in a backyard arena and about 20 dead roosters. The cops then arrested one man and ordered the euthanization of more than 200 roosters during the raid. Cockfighting may be a brutal blood sport, but is euthanasia the only solution here? Perhaps they should let the cocks fight it out, with the winners retiring to local farms.

More Downtown Filming Madness
It’s been a problem for a while, but with more and more people with access to media, lawyers, etc. living downtown, attention is finally being given to the way film crews operate down town. The list of offenses downtown residents complain of are: keeping people awake late at night, blocking vital arteries, using police resources that could be used elsewhere, and being generally rude and disrespectful to the people who live in the area where they film.

Old Names Resurface Downtown
The LA Times has an article of note about the downtown scene, specifically about how old time building names are being recycled by developers as the dilapidated commercial buildings find new life as high-end lofts.

Man Stabbed in Los Feliz
An alleged gang member was stabbed in Los Feliz as he got off an MTA bus on Hollywood Boulevard at Western. He was stabbed 3-4 times, and is in stable condition at County in Boyle Heights.