LA police prepare for final NBA championship game

By Robert Jablon
June 17, 2010


Los Angeles, CA — Police massed around the Staples Center before Game 7 of the NBA finals on Thursday night, aiming to prevent a repeat of the violence that accompanied the Lakers’ victory last year.

But Jesus Rocha, who manages Joe’s LA Market and Deli near the arena, says he isn’t taking chances and will close before the game between Los Angeles and the Boston Celtics ends.

He remembers last year, when some fans celebrating the Lakers’ victory over the Orlando Magic in Florida set fires, stole computers from a nearby office and looted a fancy tennis shoe store next door.

“We’re really worried,” he said.

Rocha, 42, said he told an employee: “You want to be safe. Forget about the business—close the doors and go home … (if) there are people coming in, you could lose your life.”

Rocha said he had no faith that police could protect the little corner store.

“The last year, they didn’t show up—nobody,” he said.

This year, police planned to have hundreds of officers around the arena to deter anyone from spoiling a potential celebration should the Lakers seize their 16th national championship.

City officials warned fans to stay away from downtown unless they had tickets to the game.

Not everyone heeded the advice.

Peaker Luzanilla, 43, arrived at the arena without a ticket and said he intended to stay for the duration of the game. He brought a Celtics jersey to urge fellow fans to stomp on it.

“Come on, it’s the finals. I’m going to stay here until the end,” Luzanilla said.

Victor Lopez showed up hoping to buy a ticket.

In 2000, when the Lakers won their first NBA championship in a dozen years, Lopez was part of a crowd that set bonfires, burned two police cars and damaged more than 70 others.

The crowd was watching the game on a huge TV outside Staples Center. After the victory, “someone just lighted a firework and people just went crazy,” he recalled.

“I was pushing a news van. … We were able to push over a police car,” Lopez said. “It was stupid.”

He was 18 then. Now, he’s a 27-year-old father with no plans for violence.

“I have responsibilities now,” he said. “It’s not worth it, going to jail.”

In fact, he might leave downtown earlier if the Lakers win.

“I don’t want my car to have windows broken,” he said.

By Thursday afternoon, hundreds of Lakers fans dressed in gold and purple had arrived at the center to beat traffic and soak in the scene. Officers on foot, bicycle and Segway scooters were stationed every few hundred feet monitoring the growing crowd.

A few visitors said they were worried that Lakers fans might become violent — especially if the Celtics won—but others said they were confident that police would keep things in check.

“I hope that L.A. fans party hard but don’t cause damage,” said John Costanzo, 48. “I’m happy (security) is beefed up because probably 90 percent of the people here just want to have a good time.”<

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