LA Lakers Floor seats

Posted: May 25, 2008 11:07 PM

LA Lakers Floor seats: Greg Grunberg, Charles Barkley

On Weds night I went to the set of "Heroes" with Greg Grunberg (Greg is the "Policeman" on the show), and there was a love scene being filmed…No more on that! Afterwards Greg and I hit the Lakers game, and we sat on the floor. At halftime, a studio appeared right in front of us (it was built), and Barkley comes out and says hello to both Greg and I. Then when they go on air Barkley says to the worldwide audience "I just met my hero Phil Hellmuth." At the time I didn't know it, although Kenny "The jet" Smith shouted to me from the set, "I read your book," to which Barkley snappily added, "I burned your book!" Anyway, I texted Barkley later to invite him out to dinner with me, Tony Parker, Eva Longoria, and a few of the San Antonio Spurs players at Eva's restaurant called "Beso" (Spanish for "Kiss"). The food there was amazing (try the steak tacos appetizer), and Eva was the perfect hostess. Even though I was rooting for the Lakers, because I have been sitting with owner Jerry Buss forever in his box (and I will be in his box Friday night with Grunberg and his wife), the Spurs are close to my heart as well as I have hung out with many of the players when I emceed a poker tournament for Tony Parkers birthday, and Michael Finley is probably my wife and I's favorite basketball player-going back 15 years to when Finley was at the University of Wisconsin, and we had season tickets. Plus I love Duncan and Parker, who are in my experience total class acts. I also met, and had dinner with Fabricio, who plays a lot for the Spurs and is another class act. Not to mention that Robert Horry came up to my son at halftime in a game last year and said hello (which made my sons day!).

Anyway, Wednesday night was great! Friday I shoot a commercial all day, then rush to the Staples center to sit with Jerry in his box.