Fourth Annual ''Basketball 101'' at Staples Center Features Spectacular Array of...

Fourth Annual ''Basketball 101'' at Staples Center Features Spectacular Array of Participants; Phil Jackson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Derek Fisher, Many Others Slated to Participate

LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--The LA Sports & Entertainment Commission's (LASEC) highly
successful "Basketball 101" returns for the fourth annual event on
Wednesday, January 16 from 5:00-9:30 PM at STAPLES Center. This year's
roster of participants features a star-studded list of basketball
experts that should make this year's event the best yet. The theme of
the '08 version of "Basketball 101" is "Defense is Key." Headlining
the list of "basketball professors" at this year's event is Los
Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson, who has coached his teams to a
total of nine NBA championships. Also participating will be NBA legend
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an NBA Hall of Famer who retired as the league's
all-time leading scorer with an incredible 38,387. Jackson and
Abdul-Jabbar will be joined by Lakers guards Derek Fisher and Jordan
Farmar, Lakers assistant coaches (and former NBA stars) Kurt Rambis
and Brian Shaw, Los Angeles Sparks Head Coach and former Lakers star
Michael Cooper, Lakers Basketball Consultant (and inventor of the
famed "triangle offense") Tex Winter and retired NBA referee Hue
Hollins. Lakers Executive Vice President Jeanie Buss will participate
in a panel discussion with all of the aforementioned speakers
following the on-court demonstration and instruction. The event will
be emceed by popular FOX Sports Net personality Bill Macdonald.

"Basketball 101," an officially-sanctioned NBA event, invites
business, sports and entertainment professionals to brush up on the
fundamentals and knowledge of basketball with a night of coaching from
the experts.

"While most people enjoy watching the Lakers and NBA basketball,
few have had the opportunity to get up close and see the subtle
strategies in building a winning NBA team," said Buss. "This will be a
great opportunity for guests to get a 'behind-the-scenes' look with
coaching from some of the top people in NBA basketball and hear first
hand about the business of winning in the NBA. I think anyone who
attends will walk away feeling like they had a real insider's look at
this game."

Several levels of participation are available. Presenting
($30,000), Slam Dunk ($12,500) and Free Throw ($5,000) sponsorships
offer a variety of benefits. Additionally, a few individual tickets
are available at $550 each. Confirmed sponsors to date include
American Express, Bank of America, Chadwick Saylor & Co. Inc.,
Colliers International Inc., Covington Capital Management, Delta Air
Lines, DLA Piper US LLP, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, First American Title
Insurance Co., FSN WEST & FSN PRIME TICKET, IDS Real Estate Group,
Integrated Transportation Services, Inc. (ITS), LA INC. The Los
Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, Longo Toyota/Scion/Lexus and
Penske Motor Group, Majestic Realty Co., Pacific Palms Resort,
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Sidley Austin LLP, Sport Chalet,
Sprint, Ticketmaster, Young's Market Company.

The evening's activities include the following:

-- Free-throw practice on the Lakers' court at STAPLES Center and
tour of the locker rooms

-- Cocktail reception, buffet dinner and gift bags

-- Basketball 101 program on the court and panel discussion.

This is the fourth Basketball 101 event and follows on the heels
of the highly successful NFL 101 and 201 event, also created by LASEC.
"This event will create new basketball fans, and if you understand the
game better, you'll enjoy it more," added Kathy Schloessman, LASEC
president.

Proceeds from the event will be split between the Lakers Youth
Foundation and LASEC. LASEC is the official organization for the City
of Los Angeles to seek, host, promote and retain major sporting and
entertainment events that positively impact the local economy by
attracting visitors to the city, giving them a reason to stay longer
and return more frequently. LASEC is a private, nonprofit organization
and an affiliate of LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors
Bureau.

LA Sports & Entertainment Commission
Kathy Schloessman, President
213-236-2381

Copyright Business Wire 2008