I think I’m right in saying the circus never ends with the always interesting Los Angeles Lakers. The latest buzz, via Reed Johnson of the Los Angeles Times, details Pau Gasol’s friendship with opera superstar, and fellow Spaniard, Plácido Domingo:
The two men said their friendship began shortly after Gasol arrived in Los Angeles in a February 2008 trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, where the native of Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, launched his NBA career. Domingo suggested to Marc Stern, L.A. Opera’s chairman and chief executive — as well as a Lakers fan whose fanaticism is reputedly on par with Jack Nicholson’s — that they reach out to the new arrival and invite him to come watch the fat lady sing as their guest.
Although he considers himself a culture aficionado in general, Gasol said, before this overture he never had followed opera before. (For the record, Memphis does have an opera company, but Gasol wasn’t a regular.)
“He [Domingo] welcomed me to the community of the city of Los Angeles when I came over from there. I said that I was curious to go to the opera some time and, well, I could take advantage of this opportunity to come and enjoy it and get to know this world.”
To date, Domingo said, Gasol has attended about half a dozen productions. “He doesn’t just come to see me, he comes to see other operas when I’m not there.”
