PHIL JACKSON

Cafe Milan

Playa del Rey, CA

November 8, 2001

Photo credit: Phil Jackson

I hadnt seen a celebrity in a few months, but who better to get me back in the game than Phil Jackson?

Iwas in my own foggy beach town, walking out of our neighborhood post office when a sky-scrapingly tall man limped his way across my path to sit at a sidewalk cafe table. This nice-looking guy in the plaid shirt kinda looked like Phil Jackson, but not the fancy Phil I see on TV whos all suited up and shiny. This was a mellow, down-to-Earth-in-his-Birkenstocks-and-could-have-been-a-Deadhead-in-his-younger-years kind of guy. He wasn't wearing any of Shiny Phils ten giant NBA championship rings either, which would have been a helpful clue. No, just one sensibly-sized gold pinky ring on his left hand.

I kept my eye on him while he settled in but I still couldnt tell if this was the smooth Phil Jackson I was accustomed to seeing out on the basketball court; the one who famously practiced his Buddhist teachings with his superstar athletes.

He couldnt tell if Irecognized him, so we gave each other equally questioning looks. It seemed unlikely that Fancy Phil would be right here in my little town, but I didn't want to miss my shot so I ended our mutually vague stare with a smile.

Then I passed right by and walked into the cafe.

Inside, the waitress was talking to a customer about Phil Jackson so my suspicion was confirmed. I stepped into the bathroom to straighten myself then went back outside to his table. He was reading a newspaper, sitting with his back against the wall and his feet stretched out onto the sidewalk. I can imagine those long legs would have had a tough time folding up to fit under the cafe table where he sat. Next to him, it appeared child-sized.

When I approached him, he closed his paper and looked up as if he were ready to order. Realizing that I wasnt the waitress, his energy quickly changed to, Oh, so now you decide to talk to me, huh? His girlfriend, Jeanie Buss, didn't flinch. This attention wasnt new to her. Her boyfriend may have been the coach of the Lakers, but her dad, Jerry Buss, was the owner of the LA Lakers, the LA Kings, and The Forum sports arena they used to call home.

Phil was nonchalant. His calm composure allowed me to join him as he exercised his skill for living in the moment. I too am a fan of living in the moment and my moment was about to take his moment for a spin. Let's see how the Zen Master handles that.

I said, "Could you do me a favor?" "What's that?" he asked. I started to tell him about my idea, but once he heard "Celebrity Photo Album" he snickered and tuned out. He politely let me finish then said, "Oh. No. I don't do that." Evidently, his holistic efforts to operate on a higher level interfered with his attention span so I clarified, "No, just a picture of me. Will you take it?" He corrected himself, "Oh, okay. I can do that."

He was polite and so enlightened one might think he was raised by missionaries*, but once he was holding my camera he realized his power and started to direct. "You have to give me a profile. Go stand over there and pretend you are looking at those palm trees." I walked deeper into the parking lot. "Okay. Now turn your face to me." His playful side started to peek out. I smiled, he snapped the photo, and I happily returned to get my camera knowing I had just been instructed by one of the best coaches in NBA history. I don't play basketball, but I'd bet that with his masterful direction, some patience, and maybe a ladder I could make a three-point shot. Oh yeah, he's that good.

I don't know that his girlfriend ever looked up, but I thanked them both and said, Good luck tonight. He smiled and said thanks as if I couldn't have said anything more trite. He must He must hear that all the time. Not just all the time, but ALL THE FRICKIN' TIME. Also, they were scheduled to play the Memphis Grizzlies who couldn't hold a candle to the LA Lakers. Obviously, Coach Jackson wasn't too concerned. He looked more perplexed by the menu and what he wanted for lunch: a bagel and cream cheese or salmon stir-fry?

Later, a friend invited me to the game, and because of this run-in, watching the Lakers run circles around the visiting team was especially fun. Since we met that day Mr. There's-No-I-in-Team led his

Lakers to win three more championship titles adding three more enormous rings to his collection. Yeah, he's that good.