Los Angeles Lakers to Retire Pau Gasol’s No. 16 Jersey

Pau Gasol’s name and number are headed to the rafters…

The 42-year-old Spanish former professional basketball player will join a long line of legendary players when his number is retired in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ rafters next season.

Pau Gasol

The Lakers will honor Gasol’s No. 16 on March 7 when it hosts the Memphis Grizzlies, the team has announced as part of its schedule release for 2022-23.

Gasol, a six-time NBA All-Star and a four-time All-NBA team selection, was traded from the Memphis to L.A. in 2008 and teamed with Kobe Bryant to lead the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals appearances and two championships.

Gasol played in L.A. until 2014 when he signed with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent. He earned three of his six career All-Star appearances in his time with the franchise.

He retired from basketball last fall after a final season in his native Spain.

Gasol’s jersey will hang alongside Hall of Fame centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain as well as Bryant, Magic JohnsonJerry WestElgin BaylorJames Worthy, Gail Goodrich and Jamaal Wilkes.

Jennifer Lopez to Perform at Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s Blue Diamond Gala at Dodger Stadium

Jennifer Lopez isn’t dodging her philanthropic duties…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will headline the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s Blue Diamond Gala at Dodger Stadium, where she’ll perform an exclusive concert.

Jennifer LopezReferred to as “The Party For LA,” the event is presented by the Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership Group, a collective that includes Mark WalterMagic Johnson and tennis great Billie Jean King.

Lopez will share the program with DJ D-Nice, who will spin a set during the pre-show dinner party.

In addition to the live performances, the event will play host to special guests like Dodgers players, alumni and coaches and other boldfaced name VIPs.

Proceeds from the Blue Diamond Gala benefit LADF and its community programs and initiatives aimed at improving education, health care, homelessness and social justice for Angelenos.

Since its inception, LADF has invested over $40 million into the Los Angeles community in the form of direct programs and grants to nonprofits.

“We are thrilled to announce the return of the sixth annual Blue Diamond Gala, the party for Los Angeles, celebrating and raising funds for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and our positive impact on the Los Angeles community,” said Walter, Dodgers owner and LADF chairman of the board. “We are truly honored to have an artist of Jennifer Lopez’s caliber performing at this year’s gala.”

Added LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman: “The return of the gala is a celebration of heroes, our partners and those we serve, who experienced so many highs and lows the last two years. They are the reason we are bigger than baseball.”

Click here for more information about the event.

Diaz to Appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night”

It’s game on for Cameron Diaz

The 41-year-old half-Cuban American actress will appear during Jimmy Kimmel’s primetime editions of Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night.

Cameron Diaz

For the seventh consecutive year, in conjunction with the NBA Finals, ABC will air the late night talk show host’s primetime specials, which will air every night of the NBA Finals beginning with Game 1 on Thursday, June 5.

Broadcasts will feature basketball editions of Kimmel’s signature comedy bits Mean Tweets and Lie Witness News.

In addition to Diaz, guests for these shows include Jason Segel, Tracy Morgan, Mila Kunis, Martin Lawrence, Snoop Dogg, Psy, Ice Cube and more.

Previous JKL: Game Night guests include President Barack Obama, Adam Sandler, David Beckham, Liv Tyler, Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, Ashton Kutcher, Drew Barrymore, Chris Rock, Danny DeVito and Denzel Washington.

Previous JKL: Game Night  specials have premiered comedy pieces featuring Mike Tyson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Dwyane Wade.

Pitbull’s “Timber” Wins Best Collaboration Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards

There’s no denying Pitbull is the collaboration king… And, now he’s got the award to prove it.

The 33-year-old Cuban American rap superstar picked up the award for Best Collaboration at the first-ever iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles Thursday night.

Pitbull and Ke$ha

Pitbull earned the award for “Timber,” his chart-topping collaboration with Ke$ha, at the fan-voted ceremony.

But he didn’t just pick up an award… Pitbull was also one of the night’s performers.

After opening the NBC broadcast, Pitbull took a jab at Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was suspended for life by the NBA this week for making racing comments.

“Now everyone that’s here is a who’s who, a what’s what, the anybody’s of all anybody’s, except, of course, for Donald Sterling,” Mr. Worldwide said. “You can take a picture with whoever you want tonight, even Magic Johnson.”

Other performers included Shakira, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Bastille, Blake Shelton, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Luke Bryan.

Here’s a complete list of winners:

Hip-Hop/R&B Song of the Year “Pour It Up,” Rihanna
Best Collaboration “Timber,” Pitbull feat. Kesha
Best New Artist Lorde
Best Lyrics “Wrecking Ball,” Miley Cyrus
Best Fan Army Rihanna Navy
iHeartRadio Young Influencer Award Ariana Grande
iHeartRadio Instagram Award Austin Mahone’s Mahomies
Alt Rock Song of the Year “Demons,” Imagine Dragons
Song of the Year “Stay,” Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
Country Song of the Year “Boys ‘Round Here,” Blake Shelton
EDM Song of the Year “Wake Me Up,” Avicii
iHeartRadio Innovator Award Pharrell Williams
Artist of the Year Rihanna