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# Laker victory apparently not a priority
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/laker-victory-apparently-not-a-priority/
- Published: 2002-06-14T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:19:56.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Main St, #archive-import

*SOULstice Celebration set for Sunday*

*By Daily Press staff*

In anticipation of the Lakers’ sweep of the New Jersey Nets two days ago, Q-Line asked, “What would be the best thing about the Lakers winning the NBA championship and how should we celebrate when the Nets are dunked?” Not many of you cared. What follows are the responses we received — all of them. See BRIEFS, page 6 ■ “Whether the Lakers win another championship or not should be the last thing to be worrying about right now. We in this country should be more concerned about the danger of terrorists putting nerve gas in our nation largest city’s underground subways and the safety of California’s water supply, which is wide open from one end of the state to the other. We must also be concerned about the threat of the possibility of the dirty bomb. There is also the problem with India and Pakistan. For goodness sake people, wake up and smell the coffee, America is at war. Our very way of life is at stake. If the Lakers win, fine! If not, it won’t be the biggest problem facing our nation. We have our priorities upside down.” ■ “As far as throwing the Lakers a big bash for their championship, or for that matter any other team’s win, parades, etc., are totally unnecessary. These guys are out to win games, and are paid obscene bucks for their so-called sportsmanship. Actually, far too much money is paid too them. This country has their priorities upside down big time. Conspicuous consumption and waste abound here more than any other place around the world.” ■ “At the NBA finals time, I am, as defined by your sports writer, a Laker maniac! I will arrive early on the day of the Laker victory parade in a new Laker T-shirt. Early enough to Figueroa Street to nab a spot on the curb up front...I hope anyway!” ■ “I think we should celebrate the Lakers championship by taking all the money that would have been spent on some sort of celebration and put it into sports programs for inner-city kids.”

The Main Street Merchants in Santa Monica will sponsor their 2nd Annual Summer SOULstice Celebration and Sidewalk Sale on Sunday, June 16 from Noon until 6 p.m., on Main Street between Pico Boulevard and Marine Street.

The celebration will include music, an art show, and children’s activities and more. Activities will be in parking lots and courtyards all day.

From 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. there will be all kinds of live music: jazz, folk-rock, Irish, Latin, rock n roll, Flamenco, Australian Aborigine, country rock and more.

DJs, including Jason Bentley and Liza Richardson from KCRW, will be providing music, and, for the kids, there will be pony rides, a petting zoo, and a touch tank. There will also be an art show All day parking is available at the beach lots two blocks away for $5.

Below is the schedule (subject to change): • “Urth Caffe lot,” corner of Hollister & Main: petting zoo, Window On Our Water's tidepool and touch tank, and (after 2:30 p.m.) pony rides. • “Shoop’s/Global Grooves” lot, 2400 Main, westside: Global Grooves DJs spinning music. • Edgemar Courtyard, 2430 Main, east-side: live music including the Cristian Amigo Trio (Latin music, 1:30 p.m.) and Sounds of the Dreamtime (Australian Aborigine & World music, 3:30 p.m.). • “Lost Planet” lot, 2515 Main, just south of Mani’s: art show. • Norman Place and Library lawn: John Muir school talent show & bake sale, and Joe Gaeta’s Jazz Quartet (2-4 p.m.). • Victorian entrance area, 2640 Main, westside: after the Farmer’s Market ends, the live music and pony rides will resume at 1:45 p.m. with singer/songwriter Sara Messenger & The Marginal Prophets ("Soulfolk conFusion", 1:45-3:15 p.m.) and The Gary Gordon Band (folk/blues/country-rock, 3:30 -5 p.m.). • New Orleans Building Courtyard, 2665 Main, eastside: Flamenco guitarist & dancer. • First Federal lot, 2811 Main, eastside: All-day party with Joey Ecktor & Friends (jazz, 12:45 p.m.), Los Pinguos (Latin music, 2 p.m.), KCRW’s Jason Bentley and Liza Richardson, the MILA Samba School (4:30 p.m.). • Kinney Ave., westside: live music: Paul Arnoldi & Friends (folk/country, 12:30 p.m.), Maria Butterly & Her Band (Irish/American folk & rock, 2 p.m.), The Nancy Luca Band (rock, 3:30 p.m.) •Fro Bar, 2941 Main, eastside: After event party 6 p.m.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 14, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/061402.pdf?ref=smdp.com)