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People and Pop Culture

Lee Zeidman, Staples Center

PROFESSIONAL

What I like …

Photo by: JUAN OCAMPO / AEG VIA BERNSTEIN ASSOCIATES

An insight: Tell the truth. In the end the truth always wins.

An influential person in my career: Jerry West.

An out-of-the-box idea: Joining Twitter as a way to connect with arena guests.

A timeless idea: Working together to achieve a common goal.

LEE ZEIDMAN
President, Staples Center

Where I’m from: Born in Detroit; reside in Venice, Calif.

Where I Went to School: California State University, Northridge; B.A. in psychology, B.S. in commercial recreation.

My First Job: Taco/burrito specialist and cashier, Taco Bell.

A business deal: The sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.

A sports event: Any Game 7 of the World Series, Stanley Cup Final or NBA Finals.

A strategy: Can’t always control what is on stage or playing surface, but you can control the quality of service offered.

Byron Scott
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

A hire: Byron Scott of the Los Angeles Lakers.

A brand: Tommy Bahama.

A trend: Oversharing … everything.

An innovation: Dynamic pricing.

A pro league or team business initiative: Sustainability for all leagues and teams.

A story that bears watching: The potential return of the NFL to Los Angeles.

An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: Uber.

A fantasy job: First mate on Kenny Chesney or Jimmy Buffett’s boat off the coast of somewhere.


What I like about …

My job: The men and women I get to work with on a daily basis.

Sports business: The impact a trade or free agent acquisition can make on a team or city.

Sports media: The passion and humor of sports columnists.

Competing: Keeps us young.

The future of sports business: Through technology it will continue to look for ways to connect with the fans.


What I would like to …

Change: The overuse of electronic devices in social settings.

Change in what I do: Vacation more.

See: More tropical islands.

See more of in sports: The postgame handshake between athletes and teams.

See more of in sports business: Increased charitable tie-ins.

See less of in sports: Arrogance.

See different: A lower cable bill.

Eliminate: Homelessness.


What I don’t like …

In general: People who are late for meetings.

Pet peeve: People who do not use turn signals or people who throw cigarette butts out the window. Where do they think they go?

In sports: PEDs.

In business: Politics.


PERSONAL

What I like …

Chris Paul
Photo by: NBAE / GETTY IMAGES
That would surprise those who know me: I own a psycho cat.

About myself: That I am direct, fair and to the point.

Heroes: Jerry West, Frank Robinson, Louis Zamperini, Joe Namath.

Players: Kobe Bryant, Jarret Stoll, Chris Paul.

Teams: Los Angeles Kings, Lakers and Clippers; San Diego Chargers; Detroit Tigers.

Possession: Six, soon to be seven, championship rings.

Memento: Customized canvas print of myself and the Rolling Stones prior to kicking off 2013 world tour at Staples Center given to me by my staff for my birthday.

Time of year: Summer, as the days are longer and vacations begin.

Music: All genres, but mostly rock and country.

Author: James Patterson.

Magazines: Islands, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness.

Gadget: Sonos.

Chore: Feeding the psycho cat.

Hobbies: Playing softball, fantasy baseball and football.

Kenny Chesney
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
Trip: Bora Bora.

Movies: “Saving Private Ryan.”

Concerts: Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett.

Artist: Adrian Sandstrom, a SoCal ceramist.

Food: Mexican.

Dessert: Key lime pie.

Drink: Don Julio 1942.

Scent: Coconut.

Car: Jaguar.

Quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” Nelson Mandela.

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