Heather La Bella is director of tactical marketing for the Los Angeles Sparks, the Women's NBA team that is always looking to bring in more young hetero male fans. She approached Playboy about buying an ad, but when she discovered it would cost $25,000, she cut a deal to pose topless instead. The appearance was encouraged by team president Johnny Buss, whose sister Jeanie appeared in the magazine nine years ago. Buss says of his dad Jerry:
"My dad has always said that that's the only Playboy he's never read. But this one he will read over and over again."
ESPN.com has this one covered, via the Sports by Brooks site. Brooks also has a sighting of Dallas Mavericks owner and blogger Mark Cuban in the South Bay.