What Are Villaraigosa's 'Official duties' at Tonight's Lakers-Celtics Game?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held a press conference yesterday in which he pressed the public to stay away from the Staples Center tomorrow if they didn't have a ticket to the Lakers-Celtics NBA championship game 7. But Villaraigosa will be there, though the source of his ticket, and what it his being there means in regards to his official capacity remains unclear, notes LA Observed.

Villaraigosa was confident in his assertion that he will be in attendance tonight, but in light of the recent "Ticketgate" controversy surrounding his acceptance of freebies to attend over 80 events since he took office in 2005, he was noticeably cagey about the issue. In order for the Mayor to accept gifts, like tickets, his presence at the event must involve City-related duties, often accommodated by having him present a key participant with a certificate.

In a video interview conducted by LA Observed, reporter Kevin Roderick asks Villaraigosa to explain what his "official duties" will be at tonight's basketball game.

"We'll talk about them soon," said the Mayor, grinning broadly before walking away.

Game 7 gets underway at 6 tonight. Hopefully by then Mayor V will be ready to let us in on his plans.