For Lakers' Brian Shaw, a pre-game (fishing) warm-up

Philip Friedman, founder of 976-tuna.com, received a text message Friday from former Lakers player and current assistant coach Brian Shaw.

Shaw said, essentially, that he needed to go fishing because it'd be his last chance for a long time. Monday is Lakers media day. Tuesday marks the beginning of twice-a-day practices. Another long, crazy season is at hand.

They met Saturday at noon in Redondo Beach, embarked from King Harbor and were dismayed because Redondo Sportfishing's typically reliable bait concession had nothing.

But neither that nor the persistent fog spoiled their time spent beyond Rocky Point at the south end of Santa Monica Bay. Schools of small bonito were marauding, willing to strike iron lures. Barracuda were mixed among the bonito.

Shaw, his son B.J. and daughter Bianca and Friedman and his sons Philip Jr. and Patrick crammed the rear deck of Friedman's 21-foot Parker and engaged in dozens of spirited battles with the feisty game fish and also went deep for some delectable sculpin.

It was only a few hours, Friedman said, but for Shaw it was a necessary escape before the basketball madness begins. "He just wanted to get a little break before the season begins, and he was stoked about it," Friedman said Sunday morning.

Friedman also conceded that Shaw, as an avid angler, will find ways to slip away for similar excursions in the months to come, demands of an NBA assistant coach notwithstanding.

— Pete Thomas

Photo courtesy of 976-tuna.com
Caption: Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw is not at all intimidated by this toothy opponent: a 5-pound bonito displayed by Philip Friedman Jr.