LOS ANGELES _ The LeBron James mural in Venice drew a steady crowd of people who wanted to take in the image of L.A.'s newest Laker and local savior.
"It's been really good for us," said an employee of Baby Blues BBQ, whose back lot borders the wall that served as the muralist's canvas.
Fans from California, Georgia, Texas and elsewhere arrived on foot, by car and scooter to pose for pictures in front of the mural of King James. It must have been like this in Fatima, Portugal, where mobs journeyed a century ago to the spot where three shepherd children claimed to have seen an apparition of the Blessed Virgin.
"I think it's good for the city because we're used to big stars out here," a local resident and rabid Lakers fan told me after his friend took pictures of him posing before the mural.
That same day, hundreds of fans gathered at Blaze Pizza in Culver City, hoping that a rumor of James' arrival might pan out. It didn't, and The Los Angeles Times ran a photo of a distraught young woman, hands to her head, as if her puppy had just died.
Folks, I'd like to make an observation here.
