A Little Something for the Lakers Fans: Great Songs About Our Team

It might be a hellish commute tonight with a host of Lakers flag-sporting vehicles anxiously crawling across the freeways in the hopes that their drivers can get home in time to catch the first game of the NBA Finals, where the Lakers square off against Orlando's Magic at 6 p.m.

Instead of stressing, we suggest practicing your Lakers claps, screaming a few cheers out the window and checking out these songs tunes inspired by the home team.

"Chick Hearn Rap-Around"

If you only watch one of these videos, let it be this one. This gem cuts and scratches the "Chickisms" of L.A.'s late, great Lakers announcer Chick Hearn over an early-'80s electro/hip-hop beat. Released as a single in 1985, it also appears on the companion CD for the 2004 book, Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Love Him. Wonder if I can find it on vinyl?

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Snoop Dogg and Kurupt
"LA Lakers Theme"

In recent years, Snoop Dogg has found a new calling performing theme songs. There's the version of Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle out There" from Monk, a special theme for One Life to Live and this ode to the Lakers written for the 2008 playoffs.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Magic Johnson"

From the album Mother's Milk, "Magic Johnson" hit the year after the Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons for the NBA championship, two years after they toppled the Celtics. Red Hot Chili Peppers celebrate a time when Magic meant LA.

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Big Wy
"I Love LA"

A Westside rapper gets all fanboy over the Lakers while channeling Randy Newman and it's laid over the backdrop for Alice Deejay's Eurodisco anthem "Better off Alone." If that's not enough, just watch this reasonable facsimile of Phil Jackson doing the cabbage patch. It's hypnotizing.

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Mr. Capone-E
"Lakers Anthem"

Like auto-tune with your hoops? Then Mr. Capone-E is your man. In a little bit of Lakers fan trivia, Mr. Capone-E's new single "Light My Fire" features an appearance from Mr. Theme Song, Snoop Dogg.