What Kiss Cams Say About Cities

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  05.24.10 | 2:22 PM ET

I love this idea from a sportswriter I usually can’t stand: The Kiss Cam as a two-minute glimpse into a city’s soul. In this case, Bill Plaschke’s talking about the Kiss Cam at Staples Center in Los Angeles during Lakers’ games.

Nowhere, it seems, are the couples as animated, or the crowd as involved, or the message about the heart of Los Angeles any more clear. In a night filled with supermen, it is a brief, heartwarming reminder that the Lakers have been built upon the hopes and ideals of those who are real.

In a town where everything is supposedly disposable, no Kiss Cam moment is cheered louder than a smooch between an elderly couple. In a town that supposedly doesn’t trumpet family values, the second-loudest cheers occur for the forehead pecks of a parent on a child.

The third-most popular Kiss Cam moment? Hugh Hefner sitting in a luxury suite kissing three or four bunnies. C’mon, this is still Hollywood.



1 Comment for What Kiss Cams Say About Cities

TambourineMan 05.24.10 | 3:45 PM ET

Don’t let Mr. Yessis fool you. He secretly idolizes Bill Plaschke.

Speaking of Lakers vs Suns. I know he’s not Latino, but the Phoenix police department needs to deport Amare Stoudemire as soon as possible. He killed us last night.

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.