L.A. Mayor Gives Israeli Prime Minister Kobe Jersey

Published by Jim Murdoc on June 16, 2008 in Kobe Watch.

CBS2: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and handed him a jersey of L.A. Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant.

Villaraigosa, on a seven-day trip to the Israel, said he is a longtime friend of the prime minister, and the two discussed ways to promote peace in the region.

The mayor said his gift Sunday reflects that, in his words, “there is no better ambassador for the city of Los Angeles than Kobe Bryant.”

Even after a busy day of meetings, Villaraigosa said he would stay up to watch the Lakers play the Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA finals. The Lakers won last night to send the series back to Boston.