As soon as Phil Jackson's morally insipid statements supporting Arizona's hateful immigration law came to light, it didn't take long for opposition to come pouring in. I was told that a friend of mine had to go through a gauntlet of protesters to get into the Lakers game last night. Good job guys.

But an unlikely source of discontent stood tall last night at the game and it wasn't a player or a coach or our "Activist Coalition." It was someone I didn't see coming and I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but Vanessa Bryant sent a powerful message to Kobe's coach and to the rest of the country.

She wore a T-shirt that said: "Do I Look Illegal?"

OC Weekly:

Los Angeles Lakers fan are abuzz with news that Vanessa Laine Bryant, wife of Kobe, wore a blinged-out T-shirt with the words, "Do I Look Illegal?" to tonight's game.

ProBasketballTalk:

Phil Jackson isn't going to talk about it. Kobe Bryant won't go near it. The Lakers aren't going to talk about it or wear their Los Lakers jerseys. While there was a small protest outside, inside Staples Center the Arizona Immigration law discussion was dead.

Except for Kobe Bryant's wife. Vanessa Bryant is part Hispanic and she wore a shirt that said, "Do I look illegal?" to the game.

The reference was clear.

She -- and often the couple's daughters -- are regulars at Lakers games. They tend to stay out of the limelight, as much as that is possible for a high-profile family. But she gets noticed, and used that to make a statement at Game 1 against Arizona.

Keep coming out for the Los Suns series and protesting. The MSM sports establishment is trying to stay away from this as much as possible. We can't let them.

Thank you, Vanessa!