The Day Was Music to His Ears

Ever since the NBA schedule was released last summer, Andre Russell had Jan. 17th circled on his calendar. Russell knew it was going to be a tough day because he is music coordinator for the Clippers and Lakers, who both played games at Staples Center on Monday.

So Russell began the day playing pregame music for the Laker game against Seattle and ended it putting together sound for the Clippers, who played San Antonio in the evening.

“It didn’t go as bad as I thought it would,” said Russell, who is in his first season working for the Clippers and his sixth with the Lakers. “But I’m ready to crawl in a corner and go to sleep.”

Russell said he enjoys working Clipper games because of the type of fans who attend are much different than those who watch the Lakers.

“They are more enthusiastic in a sense, they seem to be more dedicated in a sense,” said Russell, who began the day working 6-9 a.m. at radio station KJLH-FM (102.3).

“They will start their chants without the nudge sometimes. . . . Laker fans tend to sit on their hands and wait for the team to do it.

“That’s surprising because the Clipper crowd is usually smaller, sometimes substantially smaller. They are more enthusiastic as a whole most of the time.”

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Power forward Brian Skinner, who has not played since suffering a severe ankle injury against the Lakers on Dec. 14th, still has some swelling and is not expected to return for at least another week. Skinner, who averaged 7.5 rebounds and 6.7 points before his injury, has missed the last 15 games. The Clippers, who signed Marty Conlon to fill Skinner’s spot late last month and then cut him after he played in just three games, continue to play with an 11-man roster.

TONIGHT

at Sacramento, 7:30

Channel 9

* Site--Arco Arena.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 10-27, Kings 23-12.

* Record vs. Kings--1-0.

* Update--The Clippers always seem to play well against Sacramento, winning six of the last nine games over the Kings. Power forward Chris Webber leads Sacramento with 24.8 points and 11 rebounds a game. Point guard Jason Williams is averaging 13.7 points and eight assists for the Kings, who are tied with Indiana for the best home record in the league at 15-2.