Do It. Buy a raffle ticket to win Ron Artest's chamionship ring.

When the Lakers won the NBA Championship last season, it seemed like no one was more thrilled than Ron Artest. The quirky forward has become infamous for his strange but endearing acceptance speech, and that all makes his next move even cooler.

Artest has set up a "Win My Bling" raffle, where he will be giving away his actual championship ring, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to meet him and sit at premium seats at a Laker game. You read that right -- he's giving away his ring, you can meet him, and you'll be sitting at awesome seats at a Laker game. (And you'll also receive a cash prize of $13,000 to balance the tax liabilities that come with the prize. All the bases are covered!)

So what do you have to do to enter the raffle? Tickets are only $2 each. Two bucks. It's a minimum purchase of 5 tickets, but that only comes up to $10. You'll be entering this raffle for $10, and have 5 chances to win this amazing prize! And yep, the money in the raffle all goes to XCel University, which supports mental health awareness, so it'll all be charitable.

Is there a downside to this? Buy your raffle tickets now! The drawing will take place on Dec. 25, 2010, so you still have a lot of time to enter (as often as you want!). Good luck!

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Laker gear.

They won!! Now let's buy some awesome gear. The hat pictured above is the official "Locker Room" hat--worn on court by the team right after last night's victory over the Celtics.

There are plenty of Lakers/2010 Champions clothing options, including T-Shirts and sweatbands, even socks! The timing of their big win is perfect for Father's Day if your dad is a fan, although ordering online might be risky (and shipping expensive), so I suggest finding this stuff in-store if you want it by Sunday. Adidas stores, shops in the mall like Lids and even kiosks should be well-stocked with 2010 Champions items throughout the weekend.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: footballfanatics.com

Eat In. Lakers cocktail [Thirsty Thursdays!].

The Lakers will still be in Boston tonight, fighting to bring us home the ring, and here's how you can celebrate in style:

Morton's Purple & Yellow Cocktail
2 oz Absolut 100 Vodka
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1 oz Orange Juice
Splash of sweet & sour
Splash of Rose's Lime Juice

Combine all ingredients into a martini shaker, shake all ingredients until chilled, and pour into a chilled martini glass. Then, carefully pour .5 oz of Chambord into the filled martini glass so that it settles at the bottom. Garnish with a skewered purple grape through orange wedge.

Or, if you're lazy, just head over to any Morton's to have a fancy bartender fix it up for you. Beat Boston!

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Morton's

Check It. Lakers vs. Celtics.

Tonight, at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles (photo from the Goodyear Blimp, below) the Lakers play the Celtics in the first of this season's playoff games.

It's going to be a really fun night in L.A., whether you're downtown in the heart of the action or on the Westside, people all around the city will be glued to their TV sets this evening from 6:00 p.m.

Go Lakers!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times