Los Angeles Lakers

According to court docs filed yesterday, the Bryants fully acknowledge Maria Jimenez's right to battle them in court -- although they say her claims of abuse are "without merit." What the Bryants are really concerned with is the confidentiality agreement they claim Jimenez signed when she was hired in 2007 -- which prevents her from talking to the press and other third parties.

The Bryants feel, according to the docs, that Jimenez's press tour following her lawsuit is in violation of that agreement.

Jimenez is suing the Bryants, specifically claiming Vanessa was incredibly abusive -- even demanding that she put her hand in a bag of dog feces to retrieve a tag from her blouse

They are all due back in court in July.

UPDATE: William Vogeler, potential Kobe-stopper and lawyer for Maria Jimenez has just released an exclusive statement to TMZ.

"The Bryants claim that they treated Maria Jimenez with the utmost respect, yet they want to silence her from talking about it. Fortunately, my client has a First Amendment right to talk about how they treated her.

Ultimately, a judge and jury will decide what really happened in the Bryant's home, And the last time I checked, the court is open to the public."

A judge just made the temporary restraining order against the woman accused of harassing Lakers star Derek Fisher permanent -- it didn't help her case that she was a no-show.

Fisher got the TRO late last month after alleging the woman had harassed him for years -- claiming they were married, among other things -- despite the fact Fisher claims they never met.

The woman, who changed her last name to Fisher, claimed she was "The REAL Mrs. Fisher" on her MySpace page. Fisher alleged she started showing up at his home, scaring his wife and kids.

The young lovers smooched and horsed around at Staples Center in L.A. on Tuesday.

And yes, Bynum's car is painted in Lakers purple and gold.

Kobe is at the Orange County Civil Courthouse in Santa Ana, waiting to be called for service. We got a pic of the famous Laker/former defendant clearing the metal detector. He was escorted into the building by Sheriff's deputies and taken to a private room near the Jury Assembly Room.

Former NBA legend Norm Nixon was arrested last night on suspicion of DUI.

Nixon was pulled over by California Highway Patrol just before midnight for having no front license plate on his black Ferrari. We're told officers smelled alcohol, so they gave him a series of field sobriety tests -- which he performed "poorly."

Nixon -- best known for his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 70s and 80s -- was booked and posted $5,000 bail.

Jeff, it's Lachey -- not "Latchee." And he was dating Vanessa Minnillo, not Alyssa Milano.

Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. says he's the victim of an identity thief -- and that someone forged his signature to get their hands on a pair of $37,000 Lakers tickets.

In an exclusive interview with TMZ, Gossett swats away allegations that he took the tickets and didn't pay for them -- and, by the way, he's had his own Lakers seats since the Magic-and-Kareem era!

Gossett tells TMZ that he recalls being offered the Staples Center Premiere seats, which are good for nearly any sporting event at the arena for two years, but denies ever agreeing to take them -- adding that the signature on the "contract" he signed is a fake. What's more, Gossett says he hasn't been served with the lawsuit from L. A. Arena Funding which accuses him of deadbeating on the Premiere Seats, and that he first learned about the suit through the media.

The Oscar winner adds that he doesn't really give a layup about any other team that plays at Staples, other than the Lakers, whom he considers "family," counting Magic as a "good friend."

A Lakers rep confirms that Gossett has been a Lakers fan in good seating for "twenty years," and that he's fully paid up. A call to lawyers for L.A. Arena wasn't returned.

Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. is being slammed for allegedly not paying for a pair of $37,000 Lakers tickets, and now the brass behind the basketball team is crying foul.

In a lawsuit filed recently in Los Angeles Superior Court, the former "Iron Eagle" is accused of signing a 2003 contract for a pair of exclusive Premier Seats at Staples Center -- home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and the NHL's L.A. Kings -- but never forking over the dough. The tickets, located close to the floor, are good for nearly any sporting event at the arena -- for two years!

Now, L.A. Arena Funding, the company that handles ticket sales for Staples Center events, is asking for $38,850 in damages. To put things in perspective -- that's less than 1% of what Kobe Bryant made this year (endorsements not included).

Reps for Gossett had no comment.

Jake was spotted in San Diego last week, visiting the set of HBO's pilot "John from Cincinnati," where his pal Austin Nichols plays the lead. Gyllenhaal arrived and was immediately escorted to Nichols' trailer, where they spent most of the day. Austin left the trailer only to grab some grub for the two from catering tables. This photo shows the best friends at a Lakers game in 2006.

Then, this past Saturday, TMZ spies spotted Jake and Austin in Los Angeles, having a quiet dinner at Jar restaurant. The two eluded having their pic taken by paparazzi when they escaped through the kitchen's backdoor. Reese Witherspoon, who has been romantically linked with Jake, was not present.

This is not the first we've seen of Jake and Austin -- their friendship goes back to the 2004 filming of "The Day After Tomorrow." Unlike the trio of Jake, Matt and Lance, this duo appears to be a lasting friendship.