Dialing up the intensity

Seeking their first NBA title in 22 years, the Celtics had to contend last night not only with Kobe Bryant's crew but also with an energized crowd. Criticized for having zero zeal during the Finals, LA's chardonnay-swilling fans came alive in Game 5. Maybe they were responding to LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke, who accused the Lakers' pleated patrons of being more interested in seeing Justin Timberlake on the Jumbotron than Derek Fisher on the fast break. Or maybe it was because there were fewer neophyte Lakers fans. Yes, British footballer David Beckham was in the house, but several of the C- and D-list celebs who filled the Staples Center for games 3 and 4 stayed home. The NBA’s VIP guest list included ‘‘He Got Game’’ duo Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, who were no doubt rooting for Ray Allen even if they like the Lakers better; Spike's brother Malcolm Lee; Sean "Diddy" Combs; Sally Field; Jack Nicholson; Lou Adler; Lionel Richie; Dyan Cannon; Chili Peppers bassist Flea and bandmate Anthony Kiedis; Spanish basketball sensation Ricky Rubio; Bob Dylan's oldest son, filmmaker Jesse Dylan; and Grammy-winning singer Ashanti, who said she practiced the anthem a "zazillion times" before performing it. Tobey Maguire was a late arrival, as was Mark Wahlberg (the two hugged before the game, wishing the other's team well). Also there were Matt Damon, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Tucker, figure skater Michelle Kwan, Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, David Spade, Robert Downey Jr., Paula Abdul, country star Shania Twain, "General Hospital" actress Vanessa Marcil, and Tom Arnold. The Celts had a few full-throated supporters of their own, including actor Mike O'Malley, "The Shield" star Michael Chiklis, chef Ming Tsai, Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck wearing a C's jersey, and "Buffy" actress Eliza Dushku, who was with her boyfriend, Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny. "We're gonna take it, yo," she predicted, displaying her vintage Celtics hat. Or maybe not. At the end of last night's game, friendly rivals and fellow "Departed" castmates Nicholson and Damon embraced courtside, both looking forward to tomorrow's Game 6. No hard feelings.

Afflect surfaces in Calgary

Ben Affleck kept a low profile during the Celts/Lakers series - he didn't show up in LA despite being on the NBA's guest list for Games 3, 4, and 5 - but the actor did make an appearance in Calgary. The Cambridge native hit Cowtown Saturday to host a benefit gala for the OneXOne Foundation, whose goal is to improve the lives of little ones in Canada and around the world. Affleck told reporters that his recent travels to Africa have inspired him to do more charity work. (In a 10-gallon cowboy hat, he looked right at home in the southern Alberta outpost.) Also walking the red carpet north of the border were Edmonton Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray and "Canadian Idol" winner Eva Avila.

You still can't travel too far in Los Angeles without hearing "Sweet Child o' Mine" on the radio, and that bodes well for Milton music writer Stephen Davis, author of the forthcoming "Watch You Bleed: The Saga of Guns N' Roses." "It's weird because I was watching the Celtics and Lakers while I put the finishing touches on 'Hammer of the Gods,' " says Davis, referring to his bestseller about Led Zeppelin. "Now, 24 years later, I'm watching Celtics and Lakers again and putting the finishing touches on the G N' R book." Due out in August, the book chronicles the remarkable rise of Axl Rose's band, from their days as a Sunset Strip street gang dealing drugs to Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry to their eventual coronation as the kings of hair metal. The publisher, Gotham, has high hopes for the book, and Playboy magazine is publishing a 10,000-word excerpt in an upcoming issue. "Believe it or not, Playboy's sending a photographer over to shoot me," Davis told us. "I just hope they airbrush my nipples." Agreed.

Celts fan extraordinaire Maria Menounos bided her time before Game 5 by attending "The Dogs Next Door," a fancy Beverly Hills fund-raiser for the animal welfare organization DogsInDanger.com. Menounos, the fetching "Access Hollywood" correspondent who grew up in Medford, has rescued several pups from the pound over the years. She was joined at the event by glamorous dog-lovers Ryan Seacrest, Illeana Douglas, Kelly Rutherford, and Linda Blair.

More surprising than seeing Larry King wander into the gym at the Celts' Hotel - the Beverly Wilshire - the other day was watching the talk-show host's workout - if that's what you call it. King, 74, walked into the gym, toweled off one of the stationary bikes, and then climbed on. The suspendered CNN host then pedaled for approximately one minute and stopped. He got off the bike, poured himself a cup of coffee, and walked out.

Celts co-owner Bob Epstein and his brother David got a bird's-eye view of the City of Angels the other day, hitching a ride in an LAPD helicopter. Bob was in one whirlybird with C's press gal Heather Walker and David was in another with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton's buddy George Regan. Thankfully, they weren't called upon to make any arrests, but they did observe some police action on the ground.

Glad to see Sox slugger David Ortiz is taking care of himself while on the shelf with a wrist injury. Big Papi and wife Tiffany paid a visit to Shrine at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Saturday night, and dined on a healthy spread of sushi. (The couple stayed over and treated themselves to spa services yesterday, we're told.) "Shark" star James Woods also ate at Shrine over the weekend.

Nothing says Father's Day quite like a walk in the park - Fenway Park, that is. As they have for the past several years, the Sox opened the doors on Father's Day to let dads stroll around the ballpark with their sons and daughters. Making the soggy scene yesterday were Wally the Green Monster, stilt-walker "Big League" Brian, and Sox alums Billy Conigliaro and Jim Corsi, who happily signed autographs.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.