The True Story of One of the NBA’s Most Outrageous Halftime Moments

For Five Glorious Minutes, the Hollywood Shorties, a Star-Studded Dwarf Basketball Team, Stole the Show From the L.A. Lakers

My dad had a saying he would recite when I didn’t want to throw another bullpen session on the backyard mound he had built for me to improve my fastball: “Hard work always has a payday.” I admit, this axiom sounds embarrassingly archaic in the internet age where celebrities are made in mere minutes. That doesn’t mean it’s not true. What follows is a story of a group of guys who worked hard and had their moment in the sun.

The time: December 5, 1982. The place: Los Angeles. The storied …