Nicholson takes on basketball ref

Actor Jack Nicholson apparently got swept up in a basketball play-off drama between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers, stepping on to the court and screaming at a referee during a Western Conference game.

Nicholson’s outburst in Los Angeles came shortly after Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal was called for his third foul in the second quarter, yelling at referee Mark Wunderlich during a break in the action.

“I pay a lot of money for this seat,” Nicholson said at half-time. “This is the NBA, you can’t tell me to sit down.”

Another famous Lakers fan, actress Dyan Cannon, backed Nicholson, telling him: “Give me five, Jack. Thank you. He needed that.”