We all know about family matters in the Lakers' locker room. So it's appropriate that The Magazine's Anne Marie Cruz spotted Urkel looming in Madison Square Garden after L.A. lost to the Knicks.

Half an hour after New York rolled the Lakers, Jaleel White was still waiting on Kobe. The One was boxed into a corner by media types. Jaleel idled near the door.

The former Urkel was easy to miss. Especially dressed like his playa alter ego, Stephan Urquelle -- beige Italian leather jacket, dark blue jeans, olive shoes. A couple members of the Lakers posse actually did recognize him. "Loved your show," someone said, pumping his hand.

Guess Hollywood sincerity travels cross-country.

Then someone pointed to Jaleel's back. Thin lines of Coke had dribbled down the back of his Italian leather coat. Urkel sighed, stripped off the skin and stopped one of the equipment boys, who kindly gestured toward a table of towels against the wall. Urkel stepped off to the corner, quietly scrubbing sticky disrespect off his coat.

"Is it new?" I asked.

"No," he said. "Never-worn, though. It doesn't matter, I'll just buy a new one."

What the heck, I thought, and shook his hand.

"Jaleel White, a pleasure," he said with an easy, plastic grin. So L.A.

The equipment guy walked by again, pointing to Jaleel's jacket. "Nice job," he said.

The stain had magically evaporated.

Jaleel laughed in surprise.

Meanwhile, No. 8 was in no rush to bounce. Not while the mics were on.

After the last camera lens was capped, Jaleel approached -- wearing that L.A. grin and thrusting his hand forward.

Kobe shook it, but shook his head as well.

"You're in Orlando, you're in New York. Don't you live in L.A.?" Kobe smiled as he spoke, but his disdain was evident.

I winced. Jaleel mumbled something, trying to recover. Kobe nodded, but turned heel and disappeared, Coke stain-like.

Urkel filed out with the media stragglers, shoulders hunched forward. He muttered in anger: "Set me up for that."

Once a punchline ...

Anne Marie Cruz writes for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail her at anne.marie.cruz@espnmag.com.