Marv Albert denies scuffle with 50 Cent
November 22, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—Marv Albert said Saturday he was never involved in analtercation with 50 Cent, denying Internet reports of a fight on “Jimmy KimmelLive.”
According to the reports, punches were thrown after members of the rapper’sentourage didn’t recognize Albert, the longtime sports broadcaster who wasappearing as a guest on the show on Wednesday night.
But Albert told The Associated Press he was not even close to the exchange,which he believed was caused when a member of 50 Cent’s party was prevented byshow security from using a phone in the room that was supposed to belong toAlbert.
“I couldn’t even tell you what the guy looked like or the security guardlooked like,” Albert said.
Albert said he even read one account that he was punched by 50 Cent, who wasthe show’s musical guest, but insisted they never crossed paths.
“They embellish. It keeps getting embellished more than anything else,”Albert said. “What do you say, it’s just wrong.”
Albert appeared on the program the night before he called the Lakers’ homegame against Chicago on TNT. The Los Angeles Times’ account of the event, by awriter who was there, describes a scuffle and “a fist or two flying,” butnever mentions Albert being a part of it.
But the story has changed as it’s appeared on blogs in recent days, withAlbert saying family and friends are reading accounts that are “completely madeup.”
“I don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” Albert added. “It will be JimmyKimmel got punched.”
Albert said he was told the whole altercation lasted only a few seconds, butit’s created a few frustrating days.
“I’m sure this will be funny to me in a couple of days,” he said. “It’snot funny to me now, obviously.”