Stern fan has ESPN’s number
ESPN's "SportsCenter" was transformed into "SternCenter" on Tuesday night, when a fan of radio star Howard Stern duped the network into believing it was conducting an on-air telephone interview with released Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook.
About 40 seconds into his conversation with ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt, "Westbrook" -- actually Stern prank-call specialist "Captain Janks" -- said, "I have nothing but respect for head coach Andy Reid and I look forward to a future of worshipping the prostate of Howard Stern."
Janks explained on Stern's show Wednesday how his prank call got on the air. He said he called the network posing as Westbrook's manager, using a made-up name. ESPN initially told him it wanted to tape the interview, but Janks said, "I'd rather have my client do it live because we don't want you guys to cut the interview up."
When ESPN called 20 minutes later requesting Westbrook's number, Janks gave them his own, setting the stage for a classic prank call.
It's not the first time the "Worldwide Leader" has been played for the fool by an emissary of the "King of All Media." In 2003, shortly after the Chicago Cubs lost to the Florida Marlins in the National League Championship Series, an unidentified Stern fan also made it live on "SportsCenter," posing as infamous Cubs fan Steve Bartman.
The caller fooled former ESPN anchor Dan Patrick for nearly two minutes, smoothly answering questions before finally posing his own off-color query about Stern's anatomy.
A smiling Patrick took it in stride, saying, "We've been had. That was not Steve Bartman."
■ THE PLATINUM MEDAL GOES TO -- Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko, who apparently awarded himself a platinum medal after being denied the Olympic gold by American Evan Lysacek.
A few days after settling for the silver medal at the Vancouver Games last week, Plushenko ripped Lysacek for not trying a quadruple jump.
"You can't be considered a true men's champion without a quad," said Plushenko, who lost to Lysacek by 1.31 points despite performing the quad jump in which the skater spins four times before landing.
A caption on Plushenko's Web page, beneath a photo of three medals, reads, "Silver of Salt Lake, Gold of Torino, Platinum of Vancouver."
Plushenko was presented a symbolic platinum medal in Vancouver by Russian State Television host Alexei Popov, who told him, "You already have one gold and one silver, so here's a platinum medal for you. You are the real champion."
Popov might need to lay off the vodka. A complete set of medals is gold, silver and bronze. What's with the platinum?
■ VONN IS TIGER WOODS -- Gold medal-winning U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn poked fun at Tiger Woods' televised apology in an interview with Time magazine and would like to spoof it as host of NBC's "Saturday Night Live," if she gets the chance.
Vonn's idea for a skit would have her standing at Woods' podium, blue backdrop and all.
"There's something you don't know about me," she'd say in an apologetic voice. "Tiger, you're like my idol, and I too have a sex problem."
"That would be freaking funny," Vonn said.
COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
