VIA: Los Angeles Times
It’s not easy being on late-night television.
Marv Albert, the veteran NBA announcer for TNT, was in Los Angeles for the Lakers-Chicago Bulls game Thursday night. On Wednesday, Albert was a guest on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” show. The musical star was rapper 50 Cent.
As Albert arrived, with an entourage of one, TNT public relations specialist Jeff Pomeroy, there was a sudden scuffle when a multitude of 50 Cent protectors seemed unfamiliar with Albert. There was shouting (“It’s Marv Albert,” yelled a Kimmel show guard, a pronouncement that seemed to have no effect on the 50 Cent phalanx.) There were obscenities. A fist or two flying. A “Don’t you put your hands on me” pronouncement.
And finally Albert made it to his waiting room, relatively unruffled but slightly puzzled. “Did you see that?” Albert said. “I thought they were kidding, but then I realized they weren’t.”
Kimmel said Albert’s appearance was at his request. “I’ve been a fan of Marv’s for a long time,” the late-night host said. “I appreciate great broadcasters who are distinctive. I like somebody who brings a real personality to the job but in a professional way. Your job is to call games, not tell jokes, not make yourself a personality. I think Marv is great.”
Perhaps 50 Cent’s people would have recognized Albert had the broadcaster just walked down the hallway saying, “Yessssss!”
