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Ball Don't Lie

Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

Magic pull off cruel, nay, crafty April Fool's joke

By J.E. Skeets

The Magic's PR and Marketing team sure had some fun with April Fools' Wednesday in Orlando. Let me try my best to explain.

Giddy with whoopee cushion excitement all night long, the Magic pretended to "trade" Dwight Howard to the Oklahoma City Thunder, "re-sign" former great Penny Hardaway, and "play professional basketball" exactly like the Washington Generals. (They nailed that last one flawlessly, falling 99-95 to the sub-sub-sub-.500 Raptors.)

But the best prank of the evening came during half-time when the Magic staff appeared to crush the hopes and dreams of one poor, unsuspecting lad. Keywords here: "appeared to" ...

Similar to CollegeHumor.com's epic prank, a blindfolded fan heaved a half-court shot that he thought was worth $100,000, and the crowd — in on the gag — went bonkers. Convinced he had just hit the shot of his life, "Mr. Lucky" celebrated wildly before addressing the crowd on a mic. "I actually just got laid off from work," he said, "but we're going on a trip." (To Disney World? I don't know.)

And then they told him it was all a joke.

Abrupt record scratch!

Jaws dropped.

Horrible, right?

Well, not really.

You see, the blindfolded fan was actually a hired actor and the joke on the guy was really a joke on the crowd, which never realized it.

Magic PR and Marketing team, 1. Fools, 0.

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959 Comments

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  1. OG Warrior Fan
    1. Posted by OG Warrior Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
  2. Hugh Jass
    2. Posted by Hugh Jass Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    incredible. that is crafty
  3. Simmsinns
    3. Posted by Simmsinns Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    I've been had!
    Well not really, I was just reading the headlines... right?
    :(
  4. BUNSEE
    4. Posted by BUNSEE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    I really feel sorry for the guy who didnt get the money. But he already knew he wasnt going to get it
  5. BUNSEE
    5. Posted by BUNSEE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    April fools day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  6. ramon
    6. Posted by ramon Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    i dont get it
  7. eagle
    7. Posted by eagle Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    *lol*
  8. THE TRUTH 34
    8. Posted by THE TRUTH 34 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    That is absolutely............ awsome!! :)
  9. Nikolai W
    9. Posted by Nikolai W Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

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    It's too bad that the first one wasn't a joke. The Thunder need all the help they can get. Howard would have helped them a lot. Oh well, there's always the draft.
  10. frushe1
    10. Posted by frushe1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    Don't feel bad for him, BUNSEE, they said he was a HIRED actor.
  11. boobz
    11. Posted by boobz Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    i was at the game...it was pretty funny...not trying to sound cool but i knew the dude was acting...if people weren't so stupid and/or drunk they would've noticed how horrible the actor was...but they def had the whole crowd fooled...myself included for most of the joke
  12. Someguy
    12. Posted by Someguy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    That was pretty creative. But who watches the NBA?
  13. ery_chen
    13. Posted by ery_chen Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    happy april fools day!!!!
  14. olskoolgurl
    14. Posted by olskoolgurl Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    sounds like fun!
  15. olskoolgurl
    15. Posted by olskoolgurl Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    sounds like fun!
  16. Lets Go Pens
    16. Posted by Lets Go Pens Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    haha.
  17. bobbbbby
    17. Posted by bobbbbby Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    thas pretty freakin funny
  18. rondolover
    18. Posted by rondolover Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm EDT

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    haha.. that's complicated, but funny wooww
  19. Emmanuel
    19. Posted by Emmanuel Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    ...so I guess he practiced that shot to be able to make it on his first try
  20. Melted Choclate
    20. Posted by Melted Choclate Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    i dont get it
  21. ARMY WIFE ARMY LIFE
    21. Posted by ARMY WIFE ARMY LIFE Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:28 pm EDT

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    This is the orefect example of why I hate April Fool's Day.
  22. BSchu
    22. Posted by BSchu Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    That is so funny. hahaha
  23. PLUY
    23. Posted by PLUY Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    i hate milk
  24. brianw122@...
    24. Posted by brianw122@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Lol that were good pranks nice...amazingly funny dwight to oklahoma funny
  25. Betty Boop
    25. Posted by Betty Boop Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    well, seems pretty stupid to me!
    Go Lakers!

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