Marv Albert denies reports of altercation with rapper 50 Cent on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Marv Albert denies altercation with rapper 50 Cent

NEW YORK — Marv Albert said Saturday he was never involved in an altercation with 50 Cent, denying Internet reports of a fight on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

According to the reports, punches were thrown after members of the rapper’s entourage didn’t recognize Albert, the longtime sports broadcaster who was appearing 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 by show security from using a phone in the room that was supposed to belong to Albert.

“I couldn’t even tell you what the guy looked like or the security guard looked like,” Albert said.

Albert said he even read one account that he was punched by 50 Cent, who was the 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’ home game against Chicago on TNT. The Los Angeles Times’ account of the event, by a writer who was there, describes a scuffle and “a fist or two flying,” but never mentions Albert being a part of it.

But the story has changed as it’s appeared on blogs in recent days, with Albert saying family and friends are reading accounts that are “completely made up.”

“I don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” Albert added. “It will be Jimmy Kimmel got punched.”

Albert said he was told the whole altercation lasted only a few seconds, but it’s created a few frustrating days.

“I’m sure this will be funny to me in a couple of days,” he said. “It’s not funny to me now, obviously.”