Albany's ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team Hoaxed By Fake Former Yankee

Spencer

TOWNSQUARE MEDIA Sports WTMM (ESPN RADIO 104.5 THE TEAM)/ALBANY was hoaxed MONDAY (8/12) by a caller claiming to be former NEW YORK YANKEES outfielder SHANE SPENCER, reports ESPN NEW YORK's WALLACE MATTHEWS.  The caller made steroid allegations about other players and himself while conversing with host MIKE LINDSLEY; the interview was available for download on the station's website until taken down at about 6p (ET) TUESDAY.  The hoax was discovered by YANKEES star DEREK JETER, who was played the segment before TUESDAY's game and asked YANKEES head video coordinator CHARLIE WONSOWICZ call SPENCER.

SPENCER, who played for the YANKEES in 1998-2002 and presently coaches for the independent minor league SOMERSET PATRIOTS, gave YANKEE broadcaster MICHAEL KAY's ESPN Sports WEPN-F (ESPN NEW YORK 98.7 FM)/NEW YORK a statement saying, "In response to an interview that ESPN RADIO 104.5 FM host MIKE LINDSLEY claims to have done with me on TUESDAY afternoon, I would like to set the record straight that I did not participate in any such interview.  Someone called into the station claiming to be me and spoke on my behalf regarding some very sensitive topics surrounding baseball. This caller spoke as me about topics ranging from steroids, to my time with the NEW YORK YANKEES, ROGER CLEMENS, and my feelings about the great MARIANO RIVERA.

"I am outraged that someone would do this and at the same time disappointed that the station believed it to be me despite not coming from the contact information they had for me.  I am hearing about this interview from friends, family, former teammates, and fans. It is very disappointing that someone was able to go on the air as me and speak for me about these topics.

"I would like to set the record straight that the interview was not done with me and all the opinions were not mine.''

Later, LINDSLEY had the real SPENCER on the air to clear the air.  "It’s just very disappointing that someone would call in and use my name and put down my former friends and, you know, pretty much are teammates that are practically my family coming up through the Yankee organization," SPENCER told LINDSLEY. "I’m just disappointed that it even came to this ... It’s unfortunate, you know, it’s embarrassing. It really is embarrassing. Not only am I very upset that my name is out there because I am here working in NEW JERSEY. I do a lot of stuff at YANKEE STADIUM, I work with kids, I’m a good role model and to see how this might affect me is very disappointing and I’m going to make sure that I clear my name out."

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