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Is Mike Breen Retiring? Find Out How Two ESPN Staffers Fell For Prank

Dan Girolamo Written by Sports EditorDan Girolamo
Updated –
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Mike Breen holds his mic up.

Mike Breen is not retiring from calling NBA games. However, two prominent ESPN employees fell for a prank that discussed Breen’s retirement.

Mike Breen Retirement Prank

Reporters are known for being meticulous watchdogs who must check every detail before posting a story.

It’s time to follow that advice when using social media.

On X, “Scam Charania,” a parody account of ESPN’s Shams Charania, wrote that Breen is retiring.

The post read: “BREAKING: Longtime NBA play-by-play announcer Mike Breen is retiring after more than three decades in broadcasting, sources tell ESPN. The Hall of Famer and voice of 18 straight NBA Finals leaves behind one of the most iconic legacies in sports media.”

The post included a picture of Breen with “breaking news” across the photo, similar to how the real Charania posts news.

If you look closely enough, it says “Parody Account” under Scams Charania’s name.

Two ESPN Staff Members Fall For Prank

Time and time again, media members continue to fall for prank accounts.

Two ESPN NBA reporters, Ramona Shelburne and Marc J. Spears, quote-tweeted Scams Charania with congratulatory messages for Breen.

Shelburne wrote, “Triple bang for the Hall of Famer.”

“Legendary announcer and legendary humble person,” Spears added.

Unfortunately for the ESPN duo, they fell victim to the parody account.

The two acknowledged their mistakes and laughed about it online.

Breen is ESPN’s most valuable basketball announcer and will be the top guy for the foreseeable future. Breen signed a lucrative extension with ESPN before the start of the 2023 season.

ESPN is still trying to figure out who works best with Breen in the booth. The network added Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson to work with Breen.

However, Burke’s spot on the A-team is not guaranteed next season.

Dan Girolamo Written by Sports EditorDan Girolamo
Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.
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