SAGINAW, Mich. (CP) - Late-night funnyman Stephen Colbert had a lot riding on Friday night's Ontario Hockey League game between the Saginaw Spirit and the Oshawa Generals.
The host of the satirical news program "The Colbert Report" (pronounced coal-BEAR RAY-pore), has thrown his support behind the Spirit in recent months after learning that the Michigan team had named its mascot Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, as a tribute to him.
Colbert has since done some trash-talking about other OHL teams, particularly the Oshawa Generals.
After the Generals recently beat the Spirit on home turf, the Oshawa team held its annual teddy bear toss for charity. Colbert took mock offence and aired footage of the stunt, calling it "an obvious attempt to taunt me."
In retaliation, he encouraged Saginaw fans to throw General Motors annual earnings reports on the ice during Friday's game against the Oshawa Generals in Michigan. He even posted a downloadable link to the financial reports on his website.
That prompted Oshawa Mayor John Gray to issue a challenge to Colbert on a local radio station.
Gray said if the Oshawa Generals win the game, Colbert must wear a Generals jersey for an entire show. However, if the Spirit wins, Gray must declare Colbert's birthday "Stephen Colbert Day" in Oshawa.
Colbert accepted the challenge on his show Thursday night, but said he wants his day to be declared on Gray's birthday, March 20.
"Listen up Gray, I'm not afraid of you," said Colbert.
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press
The host of the satirical news program "The Colbert Report" (pronounced coal-BEAR RAY-pore), has thrown his support behind the Spirit in recent months after learning that the Michigan team had named its mascot Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, as a tribute to him.
Colbert has since done some trash-talking about other OHL teams, particularly the Oshawa Generals.
After the Generals recently beat the Spirit on home turf, the Oshawa team held its annual teddy bear toss for charity. Colbert took mock offence and aired footage of the stunt, calling it "an obvious attempt to taunt me."
In retaliation, he encouraged Saginaw fans to throw General Motors annual earnings reports on the ice during Friday's game against the Oshawa Generals in Michigan. He even posted a downloadable link to the financial reports on his website.
That prompted Oshawa Mayor John Gray to issue a challenge to Colbert on a local radio station.
Gray said if the Oshawa Generals win the game, Colbert must wear a Generals jersey for an entire show. However, if the Spirit wins, Gray must declare Colbert's birthday "Stephen Colbert Day" in Oshawa.
Colbert accepted the challenge on his show Thursday night, but said he wants his day to be declared on Gray's birthday, March 20.
"Listen up Gray, I'm not afraid of you," said Colbert.
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press
