Punk'd
'My heart dropped': The cruel prank a fan played on Adam Schefter at Augusta National
Aaron M. Sprecher
Perhaps you’ve heard that Augusta National doesn’t allow phones. It’s only one of the longest-lasting traditions in sports, and something that separates it from every other professional athletic endeavor in the world. Ultimately, it’s a good thing because it forces everyone to pay attention for a minute or two and leads to unbelievable photos that aren’t chock-full of every fan taking grainy videos for some godforsaken reason.
For most of us, taking a day or two away from our phones is a blessing, but it’s rightfully terrifying for Adam Schefter. The ESPN insider, who once had his screentime clocked at 17 hours and 23 minutes, is almost required to have his phone with him wherever he goes in case some sports news breaks, or an NFL trade is announced, or someone wants to call him with some insider-y information. And yet, rules are rules. Schefter couldn’t have his phone with him at the Masters, which led to quite the evil prank.
“I had this one 20-year-old kid come running up to me and he goes, ‘Did you hear about the humongous NFL trade?’” Schefter said around the 32:40 mark of “The Adam Schefter Podcast.” “And my heart dropped. This is on the sixth hole. And I’m like no. And he’s like, ‘I’m only kidding!’
“That wasn’t that funny. I gotta be honest with you. And even my cousin, who’s not a football fan, he looks at me and goes, ‘That kid was obnoxious.’ And he scared the crap out of me, to be honest with you. My heart dropped into my stomach when he said that. But it was an unbelievable experience to be there, other than that one little moment.”
The Washington Post
OK, all respect to Schefter and his craft … but it’s a little funny. We understand the fear, especially when this is how the bills get paid, and yet, we respect a good bit, especially when it can only be done in this singular time and place.
We’re almost surprised Schefter made the Augusta National trip with the NFL Draft around the corner. And it sounds like the NFL guru was a little worried about it, as well, even before the prank.
"I go into Thursday and Friday, petrified of what's going to happen," Schefter said. "Is Aaron Rodgers going to come back today while I'm on the golf course? Are the Tennessee Titans going to trade the No. 1 overall pick? Is Deion Sanders going to say that Shedeur's playing in this city or nowhere else?"
Luckily, this gag was the closest Schefter got to missing critical NFL news. It just goes to show you that even Adam Schefter, a man renowned for being on his phone, can survive without it at Augusta National for a day or two. And now, somewhere out there, there’s a 20-something with a Hall-of-Fame anecdote about the time he scared Adam Schefter half to death.
