Marv Albert-Fifty Cent Beef Nearly Turns Violent

Don't these rappers know better that to mess with Marv Albert? Sure, he may be short in stature and old enough to collect Social Security, but the man can throw down with the baddest men on the planet. Some punk-ass posse maxed out with the bling will not faze the man.

It's not easy being on late-night television.

Marv Albert, the veteran NBA announcer for TNT, was in town for the Lakers-Chicago Bulls game Thursday night. On Wednesday, Albert was a guest on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show. The musical star was rapper 50 Cent.

As Albert arrived, with an entourage of one, TNT public relations specialist Jeff Pomeroy, there was a sudden scuffle when a multitude of 50 Cent protectors seemed unfamiliar with Albert. There was shouting ("It's Marv Albert," yelled a Kimmel show guard, a pronouncement that seemed to have no effect on the 50 Cent phalanx.) There were obscenities. A fist or two flying. A "Don't you put your hands on me" pronouncement.

And finally Albert made it to his waiting room, relatively unruffled but slightly puzzled. "Did you see that?" Albert said. "I thought they were kidding, but then I realized they weren't."