Man Nabbed Over Prank Calls to Pro Coaches, By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff
(NEWSER) – Famous last words: “I’m like the world’s most safe criminal.” A Los Angeles man has been arrested after allegedly making prank calls to at least a dozen NFL, NBA, and college football coaches offering them new jobs. Kenneth Tarr, 32, allegedly called the likes of ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, offering him a head coach position at the University of Southern California, NBC News reports. Others targets included Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, University of Hawaii head coach Norm Chow, and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.
Tarr was arrested yesterday on suspicion of eavesdropping after he allegedly recorded the calls; recording without consent is illegal in California. He seems quite open about the pranks, having apparently written to Deadspin boasting of them. “I’m amazed that they’re returning any of these calls,” he told Deadspin’s Dom Cosentino (along with the “most safe” line above). In an interview with ABC News, Tarr notes, “Andy Kaufman, Andy Warhol, great, I’m glad they existed, but they’re nothing compared to me … People are not in on what I’ve accomplished.” Tarr previously made a name for himself by inventing fake personas that would get him on talk shows and other reality TV shows, as the Village Voice has reported; it called him “one of the most prolific television hoaxers in US history.” Deadspin and the Village Voice have more on his backstory.
