VIDEO: Borat Would Be Proud - Students Impersonate Russian Fans At NBA Game
Oct. 17 2010, Published 10:25 a.m. ET
Two Florida students impersonating Russian basketball fans fooled a lot of people – including a respected journalist - at a Miami Heat game earlier this week, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Florida Atlantic University freshman Bradley Springer and high schooler Jonathan Taylor painted their faces and put on their best Russian accents for Tuesday's exhibition game against CSKA Moscow.
Impersonating Pavel and Yuri Kopeche – two brothers and CSKA fans who moved to Florida five years ago - the pair intended to just “mess with people” but instead quickly became celebrities when they were approached by the media for interviews.
The following day, the duo appeared on the front page of the sports section of the Miami Herald but when one media outlet began to speculate whether the pair was actually Russian, they confessed.
Springer contacted a Miami reporter and confirmed that the “brothers” were not Russian and that the “Kopeche” character was born on a trip to Italy last year with friends.
In an interview with Miami New Times, Springer said "We saw the story online on our way home, and I could not stop laughing. I haven't laughed that much ever!"
Springer also tells the newspaper he wasn't trying to destroy the reputation of the Miami Herald’s reporter who fell for it, "If she gets in trouble, that wasn't our intention at all," he says. "I would feel bad about that."
Despite the controversy, the pair plan on continuing their charade and have even started a Facebook fan page for their characters
Borat would be so proud!
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