Being roasted by The Onion means you're notable enough for people to talk about. In a way, it's an honor -- but only if you're in on the joke.
And it looks like no one told former Chicago Bulls player Ron Harper.
On Thursday, the Internet's favorite fictitious news source ran a story titled "Ron Harper Won’t Stop Telling People He Was On Dream Team."
You see, Harper played for the Bulls for five years, from 1994 to 1999, and won three NBA Championships with the team. Harper was a part of the legendary 1995-96 Chicago Bulls team coached by Phil Jackson and led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, but he was never a part of the legendary 1992 Olympic "Dream Team."
Though he played a key role for the Bulls and was a fan favorite, Harper was understandably always in the shadow of his legendary teammates, hence the joke.
In the story, The Onion "quoted" Ron Harper saying to "a clerk at a local Stop & Shop":
“That team was something else: Magic, Jordan, Bird, Barkley, and me, manning the perimeter. We were unstoppable. Granted, what we accomplished in ’96 was pretty great too, but nothing can ever come close to that summer in Barcelona.”
Hours after The Onion's mock article went up, Harper saw it and took to Twitter to -- apparently with a straight face -- defend himself from The Onion's accusations.
Whoever told them that story on @OnionSports didn't tell the truth!!!! & I don't do stop & shop stores....THANKS— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) May 23, 2014
@candacesmith007 @OnionSports yes I saw that BS @OnionSports @OnionSports whoever wrote that story never talk 2 the real ron harper! !!!!— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) May 23, 2014
One of the chief Internet rules for celebrities is not falling for The Onion's bait -- and Harper was caught hook, line and sinker.