I was sitting at my desk yesterday when the phone rang.

Me: Indy.com.

Silence.

Me: Hello?

Random Mook: Yeah, is this Neal?

Me: Yes it is. What can I do for you?

RM: Yeah, I’m a fight promoter…

Me: OK.

RM: You wanna do a story on a fighter I got? Jeremy Ashley, he’s 25-1, gonna be on The Ultimate Fighter, not this next season but the one after it.

Me: OK, when’s he fighting?

RM: LFC on February 6. It’s at 8 Seconds, can you handle that?

Me: I actually fought on a Toughman show there, I think I’ll be fine.

RM: Oh, you train? Where you train at.

Me: I work out with the Integrated guys.

RM: Oh they’re a bunch of punks man, you should train with the real guys at LFC.

Me: Right, OK. Who is this? Who am I speaking with?

RM: What?

Me: Let me get your name and number and I’ll call you back.

RM: My name is Tristan Yunker.

Me: Uh…I know Tristan dude, and you aren’t him.

RM: I’m Tristan, man.

Me: No, you aren’t. What’s your phone number, I’ll call you back?

RM: *Mumbling* Click – dial tone.

I ran into James Clingerman today and after talking with him I have a pretty good idea who actually called me but I’m not gonna make his name ring out. Suffice it to say, impersonating a guy I know while speaking on behalf of a fighter who may not want to have anything to with you and insulting my friends is NOT a great way to pitch a story.