http://www.startribune.co...84083.html

Last update: March 24, 2004 at 9:20 PM
C.J.: The phone rang, and she said no
C.J., Star Tribune

March 25, 2004


Leeann Tweeden's too secure, not to mention edgy, for Prince.

He didn't realize that about eight years ago when he reportedly was blinded by a sexy magazine spread of the fitness-show star and model for Frederick's of Hollywood. That brush with Symbolina came rushing back to Tweeden, now a contributor to "The Best Damn Sport Show, Period," when she was in the metro this week to shoot a FOX Sports piece about Wild players. "If you look at his [dating] history, I'm right up his alley," she said. "You know what I'm saying; the Latin-exotic-whatever. I was very young. I get this phone call one day from a photographer who had photographed me. His pictures had ended up in a magazine; I think it was FHM [in England]. I was doing 'Fitness Beach' on ESPN." Apparently Prince had seen the photos.

"He [the photog] was like, 'Oh my gosh, we just got a call from Prince's people. Prince would like to meet you, fly you to London,' " she said.

Tweeden ended up on the phone with one of Prince's bodyguards.

"The Boss is what he called him because this is during Symbol times. 'The Boss would like to fly you to London for the week while he's here,' " she said. "I'm like, 'What?' I'm appalled at this, actually. I'm a fan but no thank you. I might have been young, but I wasn't born yesterday and I wasn't stupid. And believe me, I was not attracted to that 4-foot-nothing Prince, who wore boots higher than mine."

When it was apparent that this was not a professional, work-generating call, Tweeden told the bodyguard, "Look. I'm not interested. If he wants to meet me, well, then when he comes to L.A., my agent and I will meet with him."

Calls kept coming, including one that crossed the line.

"A week later I get this phone call at home -- on my home phone," she emphasized.

How did Prince's people get that number?

"Don't ask me. Why don't you ask Symbolina?" (I attempted to do that with a note left at Paisley Park on Tuesday. No reply.)

"So I get this call from a young girl at Paisley Records. She's just the messenger. The first thing out of my mouth was [unprintable, followed by] 'How dare you call me on my home phone!' She said, 'I'm just relaying a message.' "

The message: Prince was going to be at his L.A. club. He was inviting Tweeden and as many friends as she desired to be his guests. Tweeden said she was patient but firm with the messenger. "I said, 'I suggest you never call me again, and you know what I mean.' She was a girl. She knew why she was calling."

Tweeden prefers guys who make their own phone calls, such as World Series MVP Josh Beckett, a Florida Marlins pitcher. In her line of work, athletes are off-limits in her personal life, so "I don't interview him anymore." Asked whether Beckett was responsible for the blinding bling-bling on her ear lobes, Tweeden quipped,"Sweetheart, these are $12.99 at the mall. Aren't they beautiful?" Big, too.

In addition to making his own phone calls, Beckett must also have character, a trait Tweeden values.

Torii and Tom

Viewers of the "The Best Damn..." can look forward to an upcoming "Leeann Goes to Spring Training" segment that may include Torii Hunter of the Twins.

Tweeden said viewers are always asking whether colleague Tom Arnold is as much of a character as he seems.

"Tom's great. Tom's a good man," she said. "He is that nervous frenetic guy, not afraid to make fun of himself but not afraid to say what he thinks."

My other show curiosity was about alum Michael Irvin, who now does football analysis for ESPN.

There was a time when Irvin's grammar was so raggedy it was frightening. Lately, I've been astonished by his new ability to form sentences.

Tweeden said Irvin's grammar improved by "leaps and bounds when he was at Fox. He worked with a guy once a week; working with his e-nun-ci-a-tion. He was like Don King." Not anymore.

Tweeden is a fast talker, but that's probably not what caught the eye of Mike Siddall, waiter extraordinaire at Origami. Siddall had a couple of questions for Tweeden about the music on the extreme sports show she once co-hosted, "54321." Obviously, Siddall is more a part of the Tweeden demographic than yours truly. I was dubious about spending time with her when Fox Sports Net North PR guy Greg Phillips suggested I meet the woman who sometimes does sports gossip on the show. Tweeden is no twit. 'Course, Prince already knew that.

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. More of her attitude can be seen on FOX 9 Thursday mornings.

Prince was like a mafia mack daddy, getting his body guards to call up the pooch.

Tells you what a nutty lil guy he once was. He sure has changed. come ere lil guyy.

billy jack bitch u bitch.

seriously, how can she be so preoccupied with writing up such lame stories, and how do they make it into the paper when they are so blatantly petty and mean-spirited?

naw, i shouldn't be so negative about how much she totally sux

say cj!
!

the rumor mill must be slooooow right around now. even then nobody'll really give a rat's ass about some 8-year old rumor/fling, because prince is the media's darling once again.

this thread has been done already.
see:http://www.prince.org/msg/7/86266
somebody shut it down.
hint,hint
*motions to Dansa*

The media forgives way too easily...

Both of these bitches are bitch-ass bitches!!!! 'Cuz Rick James said so!!!

Somebody ignore this bitch fast

im suprised by all the "bitch" calling...this young woman was strong enough to turn down a tacky bootycall and everybody here calls her a bitch....


interesting...

sosgemini said:

nobody's callin the woman names...they're pretty much referrin to c.j., i think.

sweet merciful crap, how does CJ even still have a job? Like anyone even cares about and 8 year old rumor. the story isn't even remotely interesting.

"really? Prince was interested in an attractive woman and didn't deal with it well?!? OMG, no other man in history had never done anything like that!!!"

God damn, I can't believe I have 2 get angry about this noise! Will someone at the Tribune just fire CJs worthless ass and get it over with? Talk about a useless human being.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

tell her what she's won, jay!!!

a brand new thingie!!!!

*que applause*

mochalox said:

omg, i won a thingie!!! i'm gonna put it on my coffee table!

sosgemini said:

My bitch was directed towards CJ, I leff out the Billy Jack

What cracks me up about this story is that CJ is trying to make P look bad, but instead he comes across as this smooth-as-silk playa! Amazing this woman still has a job!

CJ 4 President!

u deserve it sweetie!!!

That story was fun, prince rocks.

that chick sounds pretty lame, good thing the boss did'nt have to waste any time talking to that...

3 days till musicology!

sosgemini said:

They're just jealous...

JediMaster said:

He does? Gee, you must be easy... I'd never thought 'harassment by Prince's drones' was considered a turn on.

,,,,,HERE IS A LINK TO THIS LAME HO! http://www.askmen.com/wom...99/65.html


GOOD 4 PRINCE SHE NEVER CALLED.


WHY IS SHE FAMOUS:
Following a start at Hooters, she went on to win the Venus International Model Search in 1992 and model for Frederick's of Hollywood and Swimwear USA magazine. Then she caught Hugh Hefner's eye: she's been modeling for Play..boy pictorials since 1994. Leeann's also hosted numerous TV shows, most recently 5432

why is this former model even still talking about this? she must either be bored out of her skull or wishing she said yes.

the truly weird thing is tweeden and CJ assume it WAS a bootycall..


what if prince just wanted to film her for a video?

MoneyMade said:

Yup, seems exactly like Prince's type...

Rrrrrring! CJ, it's your conscious calling, telling you to stop writing all this silly crap about Prince.

..am i the only one who loves her coloumns?????i think she rocks..come on..too much fawning is bad!

prince getting paisley park to pimp his fine hoes!!its nice 2 know that every1 gets rejected once in a while!

A song for CJ: I'm sure that most of you have heard the song "Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley (formerly of the Eagles). Funny, but I was listening to this song the other day, and could not help but think of CJ, because this song kind of describes her.

Feel free to sing along if you wish:


Dirty Laundry by Don Henley

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry


Sound like anybody we know?
[This message was edited Fri Mar 26 17:42:27 2004 by psychodelicide]

My cousin who was an Oakland Raider cheerleader when they were still in LA, experienced the
same harassment. THE PHONE CALLS BY HIS BODYGUARDS, THE WHOLE BIT. SHE MET HIM
AT GLAM SLAM. HE WANTED HER TO BE IN A MUSIC VIDEO.

I don't blame ya P.!! I would've been trying to mack that myself.

Hey, you can't win them all man, but you've won many.

.....sheeeeeit!