While legions of Oprah fans have endured endless lines hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen of Talk before her long-running show ends, police say a Canadian man endured a self-administered beating -- and a night in jail -- for the same privilege.
Chicago police said that Robert Spearing, 44, was taken to Stroger Hospital Tuesday after reporting that two people beat him before stealing his passes to a star-studded farewell show that took place later that evening at the United Center.
Spearing originally told police that just after 10 a.m., he was standing in the 200 block of South Wood Street -- about a block from the United Center -- when two men in their 20s, one African-American and one Hispanic, beat and robbed him.
But hours later, police said Spearing changed his story, later admitting he'd never been attacked and merely concocted the story so he didn't disappoint his wife because they'd traveled from Ontario without tickets.
Spearing, police said, cut his own forehead with a rock and scraped his hands on the sidewalk to mimic injuries from a violent street robbery.
Spearing was charged with one count of felony disorderly conduct, police said, for filing a false police report. Cook County Judge Donald Paranese Jr. today ordered Spearing held on $20,000 bond and scheduled a hearing for next week.
The event, “Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular” featured numerous celebrity appearances including actors Tom Cruise and Will Smith, and former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan.