Producer Sets Record Straight on Franklin

“The Queen of Soul” was faking it.

A Detroit music producer confirmed suspicions that Aretha Franklin was lip-syncing to a recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday at Auburn Hills, Mich. Brian Pastoria told the Detroit Free Press that the vocals were recorded last year at Franklin’s house.

Some had questioned whether Franklin was singing when television revealed a disparity between the sound and images of Franklin.

Matt Dobek, spokesman for the Detroit Pistons, had initially asserted that Franklin sang live but conceded Thursday that he was mistaken.

“I was unaware,” Dobek said. “She did something I did not know about.”

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Trivia time: Which four golfers each won the U.S. Open four times?

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Luxury item: Sports cards were once marketed for kids, but this week Upper Deck released the most expensive pack of cards ever produced, the NBA Exquisite Collection, which costs $500 for a package of five cards.

Responded Toronto Sun columnist Bill Lankhof: “Once, people memorized the stats on the back of every card. Now, the only number that counts is the price.”

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Fraternity brothers: Rock star and Detroit Piston fan Kid Rock had these reassuring words for LeBron James, who went to the NBA straight from high school, when they appeared on NBA TV’s “Live at the Finals” earlier this week:

“I didn’t go to college either and check me out.”

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Eat your heart out: Cesar Carrillo has a problem many people wouldn’t mind having. No matter how much the 6 foot 2 University of Miami pitcher eats, he can’t bring his weight above 168 pounds.

Carrillo, whose team plays Louisiana State today in the College World Series, told the Miami Herald, “I was always real skinny. It’s just my body. No matter what I eat, I just can’t gain weight.”

Poor guy.

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Blame game: Tiger Woods’ golf game is slumping, but not because of his impending marriage to Elin Nordegren, a sports psychologist told the New York Post.

“His ego got in the way of his relationship with [coach] Butch Harmon and their parting of the ways is much more significant than any girlfriend,” Tom Ferraro said. “My general sense is that marriage is a positive and not a negative for him. It’s a comforting experience that makes you feel more relaxed than focused.”

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Trivia answer: Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905), Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953) and Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980).

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And finally: Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm, the WNBA’s most valuable player last season, appears nude on the cover of an Australian magazine that features athletes who will compete in the Olympics.

“I feel really comfortable with my body and the shape I’m in, and I know I’m not going to look like this forever,” Jackson told the Seattle Times. “I was really nervous at first, but it was conquering one of my fears. I felt very much empowered.”