'b-ball' > 'people'

[William Salmon]

Here's a case of misheard song lyrics with serious repercussions. I
wonder how close the pronunciation of 'b-ball' is to 'people' in the
receptionist's dialect?

The teen’s voicemail greeting trigged a lockdown at his Pennsylvania
school after a receptionist misheard his rendition of “The Fresh
Prince of Bel-Air” theme song. While trying to confirm an appointment
with 19-year-old Travis Clawson the receptionist thought the message
said “shooting people outside of the school.” The line is actually
“shooting some b-ball,” a reference to basketball.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/03/01/bad-fresh-prince-rap-triggers-pa-school-lockdown/

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