SAN DIEGO - Unlike his players and the national media, Steve Crosby didn't take the bait.

Crosby, the Chargers' special teams coach, was recently presented with a legal document at Chargers Park, revealing that the San Diego Wild Animal Park was suing him for a false story he spread last month.

"I've got a good lawyer if you need one," a straight-faced LaDainian Tomlinson told Crosby.

Crosby's whale of a tale made a Shamu-style splash. It involved a hippopotamus floating in the pool at his Escondido home, chased there by last month's wildfires, which surrounded the Wild Animal Park.

Crosby, a world-class prankster, couldn't resist his comedic moment. And before long, his tale was on the road to becoming an urban legend.

"I was just trying to loosen everyone up," Crosby said Friday. "It was during the fires, and everyone was worried about their houses and everything."

Crosby and his wife, Lisa, live near the Wild Animal Park. Close enough, one can surmise, for their backyard to offer an oasis if any wildlife escaped.

So with his special-teams players listening, Crosby told of the hippo that slipped out of the Wild Animal Park through a charred wall, smashed through Crosby's backyard and took residence in his pool.

"He said his whole fence was knocked down," rookie safety Eric Weddle said. "And I could see where some of the animals could go there. Where he lives, you know, it might happen."

Crosby said authorities were called and the animal was tranquilized and removed.

One small problem.

"We don't have hippopotamus at the Wild Animal Park," park spokesperson Yadira Galindo said. "That is the key."

But once the story was told it unlocked countless believers with cheetah-like speed.

"You know how players are," Crosby said.

The media, too.

Foxsports.com ran a story about it. It was mentioned on the CNN Web site. ESPN The Magazine had a nugget on it. The Seattle Times retold it. The St. Paul Pioneer Press had it, with a quote from Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, who started his career with the Chargers and played for Crosby.

"My son was getting his haircut and he read about in Sports Illustrated," Chargers head coach Norv Turner said.

The hip bloggers couldn't type fast enough about the Escondido hippo going AWOL.

"It's not impossible because there are some facilities that might house a hippo up here," Galindo said. "But we know that it wasn't a hippo from the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park."

Other animal agencies didn't report a missing hippo. The county veterinarian office had no showing of rescuing a wayward hippo.

The San Diego Zoo does have hippos. And while we know Highway 163 north merging into Interstate 15 can get backed up, a slow-moving hippo has yet to be mentioned in a traffic report.

"If you would actually see a hippo walking down the street," Galindo said, "you should call the police."

Instead, maybe Crosby's calling is hosting a one-night stand at the Comedy Club. His act would go something like this: "Hey, a funny thing happened to me on the way to work this morning. I looked out to my backyard and saw a hippo in the pool. After that, I thought I'm sure the heck not looking in the hot tub."

Rim shot, please.

"I couldn't believe how many people didn't think it was a joke," Crosby said. "It was amazing. I saw it being reported by ESPN and the NFL Network."

Yep, the tall tale made tongues wag across North America.

"The amazing thing is not one person in the media called to see if it was a true story," Crosby said. "They just reported it. It's crazy."

Instead of dreaming of a white Christmas, Crosby is pondering another way to pull his players' legs. But first, he felt a tug on his.

He was presented with that official-looking legal document, informing him he was a party to a significant lawsuit.

"But you can't get the getter," Crosby said.

Instead, Crosby has the best gotcha of the year among Chargers.

"I would say," Galindo said, "that is one of the top stories we have ever heard."

It still brings a grin to Crosby's mug and a thankful diversion to a difficult season.

"We didn't have any hippo steaks at Thanksgiving dinner," he said.

Believe him? Do so at your own risk.

Chargers notes: Pro Bowl C Nick Hardwick (foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game with the Ravens. Hardwick went through Friday's practice, and coach Norv Turner said it will be a game-time decision if Hardwick or backup Cory Withrow starts. … Turner also said he'll reach a decision Sunday on his starting cornerbacks with Quentin Jammer's hamstring now fit. With the way the Ravens like to run, expect Jammer - he's good in run support - to start opposite Drayton Florence.

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.