If you missed it......more of the John Riggins saga of that night in Washington D.C..........
Compiled here is an oral history of John Riggins’ infamous evening with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The quotes are taken from contemporary accounts by the
Washington Post,
Associated Press,
UPI and
Sports Illustrated, in addition to present-day recollections from involved parties, courtesy the NFL Network’s
A Football Life: John Riggins.
On Jan. 30, 1985, Riggins was set to attend the Washington Press Club’s annual black-tie event, “Salute to Congress,” at the Washington Sheraton. He was a guest of People
magazine.
“I had been with a good friend, had a few beers, didn’t bother to eat, went down to the hotel where the party was, walked in and, God I don’t know why, because I hardly ever drink it, I had a double scotch. And I had another.” — John Riggins
“We had wine at the table, and everyone was having a good time and being a little boisterous.” Hal Wingo, assistant managing editor,
People “I continued to drink my dinner.” — Riggins, who refused food.
“There were two bottles of red wine and John, in a very expressive mode, managed to mow both of them down. So they brought two more bottles of red wine, also within John’s reach, and [he] somehow managed to knock them over. So, at this point, the table is covered with red wine.” — Robb
Riggins, then the oldest running back in the NFL at age 35, was having trouble beyond drinking on an empty stomach.
“He was in a back brace. At one point, the chair had to be adjusted because he said it was bothering him.” — Garry Clifford, Washington bureau chief, People
O’Connor was about to leave because she had an early commitment the next morning. Riggins approached O’Connor’s seat, put his arm around her husband, looked over at the first female justice in history and uttered the famous line, “come on, loosen up, Sandy baby, you’re too tight.”
“Basically it was me saying ‘don’t go, we’re going to have a lot of fun.'” — Riggins
“[O’Connor] took it in great stride. I was sitting next to her and she was very gracious, laughing and smiling back. We thought it was kind of a delightful mix of personalities to have at the table.” — Wingo
“[Mrs. O’Connor found John] very entertaining.” — Mary Lou Riggins, John Riggins’ wife
Riggins then fell asleep on the floor, during a gaggle of dignitaries’ speeches, which included then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.
“Then he squatted and was staring off into space. He was really out of it. Then he dropped to one elbow, then he was flat on the floor. I knew he was under my chair when his cowboy boots hit my shoes.” — Jill Cohen, guest at nearby table
“He just went back without a sound.” — Robb
“He fell asleep is more accurate.” — Mary Lou Riggins
“T
hey left him there through the whole speech [by Vice President George H.W. Bush.]” — Robb
“It looked like an 18-wheeler jackknifed on the interstate.” — John Riggins
“People checked Riggins a couple of times during the show to make sure he was breathing.” — Guest Marin Allen
“He appeared comfortable. He was lying first on his back, then rolled over and was on his stomach.” — Unidentified witness, as quoted by the Associated Press
UPI says Riggins snored throughout the speech and slept for about 45 minutes.The vice-president finished his humorous speech. Someone needed to wake up Riggins.
[A woman was] grabbing his nose and shaking it back and forth, and grabbing his hair and pulling it.” — Cohen.
Riggins eventually got up.
“They took him out the VIP door. They were dragging him, feet behind.” — Ron Edmonds, photographer, Associated Press
A day in the life of "Riggo" John Riggins, a legend in his own time.
