NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp’s style of play was relentless, in-your-face, and no apologies. Tuesday, Sapp was at the Upper Deck Ale and Sports Grill when the former University of Miami star found himself in the middle of a controversy.
“I just went up to the table and said, ‘Hey boys what can I get you to drink,’” said Upper Deck waitress ‘Corey.’ “He said, ‘I am not a boy, I am a man.’ So it was like, ‘Okay honey, what can I get you to drink?’”
Corey said she brought beer and food to the two customers. She said she didn’t know it was the legendary former NFL defensive tackle until after he left.
Once he left, Corey went to look at the credit card receipt and it apparently had a message on it for her. There was no tip and a written message, apparently written by Sapp, that said, “Boys Do Not Tip.”
Corey said she and other employees though she provided good service and was shocked when someone said, “that was Warren Sapp and did he just do that to you?”
A picture of the receipt was sent by Corey to her sister who then posted it on Facebook. The picture went viral on social media. Twitter lit up with some accusing Sapp of being a “cheapskate,” but Sapp said he was offended by Corey.
“No waitress will ever call me a boy twice after the first time and I say to her, ‘When u look at me do u see a boy?” Sapp tweeted.
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The owners of Upper Deck said the viral picture set off a firestorm of criticism and support. Owner Harry Kabouropoulus said he spent the entire day answering phone calls about the incident. Someone also mailed a check for $30 to Corey. Owners initially thought it was from Sapp, but believe it was more likely from someone in cyber space who supported the waitress.
“I honestly did not know until people told me afterward like if you say yo, like ‘boy,’ it is like a racist thing from the sixties. I honestly did not know.”
Reports that Corey was losing her job proved to be unfounded and the owners hope Sapp will give them another chance.
“We would like him to come back here,” Costas Kabouropoulus said. “We are in the business to serve everybody.”
