Being a server is not easy. We all know that. And if you have ever had the (dis)pleasure of working someplace that is always crowded with throngs of people milling about your workspace, you know how much more difficult it can be. Allow me to introduce you to the saddest waitress in all the land today. I don’t know her name but she works at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Last night she was just doing her job carrying some beers to customers as grown men in shorts chased a little orange ball around hardwood floors. Suddenly, a very tall man named Mason Plumlee ran up to her and knocked all of the beers off her tray spilling them all over the floor, the waitress and her customers. Supposedly, Mason was trying to keep the ball from going out of bounds, but it looks to me like his sole intent was to give the waitress the worst night of her life.
I mean look at that video. It’s like he thought, “hmmm, where the fuck is a waitress with a full tray of beer that I can knock the fuck over?” After he totally ruins her night, he throws his arms up in disgust like it was her fault for being in his way. Umm, Mason, you’re in her space; she’s not in yours. And then he just walks away like, “Yo, whatever.” That waitress was not happy, you can tell.
And what about those people who took a beer shower with? Here they are just trying to enjoy a Saturday night of watching men in shorts play with balls and now suddenly they smell like they rolled all around on the floor of a dive bar.
The guy in the center: “This is the best show in town and ain’t nuthin’ gonna slow me down when it comes time for this popcorny goodness.”
The guy in the Wizards jersey: “Awww, hell no!”
The guy in the cap: “Hey, pull my finger!”
The white-haired guy in top left corner: “Jesus, take the wheel.”
The dark-haired woman on the right: “At least it wasn’t my nachos.”
Good luck, Verizon Center waitress, whoever you are. I hope you made some damn good tips that night.
Jennifer C
I can not stop laughing at the “Jesus take the wheel” line. Spot on!
Julie
A Dallas Mavericks player accidentally gave me a concussion while I was serving at a bowling alley once. My work paid for me to go to a doctor; and I probably could have gone on disability, but I didn’t. The guy apologized, but didn’t offer any real help, and later, asked me out in a date even though his girlfriend was there. I probably could have tried to sue him even if he wasn’t liable, because he probably would’ve settled. But instead, I took the incident as my cue from the universe to try to retire my serving career. Around a year later, last week to be exact, I went on what I hope is a permanent leave of absence. I spent 16.5 years as a server. I learned a plethora of things about humanity, patience, kindness, indignity, intuition, empathy and teamwork. I was good at it and I enjoyed, for the most part, being part of people’s leisure and fun. And even when I was suffering through parts of the job, I enjoyed the fascinating things I learned dealing with the difficult situations. I really think, as far as the public goes, I’ve see it all. I’m really happy I am taking the risk and trying to move on. And even though concussions take months of healing and recovery, which was slower for me because I kept serving, I guess I’m glad it happened.
Yarrgh
These types of collisions happen all the time, so I’m not annoyed by it happening. I’m sure it was something that the server though could happen, and the fans with front row seats were secretly hoping for. However, Plumlee was soooo far behind the ball that he arrives after it’s bouncing off the crowd, and he’s baby-stepping the whole way. He was clearly trying to show his coach how hard he will fight for the ball… in the same way people do that silly run-walk through the crosswalk, so the driver will think they’re concerned with getting out of the way (I do it all the time).
Also, he clearly tracks beer onto the court like a tool. There are kids with towels and mops at each baseline, he could’ve at least wiped his shoes off first. Like a true douche, he makes unnecessary work for other people and doesn’t notice.
Had Plumlee been diving for the ball (and arrived about a second earlier) or at least checked to see if the waitress was OK (screw the fans) then this would’ve just been a clip on ESPN, not even the top 10. As it is, he’s a douche and lazy to boot. And this is why the Brooklyn Nets are so weak.
Barreleh
By Friday, each and every person who got even a thimble-full of beer on them has already heard from at least five lawyers.
BobbyAnn
That ball was already out of bounds..he had no business dong that, and he should’ve been able to stop [but what do I know – I am just a waitress]
What really surprises me is the guy she is falling into. He tries to push her away. That last thought on my mind wouldn’t have been “Oh hell no I don’t want beer on me” [yes, it would suck, but….] it would be to try to keep her from falling on her behind. I know it is a split second decision, but when a 6’7 basketball player has just pushed a 5’6 server wouldn’t you think she was going down and if in the position to help, wouldn’t you?
Oh that’s right – welcome to America – the home of the free, the entitled and the ME FIRST attitude.
Sharon
This is a chargeable offence I’m guessing. And the stupid arm raise thing the freak does afterwards, like he’s some hero! Where can we complain?
(Lol at the guy stuffing popcorn in his mouth)
Emma
Oh come ON! What a prick.
Tamicski
What an ass!! I mean he should have stopped and apologized, right?!
Ruby Dee Waitress
He clearly pushed her! After she froze in an effort to not be in his way. Bitchy, we need to find this girl. If she did not sign some kind of waiver, she deserves compensation. If I was her, my tray of beers would have levitated in to that big dumb buffoon’s face! This is infuriating.
SlumSlut
Not just the waitress, but the people she landed on top of, too.
SlumSlut
In some parallel universes this is colloquially defined as “assault”. He SHOVED the waitress and she FELL BACKWARDS ONTO SPECTATORS (known as “paying customers” in some parallel universes). I think several people in that video deserve a nice check from someone’s insurance company to the tune of four or five digits to the LEFT of the decimal point.
Melanie
Yeah, that looks intentional to me. Douchebaggery at its finest!