By Annie Ross
Whoever is giving Eagles running back Shady McCoy media advice ought to yell in his ear:
Just shut the hell up! Because when you are in a hole, the best advice is to stop digging.
On Thursday, McCoy was overheard digging himself even deeper.
Ever since it was publicized by the NoLibs restaurant PYT that McCoy left a twenty-cent tip on a $61 check, McCoy has come under some heat as to why he left such a small amount.
On Thursday, McCoy said the reason was simple.
“To be honest, like I always am, I tip on service,” McCoy said. “I think there is a difference between good service and bad service, and just having a bad day. There is a difference when (you) are rude and disrespectful. That’s how that went.”
While that is McCoy’s side, the restaurant has been very clear about how they felt the whole incident went down. PYT owner Tommy Up published a letter to Facebook saying that in addition to the bad tip, McCoy was “verbally abusive to our staff in the most insulting ways.”
“Anybody that knows me knows I’m not disrespectful,” McCoy said. “Any restaurant that I go around too in Philadelphia, I tip very well. I’m very respectful. And if you check on that restaurant, the backlash they have had (with people) talking bad about that place….”
The reaction on McCoy leaving the small tip has been mixed. While some believe it is his right to tip what he chooses, others feel it was rude — including actor Charlie Sheen, who said he would send $1,000 to the waiter.
“That’s cool,” McCoy said when told of Sheen’s decision. “I’m happy he’s finally doing something positive.”
McCoy did make sure to mention that, despite the bad service, the food was good — but he doesn’t regret the small tip.
“The 20-cent tip was more of a statement,” McCoy said. “You can’t be disrespectful and expect somebody to tip you, I don’t care who the person is. That’s why I left my card — so they could see my name.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong. If I had to do it over again, I would do the same thing.”
