WASHINGTON -- Washington Redskins star fullback John Riggins passed out and slept on the floor between tables at a black-tie dinner during speeches by Vice President George Bush and several members of Congress.
Riggins, a guest of People magazine at the Washington Press Club's annual 'Salute to Congress' dinner Wednesday night, was seated at a table with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and her husband, John.
At several points during the dinner, Riggins spoke loudly across the table to Mrs. O'Connor. The justice and her husband left before the evening's entertainment started, humorous speeches by six newly elected members of Congress to more than 1,200 Washington journalists and celebrities at the Sheraton Washington Hotel.
One guest at the People magazine table said Riggins called out on several occasions to O'Connor, 'Come on Sandy, baby, loosen up. You're too tight.'
After the filet mignon course in the $65-a-plate dinner, Riggins left his chair, walked around the table, kneeled beside the table, sat down, then lay down and fell asleep.
Riggins was unavailable for comment today, and a Redskins spokesman said, 'We've had no contact with John and we have no comment.' Riggins' agent, Doug Woloshin, also had no comment.
Several United Press International executives were at an adjoining table, and one said Riggins slept with his feet beneath the chair of his wife.
Riggins, voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1983 Redskins Superbowl victory over the Miami Dolphins, lay on the floor between tables for the rest of the evening occasionally snoring, as waiters and waitresses served desserts, cleared tables and stepped around him.
As he slept, the black tie on his formal suit was askew, with the top shirt button open.
Other guests at the dinner said Riggins had been drinking during a cocktail hour before the dinner, and the People magazine table had wine and liquor for the 12 guests.
The dinner, emceed by ABC White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, had as speakers in addition to Bush, six freshmen members of Congress: Sens. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., John Kerry, D-Mass., Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Reps. Tommy Robinson, D-Ark., Jan Meyers, R-Kan., and Helen Delich Bentley, R-Md.
Introducing Bush was Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., filling in for an ill Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas.
After the party was over, guests woke Riggins up, helped him back to his chair, and he left the hotel ballroom on his own.
Virginia Gov. Charles Robb was seated at the same table.
Despite the darkened ballroom, Riggins was clearly visible to a number of guests as he slept.
