Restaurant Staff Bullies Elderly Man, Unaware Dawn Staley Was Watching—What She Did Next Left Everyone Speechless
In a small diner on a quiet afternoon, an elderly man entered, wearing a weathered jacket and carrying a small cane. His movements were slow, and his demeanor was humble, but to the restaurant staff, he was an easy target for ridicule. What they didn’t know was that Dawn Staley, the legendary basketball coach, was seated in a corner booth, quietly observing the scene unfold.
The man, who introduced himself as Mr. Harris, asked politely for a seat near the window. Instead of welcoming him, the staff exchanged smirks and snide remarks. They ignored him for several minutes before finally showing him to a table. As he struggled to pull out his chair, a young server rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. When Mr. Harris placed his order, his shaky hands caused him to fumble with the menu, prompting laughter from a group of staff near the counter.
Dawn Staley, known for her advocacy for respect and inclusion, watched the incident unfold in silence. Her expression grew more serious as the mistreatment escalated. When Mr. Harris finally received his food, a loud comment from a staff member about “not needing tips from people like that” caused him to rise from his seat and prepare to leave.
But before Mr. Harris could exit, Staley stood up. The room fell silent as her commanding presence took over. She approached the elderly man and gently said, “Please, sit back down. You’re not leaving like this.” Turning to the stunned staff, she said, “This is unacceptable. You owe this man an apology.”
The staff, realizing who she was, stood frozen in shock. “This man came here for a meal, not to be humiliated,” Staley continued. “If you can’t show respect, you don’t deserve this job.”
Staley then paid for Mr. Harris’s meal and sat with him, engaging him in conversation and ensuring he felt valued. She shared a few laughs with him, lightening the mood, and left the staff with an important lesson: dignity and kindness matter, no matter who you are serving.
The incident, which was later shared on social media, went viral. Fans praised Staley for her actions, and the restaurant issued a public apology. For Mr. Harris, it was a day that reminded him—and the world—that decency and compassion still exist.
A’ja Wilson Ribs Dawn Staley Over Lack of WNBA Coaching Desire
Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson made her feelings clear about South Carolina’s Dawn Staley not wanting to coach in the WNBA.
Last week, South Carolina Gamecocks head coach and three-time NCAA champion Dawn Staley signed a record-breaking contract extension that will keep her with the Gamecocks through at least the 2030 season.
Given that Staley will now be earning a base $4 million salary (which will increase by $250,000 each year) to go along with a $500,000 signing bonus, it’s no surprise why she signed this deal to remain a college coach.
There’s also no question that Staley’s success has made her a top target for WNBA teams in need of new coaches in the past. But Staley set the record straight regarding her desire to coach professional basketball when speaking with the media on January 19.
“I would never leave here to go take another college job,” Staley said after being asked about a clause in her contract that states she wouldn’t have to pay South Carolina a departure fee if she left for the NBA or the WNBA like she would if she left for another college program.
While this loyalty was is respectable, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson (who Staley coached at South Carolina) jokingly called Staley out for it on Threads.
“We get itttttt you don’t wanna come to the W 😒🙄,” Wilson wrote in a reply to Staley’s words on Monday.
While Wilson was clearly joking, she’d surely like to have Staley back on her coaching staff in some capacity.
