Chris Everett

[rkmsuf]

I just watched this again for the first time in quite a long time.

The first thing that struck me is that I call total BS on this. Looks staged to me.

I don't remember at the time many people calling this a setup.

What say you?

hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HNgqQVHI_8&search=jim%20rome

[stevew]

Staged. Thought it was pretty unrealistic back then. Event really helped Rome's career, he went from a relative nobody to someone at that point.

[albionmoonlight]

Probably staged. It's just so much more likely than not. Though it looks a bit clumsy to me for a staged bit.

[judicial clerk]

I don't think it was staged.

[KJDelaney]

Was not staged. I heard Rome's radio show the next day. I don't think he is/was that good of an actor.

[molson]

Probably staged. He's way to much of a kiss-ass for this to have happened spontaneously.

[rkmsuf]

Probably staged. He's way to much of a kiss-ass for this to have happened spontaneously.


Pretty good point. I mean if he's such a tough guy where are the other instances of him sticking it to people in interviews.

[Butter]

Maybe this incident helped warn him off of being so snarky... in person.

[rkmsuf]

Maybe this incident helped warn him off of being so snarky... in person.

yeah that's it. considering nothing happened except he got famous.

[MikeVick7]

Totally staged. Like...all the way.

[VPI97]

If it was staged, why would Everett go along with it? I can't see him agreeing to do something like that considering it made him look bad.

[Maple Leafs]

I'm not convinced. Can anyone direct me to an hour-long Internet movie that say the whole thing was faked? That would convince me.

[Raiders Army]

I saw a much shorter clip a while ago and thought it was real (and funny). The longer one makes me think that it was staged...either that, or Rome was right and he was Chris because he looked like a girl attacking him.

[SelzShoes]

I think it was real; I did then and I do now.

I remeber my late aunt wondering why Jim was so offended by the Chris Everett comment. She observed, quite rightly, that Chris had more guts and drive than Jim ever seemed to have.

[Huckleberry]

Staged or there would have been a punch thrown. They grab each other then Rome falls down then Everett just stands over him until the crew guy comes over.

[kcchief19]

Was not staged. I heard Rome's radio show the next day. I don't think he is/was that good of an actor.
Nor is Chris Everett that good of an actor.

I have no doubt it was real. Rome has always been a snarky little punk -- he didn't add the kiss-ass element to his persona until he realized he had to suck up to celebrities to make it big. But he's still an ass today to people who won't go on his show.

[TroyF]

Staged or there would have been a punch thrown. They grab each other then Rome falls down then Everett just stands over him until the crew guy comes over.


Agreed. People could have questioned Everetts heart, but there is no way in hell he was scared of Jim Rome. If he'd have went off, he'd have put his fist through Rome's head.

Also, as has been said here already, when have you seen Rome verbally lash out at a guest? He doesn't even do it on the radio when he's 2,000 miles from the guy he wants to jab at.

As for Everett the QB, I always wondered where and why the "no heart" and "no dedication" came from. He had a game where the Niners destroyed him in the playoffs. He got beat up that game, beat up to the point of hearing footsteps. He lost his confidence and wasn't the same.

Now, I understand it isn't the "manly" thing to do for a football player. But how exactly is it different than a major league pitcher simply losing it mentally after a horrible outing? For all his faults, Everett had a pretty decent NFL career.

[astrosfan64]

Agreed. People could have questioned Everetts heart, but there is no way in hell he was scared of Jim Rome. If he'd have went off, he'd have put his fist through Rome's head.

Also, as has been said here already, when have you seen Rome verbally lash out at a guest? He doesn't even do it on the radio when he's 2,000 miles from the guy he wants to jab at.

As for Everett the QB, I always wondered where and why the "no heart" and "no dedication" came from. He had a game where the Niners destroyed him in the playoffs. He got beat up that game, beat up to the point of hearing footsteps. He lost his confidence and wasn't the same.

Now, I understand it isn't the "manly" thing to do for a football player. But how exactly is it different than a major league pitcher simply losing it mentally after a horrible outing? For all his faults, Everett had a pretty decent NFL career.

That was not staged not even close. You can tell by how they are acting, that there is some real anger there.

[Deattribution]

He really wasn't that bad, he is ranked 25th or better all time in - Touchdowns (25th all time), Passing yards (14th all time), Completions (15th all time) and pass attempts (16th all time).

Not the greatest career ever, but hardly anything to cry over, better then hundreds of other QBs careers.

[st.cronin]

If it was staged, why would Everett go along with it? I can't see him agreeing to do something like that considering it made him look bad.

This is key to me. It was a humiliating moment for Everett, in so many ways.

[Eaglesfan27]

This is key to me. It was a humiliating moment for Everett, in so many ways.

Yep, that is why I've always figured it was real and not staged. Also, I think Rome has sounded genuinely apologetic that the event ever occurred.

[molson]

I'm surprised people are saying they they weren't good enough actors to pull this off - this looks like the worst possible acting to me, Everett can barely contain his smirk.

I don't know why Everett would agree to it - that's a good point. But I just can't get past how different this interview is to every other one Jim Rome has ever done. Like if Letterman or Leno suddenly started mocking a guest - you'd know it was being staged for comedic effect.

[dawgfan]

I'm leaning towards staged. I'm almost certain this is what Rome was hoping would happen - I mean, did he really think he could get away with calling him "Chris" througout the whole segment without Everett getting angry? I'm sure he was smart enough to know that if he provoked a reaction from Everett that he'd get a ton of publicity. The questionable part is whether Everett was in on it - maybe he thought that it would be a way to regain some macho pride after Rome had been calling him "Chris" on the air for so long.

Rome looks like a goofball with the longer hair and without the goatee.

[GoSeahawks]

Epic

[TroyF]

I also love how the camera just backs away at the perfect time to catch everything. Watch the clip again. The camera flashes back and forth from Everett to Rome. (which in TV terms is EXACTLY what it's supposed to be doing. You have a situation occuring where you want to see the look on both on each parties face)

Then, about 1/10th of a second before Everett throws down, you go to a wide angle camera shot so you can see him throw the table and go after Rome. Everett then does something bizzare.

This is a guy who is supposedly over the edge. He loses his cool. He launches a table on its side and runs after Rome to. . . push him off a chair? Are you freakin kidding me? As someone said earlier, he then stands over the top of him until the camera man charges in.

He doesn't throw a punch. He doesn't kick. He doesn't try to smash his face in with his palm. He stand up over him.

Sorry guys, I thought this thing was faked when it happened, and I still believe it was. As for why Everett did it, who the hell knows? The entire thing has never felt "right" to me. Maybe I'm off base, I dunno.

[st.cronin]

I also love how the camera just backs away at the perfect time to catch everything. Watch the clip again. The camera flashes back and forth from Everett to Rome. (which in TV terms is EXACTLY what it's supposed to be doing. You have a situation occuring where you want to see the look on both on each parties face)

Then, about 1/10th of a second before Everett throws down, you go to a wide angle camera shot so you can see him throw the table and go after Rome. Everett then does something bizzare.

This is a guy who is supposedly over the edge. He loses his cool. He launches a table on its side and runs after Rome to. . . push him off a chair? Are you freakin kidding me? As someone said earlier, he then stands over the top of him until the camera man charges in.

He doesn't throw a punch. He doesn't kick. He doesn't try to smash his face in with his palm. He stand up over him.

Sorry guys, I thought this thing was faked when it happened, and I still believe it was. As for why Everett did it, who the hell knows? The entire thing has never felt "right" to me. Maybe I'm off base, I dunno.


I've never worked in TV, but isn't that just how it was edited? There were multiple cameras running, right? Was it a live feed?

[Deattribution]

I've never worked in TV, but isn't that just how it was edited? There were multiple cameras running, right? Was it a live feed?

I'd assume if it were indeed real and pre-taped it would have never made the air because of the unprofessionalism.

[RPI-Fan]

Agreed. People could have questioned Everetts heart, but there is no way in hell he was scared of Jim Rome. If he'd have went off, he'd have put his fist through Rome's head.

Also, as has been said here already, when have you seen Rome verbally lash out at a guest? He doesn't even do it on the radio when he's 2,000 miles from the guy he wants to jab at.

As for Everett the QB, I always wondered where and why the "no heart" and "no dedication" came from. He had a game where the Niners destroyed him in the playoffs. He got beat up that game, beat up to the point of hearing footsteps. He lost his confidence and wasn't the same.

Now, I understand it isn't the "manly" thing to do for a football player. But how exactly is it different than a major league pitcher simply losing it mentally after a horrible outing? For all his faults, Everett had a pretty decent NFL career.


He doesn't go off on people on his show?

Inducting people into a "Piece of Crap Club" isn't insulting?

[LloydLungs]

I think it was real. It's true that Rome relentlessly kisses his guests' asses, but this was a long long time ago before he was famous. His demeanor was totally different, his voice is different (like an octave higher). Everett probably didn't start punching the guy because it's illegal to crush someone into a fine powder just because they call you a name. He probably figured he made his point overturning the table.

Neither one came out of it looking great but Rome came out looking a lot worse. I remember Everett had just signed with the Saints and was generally applauded for it in New Orleans.

[st.cronin]

I refuse to waste any more energy trying to think about this. I'm going to go play WWSM.

[Grammaticus]

I thought this was going to be about that dorky commercial running on TV now. "I'm Chris Everett, I'm 51 and I'm just starting my life". I can't even recall what the product is. I just remember that Chris Everett looks like the Mummy part 3.

[TroyF]

I've never worked in TV, but isn't that just how it was edited? There were multiple cameras running, right? Was it a live feed?


It was live. Again, that's the amazing thing about it. You couldn't have scripted the even more perfectly unless. . .

Nevermind. You play WWSM (incredible game) and I'll go back to PureSim. :)

[GoSeahawks]

I've always thought this was the reason Rome turned into such a pansy ass interviewer. I guess he learned that if he was nice to his guests they wouldn't whoop his ass. It's jungle karma.

[Maple Leafs]

He doesn't go off on people on his show?

Inducting people into a "Piece of Crap Club" isn't insulting?
Not to their face (or even over the phone). He's a gigantic ass-kiss when he's actually talking to someone.

[Antmeister]

I think it was real. It's true that Rome relentlessly kisses his guests' asses, but this was a long long time ago before he was famous. His demeanor was totally different, his voice is different (like an octave higher). Everett probably didn't start punching the guy because it's illegal to crush someone into a fine powder just because they call you a name. He probably figured he made his point overturning the table.

Neither one came out of it looking great but Rome came out looking a lot worse. I remember Everett had just signed with the Saints and was generally applauded for it in New Orleans.

Agreed.

I listened to Rome way before he made it when he used to have a late night radio show in San Diego back in the day. He was obnoxious and talked a lot of crap about all kinds of people. What was appealing about the show was that he would get a number of crank calls due to his attitude and the crank calls were more entertaining than his show. In fact, that song that he plays at the end of his current show with the words "Up All Night" is in reference to his old night show.

Back then he didn't have many guests and he got much bolder when he got the evening slot after Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton. For years he was blasting Jim Everett and after that incident with him, he toned down a lot. It may not seem like it, but he soon realized that interviews weren't going to go so well if he kept attacking people on a consistent basis.

[Jake Plummer]

Showed it to a co-worker... I'm convinced it's legit, he's sure it's staged.

My argument is that there's no way they both look that ridiculous without it being real. Rome looked like a p*ssy, and Everett looked like a d*ck (hey, they go together!).

Also, if it *were* fake, don't you think we'd have heard something about it by now? Some P.A. (production assistant) or Everett himself would've come forward.

I'd really like to find out how the rest of the show went. How did they fill the rest of the show when Everett left the studio? If it went on without a hitch, then *maybe* I'd consider the possibility it was staged.

[rkmsuf]

wiki take on the matter:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Rome achieved notoriety for an incident on his ESPN2 show in 1994 when he repeatedly called NFL quarterback Jim Everett "Chris" (after Chris Evert, the female tennis player), from the argument that Everett shied away from getting hit. Appearing as a guest on the show, Everett warned Rome about repeating the insult and then challenged Rome to do so. When Rome did, Everett physically attacked Rome while still on the air, overturning a table and knocking Rome to the floor. Years later, many believe the incident was actually staged, however Rome has remained silent on the issue. He does occasionally jokingly "run" (hang up on) a listener when they call a male sports figure by a female name, commenting with tongue firmly in cheek that "I don't stand for that sort of thing around here."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rome

[Tigercat]

I had it taped along with the sportscenters after it that late night. (Hell I was a 13 year old Saint fan with nothing better to do.)

If it was staged, it had ESPN fooled. They devoted a good deal of Sportscenter time to it, and it was like the Sports version of CBS reporting on Dan Rather and CBS news screwing up. They obviously thought they had something to be concerned about on their hands. And this was after saying they interviewed the staff of the show and learned that the staff had briefed Everett that Rome might refer to him as that. (So they were basically using the fact that Everett knew about the forthcoming ribbing as an excuse for Rome's possible provocation.)

So yea, if it was staged it goes all the way to Sportscenter anchors acting out. Which is a little hard to believe that Sportscenter would attempt or get away with back then.

[judicial clerk]

I saw it live as well. If I remember correctly, they cut to a commercial and when they come back, Everett is gone and rome apologizes for the incident.

as far as everett's actions, they seem real to me. I have done similar things myself more than once. you jump some dude and maybe knock him on his ass and then realize that you don't need to pummel him.

[condors]

i don't know the espn side of it but Rome who i listen to said the Everett was told ahead of time he was going to be called chris like he does normally and it was all supposed to be in "good fun". I gues Everett thought Rome would stop if he asked him.