'Better' rich people are slobs?

[mensimageconsultant]

It isn't kind to speak ill of the dead, but a commentary on SI.com suggests that the recently deceased Lamar Hunt was one of the better rich people because he dressed like a "slob."

I used to bump into Lamar in odd places. I ran into Lamar and his wife once in the passenger area in an airport, waiting to board in the rear area of coach class, same as me. Khaki pants, faded sports coat, well worn loafers, shlepping a couple of carry-ons, that was Lamar. First class? He could have bought the airline, or at least his own fleet of private planes. But that was the way he'd travel. It was simply his personality.

I remember once when the late game was in Kansas City, a bunch of us were crowded around the TV in the press lounge, watching the early contest. There was Lamar, jammed in there with the rest of us slobs, a coke in one hand, a bag of popcorn in the other....

While it's true that a fastidious or conspicuously wealthy appearance can bother some people, the picture makes Mr. Hunt look awful. Is that how 'normal' men judge each other?

 

[drizzt3117]

Originally Posted by mensimageconsultant

It isn't kind to speak ill of the dead, but a commentary on SI.com suggests that the recently deceased Lamar Hunt was one of the better rich people because he dressed like a "slob."

While it's true that a fastidious or conspicuously wealthy appearance can bother some people, the picture makes Mr. Hunt look awful. Is that how 'normal' men judge each other?

IMO it doesn't make him look awful. Many people dress down while traveling and the quite doesn't say that he looked like a slob but that he was watching TV with the "slobs" with popcorn and coke, even though he owned the team. IMO that makes him look like a true fan of the game, which he was, as opposed to a plutocrat who only views games from the luxury box.

 

[sloaney]

i personally can't stand this type of reasoning. rich people have lots of money. there's nothing wrong with them sitting in first class and dressing impeccably. they can still contribute to charitable causes and i will respect them for that. but if they don't they're still who they are. how does them sitting in coach change anything - i mean who are we kidding? that they're just like "one of us"?

 

[drizzt3117]

Originally Posted by sloaney

i personally can't stand this type of reasoning. rich people have lots of money. there's nothing wrong with them sitting in first class and dressing impeccably. they can still contribute to charitable causes and i will respect them for that. but if they don't they're still who they are. how does them sitting in coach change anything - i mean who are we kidding? that they're just like "one of us"?
Lamar Hunt was one of the richest people in the world. There's no getting around that. However, I highly doubt that he would have wanted to be remembered for his wealth. IMO above all, Hunt was a sportsman, who loved all sports and did his best to further the success of what he loved. In addition to being one of the founders of the NFL and owner of the Chiefs, he also helped found MLS, the Chicago Bulls, and was instrumental in encouraging the proliferation of professional sports in general. He was a tireless but not meddlesome owner who clearly loved his team, and his accomplishments speak for themselves. Clearly he didn't see himself as the common man or middle class, but thought of himself as a common fan of sports who could relate to fans, sportswriters, etc, through their common love of the game. Does the fact that he was rich mean that he couldn't enjoy the games as much as anyone else? Not IMO. I have more respect for him hearing how he interacted with people, kind of how I do for Bo S. after hearing the story about how he had a 30 min football conversation with two Iowa fans after they prank called him at midnight one night to ask him about a specific player. Lamar Hunt was a great man and I think the world is a worse place without him. RIP LH.

 

[otterhound]

Why anyone who could afford it would voluntarily endure coach class these days is beyond me.

 

[texas_jack]

Originally Posted by otterhound

Why anyone who could afford it would voluntarily endure coach class these days is beyond me.

Seriously.

 

[LabelKing]

This reminds me of something Bill Gates said of bringing his children to a public pool.

Not only is it rather patronizing, it is also very stupid not to mention unattractive.