The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Drummond stuns server with $1K tip May 25
Cavaliers center Andre Drummond provided a Memorial Day weekend a Florida waitress will never forget.
Cavaliers center Andre Drummond provided a Memorial Day weekend a Florida waitress will never forget.
Drummond dined at Che’ Restaurant on Delray Beach on May 24 and racked up a $164.25 tab. If server Kassandra Diaz had done the math in her head as she placed his bill on the table, she might have anticipated a tip of somewhere between $30 and $35.
Instead of leaving the customary 20%, Drummond added a $1,000 tip to bring the total to $1,164.25.
Drummond’s generosity was first reported by Lois K. Solomon of the South Florida Sun Sentinel and later picked up byBleacher Report.
Solomon reported Diaz double-checked with Drummond to make sure no mistake was made.
Restaurant manager Jose’ Diaz said Drummond answered, “Of course, no problem,” according to the Sun Sentinel story.
“I was shaking and had tears of happiness after what he left me,” Kassandra Diaz posted on her Instagram account, along with a picture of the bill and tip.
“I had no idea how to react, I didn’t want to draw attention but at the same time I couldn’t describe the amount of appreciation I had/ have. It’s so amazing to see people displaying acts of kindness in these uncertain times. This is a story I will never forget, thank you again so much.”
Drummond responded with a message of his own, telling his server, “Thank you for being amazing.”
Former Bengals and Patriots wide receiver Chad Johnson saw the Drummond story and on Twitter posted a picture of his bill of $37.40, with a $1,000 tip for server Cassandra at Havana’s Cuban Cuisine in Cooper City, Fla., on May 18.
Johnson added the message: “Congrats on reopening, sorry about the pandemic, hope this helps. I LOVE YOU.”
Johnson is encouraging all of his brethren in
the pro sports spectrum to follow the example he and Drummond set by tipping generously while the novel coronavirus is putting more than 35 million Americans out of work.
Drummond, acquired from the Pistons at the NBA trade deadline in February, played just eight games with the Cavs before Commissioner Adam Silver suspended the NBA season March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He averaged 11.1 rebounds and 17.5 points a game.
Drummond’s contract includes a player option for 2021-22. He can become a free agent this summer or opt in and play with the Cavaliers for $28,751,755 next season.