Vince Vaughn Is 'That Guy': Picking Up Lightning Coach Jon Cooper's Check Was About A Little More Than Respect

CSN- For the second time this week, the Tampa Bay Lightning head coach went to Chicago Cut Steakhouse with a party of 20 and again got a free meal for his entire group.

Charles Barkley picked up the check the first time and movie star Vince Vaughn - a noted Blackhawks fan - had the honor Tuesday night.

Cooper and Vaughn are apparently old friends and the actor stopped to hug Cooper and chat with the Lightning coach for about 10 minutes upon arriving at Chicago Cut.

After Barkley's kindness a couple days earlier, Cooper wanted to repay the favor for Vaughn, but the celeb wouldn't let that fly, according to Chicago Cut managing partner David Flom, who recapped the ordeal to the Chicago Tribune:

“Cooper called me over to his table and said ‘Hey, I want to pick up Vince Vaughn’s check,’” Flom said. “He was doing it to be kind because of the Barkley thing. I tell the server and then walk by Vince’s table. Sure enough, Vince looks at me and says ‘I know that guy just called you over to pick up my check. That’s not how we roll in Chicago.’ He goes ‘This is Chicago, my town. This is how we treat people. I got his check.’ How can you argue with Vince Vaughn? I said, ‘OK, no problem.’ I go walk away and he stands up and says ‘I got his check. This is Chicago.’

“So we go over to Cooper and he goes ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. Twice with 20 people and I haven’t paid once.’”



Don't get me wrong, I am all about respect. Yeah, it's pretty cool that Vince Vaughn picked the tab for Jon Cooper and the rest of his party, However, if you are going to do so, do it out of the kindness or your heart, not because you have some ulterior motive. Is it even respect if it's a move that's meant to shed light on the disrespect being shown by the Tampa Bay Lightning? Don't tell me that "this is how we treat people" wasn't a direct shot at the Lightning's ticket policy and dress code for visiting fans. Don't tell me "this is Chicago, my town" isn't an insult to the city and franchise that employs Jon Cooper. Vince Vaughn basically paid a couple thousand dollars to take a cheap shot at the Tampa Bay Lightning. In essence he spoon fed them a bunch of $100 steaks and then kicked them directly in the dick. It's the equivalent of paying for someone's funeral and then spitting in the open casket. 

Everyone has that friend. The friend that doesn't pick up a round of drinks just to be a good friend. He picks up a round to establish power over the group. To show that he can. The friend that isn't paying for things to make sure everyone has a good time, he is paying for things to make sure everyone knows he is responsible for the good time. Now, regardless of intent you are still going to accept free things because spending your money isn't going to make him a better person, but there is a difference between being considerate and authoritative. I don't think that Vince Vaughn picked up the tab to show that he has a lot of money, but he damn sure did it to establish dominance over the city that Jon Cooper calls home. I think he made that pretty clear when he stood up and announced it to the restaurant. Oh well, jokes on him, I bet that was a killer slab of beef.

P.S. Poor Tampa Bay. Such a likable team and head coach, and it's all being tainted by a crappy city and a front office's stupid policy that does nothing but hurt the NHL.