Everyone knows bosses can sometimes throw the hammer down unjustifiably. It's quite the annoying scenario. But sometimes bosses can give the boot even when lofty praise is warranted. Here are 10 people who got canned for being too awesome.
![10 people fired for being awesome, basketball coach]()
Basketball Coach Fired For Beating Team 100-0
"It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened. This clearly does not reflect a Christlike and honorable approach to competition."
Thus was the statement made by the head of the Covenant School of Dallas. Micah Grimes-the basketball coach-would not apologize "for a wide margin of victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."
I suppose it would be Christlike to give the other team a victory. Kudos, Grimes.
![10 people fired for being awesome, farting]()
Social Security Administration Employee Reprimanded for Farting Too Much
In December 2012, The Smoking Gun reported a federal worker was severely reprimanded by blasting gassers too frequently. It created a "hostile working environment," and it was conduct "unbecoming of a federal officer."
I thought this was America?
In the formal five-page reprimand, a manager wrote: "I asked if you could make it to the restroom before releasing the awful and unpleasant odor. I informed you that the smell from your being flatulent disturbed your co-workers and disrupted the work environment."
They counted 60 farts in seven days. Talent.
![10 people fired for being awesome, being a brony]()
Guy Fired for Being a Brony
Hell, I say whatever helps folks feel kinship via "Brony culture" is fine by me. This guy was let go after employees found his My Little Pony fandom discomforting. He had a picture of Applejack as his background, and he spoke frequently about his Bronyhood. I'm calling out this company as Bronyist.
![10 people fired for being awesome, stopping carjacking]()
Waiter Stops Carjacking, Gets Fired
When Juan Canales finished whipping up some curried fish cakes and a side of noodles at 84 Thai Food in Fort Lauderdale, he smelled crime. He rushed to the parking lot and subdued a knife-wielding car thief. "You're not leaving with this truck," the vigilant Canales said.
"It was a man's instinct ... I saw a woman in distress."
After telling the local news how much of a badass he was, he went back to work, where he was promptly fired. The reasoning? Because it would draw too much attention to the restaurant.
My guess is 84 Thai Food is now receiving negative press and decreased clientele after the firing.
![10 people fired for being awesome, repeating seinfeld quote]()
Guy Fired for Repeating "Seinfeld" Quote
In July 2008, John Preston of the Brain Injury Association of Iowa was fired for repeating a "Seinfeld" joke too much. When employees would sneeze, instead of saying "God bless you," he would say, "You're so good-looking."
Hilarious, right? Preston apparently beat a dead horse, because he was fired for sexual harassment soon after.
There have been two other cases of men being fired for quoting "Seinfeld." I suppose it's best to quote "Gilmore Girls" or "The Walking Dead" instead.
![10 people fired for being awesome, guy arrested for minor crime]()
Senior Citizen Fired From Wells Fargo for Minor Crime 50 Years Ago
Richard Eggers, 68, worked customer service at an Iowa Wells Fargo for seven years until he was fired after a routine background check. They found that he used a cardboard cutout of a dime to pay for washing his clothes at a laundromat. In 1963. When Brad Pitt was born.
Wells Fargo had recently let go thousands due to sniffing out minor crimes related to dishonesty. When Wells Fargo offered Eggers his job back, he said nope. While it ain't cool to forge, we can agree it's cool-crafty, even-to make a dime out of cardboard.
![10 people fired for being awesome, newsreader]()
Russian Newsreader Flips Off Obama
It takes balls to diss the leader of the free world, and that is why I consider this woman awesome. Tatyana Limanova was doing a routine news segment when she flipped the bird while mentioning Barack Obama. The collective universe then sh*t its pants.
While it may be uncomely to give the one-finger salute to the U.S. President, you have to admit it wouldn't be such a big deal if an American newscaster shot the middle finger at Vladimir Putin.
Limanova was abruptly fired, even though she said the gesture was only to tell the crew to raise the autocue. Don't flip off the president-seriously-or else, seriously. Here's the video.
![10 people fired for being awesome, dental assistant]()
Dental Assistant Fired for Being Too Hot
Melissa Nelson, 33, worked as a dental assistant. She worked alongside Dr. James Knight for a decade. But it "went from cordial to creepy," as Dr. Knight would begin to ask her sexual questions. He even threw out this gem: "If you see my pants bulging, you'll know your clothes are too revealing."
"Horrible Bosses," anyone?
But alas, his creepiness would be short-lived, because Knight fired Nelson for being too sexy, and it began to interfere with his family life.
When the case was brought to court-Nelson citing wrongful termination-the judge declared Knight was within his rights.
![10 people fired for being awesome, lying intern]()
Intern Fired for Lying (in Style)
Kevin Colvin was an intern at Anglo Irish Bank (odd name) in Massachusetts. He told his boss that he had a family emergency and had to go to New York City. He was given the day off.
Later, Colvin posted this picture to Facebook. He was caught red-handed ... in a fairy dress ... with a wand ... with a beer. He never went to New York City.
![10 people fired for being awesome, life guard]()
Lifeguard Fired for Trying to Save Someone
A young lifeguard out of Hallandale Beach, Florida, was fired in the summer of 2012 for trying to rescue a man. "I ran out to do the job I was trained to do," Tomas Lopez, 21, said. "I didn't think about it at all."
The drowning man was 1,500 feet away from his post, in a territory not designated to Lopez. Citing liability issues, a supervisor gave him the boot. Two other lifeguards soon quit in protest.
Make this a lesson to all you lifeguards overly concerned with saving lives: If someone is out of your jurisdiction, let them die. Or people could get sued and stuff.
Basketball Coach Fired For Beating Team 100-0
"It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened. This clearly does not reflect a Christlike and honorable approach to competition."
Thus was the statement made by the head of the Covenant School of Dallas. Micah Grimes-the basketball coach-would not apologize "for a wide margin of victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."
I suppose it would be Christlike to give the other team a victory. Kudos, Grimes.
Social Security Administration Employee Reprimanded for Farting Too Much
In December 2012, The Smoking Gun reported a federal worker was severely reprimanded by blasting gassers too frequently. It created a "hostile working environment," and it was conduct "unbecoming of a federal officer."
I thought this was America?
In the formal five-page reprimand, a manager wrote: "I asked if you could make it to the restroom before releasing the awful and unpleasant odor. I informed you that the smell from your being flatulent disturbed your co-workers and disrupted the work environment."
They counted 60 farts in seven days. Talent.
Guy Fired for Being a Brony
Hell, I say whatever helps folks feel kinship via "Brony culture" is fine by me. This guy was let go after employees found his My Little Pony fandom discomforting. He had a picture of Applejack as his background, and he spoke frequently about his Bronyhood. I'm calling out this company as Bronyist.
Waiter Stops Carjacking, Gets Fired
When Juan Canales finished whipping up some curried fish cakes and a side of noodles at 84 Thai Food in Fort Lauderdale, he smelled crime. He rushed to the parking lot and subdued a knife-wielding car thief. "You're not leaving with this truck," the vigilant Canales said.
"It was a man's instinct ... I saw a woman in distress."
After telling the local news how much of a badass he was, he went back to work, where he was promptly fired. The reasoning? Because it would draw too much attention to the restaurant.
My guess is 84 Thai Food is now receiving negative press and decreased clientele after the firing.
Guy Fired for Repeating "Seinfeld" Quote
In July 2008, John Preston of the Brain Injury Association of Iowa was fired for repeating a "Seinfeld" joke too much. When employees would sneeze, instead of saying "God bless you," he would say, "You're so good-looking."
Hilarious, right? Preston apparently beat a dead horse, because he was fired for sexual harassment soon after.
There have been two other cases of men being fired for quoting "Seinfeld." I suppose it's best to quote "Gilmore Girls" or "The Walking Dead" instead.
Senior Citizen Fired From Wells Fargo for Minor Crime 50 Years Ago
Richard Eggers, 68, worked customer service at an Iowa Wells Fargo for seven years until he was fired after a routine background check. They found that he used a cardboard cutout of a dime to pay for washing his clothes at a laundromat. In 1963. When Brad Pitt was born.
Wells Fargo had recently let go thousands due to sniffing out minor crimes related to dishonesty. When Wells Fargo offered Eggers his job back, he said nope. While it ain't cool to forge, we can agree it's cool-crafty, even-to make a dime out of cardboard.
Russian Newsreader Flips Off Obama
It takes balls to diss the leader of the free world, and that is why I consider this woman awesome. Tatyana Limanova was doing a routine news segment when she flipped the bird while mentioning Barack Obama. The collective universe then sh*t its pants.
While it may be uncomely to give the one-finger salute to the U.S. President, you have to admit it wouldn't be such a big deal if an American newscaster shot the middle finger at Vladimir Putin.
Limanova was abruptly fired, even though she said the gesture was only to tell the crew to raise the autocue. Don't flip off the president-seriously-or else, seriously. Here's the video.
Dental Assistant Fired for Being Too Hot
Melissa Nelson, 33, worked as a dental assistant. She worked alongside Dr. James Knight for a decade. But it "went from cordial to creepy," as Dr. Knight would begin to ask her sexual questions. He even threw out this gem: "If you see my pants bulging, you'll know your clothes are too revealing."
"Horrible Bosses," anyone?
But alas, his creepiness would be short-lived, because Knight fired Nelson for being too sexy, and it began to interfere with his family life.
When the case was brought to court-Nelson citing wrongful termination-the judge declared Knight was within his rights.
Intern Fired for Lying (in Style)
Kevin Colvin was an intern at Anglo Irish Bank (odd name) in Massachusetts. He told his boss that he had a family emergency and had to go to New York City. He was given the day off.
Later, Colvin posted this picture to Facebook. He was caught red-handed ... in a fairy dress ... with a wand ... with a beer. He never went to New York City.
Lifeguard Fired for Trying to Save Someone
A young lifeguard out of Hallandale Beach, Florida, was fired in the summer of 2012 for trying to rescue a man. "I ran out to do the job I was trained to do," Tomas Lopez, 21, said. "I didn't think about it at all."
The drowning man was 1,500 feet away from his post, in a territory not designated to Lopez. Citing liability issues, a supervisor gave him the boot. Two other lifeguards soon quit in protest.
Make this a lesson to all you lifeguards overly concerned with saving lives: If someone is out of your jurisdiction, let them die. Or people could get sued and stuff.