Redskins’ Riggins Then Snores Through Bush Speech : Justice O’Connor Told to ‘Loosen Up, Baby’

Redskins fullback John Riggins put on a raucous display at a formal Washington banquet Wednesday night, at one point urging Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to “loosen up, Sandy baby,” then passing out on the ballroom floor and snoring through a speech by Vice President George Bush.

Riggins, most valuable player when the Redskins won the Super Bowl two years ago, was a guest of People magazine at the Washington Press Club’s annual black-tie “Salute to Congress” dinner.

Also at Riggins’ table were O’Connor and her husband, John. A guest said Riggins repeatedly spoke loudly to the justice, several times saying:

“Come on, Sandy baby, loosen up. You’re too tight.”

The O’Connors left immediately after dinner, skipping the show, which included a humorous speech by Vice President Bush. O’Connor’s secretary denied the justice was fleeing Riggins, citing a commitment to read the Bible at this morning’s National Prayer Breakfast.

Riggins was unavailable for comment. His wife, Mary Lou, denied her husband passed out. “He fell asleep is more accurate,” she said, adding she believed O’Connor found Riggins “very entertaining.”

After the filet mignon course at the $65-a-plate dinner, Riggins stepped around to where the justice’s husband was seated and kneeled beside him, his arm on O’Connor’s shoulder.

“Then he squatted and was staring off into space,” said Jill Cohen, a guest at an adjoining table. “He was really out of it. Then he dropped to one elbow, then he was flat on the floor. I knew he was under my chair when his cowboy boots hit my shoes.”

Marin Allen, another nearby guest, said Riggins’ head plunked down at the feet of Hugh O’Brian --Wyatt Earp on the old television series.

“O’Brian told people in a courteous way to ‘let the guy sleep.’ ” Allen said. “People checked Riggins a couple of times during the show to make sure he was breathing.”

Waiters and waitresses clearing tables gingerly avoided the occasionally snoring Riggins.