Boys Do Cry

Famous man-cries throughout history | Big boys do cry

Kerianne Okie

Published: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, February 18, 2009

While it may be difficult to watch our heroes lose their composure, sometimes it's nice to see their softer sides. Here's a look at some memorable male breakdowns:

Lou Gehrig -- July 4, 1939: After playing in 2,130 consecutive games and breaking numerous records for the New York Yankees, Gehrig was forced to retire after becoming ill with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is now commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. After receiving plaques, gifts and trophies from the team as well the honor of a retired uniform, Gehrig began to weep as he spoke his famous line, calling himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

Walter Cronkite -- Nov. 22, 1963: Cronkite, who had a reputation for his cool composure as a newscaster, began to show signs of tears while reporting than John F. Kennedy had been shot and killed. Though he paused and was able to continue the report after only a few seconds, Cronkite later admitted that he had begun to choke up and needed to regain his composure. His tears were subdued, but Cronkite's emotions were clear to his viewers and showed a different side of the anchor.

Jon Stewart -- Sept. 20, 2001: Stewart is not usually known for his serious sensitivity. "The Daily Show" host makes a living off of poking fun at public figures and satirically representing actual news programs. But Stewart showed a softer side when he delivered an address regarding the attacks on Sept. 11. There were no more jokes for the famous host, as he choked up several times throughout his commentary and delivered a completely serious and sincere report to the nation regarding the attacks.

Anderson Cooper -- Sept. 1, 2005: Cooper is well known for, among other things, his reporting of Hurricane Katrina and his criticisms of government officials, such as Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.), for evading his questions during the crisis in New Orleans. Cooper managed to keep his composure for several days of reporting the tragedy, but he eventually broke down and shed tears on camera. He was later quoted as saying, "I would prefer not to be emotional and I would prefer not to get upset, but it's hard not to when you're surrounded by brave people who are suffering and in need."

Tiger Woods -- July 23, 2006: Earl Woods, Tiger's father, passed away on May 3, 2006 from prostate cancer. Tiger took a leave of absence from the PGA Tour, and when he returned, his play was rusty. Woods was admittedly still mourning his father, and his performance was sub-par. Eventually, Woods began to come back, golfing as successfully as he had previous to his father's death. When he won the British Open, an event he had dedicated to his father, Tiger grabbed his caddy, Steve Williams, and openly bawled on his shoulder while hugging him.

---