Believe It Or Not

A weekly commentary by 60 Minutes II Correspondent Charles Grodin:

---

There's so much going on in the news, but one story that really seems to stay on people's mind is President Bush fainting after choking on a pretzel and getting that bruise on his cheek.

A lot of people expressed doubts it really happened that way. Some said, "When was the last time you ever heard of someone fainting from choking on a pretzel?"

Some people were dubious, but not me, because I have a 14-year-old son who likes to read to me from "Ripley's Believe It or Not," so, of course, I'm used to hearing about weird things. Here's some entries from Ripley's.

• There's Max Calvin of Brooklyn who could fit 25 quarters in his ear. I wonder why he thought to do it?
  
  
• There's Martin Joe Laurello, "The Human Owl," who could turn his head 180 degrees.
  
  
• Here's a guy who could stick his foot in his pocket. I think that could be done. Not by me.
  
  
• Here's 8' 11" Robert Wadlow standing beside his father. I wonder what his mother looked like?
  
  
• Here's a dog that wears its owner's false teeth.
  
  
• Here's a 7,200-egg omelet, and a 30-yard-long Caesar's salad. Having some people over?
  
  
• David Caidin has a laugh that could be heard for three miles. How'd you like to sit next to him at the theatre?
  
  
• Alexandre Patty went up stairs on his head. I mean even if you could do it, would you want to?

The President faints from eating a pretzel? Yeah. I believe it.