When you think you are a genius and have no one around to dare tell you otherwise, you are probably going to make rash decisions. So, in 1983 Trump thought he could take on the NFL and bought the New Jersey Generals of the defunct USFL.
Trump, confident as ever, was sure he could hire whomever he wanted.
''We're speaking to a number of people,'' he said. ''I can sign one of three major N.F.L. coaches right now if I wanted to, two of them top guys. You wouldn't believe it, coaches are calling us. But I'm going to wait, give it six or eight weeks to feel things out. Then we'll decide.''
Trump aimed at snatching the legendary Don Shula from the Miami Dolphins. Negotiations were going swimmingly until...
This was the first time in his years with the Dolphins that Shula has gone into his option season without a new contract. When Trump disclosed his offer, there were doubts that Shula would remain with the Dolphins.
But Shula broke off talks with the Generals after Trump had discussed their contacts on national television and had said the only obstacle was whether he would throw in a luxury apartment in New York for Shula.
''The key to this was a one-bedroom efficiency on Biscayne Boulevard,'' Shula quipped today, referring to Miami's main thoroughfare.
He said the talks with Trump got ''completely out of line'' when a postgame interview centered on his contract rather than the game.
Unable to resist publicity, Donny blabbed on national TV, annoying Shula who cut off negotiations. I bet you’ll never guess how Trump reacted.
Donald J. Trump, owner of the Generals, said in a statement that the negotiations with Shula had been ''terminated'' because ''the arrangements to obtain a coach like Don Shula were just too complex and time-consuming at this point.''
Shula cited the talks as a ''huge distraction,'' and said it was ''time to draw the line.'' But Trump also said in an interview that Shula had requested an apartment in the luxury Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, and that ''I lost my enthusiasm to continue forward when that was mentioned.''
''That's more than money, more than salary, that's gold,'' Trump said of providing an apartment. ''But Don's a great coach, and I wish him the best of luck.''
Even in 1983, we see the exact same things as today: overestimates his own self-worth, short attention span, can’t keep secrets, never accepts responsibilities.