Injuries of The Rich and Famous

By PAUL GRAY/

Power and celebrity are not necessarily buffers against the odd little vicissitudes of life. Accidents do happen. Ask any of the following notables:

Richard Darman Bush's Budget Director usually tries to trip up congressional Democrats, but last week he slipped and fell on the steps of a McDonald's. It took 100 stitches to repair injuries to his head and face.

Calvin Klein The world-famous fashion designer apparently isn't cut out for the sporting life: he suffered a concussion, two broken ribs, a bruised lung and a head laceration after being thrown from a horse on Long Island last month.

Dan Rather The combative CBS News anchor suffered back injuries in 1986 when two men accosted him on New York City's Park Avenue and roughed him up while mysteriously demanding, "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

George Steinbrenner The now deposed Yankee owner once said he encountered two loudmouthed Los Angeles Dodgers fans in an elevator. While he "clocked" them and broke his hand in the process, his victims were never identified.

Morton Downey Jr. The acerbic talk-show host claimed he was attacked in a San Francisco men's room by Nazi skinheads, who chopped off some of his hair and scrawled a swastika across his face. Skeptical officials made no arrests.

With reporting by DAVID ELLIS