Richard McMurray

We’ve all been late to work at least once or twice in our lives. Most people even have legitimate excuses like a delayed train, uncooperative children, or the ever-popular, "I'm just hungover." But for those of us who commute to New York everyday, the city presents it’s own additional set of unique hurdles and challenges en route to work. With that in mind, here are five excuses for being late that only a New York boss would understand. "A subway dancer nailed me." We all try to ignore those obnoxious dancers when they disrupt the peace, harmony and tension of our morning subway ride, but they refuse to be ignored. And even though they say that their dancing routines don't require any special accommodations, you're running the risk of getting kicked square in the nose during the performance. A bloody nose isn't the best excuse for being late, but if you tell your boss that it was the product of reckless subway performers, they ought to be cool with it and say something like, ”Always sit towards the ends of the subway car. It’s out of the dance zone." "There was a free giveaway at Madison Square Park" If you ever walk by the Flatiron Plaza across from Madison Square Park, you'll probably encounter some company giving away free sampes. As expensive as this city is, I’ll be damned if I’m not going to get a free piece of something even if I have to give them my email address. In any other city, a boss might be pissed that you're 15 minutes late because of a free doughnut, but a N