Posted on 04/08/2015 10:45:43 AM PDT by drewh
Guess how much ESPN is worth these days
A) $10 billion B) $25 billion C) $50 billion
If you answered C, you win a gold star which is about all that 12-year-old Sam Holtz of Illinois will take home after winning ESPNs bracket challenge. One problem: Said challenge is supposed to pay $20,000 and a trip to Maui to a randomly-drawn winner among the top 1%. But because Sam is only 12, hes ineligible to be considered for the prize.
Rules are rules thats understood. In this case, Sam used his Dads email address to enter his picks. But ESPN could slam-dunk this situation in a hurry by simply stating while the sixth grader isnt eligible for his winnings now, he can use the moneyput away in a trustto apply toward a college education or trade school at age 18. As for the trip, that too can be used upon graduation. It almost makes too much sense
How awesome was Sams bracket performance, by the way? He missed only six games on the entire bracket and scored a perfect 100 percent on games played in the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final 4 and the Championship (a 68-63 Duke win over Wisconsin). But instead of paying him in some capacity, the Chicago Tribune reports SportsCenter offered to let him anchor an episode of the show. His mother told a local paper (The Daily Herald) she plans on keeping Sam home from school today because ESPN (and other outlets) are begging for interviews. In other words, the network plans on exploiting the situationwhich it will portray itself otherwise as doing cool stuff for the kid insteadthat will be of little cost to the most profitable channel in the history of television.
Im irritated, Holtz told the Daily Herald. Yes, Im still proud of my accomplishment, but Im not happy with the decision.
Nor should he. ESPN had a chance here to take an awkward situation and turn it into PR gold. Instead, they blow an easy layup on their way to looking like the cheapest rich guy on the block.
The great thing is that this kid beat all these experts out there, ESPN spokesman Kevin Ota explains. He beat all of our commentators, all these celebrities, all the college experts. Thats what makes this so awesome. The prize really is secondary.
When youre worth $50 billion, maybe a mere $20,000 and a trip to Maui can be characterized as secondary.
Get a contract lawyer that specializes in professional contracts for child stars and rock that night on SportsCenter, son. Spot should be enough to cover your expenses. Make sure there is nothing about professional conduct codes so you can kick Olbermann in the balls and still get paid.
First, the author of this piece points out that ESPN is worth $50 BILLION. Then, he goes on to assume this is all about the $20K.
Doesn’t that seem rather... dumb?
Instead, doesn’t the $50 BILLION suggest that it’s NOT about the $20K? And, maybe there’s a LOGICAL REASON behind their 18-and-over rule?
More evidence that Mediaite is just another leftist POS.
I have a feeling that th kid will get his award. By ESPN’s competition, or the judge mental public.
One way or the other.
ESPN’s response is nothing short of bush league.
friend, I’m not saying they have to, I’m just saying if it is a business and they were going to give the money out anyway, why not if it is good for your business? Rules are meant to be obeyed and they are also meant to have a purpose. I agree that I’d want to know the liability of breaking said rule before doing anything.
If the kid was not an entrant, then why is ESPN devoting time to discussing his picks and inviting him to appear on air?
He's just any other tv viewer (or non-viewer) at that point.
He may have bested their best picks but so what. He's not part of their contest and is irrelevant to their discussion.
ESPN sux anyway.
And what happens when "daddy" starts emailing a couple 12 year olds.
The kid needs a lesson in integrity.
I can’t believe that adults of both sexes are whining and equating “lack of age” with cheating.
.
That’s quite a stretch.
So the kid cannot read. I assume the rules were posted.
Good point!!!
My guess, they’re offering this visit to the kid while paying the prize to the next best entrant who was actually eligible.
and yet ESPN comes out looking like a schmuck
Breaking posted rules is cheating. The rules said no minors, he participated anyway, that’s cheating. Really the dumb part is not carrying it through, if he was going to use his dad’s e-mail to pose as an adult he should have stuck with that ID, then dad “wins” and nobody is the wiser. By trying to have it both ways (faking his ID to enter, but being open when he wins) he hosed himself.
A 10yr old has as much of a chance of winning the lottery as anyone yes.
Their real challenge is buying a ticket.
I agree with everyone here.
I cant imagine this competition was open to minors. I’m sure, unless ESPN was stupid, to have a disclaimer stipulation that you have to be over 18 to enter.
Minimum gambling age in Illinois is 18. Every state but Utah has a minimum age limit.
Many years ago...I was watching T.V. and my 6 yr. old girl was in the room. I was watching a show about cops...sending out notices to felons...that they had won something..and to show up at such and such a place..and claim their prize....etc.
Anyway...I was laughing at these dumb nuts showing up..and being taken into custody.
My girl asks me what's so funny...and I explain it to her. She ponders my explanation..for a moment. Then say's..."Daddy, did the Police lie to those people? The Police aren't supposed to lie."
Doesn’t matter what the rules were. There’s no reason why it couldn’t be open to anybody.
ESPN blew it here. Disney OWNS them, and the kid is 12. Who’s running the store in CT? Muslims have a better facility with public relations than these idiots.
Brat should learn to read the fine print.
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