ESPN refuses to pay 12-year-old March Madness bracket challenge winner

[Betallsports]

LAKE ZURICH, Ill. – An Illinois sixth grader put more than 11 million people to shame when he tied for first in ESPN’s bracket challenge.


Sam Holtz’s near perfect bracket should have qualified him for a chance to win a $20,000 Best Buy gift card and a trip to the 2015 Maui Jim Maui Invitational.


But, ESPN told Holtz he was ineligible to win the prize because the winner has to be 18, and he used his dad’s e-mail to enter the challenge, according to WGN.


The Chicago Tribune reports SportsCenter offered to let him anchor an episode of the show.


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[Akillies]

talk about bad pr

 

[Betallsports]

Talk about a Future degenerate gambler ... lol

 

[PatsFanatic]

Talk about a Future degenerate gambler ... lol

<<

 

[scottcarter]

Talk about a Future degenerate gambler ... lol

probably true lol

those are the rules and espn has the right to make them.

 

[JoeFalls]

if he used his dad's email, espn should pay.

 

[NFLTrends]

Kid wanted to take the glory instead of letting his dad take the prize.

That's what happens when you don't read the terms of use before you agree and check the box.

Lesson learned. ESPN shouldn't be held responsible for his stupidity. ESPN has the rules laid out in black and white, all he had to do was take 2 minutes to read them.

 

[Greenbacks]

The kid is under age.....What`s the problem?

He got is 5 minutes of fame on Sportscenter.....Rules are rules.

 

[EveryGamblersDream]

Kid wanted to take the glory instead of letting his dad take the prize.

That's what happens when you don't read the terms of use before you agree and check the box.

Lesson learned. ESPN shouldn't be held responsible for his stupidity. ESPN has the rules laid out in black and white, all he had to do was take 2 minutes to read them.

+1

 

[Betallsports]

Need to get him on The RX.. What time. Does school get out ?

 

[Enfuego]

Rules are rules.

 

[JoeFalls]

lil johnnie is using dad's email. 'how do these picks look, dad?' dad takes a glance, 'those look pretty good, johnnie, hit enter'.
a lawyer gonna get that money.

 

[HacheMan]

Pay the dad.

$20,000 a to ESPN is the same as 20 Cents to us...

 

[slapshot]

He didn't win anything

And yeah they messed it up calling attention to his illegal use of his dads email

 

[Betallsports]

Well I have sent him a message and asked if he would come over to The RX to talk about it.

Let's see what happens..

 

[LoCalDallasGuy]

talk about a future degenerate gambler ... Lol

lol

 

[ML Dog]

Kid wanted to take the glory instead of letting his dad take the prize. That's what happens when you don't read the terms of use before you agree and check the box. Lesson learned. ESPN shouldn't be held responsible for his stupidity. ESPN has the rules laid out in black and white, all he had to do was take 2 minutes to read them.

See what I mean? You'd have made a great Minister of Online Communications. That was a real idea. And a brilliant one. All you did was laugh at it now your Destiny is unclear, Fate is derailed & you'll miss your calling.

 

[ML Dog]

Need to get him on The RX.. What time. Does school get out ?

I don't doubt theres a few guys here who can tell you precisely what time school gets out. Lake Zurich isn't that near wilbur?

 

[KennyB]

My son (before he was 18) used to enter these contests with my emails but he was smart enough to know that if he won everything had to be in my name. Stupidity.

 

[packer2012]

Don't know people on here by visual recognition.

But..... based on the age...... I would say several of our posters would seem to be far less than 12 years of age..... just based on a maturity standpoint.