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

Betallsports · Apr 9, 2015

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 · Apr 9, 2015

talk about bad pr

Betallsports · Apr 9, 2015

Talk about a Future degenerate gambler ... lol

PatsFanatic · Apr 9, 2015

Betallsports said:
Talk about a Future degenerate gambler ... lol

<

scottcarter · Apr 9, 2015

Betallsports said:
Talk about a Future degenerate gambler ... lol

probably true lol

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

JoeFalls · Apr 9, 2015

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

NFLTrends · Apr 9, 2015

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 · Apr 9, 2015

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

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

EveryGamblersDream · Apr 9, 2015

NFLTrends said:
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 · Apr 9, 2015

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

Enfuego · Apr 9, 2015

Rules are rules.

JoeFalls · Apr 9, 2015

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 · Apr 9, 2015

Pay the dad.

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

slapshot · Apr 9, 2015

He didn't win anything

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

Betallsports · Apr 9, 2015

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 · Apr 9, 2015

betallsports said:
talk about a future degenerate gambler ... Lol

lol

ML Dog · Apr 9, 2015

NFLTrends said:
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 · Apr 9, 2015

Betallsports said:
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 · Apr 10, 2015

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 · Apr 10, 2015

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.

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

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