Thursday’s Hot Clicks: Poker Pro Completes 20 Days of Solitary Confinement Bet, Wins $62,400

After 20 days in total darkness with no contact with the outside world, Rich Alati has emerged.

$62,400 for 20 days locked in a dark room

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the bet between two pro poker players that would see one of the men attempt to spend 30 days locked inside a pitch-black bathroom with no contact with the outside world, no form of entertainment and no way to tell how much time had passed. If he could do it, he’d win $100,000. If he couldn’t, he’d lose $100,000.

Now, after 20 days, Rich Alati has emerged from his prison. Alati and Rich Young—the guy who proposed the challenge—reached a buyout agreement on Monday night that gave Alati $62,400. Young hedged his bet so he’ll only end up losing roughly $42,000.

Alati was monitored by a night-vision livestream that allowed his family to make sure he wasn’t losing his mind. It also allowed Young to see that his opponent wasn’t breaking and may actually see this thing through. 

“At the last food drop, he was stronger than ever,” Young told The Action Network’s Darren Rovell on Day 17, fearing he may lose the bet. “I underestimated his mindset, his resolve. I’m not disappointed I made the bet, I thought I had the better side, but he has exceeded all my expectations.”

In the end, it was a win-win. Alati got a large five-figure payout and was able to break out of his cell 10 days early, and Young got to mitigate his losses. 

What is this guy planning?

Russell Beckman, via Green Bay Press-Gazette

Remember the Packers fan who filed a federal lawsuit in hopes of wearing his green and gold on the sidelines at Soldier Field? Well, the game is this weekend and the judge hasn’t ruled yet. Russell Beckman is seeking an injuction that would allow him to wear his Packers gear this weekend and had a hearing yesterday, though it ended without a ruling. 

Whether the judge rules or not, Beckman is planning to participate in the pregame sideline program—and it sounds like he’s got some kind of stunt planned. 

“I’ll wear something else,” Beckman said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “And, um, maybe you guys should be there to see what I wear.”

Neither guy comes off well here

I’m not a fan of Chris Russo’s shrill shouting schtick, but Tony LaRussa defending the selection of his old buddy Harold Baines because of game-winning RBIs is laughable. 

The best of SI

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Around the sports world

Sixers coach Brett Brown names all of his plays after different people. ... Every NBA team that made the playoffs last year got special alternate uniforms from Nike. ... Weezer is performing at the Winter Classic because the NHL is stuck in the ’90s. ... Dikembe Mutombo paid to fly a boy from the Congo to the U.S. for surgery to remove a massive facial tumor.

At least the Cavs are winning the T-shirt giveaway game

Arizona State has the coolest hockey sticks

Every NFL team’s best walk-off touchdown

I hope Hunter Pence finds another MLB job because he’s bringing his passion all the way to the Dominican Republic

We found inspiration on every single player every day. #Momentum by @hunterpence #AquiToSomosToros pic.twitter.com/xnO2TWgh1T

— Toros Del Este (@TorosdelEste) December 12, 2018

The crowd reactions are the best

Fran Belibi from @RegisJesuitHS THREW IT DOWN tonight. I've covered a lot of high school basketball, and I've never seen a gym like this @RJ_Media pic.twitter.com/vMPMkXbQuN

— Lindsay Joy (@LindsayJoyTV) December 13, 2018

D-Wade is not amused

LeBron was a pro in interviews even as a high schooler

Daniel Radcliffe reads the worst tweets of the year

Peter King was also a great sport in this segment

Not sports

Netflix just announced what’s coming and going in January. ... 35 filmmakers explain the hardest special effect they ever pulled off. ... Google released a trove of data about what people were searching for this year.

Natalie Portman and Jude Law answer the questions people Google about them

Now it’s time to investigate why he didn’t open his car door

Jason Momoa is so effortlessly charming

A good song

Email dan.gartland@simail.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.