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