Another poor performance by Wisconsin.

In my recent post about how Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will never be elected president, I mentioned several ways that Minnesota outperforms Wisconsin economically despite Minnesota having fewer people than Wisconsin. Maybe because I am not as big a sports fan as Mr. Torvik, I neglected to mention that Minnesota is apparently also historically better at college football than Wisconsin.

Did Aaron Rodgers just lose a year's salary?

As Mr. Gillette points out, Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers was a strong defender of Brewers' left fielder Ryan Braun when he was accused of juicing last year. His defense included the following exchange with a fan on Twitter:

@toddsutton ya I'd put my salary next year on it. #ponyup #exonerated
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) February 23, 2012

Now that Braun has essentially confessed to using PEDs, many are saying that Rodgers lost his bet, which amounts to $8.5 million or so.

To state the obvious, there's no enforceable contract here because there was no consideration. But a tougher question, perhaps, is whether there was even a bet. Notice that Rodgers's statement is couched conditionally: "I'd put my salary next year on it." So he said that he would put his salary on it, but left unstated were the terms and conditions of the bet. People don't normally make "bets" unless they stand to gain something if they're right. So this seems like a challenge to make a bet, a dare, rather than an actual bet. There was no real offer, and no real acceptance. Most importantly, they never shook on it.

There is one countervailing piece of evidence, though: the hashtag comment "#ponyup." What does that mean? My colloquial understanding of the term is that to "pony up" means to pay up, especially after you lose a bet (particularly in a card game such as poker). Does Rodgers's use of #ponyup imply that he is promising to pay up if he's proven incorrect? Or is it a reference to winning bets he previously made to others before Braun was ephemerally #exonerated?

There's enough ambiguity in there that I would say Rodgers is not beholden under the Gentleman's Code to #ponyup this year's salary to Mr. Sutton or anyone else. But a big fat charitable donation to a worthy cause might be in order.

One final thought. I'm on record as suspecting that PEDs are rampant in pro and college football. In that light, Rodgers's over-zealous defense of Braun seems suspiciously defensive. The QB doth protest too much, methinks.

[Cross-posted at Adam's WI Sports Blog]

How much jewelry is enough?

One of F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous quotes comes from his 1926 short story, The Rich Boy. He wrote, "Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me." The Rich Boy is not one of Mr. Fitzgerald's most famous works. But the quote is famous because it rings true to many people.

When you gotta go...

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, former Badger and current Seahawks offensive lineman John Moffitt has been banned from a Seattle mall for urinating in the parking lot. Yet he returned to the mall, and once again urinated in the parking lot:

According to police, Moffitt had been banned from Bellevue Square mall — and all Kemper Freeman properties — for a year starting on Jan. 21, 2012. But Moffitt returned to the mall on June 14, and was spotted by Bellevue Square security allegedly urinating near a vehicle parked near Paddy Coyne’s bar, according to an incident report. 

Security called police, and officers looked for Moffitt near the Washington Square condos, where he was known to often hang out, according to the report. Police found two “very large males” running along the street, and one officer yelled for Moffitt to stop, the report states. Moffitt allegedly looked directly at one of the pursuing officers, then ran into the building. 

A week later, police showed photos of Moffitt to the Bellevue Square security officer who said Moffitt had urinated near a car, and made a positive identification of Moffitt as their alleged perp. Moffitt was later charged with criminal trespass and obstruction, both misdemeanors. 

Court records also indicate that Moffitt was caught trespassing again on Aug. 25, this time at Lincoln Square mall in Bellevue — another Kemper property. In that incident, officers escorted Moffitt out of the bar at Pearl restaurant without incident before taking him into custody., and now faces charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.

There is really only one explanation:



[Cross-posted at Adam's WI Sports Blog]

It's official:

Professional football is slow-motion suicide.

Previous coverage here and here.

R.I.P. Junior Seau

Following up on Mr. Torvik's post last month, several media outlets are reporting that former NFL linebacker Junior Seau has killed himself.  At least one report indicates that Mr. Seau shot himself in the chest.  This method may have been chosen so that Mr. Seau's brain could be studied to see what effect playing football had on his brain.

It would certainly be notable if Mr. Seau was already experiencing cognitive problems given that he only stopped playing football in 2009.

If you are interested in reading about what cognitive problems some football players experience after their playing days are over, I recommend this GQ article about former Minnesota Viking's linebacker Fred MacNeil.

He parked where?

Excellent post, Mr. Torvik; speaking of law-related books, I am reading Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion by Seth Stern & Stephen Wermiel.  The book has been a good read so far and I recommend it.  I am just at the part where Warren Burger replaces Earl Warren as Chief Justice.