Football block pool rage

[kranky]

A co-worker runs block pool for the NFL season. He leaves the signup sheet in a folder in the breakroom, labeled with simple instructions:

1. Pool is $34 ($2 per game including last pre-season game)
2. Print your name clearly in your chosen block (first and last name)
3. See me to pay

He keeps a list of people who have paid.

I found out today that there was rage over the payoff for the last pre-season game. We have a number of clowns who can't simply write their name in the block - they draw designs, symbols, scribble initials, etc. Even so, the pool has been working fine for many years.

The winner of the pre-season game showed up to claim his winnings yesterday, and the guy running the pool refused to pay. The winning block had a spiral drawn in the block, with a small diagonal line in each of the 4 corners.

This is how it was described to me (I didn't witness it first-hand)...

Winner: Hey man, I just stopped to pick up my block pool money.
Dave: Ok, what's your name?
Winner: Joe Smith
Dave: Must be blind, I can't find it... which block did you have?
Winner:<points to spiral with diagonal lines> That one.
Dave: What is that? That's not your name.
Winner: That's the symbol I use. Makes it easier to find my block on a block pool.
Dave: How do I know that's your block?
Winner: Because I'm telling you that's my block!
Dave: Why don't you write your name, like I asked on the instructions? I know you read them, because you knew to come pay me for a block.
Winner: Don't be a dick, man, that's my block, just give me my money.
Dave: I don't know that's your block. Two other blocks don't have a name in the block, just some drawing. How do I know that one is yours? Someone could show up tomorrow saying it was THEIR block, then what?
Winner: Nobody is going to claim it's theirs when it's not. Just give me the money. Write my name in the block if it is that important to you.
Dave:I'll give it to you Friday if nobody else comes by to claim it.
Winner: How about give me the f-----n' money now, jerk?
Dave: Friday.
Winner: <RAGE> WHAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGARBLE!

A manager had to come over to calm everyone down. Such drama.

 

[nick1985]

Good story. I read the whole thing and was pretty entertained. :thumbsup:

 

[Krazy4Real]

Guess this is the last year this is being done.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Seems like a fair response from Dave.

 

[vi edit]

Dave should have cut him a check with some symbols that looked like wingding fonts and told him to go cash that.

I mean, those symbols stand for real numbers, right?

 

[KeithTalent]

Soon an e-mail will come out prohibiting office pools.

KT

 

[neegotiator]

must be hard finding one's own name

 

[pcgeek11]

Dats my X man.

 

[Drako]

Dave should have cut him a check with some symbols that looked like wingding fonts and told him to go cash that.

I mean, those symbols stand for real numbers, right?

Exactly. Good luck cashing that spiral boy /

 

[Beev]

Kiss office pools goodbye in your office, if management knows what's good for them.

 

[zinfamous]

Good story. I read the whole thing and was pretty entertained. :thumbsup:

haha, same. was going to click away but I stuck with it.

 

[JTsyo]

It seems when they paid, they should have verified their block. No idea why adults can't follow simple instructions though.

 

[joesmoke]

it often amuses me how sports can turn us into bickering women at the drop of a hat. every year in my FFB league theres at least one trade that ends in "its not fair that trade was approved it wasnt balanced now he has 2 starting RBs blabhlbahbalbalbh" or "whyd my trade get veto'd whats the big deal if the guy that doesnt even sub on bye weeks will trade me randy moss for todd heap blahablahblahblabha"

 

[Blackjack200]

Winner: That's the symbol I use. Makes it easier to find my block on a block pool.

Why would you have a problem finding your own name? Woudln't you just remember where you wrote it?

That being said, I think he has a point that no-one would pretend to be the winner if they weren't.

 

[zinfamous]

Dave should have cut him a check with some symbols that looked like wingding fonts and told him to go cash that.

I mean, those symbols stand for real numbers, right?

Or just write out the check to "circle with spiral in the middle"

 

[rivan]

Seems reasonable to me.

The other scenario would be:

Dave: Ok, here's the cash.
"Winner" Jim: Thanks.

(later...)

Real Winner: Hey man, I'm here to collect my winnings.
Dave: I paid it out to Jim. He said that was his scribble.
Real Winner: Bullshit man, give me my cash. Or get it back from Jim.
Dave: ...

 

[Train]

artsy fartsy types have to ruin everything.

"Don't call me Joe, I am now represented by a symbol that is a spiral thingy with diaganoal lines."

 

[Perknose]

That being said, I think he has a point that no-one would pretend to be the winner if they weren't.

He has NO point about not waiting until Friday for final verification.

Dave is my new hero. I love everything I know about him . . . his name, his manly no assholes stance, his name . . .

 

[Blackjack200]

Seems reasonable to me.

The other scenario would be:

Dave: Ok, here's the cash.
"Winner" Jim: Thanks.

(later...)

Real Winner: Hey man, I'm here to collect my winnings.
Dave: I paid it out to Jim. He said that was his scribble.
Real Winner: Bullshit man, give me my cash. Or get it back from Jim.
Dave: ...

Whoever marked the box with a scribble cannot reasonably hold the organizer accountable for who the money is paid out to.

3rd scenario is that Dave pockets the money and tells scribble boy that he already paid it out, and doesn't know the guy that claimed it.

 

[dainthomas]

Soon an e-mail will come out prohibiting office pools.

KT

Definitely this.

And obviously that guy has literacy issues. I can pick out my name (especially in my own handwriting) on a page in about two seconds.

 

[nick1985]

He has NO point about not waiting until Friday for final verification.

Dave is my new hero. I love everything I know about him . . . his name, his manly no assholes stance, his name . . .

And his giant pulsating cock working its way into your pooper?

 

[DrunkenSano]

There is an easy solution for Dave.

What Dave should've done was said, "Okay, let me write you a check." And on the check, instead of writing the winner's name on who to pay, draw the retarded spiral and X on it.

 

[joesmoke]

And his giant pulsating cock working its way into your pooper?

wouldnt that go against his "no assholes" stance?

:awe:

 

[skace]

You think there'd be some sort of legend ......

 

[nick1985]

There is an easy solution for Dave.

What Dave should've done was said, "Okay, let me write you a check." And on the check, instead of writing the winner's name on who to pay, draw the retarded spiral and X on it.

You have been beaten to the punch