I got no sympathy

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Per Deadspin ...
Tim Kawakami, the longtime Mercury News columnist, hosts a podcast, and during a recent episode he told a story about 49ers owner Jed York being a rich jerk. A few years ago, Kawakami tweeted that he would buy York lunch if the 49ers’ new stadium was completed by 2014. He tweeted he would buy York and matt Barrows lunch in Napa.
Kawakami lost the bet, and York decided that it was to be settled with dinner at French Laundry, a very, very fancy restaurant. Two other writers, who paid for themselves, and York’s wife also came along; Kawakami says he ended up having to pay for his meal, York’s meal, and York’s wife’s meal. All told, he says, the date cost him $2100.
The most aggravating part of Kawakami’s story isn’t even that a billionaire NFL owner made a sportswriter pick up a $2100 bill over a jokey bet, but that he was oblivious about the whole thing.

Here’s Kawakami:
If I thought Jed was sticking it to me, I’d almost be okay with it. I don’t even think he knew. I don’t think he knew what $2100 means to a sportswriter who didn’t inherit a billion-dollar team.

I have NO sympathy for Kawakami here. He called them out in public, and made a bet. He lost and had to pay off. How does the fact York held him to this make him a terrible person?

DON'T make a bet you can't pay off and then whine you get held to your word!

 

[Songbird]

 

[Batman]

Yeah, I don't get this at all. Not just the bet part, but the social ignorance of Kawakami. When you offer to buy someone dinner, YOU pick up the check. Not them. Period. It doesn't matter if the other guy is rich or not. If you don't like that, take him to Applebee's.

 

[CD Boogie]

He should have called that ****bag Tommy Craggs and had him charge it to Gawker's corporate card. At any rate, yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the release of "Top Gun," so Tim I would like to remind you that your ego is writing checks you're body can't cash. What did he think would happen? That York would instead flip it around on the guy who had called him a rich jerk and treat Tim to lunch at a really expensive restaurant? Pretty naive.

 

[Riptide]

Tim Kawakami is a sports columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. In addition to his print column, he maintains a blog, communicates on Twitter, and has a podcast series. He was named the California Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2013. He also appears regularly on television on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

I'm guessing Kawakami isn't hurting for cash, either.

 

[Big Circus]

He should have called that ****bag Tommy Craggs and had him charge it to Gawker's corporate card. At any rate, yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the release of "Top Gun," so Tim I would like to remind you that your ego is writing checks you're body can't cash. What did he think would happen? That York would instead flip it around on the guy who had called him a rich jerk and treat Tim to lunch at a really expensive restaurant? Pretty naive.

I don't know why Gawker would be in the business of covering meals for other companies' employees, but sure, why not?

 

[Riptide]

Also, all he had to do was say: "French Laundry? Sportswriters can't afford that. How about Chang's?"

 

[CD Boogie]

I don't know why Gawker would be in the business of covering meals for other companies' employees, but sure, why not?

It was a reference to when Craggs quit Gawker and celebrated by going out to a big lunch, charging it to the Gawker credit card, then posting a receipt of the lunch on Twitter.

http://nypost.com/2015/07/21/gawker-editor-charged-546-tab-to-company-right-before-quitting/

 

[Big Circus]

It was a reference to when Craggs quit Gawker and celebrated by going out to a big lunch, charging it to the Gawker credit card, then posting a receipt of the lunch on Twitter.

http://nypost.com/2015/07/21/gawker-editor-charged-546-tab-to-company-right-before-quitting/

Ah, 10-4.

 

[goalmouth]

Exhibit 1076 of why 99.99% of writers outside New York are provincial clods. Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Buy the dinner and either write a column about it making fun of yourself or see if you write a longer piece poking fun at yourself for one of the many, many food and restaurant mags, at least earning some of the money back. But don't whine.

 

[Batman]

Buy the dinner and either write a column about it making fun of yourself or see if you write a longer piece poking fun at yourself for one of the many, many food and restaurant mags, at least earning some of the money back. But don't whine.

That also makes it a business write-off. Which this also could have been, which makes complaining about it even more unseemly.

 

[Double Down]

I saw this a week ago and didn't understand why Tim told this story. It just opens him up to criticism that every meanie column is revenge for that dinner.

 

[JC]

He's been making York look like the fool he is. He should have just laughed at himself and moved on.

 

[CD Boogie]

He's been making York look like athe fool he is. He should have just laughed at himself and moved on.

I'd say the fool in this scenario is the middle-class knight of the keyboard who got duped into paying $2100 to watch a billionaire and his wife eat gluttonously on his dime. Tough to laugh at yourself when you're that stupid, which he obviously is bc he honored the bet and then was flabbergasted that the guy didn't order water.

 

[HanSenSE]

Tim Kawakami is a sports columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. In addition to his print column, he maintains a blog, communicates on Twitter, and has a podcast series. He was named the California Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2013. He also appears regularly on television on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

I'm guessing Kawakami isn't hurting for cash, either.

Communicates on Twitter? More like "agree with me or I'll block you." Yeah, we all get our share of idiots, but, water off a duck's back, dude.

 

[Tweener]

Honestly, Kawakami is probably lucky it was just $2,100. I would've taken the over if a billionaire I'd been riding for years called me on a dinner bet.

 

[wheels89]

I've got no sympathy for Tim on this one. He ran his mouth, got called on it and had to pay up.

 

[JC]

Tim's explanation.

Jed York, the French Laundry, Deadspin, Pro Football Talk, and me: Make your own call on it, and I know many people are doing that - Talking Points

 

[DanOregon]

Nice to see an opinion-ator actually held accountable when they are wrong. More surprised they headed all the way up to Yountville, a two-and a half hour drive from Santa Clara on a "good" traffic day. It is bad form to make a wager and then complain about losing.