Frank Coztansa wrote:
All you said, sir, was to contact you, and I quote-- "prior to your squad’s mathematical elimination from playoff contention."
My squad clearly is not eliminated. So this proposal is well within the time guidelines which you yourself set. If you wish to back down from these terms...
My bet are the White Sox make the postseason, and the "glorious" Yankees do not. Terms I will leave up to you.
You have indeed quoted me accurately, albeit only partially. Unfortunately, the part of my prior proposal that you so cleverly omitted was really the key to unlocking the entire meaning of same. Here is what I said – exactly (on April 4, 2008): “
As for the Chicago White Sox, I would also invite wagers from any fans of this franchise. Please contact me immediately, prior to your squad’s mathematical elimination from playoff contention.” “
Prior to your squad’s mathematical elimination from playoff contention” was merely a gratuitous dig at the White Sox. As I am not Nostradamus, I certainly could not have known when, or if, the White Sox would be mathematically eliminated. Further, the use of the comma after "
immediately" is vital here. I would concede that I would be morally obligated to accept your wager if I had said: "Please contact me immediately (note the lack of the comma) prior to your squad’s mathematical elimination from playoff contention." However, please contrast the preceding sentence with the following: "Please contact me immediately
, (pause, gather your thoughts) prior to your squad’s mathematical elimination from playoff contention." Finally, it would not make much sense for me to ask you to contact me immediately prior to your club's elimination. If your club was about to be eliminated, why would I ask you to make a wager? I would have to be insane to do that, or really think that you are foolish.
I suppose “Immediately” may, in certain portions of the world (perhaps Denmark, the happiest country on earth), be considered to represent a time period stretching as far out as five (5) months. For example, a man in Aalborg might say to a light bulb salesman: “Hey, I really need those light bulbs immediately.” The salesman may say: “Okay, you will have them in five (5) months.” You see, in the United States of America, one would probably say: “What are you talking about, jerky?!? Do you not understand English? I quite clearly said immediately, most commonly meaning very soon!” However, based upon the fantastic Capitalistic economy in Denmark, the happy man in Aalborg might say: “Great, Sven! Only five (5) months? Gosh, it is great to be a happy Dane!”
As I have stated previously, this 2008 campaign has been a disappointing one for the Glorious Ones. I have, at present, very few illusions that a Playoff run is imminent. However, I have fewer illusions about the confidence that you have placed in your club, and the courage of your convictions, in that you have accepted a “Making the Playoffs” bet five (5) months after it was proposed, when my favorite club is essentially out of it, your team is in first place, and there are approximately twenty (20) games remaining in the season.
However, I am in a good mood because of the Beloved New York Football Giants’ thrashing of a really strong Redskins club. Further, you seem like a likeable fellow. Thereby, please accept this as my formal representation to you that I hereby accept your wager, for the pure sport of it. Let us say $50.00.