Comments for Bears Player Reneges On Super Bowl Tickets; Prompts Discussion of Contract Law

Bears Player Reneges On Super Bowl Tickets; Prompts Discussion of Contract Law

2007-01-31T20:27:41Z

Bears safety Chris Harris promised Super Bowl tickets to a guy with a cable access TV show during an interview. "If we win," Harris said, "he's going." Turns out, the 33 year old cable access guy is, in fact, not going. Harris only gets 10 tickets and he's giving them to his family.

But did he enter into a contract? Nope. Just promising to give someone something isn't enough. Fox's contract expert explains, "I can't just hold up my diamond ring and say 'I'm giving you my diamond ring." I've got to give something in exchange and its got to have value." Lucky for Chris Harris. Fox Chicago tells us that since the interview, a local ticket broker has stepped up and is taking the cable access guy to the game, for free. We love a happy ending. Incidentally, we will be returning to Chicago for the game (not Miami, sadly, we guess we should have been a cable access TV host instead of a blogger.) Go Bears! —MEGHANN MARCO

Broken Promise Ruins Super Bowl Dream [Fox Chicago]

Comment from Mr. Gunn on 2007-02-01

2007-02-01T21:06:07Z

Drew Brees wouldn't have reneged, nor would it have made national fuckin' news if he did. We're not like that down here, plus we're a little preoccupied at the moment.

Comment from beadprincessk on 2007-02-01

2007-02-01T09:58:37Z

what a jerk!

Comment from AcilletaM on 2007-01-31

2007-02-01T03:54:04Z

Foosball player making loads of money

I wish this was the case but sadly there is very little money in foosball. Maybe like $10 and a beer but that's it.

DieBrucke, GenX, saw the video on the news here. It did not appear to be said jokingly. It was said like the guy didn't think they would ever go to the Super Bowl but you could really make the argument that at the time he wasn't kidding.

Comment from Michael Lehet on 2007-01-31

2007-02-01T00:32:12Z

Wait, you're coming to Chicago? Let's meet for drinks!

Comment from Jimmy M on 2007-01-31

2007-02-01T00:00:45Z

It's really too bad pro football players are so poorly paid or I'm sure that the guy could have just BOUGHT him a ticket and saved himself the bad PR headache..

... oh wait ...

Comment from GenXCub on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T23:34:49Z

A public figure making shallow BS ass-smooching on a TV Show? Say it ain't so. Celebrities/Athletes NEVER do this.

Comment from DieBrucke on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T22:11:56Z

Come on, no one should care about this. It was a silly aside that was probably said half-jokingly. It would have been pleasant for him to give him a ticket but don't chastise him for not doing so and instead giving them to his family. He was under no obligation to do so and the guy probably should not have expected him to do so either.

Comment from B on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T21:58:00Z

VG10: I'm pretty sure Walter Payton won't be playing in this game. Peyton Manning, on the other hand, should have a good game.

Comment from mrwilson on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T21:44:09Z

More law geekiness: although the "thing of value" given in exchange (called "consideration") must be of some value, it typically can be something of very, very low value. A single peppercorn will do, according to a famous contract case that everyone learns in law scool.

Comment from VG10 on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T21:35:12Z

And this will be why the Bears lose the super bowl. that and payton will light up the bears defense.

Comment from medalian1 on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T21:06:34Z

Foosball player making loads of money can't even give the guy a ticket? Who cares if it's not one of his 10 freebie tickets. He can afford to drop a couple of G's. Oh wait, he's a douchebag and would rather look like an ass than stick to his word.

Comment from Greeper on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T21:03:50Z

OK, Law Geek is coming out....Yeah, you need to give sometihng in value but that can include reliance on the promise. So if the guy turned down other tickets, or cancelled his plans, or quit his job in reliance of the promise, then that would suffice. But the bright line rule is that a promise to give a gift is not an enforceable contract.

Comment from homerjay on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T20:56:52Z

Wow... You'd never see Tom Brady reneg on a promise like that. He's so dreamy. :)

Comment from Falconfire on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T20:48:00Z

I've got to give something in exchange and its got to have value.

Now Iamno expert, but Im pretty sure thats not entirely true either. I can think of plenty of contracts where one party gave nothing of value in exchange yet it was still considered a contract.

Comment from madktdisease on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T20:42:05Z

Why was the Hulk-walking-away music playing in my head while I read this?

Comment from madktdisease on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T20:40:55Z

Oh, that's just not nice.

Comment from Electoral College Dropout on 2007-01-31

2007-01-31T20:39:31Z

Go Colts!