Bears Safety Promises Super Bowl Trip to Fan, Breaks His Promise
 

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2...RRIS25.article

'It's on tape': Fan demands Bears player fulfill ticket vow

January 25, 2007
Months before the Chicago Bears clinched their first trip to the Super Bowl in 21 years, safety Chris Harris stared into a video camera and promised to take fan Bryan Lange with him to Miami if the team made it to the big game.

The apparent promise -- made during a 40-second interview with a public access television show last June -- might have seemed like a longshot at the time.
But now that the Bears are in, thanks in part to Harris' big plays last Sunday, Lange is trying to hold Harris to his words.


Lange, a construction worker from Crystal Lake and a Bears season ticket holder, has set up camp on the road to Halas Hall this week with a sign saying, "Chris Harris You Promised.''
He also posted a clip of the interview he filmed at a charity event at www.psychobabbletv.com/chrisharrispromised.

In it, Harris tells Lange -- who goes by the name Chong on a show called Psycho Babble -- that his goal is to make it to the Super Bowl.

Says Lange: "If you guys make it to the Super Bowl, I'll sell my Harley to go.''

Harris replies, "You won't have to sell it. I will give you tickets.''

Lange replies, "I'm going to hold you to it. I've got you on tape.''

Harris, looking at the camera, then agrees: "It's on tape. If we win, he's going.''

Lange concludes the interview by saying, "Chong is going to the Super Bowl with the Bears on Chris Harris' dollar.''

After two days in the cold, Lange, 33, says Harris told him Wednesday that he couldn't help him.

In a phone interview, Harris' agent, Albert Elias, said he was unaware of Harris' promise but called Lange's appeal "a very unreasonable request considering Chris has over 40 family members trying to get tickets and he's only offered 15.''

Dave Newbart

Put your money where your mouth is.

www.psychobabbletv.com/chrisharrispromised

Dude promised. I don't know how much more cut and dried it needs to be.

damn..like the player can't AFFORD to buy one?

Just buy a ticket online and give it to the dude. Gotta keep your word.

Low character. His agent should advise him to take care of business. But he's probably an attorney and knows that the tape probably isn't legally binding.

Im sure the entire Bears organization has tickets coming out of the wazoo. They can give him one.

Kind of reminds me of Odalis Perez... he was giving LA inner city kids free tickets whenever he started a game. The Dodgers put him in the bullpen for awhile... and then he started some more... said **** the kids, I didnt get any publicity for it anyway.

Now he is with the Royals! Yes!!!

He should give him two just for agreeing to go on a show called "Psychobabble"...

Christian Okoye would never do something like this.

Yeah, this is pretty shitty. There's simply no defending Harris. Man up and give the guy his ticket, dickhead.

Didn't play it for me :hmmm: go figure. Anyone been to the Bears chat to see what is up?

fuck that guy. Just one more example of why our country is turning into a bunch of whiny b!tches.

Harris did someone a favor by appearing on a g-ddamn public access TV show and now this prick thinks he's entitled to a SB ticket?

It was just banter on a TV show. It was a JOKE. This wasn't done to embarrass the guy, Harris wasn't profiting from it in any way, and it wasn't some premeditated marketing stunt. And by making a stink about it, this guy is showing to the entire world that he's a greedy, pathetic, classless prick that can't take a joke.

So once again, fuck him.

He's entitled to a ticket because Harris said he'd give him one. Not for any other reason. It wasn't banter. It wasn't a joke. The guy didn't ASK for a ticket; Harris, without prompting, offered to provide a ticket if the Bears went to the game. PERIOD.

It's a simple obligation that the man should honor. And I can't believe you're siding with the punk ass millionaire. :shake:

The guy did say he would sell his Harley, if Harris doesn't come through, I'd like to see if he mans up and does what he said he was going to do.

He is a damn millionaire that opened his mouth and made a promise to a fan. It is a load of BS if he can't take care of this SIMPLE matter.

Yeah, I switched back to being a hardcore wingnut when no one was looking. :)

All kidding aside, so what? If I walk up to someone on the street and say "hey, if I don't drop dead tomorrow, I'll come to your house and give you $5000" does that mean I'm now obligated?

He wasn't asking the guy to do anything, asked him for no benefit and caused him no detriment.

As a wise man once said, "fuck 'em if they can't take a joke".

Exactly!!!

yes...yes it does.




(unless you are a fucking dirt-bag liar assh0le)

the guy was willing to sell his bike to get a ticket when the offer was made..

the only thing you truly own is your word...unless you're Harris.

Apples/Oranges

Without reviewing the UCC (although I doubt it applies), I say Psychobabble and Harris have a K. This sounds like a hypothetical from 1L contracts.

Come on! Bottom line, put your money where your mouth is. If I, a lowly fan would make a promise to someone, I would damb well make sure I could fulfill that promise before I made it. Otherwise, I'm and pussy.

Sell a harley to go to the Super Bowl? Effing loser.

Where's the consideration?

This makes Harris look like a jerk for a number of reasons:
1. If he was just talking crap because he didn't think he'd ever have to pay up.... no faith in his team, right?
2. His word. I mean, why say it if you didn't mean it?

I hear that...but still..that was the comment that sparked the offer..

i'm getting ready to rebuild my super sport...

WTF is going on here? Is this some kind of sick joke you all are playing on me? Did I accidentally login to www.bizzarrochiefsplanet.com?

That guy started the joke by saying he'd sell his harley to go the SB. (I suppose if he had said he'd sell his right arm, you'd be trying to hold him to that too?) So Harris plays along for the camera by saying he'd give the guy SB tickets, and now all the sudden it's his "word of honor" (or some other stupid a$$ platitude from a mafia movie) and he's now a piece of shit for not following through?

Thank God our legal system doesn't work this way -- if you think there's too much frivilous litigation now, lets put you guys in charge and see how long it takes to increase by a factor of, say, 10,000.

Why? Both were promises made without consideration or reliance.

Too bad Harris is already in the NFL, I'm sure Nick Saban would love to have him.

No consideration. The elements for estoppel don't exist either without reason to believe that he was making a serious offer and detrimental reliance.

It's not a legal problem you jackass, it's about a guy in a position of privilege (voluntarily) giving his word to a guy who believed he was for real. If you can't come through with the goods, dont go looking for the "good guy" credit by making the promise.

I agree 100%...its was just banter on a TV show.....it wasnt meant to taken to heart.....its pretty obvious....


Sorry dude, get over it and watch the SB on TV. At least you get the cool commercials with it..

I guess you're used to people saying crap they don't mean to you.

When somebody tells me they're going to do something, I hold them to it. Nobody twisted his arm. He volunteered it. He has the means and the wherewithall to deliver on his promise. It's not like it was an outlandish thing he said only for the camera. If it was just for the camera, then why did the host take what he said at face-value?

Yes you are obligated. I guess I was raised a little differently than you. I was taught that you do what you say you are going to do. Don't let your mouth write a check your ass can't cover.

c'mon deberg..you don't offer something like that, unless you're willing to come through..

If its one thing a person only h as, its his word. If you say something like that on video, you best be prepared to pay the cost. Just like someone said, go on ebay n buy a freaking ticket.

bad anology...

yep, i grew up where i was always told, if you say something you best follow through with it. For some people someones word means something.

If the guy wants to use analogies, try telling a drug dealer that you need some drugs, then he set up a deal, and you tell him you were just kidding. see how that flies. lol

Legally binding or not- has Harris ever heard of creating favorable public relations? Just think of the feelgood story that it would generate for him!
Instead, he comes off looking like an untrustworthy a$$. BAD public relations that could've been avoided simply by the millionaire ponying up a grand or so for a ticket.

If they didn't shake on it-it doesn't mean shit.

Eh, I'm thinking they're both idiots. Harris for saying it, and Radio Boy for believing him. Nevertheless, I wouldn't be surprised if this guy doesn't end up with a ticket somehow.

why wouldn't he believe him? Harris had nothing to gain by maiing the promise...

Well, my thought was that everyone knows the average Joe will never get a sniff of going to a Super Bowl.

Although you're probably the wrong person to be telling this to right now... :)

ha!

He doesn't care if he comes off looking bad in the publics eye...he doesn't pull any sponsorship money.

Why do you think he's a millionaire? He is a 2nd year 6th round draft pick. After taxes and cost of living...i"ll bet this guy has less than $100k in savings.

To me it looked like he was joking. Just like the host who said he'd sell his Harley. Instead the host stands outside the Bears HQ for 2 days.

Move on.

However, if Greg Wesley says to me during an interview that he'll pay for me to go to the SuperBowl if the Chiefs make it this year, I believe him and I'm going to hold him to it, just like Chong said. Dude didn't chuckle or smile or hold up crossed fingers or give any other indication that he was just paying lipservice for the camera. He had every opportunity to withdraw the offer during the taping.

I don't care who is an idiot. Rich NFL player didn't think he'd ever have to pay that promise.... the piper is here though. It's time.

It doesn't matter how much he has in savings. He has 15 tickets given to him by the NFL. He's made almost $50k in the past 2 weeks from playoff winnings and he'll make another $75k next week win or lose. That's $125k in a month that he wasn't expecting. Money isn't an excuse for him.

I do agree that standing outside Halas Hall is pretty goofy.

He's probably not rich. I can't imagine a contract for a 6th round draft pick making someone rich.

I suppose it depends on the guy's relationship with the player. If Harris was a regular guest of his show maybe I could see where he'd believe him. OTOH if it was just a one-time appearance and they had no previous relationship I can't see how he'd take it seriously. Athletes say stupid shit all the time, everyone knows that.

Anybody who plays in the NFL is rich. Dude has made over half a million in the 2 years he's been in the NFL and that doesn't count his signing bonus. He's plenty rich. At least that's a lot of money to me.

Hey now this average Joe has been to 2 :p

saying something stupid and saying I'll provide you with a ticket to the SB are two different things, IMO.

that could change if he handles this right

Well he's looking pretty stupid right now for saying it.

Will you provide me with a ticket to the SB Stevie?

how big are your moobs...?

Not very. Been working out you know. ROFL

Dude shouldn't make promises he can't keep.

He can keep it, it's just going to cost him $3,500.

They just addressed this on NFL Live on ESPN. Schlereth said give the man his ticket. I hate Mark Schlereth.

original thread

http://boards.chicagobears.com/forum...ad/320014.aspx

IMO opinion, that would be like me promising someone a hundred dollars if I ended up employee of the year and reneged. His Sb bonus is way more than a $200 dollar ticket.

I am not saying he needs an executive suite but damn, the guy is a season ticket holder as well.

You SUCK. IMHO along with the player.

Did you hang the banner about the Saints last week?

Karma is a bitoch, guess he does not want to let the fan down. He had no faith in his team making or winning the SB IMO.

He should honor it.

Sometimes we mouth off and say things that will be less than pleasant to honor, but a man of his word does.

Outside of killin' someone or screwin' their wife, i cant think of a better way to make the fans turn on you.

What Harris pays in taxes each year is likely more than this guys annual salary.

What a worthless asshole.

God all athletes have to do is not be complete ****ing duchebags. Sign some autographs do alittle charity work and we will think you are alright. This guy had a chance do something simple to make himself almost a legends. Could you imagine all the drunk fans the rest of his life saying "that guy is a good shit, remember when he bought a guy a superbowl ticket" Instead he has to be a reerun about it so his stupid ****ing entourage can go. I bet the dude has 20 copies of scareface and he can't follow the line. I only have my balls and my word and I break them for no one.

Definitely NOT the same thing. Offering you a bonus if you become employee of the year is meant to make you work harder. If you were then named EOTY, you fulfilled your part of the bargain.

A better analogy would be if you mouthed off and told a co-worker that if you get a $4000 bonus for being EOTY, you'll split it with them or give them then whole amount. The questions I would have then would be - did you really mean it, or were you joking? If the offer was meant to motivate the other person to do a good job, then you shouldn't renege on it. Was it a reciprocal promise (i.e., is your co-worker offering you the same deal)?

The situation with Harris and Lange is best analogized to promising your neighbor half if you hit the lottery. If your neighbor didn't give you any money to play the lottery, and s/he didn't promise to do the same for you if they win it (and your neighbor never plays the lottery anyway), then you should have no obligation to follow through, morally or legally.

Did you even watch the clip? To me it was Harris clearly playing along for the camera. Harris did the guy a favor by appearing on his public access show, and played along with the joke the guy started, and now he's being made to look like the bad guy for not giving in to Lange's extortion. If it wasn't all a joke, then how come Lange hasn't sold his Harley yet to buy himself a ticket? Clearly he wasn't being serious.

If I were Harris I'd now find some affirmative way to screw this guy. Maybe give him the ticket, then send him a 1099 so he has to pay income tax on it. Maybe it's even possible to get the guy's show yanked off public access TV because he's directly trying to make money off it.

Man up and keep your word Harris you punk ass.

The only way he is going to buy the ticket is if he thinks the negative PR is going to harm him more than bending his wallet at this point.

If Harris isn't a man of his word, he needs to stfu and not say stuff he isn't going to back up, fuggen dickweed.

I got mines!

I just read elsewhere that a ticket broker gave Lange a free ticket to the SB. Guess that's what our society has come to -- bitch and moan and act like a baby long enough and someone will stick a pacifier in your mouth.

If Harris really wanted to show the rest of the world what a prick Lange is, Harris should have given "Lange's" ticket to the Make-A-Wish foundation. That would have shut him up real quick.

Because you're a dickbag that doesn't believe in honoring your word.

This guy never said, "Chris, will you give me a SB ticket if you guys go next year."

So now, according to you, Harris did this guy a favor. At no point did the host ask for a ticket.

Why would you sell your bike when a rich athlete told you on television that you would be going. He even concluded with, "I'm going to the SB on Chris Harris' dollar."

Harris had ample opportunities when the cameras stopped rolling to tell the guy it was just a ploy. He didn't. He's not even man enough to offer a quote.

Your analogy sucks. Promising your neighbor half if you hit the lottery? So now we are comparing a couple hundred dollar SB ticket to the lottery? What a crock of shit. Is the neighbor winning the lottery worth about 10,000 times more than neighbor he's promising?

People like Harris are what's wrong with this country. Live up to your word and stop being a bitch making excuses. That's what it boils down to.

I have an Uncle Ted. He's a moron too. Must not be a coincidence.

Mr.Harris time to man up.

Back your word, it will go along way for you in the future. Get a SB Ticket for the fan, learn your lesson about running your mouth.

Or the world can make a bunch of false promises and everyone can just go back on their word anytime they feel like.

The fact it got to the media is what's wrong with this country. If Harris was a man last Tuesday, he would have gotten ahold of the guy and worked it out.

The guy never asked for the ticket. Harris volunteered it on television.

I don't know why honoring your word is such a big issue for you. You must believe in being a lying douchebag.

Not only that, he reiterated the request and gave him the opportunity to back out and said he would hold him to it.

Punk should just go to that ticket site, buy the cheapest ticket available(because he is a cheap bastard), and dispense with the deal.

I mean, it is not like he promised him 50 yardline seats, just a ticket.

If you do not want to be a man that is your choice. the analogy id correct and if you do not like it, it means you say whatever and do not give a shit IMO. When i went to the Indy game and trent or anyone else told me i had a ticket, without asking....I would expect it.

Because they gave me their word, they make 20's what I do and they promised me before I EVEN ASKED. He did not whine or ask, it was offered.............azz.

So you do not care who pays them, like the season ticket holder/

You suck! IMO......

Ive come to the conclusion that no matter what, Chong is going to the Super Bowl. What will be even better is if someone else pays for his tickets so he can laugh at Chris Harris.

This is nothing like promising somebody your Employee of the Year bonus. Chong is a fan of Harris, Employees arent fans of each other. That was possibly the worst analogy I've ever read.

It sounds like a Ticket Broker provided Chong with a ticket.

Everyone has a stupid, dipshit uncle.

It's good to know that chiefsplanet is no different than the real world.

i read thru this whole thread just to figure out you couldn't trust chris harris or uncle ted as far as you can spit in the wind.