Happy New Year????

For Mauri and I NYE is typically uneventful as I am working most of the time. This year was no different as I worked NYD morning on Headline News. For Christmas Mauri was given a ticket to the GT-LSU game to go with my sister, brother-in-law, and their friends. Certainly a fun time would be had by all at a game where GT was favored and everyone had great seats to see it from, right? With all the issues we have in Atlanta I think we have found the root of all our problems!!!

Here is what happened that night in the words of my brother-in-law...

I think most of you are aware of what happened to me yesterday. There's a synopsis below if you have gaps. I really appreciate your concern and the help and support you gave Julia. I feel awful that it probably ruined your NYE.

My story:

About 4pm I was walking into GA World Congress Center holding 2 tickets above my head. I had several conversations with potential buyers, when I was approached by what I now know to be an undercover cop. I started with, "$250 for a pair", knowing I would be worked down, plus I had FanFest passes and some worthless goodies in my "package". Admittedly, the actual face value of what I was selling was somewhat less than $250 a pair, although not by much, and I actually paid more than that through the official CFB website. I realize that's all irrelevant (to the letter of the law, if not the spirit of the law).

By the way, these were not Jay's tickets. Julia had those and I was planning to sell them later. You may be getting the picture that I never imagined you could be locked up for selling tickets (and didn't expect to get much if any over face). Anyway...

The supposed buyer mumbled something and walked off. About 60 seconds later I was cuffed and stuffed into the back of an APD 5.0. They took my cell phone as soon as the cuffs were on me. They piled in a couple others, quite literally on top of me, and we were driven a few blocks, searched, id'd, etc, and placed in the paddy wagon.

I was 2nd in the paddy wagon with "BB", who was kicking and fighting because they took his pocket full of Lil Wayne tickets. He 'xplained to me that the CFB ain't s&*t and he was planning to make some bank on the Lil Wayne concert. I think they called him BB, but from this point on I called him Lil Wayne and he was down wit it. They very nearly sprayed us both with pepper spray, but I convinced him to shut up, well pipe down at least. After about an hour they filled two paddy wagons with 10 each, and took ~20 scalpers to jail. There were roughly 10 pro level hustlers and about 10 guys like me GT or LSU fans on their way into the game with 2-4 extras.

We arrived at the jail slightly before 6pm. Shift change. Stand in this room for an hour, at least. During this time, my Sugar Daddy, Barnett, took me under his wing and explained that we would see the judge on Monday (due to the holidays). It seemed plausible, he should know, and I was about to shat my pants. Then, they laughed at the Cracker and said Ms Mary would have them out in time for the Peach Drop. I was dazed and confused at this point. Eventually, we were booked, mug shot, finger prints, etc. I know it was about 7:30pm, because…

As we settled into a secured holding room, they put the game on a small TV for us. The ~20 scalpers now joined about 50 other low-lifes. I can't say watching the game was the worst part, which for me is saying a lot, but it definitely added insult to injury. The room had cells around the perimeter and various guys (mostly not in our group, with a couple exceptions) were briefly locked up for mouthing off, fighting, trying to smoke, etc. One (white) hippie dude pulled weed out from between his toes and lit a joint, no exaggeration. The guards were complete a-holes, but you can sort of understand it given the clientele (not the scalpers, of course). While we waited, Barnett sold Jett his Hawks v. Lakers tickets. I asked them to stop before we got in more trouble, and they said, "fool, we ain't within 2700ft of nothing."

If I wasn't so incredibly stressed from not being able to call anyone, I would have 1000 good stories from these characters (the scalpers; not so much the crack heads, pimps, etc). For all I know they may be into other petty crimes, but the scalpers seemed like mostly good guys, especially Barnett, read on…

I was told my bond was $753. Simply pay cash and start the paperwork to leave. Ironically, you are allowed to keep your money, credit cards, tickets to other events, etc. So, the guys selling nickel bags (or Lil Wayne tickets) had good cash rolls in their pockets. By showing up for court on Monday, the full bond amount is refunded. Just one problem... I only have $20. Can I use my credit card? No. If I have someone on the other side of the glass, you can slide them your credit card, but you can't use it yourself – that makes a lot of sense, but at this point I've giving up on logic or efficiency.

I'm getting pissed… when I can use the phone? Later, maybe, if you're not locked in with the Mexicans. Go sit down. Eventually, I was allowed to use a "collect only" phone. There were several failed attempts to make collect calls. Each time, back to the end of the line. Finally, they brought out a direct dial land line. I couldn't get through to Julia, back to the end of the line.

In the meantime, Barnett says Ms Mary will pay my bond for $100, and he'll front me the $80 to go with my $20. He seemed genuinely concerned that if I couldn't get in touch with anyone I might be in overnight and things might be even slower (or completely frozen) during the Holiday. I took his offer. At this point, I had wasted so much money that $100 seemed like the bargain of a lifetime, if it meant getting out of there one minute sooner. Barnett gave me $80. I met Ms Mary's daughter in a room with glass just like the movies, with her toddler kids present because, hey, why wouldn't they be in the jail house at 9pm on NYE. She took the $100 and agreed to make my bond for me. She told me I would be out soon.

Barnett "arranged' for Ms Mary to bond out about 10 scalpers, and I'm pretty sure he got a kickback (or at least priority in the future).

By now the direct dial phone was unoccupied and I used it several times, first reaching David, Julia's Dad. He assured me he would let everyone know I was alive and OK. A weight of 1000 lbs was lifted off my shoulders. Shortly thereafter, I reached Julia. I let her know I was Ok, bond was made and I wanted to handle it all without her having to come down to that hell-hole. Of course she was either already there or in route. So Julia, Ami and Cya entertained the Detention Center staff, while I think narrowly avoiding the lockup themselves. If those 3 are ever on the inside, they know who to call – Ms Mary, just kidding as I would rush to "bond out" anyone and everyone on this note. It's not something to wish on your worst enemy (but I still have no sympathy for thieves and violent criminals).

About 10pm most of us scalpers were told that Ms Mary bonded us out. We were on our way home… as soon as break was over, they would process us out. How long is break? 1-2 hours. No kidding, some break. During this time, BB bonded out a prostitute and they set a "date" later. I can see why the guards hate us.

I walked out about 1am. I had to go see Ms Mary at that time, with Julia, Cya and Ami in tow. Barnett and his crew took off for Orlando hoping to sell their UGA vs. Michigan State tickets. Ms Mary was apparently babysitting her toddler granddaughter, who crawled around the desk (at 1am) as she (illegibly) recorded my contact info. There's no doubt in my mind Ms Mary could buy and sell everyone one of us - cash of course. The 4 of us, walking into the Greyhound Station, in a semi-successful attempt to find a cab barely even merits a mention, which says a lot about the ordeal. We got back to the hotel about 2am, and I called Sally to let her know we were OK about 3am before going to bed. Let me say, that 'old Matt' would've killed a few overly obnoxious String Cheese freaks, but the thought of going back to ADC was too much.

I get my 'property' back tomorrow, which consists only of my new iphone. I'm sure it will be in pristine condition.

Court is Monday morning at 8am. I'm going to discuss it with my neighbor, an attorney, but my plan is to plead "no contest" with an explanation. My explanation is something along the lines that I'm not a serial scalper, never sold a single ticket to this event, paid the official vendor more than I was asking, missed the game with my family, etc.

Feel free to share this with anyone that might be interested. I feel stupid for getting locked-up, but not ashamed for trying to sell tickets for less than I paid the official vendor.

Cya has the official audio / visual rights, and has already exercised them on Facebook.

JW

Final Score...

Law:1 Matt:0
LSU: 38 GT:3

Poor Matt, every time I read the above I can not help but laugh and feel sorry at the same time. How many times have we all sold tickets to a game? I have done it a million times and never thought twice about it. Next time I most certainly will. Lets hope the court stuff goes his way so we can laugh about. I will keep you posted on the outcome of what happens to this menace to society.


--Chris