Va. Man Claims $239 Million Jackpot

April 1, 2004 11:44 AM

Va. Man Claims $239 Million Jackpot Note in passing that this took place during the Bush administration! "A retired truck driver claimed a $239 million Mega Millions jackpot Thursday, calling the second-largest lottery payout in history "no big thing to me." His wife vowed to "shop till I drop.""
posted by Postroad (27 comments total)

sigh.
posted by shoepal at 11:56 AM on April 1, 2004

Stop the presses. Another retired bumpkin wins a big lottery.
posted by TBoneMcCool at 11:58 AM on April 1, 2004

Note in passing that this took place during the Bush administration!

Why? Did no one win a lottery under any other administration?
posted by chicobangs at 12:02 PM on April 1, 2004

I'm just really glad you posted this amazing link.
posted by xmutex at 12:05 PM on April 1, 2004

Note in passing that this took place during the Bush administration!

sequitur?
posted by milovoo at 12:10 PM on April 1, 2004

Postroad, why do you hate America?
posted by iamck at 12:36 PM on April 1, 2004

...So?


(Note in passing that this took place in Virginia!)

(Note in passing that this man seems to has some religious affiliation!)

(Note in passing that this man is a practicing heterosexual!)
posted by chicobangs at 1:31 PM on April 1, 2004

Maybe postroad is the winner which would be the best self post ever...or he thinks its an April Fool's joke.
posted by thomcatspike at 1:32 PM on April 1, 2004

How long do you reckon it'll be before he loses all the money?
posted by chuq at 1:47 PM on April 1, 2004

My Business Associations teacher says that the lottery is one of the more shameful aspects of our government; that it exploits very poor people (who spend over $500 a year on lottery tickets) so middle class kids can get scholarships.

Just saying.
posted by adrober at 1:59 PM on April 1, 2004

i got a chuckle out of:

"At a news conference with his wife, Triplett said that he had no big plans for the jackpot but that he wants to put his money in real estate, "because they don't make no more dirt, you know." "

Also, here in san diego, folks are looking to reduce the amount of lottery money for schools, and put it back into the lotto jackpot, hoping to get more players make more money for education in the end. Or something.
posted by fillsthepews at 2:14 PM on April 1, 2004

so middle class kids can get scholarships.
In California when it was being sold, they said it would help funding school systems, but it didn't. How are scholarships being funded that way adrober? Seems the winners win a share then the rest goes to the funding of those employed by the system.
Unless, you mean a winner whose become middle class, now may send their child to college.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:15 PM on April 1, 2004

chuq said: " How long do you reckon it'll be before he loses all the money?"

IIRC, most people who win huge lottery jackpots piss it all away, and end up in a worse spot that they were in before.
posted by CrayDrygu at 3:35 PM on April 1, 2004

the lottery is one of the more shameful aspects of our government; that it exploits very poor people (who spend over $500 a year on lottery tickets)

No, it exploits stupid people. That people stupid enough to spend $500 a year on lottery tickets are poor should not really be a huge surprise.
posted by kindall at 3:42 PM on April 1, 2004

I love these guys, "Yup, 193 million bucks. No sirree, not gonna change my life. Ah worked every day and I'll be back flippin' burgers tomorrow. Now the wife ... "
posted by cedar at 4:46 PM on April 1, 2004

Sometimes I buy a Lotto ticket when the jackpot gets really high -- at least above $30 million, 'cause, like who'd bother with a mere $7 million, right?

The Lotto commercials say, "Hey, somebody's gotta win." My partner will then say, "Yes, somebody will win the lottery. Just not you."
posted by chuq at 4:55 PM on April 1, 2004

That damn middle class. All that scholarship money should just go straight back into the pockets of the wealthy.
posted by keswick at 5:20 PM on April 1, 2004

> Note in passing that this took place during the Bush administration!

sequitur?

Maybe the joke was too wry, or maybe I'm just seeing a joke where there isn't one, but it is an election year, and politicians claim the darndest things, and ha, geddit, etc.

Dammit, I think it's funny, even if it isn't.
posted by cortex at 5:24 PM on April 1, 2004

I don't think that MOST lottery winners end up worse than they started. There are some people who MC Hammer their newfound wealth, but there are also lots of people who quietly lead wealthier lives, without issue.
posted by mosch at 5:56 PM on April 1, 2004

It's a tax on people who are poor at math. . .as someone as said. . .
posted by Danf at 6:14 PM on April 1, 2004

(Note in passing that this man is a practicing heterosexual!)

Well, with all that cash, maybe he'll have the time to quit just practicing, and turn pro.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:46 PM on April 1, 2004

I love the lotto. Free college via HOPE Scholarship rocks my world. Too many people assume that just because one's family is middle class that they pay for the kid's college- a dream I lost the day I stepped foot on campus. Did I mention that poor kids can get HOPE, too?
posted by jmd82 at 10:26 PM on April 1, 2004

Note in passing that this took place during the Bush administration

I don't think it counts as creating a job, though.
posted by Yelling At Nothing at 11:29 PM on April 1, 2004

I don't think that MOST lottery winners end up worse than they started.

Not most, but I've read several articles on past winners being broke or not all that happy in their life since.

I wouldn't pass it up by any means, but going from an every day joe to a multi millionaire could no doubt be a problem for the unprepared.
posted by justgary at 11:47 PM on April 1, 2004

No, it exploits stupid people. That people stupid enough to spend $500 a year on lottery tickets are poor should not really be a huge surprise

That's right, only stoopid people buy lottery tickets, not desperate ones. There's no such thing as culture, or a culture of poverty. Bootstraps! Bootstraps! Click those heels and go home, poverty stricken bumpkins! Clickety click!

Geesh.
posted by mecran01 at 9:19 AM on April 3, 2004

That's right, only stoopid people buy lottery tickets, not desperate ones.

Under what possible circumstances could buying $500 worth of lottery tickets every year ever be considered smart? Even if you could spare the money, I can't conceive of a situation in which it wouldn't be stupid to spend it on the lottery.

If you can't spare the money, then yes, you are being stupid.
posted by kindall at 9:32 PM on April 5, 2004

I just read in the Washington Post that the average black lottery player in Maryland spends $998.00 per year on lottery tickets. Fucking amazing.
posted by NortonDC at 5:15 PM on April 6, 2004