ESPN doubles as the Grinch

Twelve-year-old Sam Holtz of Hawthorne Woods, Ill., tied for first place in ESPN’s March Madness basketball bracket.

That’s tied for first, out of 11.5 million brackets. ESPN awards the prize through a random draw of brackets that were among the top 1 percent in the contest.

But Holtz won’t be allowed to enter for the $20,000 gift card or trip to Hawaii, because the rules say you must be 18 to enter.

“I’m irritated,” Holtz told the Daily Herald. “”Yes, I’m still proud of my accomplishment, but I’m not happy with the decision.”

An ESPN spokesman says that the real prize isn’t money, but glory, and knowing you are better than everyone else: “That’s what makes this so awesome. The prize really is secondary.”

No, ESPN, it’s not.