There’s a bar owner in Reno who believes the referees in the Monday night game between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers absolutely made the right call.
Bob Martini won a $109,290 jackpot as the lone winner of the William Hill Pro Football Progressive Jackpot on Monday, his 71st birthday.
Martini’s entry was the only one of the 8,717 to be alive heading into Monday’s game. And he didn’t even know it.
The Panthers intercepted a Tom Brady pass intended for Rob Gronkowski in the end zone as time expired. Officials originally threw a flag for pass interference, but, after huddling, ruled that there was no foul, sealing Carolina’s 24-20 win and Martini’s payday.
“I was thinking (the Patriots would) have the ball on the 1-yard line with one play and no time left. I think the referee did the right thing,” Martini told a William Hill spokesperson with a laugh. “I didn’t know I had the only live ticket heading into Monday night … and that was probably a good thing, because I probably would have some money going the other way. I still did sweat some.”
Martini is a regular player at Club Cal Neva sportsbook and owns a bar right down the street, according to the William Hill release.