Not just any bet, however- a $5,000 bet.  This bet could mean that I can move out of my parent’s house a little sooner after graduation.  It could mean that I can buy that car I’ve had my eye on.  And most importantly, this bet could mean that Thomas Gounley, Executive Editor of The New Hampshire, is wrong.

I think some explaining is in order.

Earlier today, Tom, myself (Danielle Curtis, TNH News Editor), and a few other members of TNH were on the T in Boston, making our way to the NEFAC (New England First Amendment Committee) luncheon honoring longtime New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis.  At some point during our trip, the always confident and forever cynical Tom proclaimed that he is the only Thomas Gounley in the entire world.

Of course, I quickly retorted that that was impossible.  With 6 billion people on this earth, there is no way that the Executive Editor of TNH is the only Thomas Gounley walking around.  But, since Tom is so convinced that he is right, he bet me $5,000 I can’t find another (living) Thomas Gounley (that was born before 10:15 a.m.this morning, the time the bet was made) by the time I graduate on May 21, 2011.

I took the bet.  Tom wrote it out, we signed it, and TNH Content Editor Brandon Lawerence signed as a witness. All I can say is BRING IT.

I started the search tonight with the obvious: I typed Thomas Gounley into Google.  I knew that a lot of TNH articles, Tweets, and blog posts from Tom would show up and sure enough, they did.  What I didn’t realize, however, was that our very own Thomas Gounley would take up not only the first couple pages of Google results, but would continue to fill pages 10-15.  Seriously, what the hell.

Trying to get over a sudden overwhelming sense that I was going to lose this bet, I decided to type his name into Whitepages.com. I figured Tom had already done this since he was so cocky about being the only TG in the world, but to my surprise two Thomas Gounleys came up in my search.  One Thomas Gounley from Newport News, Virginia (that would be the one whose existence I am already aware of), and another Thomas Gounley from Silver Springs, Maryland.  Not only was this TG from a different state, he also had a different middle initial!

My heart started pounding as I thought of $5,000 (note to self: when I win, the first thing I want to do is spread the bills on my bed and roll around in them laughing a very evil laugh).  I clicked on the entry, and what did I find?  Sure enough, this person existed…until 2007.   He died at the far too young age of 56.  It’s sad for him and his family, and it’s sad for my wallet.  Perhaps if he had simply eaten better, worked out more, or taken better care of his cholesterol I would be on vacation in Hawaii right now.

Still, finding Silver Springs TG has only boosted my confidence.  I plan on winning this bet, so to all you Thomas Gounleys out there-  You can run, but you cannot hide.