This week's nitwit award goes to the multimillionaire lawyer who wrote an e-mail to the University of Washington president offering to donate a $100,000 scholarship to the Washington law school if football coach Ty Willingham were fired. The Huskies finished 4-9 this season. Oh yeah, and another scholarship of 100 grand for the termination of athletic director Todd Turner. Turner, as a matter of fact, subsequently resigned.

When his e-mail was revealed in The Seattle Times, Ed Hansen - the potential benefactor - was unapologetic, saying that such gifts frequently come with conditions.

Yeah, but most gifts to institutions of higher learning don't usually begin with, "If you bring me the head of ... " Seems like the wrong message to be sending to young people studying the administration of justice.