If I were as confident as you, and someone offered me a free plane ticket and over a grand in cash, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat. My guess is that your bluff has been called, and you're too scared to let a self-purported old man beat you down.
I, however, am not an old man. I'll be in the NYC area within the next 6 months to visit family. What's your address? I'll gladly stop by.