Gambling and I aren’t dating again. But, we are sleeping with each other this weekend. We got a little caught up with the start of the second half of the baseball season, and we could not keep our hands off each other, I guess.
So far, the fireworks have not been there, with a 2-3 record so far. But, the weekend is not over and with two games in progress (White Sox over the O’s and Mets over the Braves) we could be back over .500 by dinnertime. Or, doing a walk of shame. 50/50
Whats revealing about sleeping with Gambling again is just how sharp my jinxing powers are, even after a lay off. Eddie Mush has nothing on me.
Some background: I only bet college and pro football and college basketball with any regularity. Every now and then I wade into the waters of professional basketball and hockey during the winter. I am, however, an avid player during those sports postseasons. Usually I will have won money during March Madness and with house money in the pocket, I have found fun betting series, futures and occassional games during the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs. During that time, I will also drop a few bets on baseball games because, well, they’re on the board. Remember, a gambler’s money knows no home, after all.
I did well this year with the Stanley Cup playoffs. Not so much with the NBA. I’m looking at you Cleveland!
A funny thing happened, though, as the postseason runs navigated through May. I got hot on the bases. I was beginning to think with the intense fantasy league I play in with my friends that I had somehow learned the league inside out. I was betting the entire West Coast card, passing out on my couch watching Extra Innings before two innings were in the books and waking up a couple hours later to a blank screen. But, I was also winning most of those games and pouring myself victory drinks before turning in officially for the night. I was a professional gambler.
Yeah, well those times never last. I went through a June Swoon that only the 1999 Cubs could be proud of. The sportsbook sent over their Asian cooler to watch games with me. I still was not going to gamble past the Finals, per my rule, but the finish line was in sight with a nice profit margin. I limited my plays, but put more cash on them, a strategy I probably should not have employed. Regardless, everything I touched burned up in front of me. It was brutal. Even a fantasy team in the middle of a five-week winning streak was not providing any solace. Read more »
