Thread by @SportsbkConsig

Story time from the book:

With all of the talk and action on NFL futures, I wanted to share another story.

This time of year, there are so many wagers being placed on teams to win the Super Bowl. Literally every day and has been that way for months.

And it’s not just on..

the “good” teams or the “popular” teams. It’s on everybody. This year, yes, way more on the Bears and Browns, but just yesterday, I saw Titans, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Redskins just to name a few.

Las Vegas sees people from all over so the future pools are really a big part of..

the business here. Not just NFL either

Meaning, I saw tickets on TCU and BYU to win the NCAA championship, the Texas Rangers to win the World Series and the Ottawa Senators to win the Stanley Cup yesterday alone. High odds, but in reality, umm, yeah.

So, this dates back to...

2011, late August. I’m at the counter and a guy comes up to me and says “I heard you guys would take a bet.”

So many things pop into my head. We are in a sports book. In Vegas. You found us. Can’t fool you. I hold it all in and nod.

Then, I counter with “What would you...

like to bet on?”

“I want to make a big bet that the Vikings will win the Super Bowl.”

Ok. Couple things come to mind right away. First, the Vikes are coming off a 6-10 season. They are 25/1. And, in my experience, the “big bet” is relative. All bigs are different.

So, I say..

“It shouldn’t be a problem. How much do you want to bet?”

“Fifteen large.”

1-5 or 5-0? I was 99% sure he said 1-5 but I had to ask.

“Fifteen thousand. But I want it all on one ticket. I don’t want to have to go to five different places and get tickets with different odds...

and amounts. Do you think you could do that?”

So, now I’m thinking, Minny just signed Donovan McNabb the year AFTER his year in a Redskin uniform. In which even Stevie Wonder could see that he had nothing left. The Vikings were already a mess. Their season win total was 7...

and they were a dog just to make the playoffs.

Yes, the ticket would pay $375k IF it won, but in reality, it would pay zero.

“Let me check” and off to the office in the back.

I got a guy at the counter who wants to bet the Vikings to win the Super Bowl at 25/1 for 15 dimes...

and he really wants to give it all to us.

“Who is the guy?”

No idea. Maybe Bud Grant’s grandson. McNabb’s agent. Who knows. But he has the money ready.

“What do you think?”

What do I think? I think if you don’t ok the bet that I’m going to go outside in the parking lot...

give him 30/1 and say thank you.

“They have no shot?”

C’mon. He was done last year. The team is a mess. Best case is 8-8. They don’t even finish .500.

“It’s a big amount to blow.”

If you don’t want to take it, that’s fine. But you come tell him. I can’t do it. A guy wants...

to WILLINGLY hand us $15k on a bad team with a washed up QB to win their first ever Super Bowl. You come tell him we will only take $4k.

A few seconds pass.

“You better be right. Take the bet.”

Put it in my bonus. Back to the counter.

My guy is standing there waiting...

anxiously. It’s 112 outside, and he definitely doesn’t want to hop from book to book and negotiate.

“We will take the whole thing. No problem.”

He was pumped. “Yes!!! That’s great!”

He handed me the money. He waved his buddies up. “I told you guys this was the place that...

took big bets. They are taking it all. I win $375 thousand.”

We run the money and print the ticket.

He goes “You know we got McNabb? And we have Ponder in case he gets hurt. Offense is going to be good.”

Yeah, I heard that.

“Thank you so much, man. You really made this...

so easy. I will definitely come see you when I come back out for the Super Bowl.”

Ok. You coming even if the Vikings don’t make it?

“Oh, they are making it to the Super Bowl. But, if they don’t, I am not sure if I will come.”

Ok. Well, we better shake hands now then just..

in case they don’t make it. Where you in town from again so I don’t forget?

“Bill, from Eden Prairie.”

Ok, Bill. Have a good trip.

Off he went. I never forgot the guy.

You know what else I didn’t forget? The way the Vikings played that year.

They started out 0-4, went...

into the bye 2-6, and finished 3-13. McNabb got hurt and Ponder wasn’t ready. Dumpster fire.

Still waiting to see Bill. He never came back.

Still waiting on that bonus too. Like Bill, never to be seen or heard from again.

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