Story time from the book:
As football season is upon us, I am reminded of what it is like working in a sportsbook. Every year, customers come back who you haven’t seen in months.
For many, betting on sports is really betting on football. The rest is just taking a stab at a...
As football season is upon us, I am reminded of what it is like working in a sportsbook. Every year, customers come back who you haven’t seen in months.
For many, betting on sports is really betting on football. The rest is just taking a stab at a...
game here or there or simply a need for some action.
Old faces return the first week of September like we used to return to school as kids.
“How are the kids?” “Where did you go this summer?” “Who do you like this season?”
Questions answered & bankroll fully flush and...
Old faces return the first week of September like we used to return to school as kids.
“How are the kids?” “Where did you go this summer?” “Who do you like this season?”
Questions answered & bankroll fully flush and...
ready to fire, the hope and excitement is so thick you can touch it...
For those of us working in the book, it’s the end of summer and usually the back end of baseball season.
The conclusion of some long ass days in the book writing horse tickets and run line parlays...
For those of us working in the book, it’s the end of summer and usually the back end of baseball season.
The conclusion of some long ass days in the book writing horse tickets and run line parlays...
As we hid from the oppressive desert heat in the frigid A/C sweating a late pk3 or a ninth inning bullpen collapse, we sat and talked...
Relationships are formed in between the bets. You can actually go to lunch with someone during the summer because there aren’t lines and...
Relationships are formed in between the bets. You can actually go to lunch with someone during the summer because there aren’t lines and...
wall to wall people...
You get to know people in any job, but in some strange way, we are all kindred spirits working in a book...
No matter your background, stage in life or place of origin, we spoke the same language...and if you didn’t, I got to train you when you started..
You get to know people in any job, but in some strange way, we are all kindred spirits working in a book...
No matter your background, stage in life or place of origin, we spoke the same language...and if you didn’t, I got to train you when you started..
“Sit with Dave, and he’ll show you what not to do” they would say...
Same goddamn bad joke for years from some of the best people I’ve ever worked with...
There are too many to list them all, but I’ve been thinking of them...
The roster is deep & the stories are endless...
Same goddamn bad joke for years from some of the best people I’ve ever worked with...
There are too many to list them all, but I’ve been thinking of them...
The roster is deep & the stories are endless...
There was Dilsa, the crazy Cuban who sucker punched me for answering a question about teasers right at the counter...
Who could forget Nicky the Blade, who gave out both sides of a game when customers asked “hey, Nick, who do you like?” in between races at Los Al...
Just by..
Who could forget Nicky the Blade, who gave out both sides of a game when customers asked “hey, Nick, who do you like?” in between races at Los Al...
Just by..
hanging around, I have had so many wingmen that I have been lucky enough to call co workers,teammates and hopefully friends...
I can’t name them all, but there was Mama Des, Looney Lily, Dario, T Fos aka Hockey Jersey Tommy, the Frenchman, Dr Greg, Sink the Cougar Hunter...
I can’t name them all, but there was Mama Des, Looney Lily, Dario, T Fos aka Hockey Jersey Tommy, the Frenchman, Dr Greg, Sink the Cougar Hunter...
Ryan the Rake, Mikey Milz, Sleepy Sal, the Black Widow in the Jimmy Choos, the Intern and Louie D to name a few...
I will write their stories down the road...
Today, it’s Brooklyn Joe’s turn...
Five years my elder, and a birthday only four days after mine, Joe showed up...
I will write their stories down the road...
Today, it’s Brooklyn Joe’s turn...
Five years my elder, and a birthday only four days after mine, Joe showed up...
in the summer ready to work...
New to Vegas, but not new to sports betting, Brooklyn Joe had it all...
Good looking, married, no kids, and a razor sharp wit from a life in the Big Apple, I loved this guy from day one...
Some people pick it up quick, some don’t get it after..
New to Vegas, but not new to sports betting, Brooklyn Joe had it all...
Good looking, married, no kids, and a razor sharp wit from a life in the Big Apple, I loved this guy from day one...
Some people pick it up quick, some don’t get it after..
years at the counter...Brooklyn Joe had it all except he had the eyesight of Benny “Snake Eyes” Wilson from Harlem Nights...
He used to say “Davey boy, is it dark in here?” when he gave people the Pirates instead of the Yankees. The man averaged 3.4 voids a shift, but...
He used to say “Davey boy, is it dark in here?” when he gave people the Pirates instead of the Yankees. The man averaged 3.4 voids a shift, but...
he did it all with a smile on his face...
If Kevin James was the King of Queens, Joey was the Emperor of Brooklyn...my guy literally ran Madison Square Garden for years...he knew everybody and had the stories to boot...
Charisma you couldn’t carry, Brooklyn Joe was a true...
If Kevin James was the King of Queens, Joey was the Emperor of Brooklyn...my guy literally ran Madison Square Garden for years...he knew everybody and had the stories to boot...
Charisma you couldn’t carry, Brooklyn Joe was a true...
pleasure to stand next to and watch work...We ham and egged it pretty good...
Our show ran Wednesdays through Sundays on the day shift for about 18 months...in between the post times and kickoffs, we solved the world’s problems...
We were lucky enough to share lunch as well...
Our show ran Wednesdays through Sundays on the day shift for about 18 months...in between the post times and kickoffs, we solved the world’s problems...
We were lucky enough to share lunch as well...
One hour, four or five times a week, we got each other through it all..more laughs, some tears, but man, we leaned on each other...
Brooklyn Joe was the youngest in his family and lived in the place above his parents’ place after he got married..
The man was very close to...
Brooklyn Joe was the youngest in his family and lived in the place above his parents’ place after he got married..
The man was very close to...
his parents, as was I. He was still getting over his Mom’s sudden passing when he moved to Vegas. I had just moved my parents to my house in Vegas to help take care of my dad, Big E.
The Brooklyn Joe lunches were therapy sessions. We vented, we counseled, we got it all out...
The Brooklyn Joe lunches were therapy sessions. We vented, we counseled, we got it all out...
and then intermission was over. It was showtime. We had to close the show strong everyday.
One thing about the book is it can be a bit rough at times. People winning or losing money, drinking, taking out their own issues on you, whatever, who knows...
You have to be on...
One thing about the book is it can be a bit rough at times. People winning or losing money, drinking, taking out their own issues on you, whatever, who knows...
You have to be on...
It’s not for the faint of heart. But, you do have a little leeway to give it back, especially to the regulars...
You have to earn their respect or they walk all over you...
Brooklyn Joe used to catch shit all the time like anyone else, but he took it all with a smile...
You have to earn their respect or they walk all over you...
Brooklyn Joe used to catch shit all the time like anyone else, but he took it all with a smile...
And the Seinfeld references, or under the breath comments had me pissing myself at times...
“Hey Joe, nice pick with the Mets yesterday. They lost again. I don’t know why I ask you.”
He would come back with “I told you to stop asking me weeks ago. I figure if I give you...
“Hey Joe, nice pick with the Mets yesterday. They lost again. I don’t know why I ask you.”
He would come back with “I told you to stop asking me weeks ago. I figure if I give you...
enough losers, you will stop asking. I had the Marlins. Now you don’t know if I’m giving you the winners or losers.”
Guy never asked again. Brooklyn Joe was a genius. He had nicknames for everybody too. Called a guy who never smiled Sunshine.
And did it to entertain us both...
Guy never asked again. Brooklyn Joe was a genius. He had nicknames for everybody too. Called a guy who never smiled Sunshine.
And did it to entertain us both...
As football season returns, I am reminded of all of the customers and co workers of years past.
And thanks to Brooklyn Joe, who kept the all their nicknames on the back of a parlay card...
Brooklyn Joe is back in New York now. Still texts me on his flip phone...one of the...
And thanks to Brooklyn Joe, who kept the all their nicknames on the back of a parlay card...
Brooklyn Joe is back in New York now. Still texts me on his flip phone...one of the...
biggest Ranger fans I know, he asks
every year “who’s gonna win the Cup, Davey boy?”
“Sunshine said not the Rangers, Joseph”
That and a birthday wish every year..
Haven’t seen each other for six years, yet we share the bond of working in the book and sports...
In 2020...
every year “who’s gonna win the Cup, Davey boy?”
“Sunshine said not the Rangers, Joseph”
That and a birthday wish every year..
Haven’t seen each other for six years, yet we share the bond of working in the book and sports...
In 2020...
the return of football in the book is beyond a sight for sore eyes, as is the return of the regulars...
I still have your card of names, Brooklyn Joe. I had to share it here.
And I’ll be in the book when you make it out, just like Andy waited for Red in Zihuatanejo...
I still have your card of names, Brooklyn Joe. I had to share it here.
And I’ll be in the book when you make it out, just like Andy waited for Red in Zihuatanejo...
drink tickets in hand, games on the screen, and winners in our pockets...
Welcome back football season one and all...
(See Brooklyn Joe’s roster below)
Welcome back football season one and all...
(See Brooklyn Joe’s roster below)
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