For the past 20+ years, I have spent the opening weekend of the NFL in a sportsbook, either as an employee or as a customer.
This year, we tried something different...
This past Sunday, I was on the 8th floor of a hospital in Las Vegas, watching..
the Raiders play the Panthers. The monitor was 16” and I was in the room by myself, except when I had a nurse or doctor come visit.
Obviously, this wasn’t my first choice, but I was never happier to be watching football in my life...
The timeline of events that led to this...
was I went to sleep Thursday night after finishing a phone call with a friend around 1:30am.
I woke up at 7:15am Friday unable to speak and limited motor skills.
Mrs Consig was on her way to work, and the Consig kids took action. Got me “lay down and breathe” while they were...
on the phone with 911. They were asking me questions but I could not get a word out...somehow, they stayed calm and held it together
Medics arrived, got me in an ambulance and to the hospital...a CT scan showed a blood clot on my brain, and they were going to go get it...
In surgery immediately, then next thing I know, I wake up...
In a room, cold as can be, and dark as night...
“Am I dead?” was my first thought..
I moved my right arm and touched my head...so, ok, that’s a good sign.
Then, to no one in particular, I blurt out “what the fuck...
just happened??”
Holy shit!!! I can talk.
Now, can somebody turn on the heat a little up in this mutha??
In walks a little man in a hazmat suit, glasses and a mask.
“Hello, Da-Veed, my name is GP. Do you know where you are at?”
Hospital? (Going out on a limb)...
GP leaned in and goes, “You are in the ICU recovery. You had a major stroke, and we removed a blood clot from your brain. Your daughters called 911 and saved your life.”
Took a deep breath. Wow. Even with GP’s Italian accent, it was clear. It was my lucky day.
Can I see them?
“I am sor-reee Da-Veed, there are no vee-zee-tors due to the Covid. But will call dem for you. Are you sure you are able to talk?”
GP, what does that stand for?
“I am from Italy, and my name is GianPaulo, but everybody calls me GP.”
Well, GP, I love the name GianPaulo and if..
you don’t mind, I’m going to call you that. I need the practice talking, apparently I just had a major stroke.
GP looked at me and said “you are talking good and making jokes already. Zat is good. I will call your wife now.”
My guy GianPaulo smiled and dialed the number...
I had butterflies like a 16 year old kid calling a girl for the first time...
The phone rang, and Mrs Consig clearly didn’t recognize the number...
It was 1994, in Pittsburgh. Was working multiple jobs & hanging out with guys who bet games and guys who booked games.
Everything was done in pick up and drop offs. Everything was done over the phone. Word of mouth was how info got passed. It was..
also how you got a guy.
There was no promo code. There were no bonuses (at least at the beginning). If Moses the barber took your action, it was because he knew you or someone vouched for you.
All the book guys I met had cool nicknames. Bussy, Philly, Pie, and Rabbi were..
a few that a 23 year old kid was around at the card games, the fantasy drafts, let alone the dinners.
Got into a Sunday night card game with the Barber. He invited a couple other guys. The Rat, a bartender, the Bomber, a golf pro, Killer (we weren’t sure what he did), Tooney..
Non-stop, three days in a row, lines of people 100 deep, ticket..
after ticket, and just enough time to go home & take a nap in between. In all my years in the business, have never seen it as busy as it was these three days.
Back at it Sunday morning, hoping to just get through this day and not snap.
At lunch with my dad, years ago, an old bookie guy told us..
“All this shit, all the sports, all the suits, all the hats, none of it means shit if you don’t take care of the home team.”
Remember like it was yesterday. Thought I knew shit. So I ask..
“Wait, what? Sports are fixed? Don’t tell me that.”
He smiled at my dad. Looked over at me. And went..
“Your home team is your family. You have to play strong at home. You don’t win every game, but you have to make sure they are good before you go on the road. You..
understand?”
I nodded.
“You are a good son. Listen to your parents. Keep an eye out for your brothers & sisters at all times. Shit will get tough. You will understand when you have kids of your own.”
Today is Thanksgiving. For many of us, today is a special day. For me, it is the three "F's." Back in school, F's were bad, but today, it's all about the Food, Football & Family.
The date was 11/27/1980. Bears at Lions. Det -3, 37 was the line..
Up to that point, I had always been a Steeler fan, growing up in the glory days of the Super Bowl Champs. Every Sunday, the day was centered around whether the game was on at 1pm or 4pm.
I knew we didn't like the Browns and Bengals, and despite the best uniforms in football..
we weren't supposed to like the Houston Oilers, but man, those baby blues and Earl Campbell were fantastic.
The other teams were just that..other teams, brought to life by the halftime highlights on Monday Night Football by Howard Cosell.