Story time from the book:
In case you have not seen or heard, I got to co host a couple of shows this week on VSIN and SiriusXM on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Two hours each, in studio, from the sports book at the South Point in Vegas..
The book is a magical place for me,
In case you have not seen or heard, I got to co host a couple of shows this week on VSIN and SiriusXM on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Two hours each, in studio, from the sports book at the South Point in Vegas..
The book is a magical place for me,
and it is truly a home away from home..
The studio is amazing, the staff is top notch, and the production is professional..
But the “show” is truly outside the glass walls and sitting in the book, socially distanced of course..
After the show Wednesday, I was watching the..
The studio is amazing, the staff is top notch, and the production is professional..
But the “show” is truly outside the glass walls and sitting in the book, socially distanced of course..
After the show Wednesday, I was watching the..
rare Wednesday NFL game between Ravens and Steelers, and I caught the eyes of a guy walking towards the counter.
Nobody recognizes anybody right now with the masks on, but I knew right away. I slid mine down to reveal my face and yelled out, “Man, they haven’t chased you outta..
Nobody recognizes anybody right now with the masks on, but I knew right away. I slid mine down to reveal my face and yelled out, “Man, they haven’t chased you outta..
here yet?”
“DAVE!! What the hell are you doin here?”
Just finished a show in studio, watching Steelers, how about you?
And then, for the next 45 minutes, Wiscy Ron and I sat down and talked about life, family, kids, Covid, girlfriends (HIS, NOT MINE), and everything else..
“DAVE!! What the hell are you doin here?”
Just finished a show in studio, watching Steelers, how about you?
And then, for the next 45 minutes, Wiscy Ron and I sat down and talked about life, family, kids, Covid, girlfriends (HIS, NOT MINE), and everything else..
He was “Wiscy Ron” cause he was from Milwaukee and is Wisconsin through and through..
67, full of energy, opinion and wonderful full head of hair, it was great to catch up..
At one point, this was the exchange between us:
I had a stroke September 11th.
“Holy shit, you ok??..
67, full of energy, opinion and wonderful full head of hair, it was great to catch up..
At one point, this was the exchange between us:
I had a stroke September 11th.
“Holy shit, you ok??..
I told him the story. He couldn’t believe it.
“I had Covid back in November. Knocked me down for four weeks. Worst I’ve ever been. Nobody knew what it was.”
I couldn’t believe it. But I was glad he was ok. I asked him “you still betting? Any plays?”
“Oh, this shit has me..
“I had Covid back in November. Knocked me down for four weeks. Worst I’ve ever been. Nobody knew what it was.”
I couldn’t believe it. But I was glad he was ok. I asked him “you still betting? Any plays?”
“Oh, this shit has me..
so pissed. I had Maryland this week, they were gonna kill Michigan but they got the Covid and canceled the game. Such bullshit. Now I gotta look at this basketball bullshit. I don’t know.”
His phone rang, and one of his girlfriends was on the other end.
“No, I haven’t gone..
His phone rang, and one of his girlfriends was on the other end.
“No, I haven’t gone..
anywhere, I’m in the same place I was the last time you called, in the sports book,” he said to her sternly.
We finished our visit and off he went.
I went over to the horse side and ran into the Looch. A race and sports legend, the Looch fires. Man has money and isn’t..
We finished our visit and off he went.
I went over to the horse side and ran into the Looch. A race and sports legend, the Looch fires. Man has money and isn’t..
afraid to fire.
Looch owns horses and likes to bet em. Looch loves sports and likes to bet em. But the root that he has is top 5 all time. The man sweats every play of a game & can bring you down the stretch of race like no other.
I hadn’t seen Looch in a couple years..
Looch owns horses and likes to bet em. Looch loves sports and likes to bet em. But the root that he has is top 5 all time. The man sweats every play of a game & can bring you down the stretch of race like no other.
I hadn’t seen Looch in a couple years..
but we caught each other up to speed pretty quick.
The whole time we are talking, he is looking over my shoulder.
I look up, and there is the Texas-UNC hoop game. There are 18 minutes left in the game, and he is dying with every possession..
I go “You got Tar Heels here?”
The whole time we are talking, he is looking over my shoulder.
I look up, and there is the Texas-UNC hoop game. There are 18 minutes left in the game, and he is dying with every possession..
I go “You got Tar Heels here?”
Wasn’t too hard to figure Looch’s plays, he was pretty consistent in the day.
He never even looked at me, keeping his eyes fixed on the screen.
“No, I actually have Texas. Nothing big, just a couple dimes. But I need it. You got anything?”
I like West Virginia plus the..
He never even looked at me, keeping his eyes fixed on the screen.
“No, I actually have Texas. Nothing big, just a couple dimes. But I need it. You got anything?”
I like West Virginia plus the..
points against the Zags. 8 and a half or 9.
“Oh, no, I like the Zags. I hope you are wrong.”
We’ll see.
The visit continued for another 15 minutes, and then, it was post time at some track and he had to bet, so I left.
Before I got out the door, I couldn’t believe it but...
“Oh, no, I like the Zags. I hope you are wrong.”
We’ll see.
The visit continued for another 15 minutes, and then, it was post time at some track and he had to bet, so I left.
Before I got out the door, I couldn’t believe it but...
there he was. My man, and one of my all time favorites in the book, the one and only, Deegan.
Deegan was a strapping 55 year old, originally from New Jersey, work out fiend, softball superstar and bomber of the golf ball..
He wore shirts a size too small to show off..
Deegan was a strapping 55 year old, originally from New Jersey, work out fiend, softball superstar and bomber of the golf ball..
He wore shirts a size too small to show off..
his physique but he earned it..
He wore a hat everyday except the days he went to the salon to get what he had left colored. Usually a once a month trip, I always knew and never let it go.
Deegan would come to the counter and go “Del Mar, race 6, $20 exacta 8 over 5-6 and..
He wore a hat everyday except the days he went to the salon to get what he had left colored. Usually a once a month trip, I always knew and never let it go.
Deegan would come to the counter and go “Del Mar, race 6, $20 exacta 8 over 5-6 and..
$1 tri 8 with 5,6 with all.” Etc..
When he was done, I would go, “you went a little dark today, no? And the eyebrows too?”
He was so good at the zing zing.
“C’mon Dave, you know the carpet has to match the curtains”
“Deegs, it’s a throw rug.”
“Dave, that’s better than..
When he was done, I would go, “you went a little dark today, no? And the eyebrows too?”
He was so good at the zing zing.
“C’mon Dave, you know the carpet has to match the curtains”
“Deegs, it’s a throw rug.”
“Dave, that’s better than..
the hardwood floors you got.”
This went on every day. Between bets, between races, between who you like parlays and first inning yes no sweats.
The love was real though, as we have hung out and played golf outside the book and shared family stories in addition to the constant..
This went on every day. Between bets, between races, between who you like parlays and first inning yes no sweats.
The love was real though, as we have hung out and played golf outside the book and shared family stories in addition to the constant..
diatribe..
One of Deegan’s best moves came at the end of my shift. I’d be all ready to go and he would come up and say, in a hurry, “Dave, Dave, Dave, can you get this in real fast?”
Three times with the name, running to the counter, feigning out of breath, I saw he needed..
One of Deegan’s best moves came at the end of my shift. I’d be all ready to go and he would come up and say, in a hurry, “Dave, Dave, Dave, can you get this in real fast?”
Three times with the name, running to the counter, feigning out of breath, I saw he needed..
my help..
Somethin was goin to start, a race or a game, and he had to bet it.
Throughout the day, we would trade a $50 back and forth in paying or collecting to mess with each other.
Bettors think they are bad luck and writers hate em because there is not a spot for them...
Somethin was goin to start, a race or a game, and he had to bet it.
Throughout the day, we would trade a $50 back and forth in paying or collecting to mess with each other.
Bettors think they are bad luck and writers hate em because there is not a spot for them...
in the drawer..
End of shift, I’m ready to go, bills in perfect condition ready for a quick countdown to sign off and beat the rush hour traffic..
Deegs comes up and fires off the four team can’t lose special, probably with the Yankees in it cause they never lose..
I print..
End of shift, I’m ready to go, bills in perfect condition ready for a quick countdown to sign off and beat the rush hour traffic..
Deegs comes up and fires off the four team can’t lose special, probably with the Yankees in it cause they never lose..
I print..
The ticket and I put the closed sign up so no one else tries to bet and I can get going to close..
With a smile from ear to ear, Deegan drops the $50 on the counter to pay.
“C’mon Deegan, I don’t have a spot for that shit. Gimme twenties.”
Through the grin, he goes..
With a smile from ear to ear, Deegan drops the $50 on the counter to pay.
“C’mon Deegan, I don’t have a spot for that shit. Gimme twenties.”
Through the grin, he goes..
“I don’t have anything else.”
A stare down like the Old West.
I think real fast. Then I go “I will just void the ticket. Go get a c note.”
He looks up at the screen. “Game just started. Can’t void it. You can buy it yourself.”
Goddamn it. I froze. He got me..
A stare down like the Old West.
I think real fast. Then I go “I will just void the ticket. Go get a c note.”
He looks up at the screen. “Game just started. Can’t void it. You can buy it yourself.”
Goddamn it. I froze. He got me..
“Gimme the fuckin 50, Deegan, you jagoff. I don’t want that ticket. You know it ain’t winnin.”
I moved the whole drawer around and kept the $50 upright so I would not miss it in the count. Gave Deegs his change, accepting defeat today but appreciating the competition..
I moved the whole drawer around and kept the $50 upright so I would not miss it in the count. Gave Deegs his change, accepting defeat today but appreciating the competition..
He looks at me and deadpans, “David, I don’t give a shit if the ticket wins or not, you know why?”
Great. Here we go. Tell me.
“Cause I won already. You got the $50 dollar bill and you are gonna drive home mother effin me for 15 minutes.”
8, Deegan. 8 minutes, you prick...
Great. Here we go. Tell me.
“Cause I won already. You got the $50 dollar bill and you are gonna drive home mother effin me for 15 minutes.”
8, Deegan. 8 minutes, you prick...
that’s all you get.
“I’ll take the over. See ya tomorrow David.”
Away he went, bopping away with that sandy brown, off black throw rug bald spot he called a head.
There is so much more than winning tickets in the book..
“I’ll take the over. See ya tomorrow David.”
Away he went, bopping away with that sandy brown, off black throw rug bald spot he called a head.
There is so much more than winning tickets in the book..
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