For as long as I can remember, I have been asked the question “who do you like?”
This goes back to the days before I ever worked in a sportsbook, but even more so over the last two decades in the book..
I don’t ever claim to know anymore than anyone..
else because I have seen “sharp” money lose and “squares” win..honestly, I am and have been over that talk for a long time..
I am no longer surprised by the “who do you like” question, and, in fact, I love it. I love talking to people about it, and I love hearing what people..
say. Sports brings people together, and making plays or having opinions can be fun..
Occasionally, it’s where I get asked the question that is the real story..
On the phone, on the radio, on podcasts, on text or DM, even in the pisser..
2020 has been a challenging year for..
everybody. We are all dealing with things for the first time in many situations, and we find ourselves doing things differently.
Here in the Consig house, the kids have been going to school at home, and I have been “working” from home..
They are online all day in school...
and I am sitting a few feet away doing shows, recording podcasts and talking on the phone or Zoom non stop..
Little Consig has been in her first grade class with her teacher Ms S everyday this school year..
Back in normal times, when kids were in school, Ms S taught my..
older ones in kindergarten..
Ms S is originally from Baltimore and is a Ravens fan..in getting to know her and her getting to know me and my line of work, we came up with a little somethin fun for a bet with the kids being the book..
When the Ravens played the Steelers..
If the Ravens won, I had to wear a purple Ravens shirt when I picked the kids up from school..
If the Steelers won, she would hang the Terrible Towel in her classroom for all to see..
Wouldn’t you know, this was when the Ravens would go on to win the Super Bowl, and...
because Ms S was a cool teacher, the older girls became Ravens fans.
The sweet ass, Purple jerseys and Daddy losing was all a big laugh..
Then, the kids moved onto middle school, and their school was known as the Patriots..same mascot, colors and all, as the Evil Empire up..
in New England..
I would not participate in buying school merchandise, as losing to the Patriots was enough.
Fast forward to last week, and the bet with Ms S was back..only this time, little Consig was on my side..
She made the bet with Ms S before Thanksgiving, and, other..
than Pap Pap Rocco, there was no one more upset the game wasn’t played on Thanksgiving..
“Are they going to play, Daddy?”
Yes, on Wednesday next week.
“So, do me and Ms S still have a bet?”
Yes. House rules say we have action.
Little Consig reminded Ms S on gameday, as..
she wore her Big Ben jersey and had the towel in hand.
It was ugly, but Thursday morning, she had that Terrible Towel hung up behind her for Ms S and the whole class to see.
Bring it back to yesterday. I am doing a show called “the Game Within the Game” and Little Consig..
is a mere few feet away in the next room in first grade..
She comes in with her white board with the following message:
“Ms S said to tell you to quiet down. And she said she can’t believe you said to take Washington plus the points”
I smiled. Then I grabbed the white board..
And wrote back:
“Tell her they are live on the money line. Business is business.”
She ran back to her desk and read it to Ms S, then flashed me the thumbs up. Play was delivered.
Today, I was on a live show on YouTube with Wagertalk, and in walks little Consig with same..
white board. It reads:
“Ms S said good call on Steelers. She wants to know if the Ravens are going to win tonight. Y or N”
Beaming with pride, I circle the yes and write “Easy”
Little Consig gave me a fist bump and ran off to deliver the message..
With everything going on..
and all of us dealing with 2020, I may have just come up with a new one—
“White board plays with Ms S”
Big shout out to all the teachers doin this thing and finding new ways to connect with kids..
Everybody has plays..even in google meet and on white boards..
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..
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..
Every week during football, Monday is spent asking “how did the book do?”
It’s the Monday morning column that gets a lot of views every week. I was lucky enough to be a part of that call when I worked in a book.
It was fun talking to all of my guys..
writing the columns like Purdum, Fawkes, Micah Roberts, Dewey and Everson, to name a few.
I still talk to them, but now the conversations have expanded to other parts of the business, as well as how is the family, how is your health, and always, who do you like..
And now...
I’m doing shows on the radio or videos with my guys Perrault, Brad Howe, Kevin Rogers, Teddy and Prez every week, along with my own podcast with Mo, Reynolds and HB..
The calls and texts are priceless, and it all starts with the sports and the gambling..
I don’t know about the rest of you but with everything going on right now, I just want to take a trip..
In the past, when I was stressed, tired, worn out, I would get away..
For many years, it was a trip to Vegas that did it..
Not a long one, but..
usually a 48 or 72 hour “session” at one of the many fine resorts in town..
Superman went to his “Fortress of Solitude” so he could clear his head and chill..made him better to come back, save the world, and listen to Lois’ shit..
I would do the same, only it was at the MGM...
I got hooked up with a host there, and my man Ant treated me like a whale and I was barely a goldfish..
Four to six times a year, I’d show up, hang in the book, bet/watch games, play blackjack and shoot dice all night, snack in between, and watch the show leaving Studio 54..