Why, Exactly, Do You Bet on Sports? Meet the Genie . . .

sd2 · Aug 24, 2006

You find an old bottle in a pile of big city trash. You rub it and of course a Genie pops out. He doesn't want to be thought a terrorist so he's not attired in traditional Arabic genie garb. Rather, he looks like a tout from the Damon Runyon era, complete with a New York accent.

And because he is a modern genie he's not granting you those old-fashioned three wishes. Instead, he is giving you three sure winners --- but with a major string attached.

He tells you that for the rest of your life he will re-appear three times over the course of each football season, with one sure winner per appearance, with a PS of at least + 7, and natch you can bet a money line.

The only catch? If you take the deal you can never bet anything else. Like never, or will die on the spot. And you can't cancel it once you accept.

No other football teams. No other sports. No horses. No poker. No casino games. Not even the lottery. Or pitch penny. Nuttin', or you're worm meat.

Do you take his deal? If so, you're on your way to being a mega-millionaire. But no more real gambling. Think it over before you jump one way or the other . . .

Santo · Aug 24, 2006

If there was no limit on the bet I could make on a 100% cert, then of course I'd take it..

xpanda · Aug 24, 2006

sd2 said:
Do you take his deal? If so, you're on your way to being a mega-millionaire. But no more real gambling. Think it over before you jump one way or the other . . .

Take the deal, yes.

Fishhead · Aug 24, 2006

I would pass

As stated numerous times on this forum, money is a great priorty in my life, but well down the totempole.

Strange, as I certainly would pick up a lowly nickel on the pavement and put it in my pocket, but thats my answer and sticking to it.

:dancefool

Be right back, trying to pick up meal money by scalping the TIGERS GAME.

G.MONEY · Aug 24, 2006

No chance I would take it...The grind of betting day in and day out is what I love about it......G.

stef · Aug 24, 2006

Take the deal in a heart beat. Betting on sports is a hobby for me. I sometimes wonder if I really enjoy it (there has been many times I have felt pretty low, worn out, etc). Everybody has felt that. Example I hear alot of people don't want to do the Bash in Septemeber cause of probally sitting in the books all day and sweating out games. Yeah Genie give me the money.

Fishhead · Aug 24, 2006

stef said:
Take the deal in a heart beat. Betting on sports is a hobby for me. I sometimes wonder if I really enjoy it (there has been many times I have felt pretty low, worn out, etc). Everybody has felt that. Example I hear alot of people don't want to do the Bash in Septemeber cause of probally sitting in the books all day and sweating out games. Yeah Genie give me the money.

Speaking for myself, more so want to be in the confort of my own home enjoying something I love doing...........attacking sportsbooks while watching the games in the confines of my own home.

nascarphenom · Aug 24, 2006

G. MONEY said:
No chance I would take it...The grind of betting day in and day out is what I love about it......G.

:toast:

ditto....the cash is good, but its the "rush" that we love...

that is unless you have the 49ers +3 against the Bears for a 1st half bet....tied ball game with 2 seconds left and San Fran attempting a FG.....kick falls short, caught by the bears, then run back 108 yards for a TD.....

ucking: :nohead:

Santo · Aug 24, 2006

I can think of lots of other things I could do from home with virtually infinite financial resources though

nascarphenom · Aug 24, 2006

sd2 said:
You find an old bottle in a pile of big city trash. You rub it and of course a Genie pops out. He doesn't want to be thought a terrorist so he's not attired in traditional Arabic genie garb. Rather, he looks like a tout from the Damon Runyon era, complete with a New York accent.

And because he is a modern genie he's not granting you those old-fashioned three wishes. Instead, he is giving you three sure winners --- but with a major string attached.

He tells you that for the rest of your life he will re-appear three times over the course of each football season, with one sure winner per appearance, with a PS of at least + 7, and natch you can bet a money line.

The only catch? If you take the deal you can never bet anything else. Like never, or will die on the spot. And you can't cancel it once you accept.

No other football teams. No other sports. No horses. No poker. No casino games. Not even the lottery. Or pitch penny. Nuttin', or you're worm meat.

Do you take his deal? If so, you're on your way to being a mega-millionaire. But no more real gambling. Think it over before you jump one way or the other . . .

can you still bet on the golf course...or a game of pool...or poker? or just sports betting??

nascarphenom · Aug 24, 2006

nascarphenom said:
can you still bet on the golf course...or a game of pool...or poker? or just sports betting??

totally didnt read the whole thing.....im a dumbass

and no...i wouldnt take the money.....

GAMBLER FOR LIFE!

HerzvanRentle · Aug 24, 2006

No deal because if the genie is Runyonesque like Nicely Nicely Jones or Harry the Horse then he will obviously try to screw you over.

Whoson1st · Aug 24, 2006

Yes it the rush I love too,
It's the handicapping--I love
It's the --I got it right
It's the "please win this one for the gipper" that I love too.

It's the edge--the excitiment, the total package that we all love!! No doubt!

BUT---One win and being able to 1. Bet all I want. 2. Finding sources to take the game and 3. Geting Paid...,, I'm gone---Thanks for the memories!

sd2 · Aug 24, 2006

nascarphenom said:
can you still bet on the golf course...or a game of pool...or poker? or just sports betting??

No, nothing. You bet any amount you want on the three football games, but nothing else even resembling gambling. Not even day trading, or any kind of in-out short terming on the market. Long term blue chip stocks OK.

Nothing to give you a rush . . .

Whoson1st · Aug 24, 2006

Can still drink all the Bud Light I want
Still chase all the whores I want
Still pay all my bills each month.....

I think I can live with that..:lolBIG:

sd2 · Aug 24, 2006

To answer my own thread question, yes. For me, I'd take the deal. As one poster said, there's a lot of other things one could do with unlimited bucks. And if you want the rush, take up sky-diving. Or mountain-climbing. Or whatever.

This question in slightly different form was first posed to me years ago by the turf beat writer on a major California newspaper. He was talking about horses. And he truthfully could not make up his mind what he would do.

It's a good gauge of your motivaions of being in this game. Some think the game is all important, and the money just a measure of how well you play. Others are in it mostly to make money, money for purposes other than more gambling. A kind of radical investment, but an investment nonetheless.

There is no "correct" answer . . .

sd2 · Aug 24, 2006

Herz van Rentle said:
No deal because if the genie is Runyonesque like Nicely Nicely Jones or Harry the Horse then he will obviously try to screw you over.

:lolBIG:

Yeah, I met ol' Hot Horse Herbie up at The Spa, where he was telling the tale to wide-eyed bumpkins from the nearby farms. Strictly the old ackamarakus, but they were hanging on each cockeyed word Herbie was spinning at them . . .

Wynn · Aug 24, 2006

Yes, we're talking behavior-modifying $$ here. I would substitute sports betting with playing more chess, bridge and fantasy football (for no prizes). Not as much fun, but I could adapt.

:money8:

xpanda · Aug 24, 2006

For me, it's just a hobby. So for a few million bucks, I could find a new hobby.

Whoson1st · Aug 24, 2006

Ya Know--There is NO Genie! So back to the real world. We love the action or else, we would work or slave 24 hours per day or however many hours a day our body would allow it to make money...even if only the minimum wage if THAT was a job we loved. It's a question of Money or NOT a question of Money. That is the 1st decision that must be made. Now if money is NO PART of the equation than it's approached in a different manner. Problem is how can it be seperated....I think the answer for the majority is that it can NOT be seperated. Maybe that's to simple but if it's not than why not Sky diving or whatever---Robbing banks for that matter. The thrill equals what % of the equation. The money equals what %. etc etc...