I bought the book when it came out in the mid 70s and read it several times over the years. The premise was the publisher staked Larry with a good sized bankroll and had him bet thru local bookies and a copuple of trips to Vegas one entire NFL season and keep track of his bets and describe what life was life for a sportsbetting junky who had nothing else to do but handicap and bet the NFL. Lot of interesting characters, especially the bookies Larry bet with (most in NYC) I remember on was called "Puny the Stroller" becasue every Sunday morning ever would stroll around Manhattan with pockets full of dimes and call his players and take their bets from different pay phones.
Probably out of print but if you can find a copy still a good read. There is actually some good information that I have always used bits and pieces of when betting any sport.
wil.
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By BOB RAISSMAN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Posted Friday, May 4th 2007, 4:00 AM
Boxing analyst Larry Merchant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg
Recently, in USA Today, HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg disputed "media speculation" that he will fire, or demote, Larry Merchant and replace the veteran "World Championship Boxing" analyst with Max Kellerman.
"Larry is still throwing a 95-mph fastball and hitting corners," Greenburg told USA Today. "And we'd never give him a 'reduced' role. We're working to hammer this out."
This sounds like spin designed to insulate Greenburg, who is in Las Vegas for tomorrow's Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. rumble, from questions.
Questions from curious notebooks wondering how he can replace Merchant, a serious journalist and skilled interviewer, with the seriously self-absorbed Kellerman, a skilled self-promoter whose irresponsible - and reckless - statements have been well-documented.
If the move goes down, HBO, and its owner Time Warner, can be charged with both poor judgment and blatant ageism. Merchant, who has been with HBO for 29 years, is 76; Kellerman is 33. And yet, according to Greenburg, Merchant is "still throwing a 95-mph fastball and hitting corners." This statement proves bringing Kellerman into "World Championship Boxing" has absolutely nothing to do with Merchant's job performance.
It must be all about getting younger, right?
After exploring Merchant's HBO future, or lack thereof, in this space last Sunday, I was informed by a variety of mouths - inside boxing and TV - that the move to oust Merchant has been in the works for a year - ever since HBO brought Kellerman in as its "Boxing After Dark" analyst.
Yesterday, Merchant declined to discuss any aspect of his HBO contract negotiations. Still, he is not oblivious to what is being written about him. He said Saturday night's fight will not be his last behind an HBO microphone. Merchant's contract expires in June, which would give him the chance to work the May 19 Jermain Taylor-Cory Spinks matchup.
"Conceivably that could be my last fight," Merchant said. "It ain't over until it's over. We'll see what happens."
Nonetheless, De La Hoya-Mayweather could be the last mega-event Merchant analyzes. That possibility leaves him with a different feeling as tomorrow night approaches.
"Different in the sense of thinking about all my colleagues, the people I work with, on and off camera," Merchant said. "Most of them have been around a long time and seeing them, under current circumstances, yeah, I feel different. But I'm cool, I'm okay."
While Merchant deals with his own controversy, he could find himself in the middle of another. And it's one that epitomizes what he has meant to boxing fans all these years. After Mayweather easily outpointed then-welterweight champ Carlos Baldomir in last November, Merchant threw Pretty Boy Floyd's claim of being boxing's greatest entertainer back in his face.
"... Do you think this was a particularly entertaining fight?" Merchant asked Mayweather. "There were people booing. There were people leaving after the 10th and 11th rounds."
The question set Mayweather off. "You always give me a hard time. ... Don't always be a critic and be so negative. Every time another fighter comes out there I know you keep your fingers crossed hoping he can beat me," Mayweather told Merchant. "Larry Merchant is just a commentator. He don't know nothing about boxing."
Merchant has not spoken with Mayweather since. He doesn't know how Floyd will interact when he tries to go one-on-one during HBO's fighter production meetings. "His advisers may have said be gracious and he can be gracious. He's a pretty good actor," Merchant said. "He knows what the moment requires."
If Mayweather enters tomorrow's fight preoccupied with pleasing the crowd, trying to prove he can match De LaHoya's marquee value, the magnitude of the event - the biggest of his career - could get to him. Sky-high hype has ruled. Even Sports Illustrated (which is owned by Time Warner) has De La Hoya and Mayweather on its cover, calling the matchup: "The Fight to Save Boxing."
"This is not a fight that can save boxing," Merchant said. "This fight can attract the casual fan, but that doesn't mean they are coming back."
What a surprise. Merchant going against the grain, telling the truth - an anathema in the businesses of boxing and television.
Maybe that's why HBO wants to dump him.
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Posted Friday, May 4th 2007, 4:00 AM
Boxing analyst Larry Merchant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg
Recently, in USA Today, HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg disputed "media speculation" that he will fire, or demote, Larry Merchant and replace the veteran "World Championship Boxing" analyst with Max Kellerman.
"Larry is still throwing a 95-mph fastball and hitting corners," Greenburg told USA Today. "And we'd never give him a 'reduced' role. We're working to hammer this out."
This sounds like spin designed to insulate Greenburg, who is in Las Vegas for tomorrow's Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. rumble, from questions.
Questions from curious notebooks wondering how he can replace Merchant, a serious journalist and skilled interviewer, with the seriously self-absorbed Kellerman, a skilled self-promoter whose irresponsible - and reckless - statements have been well-documented.
If the move goes down, HBO, and its owner Time Warner, can be charged with both poor judgment and blatant ageism. Merchant, who has been with HBO for 29 years, is 76; Kellerman is 33. And yet, according to Greenburg, Merchant is "still throwing a 95-mph fastball and hitting corners." This statement proves bringing Kellerman into "World Championship Boxing" has absolutely nothing to do with Merchant's job performance.
It must be all about getting younger, right?
After exploring Merchant's HBO future, or lack thereof, in this space last Sunday, I was informed by a variety of mouths - inside boxing and TV - that the move to oust Merchant has been in the works for a year - ever since HBO brought Kellerman in as its "Boxing After Dark" analyst.
Yesterday, Merchant declined to discuss any aspect of his HBO contract negotiations. Still, he is not oblivious to what is being written about him. He said Saturday night's fight will not be his last behind an HBO microphone. Merchant's contract expires in June, which would give him the chance to work the May 19 Jermain Taylor-Cory Spinks matchup.
"Conceivably that could be my last fight," Merchant said. "It ain't over until it's over. We'll see what happens."
Nonetheless, De La Hoya-Mayweather could be the last mega-event Merchant analyzes. That possibility leaves him with a different feeling as tomorrow night approaches.
"Different in the sense of thinking about all my colleagues, the people I work with, on and off camera," Merchant said. "Most of them have been around a long time and seeing them, under current circumstances, yeah, I feel different. But I'm cool, I'm okay."
While Merchant deals with his own controversy, he could find himself in the middle of another. And it's one that epitomizes what he has meant to boxing fans all these years. After Mayweather easily outpointed then-welterweight champ Carlos Baldomir in last November, Merchant threw Pretty Boy Floyd's claim of being boxing's greatest entertainer back in his face.
"... Do you think this was a particularly entertaining fight?" Merchant asked Mayweather. "There were people booing. There were people leaving after the 10th and 11th rounds."
The question set Mayweather off. "You always give me a hard time. ... Don't always be a critic and be so negative. Every time another fighter comes out there I know you keep your fingers crossed hoping he can beat me," Mayweather told Merchant. "Larry Merchant is just a commentator. He don't know nothing about boxing."
Merchant has not spoken with Mayweather since. He doesn't know how Floyd will interact when he tries to go one-on-one during HBO's fighter production meetings. "His advisers may have said be gracious and he can be gracious. He's a pretty good actor," Merchant said. "He knows what the moment requires."
If Mayweather enters tomorrow's fight preoccupied with pleasing the crowd, trying to prove he can match De LaHoya's marquee value, the magnitude of the event - the biggest of his career - could get to him. Sky-high hype has ruled. Even Sports Illustrated (which is owned by Time Warner) has De La Hoya and Mayweather on its cover, calling the matchup: "The Fight to Save Boxing."
"This is not a fight that can save boxing," Merchant said. "This fight can attract the casual fan, but that doesn't mean they are coming back."
What a surprise. Merchant going against the grain, telling the truth - an anathema in the businesses of boxing and television.
Maybe that's why HBO wants to dump him.
