Took $1 off my grandfather on Super Bowl XI. He liked the Vikings.
Gramps used to run numbers for the syndicate back in the day. I used to roll with him when he would make the rounds. The pool halls, barber shops, the plants to the back rooms of every grocery store in the city.
I thought that was the coolest way to make a living in the world. Every time my Gramps walked into a room, everyone was glad to see him and would give him money.
My grandmother thought they lived the way they did on his salary from his 9-5 job.........
Gramps used to run numbers for the syndicate back in the day. I used to roll with him when he would make the rounds. The pool halls, barber shops, the plants to the back rooms of every grocery store in the city.
I thought that was the coolest way to make a living in the world. Every time my Gramps walked into a room, everyone was glad to see him and would give him money.
My grandmother thought they lived the way they did on his salary from his 9-5 job.........
I was in my first year in college at a small New Hampshire school, when a guy approached me in the Student Union and asked me if I wanted to play a parlay card. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. He sat down with me and showed me the card, and at that time the card listed the games by the amount of points instead of by the Nevada schedule which wasn't even born yet. It went from pick to -30 points or more, and then listed the Pro games the same way. "All you have to do is give me a dollar, and pick at least 3 teams. Naturally the more you pick, the more you can win!" I don't know exactly what the teams paid at that time, but let's say it was about $600 when you picked a bunch of teams. That was a fortune at the time, so I went for the maximum payout. I probably hit about 50%. Played it for a few weeks more and gave up on the play. But this is what introduced me to sports gambling.
When I got to 23 years of age, a cousin of mine who was three years older, got me set up with a bookies agent that worked out of the "Bunny Hop" in Newark, NJ. The joke of it was that my uncle ran the biggest bookie joint in Newark at the time, and it was him that I was betting into! Live and learn. He had all the barbers in town running bets and numbers for him, and I used to run into him at my barber shop all the time. But I never realized what type of business he was in. Go know!
When I got to 23 years of age, a cousin of mine who was three years older, got me set up with a bookies agent that worked out of the "Bunny Hop" in Newark, NJ. The joke of it was that my uncle ran the biggest bookie joint in Newark at the time, and it was him that I was betting into! Live and learn. He had all the barbers in town running bets and numbers for him, and I used to run into him at my barber shop all the time. But I never realized what type of business he was in. Go know!
I was about 10 and my brother even younger when my grandparents taught my parents the game of craps and a system that could not lose. We were in the background watching. Before we knew it we were spreading out a craps replica on the floor and taking bets from the local neighborhood kids. From there it all went downhill from craps, to poker, to blackjack and to sports.
Mister Newlywed wanted me to share his story.
Mr. N: "The biggest influence on me was when my parents taught me the game of MONOPOLY. It was amazing to me how I could have all those 500 and 1000 dollar bills. Just for landing on free parking my parents would give me 500 dollars. I would end up the game with WADS of cash. I then use this cash to buy more Monopoly games and took the money out of each game. I now use that money for sports gambling. And that is how I got started"
Mr. N: "The biggest influence on me was when my parents taught me the game of MONOPOLY. It was amazing to me how I could have all those 500 and 1000 dollar bills. Just for landing on free parking my parents would give me 500 dollars. I would end up the game with WADS of cash. I then use this cash to buy more Monopoly games and took the money out of each game. I now use that money for sports gambling. And that is how I got started"
when I was about 8 years old my dad took me to the local store to buy a scratch off lottery ticket. When I won, I would get to use the money to buy baseballcards. I don't gamble now, except those 20-50 poker games at a friends house 3-4 times a year. But I am fascinated with predicting wins. I actually was 80% at the college football pick-em last year in yahoo sports. I like to play free fantasy football leagues and follow football like it is my 401K plan 
My biggest influence is the one and only "FISHHEAD". Although I came up with a bowl pool when we were in junior high, that was in the early '70's, I remember the first bet I placed was with him on the Packers against Detroit, I believe in 1982. Of course, the Pack did not cover and I've never recovered.
:cryingcry
:cryingcry
Old dude I was partner with in my bar years ago named Leon.
Cat used to stone-cold fade himself...many moons before internet and compiled consensus data.
After I understood the logic about why, it became evident betting mostly dogs was the avenue of least resistance to making a few bucks.
However, through all the years of gambling, I have found it more important to learn from others WHAT NOT TO DO, rather than what to do.
:smoker2:
Cat used to stone-cold fade himself...many moons before internet and compiled consensus data.
After I understood the logic about why, it became evident betting mostly dogs was the avenue of least resistance to making a few bucks.
However, through all the years of gambling, I have found it more important to learn from others WHAT NOT TO DO, rather than what to do.
:smoker2:
