End of an Era: Bookmaker (2007-2011)

If you are reading this, you are likely friends with me on Facebook. Posted earlier today, I lamented on the loss of my sportsbook, Bookmaker. The US Department of Justice and Homeland Security seized its domain today, as seen in the image below:

Bookmaker's death sentence, as handed down by The United States of Big Brother

Tim Wolf first brought this to my attention yesterday, saying that Bookmaker already had an alternate site ready to use in the event of site seizure. The takeover was official today, leaving millions of gamblers such as myself looking for new ways to get the gambling itch fixed. Trust me - people will get their gambling done one way or another.

The seizure of their site (and other poker sites a month ago and I'm sure numerous other sites in the near future) begs the question: in a free country that proclaims democracy and freedom to make choices as individuals, why is it illegal for Americans to gamble on sports outside of Vegas? Some states (Delaware and Oregon for example) allow very limited sports gambling, but Nevada is the only state where sports gambling is legal.

The amount of money that other states could make from sports gambling is sick to think about.  I have at least 10 friends who would love having the ability to sit at a local casino and bet the sports that we have been betting online and through other venues for years - and we'd hardly be the only ones. Not only that, but we'd be modestly gambling when compared to the high rollers - if it's anything like Vegas sports books. In my trips to Vegas, it wasn't uncommon to see guys wagering 10 to 100 times more in a given bet than me. Considering my average bet in Vegas ranges from $50-200, we're talking about a very profitable operation, especially since the book makes money on any gambler that doesn't hit more than 53% of their bets.

Other sites are still in operation for gamblers to use, but it's a matter of time before they get shut down. From what I read, it appears as though Bookmaker's problem (as it was for the banned poker sites) was for money laundering, not for the act of allowing American gamblers to deposit money onto their site.

Nevertheless, this wouldn't be a problem if gambling on sports was legal!

I suspect that Vegas lobbyists and America's desire to limit freedoms (not expand them) as part of their Mommy/Daddy role they play with their citizens are the main reasons that sports gambling is not legal.

They'll say they're protecting the poor from losing their money, but they don't give a rat's ass about that. If people will not lose their money with sports gambling (the way the government has it now), people will lose their money through other venues, many of them just as self-destructive as sports gambling (such as drinking, smoking and many other unhealthy ways).

The government tried Prohibition (didn't work); they've tried "Say No to Drugs" (many people "Said No to Nancy Reagan" and did and continue to use drugs anyways); they continue to try stopping people from being gay by attempting to ban gay marriage in particular states (won't work).

Now, the sports gambling spectrum, at least the online forum, is controlled by the government. If they think this won't drive people to underground methods (as it did to all of the above "bans" or "warnings"), they're dumber than I thought - which is saying a lot.

I'm willing to bet that this is not the end of my "Gambling Outside of Vegas" era. And instead of collecting money from me in a sports book, where some of my money would be going to the government via taxes, my money will be going elsewhere.

Suck it, government.

The True Best Man

(note: to those attending the wedding, this is not my speech)

It's a title that I never really thought about much, but the title "Best Man" carries a lot of weight to me.

Best Man is someone who you've known for a long while. Best Man is someone you have shared some great times with. Best Man is someone you can count on when you're down. Best Man is with you from beginning to end. Best Man is with you during your ups and downs, highs and lows.

Best Man is not a title to be taken lightly.

Less than 2 days from now, my friend Jeremy Spencer (known by his surname to many of us) will be getting hitched to his lady Kate Baker. It's only fitting that it's a non-traditional wedding, because Spencer has never been a traditional person.

Each of us has influenced the other in more ways than we can imagine. For a brief period of time, I tried emulating his fashion for Hawaiian shirts (biiiiiiig mistake). And I know I introduced him to a movie (Dirty Work) that has become the staple of a lifetime's worth of quotes for us.

Within this lifetime of the friendship, we've both went away to school, and for the majority of the past 9 years of the friendship, we haven't been within 100 miles of each other. However, that never stopped us from getting closer as friends and essentially becoming brothers.

The "That's What She Said" and "Name Game" have become our new ways of humoring each other and others around us. The Name Game especially - with its unique way of creating a nickname around a play on words that yields many a laughs - has kept both of us sharp in both humor and intelligence.

As the years have passed, I can proudly say our friendship is stronger than ever. And I'm glad he's getting married to Kate, who clearly matches up with him perfectly.

Thank you to my friend, my brother, Spencer, for letting me share a big part in one of the biggest day of your life.

On Saturday, the true Best Man will be him.

Congrats to you and Kate.

Don't Stress, Young Man

I need to see someone about my sports addiction problem.

There's no reason a human being should get so worked up about any angle of sports where it affects the person even in the slightest.

Don't get me wrong. Sports are a good release from real life, where we have to deal with work, bills, recession stuff, etc. When sports help you forget about those things for a while, no one would argue that as a bad thing. However, there are just some times where I get worked up about certain aspects of sports that make me question why I get so involved in it emotionally.

Gambling

This devil of a thing entered my life at a young age. Around the age of 8 or 9, I was aware of point spreads and wasn't too bad for my age in guessing what a line would be in football. A few years later, I organized a football picking pool with me, my dad and two neighbors on the block to guess the winners straight up every week.

That morphed into the once famous confidence pool that had me and some friends competing for money every week and for end of year prizes by ranking the teams we thought had the best chance of winning every week in descending order. As that dissolved, online gambling became my new outlet. Outside of a few decent cashouts, that has been mostly sewer money.

And who could forget Vegas, the place I will have visited for the 6th time in 3 1/2 years after my June trip is complete. While others get their thrills in Vegas from black jack, poker, clubs and shows, my Dream Vegas is plopping my ass in the sports book after a nice fattening Bellagio breakfast with mimosas. While I've never lost more than a couple hundred while in Vegas, I've never really won much either.

Gambling changes the way I watch sports in that I am often rooting for teams and outcomes that I would not care about otherwise. I will say that I am as objective of a gambler as there is when it comes to judging how an official/referee/umpire may or may not be impacting my bet. Which brings me to the next thing that bothers me about sports....

Blaming the Officials

Going into game 2 of the series between the Heat and the Bulls, I told my friend Tim that I guaranteed that Bulls fans and "fans" would find a way to complain about the referees if the game was close (I said within 10 points) and the Bulls lost.

Sure enough, right on queue, I saw a few items on a social network (hint: it rhymes with Schmace schmook) of a handful of complaints about the refs as the Heat were closing out their 10 point win. I didn't realize referees caused the Bulls to shoot 34 percent from the field and 61% from the free throw line, but I'm glad a few people were out there to remind me that it was the men in the zebra outfits who caused that. Sure as hell beats thinking that, I don't know, your team got outplayed almost as bad as they did to you in the previous game.

Even while completely expecting a few people to blame the refs, it still annoyed me to no end to read some of those comments. I typed out comments and hit the backspace button before sending the comments, for fear of getting in a War of Turds with some of the haters of striped shirts. I knew arguing specific calls that the Bulls got in their favor would do no good, so I resisted and decided that venting about it to the 10 people who read this would be a better outlet.

(Editor's note: I did bet the Heat with 5 people but promise you that I will not blame the refs if the Heat lose this series. Neither team needs the ref's help to win the series.)

So the point of this subsection, I guess, is that if I didn't get so worked up about sports, I wouldn't get worked up about people blaming the refs for crap that their players did or did not do. Even in the small increments that I see this happening, this probably annoys me more than the gambling aspect of sports.

If it weren't for the refs, the Bulls would be 92-0 at this point in the year, well on their way to the first perfect season in NBA history.

That last sentence is probably believed by 5-10% of Bulls fans- which scares the shit out of me.

My teams suck

The teams I have decided to follow in my life - mainly the White Sox and 49ers - aren't exactly for the faint of heart. Combined since 2002 the teams have combined for 2 playoff appearances - White Sox in 2005 and 2008. The World Series championship seems so far away, especially given the lack of follow-up to that season in any of the subsequent seasons despite consistently high expectations year in, year out.

On the other end, the Niners have lowered my expectations during that time, to the point where I thought an 8-8 season in 2009 was "a good season". We've had the luxury of having a healthy rotation of coaches since our last playoff appearance in 2002. We're tried offensive-minded coaches, defensive-minded coaches, coaches who had their fathers successfully coach in the league, coaches who used to be successful players a few decades removed. You name it, we've hired a sucky version of it.

While I consider myself somewhat of a Bulls fans, to be fair to the fans of the team through the thick and thin, I will not speak of them in my fandom. For the most part, I root for the Bulls (that is, when I don't have $110 and 10 pitchers on the line). By no means am I a diehard though.

I wish I was though - because I could really use a winning team in my collection of teams I root for (sigh). Losing is tough to swallow, no matter the sport. If only my teams could play without refs....then we'd probably lose every damn game.

Why?

So why the hell am I so loyal to anything and everything relating to sports, given all these factors that annoy me daily or annually? Why would any person deal with the stressors that sports cause, especially when sports are actually supposed to relieve stress of daily life?

I'd say that the main reason that I will continue to love sports despite the above things is the camaraderie that comes from watching sports with my friends. It is unlike any other social aspect of my life. Getting together with friends to watch a sporting event, regardless of gambling/rooting interest or sport, is a priceless time. Also, if it wasn't for sports, I probably would talk to many of my guy friends a lot less than I do. I certainly don't want to take that out of my life. Throwing a few back, wagering a few bucks and sharing laughs and stories outweighs the bad that some aspects of sports create for me.

I suppose I am fine without a sports psychologist in my life. It's not like I'm gambling more than I can afford to lose, getting heart attacks from sports arguments or losing sleep over my teams sucking ass.

In the meantime, I bet you that the refs will cause the Bulls to lose again and that my White Sox will lift up my hopes and then let me down again.

At least my Niners will miss the playoffs along with 31 other teams if there's no season.

Finally, a victory cigar is in order.

When in Poem...

Random writing, 5-17-11:

Numb Hairs

I’m a numbers guy,
I hate zero, but don’t ask me why.
If you take the time to add it up,
You will have no time for the half-empty cup.

One time, I want to be the rhyme
That turns the nickel into a dime,
That turns the lemon into a lime,
That makes the innocent commit a crime.

Two jacks give you a pair
But all you’re left to do is stare
When three kings growl like a bear
And crush your hand without a care.

Three is the magic number
When it’s you and her and her.
It’s something that you wanted, that’s for sure
It’s what you deserve after all you’ve endured.

Time to go forth and make the best of this
You asked for a hug and you got a kiss
Before you make this something you dismiss,
Realize everything you are going to miss.

I plead the fifth when it comes to the court of life
I’m guilty of nothing but wanting this to thrive
I jump into the pool with a perfect dive
If that’s a crime, give me 25 to life.

Six numbers in, I wonder when I will begin
To make sense of these words to my next of kin.
These verses show where I’m going and where I’ve been.
Regret in this world is the biggest of sins.

Keep your eyes open like 7-11,
Whether or not you believe in heaven.
Keep those feet movin’ and those engines revvin’,
For all you take from life, reciprocate with some givin’.

If you eat, you ate; if you’re now, you’re late; after seven, you’re eight.
Set this on your calendars so you don’t miss the date.
You’re fishing alone, they say you have master bait.
If you swim among the hungry sharks, you’ve decided your fate.

Nine planets, but being on this Earth, we never planned it.
Amongst these words of clutter and bullshit,
There’s a message that’s so lawful, it is writ.
As basic and as useful as a first-aid kit.

I won’t command you to give me these minutes of your life—ten,
I just wanted to see how you have been.
Just make the most of this time, live like Barbie and Ken.
Do it now, cause if not now, when?

Jersey? Sure

(Fan Blog 2 of 6 - idea courtesy of Chris Williams)
Judge: The case of Rick Reilly v Adult Jersey Wearers of America is now in session.

We've already heard the prosecution's case against the Jersey Wearers from Mr. Reilly, which he wrote in late 2010 and recited to the court, as seen here: Reilly. Several witnesses called up by the prosecution have stated their case that adults should not wear jerseys to preserve societal order at sporting events and to create a more family-friendly environment.

Would the defendant please take the stand to be examined?

Defendant Lawyer (DL): When you read this article by the head of the prosecution, how did you feel after reading it?

Man in Scalabrine Jersey (MSJ): To be quite honest, I was caught off guard by this blanket judgement of jersey wearers. Mr. Reilly has never seen me at sporting events and bars enjoying a drink or eight, with people coming up to me and bowing to me for wearing this jersey every time I go out. It's mainly douchebags who come up to me, but they come up to me and praise me for wearing it nonetheless. Hell, I've worn the jersey more than the man has himself.

DL: So what you are telling the court is that your encounters as an adult jersey wearer have been nothing but positive?

MSJ: Well, it did set me back $75 - and the site even gave me a chance to get out of buying the jersey by requiring me to customize the jersey. Sad thing was, I wasn't even drunk when buying it.

DL: I think you're misunderstanding me. What I meant was: when going out to the bars and games, you've enjoyed nothing but praise from douchebags....I mean drunken Bulls fans, correct?

MSJ: That is correct.

DL: So if Rick Reilly were to be watching this, what would you have to say to him about grown men who wear jerseys?

MSJ: Very simple, my man. It's not the jersey that makes an idiot. The person who starts fights at games was born an idiot. A jersey just gives the general public an easier way to identify them. Like, 'Hey, look at that guy in the Urlacher jersey calling the Packers fan a Fudge Packer, ain't that funny?' No, it's not, dude. Lay off Grandma's cough syrup and move to Moscow. Hopefully you'll freeze to death, and heaven help us if you already produced offspring. D-bags don't fall far from the tea bag.

Not sure what that meant, but anyways. It's my right as a non-asshole American to wear a jersey and root on my team, no matter what bar or sporting venue I may be at. I will not be afraid of these idiots who aim to ruin my good time.

DL: I rest my case your honor.


Judge: Do you wish to cross-examine the Jersey Wearer of the man who logged 88 minutes of court time in the regular season?

Prosecuting Lawyer (PL): With pleasure...

PL: So, Scalabrine lover, please explain to me why you bought the current jersey you are wearing.

MSJ: Well, I went out with a couple of friends to watch some basketball games. And I've always joked around about buying a Brian Scalabrine jersey, but never had the balls to do it. Then, I saw the myth himself, Scalabrine, step on the court against the Washington Wizards in the last minute of a blowout game. Chicago designed a play for him from the end line, and what do you know- he banks the shot in! Road crowd goes nuts, me and my friends go nuts. It was an awesome moment.

PL: So you're saying that a man whose total time played this year was about the length of a crappy Summer comedy release had an awesome moment at a meaningless point of the game. Why the jersey?

MSJ: Why not? I figured I'd be the only one who had it - and sure enough, I have not seen another one of his jerseys yet.

PL: I have a hunch on that one. So you say you've never experienced any distaste for your jersey?

MSJ: Well, the ladies never praise it, but most of them probably don't even know who he is. Hell, Scalabrine's mom makes him wear the jersey at Thanksgiving dinner just so she remembers his name. Mind you, she does not have Alzheimer's.

PL: But other than that, no ill will directed your way?

MSJ: None.

PL: Would you say that perhaps you've never experienced any negative feedback simply because nobody even knows who this man is? You admitted yourself that his mom doesn't even know who he is.

MSJ: It's possible, but even while wearing my San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore and Patrick Willis jerseys, I've never had anyone come up to me and want to start something.

PL: Who are the San Francisco 49ers? A Canadian Football League team?

MSJ (looking at the judge): Is this guy serious?

PL: From what I can tell, you wear obscure jerseys of teams/players that no one gives a shit about. I dare you to wear an Aaron Rodgers jersey to Soldier Field.

MSJ: Why would I do that, I....

PL (interrupting): See, your Honor. Even he knows that wearing a Packers jersey in Bear town is dangerous.

MSJ: You didn't let me finish. I was gonna say, I don't give two shits about the Packers.

PL: What are you, chicken?

MSJ (to judge again): Seriously, what the hell is wrong with this guy?

Judge: If we're going to resort to baiting of the Marty McFly sort, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask the prosecution to leave the stand.

PJ: I know you are, but what am I?

Judge: Zip up your pants, Pee Wee. This ain't a peep show.

Judge (cntd): Frankly, I'm appalled that I even wasted the taxpayers' money on this case, but that's the government for ya (courtroom laughs). While the prosecution made its case in presenting witnesses and victims of violence from jersey wearers, one thing remains clear. It is not in my jurisdiction to tell people what they can and cannot wear to sporting events. An idiot is going to be an idiot whether he is wearing a jersey, a business suit or a birthday suit. Likewise, people who go to games in jerseys are just as likely to be victims of violence as those who wear a plain t-shirt and jeans.

The court rules in favor of the Adult Jersey Wearers of America. Court is adjourned. Please get the hell out of my courtroom - all of you. I have a 2pm appointment with blond twin escorts and I don't intend on being a minute late.

Another Heated Rivalry?

(Fan blog 3 of 6 - idea provided by Brad Zoeteman)



Pistons/Bulls: The Start of Rivalries in Chicago Basketball

Back in the late 1980s, the Detroit Pistons were the thorn in the side of the Chicago Bulls. The Bad Boys from Motown knocked the Bulls out of the playoffs 3 straight times (1988-1990). In all three of those seasons, the Pistons made it to the Finals, winning back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. It was the type of rivalry that sparked interest in Chicago basketball to a new generation of fans all across the country. It had the perfect set-up of good guys vs. the Bad Boys, and right at the dawn of the merging of Jordan and Nike. It was a fan's dream and a marketing firm's wet dream rolled into one.

As everyone knows, the Bulls took "the next step" in 1991, overcoming the Pistons in impressive fashion- a 4 game sweep en route to their first franchise championship. Many people took note of the classless way the Pistons left the court without shaking hands with the Bulls - I say it doesn't really matter much and if anything, should be expected from the Bad Boys.



bullsheat

Fast forward 20 years later. The Bulls are in their first conference finals since the Jordan era ended (1997-98). By all accounts, this season came as a surprise to Bulls nation, who were expecting an improvement with the added free agents and another offseason of improvement for Rose, but nothing like this. Vegas thought the same, pegging the Bulls over/under for wins at 47, which was eclipsed with ease.

Their conference final opponent had much different expectations entering the season. Following "El Decision", the Heat were considered co-favorites (along with the Lakers) to win the title. ESPN couldn't get enough footage of these guys, and the cockiness of the newly-formed trio of Wade, James and Bosh leaked into the community. A bar owner promised to pay $25 credit to each customer who watched the whole Heat game every time the Heat lost a game- here's the damage that their season did to him, as of March 8th: (Heat bar owner).

Miami has righted the ship and are actually 2/1 favorites against Chicago despite the Bulls owning the home court advantage. This has to do with the Bulls looking human against fairly average teams in Indiana and Atlanta as much as it does with the Heat looking like the team many expected them to be in the first two rounds. Chicago enters as the underdog despite beating the Heat all three times in the regular season (by a total of 8 points).

And I agree - the Heat should be favorites in spite of those two factors (home court and regular season success). As the playoffs have shown- save game 6 with Boozer playing for his $15M in one game, where Derrick Rose goes, so go the Bulls. If the size/length of whoever they have covering Rose (Wade, James, etc.) affects Rose, more game 6-like performances from Boozer and others are going to need to appear in order for the Bulls to even have a chance in the series. Also, if Udonis Haslem is able to shake the rust of recovering from his injury that kept him out for the whole season up until the middle of last series, the Heat will get an inside presence that will make the lane that much more difficult for Rose to drive through.



Bulls/Heat: Can it deliver like Bulls/Pistons?

Now, the point of the blog, as addressed by Brad: Will the Bulls/Heat rivalry mirror that of the Bulls/Pistons? I believe the short answer, in terms of the intensity of it and the long-term success of both teams, is NO.

I believe the Heat are in much better position to win multiple titles over the next 7-8 years compared to the Bulls. Everyone critiques the Heat for lacking a bench, but when these guys are playing 43-44 minutes in the playoffs and playing better than all of their peers, who the hell needs a bench? Sure, there may be a game where foul trouble plagues James and/or Wade and their opponents capitalize. In the long run though, I'd rather have the Heat's core of players than the Bulls, who outside of Rose don't have anyone who you can say will be a consistent All-Star player for the next 6-8 years.

That's not to say that the Bulls won't get those pieces in the future. However, if the NBA institutes a hard salary cap, these big salaries to Noah, Boozer and Rose (only the latter deserves to be paid like an all-star) will make it difficult to get the elusive second scoring option for Rose to dish it off to. You can forget about the Bulls getting Howard if that happens (even if the hard cap doesn't happen, I see Howard going to Boston or LA before he goes to Chicago).

For the Bulls/Heat to even come close to Bulls/Pistons, some of these players need to make themselves true enemies to the opposing fans (taunting, technical fouls, etc.) as opposed to offseason shenanigans (like The Decison and what followed from that) and it should be a defensive-dominated series, where points are a struggle and you can see the players' frustrations with trying to break each team's defense (two of the top defenses in the league this year). But most importantly, they need to face each other at least a handful of times in the next 2-3 years and need to have competitive series. It can't be a rivalry if one team sweeps the other year in, year out (cough, Michigan/Illinois football).

To properly judge this, we will need to see how each of the teams do in the next 3-4 years. Unfortunately for the Bulls, I see their shelf life short-lived if they can't add players better than Boozer and Noah to compliment Rose.

Bring the D - The Bulls' Only Chance of Winning the Title (Fan Blog 1 of 6)

The Bulls' Best (and Only) Chance of Winning the Title: Defense

Through 10 playoff games, the Bulls have looked rather pedestrian compared their dominant regular season (even though 7-3 record isn't that far off percentage-wise from 62-20).  With the exception of a few games, they've been pushed to the brink in every single game.

What's wrong with our Bulls? Why are they not dominating every single game? Can they still win it all?


(1) What's wrong is the Bulls' shooting. After shooting at a 46% clip throughout the regular season, through 10 games they are around the 42%, with "MVP" Derrick Rose hovering around 40%.  Their reliance on one player is another thing wrong that cannot be fixed in a playoff series, but rather an offseason. However, as my friend Tom has pointed out, with them tying so much money into Rose, Noah and Boozer and a hard-cap possibly coming into play (which is what hockey has and was a big reason in the dismantling of the Blackhawks), it may be difficult to find that fix. It's clear that Boozer is a shell of his former 20-10 self- and no, we never signed him to play defense. This may need to be a team carried by Rose for years to come.

Also, teams who are led specifically by point guards are highly unsuccessful when it comes to winning titles. If you look back at history, the last team you can look at and say they were led by a point guard and won a title was Isaiah Thomas when he led the Pistons to 2 crowns in 1988-89 and 89-90. If Rose remains the only threat, the Bulls' chances of winning titles drops significantly.

(2) They are not dominating every single game because this is the playoffs. The playoffs are a different beast, where you face/prep for the same team for up to 2 straight weeks. You learn a team's preferred plays in certain situations, strengths and weaknesses, etc., which makes the margin of error that much smaller.  To expect the Bulls to just waltz into the Eastern Conference Finals would be asking a lot for a franchise that has won exactly one playoff series since the Jordan era ended before this year.

(3) Despite my prediction of the Bulls falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals to Miami, I do believe that Chicago has a chance to win not only the conference, but the title as well. The key is, and always will be, their defense. In the Bulls' 2 losses to the Hawks so far in their best of 7 series, they allowed the Hawks to shoot 51% and 49% (101.5 points allowed/game), compared to 34%, 47% and 48% (79.3 points allowed/game).

Let's not forget that the Bulls did beat the Heat in all 3 meetings this year, albeit by a combined total of 8 points. Whatever you've heard of the Heat from the media who have (like the fans) been rooting for the Heat to fail/hit rough patches, forget about it. The Heat had regular season issues with the Celtics and are on the brink of eliminating them. Chicago will have its share of matchup problems with the Heat. And all that talk about a weak bench also means nothing, since starters often play 43-44 minutes of a 48 minute game. Wade and James, when playing at their best, will beat the Bulls with Rose at his best.

If, and that's a big ass IF, the Bulls can play their tenacious D they are known for, then they have a shot of winning it all. If they have to rely on Rose as much as they have, then forget about it.


(This blog is the first in a series of 6 - I will take the suggestions of my 6 subscribers and write about a topic. This suggestion - Bulls playoffs - was a topic recommended by Kevin Kirchman. If you have any special requests and you are not a subscriber, either (a) subscribe or (b) just let me know what you want me to write about).