As fun as it sounds

.... I don't think I'm ready to be a sharp sharp. On Saturday night, Austin and I were both rooting for Ohio State to win their Big 10 showdown with Wisconsin. When the Buckeyes scored a late touchdown to take the lead, I cheered and gave Austin a quick fist pound. And I was immediately scolded by Chris Bennett, a sharp sharp. I get the feeling that in Chris's eyes, a true sharp sharp would never celebrate his victories. It's almost like a sharp sharp expects to win everything and when he does, he should simply give an approving nod.

Well if that's the case, I'm not ready to be a sharp sharp, nor do I even want to be one. I'd rather cheer when my bets win and complain when they lose. I'd rather watch the games I have money on with a beer in one hand and a.... beer in the other hand.

With all this in mind, I am creating a new category: "Sharp Kid." You get all the benefits of being a sharp without sacrificing all the joys of being a kid. You can high five your buddies when one of your bets (miraculously) comes in. You can watch the games you bet on over a handful of frosty adult beverages. You can play halftimes with The Hoff because, let's face it, it's really fun playing halftimes with The Hoff. But at the same time you have to take it seriously. You can't just fill out a bunch of Super Odds parlay cards and hand them to the teller. You can't play parlays period as a matter of fact. (Correlated? What does that mean? You're talking over my head, guy.) In order to be a "Sharp Kid" you have to be playing smart sides, at good numbers, but you can still have fun with it. Look at me - I'm just a dumb kid having fun. I don't know anything about gambling the average person does not. And I still make money with this stuff.

It's not easy but with a little practice, you too can be a Sharp Kid.

Good luck.


Thursday: 1-1, -$72

Year to Date: 14-11, +$492

(426) Cardinals PK (-101) vs. Bills

I don't even care if this bet wins. Jeff played the Cardinals at -1 (-105). Knowing that I got a better number than the Michael Jordan of this city is enough of a victory for me. Anything else is just gravy.

A few more notes in advance of Week 5:

* C-Jack is calling the Broncos a "Lock." C-Jack is a Broncos fan. And C-Jack is an idiot. I think you know what to do.

* Big showdown in Philly, as my Redskins and Ed's Eagles clash at the Linc. I'd like to see the Redskins kick a FG on their opening drive so we can hear the boobirds come out in Philly.

The truth is it doesn't even matter if the Skins win this game. If they do, Ed will just tell me that the whole league is garbage and he doesn't care. And Jeff will tell me that the Eagles are still power rated higher because they played an "Exciting" game against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football (Which they lost, by the way) and because they played in the Super Bowl like 4 years ago. And if the Redskins, lose Ed will mock me because that's what Ed does.

It's not Ed's fault. He's just the quintessential Philadelphia sports "Fan." For example, on Saturday, with his beloved Fightin' Phils leading their NLDS with the Brewers two games to none, but trailing 3-1 in Game 3, he was already planning for the 2009 season. Hope springs eternal in Philly.

* Did you know I have a bet on the Lions 'Over' 3.5 wins +105? Well, I do. The blog is calling for them to beat the Bears on Sunday. At least, they better be able to beat the Bears at home, or getting to 4 wins is going to be a major stretch.

* The fantasy team I share with Austin faces a big test this week as we face the first place team managed by executive director, Jay Kornegay. I looked at Jay's team and I gotta say: I don't think it's as good as ours. Call me crazy, but I'm calling for the upset behind strong performances from our version of the 3 Amigos: Randy Moss, Brandon Marshall, and Steve Smith.

* Not sure how many of you are aware of this but last year when I was closing at work, I would leave a note for the opener, a young man most of you know simply as "The Y." It was usually something along the lines of, "Hey pal. Have fun with the kids today. Please don't hang yourself in the bathroom after all the 10 AM games kickoff." I'll just come right out and say what everyone at the SuperBook is thinking: I miss Jorgen. Texting him a message isn't the same. You just can't get the kind of personal touch you get with a hand written note on the back of a parlay card.


Trivia Question for Sunday: I'm hearing a lot of these Eagles fans calling for Andy Reid's head. I'd say that Reid has done a pretty good job in Philly. He drafted Donovan McNabb and together they have been to the NFC Championship game four times and even appeared in a Super Bowl. Let's think back to before Reid got there. Who was the coach and who was the starting QB of that pitiful garbage loser franchise?

** Saturday's Answer: Jon Ross is right about one thing: Michigan State and Indiana play for the Old Brass Spittoon. However, Jon you are dead wrong about something else - I am absolutely not better than that.


Lots of football on Sunday but I'd prefer to just kick back with Micah, crank some Metallica, and watch the Cup boys race around the track at Dega. Can we see the 88 car in Victory Lane? How about the 24 or 20?

I'm rooting for the Skins, for Dale Jr., and of course, for Brian Westbook to be carted off the field with a gruesome injury.



What?



Oh, right. I'm an asshole.



So why do you read my stupid blog?



Yeah.... Think about that one.





Enjoy the game.