I've decided that next season

.... I am going to make a $250 cash donation to a local charity instead of entering the Leroy's College Challenge. At least that way some good will come out of me giving away money. I'd really like to be able to blame it on my two dopey "Partners" but my picks have been every bit as terrible as theirs. The funny thing is that my college football bets have done fine this year. It's not like I'm down for the season. But whatever I pick for that Leroy's nonsense is just a disaster every week.

There is reason for optimism going into Saturday: Mertins e-mailed me on Tuesday to promise that he won't do any worse than he did last week, when he went a perfect 0-3. Funny guy.

Seriously, when did everyone I know become a comedian? You never see me trying to be funny, that's for sure. For those of you who didn't have the pleasure of being at the SuperBook on Friday, you missed one helluva performance by our Senior Supervisor. He had something funny to say about everyone. He mocked my Utah bet every 5 minutes. Any time he was trying to point out something he felt was a dumb bet, he'd compare it to betting Utah in Thursday night's game. He mocked my buddy Hoffy for not hedging his Rays futures. He even went so far as to say that if Scotty and I finish the year up in football, betting the way we do, he'd pay us $1000. Thanks for the offer, bro. I accept.

And I haven't even gotten into all the stuff he said about my friend Jeff Sherman, whose actually a really nice guy even if he doesn't have time for silly things like reading my blog. Did I think it was funny when Matt compared Jeff to Batman for all the items he wears on his belt? Yes. Of course, I did. It was hilarious. But poor Jeff wasn't even there to defend himself. You can't rip on a guy when he's not there to defend himself. Well, except Jorgen, obviously, seeing as how he left us all for the comforts of the Venetian and their "Alpha" sheets. I'd just like to see Matt taken down a notch. I mean he wasn't just cocky on Friday. He was Ed-betting-college-football-win-totals-at-the-Venetian cocky. And if you were there on that infamous night, you would know - that is cocky.

In all seriousness, I'm not mad at Matt. In fact, I'm real grateful to the guy. He never has a bad word to say about the blog. He even seemed to defend it when I mentioned some other blogs that I feel are better than my own. Here are some other bloggers that have been entertaining me the last few days:

Chris Cooley

Chris is the starting TE for that 3-1 Washington Redskins team that Ed and his people have power rated somewhere between the Rams and USC. His blog is actually really entertaining. He posts funny videos of himself and every now and again they include his (ridiculously super) hot wife. Yeah, I don't even have a wife period. And I don't know how to post videos. So, I gotta give the edge to Cooley.

You're probably wondering: "Murray, have you ever joined in during a Cooooooooooooley chant at a Washington Redskins game?" Good question and the answer is yes. Many times, in fact. I'm always in the mood for a dumb cheer at a football game. Believe it or not, when I am at a Redskins game, I generally wash down the peanuts or sunflower seeds my brother sneaks in with a few man sodas. Our family has 3 season tickets and (generally speaking) the trio who accounts for them is my dad, my brother, and me. It is not uncommon for my Dad and I to spend $100 on beer alone between the two of us. I think the whole experience of going to Redskins games changed for my Dad when I hit 21. Not only could he and I legally drink together, but he could send me to the concourse to buy beer for him. Not that it really matters how old you are at those games. I haven't been asked for ID at a Redskins game in years but the last time I was it went something like this:

Vendor: What's up?

Me: Yeah, let me get 2 Bud Lights.

Vendor: Okay, that'll be $64.

Me: Yeah, here.

Vendor: Wait, are you 21?

Me: Yes.

Vendor: Okay, cool.


I love Redskins games.


Lil' Wayne

Lil' Wayne is a commercially successful rapper and major film star. Don't believe me? It says so right at the bottom of his blog. Perhaps I should have a signature line. Something like: "John Murray is a kid who knows way too much about sports but nothing about how to bet on them." Or "John Murray is a dipshit who bets $200 on football games but can't even afford that much." Or: "John Murray, NASCAR SuperFan, Est. February 2008." I like that last one.

Anyways, back to the blog. While not as entertaining as Cooley's blog, I've enjoyed what I've read. Wayne sure is a fan of a lot of different teams. And they appear to be from all over the country. (What do you mean he's like a young Austin? I'm sorry but I don't get that reference.)


This Smart Kid

If you've ever wondered how Scott knew the Rays were going to be so good this season, here's your answer. This guy was all over it. (I'm just kidding, pal. At least you were smart enough to follow the right people. That's half the battle sometimes. Or, as in my case with NASCAR betting, literally 100% of the battle.) So, basically this kid understands all the math stuff that dummies like me could never understand and he spells it out for those of us who can't figure it for ourselves. He's also clearly talented as a writer and willing to share (some of) his information for free. Nice kid.

The downside to reading his blog? Obviously, there is none. There's a lot of good information in there and it's an entertaining read.

So, is there anyone mocking it? Yes, and I'll give you three guesses who it is.


Believe it or not, I'm taking the day off from betting college football. I lost my play Thursday night with Utah but managed to get a large portion of it back on a Pitt to the under 1st half parlay at the Hard Rock.

Correlated? What does that mean? Never heard of it.

*Wink*

I do have an NFL bet for tomorrow already placed. I'm sorry but you're just going to have to check back tomorrow to get that play. I can't just give this stuff out.

I'm kidding. It's the Cardinals. Don't bother with your alpha sheet. It's #426. Good luck getting that one at PK -101.

Look, I don't mean to toot my own horn but in Wednesday's blog I called for the Phillies, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Rays to advance in the MLB playoffs. All four of those clubs now hold 2-0 leads. People are quick to point out my many, many wrong predictions (Which is easy seeing as how they outnumber the right ones something like 47-to-1) but no one has anything to say when I nail one. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Matt.

You guys probably want our Leroy's plays so you can fade them. I'll oblige:

Murray: Stanford, Kentucky

Hill: Purdue, Nebraska

Mertins: Auburn, UConn, The U

We have Purdue +13.5 and they were trailing Penn State 20-0 thanks in part to their kicker missing two FGs. I had given up on the play but was watching it casually as I blogged. I saw Purdue score a TD and thought to myself - "Alright, nice break to start the day." Then the Purdue kicker missed the extra point to keep the score at 20-6 with 6 minutes left.

Seriously.


Trivia Question for Saturday: Which two college football teams play annually for the Old Brass Spittoon?

Wednesday's Answer: The Philadelphia 76ers swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals. The Sixers coach was Billy Cunningham. The Finals MVP was Moses Malone (Had to double check on that.) I was 2 months old.

There's a good way to tell if you're old or not: If you were alive when a Philadelphia sports team won a championship, you are old.

Speaking of feeling old, how come no one told me that DeMatha was playing Good Counsel in a nationally televised high school football game? Also, why didn't anyone tell me that Good Counsel is now the football powerhouse in my old conference, the WCAC? I was stunned to see another WCAC team running DeMatha off the field because in my day DeMatha murdered everyone. Then I remembered that I graduated from high school 7 freaking years ago. God, I'm old.


Need the Buckeyes tonight. They better not screw me, Austin.



Enjoy the game.