Some of you are probably wondering

.... how I got to be this sharp. It's a fair question. The truth is it's been a combination of things. Hanging out with "The H" all the time is a big factor. After all, he is amazing. Listening to Ed and Jeff argue helps. They really know their stuff. Listening to Chad has been a good way to learn what not to do. The other night I was able to dine at Circus Circus with arguably the sharpest sports bettor in this whole city. He regaled us with tales of past bets and we all marveled at how ridiculously sharp he was and wished that one day we could be that smart. The guy who won the SuperContest was there, too.

But I have to say that the main factor in my becoming so sharp has been watching the show The Jump Off on Fairfax Public Access Television in Virginia. If Sherman thinks I have too much time on my hands, what would he say about these guys? (Be sure to set aside about an hour for this thing to load....And another half hour to watch it. Basically, there is a 0% chance of Bennett and his 5-year-olds attention span being able to get through this nonsense in one sitting.) After watching these idiots, I have two questions: Why does the tall guy keep yelling at me like a white Stephen A. Smith and how has this show not been picked up by a major network?

Here are the main memories I will be taking away from Super Bowl XLIII:

* I need the Cardinals to receive the kickoff so I am rooting for them to win the coin toss. The Steelers call tails. It's heads. So I win right?

Wrong.

It's nice being in a big hole before the game even starts.

* I'm doing good on my prop bets and the first half bet looks like a winner after a Karlos Dansby interception late in the 2nd quarter. Then this happens. Immediately my thoughts shift to Jeff and I contemplate calling him to make sure he hasn't killed himself. Instead I decide to just change the channel to A&E where they are showing a marathon of The Sopranos. I watch that instead of most of the 3rd quarter.

(Blogger's note: I thought that Harrison play and the subsequent Steelers first half cover was what gamblers call a "Bad beat." However, after talking to CB, it turns out that it was a "Variance." I really should have paid more attention during my college math classes....)

* I get to work and notice that CB is in an uncommonly good mood. My first thoughts are that he must be doing very well on his prop bets. Then I remember that Chris is too sharp for it ever to be extremely obvious when his bets are doing well or poorly.... Yeah, that's what it is....

* The Cardinals cover the game bet and I salvage a decent day despite losing my bet on Cardinals +3.5 (+150) on that late drive by Rosenberger. Frankly, if you had told me that I would scratch out a small profit on the game after losing the kickoff bet and suffering that "Variance" in the 1st half, I wouldn't have believed you.


Another football season is in the books.

Who else is ready for NASCAR?