Friend of mine is a minor gambler.  He can afford what he does easily, his wife doesn’t mind and he is a pure amateur.  Bets with friends, no professionals.  And usually wins.

He called up to ask if I’d like to watch a couple of the play-offs.  Yes.  Would I like to bet $1 on a couple of games.  Sure, and as I recall the games he cited had odds in his favor.  Of course.  Told him I’d go for a dollar to win $1.40 and $1.30.  Nope, he wanted even money.  How ’bout I take all the “away” teams and you can have the “home” teams.  Even money.  Sounded good to me, I went  for the deal.

So, what happens?  One “home” team lost because two idiots get penalized 15 yards EACH on the same plan and the other guys kick a field goal.  One buck down the old latrine.  In another a PROFESSIONAL, WELL PAID, nothing else to do but practice kicking, done it all his life, MISSES A GODDAMNED CHIP SHOT.  It should have been like Arnold Palmer putting into a 6′ diameter hole from 6 feet away, and the lousy bum MISSES, IN A PLAYOFF game, costing his home team a win.  One of the other two games should have been a win, too, but it didn’t work that way.

So, I lost all four of them.  Clearly due to some malevolent force.  It was personal.