I learned a long time ago, it doesn't help to watch and get emotionally involved. You can't help the outcome, and SHIT will happen, expect it. I still watch, but I try to remain calm as much as possible, but it's much easier to do when winning... Also, if it's FB or BB and I can play HT, I'm studying the game, unconcerned about my initial play.
:topic: Here's a story that explains my reasoning for not getting too excited before the game is over.... About 12 years ago, I worked for a big betting group in VEGAS, but our main office was back east. I eventually ran the operation for the "man" and it was high stress and intense. We'd have $250-500 thousand on the line on BB SAT's and I kept track of it all by hand, no computers. Anyway, I remember a particular MNF game my boss was gone and he left me in charge by myself for the first time. He instructed me not to go more than 10 dimes on the game however I saw fit to play it. We had books back EAST that were very sharp, so when they moved, we moved at the smaller shops and in VEGAS. Anyway, the game was between BUF and LA RAMS. Everett and KELLY were the QB's for their teams, and both banged up. Reports kept hitting that one was sitting the other playing, and it went back and forth. The line jumped all over the place, side and total. Can't remember the exact situation, been a long time ago, but I know I ended up with over $250,000 on the game, but since I was playing the middle, I only had about 10-12 dimes at risk. I had played the FH UNDER, anticipating one QB out, and it hurting the offense and that came in easy as the score was 3-3 at the half. I had also played LA -3, 3.5, and 4, and had BUF +6 & 6.5. The total had jumped around, and I had played OVER 36.5, 37 and 37.5, and UNDER 40.5 & 40. The game opened up in the 2nd half as EVERETT played for LA, but KELLY got hurt, and REICH took over. I played OVER in 2H also for an easy winner, and as it stood, we could not lose on the game no matter the outcome.
With about 1:30 to go in the game, LA scored to make the score 20-17, or 22-17, something like that. All I know is, BUF was getting the ball back with 1 or no timeouts, about 1 minute to go in the game, and as it stood, we were looking at making about $200,000 if the score stood. It was about then, my drunken boss calls me, telling me how great I am, how my balls were brass and my future golden, (THIS, after blasting me for having so much on the game earlier... once I got him to understand HOW the money was situated, he calmed down, but still thought I was nuts) he tells me he's gonna leave me in charge for good after tonite, and is giving me ANY car I want as a bonus!! I had been out earlier in the day, checking out a PORSCHE and a VETTE, and he said he didn't care, just keep it under $30,000 and I got my choice! I was telling him there was still time left in the game, and we should wait, and he INSISTED it was a lock!! NO WAY Frank Reich drives them 80 yrds for a TD with no timeouts and 1:22 to go.... As you can guess, BUF did drive the length of the field, and I can STILL see NOLAN CROMWELL turning the wrong way on the hook pattern and Andre Reed or whoever it was waltzing in for the winning TD. :thefinger They had beat crummy CROMWELL on like 3 straight plays, and yet the idiotic coach left him 1 on 1 with the wideout with the ball at the 20 and little time left. Not sure if it was 3rd or 4th down when they scored, but I do know less than 20 ticks were left. CROMWELL, once a feared cover man, was released the next day or at end of the season, can't remember. All I know is that my DET LIONS picked him up, and I had to watch him get burnt every SUNDAY after that as I watched BARRY run circles around the other DEF.
To end a sad story... I didn't get a car. :violin: My boss offered to buy me one anyway, but I felt bad about the loss. I couldn't get myself to take advantage of his drunkeness and make him keep his word, although he admitted he said he would, regardless of the outcome. BUT, this man had just watched in horror as $200,000 went down the drain in 1 minute and 12 seconds or whatever, I didn't feel right about rubbing salt in that wound... I'll never forget what he said though, he called me back after the game, and all he said was, "it happens... tomorrow's another day. Let's get em then!" :shrug: The guy just lost 3500 instead of winning 200,000 and he shrugged it off.... I learned a lot from that.
Back to the topic:
If it's a Hockey play, I never watch... maybe the end of a game if I'm on the total, or my side is tied, but NHL is too fast paced and I'm not a big fan of it til playoffs. FB I almost always watch, same with NBA and college BB when I can. I listen in on baseball games and watch when they're on, but basically, it's forget about the $$ involved, and try and be a fan, a student, and learn something.
