Side Note to Barfly and YYZ

[Nolan Dalla]

I normally do not like to get into personality clashes but I feel the need to clear something up. In a previous post (last night's post it was) I confused one of the teams that I was betting against.

Two regular posters here at MadJacks -- YYZ and Barfly -- made what I believe to be some very derogatory comments, noting that I don't/didn't even know WHICH TEAMS are playing.

I do not appreciate those comments.

You are certaily entitled to ignore, disregard, or bet the other way on these plays if you wish.

However, I have CLEARLY stated several times that these college basketball plays that I post here and at my daily page are ALL ANGLE BASED. What that means is I am betting ON A TEAM based on a situation that has come up. As to the specifics of the angles, I will write up some of these angles when I have time (which means when I get back to LV). I have stated these are ANGLE BASED plays in my daily report (read it, it's there right now). I posted that I was making ANGLE PLAYS when I first came to the forum a week ago. I have reminded bettors that these are ANGLE BASED PLAYS. These teams could be playing Mickey Mouse University for all I care, as they are based simply on some circumstances that come up.

Yes, I will make a few errors and a few typos. Also, not all the lines I get are completely accurate, as I must rely on the overnight lines (at least while I am here and until I get back to LV). Some lines move against me and others are advantageous. I work with what I have at the time I post.

Handicapping is not a "perfect science" and my mistakes and errors are out in the open for all to see. Go ahead and ridicule that last comment -- I'm sure you both can have a field day with that one.

If someone likes to follow my angles (as I am doiong more and more with my handicapping) the plays are there for them to consider. Otherwise, move on to the next post ,or contribute something on your own

As to YYZ and Barfly's comments: There is no Oz behind the curtain. I work at this a lot. I respect your work, so in turn, I would hope that some people might respect mine. I try my best to data mine, which involves countless hours doing some very boring work and lots of dead ends, and come up with some angles based plays that have proven to be pretty good so far this season, I might add.

I'm very upset about this, especially since it comes from two posters that I have respected and learned from at this Forum. I am taking some time off and, after updating tonight's report, I won't be posting for a while.

-- Nolan Dalla

 

[dr. freeze]

forget about em.....

obviously they didn't know you were playing angles.....

yyz hasn't posted a worthwhile angle in who knows how long....as for barfly, i don't even bother with his posts....

get some sleep and keep posting...tomorrow is another day and next week is a new week.....no use letting life go by being bitter...

there are plenty of people who enjoy every word you have to say and every opinion you give....agree or disagree i know i do....

good luck tomorrow

tough to not feel appreciated but at the same time, the people who are movers and shakers in this world do not do things in order to feel appreciated

 

[TORONTO-VIGILANTE]

tough to not feel appreciated but at the same time, the people who are movers and shakers in this world do not do things in order to feel appreciated

well said.

:thumb:

 

[Nickelback]

Gotta say something here but first want to say that I suppose I don't know what its like to be in some people's shoes around here as my threads are rarely bashed (keep my fingers crossed as who knows what will happend down the road). Maybe I would react the same as Nolan plans to, but here's why I think its wrong:

He's punishing the entire board for actions taken by two posters when SEVERAL others on here look forward to and play his games. How is this going to solve anything? Do you really expect things to change when you come back? No matter what, it will always happen from time to time. My two cents: I read that thread and thought it was weak of Barfly and YYZ to say what they did, but I don't see how you lost any face if you simply responded and said: "look, here's what I'm doing and if you guys don't like it, you don't have to read or respond to my posts" and leave it at that and continue to post your plays.

As for me, I'm very interested in these trends/angles that you are talking about and I can guarantee I'm not the only one (I've learned a lot about handicapping since joining this site and feel I am constantly improving because of other handicappers). . . now I have to wait for several weeks because you feel the need to punish the entire board for the actions of only two posters. We're at a critical time during the college basketball season when these angles may be very useful yet nobody here gets to see them because you took offense to two posters.

I keep restating the same point, but it just doesn't make sense to me and if everyone took actions to the same extent that you are, this message board would basically be useless.

Just my two cents. . . would be nice if you reconsider, but sounds like you've already made up your mind

 

[maverick2112]

Nolan, youve really started these college hoops picks with great success........please keep posting. I know the majority on this board really appreciate your knowledge..... win or lose. Also you post all your games at one time making it a hell of a lot easier to follow than always checking posts all of the time.

 

[bjfinste]

Win or lose Nolan, you write with a professionalism that is uncommon on these types of boards. I enjoy your write ups and picks, and hope they continue.

 

[Nolan Dalla]

Yes, indeed -- those comments above are noted. Many good points were made

I am the first to say and admit publicly that I have a LOT to learn about sports handicapping. I have never considered myself an "expert" in the sense I know absolutely everything there is to know. Much of my handicapping has been no better than .500 over the past few seasons, that is, until I discovered several angles that appear to be very exploitable. I also hope that my fellow handicappers will "go along" with the experience with me of growing and learning as sports gamblers.

In the last few months, I worked long and hard to come up with some very valid NBA angles. I spent several weeks coming up with the material and hoped to publish it at some point very soon. I do not mean to blow my horn here, but pouring over countless lines of data is not the most enjoyable thing to do. Some nights, my eyes stung so bad I had tears in my eyes and my head seemed like it was going to explode. But I thought I was onto something big and was so curious about it that I pushed forward until I found out if the angle was valid, or not. I do the research because: 1. I am interested in the "science" of handicapping and 2: I hope to use the data to make money.

I was prepared to post the NBA angles with complete data when I return to LV (it's very difficult to write and post on the road from a hotel room). I was even more excited about some college basketball hoops angles. Normally, in my write ups I like to go into a great deal of depth to explain what I am doing and the reasoning for it. The angles are THEORIES of mine, which does not mean it's scientifically proven. Only that it's speculation. Still, I take pride in the work and they have obviously helped some people.

At the very least, I think they are interesting.

I went ahead and started posting college basketball plays now, without the usual write-ups. I figured that if I waited until mid-Feb. when I get back to LV, much of the regular season would be over. So, I started posting the plays about 10 days ago.

Then, almost by accident I run accross a couple of comments that, quite seriously shocked me. I was doing a cut and paste of the previous night for today's report when I unexpectedly ran across a couple of derogatory posts.

It's one thing to get hate-filled e-mails and be called every name in the book by an anonymous person after I have a losing day. It's quite another to be characterized as some "Oz" figure, manipulating people and essentially being attacked as a phoney.
To have this done by NOT ONE, but TWO people that I respect and who have been at this Forum as long, if not longer than myself, hurt me a great deal. I literally felt as though I had been kicked in the stomach when I read the posts.

I have already started to debate whether or not it is constructive to post findings (especially about angles and data mining). I have gotten into some serious debate with others in that (if the angles have validity), publishing them will ultimately harm their earning potential. My affection for MadJacks and the many freinds I have here at the site has thusfar superceded my more selfish instincts to keep some of the material private. But eventualy, one gets fed up with having to constantly defend himself if he makes a typo, gets a line wrong, or (IN THIS CASE) forgets the name of the opposing team because there is an angle-based play based on HOME TEAM X.

I really don't need the aggravation.

By withdrawing for the time being, I am certainly not "punishing" people. So far, the angles have looked good -- hitting about 60 percent in baskets. But until I can do this right -- publishing them in advance with a long explanation and then keeping precise records of them (which is much harder to do when I'm on the road) I will no longer be bothered with it.

There are a helluva lot of very talented people at this Message Forum. Many people here certainly know more about basketball than I do. But, I'll challenge almost anyone to compare time and energy spent on mining material and then publishing the data in a FREE public forum.

To have that work ridiculed has literally driven me over the edge.

I'm not sure what else there is to say on this matter. I have given my perspective of things and will not respond any further. I'll talk to MadJack when he gets back from the Super Bowl party and I'll do some serious thinking at that time.

As a side note -- I have very bad AOL access here in Mississippi where I am visiting. I can't check and respond to e-mails right now. So please forgive me for falling behind on answering some of the mails. I will get to them ASAP when I return.

Best Wishes,


Nolan Dalla

 

[pd1]

Nolan, your work here is very much appreciated. Best of Luck to you in Tunica. The Friday night seafood buffet at the gold strike is well worth the money.
pd:toast:

 

[Chanman]

Hope your'e back soon Nolan. I've been a long time lurker and started out following your NFL picks. I enjoy your analysis and write-ups. Not good enough to H'cap on my own, but made double my $ from yours. GL & :thumb:

 

[mercury]

Nolan,
Hope you don't let a couple of bad apples spoil the barrel(of good information and picks)forget about those idiots and think of the people who rely on your extensive research to come up with good angle plays.Don't let them win.
Hope you will reconsider.

 

[Box and one]

Nolan,I enjoy reading your posts.Looking foward to your return.

 

[ZMAN]

Nolan, your hard work is much appreciated. your an asset to this forum. period.

 

[yyz]

Hold the phone, part II...............


Now, you are mad at me? I'm sorry to hear that. I don't think my reply was quite as harsh as Fly's, but that is a matter of oppinion I guess. I made one point, and that was:

"How can you handicap a game where you don't even know one of the teams playing?"

I have been one of your biggest supporters here at Mad Jacks, Nolan, and it is over your tireless work in handicapping football. You give well thought out reasoning for your plays, and it is very selfless work that you give us for free. That being said, I don't give a damn about any "angle play" that involves blindly choosing a side for one reason or another. There is no way you can handicap a game, not taking into consideration the opposing team!

You were offended by the "Oz" reference, but I'll tell you what.......My damned jaw hit the floor when I saw you were playing a team without knowing who they played! I did feel like Dorothy at that moment!

I have always admired the way you go about your work, and I will not detract from that ethic and effort you put forth. That is why I was so shocked to read what you wrote! I will grant you that I did not read the "angle plays" of which you speak, but I didn't see them this morning when I looked. I only saw half time angles.

I want you to put yourself in my shoes for a second.......I respect the work you do, read all your posts, and look for your insight. Now, I read a thread that states, " I'm not sure who they're playing." Wouldn't that strike you as odd, Nolan? I have never taken a swipe at you, and didn't think I was taking one yesterday, either. And you may prove me wrong, and I sure hope you do, but I feel any methodology that only takes into account one team, will flounder at the 50% margin by season's end.

I regret that I caused you any inconvenience, and am sorry to have made you angry, Nolan. I have always considered your work at the peak of the mountain, and I guess this is the first time I have had issue with one of your methods. Please don't take it to heart.

"You're a good egg, Noonan.........pick up that Kleenex."

(Name the movie and win a free bowl of soup!)

 

[maverick2112]

If he wanted to give an angle such as" always play Duke as a home favorite or -10 to -1"...............Who the F*** gives a shit who they are playing.............Maybe you should just read the post and let him do the handicapping and not comment on it and screw it up for the rest of us....................Lots of people bet things like" always play home underdogs in the NFL of more than 10 pts"............that would be a good example of not knowing or caring who they were playing...........just play it........And the fews yrs past this angle has produced a profit

There is no way you can handicap a game, not taking into consideration the opposing team!

So this comment is so far from the truth is isnt funny.............theres is a lot of ways to cap a game.......

 

[redking]

Hey Nolan,

I understand ya need a break from posting here. Take as long as you need. I'm glad you post and I learn something every time I read your posts or your page. Enjoy your break.

 

[yyz]

So if Duke is laying ten points to the Dallas Mavs, I should get all I can down on the Devils?


Wake up.


And Nolan is a big boy. If you want to believe I drove him off....go ahead. He and I know that isn't true at all.

Sorry I cost you your meal ticket, Mav. It was my one true goal to have Nolan pack his bags for the rest of the week!

How will you guys get through the rest of the season?:shrug:

 

[TORONTO-VIGILANTE]

"You're a good egg, Noonan.........pick up that Kleenex."

I'll take a stab at that.....

could it have been CADDYSHACK? 1980......?

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

 

[Stag]

YYZ is mad at the world............don't bother taking his negativity to heart. Look who it's coming from.

 

[yyz]

We have a winner! (No Stag.......not you)

Claim your soup in the local pantry!


Your Stagness........I am still not mad at anyone. Not even you!

 

[TIME TO MAKE $$$]

can't we all just get along?