Woz and I flew in Thursday
2012 was yet another great GO JUMBO weekend!! Attendance was slightly down when some regulars fanned on coming this year (Sully, Mike, Trent, Ellis – no excuses next year) – but the rest of us more than made up for it in our fun quotient.
The GO JUMBO weekend used to kick off on Fridays but now many of us can’t wait and are arriving on Thursdays. I arrived around 4:00 Thursday in plenty of time to make bets on the night’s throw downs including 2 college and one pro game. As I walked into the sports book I heard “What’s happening nude man?” Woz was in the house! He had been in around noon in order to get some action on the NLCS.
As we compared betting slips for the football games that night – we were in agreement except for one game. We both liked Seattle but Woz liked the over. I liked the under. Being the nice guy that I am I decided to change my bet ot the over so I could root with Woz. Big mistake – the game was a big under. I had made a Woz bet – wanting to go one way on a game but being convinced to do just the opposite and losing of course.
The Seattle San Francisco game itself ended in one of the most comical episodes I had ever seen in the sports book. About half the book was rooting for Seattle at +8 while the other half had San Francisco. With about two minutes left Seattle was trailing by 7 and had forced the Niners to punt. Normally this is a great spot when getting points. If Seattle were to score we had the win. If they failed to score, SF would have forced Seattle to use their time outs and go into the victory formation. Either way we were sitting pretty.
Sure enough, Frisco was stuffing Seattle and the Seahawks were using timeouts. Finally it got to be 4th and 17 with 57 seconds left. Seattle was on their 5 yard line. Oh crap! If SF holds they will have the ball on the 5 and might go for a cheap score. I could be reverse Wannstatded.
The GO JUMBO weekend used to kick off on Fridays but now many of us can’t wait and are arriving on Thursdays. I arrived around 4:00 Thursday in plenty of time to make bets on the night’s throw downs including 2 college and one pro game. As I walked into the sports book I heard “What’s happening nude man?” Woz was in the house! He had been in around noon in order to get some action on the NLCS.
As we compared betting slips for the football games that night – we were in agreement except for one game. We both liked Seattle but Woz liked the over. I liked the under. Being the nice guy that I am I decided to change my bet ot the over so I could root with Woz. Big mistake – the game was a big under. I had made a Woz bet – wanting to go one way on a game but being convinced to do just the opposite and losing of course.
The Seattle San Francisco game itself ended in one of the most comical episodes I had ever seen in the sports book. About half the book was rooting for Seattle at +8 while the other half had San Francisco. With about two minutes left Seattle was trailing by 7 and had forced the Niners to punt. Normally this is a great spot when getting points. If Seattle were to score we had the win. If they failed to score, SF would have forced Seattle to use their time outs and go into the victory formation. Either way we were sitting pretty.
Sure enough, Frisco was stuffing Seattle and the Seahawks were using timeouts. Finally it got to be 4th and 17 with 57 seconds left. Seattle was on their 5 yard line. Oh crap! If SF holds they will have the ball on the 5 and might go for a cheap score. I could be reverse Wannstatded.
Seattle QB Russell Wilson drops back and heaves the ball for a completion right at the first down marker. The place erupts. Half the book (including Woz and I) thought he had made it. The other half was just as sure he hadn’t. While all this hooting and hollering is going on – up on the screen they show flag! There’s a penalty on the play. Holding in the end zone – SAFETY!! Oh crap! The place goes bonkers! After leading all game – Seattle is going to lose on a safety?? Frisco fans are high fiving. Seahawk fans are groaning. By now I’m just chuckling. I love the sports book on pro games.
Now it gets even weirder. As all this commotion is going on the TVs are showing the refs measuring for a first down. Why in the world are they measuring? SF has an insurmountable nine point lead and is about to get the ball back. Who cares if the play was a first down. The result of the play was that the Seattle receiver was just short. HC Jim Harbaugh then declines the penalty!! He took points off the board. Now he place is pure bedlam. In a manner of minutes SF backers had gone from losing the game to winning to losing it again in the strangest penalty decline ever. Half the book is vehemently questioning Harbaugh’s parentage and comparing him to various body parts. The other half is cheering their huge gift. Me – I’m just laughing – It’s going to be a great weekend.
After the game – Joe strolls in and introduces us to his lovely wife Laura. Laura had been trained as to proper GO JUMBO etiquette but was flaunting the rules none the less. She sat with us right on the edge of the sports book claiming that she was going to bet on UConn on Friday. My face went pale. Nooooo! Don’t violate the Big Al Rule! Especially on a Friday! You’ll screw us all up. Don’t do it! She didn’t – she just wanted to see me have a heart attack. I knew right then that I was going to like her.
Now it gets even weirder. As all this commotion is going on the TVs are showing the refs measuring for a first down. Why in the world are they measuring? SF has an insurmountable nine point lead and is about to get the ball back. Who cares if the play was a first down. The result of the play was that the Seattle receiver was just short. HC Jim Harbaugh then declines the penalty!! He took points off the board. Now he place is pure bedlam. In a manner of minutes SF backers had gone from losing the game to winning to losing it again in the strangest penalty decline ever. Half the book is vehemently questioning Harbaugh’s parentage and comparing him to various body parts. The other half is cheering their huge gift. Me – I’m just laughing – It’s going to be a great weekend.
After the game – Joe strolls in and introduces us to his lovely wife Laura. Laura had been trained as to proper GO JUMBO etiquette but was flaunting the rules none the less. She sat with us right on the edge of the sports book claiming that she was going to bet on UConn on Friday. My face went pale. Nooooo! Don’t violate the Big Al Rule! Especially on a Friday! You’ll screw us all up. Don’t do it! She didn’t – she just wanted to see me have a heart attack. I knew right then that I was going to like her.
Woz made a mob hit. Pete stronged armed grade schoolers
Pete and Pat rolled in shortly afterwards. Pete proceeded to go to his room and have a power nap. We never saw him again the rest of the night. But Pat, Joe, Laura, Woz and I had a great time catching up on our lame lives and drinking plenty of free drinks.
The next morning we went out and hit some Vegas sites. Joe and Laura got a chance to practice their “duck and cover” at the National Atomic Testing Museum. When asked, Joe said it was “a real blast.” Groan.
Pete and Woz went to the Mob Museum. Pete tried to get in using the student rate. They recommended he use the Senior Citizen rate. Reluctantly, he did. After touring for a full three hours they got a chance to make a mob hit. Woz was able to kill a perp. Pete stayed behind with the ladies of the night.
The next morning we went out and hit some Vegas sites. Joe and Laura got a chance to practice their “duck and cover” at the National Atomic Testing Museum. When asked, Joe said it was “a real blast.” Groan.
Pete and Woz went to the Mob Museum. Pete tried to get in using the student rate. They recommended he use the Senior Citizen rate. Reluctantly, he did. After touring for a full three hours they got a chance to make a mob hit. Woz was able to kill a perp. Pete stayed behind with the ladies of the night.
Now that's a buffet
Meanwhile, Pat and I went up and down Old Vegas. We went by the Cigar Buffet (all you can smoke $29.99), the D Hotel (supposed to be Detroit themed – it wasn’t) and bought some whiskey for when service gets slow at the sports book (never want to run dry). As we were walking around we heard this whirring overhead. Looking up, we saw tourists going down a zip line. Damn – now that is a great idea. For $15 per ride you get to zip through old Vegas. Seeing how there were three lines that was $45 per pop. All you needed was some capital to build the lines, some insurance and a handful of kids to run it. Not bad. Every couple minutes we heard a whir go by – we would look up and go “There’s another $45” We were kicking ourselves for not thinking of it.
Good thing Fat Elvis wasn't on the scales
By now we had hooked up with Fuss and joined Pete and Woz at the Heart Attack Grille. Themed as a surgery room, we put on wrist bands and surgical gowns and followed some nice young nurses over to Pete and Woz. Woz was finishing off a massive single bypass burger. Pete was wolfing down the final pieces of bacon from a double bypass. Behind them was an industrial scale. We knew what to do. Being in Vegas we established an over/under on our combined weight and got on the scale. We barely got the under at a combined 1,088 pounds. We vowed to get it under 1,050 next year. We may have it if we weigh ourselves before Pete and Woz eat.
Later that night Pete, Fuss Woz and Pat went to see a free show with Fat Elvis. Apparently this guy is down 400 pounds to a svelte 500lbs. Sings great though. Sounds just like a fat Elvis. I stayed back at the Sports Book intentionally ignoring the UConn game while betting the under on number of pitchers in the NLCS game (a win!) We then spent the rest of the night gathered around Caril’s old watering hole recapping the day and getting ready for –
Later that night Pete, Fuss Woz and Pat went to see a free show with Fat Elvis. Apparently this guy is down 400 pounds to a svelte 500lbs. Sings great though. Sounds just like a fat Elvis. I stayed back at the Sports Book intentionally ignoring the UConn game while betting the under on number of pitchers in the NLCS game (a win!) We then spent the rest of the night gathered around Caril’s old watering hole recapping the day and getting ready for –
Wearing MSU green and bringing noisemakers - we got some of the last tables
FFDY!!!! – It’s an all day festival filled with football watching, betting, drinking, cigar chomping and just having fun. We met at 7am to get some tables. After all the weeks of preparation, I made my final tweaks and made the days bets. I have a strict rule - no making bets after the drinking starts. And like all my self imposed regulations - it was violated repeatedly.
When everyone had arrived Pat and I headed over for some breakfast. Pat was returning to the scene of his greatest glory – the LVH buffet. The hostess, recognizing Pat sat us down in our lucky seats. On the back of his chair was his name engraved in bronze and bratwurst clusters etched in the corners. He was moved. His eyes welled up.
As we sat down a couple of the staff scurried back to the kitchen to notify the chef. Pat then stood up. An attendant discreetly pulled back his chair.
Coolly, he walked towards the buffet counters.
The crowd started to part leaving an opening towards the poultry and beef station.
But no! head fake. Pat went to the fruit counter. The crowd let out an audible gasp. Pat never eats fruit.
In the interview afterwards, Pat explained that it was a new gastronomical strategy he had been practicing all year. The fruit supposedly provided lubrication down to the stomach while also providing additional acids for digestion. It was the most daring change in sports since Tiger reinvented his swing.
Pat was magnificent. He retrieved food and ate without a wasted motion and absolutely crushed the cuisine! The wait staff was brilliant too, sprinting to the kitchen after each visit by Pat in order refill the warming bins. It was poetry in motion.
Afterwards, the chef came out and in a small ceremony they named the ice cream station in his honor. Well done Pat!
Pat and I then returned to Sports Book- ready for a great day of action. Shortly after we returned - Joe posed a question - would you trade in losing all your bets for an MSU victory today over Michigan? Without hesitation - we all agreed yes.
Well, it must have been a harbinger of things to come as we all did extremely well with our bets. Pat claims to have gone 11-1. Strangely his one bet he shared with us on a group best bet parlay (everone puts in one bet on a parlay. If you lose you owe the winners their money back) was a loser. Guess it was his only loss. I went 26-8 on bets (of course my group parlay pick was a loser too - crap!). Woz won 3 parlays. Even Ellis who didn't come but phoned in some bets was ahead. Everyone was doing well which meant -
When everyone had arrived Pat and I headed over for some breakfast. Pat was returning to the scene of his greatest glory – the LVH buffet. The hostess, recognizing Pat sat us down in our lucky seats. On the back of his chair was his name engraved in bronze and bratwurst clusters etched in the corners. He was moved. His eyes welled up.
As we sat down a couple of the staff scurried back to the kitchen to notify the chef. Pat then stood up. An attendant discreetly pulled back his chair.
Coolly, he walked towards the buffet counters.
The crowd started to part leaving an opening towards the poultry and beef station.
But no! head fake. Pat went to the fruit counter. The crowd let out an audible gasp. Pat never eats fruit.
In the interview afterwards, Pat explained that it was a new gastronomical strategy he had been practicing all year. The fruit supposedly provided lubrication down to the stomach while also providing additional acids for digestion. It was the most daring change in sports since Tiger reinvented his swing.
Pat was magnificent. He retrieved food and ate without a wasted motion and absolutely crushed the cuisine! The wait staff was brilliant too, sprinting to the kitchen after each visit by Pat in order refill the warming bins. It was poetry in motion.
Afterwards, the chef came out and in a small ceremony they named the ice cream station in his honor. Well done Pat!
Pat and I then returned to Sports Book- ready for a great day of action. Shortly after we returned - Joe posed a question - would you trade in losing all your bets for an MSU victory today over Michigan? Without hesitation - we all agreed yes.
Well, it must have been a harbinger of things to come as we all did extremely well with our bets. Pat claims to have gone 11-1. Strangely his one bet he shared with us on a group best bet parlay (everone puts in one bet on a parlay. If you lose you owe the winners their money back) was a loser. Guess it was his only loss. I went 26-8 on bets (of course my group parlay pick was a loser too - crap!). Woz won 3 parlays. Even Ellis who didn't come but phoned in some bets was ahead. Everyone was doing well which meant -
Nick was quite happy with the MSU game outcome
MSU lost on a last second FG. Great game but tough loss. Nick, wearing blue in a sea of green was remarkably subdued throughout the game (and graciously afterwards too). After the game I gave him a victory cigar that I had purchased for the occasion (which he savored throughout the rest of the day) and the MSU money line bet. He is having the betting slip framed. Still the Spartans easily covered adding to a very profitable day.
After the game Pete took another power nap. Too much excitement I guess. We gave Fuss some money to bet on the ponies which he promptly lost. Pat and Tom went over and won a small amount on the slots. Joe and I stayed to the bitter end. And the last games were plenty of fun.
As Joe had taken Oregon State to cover versus Utah on his group parlay, I decided to bet OSU too. that way if they covered, I could use the winnings to pay him for the loss I took on the parlay. Turns out I had already bet OSU in the morning. I had doubled down on the Beavers. Damn, got to quit betting after drinking. Maybe next year.
Everything turned out all right though. With 2 minutes left, Utah was threatening to get a back door cover when they were picked off at the Beaver 35 yard line. Whew, close one. Got the win though.
And the last game was another great ending to a great day. I had taken San Diego St +6.5 at Nevada. San Diego State had stopped Nevada with 50 seconds to go and had the ball down by 3. Once again, seeing how I was getting points and had the ball I was in good shape. Either SDSU scores and wins or they don't and I get the cover. Joe turns to me and says "You realize that if SDSU gets a field goal - it goes into overtime and Nevada could win by a TD." Ooof! I hadn't thought of that.
Of course, that's precisely what SDSU does - gets a FG and we are in OT. Now I'm glaring at Joe for jinxing my pick. He's laughing - saying that's why he never bets the Spaztecs. Their always screwing you. In the first OT the teams trade TDs. In the second, OT Nevada scores a TD and now, after having the game in the bag all game, I'm behind. I need a TD. No way SDSU is going to go for a FG giving me the cover but losing the game. SDSU needs the TD. And they get it! Even better, they decide they have had enough with this game - their going for 2. Excellent. If they get it I win, if they don't I get the cover. The Spaztecs get the 2 pointer and I finish the day with another win.
By now Joe and I had been in the sports book for over 16 hours. We couldn't have been happier.
Sunday started out the same way as Saturday. Pete and I got some tables at 7am and made our bets for the day. Joe and Laura stopped by before flying home. Seeing how he couldn't bet against the Chargers (they had a bye) he decided to get an early start on preparing his corrupting lesson plans for influential 5th graders.
Nick stayed in his room claiming to be working and helping his daughter pick a major but I think he was gloating and didn't want us to see.
As we were waiting for the rest of the gang I decided since I was comfortably ahead on the weekend and nothing in the Sunday games seemed like a sure thing, So I decided to take a small part of the winnings and do a four team teaser parlay. It went 3-1. The only one I missed was the same one I dod on the NFL group parlay. Crap! Same pick blew up two parlays. Who would of thought the Ravens couldn't cover 1 points (both parlays were teasers). I hate parlays. Every year I vow not to do them. But then I get into to Sports Book and.......
Pat, Tom, Fuss and Woz soon arrived. The rest of the day was filled with the same cheering, jeering, drinking, chomping cigars and betting on football. Only it's louder. The NFL games really bring in the hard core fans. The book was great.
But just like the wildwood weed - all good things must come to and end. Pete and Pat left after the second round of NFL games to catch flights. Tom left to go over to another hotel. Nick finally determined that the path was clear and joined Woz and me for the Sunday night game and some NLCS action. We ended up finising off our slot vouchers and called it a night bringing the 2012 GO JUMBO trip to an official end!
After the game Pete took another power nap. Too much excitement I guess. We gave Fuss some money to bet on the ponies which he promptly lost. Pat and Tom went over and won a small amount on the slots. Joe and I stayed to the bitter end. And the last games were plenty of fun.
As Joe had taken Oregon State to cover versus Utah on his group parlay, I decided to bet OSU too. that way if they covered, I could use the winnings to pay him for the loss I took on the parlay. Turns out I had already bet OSU in the morning. I had doubled down on the Beavers. Damn, got to quit betting after drinking. Maybe next year.
Everything turned out all right though. With 2 minutes left, Utah was threatening to get a back door cover when they were picked off at the Beaver 35 yard line. Whew, close one. Got the win though.
And the last game was another great ending to a great day. I had taken San Diego St +6.5 at Nevada. San Diego State had stopped Nevada with 50 seconds to go and had the ball down by 3. Once again, seeing how I was getting points and had the ball I was in good shape. Either SDSU scores and wins or they don't and I get the cover. Joe turns to me and says "You realize that if SDSU gets a field goal - it goes into overtime and Nevada could win by a TD." Ooof! I hadn't thought of that.
Of course, that's precisely what SDSU does - gets a FG and we are in OT. Now I'm glaring at Joe for jinxing my pick. He's laughing - saying that's why he never bets the Spaztecs. Their always screwing you. In the first OT the teams trade TDs. In the second, OT Nevada scores a TD and now, after having the game in the bag all game, I'm behind. I need a TD. No way SDSU is going to go for a FG giving me the cover but losing the game. SDSU needs the TD. And they get it! Even better, they decide they have had enough with this game - their going for 2. Excellent. If they get it I win, if they don't I get the cover. The Spaztecs get the 2 pointer and I finish the day with another win.
By now Joe and I had been in the sports book for over 16 hours. We couldn't have been happier.
Sunday started out the same way as Saturday. Pete and I got some tables at 7am and made our bets for the day. Joe and Laura stopped by before flying home. Seeing how he couldn't bet against the Chargers (they had a bye) he decided to get an early start on preparing his corrupting lesson plans for influential 5th graders.
Nick stayed in his room claiming to be working and helping his daughter pick a major but I think he was gloating and didn't want us to see.
As we were waiting for the rest of the gang I decided since I was comfortably ahead on the weekend and nothing in the Sunday games seemed like a sure thing, So I decided to take a small part of the winnings and do a four team teaser parlay. It went 3-1. The only one I missed was the same one I dod on the NFL group parlay. Crap! Same pick blew up two parlays. Who would of thought the Ravens couldn't cover 1 points (both parlays were teasers). I hate parlays. Every year I vow not to do them. But then I get into to Sports Book and.......
Pat, Tom, Fuss and Woz soon arrived. The rest of the day was filled with the same cheering, jeering, drinking, chomping cigars and betting on football. Only it's louder. The NFL games really bring in the hard core fans. The book was great.
But just like the wildwood weed - all good things must come to and end. Pete and Pat left after the second round of NFL games to catch flights. Tom left to go over to another hotel. Nick finally determined that the path was clear and joined Woz and me for the Sunday night game and some NLCS action. We ended up finising off our slot vouchers and called it a night bringing the 2012 GO JUMBO trip to an official end!
Your 2013 GO JUMBO Executive Committee
And the Executive Committee met and Decided that the 2013 GO JUMBO trip will be:
Saturday Oct 26th at the LVH
(Unless Tom is correct in that the Hilton will buy back the property in which case it will be the Las Vegas Hilton - same place just new/old owners)
MSU will at at Illinois
Sully - no excuses - get the grandkids birthday changed if you have to.
GO JUMBO 2013!!
Saturday Oct 26th at the LVH
(Unless Tom is correct in that the Hilton will buy back the property in which case it will be the Las Vegas Hilton - same place just new/old owners)
MSU will at at Illinois
Sully - no excuses - get the grandkids birthday changed if you have to.
GO JUMBO 2013!!
