Another great time at Go Jumbo!
Things started with the Swag Man and I on the same flight to Las Vegas. At the door I got the bump to first class. About a third of the way there, I got myself (another) Bloody Mary, and walked it back to cattle class and handed it to my son. The stewardess soon passed by and scolded him “Where did you get a glass?” The person next to the SM explained that his father was kind enough to get him one but she wasn’t having it. She gave him the side eye the rest of the flight.
He didn’t care. Nothing like getting a few cocktails under your belt before you hit the tarmac.
We landed, checked in and did my annual trek to Strip Liquor to get the booze and cigars for the weekend. We then headed over to the SuperBook to hook up with the gang and get the party started. As we approached the Superbook I was going to point out where the bar is that we like to smoke our sticks at, only to find out it wasn’t there! It was replaced by even more slot machines. WTF? They haven’t let you smoke in the book for years now and now they took away our favorite spot to light up a stick? The sacrifices we are forced to make.
Things started with the Swag Man and I on the same flight to Las Vegas. At the door I got the bump to first class. About a third of the way there, I got myself (another) Bloody Mary, and walked it back to cattle class and handed it to my son. The stewardess soon passed by and scolded him “Where did you get a glass?” The person next to the SM explained that his father was kind enough to get him one but she wasn’t having it. She gave him the side eye the rest of the flight.
He didn’t care. Nothing like getting a few cocktails under your belt before you hit the tarmac.
We landed, checked in and did my annual trek to Strip Liquor to get the booze and cigars for the weekend. We then headed over to the SuperBook to hook up with the gang and get the party started. As we approached the Superbook I was going to point out where the bar is that we like to smoke our sticks at, only to find out it wasn’t there! It was replaced by even more slot machines. WTF? They haven’t let you smoke in the book for years now and now they took away our favorite spot to light up a stick? The sacrifices we are forced to make.
We proceeded on, the wind take momentarily from our sails, only to get the bounce back in our step, when we saw the gang at our usual table, betting slips in hand and drink coupons splayed across the table. The same old stories started to flow but with a new audience. The Swag Man had been with us for nearly a decade. He had a lot of catching up to do. We were happy to oblige.
Now, we are a fairly gregarious bunch, and next to us were several folks wearing Mecum Auto Auction gear. Turns out the auction was right next door. The drinks flowed and soon they were buying us food (you got to love folks on an expense report) and offered us free tickets for Friday. We’re in!
The wagering was so-so, a trend that was to continue through the weekend. And after the last whistle I headed back the the hotel. Work had scheduled a big meeting that I had to present first thing in the morning. Another year, another having to work during Go Jumbo. Work sucks.
Now, we are a fairly gregarious bunch, and next to us were several folks wearing Mecum Auto Auction gear. Turns out the auction was right next door. The drinks flowed and soon they were buying us food (you got to love folks on an expense report) and offered us free tickets for Friday. We’re in!
The wagering was so-so, a trend that was to continue through the weekend. And after the last whistle I headed back the the hotel. Work had scheduled a big meeting that I had to present first thing in the morning. Another year, another having to work during Go Jumbo. Work sucks.
After my presentation and the obligatory post meeting recap, I woke the Swag Man (guy could sleep through a tornado) it was off to Mecum. What a blast. In the showroom were plenty of muscle cars, super high end luxury cars and convertibles bulging with chrome. Pete took a picture with a Bentley, I had mine with a 56 Buick convertible. Pat favored the jacked up Hummers.
After the photo ops were done we headed over to the auction itself. When we first got there, they were auctioning off gas station signs and he like. Nice, but not why were there. We wanted to see good old Detroit iron on the block.
We soon got our wish. I was amazed at what some of the cars cleared at. A 57 TBird convertible 19K, a 67 Olds 442 convertible for 22K and my favorite, a 65 El Torino for 17K. Next time I’m buying a paddle for $200 and making some bids.
And just as the fun was starting to kick in, I had to go back for another meeting. As did SM. Did I mention that work sucks.
After the photo ops were done we headed over to the auction itself. When we first got there, they were auctioning off gas station signs and he like. Nice, but not why were there. We wanted to see good old Detroit iron on the block.
We soon got our wish. I was amazed at what some of the cars cleared at. A 57 TBird convertible 19K, a 67 Olds 442 convertible for 22K and my favorite, a 65 El Torino for 17K. Next time I’m buying a paddle for $200 and making some bids.
And just as the fun was starting to kick in, I had to go back for another meeting. As did SM. Did I mention that work sucks.
After finally clearing our calendars, we went off to meet the gang. By now, they had gone to a Cigar Bar in the Paris hotel. SM and I went to the front and asked the valet where in the hotel was the cigar bar. With a puzzled look and broken English he said it was over at Caesars Palace.
Keep in mind that F1 was in town. The Strip was packed. The trip, normally a 15 minute walk, took twice as long (you can forget getting an Uber). But we were troopers. We wanted to get with our buds.
After surviving the chaos of the amped up Strip, we made it to the cigar bar at Caesars. We looked around, circled the place, where were they?
So we called. Pete was exasperated, right where we told you, in the Paris cigar bar. You got to be kidding me. Off we went, tracing our steps back, through the chaos, finally arriving as the gang was halfway through a smoke, with a finger left of a nice cocktail. SW and I went into the humidor and started talking with the stogie sommelier. Turns out, he wasn’t surprised the valet didn’t know it was there. It had only opened the day before!
The cigar calmed the nerves while the Old Fashioned soothed the spirit. A very pleasant afternoon. We proceeded to polish off some burgers too and headed back to the SuperBook.
Keep in mind that F1 was in town. The Strip was packed. The trip, normally a 15 minute walk, took twice as long (you can forget getting an Uber). But we were troopers. We wanted to get with our buds.
After surviving the chaos of the amped up Strip, we made it to the cigar bar at Caesars. We looked around, circled the place, where were they?
So we called. Pete was exasperated, right where we told you, in the Paris cigar bar. You got to be kidding me. Off we went, tracing our steps back, through the chaos, finally arriving as the gang was halfway through a smoke, with a finger left of a nice cocktail. SW and I went into the humidor and started talking with the stogie sommelier. Turns out, he wasn’t surprised the valet didn’t know it was there. It had only opened the day before!
The cigar calmed the nerves while the Old Fashioned soothed the spirit. A very pleasant afternoon. We proceeded to polish off some burgers too and headed back to the SuperBook.
On the monorail ride back we got to see the outside of the Sphere. Is that place awesome! Lit up like a massive LED snowglobe, changing images every minute or so. My favorite was a huge yellow ball with blinking eyes. Can’t imagine what the inside must be like.
We finally made it to the SuperBook for our Friday night wagers. It's then I made my first biff bet, picking the opposite team of what I meant to pick. I meant to take SMU to cover but actually took North Texas. Of course, SMU covered and I lost what would have been a profitable parlay. As I was, I broke even on the evening.
We finally made it to the SuperBook for our Friday night wagers. It's then I made my first biff bet, picking the opposite team of what I meant to pick. I meant to take SMU to cover but actually took North Texas. Of course, SMU covered and I lost what would have been a profitable parlay. As I was, I broke even on the evening.
We finally made it to the SuperBook for our Friday night wagers. It's then I made my first biff bet, picking the opposite team of what I meant to pick. I meant to take SMU to cover but actually took North Texas. Of course, SMU covered and I lost what would have been a profitable parlay. As I was, I broke even on the evening.
We finally made it to the SuperBook for our Friday night wagers. It's then I made my first biff bet, picking the opposite team of what I meant to pick. I meant to take SMU to cover but actually took North Texas. Of course, SMU covered and I lost what would have been a profitable parlay. As I was, I broke even on the evening.
Woz and I got to the SuperBook at our usual early time to get a table. I had made a wager on Premier League soccer the night before and the game was nearing conclusion, a win to start the day. Not any day, FFDY!
We were amped! Sprits were high, all our investments were lock solid, a day of wins and celebrating our wins. As the gang slowly assembled we swapped our best betting strategies. That led to our annual Hole Parlay, everyone put in $5 on a parlay slip with their best pick, a 40/1 payout. Pat, of course, went with Tennessee.
Even before he made his pick, one I knew he would make, I told him, "Pat, do not pick Tennessee, they are 3-13 against the spread on Go Jumbo, don't do it!" He did it anyway, Tennessee was blown out by Missouri.
It was then that Pete's surprise guests showed up. Tim and Mrs Tim. I hadn't seen them since he went off to dental school at some school down south. At first, I didn't recognize Tim until he started to speak, the tone and cadence were unmistakable. Don't know what it is about his delivery, but I instantly went Tim!!
Now the same old stories really began to flow. many from a new angle. And new ones too, or at least ones we had long since forgotten. Mrs Tim had a few stories too, with our sister floor of particular interest to us. Tom pitched in too. He also married form our floor above, outkicking the coverage with Mrs Tom.
We were amped! Sprits were high, all our investments were lock solid, a day of wins and celebrating our wins. As the gang slowly assembled we swapped our best betting strategies. That led to our annual Hole Parlay, everyone put in $5 on a parlay slip with their best pick, a 40/1 payout. Pat, of course, went with Tennessee.
Even before he made his pick, one I knew he would make, I told him, "Pat, do not pick Tennessee, they are 3-13 against the spread on Go Jumbo, don't do it!" He did it anyway, Tennessee was blown out by Missouri.
It was then that Pete's surprise guests showed up. Tim and Mrs Tim. I hadn't seen them since he went off to dental school at some school down south. At first, I didn't recognize Tim until he started to speak, the tone and cadence were unmistakable. Don't know what it is about his delivery, but I instantly went Tim!!
Now the same old stories really began to flow. many from a new angle. And new ones too, or at least ones we had long since forgotten. Mrs Tim had a few stories too, with our sister floor of particular interest to us. Tom pitched in too. He also married form our floor above, outkicking the coverage with Mrs Tom.
She was also interested in how to make sports investments. I told her, first, most importantly about the Big Al rule As they were well versed with the Book of Guesses this was not a problem. As I went on about not betting on Tennessee, staying away from NC State, bad bets on State teams in the past and some great picks I was making, Tim reminded it me it was a Big Book of Guesses, perhaps I could go over the Micro Book of Certainty. That, unfortunately, is available only in hindsight.
I went up with Mrs Tim to the wagering windows to demonstrate how to properly make an investment, have the bid number, type of wager (spread vs money line versus over/under etc) only to nearly make another biff bet.
She caught it and made a winning wager on Texas Tech, She and I had it right, the gang, including someone on the group parlay, had it wrong.
I went up with Mrs Tim to the wagering windows to demonstrate how to properly make an investment, have the bid number, type of wager (spread vs money line versus over/under etc) only to nearly make another biff bet.
She caught it and made a winning wager on Texas Tech, She and I had it right, the gang, including someone on the group parlay, had it wrong.
Shortly after our trek to the window, another new found friend wandered by. Mark, a Viet Nam vet, who he and I had chatted it up the night before, came by to also get a primer on how to make a wager as well.
I went through the primer and offered to go up to the window with him (he was walking with a cane) to assist. He declined but did take me up on my best bet of the day, Oregon vs USC under 73.5. I never saw him after that. He was off to some veterans Day ceremony. I hope he cashed in his winning ticket.
The Swag Man finally showed up. He hasn't seen noon on a weekend in a long long time, even on Pacific time. He brought over adult beverage replenishments and a new audience for the new stories. A responsibility he relished.
I went through the primer and offered to go up to the window with him (he was walking with a cane) to assist. He declined but did take me up on my best bet of the day, Oregon vs USC under 73.5. I never saw him after that. He was off to some veterans Day ceremony. I hope he cashed in his winning ticket.
The Swag Man finally showed up. He hasn't seen noon on a weekend in a long long time, even on Pacific time. He brought over adult beverage replenishments and a new audience for the new stories. A responsibility he relished.
As the adult beverages flowed the wagering started to falter. By the end of the day, I made my worst pick of the day, taking Air Force on a money line parlay. Somehow I was able to convince Swag Man (or so he claims) into the same bet. We made a large wager for a small return only to lose big. The Falcons, as 19.5 favorites lost outright 27-13. Not even sure why I made the wager. It was the night cap game but not televised. I had to follow it on my phone.
The loss brought me down to break even on the day. After the game, the last of the day, we to the roulette table, where SW was harping on me that it was a terrible wager. I agreed. As the night went on I was winning on roulette while he was losing, so as compensation, I gave him my winning ticket; It pretty much compensated him for our worst pick of the day.
The loss brought me down to break even on the day. After the game, the last of the day, we to the roulette table, where SW was harping on me that it was a terrible wager. I agreed. As the night went on I was winning on roulette while he was losing, so as compensation, I gave him my winning ticket; It pretty much compensated him for our worst pick of the day.
Before we left, Mrs. Tim called her son for some Premier League bets for Sunday. He gave her five. Four to win and one game to tie. Ties are hard but she liked the return.
Woz and I were in the SuperBook early on Sunday and got our usual table. We rearranged them to fit the full gang. Won't be long before they dedicate the tables to the Hole. As the gang assembled I had already won my Premier League bet and was winning my NFL bet on the game in Frankfurt. Surely I would end the weekend in the black.
But I was not doing as well as Mrs Tim. When she arrived, I told her she was 5-0 on her PL bets. Incredible1 Her son really knows the game. But as we checked the tickets, it turned out she had made a biff bet. Instead of a full game tie she had bet a first half bet. Not sure how she did that. Neither did she. Still, 4-1 is pretty darn good. I'll reach out to him next Go Jumbo.
Woz and I were in the SuperBook early on Sunday and got our usual table. We rearranged them to fit the full gang. Won't be long before they dedicate the tables to the Hole. As the gang assembled I had already won my Premier League bet and was winning my NFL bet on the game in Frankfurt. Surely I would end the weekend in the black.
But I was not doing as well as Mrs Tim. When she arrived, I told her she was 5-0 on her PL bets. Incredible1 Her son really knows the game. But as we checked the tickets, it turned out she had made a biff bet. Instead of a full game tie she had bet a first half bet. Not sure how she did that. Neither did she. Still, 4-1 is pretty darn good. I'll reach out to him next Go Jumbo.
After winning my crack of dawn bets, the rest of morning quickly took a turn into the red. I went 0-3 on the 10:00am wagers, putting the chance of a winning weekend into jeopardy. I decided to go with the Lions in the afternoon and see what happens. I put the Lions on our Hole Parlay too, a parlay that got blown up by Pat's wager on Tennessee, this time the Titans. I swear he does it on purpose because he came back with his annual 4 figure win on video poker.
The Swag Man rolled in just in time for the afternoon games, dropped some large coin on the Lions and tried to get revenge on roulette. Tom made some nice NFL wager (we were all in large on Detroit) while Pete headed to the Strip. On the way back, the monorail doors wouldn't open so he manhandled (well more like large boy handled) the doors open. No way was some automated malfunction keep him away from the last day of Go Jumbo.
We all won on the Lions! If nothing else, what makes this Go Jumbo trip unique is that the Lions are actually good. Real good. I made up some of my morning losses but not all ending the weekend with a small loss. Most everyone else had a profitable day.
As Pete and Pat made their way back to our table re convened an Executive Committee Meeting. After reviewing the dates for SEMA and F1 (both of which we wanted to avoid for cost reasons. We also wanted to make sure the Spartans were not on a bye. So after a motion, which was seconded, the vote was unanimous that Nov 16th will be the weekend for the 2024 GO JUMBO trip, with the location, the Westgate SuperBook.
See you there!
The Swag Man rolled in just in time for the afternoon games, dropped some large coin on the Lions and tried to get revenge on roulette. Tom made some nice NFL wager (we were all in large on Detroit) while Pete headed to the Strip. On the way back, the monorail doors wouldn't open so he manhandled (well more like large boy handled) the doors open. No way was some automated malfunction keep him away from the last day of Go Jumbo.
We all won on the Lions! If nothing else, what makes this Go Jumbo trip unique is that the Lions are actually good. Real good. I made up some of my morning losses but not all ending the weekend with a small loss. Most everyone else had a profitable day.
As Pete and Pat made their way back to our table re convened an Executive Committee Meeting. After reviewing the dates for SEMA and F1 (both of which we wanted to avoid for cost reasons. We also wanted to make sure the Spartans were not on a bye. So after a motion, which was seconded, the vote was unanimous that Nov 16th will be the weekend for the 2024 GO JUMBO trip, with the location, the Westgate SuperBook.
See you there!