Of Plimpton, Lombardi and Beating The Spread?
Of sports, books, lines, covering, spreads, participatory journalits, HOF coaches, winners, losers and winning...
Approximately 18 weeks ago, I decided to embark on a competitive mission against the books, touts and sports journalism professionals. Why?
Approximately 18 weeks ago, I decided to embark on a competitive mission against the books, touts and sports journalism professionals. Why?
Because I wanted to do a couple of things: prove a certain football coach right, and prove to myself, that if I put my mind to it, I could compete with paid professional sports journalists, and experts in the sports and Vegas book. The latter being armed with super computers and the best quants money can buy.
Being thematic, in some ways we feel much like the character above. For those too young to remember, Alan Alda (best known as Hawkeye of TV's M.A.S.H.) starred as author George Plimpton, in the film Paper Lion, based on the best selling book of the same name.
The above image is taken from a movie still, and rendered as a virtual celebrity jersey card #243 courtesy of Johngysbeat, latter day Plimpton in a Lions jersey, has one as well.
Thematic to his participatory journalism, in 1963, a 36 year old Plimpton participated in the NFL training camp of the Detroit Lions, and attempted to get permission to play three downs as a QB in a pre-season game. Below Plimpton in full Paper Lion regalia.
The 1966 non fiction book and 1968 film, was an expanded version of Plimpton's two part series which appeared in B2B issues of Sports Illustrated in September 1964. Something that perhaps someone around my age, like Peter King at SI, remember's reading as a growing Ute.
The title Paper Lion is a play on words and teams named after felines... Paper Tiger is a literal English translation of the Chinese phrase zhilaohu (纸老虎／紙老虎). The term refers to something that seems threatening but is ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge.
All told, Plimpton sparred with former World Champion Archie Moore, pitched to MLB All-Star baseball legends such as Willie Mays, played goalie for the NHL Boston Bruins, went through training camp as a QB for the NFL Detroit Lions, played percussion with the New York Phil, and performed as a circus trapeze artist. In doing so, George attempted to answer the question:
"How would the average man off of the street fare in an attempt to compete with the stars of professional sports?"
Along those lines and moving West... after 17 weeks and 256 NFL games, with a record of 146-103-7; lox at 48-28-2; one who knows little finished ahead of 51 paid professional experts. Each week and YTD results can be found here.
But that's not all you get, if you act now.... after 41 NCAA bowl games, we didn't do too bad either: SU 28-13 68%; ATS 26-14-1 66%; Locks 11-4 73%; check it out at the original post.
FYI, Case Keefer at the Las Vegas Sun, in going 25-14-1 ATS, did not pick the Celebration Bowl, and as opposed to moi collapsing down the stretch 1-5, he nailed the last six bowl games. Prior to the law of averages pulling me down the commode, I did run off a streak of 15 straight, and 19 out of 21 both SU and ATS.
FYI, Case Keefer at the Las Vegas Sun, in going 25-14-1 ATS, did not pick the Celebration Bowl, and as opposed to moi collapsing down the stretch 1-5, he nailed the last six bowl games. Prior to the law of averages pulling me down the commode, I did run off a streak of 15 straight, and 19 out of 21 both SU and ATS.
They call it a game of inches for a reason... dead heat after 40 bowls and 5 games up after 256 NFL games, viz. hangin by a thread. Any number of factors, weather, penalties, turnovers, coaching, injuries, random bounces or tips, and shopping the line, could easily have turned those ATS numbers around.
Oft, timing is everything... shopping the line onshore - offshore, and taking the early line, can be to ones detriment as well as advantage. More often than not, favs which became latter day dogs, or early mutts turning favorite, don't cover, much less win. If one thinks there are no shady dealings, they should consult a previously compiled list of books.
Oft, timing is everything... shopping the line onshore - offshore, and taking the early line, can be to ones detriment as well as advantage. More often than not, favs which became latter day dogs, or early mutts turning favorite, don't cover, much less win. If one thinks there are no shady dealings, they should consult a previously compiled list of books.
Han-Man might say... You honor our numeric temple of the mind, and I look forward to a post season tournament of truly epic proportions. We are unique, in that we condition ourselves to the point spread.
Through long years of rigorous training, sacrifice, denial, pain, we forge our minds, in the fire of our will. Sworn to none, loyal to the number. But tonight let us celebrate. You have our gratitude.
Seriously... what we know is little, and what we do not know, is immense. Would I want to engage in this type of endeavor full time? If one can have fun doing what they like and its a passion, why not? As for our little experiment in terror, again why?
The NFL named their championship trophy, designating the highest achievement a team can achieve in any season, after a certain aforementioned coach for a reason, and not just for winning five NFL championships in a seven year span...
A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive, and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done. - Vince LombardiSaint Vincent Thomas Lombardi 1913-1970 and George Ames Plimpton 1927 - 2003 RIP, this one was for both of you, and as its been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise, at the end of the day, this is for us...
Comments