Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

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CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Hey guys. Hope everyone is doing well. Here is an interview with Author Kevin Cook on Titanic Thompson. He was one of America's first big gamblers. Interview discusses many things that include many topics on Titanic, the last of the big golf money matches, why many big time gamblers go broke and America's gambling history.

You can read and listen to the entire interview below:

http://www.cyinterview.com/2010/12/...first-high-rollers-americas-gambling-history/
 
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newport2

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

In 1969, he(Titantic) was a railbird at a golf game I played in(Dallas). Everyone was scared to death of him.
 
Viejo Dinosaur

Viejo Dinosaur

EOG Master
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Great read...thanks for sharing CY18....
 
C

CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

newport2 said:
In 1969, he(Titantic) was a railbird at a golf game I played in(Dallas). Everyone was scared to death of him.
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How great a player was he still in his late years?
 
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CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

newport2 said:
Whatever it took to win a bet.. He was almost as good left-handed.
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He could golf left handed and right handed. Did you ever catch him cheating or trying to pull a fast one?
 
ArchieBunker

ArchieBunker

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Newport,

did you ever play in Binion's PGI tourney?
 
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newport2

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

CY18 said:
He could golf left handed and right handed. Did you ever catch him cheating or trying to pull a fast one?
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He was a pure thief who had more talent in his little finger than most people had in their entire body. He used to hang around Johnny Moss and Benny Binion(two Texas boys).
 
ArchieBunker

ArchieBunker

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Was he as big of a thief as Puggy?
 
C

CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

newport2 said:
He was a pure thief who had more talent in his little finger than most people had in their entire body. He used to hang around Johnny Moss and Benny Binion(two Texas boys).
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The book talks about how he spent some of his later years in Texas. It's amazing how he hustled till the end. One of his friends lost 500 million dollars gambling through his life. It's a great read.
 
ArchieBunker

ArchieBunker

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

newport2 said:
I never played(couldn't match up), but I was out there a few times to watch Jamie Thompson(RIP) and Buddy Othick.
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I played in it in 93 when they used a 3 and 4 man scramble format.... had a 2nd and a 1st in the the 3 days.... what a great time. I never played in the match play format but several of my friends went each year. They were known as the 'farmers' from the west Texas area. Fisher also played in it most years.
 
ArchieBunker

ArchieBunker

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

newport2 said:
Puggy was the biggest cheat-thief in the history of golf.
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He made a friend of mine's driver disappear from his bag one nite. Little Larry offered to get it back but my friend didn't want Pug getting shot over it.
 
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CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

The stories are what it's all about. Thanks Vejo. Appreciate the compliment.
 
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Scotty S

EOG Addicted
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

newport2 said:
I never played(couldn't match up), but I was out there a few times to watch Jamie Thompson(RIP) and Buddy Othick.
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From my book:
BUDDY AND JAMIE
Buddy Othick and Jamie Thompson were the most successful college basketball bettors I’ve ever known. If I could follow anyone in any sport, it would be them. Buddy’s sons, Matt and Trent, continue the tradition. Matt and Trent had great teachers and learned well. Jamie played basketball at Wichita State and later Buddy would coach their. Jamie scored 36 pts vs. UCLA, in a losing effort, in the 1965 Final Four semis. He was an Academic All-American in 1967. After years of successful handicapping, with his partner and best friend Buddy, Jamie traded in his pencil for his passion, his golf clubs. Jamie, a near scratch golfer, was good enough to make his living on the golf course. He died suddenly in San Antonio of a heart ailment in 2006 that no one was aware of or ready for.

Buddy is still in LV, and Jamie must be looking out for him. Matt played point guard for Lute Olson at Arizona and had a stint with the San Antonio Spurs cut short by an injury. Trent produced a successful Broadway play, along with his brother Matt, starring Chazz Palminteri in A Bronx Tale. After four months of sellouts on Broadway and a successful road trip the one man play will be finding a home in the Venetian showroom. They also just premiered their new movie Yonkers Joe in Los Angeles, also staring Chazz Palminteri, to good reviews. My son Vincent is co producer of both the play and movie.

While still attending Bishop Gorman high school Trent was betting college baskets with a couple equally young classmate bookmakers. He ran his BR up to five dimes and spent it on DJ equipment, gold chains, shoes and other young wiseguy stuff. Trent and Matt got bored so they began betting baseball with those same classmate bookies. This was baseball and not the baskets they knew so well. Trent loses and doesn’t have the money to pay since he blew it on all that neat stuff.

He goes to Buddy for help(cash) and Buddy being a good father makes him sell all the good stuff he bought. Tough love but a good lesson on money management that would serve him well.

It was guys like Buddy and Jamie that made up for the more treacherous people we went up against.
------------------------------------------
Did you ever play with JS & JG. I ran Joe's sportsbook for him. They could win /lose 250k a day on the course, scrambles, 40k a hole.
 
C

CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

That's a great story Scotty. Interesting stuff.
 
KingRevolver

KingRevolver

Born Rambler
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

I read this last night. Very good... thanks for sharing.
 
C

CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

KingRevolver said:
I read this last night. Very good... thanks for sharing.
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Glad you enjoyed it KR. Thanks for visiting SP from time to time. I'm gonna do a gambling piece every so often. I enjoy sharing it with the posters.
 
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CY18

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

It was nice talking with all you guys this Fall. Hope you all are winning on the bowls and have a good New Years.
 
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Horseshoe

EOG Senior Member
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

I never played(couldn't match up), but I was out there a few times to watch Jamie Thompson(RIP) and Buddy Othick.
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Two of LV's best college hoops handicappers ever. Like Boston Red,etc..

Some of BW's best over the ages.
 
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Scotty S

EOG Addicted
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Horseshoe said:
Scotty, if you haven't seen it before, check out this link to some Wichita history, has a pic and bio of the young Buzzard..

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=11&threadid=778567&STARTPAGE=11
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Thanks Horseshoe, amazing find. Jamie left us way too young. One of the nicest guys I ever knew. They could have put three Thompsons on the floor at the same time.

Was Jamie a better basketball player or golfer?
 
Deluxer

Deluxer

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

I enjoyed listening to the interview. Good stuff CY.
 
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newport2

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Scotty S said:
Was Jamie a better basketball player or golfer?
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Jamie was so talented at both sports it is hard to compare. However, as he got older(40s) he spent countless hours practicing and competing on the golf course(Las Vegas-Palm Springs-San Antonio). For many years he lived on the Las Vegas Country Club. Buzzard could really play for the money. Ask Billy Walters, Dewey Tomco, Tommy Fischer, and most of all Dolly. Jamie missed a $30,000 putt on #18 one time against Michael Jordan(after his rookie year) because he felt sorry for him. Buddy almost shot him(lol). I will miss him until the day I die.
 
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Horseshoe

EOG Senior Member
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Bump in honor of the Buzzard in the sky, and those that have backed Wichita during this great run!

The Shockers finally return to the Final Four for first time since Jamie brought 'em.

My 1981 LSU Tigers denied Antione Carr, Cliff Levingston, and Ozell Jones(all NBAers) in Elite 8, on way to Final Four.
 
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newport2

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Horseshoe said:
Bump in honor of the Buzzard in the sky, and those that have backed Wichita during this great run!

The Shockers finally return to the Final Four for first time since Jamie brought 'em.
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I can't believe that it has been 7+ years since we lost Jamie. What a great friend! :cheers
 
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ChuckyG

EOG Master
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Are you saying Matt Othick was a great Coll Bask bettor, by virtue of being a student of the game and knowing the participants?
 
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newport2

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

ChuckyG said:
Are you saying Matt Othick was a great Coll Bask bettor, by virtue of being a student of the game and knowing the participants?
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That would describe part of Buddy's wagering arsenal. A former coach(E. New Mexico, North Texas State, Wichita State) who still gets unbelievable inside information. Matt's an NBA guy.
 
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ChuckyG

EOG Master
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

Tark quote re: Matt Othick (and I think he's right):

"But one day the newspaper called me and I blew it with Othick by opening my mouth. They were doing a story about Greg and I told them how he was going to be one of the best point guards to ever play at UNLV. That scared Matt off.
I love Matt Othick to this day. He was a great player at Bishop Gorman and I blew it recruiting him.
We would have won a second national title if he was on the 1991 team. When Greg fouled out in the Final Four loss against Duke, I could have slid Matt over to the point guard spot and we wouldn’t have missed a beat."
 
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newport2

EOG Dedicated
Re: Author Kevin Cook Interview: Titanic Thompson Was One of the First High Rollers

ChuckyG said:
Tark quote re: Matt Othick (and I think he's right):

"But one day the newspaper called me and I blew it with Othick by opening my mouth. They were doing a story about Greg and I told them how he was going to be one of the best point guards to ever play at UNLV. That scared Matt off.
I love Matt Othick to this day. He was a great player at Bishop Gorman and I blew it recruiting him.
We would have won a second national title if he was on the 1991 team. When Greg fouled out in the Final Four loss against Duke, I could have slid Matt over to the point guard spot and we wouldn’t have missed a beat."
Click to expand...
Matt played with Brian Williams in high school and at Arizona after he transferred from Maryland. He(Matt) was originally going to play for Gary Colson(a friend of Buddy) at New Mexico until he got fired.
 
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