Smokin' Dave Cokin

C

ComptrBob

EOG Master
From Dave's Twitter account:

Unfortunately after mostly spinning its wheels and accomplishing surprisingly little, the cancer has now taken dead aim (grim but accurate choice of words) at my carotid artery. One doesn’t have to be a med whiz to know what that means. Basically you should not count on getting a Christmas present from me. I’ve got days or weeks, perhaps a couple months left and I’ll be going, going, gone.

x.com

x.com x.com
 
winkyduck

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
This is from his Facebook account:

I was tipped off to this about a month, or so, ago. I don't know what to say here. I know I have time to think of something, and will start now, because it will take some time.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************

Ok here’s the FB version on what I just posted on Twitter or X or whatever Elon wants to call it.
About one year ago my beautiful and wonderful friend Erin basically dragged me to the doc as I was losing weight and my eyesight was making driving with me a bit of an adventure unless I stayed on familiar streets. Erin’s concern was too well placed. My 30 minute biopsy evolved into an 8 hour surgery.
Upon emerging from the coma and catching a glimpse of myself in that hospital outfit, immediate death was not a bad option. Seriously, they can’t do even a little better?
In any event the discussion was held and I quickly said no fuckin’ way to the chemo ( if my choice of words offends you, I write the way I speak). The decision was to let nature take its course. Prognosis was weeks, maybe months. I’m already at about a year as the cancer, while expanding, has been doing so pretty aimlessly. I’m surprised it hasn’t run for office given its indecision.
Anyway, we now have change. The cancer is heading toward my carotid artery and that’s bye, bye birdie. How long this process takes is unknown. Could be days, could be weeks, I might get a couple months. The end will be easy. I’ll just bleed out and go to sleep. 10-15 minutes tops. Hopefully not during a really good movie.
So I’m retiring from daily capping. I’ll still have a few plays if something strong jumps out. My brain is still running on full and in actuality I feel pretty good. But I’m going to die soon, that is a virtual certainty.
I want to thank all my friends for being my friends. Erin, you’re just amazing and thanks for saving my life twice (no joke, she really did). Thanks especially to my Rhode Island condition, especially Theresa, Shawn and Joyce. Plus my Florida friends Kelly Stewart and Amanda, who I cannot wait to see!!
There’s not a chance in the world I could list all my Las Vegas friends and the support and encouragement they’ve provided over this last year but also over what are lifetimes of great memories.
I’m not dead yet and the desire to see friends and communicate remains really strong. Please feel free to stay in touch. I’d like this to be a continued celebration of life rather than a dreary funeral dirge.
Please note I got through this with a mere solo profanity. George Carlin is gonna be quite disappointed.
 
P

Paleface

EOG 500 Champion Dec. 2013
Cancer sucks.

He was a tout, so it's hard to feel sympathy but I guess nobody is perfect.

Anyone know what sort of cancer he has? Throat cancer? Lung cancer?
 
Sportsrmylife

Sportsrmylife

EOG Master
Sad to hear no matter how you view Dave.
College football and mlb were his sweet spots.
Was smart enough to avoid the nba

I always found it funny that he always claimed ignorance to the boiler room style of operation that Jim fiest ran.

Would state he just handicapped games. Yet I've spoke with a guy who dialed phones during that time and Dave would give a big tip to salesmen who sold the most packages of his plays.

$10.

Lol
 
winkyduck

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
Paleface said:
Cancer sucks.

He was a tout, so it's hard to feel sympathy but I guess nobody is perfect.

Anyone know what sort of cancer he has? Throat cancer? Lung cancer?
Click to expand...

Eye Cancer - from what I was told. If so that explains why he covered it up all of the time
 
P

Paleface

EOG 500 Champion Dec. 2013
winkyduck said:
Eye Cancer - from what I was told. If so that explains why he covered it up all of the time
Click to expand...

Eye cancer?!?!

Shit, that really sucks man.

Eye cancer has to be one of the rarest cancers out there I would imagine. I'm too lazy to look it up but I'm guessing it affects maybe 1 in 1,000,000?
 
Heim

Heim

EOG Master
Cokin is my favorite tout despite his Feist connections. He was a visual handicapper. If you listened to his analysis, it was
what he saw on the field, he'd throw in some ATS stuff to fortify his pick(s). That's why he never gave out a lot of selections.

I've repeated this a few time re the Stardust Line on Sunday. He'd give out three selections, when JK pressed him for five
weekly, Dave declined and went as far as intimating find someone else. He knew he wasn't a volume guy.
 
winkyduck

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
Heim said:
Cokin is my favorite tout despite his Feist connections. He was a visual handicapper. If you listened to his analysis, it was
what he saw on the field, he'd throw in some ATS stuff to fortify his pick(s). That's why he never gave out a lot of selections.

I've repeated this a few time re the Stardust Line on Sunday. He'd give out three selections, when JK pressed him for five
weekly, Dave declined and went as far as intimating find someone else. He knew he wasn't a volume guy.
Click to expand...

Dave's record when giving out 3 picks on Sunday for the games on Saturday was damn impressive. If you blindly played those picks you would have made a lot of money.
 
railbird

railbird

EOG Master
Paleface said:
Eye cancer?!?!

Shit, that really sucks man.

Eye cancer has to be one of the rarest cancers out there I would imagine. I'm too lazy to look it up but I'm guessing it affects maybe 1 in 1,000,000?
Click to expand...
i think they call it ocular cancer, its mostly associated with melanoma
 
John Kelly

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Dave Cokin was a good guy in a bad industry.

I only had one problem with Dave.

But first, a long list of positives: Smart, funny, insightful, opinionated, baseball aficionado and boxing enthusiast.

For me, he was a mix between Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith.

Ironically, he hated both guys.

My problem with Dave: He was aware of everything. Nothing got past him. He knew a little bit about everything, a lifetime learner.

Yet, when I would press Dave about his affiliation with Jim Feist and the company's practice to prey on the uninitiated and unsuspecting, his response was always the same.

"I have no idea what happens on the sales end of the business."

#WillfulIgnorance
 
Last edited:
John Kelly

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
"Run the football and stop the run" was one of Cokin's keys to handicapping college football.

In this day and age of "spread offenses," I doubt this principle produces the same impressive results as what Cokin once enjoyed.

One of Dave's slick sales tactics was to downgrade his abilities to handicap the NFL.

"Don't buy my NFL plays," he would declare.

In the same breath, he would confidently say, "My college selections this weekend at only $199 is the way to go."

Sell, sell, sell.
 
Last edited:
Heim

Heim

EOG Master
Cokin was a great salesman. He reminds me of those guys as QVC who pretend to be your best friend with casual stories to build rapport then hit you with what JK describes above. He knew the Feiner bs was not his style and not conducive for long term customers.
 
Heim

Heim

EOG Master
I laughed when Cokin sat next to Layla Ali, Mohammed's daughter at some boxing function and he intimated he had a shot with her.

He was a ladies man for sure...
 
Last edited:
A

ArneK.

EOG Enthusiast
During his long career in radio, Cokin propped-up every co-host he ever had, including myself. He was always the smartest and most well-informed guy on the dais.

Wishing him the best.
 
winkyduck

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
ArneK. said:
During his long career in radio, Cokin propped-up every co-host he ever had, including myself. He was always the smartest and most well-informed guy on the dais.

Wishing him the best.
Click to expand...

He very wisely NEVER badmouthed anyone - especially involved with casinos. He knew where his bread was buttered.

JK - I text you a few weeks ago and we spoke about Cokin, so you knew about this a good 4+ weeks ago.
 
Sportsrmylife

Sportsrmylife

EOG Master
winkyduck said:
He very wisely NEVER badmouthed anyone - especially involved with casinos. He knew where his bread was buttered.

JK - I text you a few weeks ago and we spoke about Cokin, so you knew about this a good 4+ weeks ago.
Click to expand...
I wonder how much he got for the sponsors of his shows.

I'd imagine he had free meals, free lap dances, and free vehicles from how he would praise some of these places each week
 
winkyduck

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
Sportsrmylife said:
I wonder how much he got for the sponsors of his shows.

I'd imagine he had free meals, free lap dances, and free vehicles from how he would praise some of these places each week
Click to expand...

Not sure about that. The few times we ate dinner at his fave Vegas place.........Mastrioni's............he drove a very expensive car - I wanna say Jaguar. Ferrari or Porsche. Whatever it was - it was something he bought and was not given.
 
Sportsrmylife

Sportsrmylife

EOG Master
The way Dave can talk I'd believe he worked out a deal for a vehicle in exchange for ad time

Dave didn't do anything out of the kindness of his heart

He always had an angle
 
winkyduck

winkyduck

TYVM Morgan William!!!
Sportsrmylife said:
The way Dave can talk I'd believe he worked out a deal for a vehicle in exchange for ad time

Dave didn't do anything out of the kindness of his heart

He always had an angle
Click to expand...

ONE exception. On his FB page he frequently posted things for shelters in Nevada to try and get animals rescued. I can say with 100% certainty he did it our of the goodness of his heart. I know he had a long-time cat die about a year ago and I believe he got another one. I am 100% certain he has made plans for that cat to be taken care of once he is no longer here.
 
John Kelly

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
ArneK. said:
During his long career in radio, Cokin propped-up every co-host he ever had, including myself. He was always the smartest and most well-informed guy on the dais.

Wishing him the best.
Click to expand...


I respectfully disagree here with Arne K.

Propped-up co-hosts?

I would concede Dave Cokin brought a lot of listeners to whatever show he joined.

And I agree he was a smart guy and a highly-opinionated commentator.

Especially in his specialty sports like boxing, baseball and college football.

Cokin also knew the city of Las Vegas, having followed the local sports scene since the early 1980s when he arrived in the Silver State from tiny Rhode Island.

My complaint with Cokin was his total dominance of a radio program.

He had that distinctive gravelly voice and he would constantly and consistently interrupt co-hosts or guests, no matter their stature.

His interruptions told the audience exactly what he thought of other people's opinions on the show.

Cokin chopped off plenty of contributors mid-sentence to make sure his point was heard.

As I recall, the only person who was bully-proof was Alan Boston, who like Cokin, was a radio bully himself.

Those two were immiscible.
 
John Kelly

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
And here's the problem with a radio bully: He's allowed to keep a slow pace and use the power of the pause.

After all, his respectful co-hosts don't rudely interrupt him.

So his opinion is heard and typically viewed as more important than the views of his co-hosts.

Think Stephen A. Smith or Skip Bayless.
 
Last edited:
John Kelly

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
My favorite Dave Cokin-Alan Boston exchange took place more than 20 years ago.

Cokin knew college football, but his extent of college hoop knowledge was limited.

Alan Boston was a college basketball specialist.

Before the 2003 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Cokin was previewing the event and said Syracuse (24-5) had a chance to win it all.

Alan Boston uttered something like, "You have no idea what you're talking about."

Cokin suddenly was now getting bullied.

Boston detailed why Syracuse had no chance to win, especially with "clueless head coach Jim Boeheim on the sidelines."

Boston loved to bash college hoop coaches with "Coach K" serving as his favorite target and Jim Boeheim being a close second.

The maniacal Alan Boston, with those crazy eyes bugging out of his skull, ended his criticism of Cokin's selection by declaring, "If Syracuse wins the national title, I will buy you lunch every day for the rest of your life."

Long story short, Syracuse cut down the nets in New Orleans by defeating Kansas in the title game with freshman Carmelo Anthony leading the way.

UPDATE: Cokin is still waiting for his first lunch from Boston, let alone lunch every day for the rest of his life.
 
Last edited:
jimmythegreek

jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
Stephen A. Smith is abruptly rude. However so is Molly Qerim,who is First Take's moderator. So while I understand she needs to bring in new topics, her, like Stephen, interrupt their co-hosts and irregular special guests on a regular basis. Widely leading to rumors they were dating, and one could understand why, given their personalities and annoying voices. I will give Smith the credit however if admitting when he is wrong and taking accountability for his actions.

Stephen also has an incredibly rude way of repeating himself while the co-host has the floor, making his point but a hidden, outspoken and adamant way of disrespecting them, which solidifies a lot of disrespect from his fans and nemesies.

I remember only Feist respecting Cokin giving him the opportunity to get his point across despite interrupting,but when he would introduce new cappers or topics when it cane to stories in sports or new promotions. It was sort of like a reminder that Feist is the host, specifically on Proline, as a retaliation to the outspoken Cokin, as Feist was in control and restoring order of different opinions widespread on the show. It definitely showed Feist's otherwise laid back personality but to Dave's chagrin.
 
C

ComptrBob

EOG Master
John Kelly said:
I respectfully disagree here with Arne K.

My complaint with Cokin was his total dominance of a radio program.

He had that distinctive gravelly voice and he would constantly and consistently interrupt co-hosts or guests, no matter their stature.

His interruptions told the audience exactly what he thought of other people's opinions on the show.

Cokin chopped off plenty of contributors mid-sentence to make sure his point was heard.

As I recall, the only person who was bully-proof was Alan Boston, who like Cokin, was a radio bully himself.

Those two were immiscible.
Click to expand...

Great post.

This nails my most serious criticism of Cokin on the Stardust Line. Cokin would interrupt JK in mid-sentence to interject his opinion thereby usually destroying the discussion or thought.

Usage of the descriptive word "Immiscible" is absolutely spot on. JK's Northwestern Journalism education is showing thru. To that I'd add the duo of Fezzik and Alan Boston.
 
C

ComptrBob

EOG Master
From Scott Spreitzer on X (Twitter):

After 14 months of battling cancer like a true fighter, my great friend of 30 years, ⁦
@davecokin
⁩, the “man under the hat, passed away peacefully around 4 am PT today. He lived life his way until the very end. RIP GOAT! You’ll be sorely missed by many.

x.com

x.com x.com
 
M

MrTop

EOG Master
i was speaking to dave on the phone about two hours. He did most of the talking. I had him at VI so I knew he was good at MLB. He wanted to sell me his 5k package for MLB. I told him I would, but I got buried at grande years before and I cut my limit on games. Anyhow RIP dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top