The spotlight on the Miami Heat is exposing some ugly warts. The idea of three NBA superstars joining forces to win an NBA title sounded good this past offseason, but things have not worked out as planned.
Miami is 0-8 this season against the top four teams in the NBA (San Antonio, Boston, Dallas and Chicago) and 5-13 in games decided by five points or fewer. The Heat cannot beat elite teams (emphasis on "teams") and they cannot win close games, a pair of troubling characteristics for a squad whose superstars predicted not one championship title, but multiple championship titles.
Remember last July when LeBron James said, "(Miami will win) not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven (titles)." Taken literally, LeBron's quote about Miami's championship aspirations could be correct. Miami will be hard-pressed to win a single title, let alone multiple championships ("not two, not three, etc."). The poorly-coached team is handcuffed by a pair of inter-related flaws: a nagging dependence on "hero basketball" and a lingering inabilty to win close games.
Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh have scrambled for thoughts when answering questions after every game of Miami's current four-game losing streak. The sudden loss of words is in sharp contrast to the cocky trio of players who were posing for cameras, flexing for fans and counting championship titles during the team's "Presentation Party" last July at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
Here's the biggest problem for the Heat: Boston and Chicago are now 1-2 in the Eastern Conference standings, a difficult situation for LeBron & Co. because NBA head coaches Glenn "Doc" Rivers and Tom Thibodeau have plenty of experience and success in defending "The Chosen One."
In his eighth NBA season, LeBron James needs a new nickname. LeBron entered the league as "The Chosen One" and soon thereafter became known as "King James." He's a fabulous physical specimen with tremendous speed, power and leaping ability. However, James has not greatly improved his shooting skills -- both from the field and the free-throw line -- and has struggled notoriously in many late-game situations. LeBron's game is more about force than finesse and he's beginning to look more like Dwight Howard than Kobe Bryant. Allow me to suggest a new moniker for LeBron James -- "The King Without A Ring."
EOG's OMBUDSMAN.....Arturo O'Connor, best known in "Forumville" as Viejo Dinosaur, is a lifelong observer of the sports betting scene. He has participated in sports gambling, online and offline, with both legal bookmakers and illegal ones.
Over the past quarter-century, O'Connor has witnessed gambling action from the Eastern seaboard to the California surf, and most parts in between. His knowledge and experience is not limited by the borders of the United States. O'Connor served as an important consultant for several major sports gambling operations in Costa Rica and The Dominican Republic. He recently retired to enjoy the fruits of his labor in his new home near Bangkok, Thailand.
O'Connor spent the better part of February visiting Costa Rica in an official capacity as EOG's independent overseer. I submitted ten questions to "Viejo" this past weekend and here are his written responses:
1. Describe your background in the gambling game.
I started out as a clerk back in 87-88 with CRIS in the DR....my boss was Steak Tartar and he taught me many angles to the business...this was pre-Internet with all bets coming in on the phone...it was a license to steal back in those days...you make a phone call and get a rundown, you give the book at least a courtesy play...
2. What's the purpose of a sports gambling forum?
The purpose of a gambling forum is easy...provide winners and exchange sports info with your fellow gamblers and friends...
3. Which sports forums do you visit and why?
I post on the RX, SP, and SFP...I love the idea of a chat room like Sportsprescription has and I truly believe forums can work together and exchange info...I started at the RX and they were instrumental in helping me raise funds for different orphanages in Costa Rica...loved the idea of a forum bash every year and to meet various posters...
4. Are you pleased with the current direction of Eye On Gambling?
I am 110% satisfied with the direction of EOG but disappointed with the time frame in getting things accomplished...direct communication with the owners is a must...
5. What do you like most/least about EOG's online community of sports gamblers?
There are many more informed gamblers since the advent of the Internet...but there are also many posters that have no clue what they are talking about when criticizing books and their methods..
6. Name the three most respected sports books in the world.
My top 3 books...CRIS, GRANDE, and Pinny...I was fortunate enough to work at the first two and still have a relationship with both owners...
7. Name the three sharpest gamblers you know.
My top 3 gamblers of all time include Chuck Sharpe, Jeff Whitelaw, and a couple of old-time bookmakers in Vegas...I observed and learned from many sportsbook bosses while I was in Vegas including Keith Glantz, Russ Culver, and Bobby Bredice...I also have to mention Little Oscar who was a dear friend before he passed away...watching him work was an experience
8. Compare life in the U.S. with life in foreign lands like Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic and Thailand.
Living in foreign countries for the past 25 years was a treat...people in the States take many things for granted and would benefit from a trip outside the country...I miss going to live sporting events the most, but travel back and forth enough to still enjoy...the sport I miss the most is horse racing...
9. Handicap the upcoming Masters providing us with the golfer to beat and more importantly, a golfer or two to bet.
The upcoming Masters will be interesting..no European has won the event since 1999 and
this year will not be any different although I think Paul Casey has the best chance...I like Tiger, Watney, and Hunter Mahan to do well...Lefty should be the favorite, but I like the other 3 that I mentioned in all match-ups..
10. The sexiest/most beautiful women in the world are from _______.
The sexiest/most beautiful women in the world are the ones with great attitudes...my mom used to tell me that there are no ugly women in the world, just ones with bad attitudes...Asian women know how to treat a man and the Latinas are the most passionate...
After answering all ten questions, Viejo Dinosaur sent along one additional note about the offshore sports betting industry. Here was VD's postscript:
I forgot to mention that the thing that pisses me off the most about the industry is gamblers and agents taking shots at the books...your integrity and honesty go a long way on how you are perceived in this business...there is no longer any loyalty given by bad agents who have packages in various books...too many gamblers are taking shots with no real repercussions if they go bad....gamblers are no longer afraid to not pay and skip town...
MONDAY'S BEST BET..... Play "UNDER" 216.5 in the Houston-Sacramento game. The Rockets have played improved defense over the past couple of weeks, holding three of their last four opponents to 95 points or fewer. The Kings struggle shooting. They rank 22nd in the NBA with a field-goal rate of 44% and their free-throw rate of 75% is third-worst in the league. The Rockets are trying to make a run at the Western Conference playoffs.
MORE SELECTIONS.....I will post more plays later today in a thread that has yet to live up to its lofty title, "A March to Pointspread Glory." My pointspread record over the past six days is an unacceptable 15-16.
COMING FRIDAY.....My thoughts on the future of Eye On Gambling
Miami is 0-8 this season against the top four teams in the NBA (San Antonio, Boston, Dallas and Chicago) and 5-13 in games decided by five points or fewer. The Heat cannot beat elite teams (emphasis on "teams") and they cannot win close games, a pair of troubling characteristics for a squad whose superstars predicted not one championship title, but multiple championship titles.
Remember last July when LeBron James said, "(Miami will win) not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven (titles)." Taken literally, LeBron's quote about Miami's championship aspirations could be correct. Miami will be hard-pressed to win a single title, let alone multiple championships ("not two, not three, etc."). The poorly-coached team is handcuffed by a pair of inter-related flaws: a nagging dependence on "hero basketball" and a lingering inabilty to win close games.
Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh have scrambled for thoughts when answering questions after every game of Miami's current four-game losing streak. The sudden loss of words is in sharp contrast to the cocky trio of players who were posing for cameras, flexing for fans and counting championship titles during the team's "Presentation Party" last July at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
Here's the biggest problem for the Heat: Boston and Chicago are now 1-2 in the Eastern Conference standings, a difficult situation for LeBron & Co. because NBA head coaches Glenn "Doc" Rivers and Tom Thibodeau have plenty of experience and success in defending "The Chosen One."
In his eighth NBA season, LeBron James needs a new nickname. LeBron entered the league as "The Chosen One" and soon thereafter became known as "King James." He's a fabulous physical specimen with tremendous speed, power and leaping ability. However, James has not greatly improved his shooting skills -- both from the field and the free-throw line -- and has struggled notoriously in many late-game situations. LeBron's game is more about force than finesse and he's beginning to look more like Dwight Howard than Kobe Bryant. Allow me to suggest a new moniker for LeBron James -- "The King Without A Ring."
EOG's OMBUDSMAN.....Arturo O'Connor, best known in "Forumville" as Viejo Dinosaur, is a lifelong observer of the sports betting scene. He has participated in sports gambling, online and offline, with both legal bookmakers and illegal ones.
Over the past quarter-century, O'Connor has witnessed gambling action from the Eastern seaboard to the California surf, and most parts in between. His knowledge and experience is not limited by the borders of the United States. O'Connor served as an important consultant for several major sports gambling operations in Costa Rica and The Dominican Republic. He recently retired to enjoy the fruits of his labor in his new home near Bangkok, Thailand.
O'Connor spent the better part of February visiting Costa Rica in an official capacity as EOG's independent overseer. I submitted ten questions to "Viejo" this past weekend and here are his written responses:
1. Describe your background in the gambling game.
I started out as a clerk back in 87-88 with CRIS in the DR....my boss was Steak Tartar and he taught me many angles to the business...this was pre-Internet with all bets coming in on the phone...it was a license to steal back in those days...you make a phone call and get a rundown, you give the book at least a courtesy play...
2. What's the purpose of a sports gambling forum?
The purpose of a gambling forum is easy...provide winners and exchange sports info with your fellow gamblers and friends...
3. Which sports forums do you visit and why?
I post on the RX, SP, and SFP...I love the idea of a chat room like Sportsprescription has and I truly believe forums can work together and exchange info...I started at the RX and they were instrumental in helping me raise funds for different orphanages in Costa Rica...loved the idea of a forum bash every year and to meet various posters...
4. Are you pleased with the current direction of Eye On Gambling?
I am 110% satisfied with the direction of EOG but disappointed with the time frame in getting things accomplished...direct communication with the owners is a must...
5. What do you like most/least about EOG's online community of sports gamblers?
There are many more informed gamblers since the advent of the Internet...but there are also many posters that have no clue what they are talking about when criticizing books and their methods..
6. Name the three most respected sports books in the world.
My top 3 books...CRIS, GRANDE, and Pinny...I was fortunate enough to work at the first two and still have a relationship with both owners...
7. Name the three sharpest gamblers you know.
My top 3 gamblers of all time include Chuck Sharpe, Jeff Whitelaw, and a couple of old-time bookmakers in Vegas...I observed and learned from many sportsbook bosses while I was in Vegas including Keith Glantz, Russ Culver, and Bobby Bredice...I also have to mention Little Oscar who was a dear friend before he passed away...watching him work was an experience
8. Compare life in the U.S. with life in foreign lands like Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic and Thailand.
Living in foreign countries for the past 25 years was a treat...people in the States take many things for granted and would benefit from a trip outside the country...I miss going to live sporting events the most, but travel back and forth enough to still enjoy...the sport I miss the most is horse racing...
9. Handicap the upcoming Masters providing us with the golfer to beat and more importantly, a golfer or two to bet.
The upcoming Masters will be interesting..no European has won the event since 1999 and
this year will not be any different although I think Paul Casey has the best chance...I like Tiger, Watney, and Hunter Mahan to do well...Lefty should be the favorite, but I like the other 3 that I mentioned in all match-ups..
10. The sexiest/most beautiful women in the world are from _______.
The sexiest/most beautiful women in the world are the ones with great attitudes...my mom used to tell me that there are no ugly women in the world, just ones with bad attitudes...Asian women know how to treat a man and the Latinas are the most passionate...
After answering all ten questions, Viejo Dinosaur sent along one additional note about the offshore sports betting industry. Here was VD's postscript:
I forgot to mention that the thing that pisses me off the most about the industry is gamblers and agents taking shots at the books...your integrity and honesty go a long way on how you are perceived in this business...there is no longer any loyalty given by bad agents who have packages in various books...too many gamblers are taking shots with no real repercussions if they go bad....gamblers are no longer afraid to not pay and skip town...
MONDAY'S BEST BET..... Play "UNDER" 216.5 in the Houston-Sacramento game. The Rockets have played improved defense over the past couple of weeks, holding three of their last four opponents to 95 points or fewer. The Kings struggle shooting. They rank 22nd in the NBA with a field-goal rate of 44% and their free-throw rate of 75% is third-worst in the league. The Rockets are trying to make a run at the Western Conference playoffs.
MORE SELECTIONS.....I will post more plays later today in a thread that has yet to live up to its lofty title, "A March to Pointspread Glory." My pointspread record over the past six days is an unacceptable 15-16.
COMING FRIDAY.....My thoughts on the future of Eye On Gambling
