2 Thoughts, 1 Brain
The year was 2007.
The first iPhone was released, Drew Carey was taking over The Price is Right for the legendary Bob Barker (RIP), and one of the first viral videos was making the rounds on YouTube. 2 girls, 1 cup quickly became an internet sensation - not just for the horrific content that was produced in that short clip, but also for the reactions of people being filmed watching the video for the first time. No, I will not be linking the video as I do not wish to make it easier for anyone to find such a scarring display of fetishes. However, if you'd like to take a trip down memory lane, or are part of a younger demo and missed out on what the early YouTube days were like, go do a quick search and ruin your day. Come back and finish reading when you've regrouped.
Author's Note: I have to admit that I've never actually watched the clip. I'm very aware of what happens in the clip. I'm 100% confident I would puke all over my keyboard. Please do not think lesser of me for having never watched.
Although 2 girls, 1 cup has, I'm sure, been replaced by 1,000 more disgusting videos that have created extremely apathetic adolescents, it will always be the standard for god-awful videos. And it was an excellent hook to suck you in.
2 Thoughts, 1 Brain
Whether it be interacting on gambling Twitter, side conversations on Telegram, or reading whatever shit gets spewed in a discord server, I constantly find myself having conflicting thoughts on the same issue. There are times when I let other people influence my opinion, or at least play a role in how I feel about something. And that's OK. We're part of an ecosystem that has a ton of grey area, but we do our best to make every single issue black or white. It ends up with myself, and I'm sure many of you, always evaluating how you feel about a particular issue.
Some members of the sports betting community do so many awesome things, yet they also have some very obvious flaws and refuse to acknowledge these shortcomings. Some content creators pump out pieces of information that no doubt have value to the readers and listeners, but are also too stubborn to recognize they're fucking over their fellow bettors. Some bettors have realized a great deal of success in the past, but are now actively hurting others with their advice and "wisdom."
All of these thoughts are continuously bouncing around my head and I've realized that others feel the same way. We've come to terms with the fact that there are at least two opposing perspectives, and sometimes, both can be true. Below you'll find a random sampling of our relatively small sports betting ecosystem with some common conflicting thoughts.
You can be perfectly happy with everything going on in your life.....AND still shit on other's opinions and actions.
Like so many of you reading this, I'm really happy with where I'm at. I have an amazing family, a career that I love, friends I very much enjoy spending time with, and a sports betting hobby that gives me plenty of fulfillment. Are there things in my life I wish were better? Of course. No shit. But overall, I'm in a really good place. Apparently in the eyes of some, being happy with where I'm at precludes me from criticizing others.
Here's the perfect tweet summing up my #1 pet peeve when it comes to social media:
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An interaction between two members you'll see around gambling twitter, Rufus and Logan. Logan (rightfully) criticized a post of Rufus, and this is how he responded. Drives me fucking nuts. Not only can you be in a really great place and critique others, but responses like this show how out of touch with reality other people are. Them assuming you have to be in a terrible place, or going through a hardship, to point out other's flaws immediately makes the confrontation personal. In an effort to diffuse, deescalate, or remove themselves from a situation in a peaceful manner, all the person has done is hurl a very personal insult at someone else. They've made the assumption the other person is not OK and has determined what's best for someone else. Ironically, these same people are normally preaching about how it's best to be yourself. In the end, it's OK to do things like hold grudges and criticize others while still having a very fulfilling personal life. In fact, it might even be therapeutic.
You can be, generally, a nice guy.....AND a detriment to others in the sports betting space.
Being a nice guy is a good thing. It means people want to be around you and you bring joy to the lives of others. Everyone should strive to be the best version of themselves, whatever that means to them personally. I know a lot of the content in this blog will actually be seen with a negative spin, but that's truly not what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to explain how I feel about things I see on a daily basis while also entertaining the readers. Just because some of the statements are jokes and can be seen in a negative light doesn't make me a bad OR good person. And I think we see a lot of people struggle with this concept, especially in sports betting.
So many of the characters want to be good people. In fact, I bet if you got to know them IRL, they are good people. But that doesn't mean these people, with nothing but the best intentions, aren't just the same as the sports bettors we've collectively deemed "losers" or "scumbags" or "misleading touts." Making other people pay for picks and providing them with losers, even with a big ole' smile on your face, is still losing people money. As my guy Porter (heard his DM's are open for partnerships) likes to say lately: being a nice guy means more these days than actually winning money. And it feels true!
Let's use SharpClarke as a recent example. This is a guy that's built himself a nice little following in the past year or two. He has documented all of his NFL picks this season and he's getting his dick kicked in. Down somewhere around 20 units. Part (not ALL) of his business model is selling picks to customers. He's made it clear that he feels absolutely terrible about his performance and hopes to do better in the future. His transparency and honesty, as well as his openness regarding his feelings on losing, seems to have garnered an overwhelmingly positive reaction. He's losing, just like other touts, and people are applauding him for transparency! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!
Newsflash: if you charge people for picks, and you lose your customers money, you ALL fall in the same bucket. SharpClarke is no different than the BookitTrent guy. Or Las Vegas Dave. Or Fezzik. Think about it for a second - these guys are all the same but they do it with a friendly, charismatic message, so it's all good. And listen, I'm not saying you need to go out and message these people telling them they're scum of the earth or they're terrible people. Please don't do that, I believe that would qualify you as an asshole. But can we stop rationalizing people we would normally dunk on just because they put on a brave face and rattle off fortune cookie responses?
Oh, and same thing goes for all of the "Top-Down" bettors we're seeing these days. I know Spanky has his disciples popping up all over the nation, but stealing analyzing other people's plays and tweeting them out as if you used your brain at all is next level delusion. Saying stuff like "you do you and I'll do me" is some elementary school level bullshit. We're all entitled to earn, but just because some sports bettors are doing it with a smile on their face does not mean they're good for the space.
RAS is the industry standard for buying picks.....AND they've begun to take on some of the same characteristics as other worthless touts.
I think we've (maybe?) moved past the "Is the RAS tout service a scam?!!" If you have anyone questioning their legitimacy these days, I think it says a lot more about that individual than anything else. They're probably a moron that doesn't understand sports betting.
I met the RAS guys at Bet Bash and they were 10/10. Super nice, super welcoming. Nothing bad to say about any of them. In fact, Mike Craig is probably my favorite person I've met all year, sports betting or non-sports betting related. Super down to earth, knows how to drink a beer, and is just an all-around awesome guy. We lost a ton of money throwing craps together - I think that makes us at least acquaintances for life.
RAS wins. It's documented and easy to find. Yes, you'll have to pay a good chunk of change for their service and there's a strong possibility you lose some outs playing their stuff, but they will win you money. If you're disputing it, you're just being stubborn. At the same time....anyone else notice how much effort they've put into selling their picks of late? It feels excessive and unnecessary. It's like a world-renowned chef begging people to make reservations at their restaurant. Yes, I understand the sports betting floodgates have opened and there are still people out there that haven't heard of RAS. But I don't know...I just expect a company of that caliber and with their track record to not be so thirsty for subscriptions. Not sure if anyone else ever feels like this, but when I see the RAS newsletter, I get excited for just a second thinking they might be discussing something of interest. They have years of experience and sharing some of their knowledge would be super valuable. However, I click on the link and it's a new package of picks for only $99! Letdown. Guess you gotta remember they're a tout service, not a content provider.
Some members of the sports betting community are willing to help others and spend a lot of their free time teaching beginners.....AND are also fake, egotistical, and mean-spirited.
You know what I really hate? When people producing content allude to people or events, but refuse to actually say what they mean. You won't get that from me - I'm trying to be authentic. So who am I talking about here? People like Elihu and Captain Jack.
You'll get glowing reviews about each of those two, plus several others that fall in this category. Their friends have their back, they'll mention all of the wonderful things they do, and make excuses for any of their actions that are less than desirable. And a lot of what their friends see and believe is true! Ask around the sports betting community and you'll find many people willing to go on record about how Captain Jack took time out of his day to answer their DM's, or how Elihu actually called them and walked them through an issue. I have no doubt these things actually happened (unlike tweets you'll find on their Twitter feeds), but it's also possible they then use those positive examples as shields against incredibly shitty behavior.
Here are a couple of instances of this behavior that come to mind:
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Circles Off is, by far, the best gambling podcast in the space.....AND they bring on guests that have no business getting a platform.
I want to start by stating that Rob and Johnny are two people I respect most in sports betting. Not because they had me on an episode of Circles Off (Episode 74 - shameless plug), but because of their consistency in how they deliver content, interact with others, and the general way they present themselves. I had the opportunity to meet both at Bet Bash and they couldn't have been nicer.
The content they provide on Circles Off is the closest we'll hear to sharp sports betting. They attempt to cut through bullshit and speak intelligently on nuanced subjects. They also do a great job making complex topics much easier to digest for the average listener. What I appreciate most is that they're trying new things. They don't fall into the same circle jerk (pun intended) we see from most other sports betting networks and outlets. We need to applaud content creators for trying new things, even when they flop. Otherwise, we'll be left with "The 22 Leg Parlay Podcast" or the "Let's Bring on our Terrible Tout Friends Podcast" and that'll be it. I don't believe I've missed one episode, although I used the 15 second skip liberally during interviews with the likes of Las Vegas Chris (worst episode ever), Sharky Waters (opportunity to be second worst episode ever), and Berryhorse (mostly part 2 where we learned BTC will fight wars AND save the world). Which brings me to my other thought:
We shouldn't be giving certain members of the sports betting more of a platform than they already have. I'll make an exception if you're going to bring on a guest and roast them for being a misleading douchebag. But Rob and Johnny stray from confrontation far too often, especially when there's a guest on the episode that would be so easy to destroy. I understand - if they start doing that, it might be hard for them to book future guests. But guests that don't want to get destroyed or interrogated on what they do probably aren't good guests to have on in the first place. I believe that Rob is on record stating he hates confrontation - that's natural for almost any human. But you think back to some of the content they did roasting others (Simon Hunter episode is GOAT) and realize how good it can be. Rob is also on record stating they play to the audience numbers - they're likely to invite guests on that are going to get new audiences to listen AND come back in the future. It's natural, but to produce content specifically for numbers falls short of a lot of people's expectations.
PS - I know I want my blogs to be evergreen....but what the fuck is currently going on with the BetStamp Twitter account? Could they have made it more obvious the owner of the account was changed, basically overnight? New owner sucks. Hate the new owner.
Spanky is one of the most successful sports bettors we'll ever see.....AND the way he got to the top is through somewhat scummy methods.
Spanky has worked his ass off. Of late, he's created Bet Bash (actually fun!), SpankOdds (super cringe opening pop-up!), and the Sports Betting Hall of Fame (no one tell him that none of us really care about this and the display in Circa is slightly underwhelming). He deserves the spoils of his labor and then some. I'll never forget how he used to pop into the old RAS Slack (so much better than their cesspool of a Discord) and start every intro with "What's up Slackers!" as if it was the funniest joke in the world. He's got that dad humor down and he, at least on surface level, seems like a great guy to have in the sports betting community. If I went around and did actual research (not going to happen) into how many people owe a portion of their success in sports betting to Spanky, I'm sure it would be quite impressive.
Spanky also got to where he is by standing on the backs of those that were busting their ass to perfect their models and get money down on their edges. It's well-known Spanky is a steam chaser. Or, as he likes to put it in his rebranding of steam chasers, a "Top-Down Bettor." He's waiting for professional groups to have an opinion on a game, then he steals the info and bets it himself. Yes, figuring out what's fake and what's real takes a ton of skill and experience. Yes, building the technology to identify these professional bets is no small feat. But make no mistake, he got to the top by using other's work.
One aspect of his betting that has to be true, but he never outright states in his pod, Be Better Bettors, is exactly how he's able to identify professional plays. To an extent, he makes it sound like if you sit in a chair and stare at the screen all day, you'll start to pickup some noticeable tendencies and you'll be able to anticipate line movements, especially at softer books. This is true and clear, and definitely a way to earn. Funny enough, in one of his latest pods, he kind of shits on his disciples that only know how to earn using this method of betting.
However, what he fails to mention is the relationships he's built with PPH providers and offshore sportsbooks have allowed him a behind the scenes look at what professionals are actually betting. Truly, a peek into the account of a bettor who's originating their own number and is going to win long-term. Sure, the operation may have started by using the screen. But you don't get to the level of success he's had without knowledge that's far more than guesswork. You guys ever heard him say "You're gonna work with me, or you're gonna work with me"? That's his way of telling the audience that he's basically able to find every sharp originator (he can see the bets they place in an account) and that originator is going to start working with Spanky to make money. If they say no, Spanky and his team can see your bet go into an account and they have the technology to blast it at all of their outs before the originator can get their full fill. Now, I'm positive these originators can be happy with the arrangement and it's super profitable, but you also have to acknowledge they didn't have any other option. It feels similar to the mob explaining to a business that, for a small fee, they can ensure nothing bad happens to their store. However, they conveniently leave out the fact that they are the ones that will inflict harm if the fee isn't paid. No, I am not accusing Spanky of being in the mob or committing these illegal acts (or am I? No).
I guess his success is no different from a lot of the shit we read in books regarding historical events. We love end results, but don't mind overlooking everything it took to get there. I'm guessing some of the originators who had part of their earn taken probably don't have the same loving thoughts we often hear regarding his work. I appreciate the contributions Spanky has made to the sports betting community and am confident I personally benefit from several of these contributions. Overall, you can't argue he's been anything but a net positive for the industry. However, the way he went about to getting to his current position doesn't feel all the way right. Now he can mention his bank account and smush me with his wallet.
Tweet Round-up
You're cringing. I'm cringing. We're all cringing.
Poetry in Motion (HOF Nominee)
What the fuck were you trying to do here? (HOF Nominee)
Vanilla Ice Cream Power Rankings
1. Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman)
2. Thomas Viola (@TVatWork)
3. G-Stack George (@GeorgeTsilfidis)
4. SharpClarke (@SharpClarkeNFL)
5. David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum)
Blow my brains out if I have to read another tweet Power Rankings
1. A Lucky A Day (@aluckyaday)
Until next time.
Ferris
@FerrisB_86
