Show I F- F i. i Iker Fl r I was bitten by the Pete Rose Bug r Mat Bacr Baer Sports Editor On my most recent trip to Wendover I had an experience experience experience ex ex- which gave me a lined hard-lined hand first-hand look at atone atone atone one of the nations nation's fastest growing and most publicized obsessions sports book gam gam- bling Upon arrival at the State StateLine StateLine StateLine Line Casino for the first time my attention couldn't be grabbed by the flashing lights and ringing bells of the slot machines nor the shuffling of the cards at my favorite Black Jack tables I had one destination in mind and that was down the spiral staircase into the new State Line Sports Book There before me were 23 screens of every sporting event imaginable The atmosphere atmosphere atmosphere atmos atmos- phere was that of a popular sports lounge with one extra which made it far more appealing appealing appealing ap ap- ap- ap pealing There was seemingly easy money to be made I chose to wager on a parlay parlay parlay par par- lay card The concept for football betting is simple The book gives a list of point spreads for the games of the week both college and professional The bettor places his wager on up to 10 games The pay-off pay ratio is determined by the number of games bet on I placed 10 on four games at 13 to one The point spread works like this Notre Dame was listed as a 19 2 1 point favorite over Michigan State That meant Notre Dame would have to beat Michigan St. St by 20 points in order to cover the spread I took Michigan State the 19 2 1 and Notre Dame won by less than the spread so I won that game But I still had three games to pick correctly be before for e I would 0 u I d win any money As the Saturday afternoon progressed Washington State and Nebraska gave me an impressive impressive impressive im im- im- im three for three mark markon on my first ever parlay card There was only one more game on my card and I was positive my car stereo was destined to be paid off complements complements complements com com- of the State Line Casino Kickoff wasn't scheduled until 1130 pm and for the rest of the day I was a basket- basket case Hawaii was an eight and anda a half point favorite at home but for some reason I chose to go against the book and go with the visiting underdog I had a feeling The mighty Utah Utes clad in their flashy red and white garb stormed onto the field with the confident look of a team who only a week earlier had given the Nebraska ka a respectable run for their money At the beginning of the game there was no doubt in my mind that the Utes would pull through By the end of first quarter I was ready to cry After witnessing the 67 20 thrashing suffered by Utah I suddenly had a new outlook on my sports expertise I vowed never to bet another dime on an athletic event again The slap in the face I had received proved I didn't know as much as I thought The following Sunday I bet five bucks on Tampa Bay The Pete Rose Bug has bitten and I may never recover |