Jack's Select Plays 06-07

[fhmesq44]

they seemed to be doing quite a bit of development in Barcelona. The road we took from the airport to the hotel (near Las Ramblas) was under massive construction and I have never seen so many construction cranes (and I live in an area where there is a lot of construction as well as work in commercial real estate).

We just loved it, weather was great, cosmopolitan, great vibe, people were great, great restaurants and nightlife, clean, large city but didn't feel nearly as large as it is.

Yeah, we hit both of them and more. We did the bus tour that stops at various spots and spent quite a bit of time at the Sagrada Familia and Nou Camp. Both really great places, Sagrada Familia was amazing, although the newer construction and architecture wasn't nearly as interesting as the older stuff. Nou Camp was sweet, we were there during World Cup so unfortunately no opportunity to see a game.

Definitely would go back and definitely want to see more of Spain. At some point when I get sick and tired of the political correct b/s and other annoying crap about the US, Americans, lobby groups, special interest groups and politicians, I would consider ex-patriating there in a second.

BTW, do you know anything about the referendum vote they had for Catalonia to secede from Spain? Voting day was while we were there and everyone I asked about it didn't really understand what it was about or the implications.

 

[AndySpainpick's]

they seemed to be doing quite a bit of development in Barcelona. The road we took from the airport to the hotel (near Las Ramblas) was under massive construction and I have never seen so many construction cranes (and I live in an area where there is a lot of construction as well as work in commercial real estate).

We just loved it, weather was great, cosmopolitan, great vibe, people were great, great restaurants and nightlife, clean, large city but didn't feel nearly as large as it is.

Yeah, we hit both of them and more. We did the bus tour that stops at various spots and spent quite a bit of time at the Sagrada Familia and Nou Camp. Both really great places, Sagrada Familia was amazing, although the newer construction and architecture wasn't nearly as interesting as the older stuff. Nou Camp was sweet, we were there during World Cup so unfortunately no opportunity to see a game.

Definitely would go back and definitely want to see more of Spain. At some point when I get sick and tired of the political correct b/s and other annoying crap about the US, Americans, lobby groups, special interest groups and politicians, I would consider ex-patriating there in a second.

BTW, do you know anything about the referendum vote they had for Catalonia to secede from Spain? Voting day was while we were there and everyone I asked about it didn't really understand what it was about or the implications.

That vote never was to secede from Spain, never at all, it was meant for them to be given more administration rights over themselves, like in the US each state has more or less its own freedom for policies. They want to be more independent from the rest of Spain, as they are the richest region, and thus they contribute more than they receive from the central gov.

So they always wanted to govern themselves in some way, but never trying to secede from Spain. The referendum was just as to know the opinion of people, and it went YES, so they were given permission to propose it to the central govt.

But then discussion arised between the political parties in Catalonia, so they were all of a sudden an uncohesive group of politicians, without a clear aim, discussing petty details to death and not allowing room for a real dialogue. Things looked south very much and they themselves fucked it up.
Anyway, it wasn't gonna bring much of a change to things as you knew them, just more money for them to keep, and less development for other areas of Spain. Its getting old everywhere.

All the while the second party in the nation said it was unconstitutional to even let them propose the motion, but we have a very weak president, uncapable of saying NO. He even held dialogue with terrorists from ETA hoping to get them to peaceful terms, reality being they were close to disabled and hoping for a truce to re-establish their networks...

As much of a mess the politics may be in here ( and anywhere) the country is a real nice place to live and i cant complain much except the NFL and MLB coverage is unexistant, only can watch 3 or 4 days old games.
We get to watch all the NBA finals live (that is if u got cable TV), like somebody cares...

And about so much construction going on, the explanation is pretty simple, politicians earn 1% on every construction undergone in the city during their rulership (city majors do). And also in Catalonia there was a scandal, because it became known that politicians were allocating public works to whomever paid them the highest commission, which was around 2% most of the time. 2% of 40 million dollars public work will make you rich soon, especially if you earn them by giving them the contract, without having to spend anything but a little ink when signing, if that much.

Apart from that, welcome to spain. If you ever come to seville i can show you around, its not that big but you better know your way.

:toast:

 

[fhmesq44]

Very interesting, politics as usual it sounds. My spanish sucks, I can get by well enough but not enough to grasp something like that. My wife's Mexican did us fine the entire time we were there and I could get by when she was out, but it seemed like whenever the TV stations spoke on the referendum they spoke Catalan, so I never could figure out what exactly it was about. Sounds interesting though. Those payoffs are absurd, although, I suppose having them above board is better than the back door and special interest b/s that goes on in the US.

Definitely will let you know, I have heard nice things about Sevilla and would like to visit. The offer extends to you as well if you ever come to Northern California.

 

[JohnMolson]

jack....does olympiakos take care of aek tomorrow

 

[JackDee]

they did, lol. Very interesting discussion guys far more interesting than my bets.

Might as well not post the first one since it's starting in a couple of minutes.

Xanthi over Aris at 2.0 for 5%

Panathinaikos Paok Under 2 1/4 at 1.9 for 6%
Paok + 1 1/4 at 1.65 for 5%

bol.

 

[JackDee]

gladly none was on the first bet since it was posted gametime, 1-2 for the day, which was 2-1 up to the 88th minute with panathinaikos leading 1-0 up until then. By the 90th minute with the 2-0, the under was still a half winner, and the final 2-1 assured some profit from the two bets, albeit the least one, still better than two losses.

I was way off in my estimations for game one, but gladly I had some extra time to watch that game and re-adjust my estimations for future bets. I was in the stadium watching game two much more closely and that was welcome too. I was correct in my assumptions of profitability for game two, but alas, unlucky. Time constraint's are tainting the record but I am sure we'll end up on top and with some considerable gains, eleven games are not much of a sample, but that's no excuse either for not attaining the usual high standards.

YTD 6-5 -9.45%.

 

[quantumleap]

I know you're pretty busy but I look forward to your picks. Keep them coming.

Throw a little Nina Simone on your player if you need to get your mind in the right mood.

 

[fhmesq44]

Jack, thoughts on Oly tomorrow? Rolltide has a nice write-up against them.

 

[JackDee]

Couldn't get to a computer, and I ve sold my pad/smartphone for something better which I ve not bought yet, any suggestions welcome, so sadly no updates on the go.

I was on rsc today +goal, lyon, and madrid on the moneylines.

For tommorow I am going be fading olympiakos, and btw, here's what I am on, two team parley, should be a pushover.

Shaktar over Olympiakos 1X double chance 1.14
Liverpool 1.34

You might separately find much better prices elsewhere, my 10% for 1.526 will be on that.

Olympiakos is a big question mark for me tommorow, it seems, latest news in, that coach solid will field a defensive 2-5-3, or 2-3-5, (way you look at it) and being my home team, hence I am playing it very safe with the 1.14 1x. Another bet to look at would be the under 2 1/4 at 1.91 So if I would suggest it to any takers, but I probably won't bet it, definately won't bet it for anything more than 4%

 

[AndySpainpick's]

good to hear from you jack, time is a *****, i barely have enough !!

 

[JackDee]

good thing we still find some time to post andy, bol as per usual.

The combo was harder to come by than I assumed, but both admittedly were wise choices in avoiding the ah line on liverpool and the straight up win for shaktar, taking ultimately the best of both.

While a 1.5 is not much to brag about, it's still a winning bet, which slowly, almost boringly so (might take up fishing for some extra adrenaline rush lol), brings the record up to,

YTD 7-5 -4.19%.

 

[JackDee]

Larisa (AEL) over Xanthi at 1.85 for 6.5%

Panathinaikos over Ofi at 1.41 for 10%

Olympiakos and Aek at 2.0 combo for 5%

 

[JackDee]

seems like old jackie's been getting kicked in the balls what with panathinaikos game not coming in, which for anyone betting the greek league now that 101 times out of 100 it's a lock, still some good choices in the rest of the bets make for 3-1 in correct game outcomes and 2-1 in bets and a very marginal +0.525 gain for the weekend, profit is profit so I won't complain. This, again very slowly, and boringly brings the record up to:

9-6 -3.665%

 

[AndySpainpick's]

no profit is boring, losing is boring !! Hail jack !!

 

[JackDee]

Greece pk over Norway at 1.6 for 12.5%.

Centrebet are also offering full book at 2.4 for greece, with mansion and betfair prices comparable, so that's an option too, but I prefer the slightly shorter odds, higher stakes and draw cover. Norwegians might be very unpalatable to my tastes as a race, but they are filthy rich and have got a very decent squad. That said, I think they are a team that are very manageable for my home team, Greece, in their style of football, and despite their away victory to the only non indoeuropian race in europe, that's the hungarians, I think they lack the temperament, guts and spite to get anything more than a draw in Athens. Greece are not in their top form, and there's some very predictable greek malaise going on courtesy of the press always out for a quick stir up of things to sell a few extra papers. But I am very confident in the mentality, toughness and determination of this team, that hadn't it been for a few fluke results (and the fucking ukranians fielding a b team against the turks) they would have made it to the world cup this summer. No one can hold a candle to german coach Rehagel, and I am sure that one way or another he 'll have his way with a victory. As you can see with my staking I m pretty confident with this one. Greece surely is not in the top world teams, let alone the top europian ones, regardless of their euro 2004 triumph, but it's really a joke from the bookmakers to offer a pk price for the europian champions at home to a minor scandinavian team. Of course it's footie, shit happens and we can get a fluke early goal and then attack our asses off only to accept another one and end up with a royal 0-2, but considering all the above this to me is a gift. Actually before logging in to check the prices I had this one at a 1.9-2.0 maximum and was really surprised that the aussies at centrebet of all people would have set such a high price. Seems their decent world cup run has made them a bit cocky but let's not forget that greece only lost 1-0 to them in a friendly, at Australia, just before the world cup when they had a full squad, fully prepared for the world cup, and the greeks where just about ready to go on vacation, and that after a gruelling transglobal airplane trip for the greeks the day before. But old jackie's rambling about the aussies while it's the norwegians we are up against...shhhshhhh...so there you have it.

 

[fhmesq44]

Wow, Jack, 12.5% is a big stake. Can't go that big with you, but I will ride along for a little. BOL.

 

[averick]

BOL Jack, hope you cash them

 

[JackDee]

cheers guys, fh, ave. Fh, stakes are just indicative buddy, hope the land of plato, socrates and co. take us to bank and not to the cleaners.

 

[fhmesq44]

same here buddy. unfortunately I don't have that game, France/Scotland, Italy/Ukraine, Spain and a couple others are on but not that one.

 

[quantumleap]

So you don't care for those tall Nordic blondes Jackie? LOL! I grew up with a lot of the transplanted Nords in America and I couldn't be happier.

Socrates, Plato, et al, that's quite an impressive bunch. If only the Greeks had conquered Europe think how much further along in civilization we would be by now.

Good luck on your game. I'll be rooting for your team to win.