WOW , I'm shocked !
I don't know what to say, finally got to read thru this long thread ( saw it hours ago), but have not read any of the EOG stuff, yet.
I think I'm pretty cool with J-man ? He definetely is a knowledgeable sports fan, starts a lot of good threads, and a few clunkers, he must be close to #1 in all-time posts ( not that is really a good thing.).
He seems OK, like when he bought pizza a few times( presumably at his expense) for personal contests he thought up.
I personally avoid getting into private bets and deals with guys I don't know well. I had that opportunity with Calvin over a prize with just us two left( think it was $1500), we could have split it ( private deal), but all or nothing is OK too. I'm sure he would have paid. ( He won by attendance on a late game being odd or even), and I'd have paid him also.
I violate it on occasion. I used to split referrals with Sean1, that worked fine, but we just let it slide long-term until close enough to even to call it a wash, so no checks were ever needed to be exchanged.
I bought something from Baseballguy by sending him payment first, he delivered.
I played a $1,000 BJ hand for a poster Mick J or something like that with a Rolling Stones connection) two years ago at IP Bash,( by his request), sent him his 90% ( I think it was).
I never have made an actual bet with a poster, but I might bet $100 with a guy I knew really well (via Internet) like a Sherwood or old prolific poster Sherman, somebody that I communicate with privately frequently.
I generally avoid it, don't know what J did, Shit just bet with a book, or a bookie, if its real money, I don't need to make bets with posters !
I can see why Wil discourages it !