Can you imagine, if all of the "now generation" who really aspires to be professional handicappers, did not have computers or sites such as this one, actually making a solid line that could stand the action necessary to live on a daily basis? There are very few, who can make a line that can truly be used for anything other than appear in forums, in newspapers, and in other reading material, serving no real purpose, other than it is the opinion of someone who rarely has enough confidence in it, to make wagers successfully without looking at other lines and remarks of touts and others who call themselves "pro handicappers", but who do nothing but sell useless information to wreckless gamblers looking for a opinion to use, in order to make a wager. Are there any Bob Martin's still living in the world, who are really doing what he did, that was to make a line, and only when he looked at each number of each game, and could not really "like" either side, knew he then made a solid line. Thats why when Bob's numbers were posted at The Churchill Downs Race & Sportsbook, on the strip, the numbers rarely changed. Solid numbers rarely change. They change today, like a woman using makeup, because those who make these lines are so bad, they rely on each other, to post daily. When Bob made The Colts -17 over the Jets in that famous Super Bowl, he was critisized. Yet, more money was profited on that Super Bowl than most since. Profit, not volumn. How do I know all this? Because I was there, at Churchill, at the age of 20, and after copying the line after it was posted, ran to the nearest payphone to give it to those who paid big money for it. There were no books in casinos, no cell phones, but anyone who was fading a substantial amount of money throughout this country in the late 60's and early 70's, would not dare post a line from anywhere but from that famous emporium. Those were truly the days when a team was a 7 point favorite, the line never moved to 6 1/2 or 7 1/2 unless it was being moved by someone like Gary Austin. And looked what happened to him. He changed the numbers one week so drastically, he had to close his strip doors, and has not to my knowledge been seen since. In fact, I still have a winning ticket for a dime, that was never paid. For whatever reason, there were so many unpaid tickets, even the Gaming Commission found a reason or two NOT to make good on any winning wagers. So everyday, I try to remember everyhing I know, pluswhat I have recorded from "sessions" with Bob, make my line, and dare not look at any other until mine is complete. Of course I'm wrong, many times, and feel fortunate when I can pick 56% winners on any given week. But I don't thgink I could wager, if I could not make a line, one I would not fear posting for the world to play at. But lets be honest, most people who wager today, do not even have ratings or stats that would be the foundation to even begin to make a number. I can't help but laugh my butt off, when I see hundreds of people selling their picks. Can there really be that many people who are being exploited for financuial gain, by those who know deep down they can't even make a line?
Fat Harry