Boots Carroll, Hoss Brown, Sam Samuels, and Mickey McGuffin.

Know them?

They know you.

If it were not for readers like yourself, they would have faded from the scene long ago. Their business is sportsman wagering. College and professional.

They are the sharks.

For over 50 years, these gentlemen have set up lines of chance, produced material relating to injuries, personal issues, and stadium conditions.

Add to this distributing various reading material for the information-starved public to gobble up, and you have the basis for making a living in the mid- to late-20th Century.

The Internet explosion in 1996 provided the opportunity to maximize their influence. Various sites provide a nice retirement annuity for the group.

Now, nearly 14 years later, most of them have turned over the day-to-day operations to family or to investors. Still, they keep their hand in.

Why?

Easy money has always been the answer.

The technical aspect of setting lines lacks interest from the everyday fan. Often, the individual customer is simply following an instinct to boost his own self-worth or confidence in his team to win.  

Professionals must identify the customer base and properly entice fans to spark the appropriate activity. Money placed must have a balance. The holder of money moves the line accordingly, much like a fisherman who has the hook in a big one.

The four sharks met in a tavern overlooking the river while celebrating Oktoberfest in Helen, Ga., this past weekend. Changes in the business over the years became the primary item of discussion.

There was no disagreement that it is easier to make more money than ever before.

With so much information available, new customers are cultivated and created each passing hour. "Please hand over that account number, it will make you feel better."

After an extended evening of celebration, goodbyes were said with a promise to meet again next May provided the Good Lord is willing and the creeks don't rise.

Stop by and speak if you are in the neighborhood of the Cabbage Patch Hospital. The guy wearing the Cat in the Hat scalp warmer makes the table easy to spot.

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