Sports Gambling: (n) A drug used by many sports fans to make their viewing more exciting. A hindrance to thrill seeking persons all over the world, often affecting the way that they live their everyday lives.
All right, so I made that definition up off the top of my head, but I think it is pretty accurate. Everybody knows that sports gambling, and gambling in general, can be dangerous—so what happens when it first affects a 15-year-old boy? How will it hinder him—how big of a negative impact will it have on his life?
I am the living example of this. Now 18, I still suffer from an addiction to gambling. This is a short recap...
I started legitimately gambling when I was 15, a sophomore in high school. I was basically bored with my life, craving the excitement you hear so often about, so I started by dropping out of school.
I started working at a Pizza Hut—an experience I would like to forget—until I was eventually fired for eating a piece of pizza out of a customer's delivery order. Well, the college football season had just begun, and I was a huge Texas Tech fan...
Tech was scheduled to play in Lubbock against Sam Houston St., and I saw a line for the game with the over being 70 points. I knew for a fact that Tech alone would score for more than that against their worst opponent of the season, and I went looking for a local bookie who would take an obscure bet.
I didn't need to look far, as one of my closest friend's brothers was a bookie. He limited my bet to $200 as it was such an odd bet to place, but alas, it was made. Tech ended up winning 80-21, and easily covering it, thus making me a profitable first-timer.
My next bet of the season would come three weeks later, against a Nebraska team that was 4-0 at the time, although losing to Tech 70-10 the season before. I found a line as of Wednesday that surprisingly was even and approached the same bookie. I tried to place the bet. He took it, but only by my agreeing to pay out $400 to win $300.
I agreed, almost sure in my mind that Tech would manhandle the Cornhuskers.
Tech took a 21-point lead before squandering it and trailed 31-27 with two minutes left. That is where the excitement happened. Tech QB Cody Hodges was intercepted with 1:11 left, and the game was over—or so I thought.
I kicked the coffee table, breaking it into three pieces, and headed upstairs—but then I heard the words, "He fumbled it!" As I looked back, the Nebraska defender, trying to run the ball back, fumbled it back to Texas Tech. Tech ended up scoring with 11 seconds left on fourth down and won me $300.
I couldn't answer why the coffee table was broken, and my parents were mad for a while, but I didn't care. I was addicted to the money, the excitement, and the suspense that hinges on every play.
I ended up picking some bogus parlay the next week and winning something like $117, but I didn't care. I was too hyped about the Texas/Texas Tech game the next week. I had talked to the bookie about it for a week in advance, letting him know that I was going to put down a lot of money on the game, and I was assured he would be able to take it.
The game finally arrived, and I put $1,250 on the game at Tech. I waited until Friday to make the bet though, as the line changed to 10.5. I sat and waited hours downstairs for the kickoff to arrive.
comments (16) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
I'm glad someone on this site talks about gambling! Cuz damnit i love it haha. But only the NFL.......
By the way your article is quite the cautionary tale and example of why not to bet with your heart or on your favorite team.....
from 3 months ago
I stumble into the NFL every so often, I usually wait until the playoffs though, or when I've had a boring weekend and need something to spice it up.
Thanks for the read and the comment.
3 months ago
dude
stop
3 months ago
Colin, the first story should be a good metaphor for your life. That broken table of your parent's was worth more than you lost and eventually won on that bet. You may get away with personally breaking even for awhile but at what cost to everyone else. My taxes paid for your useless education. You are a talented writer and obviously intelligent, find another diversion that is useful. I've found that trading stocks is just as exciting and more interesting, plus you can use other people's money to do it and get paid whether you win or lose.
3 months ago
Seriously, dude, just stop. Like Michael said, go do stocks or something. Don't gamble, you're hurting yourself and everyone.
And yeah, it's not fun that our taxes paid for your education. I get a crapload taken out of my paycheck, and it's not good to know it was spent on someone like you.
from 3 months ago
Alan...bad advice....a person with a gambling problem needs to stay far far far away from the stock market
maybe he can get a feel for it on one of those pretend systems to see how well hed do
the problem is, Im afraid, that this has NOTHING to do with money. It's about a thrill and in most cases is a manifestation of OCD. If he didn't have this perhaps he'd be playing WoW 18 hrs a day.
Regardless....there ARE treatment options.
http://www.web4health.info/en/answers/add-gambling-treathow.htm
that looked like a decent overview
Remember dude, you can wait to get help but eventually you're either going to get in way over your head and be killed or end up being seen by the prison/court appointed psychiatrist
This article is your version of a cry for help even though you may only see it as a chronicling or bragging session at the moment. It's just easier for all parties involved (you, your family, society) if you ask for help now. Your family is good place to start
occupy yourself. shift paradigms. Get a GED. go to community college. Try to get into a school with a journalism program maybe. Try to get into texas tech if you think you've got the chops.
You've got a great processor, it's the software that needs the tweeking.
from 3 months ago
And your tax dollars didn't affect me very much, don't worry. Our school was overcrowded, and as I tried to come back, they couldn't even accept my enrollment, leaving me left with only charter schools to attend.
I don't have contact with my parents for the most part, and I am taking my GED in a few weeks, a few semesters at HCC, with my SAT score can get me to Tech, no worries.
3 months ago
Colin,
I wish for nothing but the best for you in the future. Unlike Alan, whose comment seems pretty pompous and rude, I want you to succeed.
Try your best to enroll in a GED program, as Evan said, or at worst, take some summer classes. Whatever you can do man, make it happen. I can tell by the writing that you want to quit, and you know that it's messing up your life.
The one thing I can recommend is to meet a new group of friends. Hell, there may even be a AA equivalent for gambling, that's something that you should definitely check out.
If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to let me know, I'm here for you, Flossman.
-Ben
3 months ago
Colin - ever thought of going to Gamblers' Anonymous? As someone that goes to another "Anonymous" (my problem was boozing), I know that they really help.
If you don't then bus stops could be the best thing to happen to you. Dumpsters- I've heard - aren't that fun either.
Seriously man, stop: if you need to chat to me, email me at alexferguson60@gmail.com
Don't go with the whole "Get rich or die tryin'" motto - it's a load of crap.
3 months ago
Every bookie is waiting for another victim. Gambling is a lose-lose proposition. You will never come out on top. I gambled when I was your age, and I saw the addiction take over many lives..destroying marriages and families. I was fortunate, it didn't have the grip on me that it had on others, but it will consume your life if you let it. Get some professional help Colin before you end up in a crisis situation.
3 months ago
Great article - posted a link to it on my blog.
2 months ago
hey Colin, great great article. i know this is almost a month after but i reread it and just wow. I truly hope the best to you in the future. with stuff like this coming out you have a future in human interest pieces. such a great article my POTD by far, probably my favorite article written in my short life span here on B/R, puts everything in perspective and just great, sorry for the fragmentation lol. but none the less its a masterpiece and again best of luck to you.
from 2 months ago
Thank you Austin.
I feel weird responding to any comments regarding the subject, because obviously, in my mind, I know I am being in all meanings of the word, stupid.
I have toned it down a bit, but only because I haven't found a game I have complete 'faith' in. I won a large amount of money on Ole Miss over Florida, and although I love winning, in the end, it may just leave me with a bigger head and a false sense of confidence.
Thank you for the read, the comment and the concern, it isn't all to a deaf ear.
about 1 month ago
Hi Colin
Your article tonight about BR (Bleacher Report Sweeping the Nation! The Possibilities Are Endless) inspired me to search for more of your gems. And then I found this. Frankly, it upset me. You've got talent. And you're willing to share it with others, which is wonderful for us all. But a gambling addiction is a dangerous, destructive thing; if you do not beat it, it will beat you. I hope you can turn your back on that chapter of your life and focus on more positive and ultimately more rewarding pursuits. I say this as your newest fan.
from about 1 month ago
Thank you for taking the time to read the first piece, and then finding time to read back through older pieces. This was as honest an article as I could ever write, and the truth is, it is as bad as it seems. Though recently, I have been able to limit my betting, and watch a game for what it is, rather than as a drug of sorts.
I have hopefully returned to place where the adrenaline of sports is enough to have me shaking, regardless of my wager on the game...
from about 1 month ago
I second Dan's opinion here Colin—you have a true talent for writing and your gambling addiction is nothing but trouble.
I think Bleacher Report and our highly supportive Community of fan-experts and aspiring writers could be a wonderful way for you to focus on the positives on your life and not get distracted by your vices.
On another note, it's unfortunate that things didn't work out for you in high school, but I highly respect you for taking the initiative to get your GED. That will pay large dividends in the future, so keep at it!
In the meantime: take advantage of the resources on Bleacher Report to hone your talent for writing. Get to know our contributors and our editors; browse through all the posts on our company blog; and read our series of writer's tips over and over again until you know them like the back of your hand: http://blog.bleacherreport.com/writers-tips/
Good luck Colin!
write a new comment