Gambling and My Life: From Detriment to Friend, and Back to Detriment

The kickoff finally arrived—and it wasn't pretty.

Tech ended up losing 52-17, I ended up breaking my hand punching a wall, and I lost more than a thousand dollars... By this point, you may have realized that I also have an anger problem. I guess when it rains, it pours.

The season's next few games went on uneventfully. I won small money the next two games, as Tech covered against Baylor and annihilated Texas A&M. I lost it all back the next week though, betting the +/- 52 over against Oklahoma St., a game Tech lost, ending their BCS hopes.

The following week they played Oklahoma, and I took Texas Tech 8.5, and the over, +/- 49. Tech ended up winning an amazing game but did not cover, nearly negating the money made from the aforementioned.

In the final game against Alabama, they did not win nor cover the over, and I was out nearly $750...thus concluding a losing season, by a fairly large amount. I didn't think I had a problem (other than betting on my favorite team, the biggest mistake anyone can make)—I just loved sports and money. Why not put them together?

2006 came and went. I made over $2,000 and started betting on more than Texas Tech. It was overall a very wonderful college football season, including the Tech/Minnesota game to end the season.

I had gotten back into school and was back on the right path, it seemed, able to control the betting—as long as I was winning. Then 2007 hit, with a big bang.

I started the season off with big losses, with Auburn falling to USF and the very next week to Miss St., not to mention Tech losing to OK St. the week directly following that.

I broke the side door at my house kicking it, I dropped back out of school, and my parents kicked me out of the house when they found a note from somebody wanting their money.

I lived with a friend now until the Missouri game came around. I had HIGH hopes, and Tech flopped, leaving me down nearly $6,000. My friend told me he didn't want to be involved in it and told me to leave.

I had paid off my remaining debt to my bookie, all of this ending my 10-year friendship with his younger brother. I found a new bookie, one who took in a large number of bets, and is among the most prominent of names in Houston. I was sleeping at bus stops. I was taken in a few days before the Texas game by a friend's family and given everything I could ask for.

The game day was the most stressful of my life. I regretted making the bet, and said that if I won, I would quit betting.

Tech didn't cover, losing by 16, and I was now down $12,000 dollars that I didn't have to a man who only allowed you seven days to pay.

I kept betting small, on the NBA, any game I could find, and managed to make $1k in five days, and got together $2,400 more, paying 25 percent of my debt. I managed to place a $9,200 bet on Oklahoma/Tech over, which I found at +/- (60.5), as it would jump to 67 the day before game time.

Down $8.6k, I needed this game.

I went to a small sports bar where a friend worked and saw so many people I knew, all wishing me luck. (My predicament had made me a legend at my old school—everybody thought I was a dumbass.) The line wasn't covered with one minute left, but Oklahoma threw a worthless Hail Mary touchdown to bring it to 34-27, enabling me to cover...by .5 of a point.

I was bailed out of the biggest mistake that any 17-year-old could make.

Alas, I didn't learn, losing more than I had during bowl season and actually having to leave town unable to cover my bets. I moved back two months later, as the debt had been covered, and vowed never to bet again...

I was back betting on the Hawks/Celtics in no time.

I bet on 24 games this weekend and just can't quit...

Here's to me staying alive to see 21.

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