Ryder Cup: Euros Heavy Favorites, But Will Welsh Bet On Them?

European soil means the Europe Ryder team should ride in with a win and the odds have been set like this:

Europe - 188

United States+ 138

That's not the question. The question is, since the match is at Celtic Manor at Newport, Wales, will the Welsh bet heavily on the locals. Or will they bet at all?

In the words of Alaska Sarah "You betcha."

They will wager. The Welsh love to wager and are just as likely to pick the underdog over the favorite. Look for lots of action, both in euros and dollars placed on this match. Because the Welsh will bet ANYTHING on anything.

If you don't believe me, catch the true story below. Yes, it's about a bet on Rugby, not golf and yes, I'm talking to my neighbor Lyle, and yes, this is an excerpt from my book Sports Fans are Crazy and yes, this story happened in April of 2005. And yes, the story is unbelievable but it is absolutely true:

FOR THE LOVE OF RUGBY
   
   
    Quick, name the most famous Rugby player in the world. Hmmm?

    You can’t do it, right? This is the same question I asked Lyle when he brought in the story of the Welsh rugby fan who cut off his testicles when Wales’ Six Nations beat England last week. Who clips their nuts over a rugby match, when none of us, worldwide, even know the names of rugby players, for crying out loud?



Lyle, our neighbor (sometimes known as Loony Lyle) wants me to write something about how stupid, but fanatic, Welsh rugby fans are. I tell him there’s not much I can say except that a picture’s worth a thousand words… and we’re not going there.

“But, Silliman, did you read about the British trial where a woman in England, mad because her boyfriend wouldn’t have sex with her, ripped off his testicles? The whole island has gone nuts.”

I’d say. We find the story on Geoff Huish, 26 year old pub-going, willing-to-bet-on-anything, so convinced that England would beat Wales that he said “If Wales wins, I’ll cut my balls off.”

And then friends thought Huish was joking but after Wales won 11-9 he went home, carried out his promise and walked back to the social club carrying his proof.

“You see, Silliman, that’s just nuts,” Lyle says.

I’m thinking this guy has the 2005 Darwin Award wrapped up…. along side his… And I’m also thinking it’s getting kind of tough to type this story with my legs crossed.

On the bright side, Mr. Huish’s cancer risk has dropped and we’re betting he’ll be a little more docile at the next rugby match he attends.

But the painful thing, I bet, was Geoff watching the match with Wales making their run and shocking everyone. You know he’s pulling for Wales but still a part of him is saying “NO!”

“Man,” Lyle chirps, “that had to be like sliding down a razor and landing into a pool of iodine.”

Oh, gee, just as I was making some progress at getting my legs uncrossed. I tell Lyle it’s possible that centuries of misconceptions about Welshmen not paying off their bets backed poor Mr. Huish into a corner.

It was like he had the reputation of his entire country on his shoulders if he dared “Welsh” on his bet. That’s sad.  Even sadder when the orderly checking him into the hospital took note of his name and remarked “That’s funny, you don’t look Huish.”

“By the way, Silliman, it’s Jean Condom of France,” Lyle says.
   
    What?

    “The most famous rugby player—Jean Condom—of France. You know, he breaks out of the scrum. He runs past the loose forwards. He socks it to England. They wanted him to play for USC. Don’t you remember?”  

    Condom hasn’t been in action since the early to mid-nineties, I tell Lyle. And he wasn’t all that reliable.