Amarillo Slim at the 1974 World Series of Poker
I told this story last week, and it is worth re-telling for those of you who may have missed it.
I have a publicist colleague, Jimmy Shapiro, who once tried to get a sponsor to pay my $10,000 buy-in for the main event at the World Series of Poker. I was going to write about in for their online blog.
He came very close, but ultimately couldn’t get the 10K.
But Jimmy tried, and I will forever be indebted to him for giving it his best shot.
I was in Las Vegas anyway that summer (2008) covering Team USA training camp, and one night I ended up going over to the big room at the Rio with Mike Wise of the Washington Post, and we both played in a $220 buy-in “second-chance” tournament that they hold every night during the main event. I finished 18th and cashed moderately, my greatest poker achievement ever.
Anyway, Jimmy is working for Bovada now (Twitter is @BovadaLV), and he has e-mailed me some interesting odds relating to the NBA playoffs. Here they are:
Odds to win 2012 NBA Championship
San Antonio Spurs 13/10
Miami Heat 3/2
Oklahoma City Thunder 17/4
Boston Celtics 12/1
Series Price
Boston Celtics (Series Prices) 4/1 (+400)
Miami Heat (Series Prices) 1/6 (-600)
Exact Series Result
Boston Celtics 4-0 50/1 (+5000)
Boston Celtics 4-1 35/1 (+3500)
Boston Celtics 4-2 10/1 (+1000)
Boston Celtics 4-3 15/1 (+1500)
Miami Heat 4-0 9/2 (+450)
Miami Heat 4-1 17/10 (+170)
Miami Heat 4-2 4/1 (+400)
Miami Heat 4-3 29/10 (+290)
Total Games in Series
4 11/2 (+550)
5 3/2 (+150)
6 5/2 (+250)
7 11/5 (+220)
Where Will the Series be Decided?
TDBankGarden, Boston 10/17 (-170)
AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami 7/5 (+140)
Player Props
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Paul Pierce
Over/Under 18½
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Brandon Bass
Over/Under 12
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Kevin Garnett
Over/Under 17½
Average 3rd Round Assists Per Game – Rajon Rondo
Over/Under 12½
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Rajon Rondo
Over/Under 14½
Will Rajon Rondo Record a Triple Double vs. the Miami Heat?
Yes 10/11 (-110)
No 10/11 (-110)
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – LeBron James
Over/Under 30
Average 3rd Round Rebounds Per Game – LeBron James
Over/Under 9½
Average 3rd Round Assists Per Game – LeBron James
Over/Under 6
Will Lebron James Record a Triple Double vs. the Boston Celtics?
Yes 2/1 (+200)
No 1/3 (-300)
Highest 1 Game Point Total in 3rd Round – LeBron James
Over/Under 35.5
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Dwyane Wade
Over/Under 25½
Average 3rd Round Rebounds and Assists Per Game – Dwyane Wade
Over/Under 9
Highest 1 Game Point Total in 3rd Round – Dwyane Wade
Over/Under 30.5
Additional Props
Who will win the NBA 2012 NBA Championship
Eastern Conference Team 20/27 ( -135)
Western Conference Team 21/20 (+105)
Will any Player be suspended during the Eastern Conference Finals?
Yes 6/1
No 1/10
Lowest single team total during the Eastern Conference Finals?
Over / Under 73.5