It was on this date back in 1975 that the real Rocky went toe to toe with Muhammad Ali. Ali knocked out Chuck Wepner in the 15th round to retain the World Heavyweight title. I remember the fight well, I was a junior in high school and big boxing fan. Wepner was a big, slow guy who had a stubborn habit of fighting only on the inside. He did that against Sonny Liston and frankly that was not the smartest tactic at the time. Liston had a jackhammer punch. Anyway, he was known as the Bayonne bleeder. Anyway, while he did lose to Ali he did knock him down for only the third time of his career. Sylvester Stallone went on to make Rocky and consulted with Wepner but as is often this case when major dough is at stake there were legal issues in the end.
Okay, a free play. I am supporting a play on Stanford tonight laying the points against Vanderbilt. It has been a nice little run for Stallings club in the NIT but it comes to an end tonight against the Cardinals. Stubborn fact is Stanford is a spotless 6-0 against the number the last half dozen games against non conference foes. The Commodores have been shooting lights out and maybe that will travel well tonight. I'm not betting on it. I think the Cardinals cash the ticket tonight.
On the business side we cashed a nice college easy winner last night with Murray State as they handled Tulsa with ease on their own floor. I was glad to see it, not only from a betting standpoint but I am no Frank Haith fan. He left few friends around here in Columbia and I will leave it at that. I have loaded up a College March Madness Triple Star that tips thursday. Have now cashed on 44 of the last 69 College releases, 63%. We have cashed on 10 of the last 13 College Triples.
Now, one final note. I was taken to task by a forum poster for sticking up for another Pro. I won't mention either the Pro or the poster. But I do want to get something clear. He said I was the "worst", meaning I always take up for other Pro's when they hit a dry run. He later called me nasty for having the audacity to speak up. First of all I do not always stick my nose into others business. But I consider myself a loyal friend and Pregame teammate. Every capper has swings. That is the ugly, 2,000 pound gorilla in the room. Although common sense should tell any reasonable person this is the simply reality and natural law of sports wagering some people simply refuse to accept it. NOBODY avoids bad runs, NOBODY!. Naturally some have more than others and that is the rub of it. Trying to find a handicapper who LONG TERM can keep the bookie out of your pocket. When I see hateful, spiteful remarks being thrown out by people who stubbornly refuse to accept that swings happen and I like and respect the Pro coming under fire there are times I do step in and offer up my support for the Pro. Just is just how I am wired and I make no apology. I've been a pro here for nine years now and have built several solid friendships. Guys know I will be honest and if there comes times where that means firing back at some haters I will do it. I have NO problem with honest, constructive criticism. It goes with the territory. But at Pregame RJ is attempting to build a site where intelligent and mature sports bettors can share information and work together to beat the books. There are people who come into this site mistaking it for the other places where hate and venom flow freely. That is NOT the Pregame way. So I don't apologize for sticking up for this pro, who I have known for over ten years. And if all this makes me a nasty person, well, I can live with that too I guess. Okay, enough on that. Good luck tonight guys.