First and foremost because I think it is important I want it made clear this is simply an honest statement from yours truly. I have been with Pregame both as a poster and a pro now for many, many years. I've enjoyed tremendous stretches of success and also the dark side, bad stretches. In other words, the life of a sports bettor. Professional or otherwise. I've honestly been involved with sports betting for decades. Seen a lot and that is putting it mildly. Frankly I started at Pregame when it was Let it Ride Sports and owned by JD. I was just another guy on the forum. At the same time I also, just for fun with not a nickel in play, participated at the independent Free Sports Monitor. It was a fun place where a guy could day to day make his selections and they were all tracked accurately and honestly. I never had any goal or agenda. I was doing it for fun. I finished in first place not once, or twice, or three times but four times in first place at the conclusion of an long, entire season. Twice in the NBA and also twice in the NFL. Now, here is the real deal. You cannot luck into winning that thing four times. Cannot be done. As hard as it may be for some to consider or admit, I do have a clue about capping sports. I did not apply to be a pro at any site. I was approached because I had a legitimate track record. Not just on the Pregame forum, or at the time, let it ride, and it was felt I had something to offer. Never, ever in my mind was being a pro capper in my sights. Never gave it any real thought. But when approached I took the chance. That was many years ago. Over this time period I have enjoyed many stretches of success. THAT is when it is enjoyable. Everyone loves a winner. Human nature. You are winning and helping others cash some dough. But, I knew from MANY years of real life experience that there are swings in sports betting. Good and bad, sometimes great and hideous. THAT is just the reality of sports wagering. Before I climbed over the fence to this side I was also a bookie for several years. Nothing better to get a reality check with the sports betting game. I had many sharp guys, some as dumb as a rock. Bottom line is with very rare exceptions at the end of the seasons both ended up paying me money. Sports betting is a cruel bitch. Sometimes you can be on the right side and still not win. Sound familiar? Some articulate, intelligent cappers take the stance there are no bad beats. For the most part I agree, but like most things in life nothing is 100%. Recent example, last year in Monday night football between the Redskins and Chiefs. Sorry, bad beat. Point being sometimes no matter how much thought is put into a play and when the game plays out just flat out insane things can occur. And do. Here is the bottom line. I stressed to the site years ago that I thought accurate records needed to be kept so consumers could make an educated decision. I even suggested a standings board in each particular sport be posted showing where each pro ranked with the numbers updated meticulously on a daily basis. I was a consumers advocate so to speak. I was glad to see that RJ took the steps he did to update the site along with the record keeping. WHETHER good or bad, ALL numbers should be shown. Now, here is the deal. I have had, even after a dreadful run, a long term record of legitimate winning success with my two strongest featured releases. That is something that cannot be denied as much as some would love to discount it. I stated, clearly on the forum many times, my lesser graded plays would not perform as well. Predictably they did not. I openly own that. THAT is WHY they were not upper tier releases. I go into this issue in more depth on my pro page. One individual came on the forum and said, oh just ignore that, it's just NOISE. I do take exception to that. It is not noise. It is one guy being totally honest with others. Plain and simple. Now, so there is ZERO misunderstanding. I have been in the roughest stretch of my Pregame career. Particularly with the featured releases. If I had an immediate answer I would have corrected it. But, regardless of the critics the fact remains over the long term my top releases have won. They have no intelligent response to that. I openly, once again admit my long term mark with the lesser plays is bad. I have tried to make an adjustment to my approach and filter my releases more diligently. I am still confident that approach will prove to be wise. And most importantly profitable. As for those who choose to jump on people when they are down, well that is just how those people are wired. Thankfully MOST people here get that. I well recall sitting at lunch with a pro I respect and him telling me nothing, and in his words, nothing irks trolls more than being called a troll. I learned that is the truth. There are those who are not in the arena who can always take shots and will. Their opinion means nothing to me. Zilch. BUT, thankfully there is the silent majority. Those who use the site and try their best to steer clear of the bull s it. And thankfully they are the majority. Many of remember the idiots in school with the biggest mouths. Usually the others with a clue would just shake their heads and tolerate them. What choice did we have other than taking them out and beating the crap out of them. Which rarely worked anyway, lol. In other words, tolerance being the key word.
Bottom line is at Pregame all records, streaks, etc are there for the world to see. As IT SHOULD BE. As I advocated long before it became a reality. For the present I have been in a bad stretch. I will not panic because I have also had great stretches. I've seen every capper who ever did this on a truly daily basis endure the same thing. THAT is sports betting. I've had NFL seasons where I won close to a hundred units. And honestly I thought oh hell, now the bar is set there. Like I said, I won four titles as the free sports monitor. Did not back into them or luck into them. Had runs or real success at Pregame as well. As the other guys have. But in the real world of this stuff the other is always just around the corner. For my part I will continue to do my work and do the best I can for myself and customers. Free country, people can fade, follow, whatever floats their boat. One important thing that needs to get acknowledged is RJ had been proactive in the business making this business handled in the correct way. With the recent ruling by the Supreme Court the business is going to explode. Folks who were always curious about this stuff will be dipping their toes in the water. Of course some will enter with realistic expectations. Some won't and we all know where that will lead. But for our part, at Pregame we will all continue to do the work and show the real results. Not much more we can do than that. I will continue to stress locks are a myth and do my own work. And I will go on another good run. How do I know? Because I have been doing this too many years. The worse the bad run the stronger the rebound. Seen it for decades. Real talk.
I do apologize this was so long. Not my original intent, at all. I always speak my piece daily on my pro page, without fail Positive or otherwise. I do not get on the forum and engage in pissing matches anymore because as I was advised many years ago that is a dead end street. I do not crow like a hyper active rooster when I win, I don't make excuses when I lose. That won't change. Ever. As aggravated as I might sound at the forum the reality of it is I have much respect for many, many on here. And I have formed many long term relationships which I place a great value on. Met many on here in person. Some good people. And THEY are the foundation of the forum. Not the others much to their dismay.
Okay, enough said and likely more. Best of luck moving forward fellas. I will not for the record be turning this into a debate or back and forth. I've spoken my piece at the urging of others. Onward we go and I DO wish all of you the very best of luck. If anyone has any specific questions as all my friends know from the years, I am only a pm away. I always respond. Always. Take care.