Jeff Haney on a new book about gambling in Las Vegas that ultimately folds because of its use of fictitious names

[clevfan]

December 20, 2006

Jeff Haney on a new book about gambling in Las Vegas that ultimately folds because of its use of fictitious names

LAS VEGAS SUN

"The Smart Money: How the World's Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies Out of Millions," by Michael Konik. Simon & Schuster, $26

When Howard Schwartz, the esteemed proprietor of the Gambler's Book Shop on South 11th Street, showed me an advance copy of "The Smart Money" earlier this year, he predicted the book would leave some readers frustrated and confused.

Referring to the author's rampant use of fictitious names in the supposed work of nonfiction, Schwartz cited the old Butch Cassidy line: "Who are those guys?"

Indeed, bettors, bookies, oddsmakers, poker players, offshore sports books and their stateside representatives, betting line services, a couple of Hollywood actors and even gambling-oriented Web sites get the faux, faux, faux treatment in "The Smart Money" (subtitled "How the World's Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies Out of Millions").

In the newly released book, author Michael Konik chronicles his experience over several years as a bagman for a major sports betting syndicate headed by "Big Daddy Matthews," a character the New York Times identifies as Las Vegas developer Bill Walters.

Konik has an excellent track record as a no-holds-barred poker commentator for Fox Sports and as an author of books such as "The Man With the $100,000 Breasts."

My high expectations for "The Smart Money" were thwarted, however, by the author's use of all those fake names and fabricated details.

This would be OK if the book were marketed as a novel, a la Jesse May's "Shut Up and Deal," a 1998 classic inspired by the seedy underbelly of the real-life poker scene that has become an essential part of the literary gambling oeuvre.

But as Schwartz predicted, readers of "The Smart Money" - especially those in Las Vegas who follow sports betting - will encounter frustration as they try to figure out just what it is they're reading.

Half memoir, half roman a clef?

Half nonfiction, half novel?

Half man, half beast?

One of the main thrusts of the first half of the book is that the managers of Las Vegas sports books are nothing but wimps and sissies. (Actually, the book repeatedly uses a vulgar expletive to characterize the Vegas bookmakers.)

And this might well be the opinion of the author, or Big Daddy or whoever.

That's fine.

But if you're going to level those kinds of charges, come right out and do it. Hiding behind fake names and fabricated details is, at best, a questionable tactic.

I was also taken aback by Big Daddy's indignation, expressed time and again, regarding the casinos' refusal to book his big action.

I'm familiar with plenty of talented bettors who have never been affiliated with a syndicate like the book's Brain Trust, and who are certainly not high rollers, yet who have been shown the door at casinos dozens of times for being "too" skilled at gambling.

So what? It's just business. Big Daddy, of all people, should know that.

As sharp gamblers, it's our job to take the casinos' money (legally) and their job to prevent us from doing so (legally). As professional handicapper Omar Little would say, "It's all in the game, yo."

One character in "The Smart Money" suggests a particular sports book official at Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand was engaging in shenanigans behind the counter that would amount to a serious violation of state law.

Another character, a sports betting Web site operator, is accused of unscrupulous business practices.

Like the Vegas bookmakers, these characters evidently are supposed to represent real people.

If the author has evidence of their alleged misdeeds, great. Bring it on. Let's have it. Cards on the table.

But unless it's a novel, making vague hints about such despicable behavior while hiding behind a shroud of artifice does not serve the book's readers.

If you can get past all the fictionalized stuff, "The Smart Money" is an entertaining tale of the author's tour of duty with a big betting consortium.

Especially in the hands of a gifted writer such as Konik, though, it could have been much more.

[wolfman]

i've read this book. you can figure out who the characters are if you've been around this biz for a while. it's not that hard. some of the sportsbooks he references are tough to figure out though.

[Links72]

Wolfman I'm really struggling with converting some of these fictitious names. Would you mind posting or PM'ing some of the key ones that aren't so obvious ?

[clevfan]

One of the fake names used in the book is Joe Schlockman, who owns a website called The Cure.......
That's an easy one for you guys[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]



Another, he refers to joe houston at a book called nautica......
that has to be gary austin at tradewinds

[wolfman]

i don't have the book in front of me, but another easy one was

"pat colombo from right away sports scores and odds"


also, summit = pinnacle right?

[StarnetGypsy]

ClevFan/Wolfman ..

Looks like you guys have his MO figured out.

Yep, sounds like Rx & Pinn.

Ordering the book right now since winter is going to amount to 'cabin-fever' for quit a spell ... thanks guys.

[Praesto]

That book was terrrible.

The question I had about this author's character is:

If he was such an honorable and moral guy (As he mentioned several times in his book), then why was his girlfriend a dirty slut?

Was this just for "better" reading, or was this guy serious?

[StarnetGypsy]

LOL Praesto!!

She's a slut? God bless her little pea-pickin heart [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

It's Vegas, baby!

[dinque]

i am half way thru and find it very weak.i bet this game,it won, then i bet this game it lost,but i bet two more games and they won.guy doesnt seem to know that he is playing some cold sides,with the hope of catching some middles.every character in the book is portrayed as slimey,stupid or evil and not much ever happens.i know 20 runners who have much better stories to tell and a friend of mine is writing a story about the rise and fall of a carribean sports book owner which should be terrific

[Juice]

Sorry to sound brash, but I read part of it and threw it away. My stories from the 90's is better than that crap.

[Praesto]

Is there anyone who actually liked the book?

[Ironlock]

The topic is good, but the author is clearly a *****ing shmuck. Gotta love his "holy grail" at the end of the book....teasers. LMFAO, every intermediate level gambler has played with his moronic theory he claims as a genius breakthrough...undoubtedly, because its the only thing he could pull off as being original (not from other persons or groups).

Good read, because we know all the books and the people, but you'll find yourself rooting for this guy to lose a few limbs.

Iron.

[clevfan]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Praesto

That book was terrrible.



The question I had about this author's character is:



If he was such an honorable and moral guy (As he mentioned several times in his book), then why was his girlfriend a dirty slut?



Was this just for "better" reading, or was this guy serious?</end quote></div>


I didn't think she was a slut? What was it that made you think that Praesto, I am curious.

[StarnetGypsy]

Just got it from Amazon and will read it on the plane to Jersey next month. If it's as bad as you guys say it is, I know someone who will enjoy it ...

[drunkguy]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: clevfan

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>If he was such an honorable and moral guy (As he mentioned several times in his book), then why was his girlfriend a dirty slut?







Was this just for "better" reading, or was this guy serious?</end quote></div>





I didn't think she was a slut? What was it that made you think that Praesto, I am curious.</end quote></div>


first of all, why can't an honorable and moral guy have a dirty slut as a girlfriend?


clev, I agree with Praesto though. The book really could have done without any mention of his sexual escapades. To me it just distracted from the story he was tring to tell and seemed to be more of a "look how cool I am - I am betting syndicate plays and having threesomes with my girlfriend at underground sex clubs"

[clevfan]

Aug. 31, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Speculation abounds about parallels in book about sports betting

After receiving a positive initial reception from the media, Michael Konik's intriguing book "The Smart Money" did a veritable Jimmy Hoffa act in the press.

It's interesting because Konik's work is based on his rare insider's view of his tenure with the sports betting group headed by Billy Walters. Walters, a major golf course developer in Southern Nevada, was said to be ticked off about Konik's project.

Those who have read the book noticed plenty of similarities between Rick "Big Daddy" Matthews and Walters, and Eric "Jox" Brijox and handicapping master Michael "Roxy" Roxborough, but readers have wondered about the identities of some of the other characters in the story.

A few possible answers recently surfaced in the letters section of the street savvy LasVegasAdvisor.com Web site. Among them: The sports bettor "Captain Beefcake" is none other than Hollywood giant Bruce Willis, and the gambler "Heartthrob" is actor/poker bum Ben Affleck. Could the "Boy Wonder" character be based on Ashton Kutcher?

That's the speculation. Presuming those guesses are correct, do you suppose they'd consider playing themselves if "The Smart Money" ever makes it to the big screen?

[skyweasel]

John L. Smith eh? His book on Steve Wynn wasn't much better - a whole lot of innuendo puffed up right to the edge of actual, factual accusations, but never gets there because apparently there isn't much to get to.