Finkbowl XV is in the books. The decorations are down, the final winnings have been paid out, and all travelers have returned home. Still got a fridge full of leftovers to work through, but that's part of the way I make this event last longer.
This has become such a great event for us. As I mentioned last year after the Snowmaggedon Finkbowl, it's humbling to have so many people travel so far for our little party. The locals seem to enjoy it too, and the nice weather this year allowed the traditional kids football game outside to resume after a year hiatus.
With the looming NFL lockout, someone questioned what would happen if there is no Super Bowl next year. There's no question at all: whether or not there's a game, the first Sunday in February will have a Finkbowl. We'll just have to find something else to bet on other than football.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Mad props
It's been a while, but I've not forgotten about the Things I Love series of blog posts. What better way to jump back into things than to feature a Thing I Love fitting for the season: sports betting.
I enjoy gambling- I like the thrill of the games and the logic behind the betting. I've played poker since I was 13 or 14, with a coffee can of pennies I'd tote along on Boy Scout camping trips. I love table games like craps, black jack and roulette. In all those games though, the bet lasts only as long as a hand of cards, a roll of the dice, or a spin of the wheel.
Sports betting offers something unique: the ability to drag a bet out over several hours, or even longer, all the while enjoying an event in its own right. Just a few bucks on a game brings immediate attention to the contest, inciting interest where there previously may have been none. I'm way too cheap to bet more than a few bucks at a time, but it doesn't take much to create passion about something I may have not cared much about before.
One of my favorite parts of Finkbowl is the side action on the game- the bets on the coin toss and the commercials, the dollar-a-box bets, and the props throughout the game. I love looking at the list of props that are being offered by websites and casinos and finding interesting ones that are near even odds, then picking a side at random and placing a bet with someone (usually Judge). The fun in rooting for something crazy, like for more goals in the Penguins/Capitals game on Sunday than touchdowns in the Super Bowl (currently a prop offered at the above site), is well worth my dollar investment.
I enjoy gambling- I like the thrill of the games and the logic behind the betting. I've played poker since I was 13 or 14, with a coffee can of pennies I'd tote along on Boy Scout camping trips. I love table games like craps, black jack and roulette. In all those games though, the bet lasts only as long as a hand of cards, a roll of the dice, or a spin of the wheel.
Sports betting offers something unique: the ability to drag a bet out over several hours, or even longer, all the while enjoying an event in its own right. Just a few bucks on a game brings immediate attention to the contest, inciting interest where there previously may have been none. I'm way too cheap to bet more than a few bucks at a time, but it doesn't take much to create passion about something I may have not cared much about before.
One of my favorite parts of Finkbowl is the side action on the game- the bets on the coin toss and the commercials, the dollar-a-box bets, and the props throughout the game. I love looking at the list of props that are being offered by websites and casinos and finding interesting ones that are near even odds, then picking a side at random and placing a bet with someone (usually Judge). The fun in rooting for something crazy, like for more goals in the Penguins/Capitals game on Sunday than touchdowns in the Super Bowl (currently a prop offered at the above site), is well worth my dollar investment.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Resurrection
Like a phoenix from the ashes, Finkipedia rises again.
With Finkbowl XV next weekend, a new Idol season just kicking off, and pitchers and catchers reporting in just a few weeks, I figured it was time to get back to the blog you and I both love the most. Thanks to those who asked where I've been- I hope both of you enjoy the multitude of posts I have planned for the weeks ahead!
Lock down the internets- Finkipedia is live again!
With Finkbowl XV next weekend, a new Idol season just kicking off, and pitchers and catchers reporting in just a few weeks, I figured it was time to get back to the blog you and I both love the most. Thanks to those who asked where I've been- I hope both of you enjoy the multitude of posts I have planned for the weeks ahead!
Lock down the internets- Finkipedia is live again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)