Nov 20, 2021

Week 11: Downs Kid

 Going into Vegas for 2016, we had a larger crew with Leland making his return and Mike A joining the team.  Love gambling with Mike A.  He might be the luckiest UTH player, always nailing the river and he just sits there and smiles.  Love his attitude, no matter if he is winning or losing.   Anyway, while reading Eric’s recap of the this trip I totally forgot about one of the funniest craps sessions that I’ve had.  I know that we’ve had amazing craps sessions with so many stories, but I will never forget these sessions from this trip.  The intro to the infamous session starts on Thursday while the boys were playing golf.  

Checking in with Layup, we heard various reports. Back at the Mirage, when he was supposedly working, Layup was:

1. playing roulette (always a bad sign)
2. playing blackjack on the main floor (which is a sign of insanity for him)
3. Playing craps with a down's syndrome kid.

Wait, what?

As we got back and gambled before dinner, Layup tried to explain to us that there is a Down's syndrome savant in the Mirage playing craps. He is a fierce,concentrated roller and is intense in yelling at the dice as they are rolled, He has a partner that assists in the actual placing of the bets across the table. Layup said that this kid was "hot", hit 3 or 4 points while Layup was there and made all sorts of money for the table. We weren't sure whether to believe him or not, but we had our eyes peeled.

 Yes.  I was at a table where a Downs kid joined and it was great.  He was so serious. It wasn’t a cute little thing, but rather everyone at the table knew that they should reload and get ready.  When the kid had a handler with money and took care of all his bets, everyone passed the dice to him so we could see what the hell this was all about.  And he crushed it for me.  Will never forget.  This is easily a top 5 craps event for me, ranked just below the time I rode Jay like a horse around the craps table after he hit a hard 4.  But that wasn’t the best part of the trip. 

Dinner that night was at Wiz's Italian place at Paris; apart from the fact that it was pitch black in there, the food was actually kind of good. (Jim Larranaga let me down in side bets with Layup, Wiz and Leland). We headed back to the Mirage, all headed our separate ways for a bit to get ready for the night session. I came downstairs first and....there he was! At the craps table! The Down's kid!

I alerted everyone in the group. "He is here! Repeat....He is here!"

Soon, the table was filled; Mike D and I were together at one end of the table with the Down's kid at the other end; Wiz and Layup were on the other end on the rail. Soon, other characters joined the action, even though it was a cold table.

A couple joined Wiz and Layup - can't remember the guy; the lady was about 25, wearing all black and weighed no more than 95 pounds and was about 4'11". The first word that came to my mind about her was "malnourished". He tried to teach her the basics of the game, but she just looked so utterly lost.

One explanation - believed by some in our group- was that she was one of those girls that escaped from the basement in that Cleveland house and is experiencing outside life for the first time. This is the first time she may have seen natural lighting in years! Does she need help? Should we call the police? " If you need help, roll a hard 6" was the text of the night.

 

Now this couple was so odd.  That text from Wiz set all of us into a tailspin of laughter and additional jokes. “Hit a point and you get one bit of a hot dog” and “Blink twice for 30 minutes out at the pool” were some of the things yelled at the table.   After she crapped out, Wiz yelled “Back to the basement for you” which I think Eric spit out his drink on the table from laughing so hard.  So we had this couple next to Wiz and I, a hippie couple next to Eric and Mike D, and the Downs Kid and his handler, with the 4 of us texting back and forth, yelling such inappropriate things to the two couples and losing our asses. But none of us could leave because we were having so much fun.  Guess this is how it is rolling at a circus. 

Pats @ Falcons +6.5: Boy I got this game so wrong. Had the Falcons.  Thought that this would be a let down for the Pats. I got in at 7 points. 

Ravens @ Bears +5:  I like the Ravens here.  But won’t bet it. After the NFL came out and said that they blew that Steelers game, I think the Ravens will get screwed here.  I’m staying away.  

Texans @ Titans  +10:  Love the Texans.  Taylor will be better.  Divisional game.  Titans are so overvalued. 

Saints @ Eagles -2:  This is such a trap.  Eagles beat up on a bad Broncos team.  Saints D is so good. I’ll take the Saints

Dolphins @ Jets +3.5: I’ve lost so much money on both of these teams.  Was going to take the Jets until Flaco was named a starter. Now will be taking the Dolphins.  You are pulling White after one game to start Flacco?   Tanking might have already started.

Colts @ Bills -7:  Colts aren’t that bad.  Don’t get the big line. 

Lions @ Browns +11.5:  This was down to 10 earlier this week.  I like the Browns this week as a get right game, but now I’m just going to stay away

Packers @ Vikings +2:  Packers are covering every week. Vikings play well at home.  This is such a trap but I’ll take the Vikings here.

Skins @ Panthers -3.5:  Cam is NOT good.  He scores a couple of goal line touchedowns and now they are favored by more than a FG?

49ers @ Jaguars +6: I can’t figure out either of these two teams. Loved the 49ers last week because of the spot, but not so much this week.

Bengals @ Raiders +1:  This line makes no sense.  Bengals coming off of a bye, but only favored by 1 over a reeling Raiders team. Seems like a trap

Cardinals @ Seahawks +2.5:  Like the Seahawks here in a must win game.  I know Wilson looked bad last week but they never play well in GB. 

Cowboys @ Chiefs -2.5:  This makes no sense to me.  Chiefs win one game and they are now favored.  Fine I’ll take the points.

Steelers @ Chargers -5.5: Big ben is playing.  Who cares.  TJ Watt is out.  I’ll take the Chargers on the road.

Giants@ Bucs -11:  I like the Bucs here at home.  They always play well at home and horribly on the road. And its Brady in primetime.

 

Best Bets- Nice rebound last week. I'll update the stats later.  

Texans

Saints

Dolphins Under

Colts

Vikings

Skins

Skins Under

Colts Under

Seahawks

Cowboys

Chargers

Bucs

 

SuperContest

Chargers

Vikings

Seahwaks

Cowboys

Texans

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