Back like I Never Left...But I Will Be Gone for a While :)

Im Still here….

Apologies to all my true fans and supporters.  I know you have been anxiously awaiting my next blurb.  It really is quite fun to get a hard time from people for not writing on here.  People genuinely get mad at me for not posting anything and I LOVE IT.   HOWEVERRRRRR, I have recently taken a pretty big leap.  I have fallen victim to the demands of the proverbial "MAN" and registered to take the CPA test to become a certified public accountant.  Some of you reading this blog know what that means.  Some of you do not.  It basically is a society of people who study their asses off for extended periods of time to pass a test and get some letters at the end of their name.  In my business CPA's are highly respected and are becoming increasingly more EXpected.  So I have been putting off this test for 2 years, but recently decided to try and surprise some people (myself included) and attempt to pass the test.  I am currently one week through studies and have my first test scheduled on October 21.  So wish me luck, or wish me harm, either way, I will study and the results will be what the results will be…

IN ANY EVENT….like my man biggie once said, "I got a story to tell". 

So I was recently chatting it up with an ex flame.  This is one of the only ex flames I Still even talk to because this girl was actually really awesome, we just caught each other at a bad time when we both had different focuses (I.e. my fear of commitment clouded my normally clear vision).  Nevertheless, we were chatting about her one year anniversary with another guy and it kind of made me think.  DAMN.  Time really does fly.  Almost seems impossible that she has been seeing another guy for that long and so many things have changed and are different from the time we once explored dating.  Now I am extremely happy for her and all that, it's great to see her on cloud 9.  But we somehow got into the conversation about the moment when things would eventually go south…..

What I'm implying is that in every relationship, it seems like there comes this make or break point.  Most times in my past it has been a little after a year of seeing someone, when things just get rocky.  You are getting sick of them, you are fighting about nothing, you get stuck in the same old routine all the time and things never change.  Well I warned her of this and she tried to laugh it off, but I could tell that she took a second to think about the proverbial "what if" moment.  What if we do start fighting?  Everything has been so perfect, I wont even know what to do.  What if he stops wanting to be around me?  What if football starts to take over?  What if what if what if??  It got me to realize a few things….

1.     Wondering about what if's will never get you anywhere. - While true, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t wonder.  I mean its human nature to be curious.  But you know the old expression about curiosity and the cat right?  Well when it comes to relationships, curiosity can kill the 'cat'/relationship.  I always wonder what's going to happen.  I try to plan everything out and line up every step to get to where I see myself in my relationships.  My recommendation, if you are going to play the what if game, play it WITH your partner.  What ifs done solo can only end poorly.  Spend time with your partner and instead of focusing on negative what ifs, focus on positive what ifs like "what if we are together a year from now, what would u want to be doing RIGHT NOW, or what if we were alone on an island for one hour only, what would we do?  This could be a healthy way to spin an otherwise negative outcome

2.    Understand the breaking point is coming.  Don’t be stupid.  No relationship is perfect.  I was naïve enough to once think this was possible.  It's really not.  You need to work at things.  Don’t be a lazy shit.  If you want to get better at basketball, what do you do?  Sit on your couch and expect to improve, or get off your ass and find a gym?  It's simple, mainly because when you are with someone you love and care about, it should not be hard to work on things.  You already love each other, you just have to challenge each other to stay creative in a fun way.  Try something life altering like skydiving or bungee jumping.  Create a memorable experience to bring yourselves closer and remember why you fell in love in the first place.

3.    (in the famous words of Jimmy Valvano)…Don't ever give up!  If you really love someone, and cant see yourself living without them, you simply can not quit.  Don’t buy into the "I need time" "I need space" "now isn’t the right time" shit.  Excuse my French, but F THAT!  True love supersedes all bullshit.  Don’t get caught up in the situation.  I'm not saying disrespect your partners wishes by any means, but sometimes you have to know what is best for your relationship and time/space is not always the answer.  You gotta claw with your fingernails.  You gotta get dirty sometimes.  Because if you have that moment when you wake up and think to yourself, "man, I wish I handled that differently and didn’t take this space because now I lost him/her" you will forever regret not following what your heart truly wants.

Think about it.  Do as I say, not as I do!

In other news, another great weekend of football passed highlighted by the Eagles losing #7 and the game to the Falcons in ATL.  Penn State snuk out a close win over the Owls of Temple in a game that was about as exciting as hanging with in-laws.  Ill be back later this week to post about the upcoming football weekend, but bare with me over the course of the next few weeks as I need to prep for this god damn test (aka the devil)

@mattybonez22

Leopards Don't Change Their Spots...

My biggest problem… I care too much!

Ever been in a situation where you really really really want to look out for good 'ole #1, but you just find yourself too worried about everyone else and how it will affect them that your mind just will not let you make the selfish decision to treat yourself at the expense of others?  Well that was the story of my life until about 6 months ago.  I have always tried to do what was best for everyone around me because I knew it brought me true happiness to see others around me happy.  Whether it was breaking personal plans to help out family in need, or driving on 10 hour road trips to see someone I cared about for an hour, or just sacrificing sleep to stay up and listen to a friend vent.  Either way, I was always the guy everyone could count on.  Did it seem like I was being taken advantage of sometimes? Sure.  Did it feel like I was taken for granted often? Shit, almost always.  Did it matter to me?  Never.  Regardless of what happened, I would always do whatever I could to make someone else happy.  That is until one day when I decided to make a change….

After a sour end to my last relationship, something in me seemed to snap.  That whole IDGAS attitude I take on most things in life elevated to IDGAF (figure it outtttt people).  For whatever reason, my warm heart turned cold.  I started lashing out, thinking about myself first and making decisions that left a lot of people scratching their heads like wtf is he doing?  I pissed a lot of people off and hurt a lot of feelings.  But for what?  Was this some built up selfishness that had finally boiled over and forced me into recklessness?  Was it the real me?  Was it someone else that needed to rear his ugly head as a result of 24 years of being everyone's crutch?  I wasn't sure…until yesterday when I decided to brush that guy away.

I was taking a lunch stroll, which I don’t often do since I tend to work through my lunch at my job to avoid staying late, when I find an old acquaintance of mine.  A former friend who was still very much in touch with my old circle of college friends who basically filled me in on what everyone was up to.  As she was telling me what everyone was doing, I wanted to feel some kind of anger, or haste towards them for the way things ended.  However, I found myself strangely wishing the best for them.  I am not sure if it was one of those moments where you realize you are actually growing up, or if it was just the REAL Mr. BetMore making his long awaited resurrection.  I believe it was the latter.  Nevertheless, I realized that when it all comes down to it, "we are who we are" (Ke$ha voice)  I know it sounds corny, but its true.  At the end of the day, I am always going to be the guy who cares about everyone else more than himself and will do whatever he can to make others happy even if he sacrifices himself a little bit, because that’s who I am.  That being said…

I am really looking forward to getting back to the old me.  Fun loving, easy going, living it up, Ja Rule style.  My high school baseball team had a saying, "W.I.T.D"  Whatever it takes, Dude, and that’s how its gonna be.  Whatever it takes to be the best.

I leave you with one thought.  Are you waiting for something to change?  Is something dangling in front of you that you really want, and have the ability to get it?  STOP DREAMING.  People say that you should "be the change you want to see in the world".  Screw that saying.  That's too damn deep.  It's quite simple really.  Be honest with yourself.  If you think you can do something, you probably can.  If you wait around, your ability to do it will diminish.  Life is too short and you never know what can happen.  MAKE SHIT HAPPEN!

Back tonight with me fantasy suggestions for the weekend and "3 Saturday Scorchers" with 3 college football games that I feel strongly about.

Follow me @mattybonez22

Teaser City...

I see the final score of tonights Pats Fins game being 27-20 pats.  Given this score, you could bet any teaser and win.  My recommendation for the game is just that.  $50 round robin teasers.  $50 Pats and over $50 pats and under.  $50 Fins and over.  $50 Fins and Under.  lets pick up 200 more.  I am feeling greedy tonight.  Normally this is when that loser piece of my picks back up and I start giving back the money I won on Sunday, but I am feeling good about it.

Also plays of the night:

Magic Monday Money

1.  Tampa Bay Rays @ Baltimore Orioles - Take Tampa risking $150 to win $100.   This team is on FIRE and breathing down the Red SAWKS necks for the AL wild card.  I just cant see a way some kid named Britton can slow them down tonight.

2.  LA Angels @ Oakland A's - Take Angles risking $100 to win $120.  The Angels and the Rays are both on fire.  Angels are only 2.5 games behind the Rangers and have been winning often after just stealing 2 of 3 from the Yanks.  I say they stay hot and love them as an underdog tonight against Gio Gonzalez who got rocked in his last outing.

3.  Phils @ somewhere in the state of Texas... Lay the 1.5 runs risking $120 for $100 and ride Oswalt to the bank.  Oswalt is not happy that rumors are swirling that he may be the "Ace" left off the playoff rotation.  After a strong outing last start, he will build  off that and get another strong win with a surge in the lineup surely to be provided by having former MVP Jimmy Rollins back.  The Houston Astros are awful.  the return home for Hunter Pence will have him hit a HR and Phils win 8-1.

Let's get some wins.  I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts on the US Open and my ideas on when women say one thing and mean another.

follow me on twitter @mattybonez22

SUNDAY FUNDAY RECAP - and a quick tangent on crazy women

You ever just get so lost in a conversation in what you are trying to say that somehow things get twisted up so hard that you start arguing with someone about things that you didn’t even say/intend to say, but you aren’t sure if you even said them or you may have said them?  Well that certainly happens to me a lot, and it just happened a little while ago.  I was having a nice conversation with a friend of mine who shall remain nameless.  We were just catching up and shooting the breeze when we began talking about the guys she was dating.  Somehow or another I asked her about dating four guys at the same time and let's just say that she was none to pleased that I thought she was dating four guys at once.  So she starts snapping on me and telling me how much of a "dick" I am for accusing her of being a slut more or less, which was so far from what I was even trying to do by simply showing interest in her love life.  Guys will ask friends if they are dating anyone to be nice, but 9 times out of 10 it's because the guy really wants to get a date himself.  Not saying that was the case here, I'm just saying.  Either way, I ended up apologizing to the 9's and I still don’t think I did or said anything wrong.  Next thing you know my apology isn’t specific enough!!! I was like "Yo, is you crazy?"  Fellas - never ask a woman or tell her that she is or may be CRAZY.  Women hate hearing that, so unless you are actively trying to start a fight, do not call women crazy.  And yes is the answer if you were wondering whether I had ever insisted that a female was crazy in order to start a fight, you know who you are #2.  Nevertheless, I think I just lost a friend for a few weeks until she recovers from my mind blowing insult which was purely based on miscommunication…..Shaking my damn head (SMDH)

On to bigger and better things…GO PATS!

If you stuck with me on my "Sunday 4 Sure 2 Score" then you should be happy.  The damn Chargers could not pull out the 9 point victory over the brutally awful Vikings and cost us the reverse.  If anyone watched that game, I start out by apologizing for your poor eyes, but man did the Vikes look like @$$!!!!!  McNabb had a stellar game, 39 yards.  Seriously, that's almost impossible.  He played four quarters of football and had 39 passing yards.  Had it not been for a costly Rivers turnover and the normally suspect SD special teams, the Vikes would not have put a point on the board.  We will be going against them for sure next week.  Eagles game just about got over ther 43.5 total posted, which went up to 44 by game time and cost me 300 bucks profit by not getting it in when I wrote this post.  DAMNIT.  Moments that make you say SHIT (MTMYSS)But we ended up losing the reverse for $-55. 

From there we looked at a solid teaser play with the Tenn Titans, who fought back from an early deficit to cover the tease (and straight bet depending on when you got the line which moved from Jax -3 to Tenn -2 by game time).  We coupled that with the cardinals in AZ who despite a surprising Scam Newton effort got the tease and straight bet cover by winning 28-21.  Dear fantasy sports players:  I do not care what anyone says about Scam Newton, he can play.  Tebow sucked last year and still was scoring mad points last year when he was out there.  Newton will put up fantasy points.  Do not expect 400 and 3 scores every week, but he will find a way to put up points.  The greatest uptick in value probably goes to the resurrected career of Mighty Midget WR Steve Smith.  He looked like he actually WANTED to play football.  Shit, lets be honest, if you had Kimmy Clausen and Patty Moore throwing you the ball, you would not be so motivated either.  Long story short, we came up $100 with the tease.

BUFFALO = better than what MOST thought.  KC = AWFUL.  The chefs suck.  I had a feeling Buffalo would take this one, but was a puss and decided to just take the points.  I had a great text convo with our boy Handy Cap at the 10:45 mark of the 4th quarter during this game. 

ME:  When was the last time a starting Bills QB was resting in the 4th quarter of a game because they were winning by so much?

Cap:  I was thinking the same thing - but where is Gus Johnson?

Me:  Football does suck without Gus screaming for no particular reason.

Cap:  :(

Seriously, it was nice to pick up another cool $150 on this game, which I call easy money, but where was Gus Johnson, the greatest sports broadcaster alive?  I hope he is in good health!  COME BACK TO US GUS!!!!

Lastly, we took the $200 tease with the lions and the pats.  LIONS = the real deal when "IF HEALTHY" (this is Matt Staffords official new name) stays healthy.  TAMPA = IN TROUBLE!  Some people thought Tampa could make a playoff run this year.  To all of those who agreed, I ask you this, "Can a team with an unproven RB who I was very down on this year, (Blount 5 carries, 15 yards 0 catches, Earnest Graham 6 carries 13 yards, 8 catches 58 yards) and an unproven 2nd year WR in Mike Williams and an injured Defense really make noise when they have to play in the NFC South against NO, Atl and the Scams, really be good again?  The short answer is no. The long answer….well, that’s actually also NO.  TAMPA WILL NOT WIN MORE THAN 6 GAMES THIS YEAR - PUT THAT on the board.  Anyway, Megatron looked like his autobot self and jahvid best got good combo yardage in the win.  Lions D got to the mobile Freeman for a few sacks and overall looked like the real deal stealing a big one on the road.  We now look for the pats to come in tonight and get the straight up win to cover our $200 Tease which would put us up $395 for the "Sunday 4 Sure 2 Score".  Good start if you ask me.  GO PATS!

In other news, I would be remiss if I did not mention a few awesome games this weekend.

Mich v. ND

If you missed the first 3 quarters, then good for you.  If you missed the 4th then I recommend finding it online somewhere.  Amazing offense and terrible defense allowed the Maize n Blue to pull out a miraculous victory as they were led on 3 TD drives in the last 3 minutes.

Dallas v. NY Jets

Only Tony Romo could blow the game AND 2 separate fantasy games for me with 2 costly turnovers including a fumble at the Jets 1 yard line AND the INT with 1:42 left to seal the deal for a 49 yard Nick Folk, former Cowboy current Jet, kick.  Sad but true story that IS the Dallas Cowboys.  Good, but never good enough.  And the Jets are really boring to watch.  They have so many weapons, I look for them to air it out more as the year progresses.  Special teams cost the Boys here with a blocked punt return for TD to give JETS the momentum and turn the game around.  Dallas D actually looked surprisingly awesome.

Back tonight with a quick preview of the Monday night lineup….Hint: I will be watching Bachelor Pad and Hell's Kitchen hoping that Elise continues her quest to the Hell's Kitchen finale and that somehow Casey and Vienna vanish into an Arizona desert.

Today's the day when the losing STOPS!

At some point during my eventful Saturday I was having a conversation with a young but wise friend of mine.  I was having one of those "me against the world" moments as we were having an interesting argument about when best friends get significant others.  She claimed to hate when that happened.  I pointed out that I couldn't be happier for my friends when they fall in love, but that it does suck when they fall in love and forget about you!  We all know that story. You got your best friend.  You guys are inseparable.  Making jokes and sharing laughs to the point that you have conversations in an almost entirely different language than the rest of society.  But then that moment comes along when you feel like you are being replaced.  It happens to us all and it sucks!  But you can't REALLY be selfish enough to say anything to your friend because if you really do love them, then you truly want what's best for them and you know that eventually things will get back to the way they were.  Nevertheless, the argument ended when I told this friend of mine "you win".  Her immediate response, "that's because you  like to lose".  I read the message several times over and realized that she could not be more right.  I pointed out to her that she must have been reading the blog, and that I am tired of losing.  Again, in her infinite wisdom she said, "then stop wanting to lose".  It sounds so simple right? If you don't want to lose, then stop trying to lose and maybe things will turn around.  Well guess what fans?  TODAY IS THE DAY.....when I will begin my turn around.  But it has to start with a few simple rules......

1.  Change my definition of gambling
      How can you truly win if everything you do is based on a "reckless" principle?  You can't!  It is just not possible.  So with that in mind, instead of being "reckless" I am only going to make wise wagers on things I feel very confident on.  I will do my research, and limit my risks to only a few games and one girl at a time.  Shit gets overwhelming when you are trying to pick 12 games a day and decide which one of 4 girls you want to spend time with.

2.  Stop TRYING to lose.
     I am under this strange belief for whatever reason, that if I do not TRY lose, maybe I won't!  It sounds so simple and easy, but if you read my last post, it really is quite the challenge.  Today is the day, when I turn it around.  I have won 3 days in a row, and will continue my streak today.  Lastly......

3.   Set Firm Goals
      Part of the recklessness exists because I go into casinos or bet on games or hang out with girls and never have a definite goal in mind.  I will tell myself that I want to win $200.  But then once I am actually up $200 I think I am hot and want to keep playing until I lose it all.  In order to kick my losing ways to the curb, I will begin to set hard goals and stick to them no matter what!

If I can maintain these three goals, maybe winning ways will come to me like my vision of Shackleford winning the Preakness.  Seriously I had a dream before the race that this horse won....and it did, you can ask Handy Cap, he was there.  (and no that doesn't mean he was hanging out in bed with me you sickos, we just both made some money off that prediction)....so with this is mind, I bring to you my "Sunday 4 Sure to Score"

In an effort to stay true to form, I will not be picking every game, but rather will make 7 picks each Sunday on bets that I think are just downright Super.  They will include teaser bets, parlay bets, reverse bets and straight bets depending on my confidence level in each game.  Just so we are clear on the terminology.


Teaser Bet - Let's say your sportsbook is offering up a 2-game, 6-point teaser in the NFL. This means that you can use those 6 points against the spread of both of those two games. So, let's say these are the two NFL games that you've chosen to tease:


Pittsburgh -9 Vs. Oakland

Cleveland +2 1/2 Vs. St. Louis

You are taking Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Now you can take those 6 points and apply them to the point spreads for the Steelers and the Browns. Following this, your new lines would look like this:

Pittsburgh -3
Cleveland +8 1/2

If both teams cover the newly adjusted spread, you win your bet.  

Parlay Bets: These are single bets that links together two or more individual wagers and is dependent on all of those wagers winning together. The benefit of the parlay is that there are much higher payoffs than placing each individual bet separately since the difficulty of hitting it is much higher. If any of the bets in the parlay loses, the entire parlay loses. If any of the plays in the parlay ties, or "pushes", the parlay reverts to a lower number of teams with the odds reducing accordingly.


Reverse Bets:  This is the most complicated form of wager, but also the highest payout variety.  Yesterday I picked a winning reverse with Alabama (ROLL TIDE) and the Under.  The 50 wager won me 200 bucks.  
A reverse bet is two or more "If bets" where your action is covered both ways. It's similar to boxing an exacta or lottery numbers. 
If you bet a 2 team reverse, you are betting two separate "If bets" as follows:
Bet A - IF - Bet B 
and 
Bet A - IF - Bet B
Let's say both bets (A and B) are risking $110 to win $100.
If both bets A and B win, the player will win $400 and get back $620 ($400 plus the $220 risked).
If just one bet wins (A or B), the bettor will lose $120 ($110 on the first and $10 on the second) and get back $100.
If both bets lose, the bettor will lose $220.

Again this is the riskiest type of bet, but attracts bettors with the 4 to 1 payout on two wins.

Sunday, September 11th (1PM EST Games)

For a great preview of all the games, click here (http://ifgamblingwerelegal.blogspot.com/2011/09/nfl-week-1-predictions.html)

1.  $100 Teaser Tennessee Titans +3 and Arizona Cardinals -7.  

This teaser wager will give me the Titans +9.5 and the cardinals -.5 As I will wager $130 to win $100 on this 6.5 point teaser.  The reasons here simple.  Tennessee is on the road with new to them but proven veteran QB Matt, my brothers wife is super hot, Hassleback and newly motivated running back Chris, I wanna look like Weezy, Johnson.  After seeing ALL DAY Adrian Peterson sign his new contract for $96 Million, I believe CJ2K runs extra hard for the first 6 weeks this year and then tries to renegotiate again.  I am serious, this guy is an absolute nut job, but one hell of a runner.  The Jaguars organization is just plain screwed up right now.  They just fired their #1 QB a week before the season and have some guy named McCown starting at QB with a tired and injured maurice Jones Drew.  And though we share initials, MJD and I, I am very down on him this year from a fantasy perspective so expect a Titans outright win 26-13.  The cardinals -.5 seems too easy.  Opening home game against what could be the worst team in football with Scam Newton at the helm?  Seriously, I wonder if I went 30 yards away from him and just stood there, could he complete a pass to me?  The fact that I eve question that should scare the living hell out of me.  With that in mind, I will take Larry Fitzgerald to score twice as Kevin Kolb loves him the way McNabb loved TO after he almost quit.  The man crush from Kolb on Fitz is scary.  Cardinals win 27-16.

2.  $50 Reverse (to win $200) Eagles over 43.5 and SD Chargers - 8.5

The Eagles have a juggernaut offense and sneakily the Rams offense is better than the experts think.  I can see the Rams winning this game outright and I would not be surprised as it may take the Eagles a game or two until the "DREAM TEAM" get the right players in the right spots.  Up and coming Sam Bradford has potential to be the next Tom Brady.  He can make all the throws and has a killer feel for the game.  There is a reason he was breaking Peyton Manning rookie QB records last year and I do not believe it was solely because he was forced to throw a lot.  S-Jax is getting old and the ram trust Bradford to make plays.  Look for a high scoring affair here.  I will call it 33-31 Rams on a late field goal after a Vick turnover! O I SAID IT PHILLY FANS!  I am also putting the Chargers in here because this is it for them.  If ass clown Norv Turner can't get it done this year, I completely write them off.  They always start our poorly, but a less than 100% healthy McNabb and who I have money on to win MVP, Philip Rivers, will lead them to a large 34-13 victory.  GO CHARGERS! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTpbM3-vsI4 - gotta love the gov)

3.  $200 Teaser New England Patriots -7 and Detroit Lions +1

WOW.  The Lions were once getting 3 points, now it is down to 1.  Without injuries happening, NFL spreads NEVER drop by a point let alone 2 points.  This should and will normally scare the hell out of me as the public is POUNDING the Lions here.  But like Bone Crusher said, I ain't never scurred.  I love what the Lions have going on.  Aside from the fact that my fantasy teams all own Stafford, Best and Megatron, I am unbiased here.  NO I really am not.  But you give me this hyped up team with 7.5 points and I think I can stay within a TD for the final.  I have Lions with the outright win 27-24.  Seriously, if NE loses to Miami, I am going to quit gambling for the rest of the year.  I already have an open teaser pending with NE that I tied the Packers to.  If they lose this game I will be absolutely stunned.  Former Michigan QB Chad Henne is worse than Denard Robinson, and if you watched some of the throws he made last night, despite the AMAZING come from behind victory, you know thats just awful.  I think Brandon Marshall will put stats up but that is more a testament to him than anything.  Guy is a fucking nut job, but boy can he catch the ball.  I say NE in a rout, 38-17.

4.  $150 Buffalo Bills +4.5

In Ryan Fitzpatrick I do believe.  The guy is a genius and aside from his Ivy League education, he was one of the hottest fantasy QB's going last year for a stretch of 6 weeks.  I know this because I had Romo the Homo last year who got injured and forced me into picking up what I thought would be a bum, turned superstar.  A revamped defensive line with former Crimson Tide standout Marcell Dareus (i love the name) and I think this team can surprise some people the way Oakland did last year by sweeping their division.  There is a 0% chance that Buffalo sweeps up against the Jets, Pats and Fins, but I would not be surprised to see them steal a game from the pats or jets. O I SAID IT.  And seriously, aside from Jamaal Charles, the Chefs have absolutely nothing.  Cassell has been a bum for 3 years.  His numbers lie.  He appears decent to the untrained eye, but I was watching game film on him wit Merrill Hodge and the guy plain sucks.  Cmon fans, you know I wasn't watching film with Hodgey, it was really me and Jaws!  But I say the Jamaal Charles train carries this team to a field goal victory and the bills hang tight in a 23-20 loss.  take the bills with the points and laugh to the bank.

IT IS FINALLY UPON US.  We have all anxiously been awaiting this day since the Packers beat the Steelers in last years superbowl.  I will keep you updated on my fantasy squads and provide a list of my projected top 5 at each position below.  See how we make out.

QB: (obviously excluding Brees and Rodgers)

1.  Philip Rivers

2.  Tom Brady

3.  Kevin Kolb

4.  Sam Bradford

5.  Mike Vick

RB:

1.  Jamaal Charles

2.  Frank Gore

3.  Chris Johnson

4.  Felix Jones

5.  Jahvid Best

WR:

1.  Calvin 'Megatron' Johnson

2.  Andre 'ILOVETHEU" Johnson

3.  Larry "I make all men jealous because of how ridiculous my body is" Fitzgerald

4.  Mario "I wish I was only Manning" ManningHAM (call me crazy but i am expecting BIG things)

5.  Mike Wallace He is going to burn Baltimore for a deep one, and maybe 2.

TE:

1.  Antonio "If I'm Healthy" Gates

2.  Aaron Hernandez

3.  Greg "Scam's Security Blanket" Olsen

4.  Lance Kendricks - the Eagles LB's are awful

5. Jason Witten

Good luck to everyone and enjoy the days festivities!!!  I hope I start winning today, and I promise that I will start this season off right.  If you want to make some money, follow my plays!  Soon I will have to start charging for them because they are just so damn good.

Mister BetMore is OUT.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (-2)

Week 1 division rivalry matchups are great and this is arguably the most heated rivalries in all of football. After Hines Ward's alleged DUI this offseason words were exchanged via Twitter between Ravens RB Ray Rice and Steelers Defensive Back Ryan Clark. Basically, they won't be inviting one another over for Thanksgiving Dinner. My guess is Roger Goodell will be handing out a couple of fines after this game is done. On the field though I really like what the Ravens have done by bringing in WR Lee Evans and FB Vonta Leach to help bolster up their offense. My guess is that the Ravens will control the ball on offense and give Big Ben and the Steelers a lot of problems. I like the Ravens to win by a touchdown in this one. 

Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5)

The Bucs were a surprise team last year after going 3-13 in 2009 and finishing with a 10-6 record in 2010, narrowly missing the playoffs. Will they be able to build on that uptrend in a very tough NFC South? Is Josh Freeman ready to make the leap to a premier QB? WR Mike Williams has already gone out on the preseason limb to say "We're guaranteeing the playoffs". I like the confidence, but to me this is going to be a feel-out game for both teams where we will learn a lot about what the 2011 season holds. A lot of people like the Lions as their 'sleeper' pick for the upcoming season and I tend to agree. A lot of the tools are there - good QB, great WR, and they have my favorite defensive player DT Ndamukong Suh. In a game this close and with so many questions yet to be answered for both teams, I'll take the Lions with the points. 

Atlanta Falcons (-3) vs. Chicago Bears

Anyone that knows me, knows that I hate hate hate Jay Cutler. I just don't see it. And last year when he went down with that injury in the second half of the NFC Championship game against the Packers I think his true colors showed. I have no issue with the fact that he was injured, but he looked extremely disinterested as his backup QB tried to will the team back into the game. Anyways, I think that the Bears are primed for a down year and with LB Lance Briggs asking to be traded a week before the season it just doesn't seem like this is a team that is ready to gel and win football games. Give me the Falcons on the road. 

Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-6)

I'm a Bills Fan. I know that cheering for your team and investing money don't align because emotions are too high. That being said - I do think that the Bills have a puncher's (boxing pun?) chance at going .500 for the season. There are definitely holes on the team and management has been terrible the past few years, but I think they finally got it right when they drafted DT Marcell Dareus from Alabama. I also think that the Chiefs are wildly over rated. With QB Matt Cassell'sstatus uncertain, I'll gladly take the Bills plus the points in this one. 

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans (-9)

Peyton Manning will not be playing. The Indianapolis Colts are probably a 5 win team without him. With or without Arian Foster I think that the Texans will be too much for the Colts to handle. Their defense will be stronger with the addition of LB DeMeco Ryans (back from injury) and CBJonathan Joseph (Signed in Free Agency). No Way the Texans lose this game at home against a Manning-less Colts team. Take the Texans and lay the points.

Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) vs. St. Louis Rams

Having gone to school in Philadelphia, I have this anti-Philly sports complex that has been growing in me the past few years. It started with the Eagles. Year after year, the Eagles would get to the NFC Championship game - they would fail to reach the Superbowl and then I was left to hear everyone talk about how good the Eagles could have been if X player would have done this or that. Well this year expectations for the Eagles are even higher with the signing of All Pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha and trade for CB Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie. The city is abuzz with talks of the "Dream Team" and ESPN The Magazine even picked the Eagles to win the Superbowl over the Steelers. I don't think they will win their division let alone the Superbowl. That being said - I don't think the Rams will provide much of an obstacle in week 1 for the Eagles, but I don't think the ride will be as smooth as people think. Take the Eagles on the road, but remember to mitigate expectations.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns (-6.5)
Really have nothing to say here - I'm surprised the Browns could be favored by this much over any team in the NFL. The Bengals must really blow. I do know that Peyton Hillis is on the cover of Madden so with that information alone I'll take the Bengals plus the points. 

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (-3)
Another game I will likely care very little about, unless somehow Gus Johnson is involved. The Jags just announced that they released starting QB David Garrard 5 days before the start of the season. That's probably not a good sign. With RB Chris Johnson back in camp and expected to start I think the Titans will actually show some sign of life when they have the ball in their possession. Take the Titans and the points and try to stay away from this game on TV.

New York Giants (-3) vs. Washington Redskins

Another solid Division matchup in week 1. I expect both teams to have a tough time competing in the NFC East this year. The Giants hellish preseason is finally over, I just don't think they will have enough bodies to compete throughout the year. The Redskins finished 6-10 last year and showed very little promise. I think that Eli Manning and the Giants offense will be too much for the Redskins to fend off. Take the Giants to roll in this division matchup. 

(4PM EST Games)

Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals (-7)
Scam Newton makes his first start! I actually like Cam Newton to win offensive rookie of the year. Which is not saying much considering the other quarterbacks in his draft class will be sitting behind proven veterans (McNabb, Hassellbeck, and Luke McCown). The Cardinals made the trade that their organization knew it needed to make. Bring in a QB that can throw the football. Kevin Kolbhas very little experience as the head signal caller - but anything after last years abysmal roulette of QB's in Arizona is an upgrade. I think the Cardinals over paid for Kolb, but as long as you can keep Larry Fitzgerald happy you're doing something right. Lay the points and take the Cardinalsto win at home.

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers (-5.5)

It actually pains me to think about the NFC West. Did the Seahawks really win a playoff game last year against the New Orleans Saints? Not sure how that happens - but I think they will be much worse than last year. Tavaris Jackson is not going to be the answer for this franchise and while the signing of WR Sidney Rice may look good on paper - he'll likely face a similar situation that Fitzgerald dealt with last year in Arizona. The 49ers are nothing special either, but I do think they have enough talent to at least compete in the very weak NFC West. LB Patrick Willis has long been one of my favorite players to watch on the defensive side of the ball, basically because he goes into beast mode. For the game take the 49ers and if you want to be cute try taking them for your survivor pools because this might be one of the last times they are a favorite in the eyes of Vegas. 

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Diego Chargers (-8.5)

I like this match up a lot. The Chargers play a brand of football that I have long been a fan of. Last year they were able to have the number 1 total Offense, and the number 1 total Defense - but still managed to miss the playoffs because of their horrific special teams play. The Chargers will put up points in a hurry and the Vikings will try to keep up in what should be a high scoring affair. I'm expecting big Fantasy numbers for players on both teams. I do expect McNabb and AP to keep it close, so I'd play the Vikings in this one even though San Diego will still come out on top. 

Sunday Night Football - 8:25PM EST Start

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets (-4)
Great way to cap what should be a dizzying day of fantasy stats, beer, and food. The Ryan Brothers (Rex and another fat one) going at it in week 1. There is a lot of hype around both teams going into this season and as I've mentioned before I think the Cowboys will live up to that hype this year with new head coach Jason Garrett. The Cowboys have so many threats on offense, I just don't see how the Jets will be able to contain them. I'm curious to see whether CB Darrelle Revis will blanket Miles Austin or Dez Bryant - but whoever draws Antonio Cromartie will likely put up big numbers. Take the Cowboys plus the points in this one.

Monday Night Football - 9/12

New England Patriots (-7) vs. Miami Dolphins 

The Patriots are a good football organization. The Dolphins are not a good football organization. How can the Dolphins openly try to lure another coach in the offseason and then once that coach (Jim Harbaugh, 49ers) elects to take his talents elsewhere pretend like everything is fine and dandy with coach Tony Sparano. That's not good business at any level. I think the Dolphins actually have some talented players on this team - but with a lack of leadership at Head Coach and an unproven QB in Chad Henne there's no way that I see the Dolphins stepping on the same field as the Pats. Lay the touchdown and take the Patriots in week 1. 

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos (-3) 
I actually have the Broncos as one of my sleeper teams for this year. At 4-12 last year, I expect them to finish second in the AFC West led by the trio of QB Kyle Orton, RB Knowshon Moreno, and WR Brandon Lloyd. I have very little faith in anything that the Raiders have done in the last 15 years and while they may be able to compete in a relay race I doubt they can put it together on the football field. I'm sure that by the time this game comes around I will be all Football'd out for the week but give me the Broncos in this one and thank God we have our favorite sport back.

Feel free to add comments or thoughts below 

Season Record: 0-0-0

Welcome to the BIG SHOW...da da DA da da DA

"Hello world" (weezy voice)....


Odds are whatever gets written from here on out is gonna get me in a lot of trouble with a lot of people.  But I only live once, so what do I have to lose? IDGAS!  Welcome to the blog of Mister BetMore, which we can simply refer to as the MBB.  As is the case with most things in my life, I'm cheating by taking this name.  The name Mister BetMore was actually given to my father, the BIG JD, by a friend during a reckless $50,000 night in Atlantic City when the BIG JD insisted that his friend continue to "Bet More" money on each blackjack hand.  But as you can see below, family comes first, and my father is my idol, so I am taking on this name to extend the tradition and bring it to the lime light.  My plan with this blog is threefold.  Fold 1.  Create an outlet for myself where I can post my feelings and thoughts on shit and have people let me know how they feel.  I truly believe that great conversation spurs from people having polarizing opinions.  I typically take a pole.  Fold 2.  Create a following with a diverse crowd.  I'm going to talk about sports.  But I am also going to rap about sex, and money, and gambling, things that all different types of people can get into.  So feel free to request topics you want my opinion on and we can go to war.  Fold 3.  Therapy.  Shit.  I got issues.  So without further ado, I bring you my first post to the new blog.  


I'm a loser babyyyyy so why don't you kill me???


It is important for you to understand that this is my first entry.  It will be more emotional than most of the following.  But I want to give my readers some insight into who I am as a person before I just start writing about sports and gambling and fantasy sports and sex.....


I recently posted a blog entry on my boy Handy Cap's blog at http://ifgamblingwerelegal.blogspot.com/ (check him out - he is money).  It more or less gave a preview of important story lines for week one of the NFL.  But it started out with a paragraph about the definition of Gambling.  I love the definition "To engage in reckless or hazardous behavior".  Because let's face it, we all gamble.  We do it every day, all day long.  We may not like to admit it, but we all do it.  Every time you get in a car, hop on the subway, get on your lil moped, whatever it is that you do, you are gambling.  Some of us just like to gamble on sports, or in love.  Me, shit, I will gamble on anything.  I once made bets on Wrestlemania, and LOST (I was really dumb enough to think Shawn Michaels could beat the Undertaker).  It is really kind of sick when I step back and think about it, but at the same time, I LOVE IT.  I honestly can not get enough of it.  Blowing money on things I have absolutely no control over, is right at the top of my list of things to do.  Do I owe people money? Yes.  Am I going to pay them? No.  Because I'm "reckless".  But my biggest gambles certainly are not made with money.  No No (KK voice).  My biggest gambles are made on matters of the heart.  


When I fall, boy do I FALL.  Have I always made good decisions on matters of love? NOPE.  Do I plan to start making good decisions now? NOPE.  You see, when you have gone through the things that I have gone through in my life you just carry this "IDGAS" attitude.  Figure it out people, its not rocket science.  I don't give a shit.  And thats what I love about me. Sure my "IDGAS" attitude has gotten me into some serious troubles over my time, but what can you do?  People say you live and you learn.  I always preached that experience was the toughest teacher, because it gives u the test first and the lesson after (I even tried to take credit for that quote in my senior year book).  Regardless of that, its true.  And my experiences lately have been teaching me a ton.  Only problem is, I have not been listening!  For those of you who have seen the movie 'Two For The Money", (check out starting at 1:55 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Ddmf8VNDQ)you can remember a great scene when Al Pacino is talking about how TRUE gamblers do not want to win.  They actually want to lose, because the thrill of everything being against you is really what gets them off.  "Gambling is not your problem, its this fucked up need to feel something, to convince yourself that you exist".  Man, if Al Pacino didn't read my god damn mind.  And it's not even just about money.  That is what I want you to understand.  I have made gambling wagers on sports.  I have won.  I have won BIG.  But inherently, I always knew I would give my winnings back, like you would send back cold soup at a deli (for my seinfeld fans).  The real problem I have, is that I act the same way when it comes to love.  All I ever want to DO, is mess shit up.  I have had great relationships with some great girls, and what do I do?  I find the dumbest reasons ever to fight with them, and make them not want me anymore.  (As we get further along in this blog you will get more clarification on references I make about people, i.e. KK, and code names for Ex's)  I seriously fought with an ex once because she didn't say hi to me while she was working.   It's messed up.  I know this.  Why you ask?  Simple answer is I love to lose.  Complicated answer would require another blog.  But the point I am trying to make here, is that gambling is in us all.  Some of us like to win.  Some of us actually like to lose.  What do you think?  Do you want to win, or lose?  Post your thoughts below, and don't be shy.


I will check back in soon with my NFL predictions for week 1 and an article on favorite sex memories.