Joe Fortenbaugh breaks down this weekend’s NFL divisional-round games with his thoughts on what to take and what to avoid with help from a friend who tends to jinx bets.
« Look, it’s a lock. It’s beautiful. Don’t even worry about it. » –Santino « Sonny » LoSpecchio If you’ve seen the 1993s gangster flick « A Bronx Tale, » you know precisely what happens next. For those who haven’t (guess what? You now have a homework assignment), allow me to paint the picture: New York mobster Sonny LoSpecchio — played by the well-dressed Chazz Palminteri — and his crew are at Aqueduct Racetrack betting the ponies and cheering on Kryptonite, the 1-horse who is out to a brilliant lead. LoSpecchio is celebrating the impending financial windfall Kryptonite’s win is set to deliver midway through the race before he hears a voice from the steps above screaming, « C’mon, Kryptonite! » That voice belongs to none other than Eddie Mush, a degenerate gambler from the neighborhood known for one thing and one thing only: His uncanny ability to lose any bet he places. The moment LoSpecchio realizes Mush bet Kryptonite as well, he disgustingly states, « He bet Kryptonite? Give me the tickets, » before tearing up the crew’s betting slips three-quarters of the way through the race. To which a young Calogero (aka « C ») responds, « But, Sonny, we’re winning! » LoSpecchio responds, « We can’t win. Mush bet Kryptonite. C’mon. We’ve been Mushed. » Sonny and his crew depart Aqueduct as Kryptonite gets caught from behind and eventually passed at the wire. « Great call on Penn State. That was a smash. » Oct.20,2007. Seven-point favorite Penn State was leading Indiana 36-24 with under three minutes to play. Thirty seconds before Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis ripped off a 56-yard touchdown run on third-and-10 to bring the final score to Penn State 36, Indiana 31. The Nittany Lions won, and the Hoosiers covered. I can still remember this exact moment like it was yesterday. A group of friends and I were at a buddy’s house sweating Penn State -7 tickets on a dreary October Saturday in eastern Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions took a 20-14 lead to the half and entered the fourth quarter up 23-17 before finally grabbing a 12-point lead with four minutes to play. We were all on Penn State, and we were starting to feel good. But nobody dared mention the possibility of a cover because that’s just something you don’t do… under any circumstance… ever.
