It wasn't quite New Orleans, but last night we went out to the casino for a big ol' Fat Tuesday feast. The buffet at the Ameristar is good stuff. But we bypassed that for the sports bar, because the beer is cheaper in there, and there were lots of basketball games on.
Sadly, those bastards from Illinois with their old Creighton nemesis coach, Brucie Boy Weber, ran their perfect record to 24-0 with a comeback win over Michigan. Who is going to beat them, seriously? They blow damn near everyone out, and when they have a close game, they have the depth and the experience to pull it out. They are good. Also sadly, the other unbeaten team, Boston College, got upended by Notre Dame.
Of course, Nebraska lost again, this time to Iowa State, at home. This morning I'm in the breakroom and one of our company auditors says to me as I'm reading the sports section, "Anything good in the sports today?" My response: "Well, Nebraska lost again in hoops. Its a good day."
And an even better one if Creighton can knock off Northern Iowa tonight at the Qwest Center in a NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAME ON ESPN2. I made my brother and his wife buy tickets -- if you are going to root for the other team, you may not use my tickets. That's my rule. Rather have 'em sit empty than let an opposing fan have 'em. Its a matter of principal, people. I have to miss the game for a meeting, so likely the only two empty seats in the arena will be nos. 5 & 6 in row 4 of section 113 -- my seats. I'll catch some of it on the deuce, hopefully.
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Now, about that trip to the casino. I don't go very often; I always find myself thinking of all the stuff I could buy with the money I've just lost. Yes, Kadavy, its Affluenza. But what do you do with all the money you win there, if you don't buy anything? Seriously. Speaking of my good buddy Kadavy, we went to the casino one time last spring, which is coincidentally the last time I was there. I spent my money wisely -- on the beer specials -- and after a couple of hours of watching him break even at the tables, we headed out. I had a quarter in change left from my last beer, and I dropped it in a video poker machine next to the escalator. I pushed to button to deal a hand and walked away, confident I had lost my quarter. It was funny. Then David pushed me back -- the hand I got dealt was a royal flush or something. I don't know poker. But I know 1000 credits when I see it. And my Iowa high school math tells me that's $250. Against his urging to keep playing, I cashed out. I'm keeping that shit.
Casinos hate people like me.
Last night, I basically did the same thing. Everyone else in our rather large group was playing various things, and I was spending my money on cheap beer at the bar. I dropped a buck or two here and there, and when it was gone, I went back to spectatoring. My brother was pissed I wasn't playing, so he dropped a five on the ground and gave me this ultimatem: play the fiver, or let someone else walk away with it.
I played the fiver. Put it in a nickel Monopoly game, I did. Second roll, the machine came up with five Grand Hotels -- all across the top row of the slot -- which is the top prize. Unfortunately, it was a nickel slot, and I had bet one credit. Still, 1000 nickels is a lot. That's upwards of $50, which buys the Miami Vice First Season DVD Set, out yesterday. I cashed out.
But it wasn't my money -- it was my brother's. So I gave it to him. That's just the kind of guy I am.
I told him to spend it on tickets and food at the Creighton game tonight, because he's rooting for Northern Iowa, his alma mater, and still not getting my tickets.
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