Question for Alan about a killer day

[phil23]

Alan - 1st things first, fantastic plays today.  The tri in the Jamaica and the Ancient Title. Thx very much.

Question though about the payoff in both.  In the Jamaica, the tri paid 200-1 with the even money favourite in it.  But in the Ancient Title, with the 1:2 fave out of the tri, the tri only came back 60:1.  Not a huge tri player so not really sure, but it seems either the former was too high or the latter to low.  Thoughts?

Again, killer day.

[P-Dub]

In the Ancient Title, its a 6 horse field with the 2 longest shots off the board.  Although the 2/5 was off the board, the 2-4 choices comprised the trifecta.  

The Jamaica was a 7 horse field, a 7/1 third choice won, as well as the longest price on the board finishing 3rd.  

The Ancient Title had a well regarded second choice winning the race, while the Jamaica had a horse a bit longer win.  The longshot running 3rd also boosted the price.

[BB]

Condolences on the passing of our godfather yesterday, Paul. I loved this from Dave Anderson\'s column in the Times:

"I've been meaning to ask you a question," he told me over the phone one day. "When you write about me, you always use that word."

"What word is that?" I asked.

"Sinister," he said. "You always call me sinister."

"I thought you'd consider that a compliment."

"Well, yeah," he said, "but don't you know my mother reads The Times?"

[TGJB]

I feel compelled to add (since nobody else has) that on Friday Al put up the $139 horse at Santa Anita AS A BEST BET.

True to form, he wasn\'t paying attention and didn\'t bet it.

[P-Dub]

BB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Condolences on the passing of our godfather
> yesterday, Paul. I loved this from Dave Anderson\'s
> column in the Times:
>
> "I've been meaning to ask you a question," he told
> me over the phone one day. "When you write about
> me, you always use that word."
>
> "What word is that?" I asked.
>
> "Sinister," he said. "You always call me
> sinister."
>
> "I thought you'd consider that a compliment."
>
> "Well, yeah," he said, "but don't you know my
> mother reads The Times?"

Thanks BB,

I got to meet him once, at a function for ticket holders, 1996 after the stadium renovation.  He was over in a corner of the room by himself, I approached him and shook his hand, spent a few moments chatting with him. Others saw me speaking with him and quickly came over and surrounded us. A Raider staffer came over and herded everyone away.  As the guy asked me to leave, Mr Davis put up his hand and said....\"Its Ok\".  Spent a few more minutes talking about Raiders history...games, players, moments. What a thrill.

My father worked for a meat company based in Oakland, and they had several blocks of Raiders tickets.  His boss would give him 2 tickets to the game, and he would always take me (I had 3 other brothers, but he knew I was the sports loving one of the bunch).  Lamonica to Wells, Stabler to Branch, Caspar, Tatum, Blanda last minute heroics, Sea Of Hands Game, 76 div playoff against Patriots, on and on and on.  I saw great players, exciting victories, bitter defeats.

My dad and his friends would have a feast in the parking lot before and after games. I just wanted a bite and my game ticket. My dad knew this, so most games I would finish eating, he would give me my ticket and a dollar (the game program was a buck), and off I wold go to my seat.  South end zone, 1st level, Row 21 (first row above the center walkway that ran through the lower seats), behind the right upright.  I would watch the offensive line warmup, Ray Guy kick the ball above the rim of the stadium, just listen to the sounds of the experience. We were so close to the action, and I couldn\'t get enough of it.  

My parents divorced when I was 10, around 1973, and I really cherished spending time with my dad. He also had an A\'s ticket hook up, he was friends with the A\'s equipment manager, and we went to 50-60 games a year back then. Another hugely successful team, and I got to see them too.  So for a kid growing up, to root for 2 teams that were so successful, and also get to attend the majority of the games, what more can a kid ask for?

My father passed away 4 years ago, and with the passing of Al Davis, it feels like one of the last connections to my childhood is gone.  When I think of Al Davis, I think of the Raiders from my childhood.  And when I think of my childhood, I think of the times my dad and I would attend A\'s and Raiders games. What great memories, and Al Davis was responsible for so many of them.

Sorry for the ramble.  I\'ll post horse racing content around Breeders\' Cup time.

[miff]

Paul,

Didn\'t make you a Black Hole guy!

Mike

[P-Dub]

miff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Paul,
>
> Didn\'t make you a Black Hole guy!
>
> Mike


I despise all of that Black Hole nonsense. Our seats back then were above what is now the Black Hole. I\'m also not much for all of the outfits people wear now.

Back then, it was just one big collection of fans.  Different races, cultures, social status.  The Raiders made us all a collective family.  The stadium, the Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum, was what made it such a difficult place to play.  Not one section of fans that take themselves too seriously.

This generation of players is all about self promotion, and that group of fans in the Black Hole has taken that to heart.  Believe me, old school Raiders fans cringe at that.

I better stop before I go full P-Dub attack mode.

[BB]

Great stuff. Magical time to be a hooked up kid in Oakland, Paul! It\'s funny, ain\'t it? With all the great wins - including three demo-job Supe wins - it\'s the bitter losses that stay with you. The phantom fumble game (aka \"The Big Lie\") is the one I\'ll never get over. I so wanted to see that Cowboys-Raiders Super Bowl, but it never came to pass. Al probably never got over that one either.