The elongated voice of the announcer will be center stage for a few weeks and I suppose if I can take John Sterling with "the Yankees win," "the Yankees win," then I am ready for anything.

Soccer front and center will help immensely in the next few weeks in our state’s race and sports books.

So far so good as Memorial Day weekend was above average and this last weekend came about in good fashion with the Belmont having decent numbers.

When all is considered along with the baskets, hockey and whatever else you can cram into a 5 teamer, it wasn’t bad.

The appetite has changed and the bookies have to change with it and maximize every opportunity that avails itself. I am sure as we speak that there is a lot of talk amongst the people who run the joints and their bosses over what can we do, if anything, to enhance our hold of our customer base for the upcoming football season.

You could just sit tight and let nature take its course or step out of the box and take a chance to put your book in the spotlight, or spread your cash around with no incremental handle to show for it.

I was fortunate to be there when we started "Pick the Pro’s" long before some the readers were probably even born.

We started with, I believe, 1,200 entrants the first year and by year 3 were flirting with 20,000 entrants.

It served the Barbary Coast well and has survived the test of time.

Just a hunch but watch for some new and unique ways of giving someone a reason to make at least a pit stop to see what is going on.

Just my opinion but we still sit on our hands when it comes to promoting our product. Sometimes the best time to step out is when we face a lot trouble and turmoil. I have a few things on the desk of the guy who signs the checks and am trying to convince him that stagnant is a word for people who don’t like to take chances.

The Soccer hopefully will buy us another few weeks and could become a good lead-in to the upcoming year.

The industry has made some headway in the overall picture but we still have a long way to go.

By the way, who is that guy who started that long drawn call of "goal" anyway?

Oh, by the way, look for Boise State to become a small favorite over Virginia Tech.

It’s never too early to start pushing.

Take care,
Jimmy V.