Byron Nelson is 2500/1 to win the 2004 Masters

[Awsi Dooger]

Dead serious, or should I say 91-years-old serious.

Yep, the same Byron Nelson who won 11 consecutive golf tournaments in 1945 and HAS NOT PLAYED A PROFESSIONAL EVENT SINCE 1955.

The creative thieves of the Caesar's Palace sportsbook in Las Vegas have posted odds on Byron Nelson restoring his dominance of the PGA tour by winning the 2004 Masters. Mike Weir will apparently hoist Mr. Nelson out of his wheelchair and slip on the coveted green jacket.

Disregard that Byron Nelson is no longer able to hit a ceremonial opening drive on Masters Thursday.

When I confronted a Caesar's Palace sportsbook supervisor about the absurdity of the listing, he replied, "Then don't bet him, sir." When I continued that it was insulting and bordered on theft, he threatened to call security and have me removed from the casino.

It's so pathetically symbolic of the empty suits who now run Nevada sportsbooks, badges without brains and such a departure from the gutsy ex-bookmakers who were in command just years ago. A wiseacre friend of mine named Kaufman demonstrated the current wimp idiocy yesterday by marching up to a Caesar's betting window and claiming he wanted to wager $1000 on Byron Nelson to win the Masters. It was an ultimate donation that no bet taker with multiple functioning brain cells could refuse, but after a lengthy conference the Caesar's braintrust came back and announced they would only take $100 max on Byron Nelson!

[osaMABUSh]

1. Geez, Hogan must be 5000 to 1 !

BTW Ben Hogan is dead.

[Awsi Dooger]

2. "dead, but not necessarily out of it..."

A line from the classic Monty Python skit, Upperclass Twit of the Year.

Yes, a pulse seemed to be virtually the only criteria Caesar's Palace required for its future book. I neglected to mention there are also numbers on Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Charles Coody, plus Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie.

At least Palmer, Player and Coody are eligible to play as former champs. There is no mention on the sheet that Sorenstam and Wie have not exactly qualified for the Masters, and only a miraculous victory by Wie in January's SONY Open might get her to Augusta.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. Oh my God I HATE this f**king town!

I live in the midst of this mind-rotting bullshit. I'm even so stupid that I work in it! And I'm too damn broke to even THINK about changing careers and can't go without my insurance long enough to pack up, leave and pray for greener pastures elsewhere.

Every time I see another paid advertisement disguised as a legitimate television program, like "The 10 Most Awesome Pools In Las Vegas", on the Travel Channel, I just want to blow chunks.

Okay, I can't sleep and I'm cranky. I'll shut up now. :(

[Gman]

4. This is a legitimate concern because there are a lot of people

that will bet the longest long shot just to do it. I've seen it happen at horse and dog races. It's usually a whim and they don't know anything about the log shot, but they'll usually smile and say, "Yeah, but it I win..."

You did real good making them think about it. At least they put a maximum bet on Nelson.

[Systematic Chaos]

5. Yeah, but that's like telling a junkie

"you can only have a $100-a-day heroin habit"!

It's money tragically thrown to the wind with a guaranteed 0% ROI!

That this could EVER be legal, even in a city where the economy depends on gambling, is a complete and total disgrace.

[GOPisEvil]

6. Taking bets on those not entered is theft.

:wtf:

I guess the lesson is: "Don't walk in the sportsbook if you're a clueless idiot." But that's not the point. The point is to allow people to enjoy the gambling experience - how can they do that if they are not allowed a legitimate chance to win?

[mrbill]

7. with all respect to byron nelson, this is absurd.

that last ceremonial ball was agony.

what would be the odds on mrbill at the masters?

on edit: 800-1 on gopisevil

[ProfessorGAC]

9. 800 To 1?!?!? On GOPisEvil?!?!?

Hey, i've talked to him about golf and his game. I think you're missing about 8 zeroes on those odds. LOL!

Sorry GiE! I couldn't resist.
The Professor

[GOPisEvil]

10. Hey - I took $5 a man from my last golf outing.

I know how to win under pressure now. I gotta be 750-1 now. :D

[soupkitchen]

8. Tell your friend I'll book the bet. Hey I'll give him 10,000 to 1

And I post to bury Caesar's not to praise them.