In a new book that’s coming out next week, John Daly discloses that he’s lost between $50 and $60 million in his life through gambling. That’s… Goodness gracious. That’s a “holy fuck” kind of a number. His gambling problem appears to be not only addiction, but he also seems to be a really, really bad gambler.
In one episode, he won $750,000 for his finish in the World Golf Championship… then drove immediately to Vegas and lost $1.65 million in five hours. The most bizarre part of the story, at least to me, is that he lost that much playing $5,000 slot machines… which aren’t even fun. To each his own, I guess, but… if you’re going to lose that much lumber, at least make it enjoyable. At least do more than pull a lever. Some blackjack, some craps, some poker… I dunno. That might just be me.
There are other stories just like one in the article. It’s really just staggering… I can’t relate. And this, which frightens the hell out of me, is his plan for the future:
He said he plans to start at the $25 slots in the casinos and set a “walkout loss number,” which would tell him it’s time to leave.
“If I make a little bit, then maybe I move up to the $100 slots or the $500 slots, or maybe I take it to the blackjack table,” he wrote. “It’s their money. Why not give it a shot, try to double it? And if I make a lot, I can…
“Well, that’s my plan.”
I think that’s a very bad plan. I’ve got a better plan, I think: stay the hell out of the casino. Walkout loss numbers are good, but… you can’t finish the sentence without talking about upping your bets and trying to double your money. That’s a pretty good sign that you don’t have a handle on this problem. It’s like a heroin user saying, “You know, I think I’ll just shoot up a little bit.”
Don’t get me wrong, I realize that it’s not as easy as just stayout out of the casino. The man is clearly the all-time heavyweight champion of addictive personalities. While talking to former Cowboys linebacker Hollywood Henderson in rehab for drinking, Hollywood told Daly to be careful, because he’d find something sooner or later that he loved as much as drinking. It’s gambling… and, you know, if it goes too far with gambling, you don’t start shaking and need help walking off the green. You get Joe Pesci clamping your head in a vice.
I really wish the best for John Daly… some major therapy is in order here. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has offered the help and support of the Tour, and I hope they can do something for the guy.
I’m not sure that I want to live in world where it’s OK to sexually assault Chris Kaman. I’ve been enjoying the first round of the NBA Playoffs as much as I’ve ever enjoyed any sporting event, but… I might have to stop watching the NBA now. I cannot believe that he was not suspended for that. 
Doug Flutie, according to the Boston Herald, is about to 
A day after burying the Phoenix Suns in Game Four, 
I knew that NFL teams had some pretty major concerns about Marcus Vick, but… I didn’t know it was this bad. A full day after the NFL draft, Marcus Vick has yet to sign a free agent contract with any team. I thought he’d get drafted in the 5th or 6th round, and at least get a shot. But here we are, two days after the draft, and he still hasn’t signed with anyone. 
A lot of things we talk about here are utterly pointless, but I think this particular exercise is the most inconsequential and worthless of them all: 
