Columnist Jeff Haney: Irreverent author rates some LV sports books

Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2000 | 10:17 a.m.

Jeff Haney's sports betting column appears Wednesday. Reach him at 259-4041 or haney@lasvegassun.com

The only flaw in Jesse May's first novel, the 1998 release Shut Up and Deal, is that it was too true-to-life for the comfort of some poker players.

In certain circles, the novel even prompted a Primary Colors-like parlor game of trying to match its cast of characters with real poker pros and hangers-on.

Forget playing a "marathon" (26 straight hours in one poker game). May's band of fictional antiheroes come across as Ironman Triathletes of poker excess. Let's just say those who dream of mainstream corporate sponsorship for big poker tournaments probably haven't recommended Shut Up and Deal to potential suitors.

In his recently released follow-up effort, The Gambler's Guide to the World, May switches to nonfiction but retains an irreverent edge.

The Gambler's Guide, a breezy travelogue, recounts May's gambling exploits in Europe and the Eastern Bloc, Central and South America, the islands, Atlantic City -- and Las Vegas.

Without giving away anything too juicy, here's a sampling of May's impressions of some Las Vegas sports books:

Mirage: "A classic, but it tends to become so overcrowded on weekends that you can't even stand in there"

Caesars: "It's big and it's not too bright, so you can see all the TV screens and betting boards."

Bally's: "Out of the way, way in the back ... although the beers run freely here."

Las Vegas Hilton: "Big, plush and quiet ... it's a pleasure to place any bet and be able to sweat it here, sipping a drink in the cool confines of the big-screen TVs ..."

Bellagio: "The toast of the town. If you can get there early enough, commander's chairs are yours for the taking, where you can sit and have an armchair view of every game, all at once, and all the lines."

Imperial Palace: "You will find some crazy proposition bets at that place that don't exist anywhere else in town."

Horseshoe: "Hang out with real toothless broken-down horse players, and then sidle over to the lunch counter for a bowl of ham and beans ..."

In another chapter of particular interest to Las Vegans, May describes a blackjack game in an obscure casino on the island of Curacao that is "positive off the top." In other words, the game's rules are so favorable that simply using perfect basic strategy gives the player an edge over the house.

"Positive off the top," he writes. "Four magic words that you could go your whole life without ever hearing once. ...

"If word got out, it would be enough to make hordes of people drop everything that they're doing and descend on the place like a pack of dirty red ants on a piece of cheese."

That's probably true.

But May could have mentioned that until they adjusted the rules a few months ago, a single-deck game at the Slots A Fun casino right here on the Strip was also positive off the top.

Now that game's gone.

Apparently, word did get out.

(The Gambler's Book Shop, 630 S. 11th Street, carries The Gambler's Guide to the World.)

First, Root likes Purdue as a 1-point favorite over Washington in the Rose Bowl. That brings to 16 the number of bowl bets Root has recommended here.

Also, Root said he has downgraded his opinion on Oregon plus 7 in the Holiday Bowl from a top play to a "lean," or very light play. For tracking purposes, we will still hold Root to Oregon plus 7, but Root followers who have not yet gotten down on Oregon might want to make a note of the change.

And finally, Root has released his best bet of the entire bowl season: He likes Florida, a 6-point underdog, to upset Miami and win the game outright in the Sugar Bowl. For tracking purposes we will just hold Root to Florida plus 6. But again, bettors will want to make a note of Root's upset prediction.

In the final round of the Stardust invitational, local handicapper and radio personality Dave Cokin went 6-1 to win the event's $10,000 prize. Cokin defeated blackjack expert Stanford Wong (2-5) in the finale. ...

Pro football handicapper Tobin Hensgen, who shared some of his picks with the Sun throughout the season, finished the Las Vegas Hilton "SuperContest" with a 48-36-1 record (57 percent). The contest's winner posted a mark of 58-27 (68 percent) to capture the $114,600 first prize and a $10,000 bonus for hitting better than 67 percent.