Sun Flashbacks: First sports betting column was all Greek to Sun

Saturday, July 1, 2000 | 2:33 a.m.

Ron Erickson, Sports reporter and sports copy editor from 1964-1966, on late Sun oddsmaking columnist and longtime network television football personality Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder:

"Hank decided to hire Jimmy, who at the time was a pretty well-known local character, but certainly not nationally known. It was the first column of its kind in the country, but I think Hank hired Jimmy more to give him a break than to be innovative.

"Jimmy would bring his column in hand-written -- a real mess on different kinds of paper, taped together, with words scratched out everywhere. It was really bad. We all dreaded being the one assigned to type it up to send to the composing room.

"When we'd see Jimmy pull up in his big old Lincoln, we'd all make excuses to leave -- to go cover a story, go to the bathroom, whatever. (Snyder's column later was syndicated and carried by hundreds of newspapers nationwide.)

"Years later, I ran into Jimmy at Hollywood Park and I mentioned how I often made trips to New York. He told me that instead of paying for a hotel room I should stay in his apartment. I thought he was just making conversation -- just being polite. Days later, I got his apartment key in the mail. That's the kind of thoughtful guy Jimmy was."

Today, Ron Erickson develops and owns casinos. His current projects include an American Indian casino in upstate New York and a casino boat off the coast of Florida.