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SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Steve Fezzik, left, receives his $196,800 check from Las Vegas Hilton sports book executive director Jay Kornegay after winning the 2009 Supercontest.
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Beyond The Sun
Jay Kornegay can't even imagine the odds.
Funny, because as the Las Vegas Hilton sports book's executive director, Kornegay spends every day dealing with numbers. But he thought it would be nearly impossible for anyone to win the Supercontest, the Hilton's annual football handicapping contest, two years in a row.
"It's such a long shot," Kornegay said. "It would be like UNLV winning the BCS National Championship."
Steve Fezzik defied the odds. Fezzik, who has bet on sports professionally for the last nine years in Las Vegas, finished with the best record in the Supercontest and won the grand prize.
Fezzik went 52-29-3 in the contest, in which each bettor picks five NFL games each week of the regular season, and won $196,800. It was the first time in the history of the 20-year contest that a handicapper won back-to-back titles.
"If you ask me what sport is my specialty, I'd say football, but it's really football contests," said Fezzik, who posts his weekly picks and is a moderator at lvasports.com. "To make a comparison, I would say straight bets in football are like cash games in poker. A player like Phil Hellmuth is a much better tournament player than cash games. I would say I'm a lot like Phil Hellmuth in football."
Fezzik beat out 328 other entrants, down slightly from last year when Fezzik cashed for $210,000.
But Fezzik said he was more proud of this year's performance. Fezzik was 61st in the contest midway through the season. That's when he started his monumental run.
"I really felt like last year I was leaking oil and holding on," Fezzik said. "It was totally different this year. I really think I was finishing strong. If this went on a few more weeks, I feel like I would have pulled away even more."
As these contests often do, the title came down to the final week. Fezzik entered week 17 of the NFL season percentage points behind the leader, "Big E".
Needless to say, he agonized over all five of his picks. Fezzik said he was concerned that he and his opponent would wind up picking the same side in three of the games.
Sure enough, they both used one of their selections on the Bills -6.5 against the Colts and the Buccaneers +3 at home against the Falcons.
Fezzik was determined to make sure he lined up on an opposite side for at least one game. That's how he settled on taking Tennessee -4 at Seattle.
"So much goes into this that people don't realize," Fezzik said. "I data mined my opponent and noticed that he played a lot of four-to-seven point underdogs. I liked Tennessee, so I knew it would be great if he took Seattle."
Big E picked Seattle. Through the early games that Sunday, Fezzik grabbed a one-point lead over his opponent.
It would all come down to the Titans game. Fezzik needed Tennessee to win or push to take first place.
When Titans running back Chris Johnson scored on a one-yard touchdown run with four minutes remaining and Tennessee held on for a 17-13 victory, Fezzik was a champion once again.
He said he attributed this year's success to tireless research and not getting attached to a certain side.
"So-called experts will tell you, don't change your mind and go with your first inclination. That's terrible advice," Fezzik said. "Trusting your instincts is another one you hear. That's nonsense, too. Maybe that's true for some of the world's best sports gamblers, but I hear other people say that and that's also terrible advice."
Fezzik hit just less than 62 percent of his selections in the contest. He wants to emphasize how improbable that is.
He said he had offered everyone in the contest — and tout services that claim to win up to 80 percent of their picks — a $100,000 prop bet that they couldn't hit 57 percent of their games for the season. Fezzik got no takers.
In other words, luck played a role in his title. Fezzik has no problem admitting it.
"Anyone would need a few lucky bounces to win a contest like this," Kornegay said. "But he puts himself in a position to win. He has the skill to do that."
SufferinSuccotash - He's one of the best R&S execs in the city. You're childish behavior shows your true colors. Ridiculous.
S711
Wonder if everyone of the contestants are professional gamblers... I think its great that he won two years in a row but what or who is he competeing against...Pros or Amatuers..
How much was the buy in?
Yeah, how much was the buy in? Would be a nice little nugget for the article, don't ya think?
Congrats to him. I never bet on the NFL. Like the movie, 'Any Given Sunday'...
Checked website...buyin $1500., non-refundable.
Congrats to Fezzik, can't imagine my hard work ever having any luck to go along with it. I can take out Kobe, get a D league player to hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer, have the star running back break a leg on the first play, and have the jockey fall off the horse. Yep, luck has a lot to do with it. But fezzik has proven talent can go a long way.
asleepatawheel - It is open to Pros or Amatuers. Does it matter?
S711
Yea it matters.. If he does this professionally and no one else does,, would you not think he has some strategy going his way..Thats why they are called professionals..Its like if you S711 were to shoot pool against willie Mousconi and if you had half of his talent then do you think its fair for him to shoot against you after putting up 1500.00 dollars...I would think so,, as if your not in their league then tuff... I was just wondering if he was the only pro or was it all pros,, since he has won 2 years in a row.. It would make me think about putting up $1500.00.. Also his wager for the 59% win rate,, I would take that bet if it was on college football..
asleepatawheel,
Give me your contact information. I know Fezzik personally and he'll be more than happy to take your bet. Of course, you're a clown so you won't do it. But if you actually want to put your money where your mouth is, then go ahead and we can set it up.
And if you knew anything about sports betting or the Hilton contest, then you would know that most of the people that enter this contest are professionals. You would also know that Fezzik is well respected and one of the best at what he does. If you think you can hit 59% against the spread in college football, you are dreaming. You might be able to do that with no point spread. If you think I'm wrong, then where's your info?
Congrats to Fezzik, Sports betting is probably the hardest thing to make money on. My guess is that he could make Lefty Rosenthal proud working his talents privately.
asleepatawheel - At $1,500 a whack, I doubt there are very many non-pros in this contest......not too many J/O's with the nutz to do that.
S711
Letsgorebs,
To win back-to-back is proof that the books do lose vs the sharps. However, handicapping the season week-in week-out can wear one down, more than one might expect. Seldom ever does one make sound decisions when tired. Besides, coming out on top all comes down to money management.
Huge Congrats to Mr. Steven! It takes an incredible amount of work ethic, commitment, and faith.
This yr I will register for the event. I certainly expect the highest number of SuperContest participants. The more the merrier!
I'm inquiring on the open forum challenge: No one can hit 59% ats on college. Pending the reward & rules of regulation, I am willing to put up 1.5k to dispel the false belief.
If you do receive this, I'm more than committed to accept challenge. All I ask is a picture of my handshake with Mr. Steven before beginning the 2010 Kick-off, Thx!
DarkHorse of 2010 College_Ball: Huskers