Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-31

Odds Against
The Bookmoker
By MORRIS SIEGEL

IT'S ALMOST AS TOUGH to make bet these days as
it to win For the first time the odds against
the bookmaker evolution the harried bettor never
thought possible.
The Kennedy boys, the President and the Attorney
General have gotten enough laws passed to make the big
bookie almost extinct the whooping crane and it's
101 you can't the last time you've one Of those
birds.
The big books have reacted charactersticay to the
fear of the Feds They closed shop leaving what lit
tie scattered action there is to the small fry.
The day when plunger could pick up phone and
bet with both hands is done certainly in Washington and
in most other major cities too except in Nevada where
they've taken lot of fun out of the game They made it
legal.
SOME OF THE oNE-TnlE big timers are in the pokey
others awaiting trial. and those who far have
aged to escape the campdown have gotten out while
the getting is good.
The business is in the hands Of collection of two
bit troops mostly former numbers writers who have al
ways ched to get into the refined Of sports
betting The time bettor also vanished along with the
big-time bookie
The Kennedy breakdown, implemented by tougher
laws has stacked the odds too high against successful
operation there's thing the bookmaker breads more
than the bubonc plague it's unfavorabe Odds
The price has got favor him. That's the Of the
game far he's concerned and If he can't rig it his
way he is not likely to play.
All phases of gambling regarded interstate
activity That's where the Feds in Just phone from
Washington to Alexandria Silver Spring and you're
risking trouble, real trouble mister.
THE BIG-TndE MOB WAS pining away for the good
old days OF wholesale betting on ball games races fights
elections and whathaveou the other night at the Lis
ton-Patterson theater TV fight which served kind
of reunion
They have confidence that Of these days the world
will be all right again. the Kennedys will the of
their ways and man again will be able to make
stable wager without worrying a) If he will get paid
(b) what happens If he gets caught
Until that Utopia arrives the lost pack fres away
time vacatonng complaining, and reading They
also are betting one another an intramura recreation
endangered only by loss Of money not by time spent in
jail.
WHAT YOU MAKE THE YANKEES and Dodgers in
the opener one poor misplaced soul asked another suf
ferer after the fight.
What makes you think it's gonna be them what's go
ing to pay2" the fellow answered his face Frightening as
II this was the real thing again
IF you think it amt" the more determined one in
sisted, "you can get faded right here"
"okay. make it even-six, New York. How does that
grab your"
That's If Koufax and Ford PITCH rightp"
What kind Of price can get on the pitchers? How
come you skip Drysdale, he's bum maybe?"
II make it Koufax shake rattle and roll and I'm ready
to take your order" ,. - ,. LIE l
Put up price on Drysdale not starting and maybe
do something whatcha lay me against DrysdaeP"
"Drysdale make rs he don't They gotta go with
lefhander in Yankee Stadium don't they? What would
they be saving Koufax for the grand juryP"
How bout Clay-Liston in Philly, femme hear some
numbers on that"
what price you want S4-5to-l name 1t you got It,"
How bout the CO. how many rounds2"
ITO you make 1t pick 1t do or don't in five. You
interested in betting into thatP"
THESE ARE THE DAYS of big talk, not big betting
but one Of the conversatonasts not only talked big he
used to put his money where his mouth Is
He got clipped for $43O0O4s big Ones" they call it
few years back when the Redskins kicked the Baltimore
Colts, 27-24
DO remember thatp" he asks shaking his head
You remember your mother, doncha? I don't care how
much money you deal to game buster when you 20 for
4S big ones you don't forget overnight That night me and
Nutsy was taking ride after the game It was not
rde like two lovers take This more like funeral ride
was still talking about those 43 big ones when Nutsy
VINO had stake in the hand, says to me- agree it's
tragedy all right but how bout those guys in there2
They're worse off than we are-they can't even make
a bet"
Nutsy was pointing to the D. O. Jail.