Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-13

Anybody Know
A Good Bookie?
By MORRIS SIEGEL
A MAN NAMED CHARLEY Say

A MAN NAMED CHARLEY sawbuck writes in with
complaint He claims the Kennedy administration in its
wdetrack drive to stamp out discrimination is guilty of
the very thing it's trying to end.
TRY to get down on football game and you'll
what mean" Charlie asks. 1.-THE Redskins play Sunday
and for the first time since they've been here Charley
means, they'll kickoff and don't have as much as two
bucks on the game. Is that fair2"
Chareys anger is directed principally against Bobby
Kennedy the Attorney General It's hard for Charley to
understand how anyone who played college football and
still plays touch football could ever become 80 violently
anti-football.
"And he talks about second class citizens" Charley
continued what has he done to me? In my civil rights
book ought to have the right to support my college or
pro team just like fellow ought to have the right to
eat where he wants With me, betting football games
is public accommodation, too"
CHARLEYS GRIPPE and Charley himself deserved
looking into Charley sawbuck comes from long line of
sawbucks. The family divided between bartenders
and bettors.
Charley not wishing to choose sides, became part
Of each nice bartender the kindly sort who cheer
fully interrupts his lunchme martini business to make
Bloody Mary. Not many barenderS will do this Some,
at martini time even object to opening bottle OF beer But
not Charley.
First they knocked out the football pool card"
Charley in person. sighed They got few Of em around
now but they amt reliable Actually, can't grippe too
much about the pool cards Too tough Some bettors ike
EN- but not me. I'm a head-to-head football man.
with me it made difference college or pro- bet
don't play gof hate baseball, television Except Tor
sports) bores and get restless In movie SO oet
But no more They have stamped out the bookmaker.
You tried to get down on a game lately2 Impossible
almost, believe me-"
THE DAY THAT Charley can't bet he explained, is the
day he loses complete interest Betting sometimes gave
me touch of class" he smiled. Especially when bet
on the Harvard Yale Princeton games. For ten
spot felt for day like Ivy Lacquer however they're
supposed to feel.
I used to bet lot Of college football, but one day
good customer college with some kind of Govern
ment Job where they pipes and talk about what's
wrong with education in this country in while I'm
looking the odds and asks not to bet college
games any more.
"He says lot Of college types come in here and they
don't like it. He such nice man and made such big
fuss it told him wouldn't bet college football
Just for him. For week kept my word but 1t hurt
When the bookmaker asks how come no more college
action told him.
MY bookie was no ordinary guy He is also kind
Of psychologist He knew missed the college action,
he suggested compromise Charley he says one day,
know how miss the college games but you don't want to
louise up friend Listen to me- Double up on pro games
instead
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN doing until Today
it's easier finding the guys who stuck up that train In
London than 1t is to find legitimate bookmaker Actu-
ally I'm embarrassed.
give, TO- maybe 20 guys know that from they can
get the odds for the Sunday games They always come n
have few drinks and talk about the games. Today
take my word for it, wouldn't know who to call no more
That's how tough they've made it.
They pass all kinds of laws up there. They even
passed bill to give Bob Hope medal. got no
plants understand because Hope is regular guy who
deserves medal But the law they passed helps only
man. Hope. Why don't they pass nice, clean gambling
law which would help millions Of people like me? tell
you about these Kennedys somebody better straighten
them out.
Another thing two weeks ago they got some kind Of
at 1880 at night Lots Of people complained about the
noise but not figure it's their business and If that's
what they like, let em go to 1t.
But let me make five-dollar bet the Redskins
and becomes Federal BY the way you heard the
odds for Sunday Just in case get lucky and find
bookmaker?"