Oh what a weekend...gambling, hoops, football, and BBQ!!! What more to ask for?
1. Always bet on Red
The homies and I took a little midnight run to the newly opened Resorts World Casino here in Singapore. As of this year Singapore will open 2 new huge Casinos to try and cash in on the success that Macau has seen since opening up their casinos...and Resorts World has been the first to open. Of course I love casinos, but what actually interested me about my recent experience at Resorts World is the Chinese culture and gambling.
Luck and gambling is such a huge thing in the Chinese culture. I know that gambling has a lot to do with luck, but in Chinese culture, luck can be influenced or manipulated to benefit your earnings...or so the they think. I mean everyone here is gambling with their lucky colors, lucky numbers, and lucky charms. Feng Shui is also a key factor, the location of the table or the direction of the Air-con breeze will effect how some of these people will decide their bets. To even mention something like odds and strategy is plain absurd. And while you are engulfed in this atmosphere you can only start to believe a little....
Its pretty nuts, but at the same time I feel the Chinese here up the level of excitement at the Casino. Singapore has replaced the mustached, mullet cut, nascar shirt wearing hick so common to Vegas with the big talking, gold wearing, long pinky nail China man...which in my opinion is way tighter then the white trash of Vegas...way tighter
A couple situations I found awesome
In the game of Baccarat, "player" and "bank" are given 2 cards each. Adding the value of the cards, the person with the higher value wins, 9 being the highest(10 and faces = 0). So before the cards are dealt out all people need to bet on if "player" or "bank" will have the higher hand, or a draw. Then the cards are dealt to the designated "player" and "bank" of that round, which is shifted every round.
Hopefully that wasnt too confusing...so now to the good part. Since the cards a dealt face down, it is the designated "player" and "bank" role to flip them over...However, this isnt done in any normal way. Its starts with a mean ass stare down, then hard core pressing and rubbing of the cards as if to change them, and finally a slow bending of the the card edges to catch a glimpse before flipping them over for the table to see...its awesome to watch and can be quite suspenseful...here in Asia baccarat is the true high-roller game.
Next excitement was at the Blackjack table. Of course I assume most of you know the game so I will not explain the rules. The great thing that happens hear is when the Dealer is in a position to bust, everybody will start to yell, "picture!!!" I guess the face cards (K,Q,and J) are the pictures because of the portraits on the cards...anyway it took me some time to figure it out since the China mans engrish is not so great. Sounds more like "Pick Chah!!!" (If you need an idea on how it sounds maybe can ask Davis' mom to yell "picture" for you) Of course its a great feeling when the whole table is yelling this and the dealer ends up busting...man, the table erupts into huge cheers.
Sorry for the wack explanations, I guess its a you had to be there kind of moment. But whatever...I had a good time and thats what I am trying to say...PS I won cheese!!!
Some tips I found on the net...full article
These are some superstitions that are very common among Chinese people:
1. Don't count money during a gambling session.
2. Stay away from sex and females (for men)
3. Avoid seeing monks or nuns before going to a casino.
4. Wear red underwear when gambling.
5. Do not touch someone's shoulder while he is gambling.
6. Females are more likely to win during their period.
7. Don't check into hotels with bad numbers like 4 or 14.
8. Don't enter casinos through their main entrance for it is cursed.
9. Switch on all the lights at home before going out to gamble.
Good Luck!!!
2. Look at the pretty Pony...
I told you it was a gambling weekend. So following in my success at the Casino, Sunday I made it out to the horse tracks. One of my colleagues has the hook-up at the track for free skybox entrance, which also includes buffet!! can you say "baallllerr!!"....
The track here in Singapore is called the Singapore Turf Club, and its pretty damn legit. Not my first time to the races and today confirmed my appreciation for the sport. Maybe I am just a degenerate gambler, but horse racing can be so exciting...cheering on your horse as it comes surging to the front of the pack down the home stretch is an amazing feeling. And it doesnt hurt when you can win some money too...unfortunately my luck ended at the tracks, but for the fun I had, the money lost was worth it.
3. Mid-Major?
Ahhhh yes....The UW Dawgs are in the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tourney. The Dawgs are on super gel mode right now. Everything is working out for us. The D is hot, the fast breaks clicking, and the role players playing them roles...We couldnt have picked a better time to be peaking. Our next matchup is this Thursday against WVU, but I am not scared about what team we play as longs as we continue as we have been. All the pain felt during the early-mid season has become well worth it....lets pray for continued success....
Can I just say, "I love this team"...Q-Pon, IT, MBA, Game Overton, Turner, Holiday and the rest of the pack....how can you hate?
Whose HOUSE!!!!!
4. We BBQing Chicken, thats we doing...
A perfect weekend needs a good meat grilling session with the boys...and thats exactly what went down at the homie Ben's house. Fire, Beef, and Beer. Thats all you need. Around the grill is a great place to kick back and bullshit about whatever is on your mind. It was perfect for me to shake off any stresses left over from the hard work week. Mans Therapy. Even better is that after the BBQ session we turned it into poker night. I guess Poker is like bacon, add it to anything and make it better....Upgrade!!!
5. Bloodypool
And to top it all off, my Team brought back the glory with a good win over long time rival Liverpool. Its not the sweetest victory since it seems anybody could take on Liverpool these days (bye bye Benitez), but a win over Pool feels good any day.
6. My Fantasy
While watching the glorious Man U match at my favorite sports bar, I also had my draft for Fantasy Baseball. Bars with free wi-fi definitely know whats up....anyway this year we did the draft auction style, which was a new change for me. I think it was the others first time, cause the bidding was real ridiculous in the beginning. With a 300 point budget, Pujols went for like 70points. So with all the majors getting scooped I had to deal in that mid-major.
Heres my squad
C - Kurt Suzuki
1B - Ryan Howard
2B - Aaron Hill
3B - Ryan Zimmerman
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
OF - Nelson Cruz
OF - Carlos Lee
OF - Raul Ibanez
SP - Tim Lincecum
SP - Johan Santana
SP - Roy Oswalt
RP - Jonathan Broxton
RP - Brian Fuentes
P - Carlos Zambrano
P - A.J. Burnett
Now Im not the most baller fantasist, but I think my team has got potential. Your feedback is highly appreciated.
PS...This blog was written last weekend so some things are a little dated....ie The Dawgs have been knocked out the tourney, but they made a good run. Bow Down.
Also I have been real sluff with the blog of recent...I apologize and will get back on the horse and ride it tough!
Thanks for following.
2 years ago
