**Note – the following article was originally published by Dave Compton back in the mid 90’s. I met Dave through a website he used to run where he offered his football selections each week. since starting Bettorsworld back in the mid 90’s, I have had the good fortune of getting to know several extremely sharp sports bettors and others who make their living off the outcome of Games, one way or another. Many have contributed to my sports betting education, but Dave would be right at the very top of that list. Thank You Dave!
Gamblers “Attitude”
I STILL get a TON of correspondence from many “real gamblers” who have been on this service for a long time AND also from many internet and other amateur guys who would LIKE to be more like their professional brethren.
I have written here many times about the frustrations I have felt in dealing with the great majority of internet numb-nuts who think they know all there is about football betting and sports wagering in general. Of the THOUSANDS of net people I have corresponded with since putting up this website, there are less than THIRTY people who I believe have the wherewithal and discipline to “make it” long term in sports betting.
So what’s the deal? Why can’t the general internet guy (or the public as a whole for that matter) get a grasp of sports betting?
Well, I have finally been able to distill this into a one word description of the difference in the guys who really can DO IT and the flakes who think betting sports for a living is “easy” and if they only had the time and the bankroll, they’d go out there and really show those guys how to contend for the big bucks (or at least a living wage).
It’s ATTITUDE!
The real pro doesn’t think ANYBODY owes him ANYTHING! He EARNS and SWEATS every dime he makes and NEVER blames anyone but himself for a loss.
The wannabe’s ALL think they are OWED something and somewhere they’ve been dealt a poor hand by life, marriage, the IRS, the government etc.etc.etc.
The pro believes (and rightly so) that HE and HE alone is in control of his own good fortune and “luck”.
The wannabe thinks that gambling might remedy those injustices that life has so cruelly visited upon him. After all, things have to balance out in life don’t they?
The pro totally understands that there is nothing FAIR about life or living and he accepts and OVERCOMES that unfairness by his own mental toughness and wit.
The wannabe just CANNOT overcome that gnawing gut feeling that he has been “screwed” by life and he will NEVER have the confidence to conquer his rightous fear of failure.
The professional has incredible discipline and patience and a remarkable (developed) ability to pick the spots where HE believes that HE truly has the edge over the book.
The wannabe has little patience and even less regard for his own money. He may be an excellent handicapper but he has NO CONCEPTof real money management or true discipline with his betting. He is destined to remain a $100 to $500 bettor FOREVER (unless he inherits some MORE money he can blow).
Here’s the biggie:
The pro doesn’t need the ego boost of boasting about his picks, his money or his big scores. He retains his anonymity and obscurity and EARNS his self esteem by VERY HARD WORK.
The wannabe’s NEVER stop spouting about their great picks and their super scores and ALWAYS have a running narration about their big win last weekend OR how they were screwed by the refs or the weather or the coaches etc.etc.
That’s why NONE of the people you see plastered all of the sports message boards are really professional sports bettors. They are ALL pretenders.
These two disparate personalities that define the difference in the real gamblers and the wannabe’s can be completely summed up in just one word_ _ _ _
ATTITUDE !