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Black Milk

Thoughts on a bet I made before season's start?

By Black Milk, in General

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Black Milk    0

Black Milk
Posted (edited)

So we're in the final stretch of a complex bet I made with a colleague before the NHL and NFL seasons started.

It all started after discussing how terrible the Lions were, and how great the Red Wings were. We live in Montreal, my friend is a Habs fan and so he had a neutral perspective on the whole thing. I was still high off the Red Wings Stanley Cup victory and with the signing of Marian Hossa I thought the 2008-09 season could only be better.

To me, something like 65-13-4 was entirely possible. I even thought 11 or 12 regulation losses was attainable. I then came up with and proposed the infamous bet, subject of much talk thoughout the season. I offered him only (!) 2-1 odds in my favour that the Red Wings would get fewer regulation losses than the Lions in the upcoming season. I'm aware I was a bigger underdog and deserved better odds but I was confident the Wings could pull it off. He thought I was crazy and accepted the bet on the spot, $100 if lose, $200 if I win.

I thought that if the Lions could go 2-14 that I would be in good shape. Amazingly, they exceeded all expections of misery and became the first team to go 0-16. I thought I had a great cushion at that point. During the first half of the NHL season, I was pretty much always on pace to win the bet. Going into the January, I believe they had 7 regulation losses. That pace was destroyed when they had that horrible stretch, something like 0-4-1, that brought up their total losses to 11. When they reached 13 and my colleague started to get excited, there was a misunderstanding on how many losses the Wings needed for me to win/lose the bet. Was it 16 or 17? He said I had said "the Wings need fewer losses than the Lions", while I thought it was "the Lions would have more losses than the Wings". We decided to go with the first option, even though I wasn't fully convinced.

And now, my Hockeytown heroes, we are up against the wall, 15 regulation losses. Every game is a game 7 in overtime. We need to step up and support our troops. After such a great Lions performance and such a great first half of the season for the Wings, one more regulation loss and it all goes to waste. Is it possible? Can we really win our next 11 games? Well, to put it correctly, can we really not lose in regulation for the next 11 games?! Many scenarios are possible: 11-0-0, 10-0-1, 9-0-2, etc. Improbable, but possible. What do you think?

When the Wings had 16 games remaining, another colleague bet with me. I bet him that I would win the bet with our other colleague. Sixteen games left, and I got 20-1 odds so $10 if I lose and $200 if I win. So now, pretty much, I lose $110 if the Wings drop one more, and win $400 if they win them all. Can you imagine how I felt after the Wings blew their 3-goal lead against Calgary. Thank God Cleary saved me!

Just wanted to share a fun Red Wings story. I know I could have said the entire story in 2 or 3 lines. But it's better this way. ;)

Comment. Discuss.

Edited by Black Milk

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Guest Shoreline   

Guest Shoreline
Posted

11-0 against mostly division rivals scrapping for playoff spots or positioning, with the possibility of resting players the last couple games? Say byebye to $100.

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C-TownWing    0

C-TownWing
Posted
When the Wings had 16 games remaining, another colleague bet with me. I bet him that I would win the bet with our other colleague. Sixteen games left, and I got 20-1 odds so $10 if I lose and $200 if I win. So now, pretty much, I lose $110 if the Wings drop one more, and win $400 if they win them all. Can you imagine how I felt after the Wings blew their 3-goal lead against Calgary. Thank God Cleary saved me!

We still had 15 regulation losses at 16 games left. And that means that you made this bet on the heels of the 8-2 loss to the BJs. I don't care if you had 1000-1 odds or how little money it is, that's insane. That said, if you were sticking up for your team or your honor as a fan, it's understood.

Basically, San Jose is your friend. Chances are that we won't coast to the finish because we'll want home ice in our hypothetical WCF death match. Just looked at the schedule, and you at least have a chance...a few games against buried teams (Atlanta, Islanders, Minnesota is getting there, maybe the Blues and Sabres by the time we play too). However, the Oilers, Preds (twice) and Hawks (twice) are fighting for positioning. Calgary looked to be locked in 3rd at one time, but they're now being pushed big time by Vancouver. That one's coming Monday, so maybe they won't have that much urgency over it yet (they still have 5 points on them, but the Nucks are coming, make no mistake).

The odds are pretty solidly against you, but good luck!

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Ozzie30    170

Ozzie30
Posted (edited)
To me, something like 65-13-7 was entirely possible.

That's entirely impossible. I would take that bet. I knew Habs fans lived outside of reality. :)

edit: Added smiley face so everyone know's its a joke. :D

Edited by Ozzie30

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maltbymaniac    13

maltbymaniac
Posted (edited)
Not my fault you're lazy.

yea really.lmao, i got a kick outta that post none the less.lol

i prolly would have made the same bet if i were a gambler. i would have thought we would beat r 9 games in a row record this year. for some reason i just want the 10 wins in row for the last three years now

Edited by maltbymaniac

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VM1138    1,921

VM1138
Posted
So we're in the final stretch of a complex bet I made with a colleague before the NHL and NFL seasons started.

It all started after discussing how terrible the Lions were, and how great the Red Wings were. We live in Montreal, my friend is a Habs fan and so he had a neutral perspective on the whole thing. I was still high off the Red Wings Stanley Cup victory and with the signing of Marian Hossa I thought the 2008-09 season could only be better.

To me, something like 65-13-7 was entirely possible. I even thought 11 or 12 regulation losses was attainable. I then came up with and proposed the infamous bet, subject of much talk thoughout the season. I offered him only (!) 2-1 odds in my favour that the Red Wings would get fewer regulation losses than the Lions in the upcoming season. I'm aware I was a bigger underdog and deserved better odds but I was confident the Wings could pull it off. He thought I was crazy and accepted the bet on the spot, $100 if lose, $200 if I win.

I thought that if the Lions could go 2-14 that I would be in good shape. Amazingly, they exceeded all expections of misery and became the first team to go 0-16. I thought I had a great cushion at that point. During the first half of the NHL season, I was pretty much always on pace to win the bet. Going into the January, I believe they had 7 regulation losses. That pace was destroyed when they had that horrible stretch, something like 0-4-1, that brought up their total losses to 11. When they reached 13 and my colleague started to get excited, there was a misunderstanding on how many losses the Wings needed for me to win/lose the bet. Was it 16 or 17? He said I had said "the Wings need fewer losses than the Lions", while I thought it was "the Lions would have more losses than the Wings". We decided to go with the first option, even though I wasn't fully convinced.

And now, my Hockeytown heroes, we are up against the wall, 15 regulation losses. Every game is a game 7 in overtime. We need to step up and support our troops. After such a great Lions performance and such a great first half of the season for the Wings, one more regulation loss and it all goes to waste. Is it possible? Can we really win our next 11 games? Well, to put it correctly, can we really not lose in regulation for the next 11 games?! Many scenarios are possible: 11-0-0, 10-0-1, 9-0-2, etc. Improbable, but possible. What do you think?

When the Wings had 16 games remaining, another colleague bet with me. I bet him that I would win the bet with our other colleague. Sixteen games left, and I got 20-1 odds so $10 if I lose and $200 if I win. So now, pretty much, I lose $110 if the Wings drop one more, and win $400 if they win them all. Can you imagine how I felt after the Wings blew their 3-goal lead against Calgary. Thank God Cleary saved me!

Just wanted to share a fun Red Wings story. I know I could have said the entire story in 2 or 3 lines. But it's better this way. ;)

Comment. Discuss.

You're screwed.

However, I could see them only losing 1 or 2 games, which will only make your defeat that much more bitter.

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Xitium    272

Xitium
Posted

You're screwed.

Even a team like the Wings won't go off the sheet 11-0 for the rest of the season. The last two games are a back to back home and home with the Hawks, and the second game is on the road.

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