TVG's dueling sycophants

[Ogygian]

Sweet Jesus, am I the only one fatigued with this?

I love Paul Loduca. OK, maybe that's a stretch. I don't have any strong feelings one way or another about the guy. I think he was a very nice baseball player, and he is a fairly decent handicapper to boot.

But the incessant fawning of Todd Schrupp and Simon Bray is getting to be a bit much, isn't it? I am sure both men are excited to be sharing the stage with a former major league ballplayer, but for the love of God, could they rein in their enthusiasm just a bit?

Sample conversation:

Todd: Simon, what do you think about today's 3rd race? It looks like a grab bag, don't you think?
Simon: Yeah, but let's ask the Dodger's 3rd leading votegetter in the 2003 All Star voting what he thinks, Todd. As you know, Paul Loduca gave out the Pick 4, Pick 6 and the late double at Evangeline last night, all on $8 tickets.
Todd: Not only that, folks, but Loduca once caught a no hitter in high school, college, and the pros. Who else has done that?
Paul: Aw, come on you guys.
Todd: And by the way, the women at Del Mar keep starting at you, Paulie. What's going on today?

Loduca has be loving this. Everyone in their lifetime should be showered with love like this at least once or twice. Todd and Simon are climbing all over each other to drop the next compliment on Paulie. It's enough already, guys. We get it. You like him. Now let's get back to racing......................

[Moonwalker]

They did the same thing when Chris McCarron was on the show with them. It was funny at first and then it got a little old.

Mary MMM

[DegenerationX]

Looks like a guy that only the sick degenerate gambling mooks could appreciate

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/14353006//

Meanwhile, The Daily News has reported, it’s possible that on at least two occasions, big guys with the dispositions of dyspeptic pit bulls and probably answering to names like Guido or Igor, have attempted to visit Mets catcher at ball parks for the purpose of collecting gambling debts.

That, it appears, he didn’t find unreasonable. Or, if he did, he at least he didn’t call a press conference to issue a cease and desist order to his bookies as he did to the Mets beat writers.

It would also appear that Lo Duca has trouble distinguishing an embarrassing annoyance from a real problem. Having your dirty laundry aired in public is embarrassing but does no real harm in the long run. Some day, he’ll be laughing about it. Running up big gambling debts — or even being perceived as a heavy gambler — leads to serious trouble.

It’s not just the gambling. If the debts were with casinos, he might be facing a world of financial deep, but there are laws that govern debt collection in such cases. But Lo Duca says he bets with off-shore bookies, which, he claims, is legal.

There’s only one tiny problem with that — offshore bookies aren’t legal. In fact, Congress is in the process of trying to plug some loopholes that have allowed such Internet gambling sights to thrive outside United States law.


ALSO ON THIS STORY
Lo Duca denies gambling reports
Sound off on team-by-team discussion boards


You’d think that he would have noticed by now that when you gamble big, the people you end up hanging around with aren’t bathed in sunshine. That’s because gambling is a losing hobby and people who gamble big also take big risks. The people who don’t take risks in the business are the ones who end up with the money — the bookies. And because it doesn’t do to be known as a soft-hearted bookie who lets people get off without paying, they don’t tend to be the most forgiving people in the world.

[Ogygian]

DGX:

I certainly didn't want this to be a thread about LoDuca, necessarily. It's just that Simon and Todd were a bit over the top today, in my opinion.

I personally think Schrupp can be very funny and entertaining, and I think he's an above average handicapper as well. But at some point......oh well, you get the idea.

[Marat]

Sweet Jesus, am I the only one fatigued with this?

No.

[Vtexposfan]

A new thread about TVG mere hours after I bump the old one? New board, same ole' stuff.

[BombsAwayBob]

Paul's cool... anyone know why Bryan Cox stopped working free-lance with TVG?
He was fun to listen to, kept everyone on edge, wasn't afraid to diss a fave, etc.

[AP_Vegas]

If TVG wants to spotlight and praise HGH "cheaters", that's their business.

[Beckron]

I would like to see them mix up the announcers a little bit. Todd and Simon together, is like a lovefest and it has gotten old, let's get some edge in there. Simon agrees with everything Todd Says. It's like Absolutely is the new Hi Bob-take a drink game. Where's Sarge? Put Vic on there. Where's Frank Lyons.

Of course let there be no mistake the Quarters' guys are THE BEST.

[Masterp]

Frank is the one I miss most.

Todd, Frank and Bryan Cox is still my fave. trio of all time. Since no more Bryan Cox, give me Paul L. or Matty C. with those two.

And Christina O is really the best when it comes to pre and post race interviews. Continued good work to her.