Re: Interesting fact ... Lumpy: 2. Brandon Walsh, "Beverly Hills 90210"
Like most betters, Brandon Walsh got hooked up with gambling through a friend/co-worker. In this case, Brando uses Nat's bookie. Walsh starts off white-hot betting on pro hoops and has no problem flashing his bankroll. He treats himself to a shopping spree in which he buys skis (an odd choice for Southern California), as well as gifts for his suspicious parents and sister.
Susan and gambling were among many of Brandon's love interests on 90210.Bad Call: He couldn't walk away when he was up.
Eventually Brandon falls victim to a downward spiral of losing, doubling up and losing some more. In one scene, the Walshes are throwing a party and Brandon's upstairs sweating out the result of a Lakers game. Pretty boy Brandon is in such a bad way that the bookie -- cheesily named Duke --pays him a visit. Nat gets wind of the whole mess and winds up bailing him out, and Brando swears to never gamble again. The end, roll credits.
However, what earns Brandon such a high ranking on the list is that his gambling problem later resurfaces when the Peach Pit turns into a casino to raise money for charity. He relapses and nearly loses his girlfriend Susan. Sure, Nat warns Brandon that his gambling problem might resurface, but c'mon, why would Nat put his boy Brando in that situation? Was Nat secretly evil? We'll never know for sure.
During what seemed like two decades as a high school and college student, Brandon Walsh faced a bevy of problems. Most notably were drinking; drinking and driving; drugs; dating girls who were pyro-maniacs, amnesiacs, and in cults; sharing a bathroom with Brenda; being best friends with a 35-year-old high school newspaper editor; being the only teen in Beverly Hills with a job; having to constantly groom his sideburns and roll the sleeves of his T-shirts; and being born in Minnesota. But gambling was by far the most entertaining. Little known fact: Jason Priestly also starred in a terrible low budget gambling movie called "Double Down." Coincidence? Well, yeah, probably.
1. Eddie "Mush" Montaro, "A Bronx Tale"
If there was one "lock" on this list, this was it. No one in the history of television or film was more of a born loser than Mush. It's not even close. Just think about it, ever since the movie premiered, the name Mush has been associated with every jinx or degenerate gambler you've probably ever come across. If your friend was in a horrible stretch, you'd beg him not to bet on the team you just bet on, pleading, "No, you'll mush it."
Bad Call: Plain and simple, the guy was cursed. His bad call was not realizing it.
When they introduce him near the start of the film, Mush is lamenting some recent baseball losses and sighs, "If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." Of course there's the scene when Mush is cast off to the bathroom in order to keep C's hot dice streak alive. But for me, Mush will be forever associated with horse racing. In one scene, Sonny, C and the boys are at the track betting on a horse named Kryptonite. Half way through the race, the group overhears a familiar voice screaming, "C'mon Kryptonite! C'mon Kryptonite!" Without even watching the end of the race Sonny tears up the tickets. Saying, "Forget it, we've just been Mushed."
One great thing about Mush that few people know is that not only is he based on a real person that Chazz Palminteri knew, but the real life Mush actually plays himself in the movie. Palminteri was having trouble casting the role, when Robert De Niro asked him, "Where's the real Eddie Mush?" Palminteri said, "Probably in the neighborhood still losing bets." So they decided to go look for him and found him in the neighborhood reading the racing form. They cast him right then and there, but a day later Palminteri got nervous, thinking he might jinx the movie. Sure enough the first day of shooting with Mush, it rained and they had to move the shoot.
It's just a case of life imitating art, imitating life. Or the other way around. Wanna bet?
Re: Interesting fact ... Lumpy: Continued
Honorary Mentions (Not counting anyone from "The Sopranos" ... that could be its own column):
The Townspeople of "South Park": These people bet on Satan in his boxing match against Jesus. Satan takes a dive and the money. Never bet with or against the Prince of Darkness.
Worm from "Rounders": When you're winning, there's no reason to cheat. And if your plan involves hustling a group of state troopers, take a deep breath and tinker with it a bit.
Roy Munson from "King Pin " and Billy Hoyle from "White Men Can't Jump": Both hustlers in their own right, neither one had the smarts to go with their talent.
Mikey from "Swingers": You always double down on 11. Well, maybe not always.
This was cut and pasted from a ESPN gambling article. My personal favorite was Krusty the Clown. He bet his last 50 grand on The Washington Generals! The basketball team that loses every game to The Harlem Globetrotters. At one point he's screaming at the T.V. "Ah come on ref, he's using a ladder! That can't be legal!"
Re: Interesting fact ... C-Note: Maybe it's losing with style that makes the difference. Toss a poker chip and loose with a smile and your a man of character, a good sport. Loose and pitch a fit and your never getting any chicks number or room key.
Re: Interesting fact ... Lumpy: [quote author=C-Note link=topic=39504.msg432200#msg432200 date=1167803003">
Maybe it's losing with style that makes the difference. Toss a poker chip and loose with a smile and your a man of character, a good sport. Loose and pitch a fit and your never getting any chicks number or room key.
[/quote">
Better yet just win. No character required. ;)
Re: Interesting fact ... superwife: Holy crap, Lumpy....
And you thought you learned something new, JA???
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