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posted June 10, 2008 at 14:21 in Other Articles

Please don't ever say that sports betting community doesn’t have a very healthy sense of humor....even if they're not too healthy themselves.

Recent reports came over the wire about a man named Jon Matthews who, knowing he was terminally ill, won a bet with an overseas bookmaker that he would see the first day of June.

Before we go any further, please keep in mind, even though they are about the same age, this is NOT the same Jon Matthews who, while a Texas radio talk-show host, was convicted five years ago for exposing himself to an 11-year-old child and who later got arrested again for violating the terms of his probation.

No, THIS Jon Matthews is a much better guy and much more fun than that, even in his twilight years. Or "year," as it were.

Matthews was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer back in April of 2006. Twelve months ago he made a bet with the bookmaker that he would still be around by this time, even though a doctor had told him, "Don't make plans for Christmas."

He got odds of 50/1, and the Britisher bet 100 pounds.

So Christmas 2008 came early for him; his payoff is 5000 pounds (the equivalent of USD $9873), and he couldn't be happier for a guy who's going to be "catching a cab" soon.

I knew when I saw this story that I had to spearhead an initiative in this vein (not the jugular, mind you) for my clients at BetUS sportsbook.

Admittedly though, I feel queasy about going down this kind of road with the terminally ill (after all, I AM a U.S. presidential candidate, for heaven's sake - oops, pardon the expression), but I don't see anything wrong with doing it in a more “virtual” manner.

As we know, the subject of sports is as precious as life itself for many an avid fan, and it understandably might be the same way for quite a few of the participants, including players, coaches and general managers, or others who don't have quite the same perspective as someone like Jon Matthews.

As such, we often give the "Kiss of Death" - figuratively speaking of course - to those in high-profile positions who don't perform, or behave, up to our expectations.

So inasmuch as I am readying myself for the convention of the fledgling Boston Tea Party this weekend, I will propose the following in the same fashion I might propose a platform plank or two, for the consideration of everyone on the "floor." And, you know, because the publicity people might like it too (full credit please):

* I hereby propose we offer Joe Girardi 3/1 odds (+300 at BetUS) that his managerial "life" with the Yankees will be over on or before October 1 if his team finishes under the .500 mark at season's end.

* I hereby propose we offer Pacman Jones 5/1 odds (+500 at BetUS) that his NFL "life" will be over within 96 hours of the next time he is busted for something.

* I hereby propose we offer Barry Zito 2/1 odds (+200 at BetUS) that he will "die" a slow death back in the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen if his record falls ten games under .500.

* I hereby propose we offer Ozzie Guillen 20/1 odds (+2000 at BetUS) that he will commit hari kari (no, not Harry Carey) if his White Sox blow a double-digit lead in the AL Central as they almost did in 2005 (it would be interesting to see him take the plunge here).

* I hereby propose we offer UFC president Dana White 1/4 odds (-400 at BetUS) that he will "die" laughing when Elite XC, which began as a stock scam, goes up in flames after the first knockout loss suffered by Kimbo Slice.

* I hereby propose we offer Kansas State freshman Bill Walker 6/5 odds (+120 at BetUS) that he is committing professional "suicide" if he stays in the NBA Draft, because he will not go in the first round.

* I hereby propose we offer whatever NBA general manager picks O.J. Mayo 7/5 odds (+120 at BetUS) that he will have done the same, because his team will not win one more game in Mayo's rookie season than it did the season before.

* I hereby propose we offer Bill Parcells 7/5 odds (+140 at BetUS) that Miami Dolphin fans won't "live" to see him fulfill the entire term of his four-year deal to run the team's football operations.

These are all sporting guys, so there's no reason they shouldn't take us up on these offers, is there? Is there? No? You mean to say their sense of humor isn't in the same league as Mr. Matthews?

Well, I guess we can't tell for sure, but one wager I can make with some confidence is this:

As a fiscal conservative, I can bet that if you've just turned 21, the money left in the Social Security system will have long since “died” out by the time YOU get to Jon Matthews' age.

Want to give me odds on THAT?

Anyone who likes to bet props can do it all day long at BetUS Sportsbook. Hundreds and hundreds of proposition bets are available on all sports, in addition to entertainment, world events, politics and more. At BetUS.com, you can turn your knowldege - on just about anything - into some cold hard cash!

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com may not be a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room till the day he dies, but he's there right now, which he hopes is good enough)