Tag Archives: free sports magazine

FSM First Look: UNBREAKABLE

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After years of rejection but with constant hustle, Jay Glazer has built a career as one of the most iconic sports insiders, earning himself a spot on the Emmy award-winning Fox NFL Sunday, a role as the confidant of coaches and players across the league, and a role as himself alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on HBO series Ballers. His gym, Unbreakable Performance Center, attracts some of the biggest names in Hollywood, and is the headquarters to the powerful charity MVP (Merging Vets and Players) that Jay founded in 2015.  MVP began as a weekly physical and mental health huddle with combat veterans and retired athletes has expanded to seven locations, helping soldiers and players transition to a new team.

In Unbreakable, Jay Glazer talks directly to you, his teammates, and shares his truth. All of his success from his screeching-and-swerving joy ride through professional football, the media, the fighting world, Hollywood, the military-warrior community, comes with a side of relentless depression and anxiety. Living in the gray, as Jay calls it, is just a constant for him. And, in order to work through the gray and succeed, Jay has to maintain an Unbreakable Mindset. With this book, you can too.

·        Be of Service—help others and help yourself in the process

·        Build Your Team—give support, get support

·        Never Underestimate the Power of Laughter—never take yourself too seriously

·        Be Proud of Your Scars—our trauma makes us who we are

Throughout Unbreakable, Jay will use his stories—featuring some of the biggest, baddest, and most fascinating characters in the public eye today—to show how he walks this walk, has learned that while the gray is very real, it doesn’t have to define him. And it doesn’t have to define you either.

Click here for a sneak peak of the actual book available April 4, 2023 and keep reading for a very special message from Jay himself:

Hey Teammate,

We all face obstacles-physical, emotional, between the ears. The good news is that everything we have fought back against can empower us, IF WE KNOW HOW TO USE IT. My obstacles happen to be anxiety and depression. I call it living in the gray, and I’ve been mired in it my whole life. To be honest, it sucks. But I have also recently recognized that this same gray that has held me down has also empowered me to make my wildest dreams come true. You have probably overcome many of your own obstacles, but you’ve been too close to the conflict to clearly see what you’ve accomplished. We are all UNBREAKABLE, no matter what we do, who we are, or what traumas we may have experienced. We just need to admit that we can’t walk this walk alone.

–Jay Glazer

6 Tips for Tracking Your Fitness

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You have decided to bring the body into shape and regular workouts have become your usual routine. Still, after one or two weeks of such physical activity, you don’t see wishful results in the mirror and stepping on the scale just confirms it. For that reason, you give up, abandon set goals and return to a sports lifestyle only when a certain time passes. It is high time to break this vicious circle!

The most crucial thing here is to understand that changes are not a matter of one week. It takes time to achieve progress, so you should gain patience and keep motivated along the way. The best solution for following fitness goals is results-tracking.

Body alterations and how you feel constantly performing physical activities are the greatest motivators for moving ahead. By tracking your fitness, the possibility of reaching goals significantly rises and promotes you working and spending your time yet more efficiently. That way, our key task is to identify what ways of fitness progress measuring are the most fruitful and worth incorporating into the sports agenda. Let’s figure it out.

1. Keeping a Workout Journal 

Tracking your fitness results may be easy as a pie with steady journal keeping. Noting your exercising and meals is not time-consuming, but it will certainly give a clear vision of the advance. Do it the most convenient for you. It can be a usual notebook, notes on your device, or even Excel spreadsheets – it is up to you.

The essential is to be precise with writing down workouts. Try to include what exercises you did with the sets and reps number. If your workouts were of strength type, fix the used weight. In case you did running, record miles and performance time. No less important is the well-being after physical activity. So, point out how you feel after the workout: exhausted or energized, whether it was harsh or easy.

The journal is also perfect for diet tracking. Exercising is requisite, but it loses its sense without proper nutrition. Thus, you will succeed only by blending these two components. Still, you have to be careful since tracking your daily ratio may turn into obsessive calorie counting. To avoid this, we recommend just analyzing your eating habits and based on them, excluding or including specific products in your meals.

2. Fitness Trackers or Apps Appliance

Living in the modern world, we may benefit from various tech novelties, and it also relates to the fitness area. Track your results just in a few moments with smart fitness trackers or apps on your phone. There is a variety to choose from, and X-wrist is the name of one the leading. 

If you still count your steps and manually monitor your heart rate – stop doing this. Currently, such measurements are effortless with the fitness tracker. Select your best fitting application and your workout progress control will become a sheer pleasure. X-wrist is the app empowering you to make healthy choices. Its AI-based building system will allow you to log your meals, set diet goals and plan further nutrition. What’s more, this tracker may monitor your sports activity both at home and in the gym. You can also record workouts and create upcoming exercises routine here. 

So, fitness tracker usage is vital as besides providing info about physical achievements, it helps take care of your health and become the best version of yourself. 

3. Clothes Fitting

As practice shows, an appealing mirror look can be the highest motivation. The best way to get a dose of inspiration is by trying clothes on. For example, find a pair of jeans you have strived for so long to fit into and dress them. Wearing jeans will give an insight into how successful are your sports accomplishments and how far you are from your goals. 

Pay attention to your feelings: whether clothing sits looser or tighter. To attain the most accurate outcome, we offer to pick one specific piece of clothing and measure your progress in keeping with it monthly.

4. Taking Measurements 

Sometimes scale figures may be deceiving, so you should keep in mind that muscles weigh more fat. So it is significant not to limit scaling but to do the measuring to explore gradual changes.

It is worth steering clear of daily measurements. Record your neck, shoulders, waist, biceps, chest, thighs and hips sizes with a tape measure weekly, no sooner. Moreover, the time and conditions of measurements play an extremely important role, so be sure they are the same every time.

5. Blood Pressure Check

Fitness progress means more than an attractive body shape. No matter what goals you pursue: losing weight or gaining muscles, your blood pressure can present you with the overall picture of your health condition. Heart health directly depends on blood pressure that is consequently influenced by physical activity, nutrition and stress levels. 

With regular workouts, both your body and cardiovascular system stand stronger. That way, the blood pressure can be a pointer for diminishing heart and chronic disease risks. A blood pressure watch is the best decision for keeping abreast of your blood pressure indexes.

6. Progression Photos

Some may consider post-workout photos a waste of time. However, it is doubtless a valuable experience. Every day mirror-looking may totally change our body perception. Still, it can be challenging to trace the ultimate progress throughout the path, so pictures will come in handy here. Taking photos weekly will show you incredible differences already in half a year.

All you need to enjoy such contrast over time is to picture within the same conditions, light and angles. Remember that daily weight is floating and the photo taken in the morning will differ from one after the meal. Lighting is also the key point. Poor light can generate shadows and emphasize your drawbacks, hiding the apparent results. In addition, dressing in similar outfits in each month’s photos may confuse and prevent you from noticing differences.

After taking pictures, don’t compare them to two days ago. It makes no sense. The most appropriate checking frames are from four to six weeks.

Final Words

Being fit is not always a synonym for muscular body shape. It is about health, well-being and fulfillment. Regular exercising and proper nutrition will gift you the body of your dream, together with decreasing health hazards and improving mental health. You can’t do without tracking your fitness progress to get this with flying colors. So stick to our tips and the first considerable results won’t be long in coming.

Duck, Duck, Goose! Restored Wetlands Thriving

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(NewsUSA) – As the sun rises in middle America, nature comes to life. Ducks, geese and other birds emerge from a marsh, taking flight into a golden sky, while prairie grasses whisper in the morning breeze and insects begin to hum.     

The growing cacophony of honks, quacks, chirps and splashes is music to Jason Black’s ears. As public land manager of the McPherson Valley Wetlands in central Kansas, they are proof that this habitat is thriving.     

“This is a special place,” says Black. “I get to watch it grow through the seasons, watch the birds come and go. Everything from our state bird, the meadowlark, to whooping cranes to a number of species of ducks and geese and shorebirds when water conditions and migration are lined up just right.”     

These public wetlands were recently improved through a public-private partnership thanks in big part to one of the nation’s largest clean energy infrastructure companies, Williams. The company’s generous contribution allowed Ducks Unlimited to seek matching funds to restore several areas that are critical to waterfowl during spring and fall migrations.     

The wetlands project included restoration of approximately 160 acres of previously drained and cropped agricultural fields. New water-control infrastructure was installed and prairie seeds planted to improve wildlife habitat for quail, pheasants and other grassland birds, along with pollinators.     

The marsh is the first of a series of connected wetlands in the complex and will help improve water downstream. The wetlands in the area provide critical resources for migrating waterfowl and other birds along the Central Flyway, along with outdoor recreation for residents and visitors.     

“We take great pride in being responsible environmental stewards and are honored to support Ducks Unlimited,” says Matthew Baker, manager of engineering at Williams. “Doing what is right for our local communities is part of who we are at Williams, and this collaboration is one of the many ways we aim to preserve resources for future generations while making a positive impact today.”     

The wetland restoration is one of many environmental stewardship and sustainability projects that Williams is supporting along its nationwide footprint. Others include planting seedlings, building hiking trails, developing wildlife crossings and funding intercity marine education programs.     

For more information, visit www.williams.com/sustainability.

Filmmaker Turns Loss into Award-Winning Documentary

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This post is intended as a happy follow-up to FSM’s first look into this documentary. We had a feeling some awards would be forthcoming!

(NewsUSA) – The award-winning documentary, Adapting to Dive, follows filmmaker David Marsh on a transformational journey. Marsh lost his son to an opioid overdose on Thanksgiving, one week before he joined the non-profit group, Diveheart, on an adaptive scuba diving trip to Cozumel, Mexico.     

The moving and inspirational film premiered on May 18, 2022, in Diveheart’s hometown of Downers Grove, Illinois, and it has earned laurels from the Orlando International Film Festival and the Cine Paris film festival, and has been named an official selection for the Marina Del Ray film festival and the 2022 Impact DOCS awards.     

Marsh did not share his son’s death with the Diveheart group until the filming was completed, and only after being asked by his new Diveheart friends for his overall impressions of the trip.

Marsh explains in the film, “After going through this entire process of creating a film, releasing it to the world, and seeing the response, what I’ve learned is that we are all adapting to something in life. Diveheart and the adaptive divers showed me that we have to learn to go through these challenging things,” he says.     

“It is important to remain positive no matter what happens, because it doesn’t matter what happens, it only matters what you do with what happens that makes the difference in your life,” he emphasizes. “Share your story, because we are all moved by hearing another person’s perspective. Each one of us is a unique, individual reflection of creation itself, so honor and appreciate your uniqueness. Give grace to others with patience, because, like you, they are also having to adapt to something in life,” he adds.

“When David and his brother Scott were not filming and interviewing participants, they were always busy helping others. We had no idea what David was dealing with mentally and emotionally after the sudden loss of his son,” says Diveheart founder and president Jim Elliott.     

“The story that David has articulated through this film is nothing short of amazing,” says Tinamarie Hernandez, Diveheart’s executive director. “Throughout the film you see the transformation that David experienced — a transformation that no one realized was unfolding each day,” she adds.     

Adapting to Dive is especially powerful in light of the ongoing opioid crisis that affects so many families, and the film’s inspiring messages of empathy, hope and healing. Viewers will experience the genuine themes of trust, adapting, challenge, loss and love.     

Founded in 2001, Diveheart serves youth, veterans and others with physical and cognitive disabilities, and trains instructors and divers of all abilities in adaptive scuba. Adapting to Dive can be found on Amazon and other streaming services and select film festivals around the world.     

Visit diveheart.org for more details.

FSM First Look: Ringmaster – Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America

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Even if you’ve never watched a minute of professional wrestling, you are living in Vince McMahon’s world.

In his four decades as the defining figure of American pro wrestling, McMahon was the man behind Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena, Dave Bautista, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and Hulk Hogan, to name just a few of the mega-stars who owe him their careers. For more than twenty-five years, he has also been a performer in his own show, acting as the diabolical “Mr. McMahon”—a figure who may have more in common with the real Vince than he would care to admit.

Just as importantly, McMahon is one of Donald Trump’s closest friends—and Trump’s experiences as a performer in McMahon’s programming were, in many ways, a dress rehearsal for the 45th President’s campaigns and presidency. McMahon and his wife, Linda, are major Republican donors. Linda was in Trump’s cabinet. McMahon makes deals with the Saudi government worth hundreds of millions of dollars. And for generations of people who have watched wrestling, he has been a defining cultural force.

Accessible to anyone, regardless of wrestling knowledge, Ringmaster is an unauthorized, independent, investigative chronicle of Vince McMahon’s origins and rise to supreme power. It is built on exclusive interviews with more than 150 people, from McMahon’s childhood friends to those who accuse him of destroying their lives. Far more than just an athletics or entertainment biography, Ringmaster uses Vince’s story as a new lens for understanding the contemporary American apocalypse.

Ringmaster will be available for purchase on March 28, 2023.

Ringmaster will be available for purchase on March 28, 2023.

FSM Scouting Report: MOX

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Book/Movie Title: Mox

Total Pages/Duration: 271 pages (Hardcover)

Author/Director: Jon Moxley

Pace of Play: Inconsistent sums up the pace of this autobiography. Based on the quick hitting prologue, the reader may get the feeling they’re about to buckle in for a wild ride. However, the book ends up feeling more “stop-and-go” by the final few pages. A page turner, this is not. There is never a sense of urgency to find out what’s coming next.

Strengths: The strength of this book comes from Moxley’s raw storytelling. He adds in some jokes and adjectives, but he usually gets to his point rather quickly (it’s just that one point quickly leads to an unrelated point which leads to yet another unrelated story and so on. The good news is that all the tangents are relatively brief). For example, the chapter about the late Brodie Lee starts off simply with, “Brodie died today.” Another chapter about a bully named Scott Baio goes into violent detail about Mox’s first significant fight. 

Weaknesses: The structure of this book is that there is no real structure. At least that’s clear from the beginning which helps the reader prepare. Maybe it was done on purpose to get a sense of what it’s like in Moxley’s head but it’s definitely a weakness in this case. Reading the stream of consciousness of someone who has ADHD can be a double-edged sword. The chapter about Mox receiving his training and paying his dues was surprisingly slow and boring. The tedious detail in that chapter came from out of nowhere. Lastly, professional wrestling books are generally known for some cool glossy photos, usually in the middle of the book. Mox has none. We just get a bunch of random pictures randomly placed, with some randomly in black and white (pretty random right?).

Unique Attributes: This book is unique in that it reads like a collection of short stories about Jon Moxley. One chapter doesn’t always lead into the next (there is a chapter about how to make a sandwich which includes diagrams) but it was a nice experience to read a crazy anecdote here and there over a few weeks. While most stories aren’t about the WWE, the best ones certainly involve Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and the creation of the Shield.

Scout’s Recommendations: Mox is definitely worth a read if you’re a fan of WWE, AEW, New Japan or any other of the many organizations that exist now. Chances are Jon Moxley has wrestled in most of them and has a story to share. If you’re not a wrestling fan, avoid this one at all costs as it’s just going to be one big confusing mess.

FSM Scouting Report: 30 For 30 Shark

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Book/Movie Title: 30 For 30: Shark

Total Pages/Duration: 76 minutes

Author/Director: Jason Hehir & Thomas Odelfelt

Pace of Play: Watching this documentary is similar to playing 18 holes of golf. Kind of dull for the most part but you do get some great moments of interest and excitement mixed in. While this doc clocks in just under 80 minutes, it feels like you’ve been watching for 2 hours by the time the credits roll.

Strengths: The strength of this documentary lies in the accessibility of Greg Norman. He takes on all questions about “choking” and even takes a literal walk through the Master’s course at Augusta, home of his 1996 heartbreak. He’s honest but also seems like he’s in denial. An honest denial? While the viewer gets a condensed back story and buildup, this documentary is really all about that 1996 choke job.

Weaknesses: Maybe we were spoiled by The Last Dance because there was no true drama in this doc. At times, things got boring. Norman’s low volume monotone voice didn’t help matters.

Unique Attributes: One the director’s is the same person who directed The Last Dance. There are some noticeable similarities in styles of each film.

The loveable Jack Nicklaus makes appearances throughout this documentary with some great insights. Always classy never sassy. Scott Van Pelt (SVP) also pops up often.

A montage of Norman driving Ferraris and riding on to golf courses on helicopters was perfectly set to ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man. Some would say it’s the highlight of the entire film.  

Scout’s Recommendations: Subscribers of ESPN+ have access to this film and should definitely consider giving it a stream. It’s not really a film just for golf fans – most people will be able to relate to that moment of truth in their own life. Did they pull through under pressure or did they just pull a Shark?

Find out more about 30 For 30: Shark by clicking here.

Diveheart Adaptive Scuba Diving Trip Transforms Filmmaker’s Life

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(NewsUSA) – Scuba diving can be an exotic and enriching activity for anyone, but for individuals with a range of physical or cognitive disabilities, the unique weightlessness of the underwater environment allows them to exercise, relax, have fun and gain confidence like no other experience. Children and adults with challenges, including traumatic brain injuries, amputation, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and blindness can enjoy the physical and psychological benefits of scuba diving.

Diveheart, a Downers Grove, Ill.,-based nonprofit tax-exempt organization, has been helping youth, veterans and others with disabilities through adaptive scuba and scuba therapy since 2001.Last year, Los Angeles filmmaker David Marsh accompanied a Diveheart team on a scuba trip to Cozumel, Mexico, to make a documentary about the organization and its mission. For Marsh, the experience was life-changing, as he completed the trip and his filming despite the tragic personal loss of his son to a drug overdose just one week earlier.On the last day of the trip, Marsh shared his loss with the Diveheart team.

“David Marsh is amazing and awesome. Despite his loss and grief, he soldiered on and captured the spirit, love and hope that emerges from every Diveheart trip,” says Diveheart’s founder and president, Jim Elliott.”He captured the essence of our mission and shared the real-life experience of what Diveheart does to help those with disabilities experience freedom underwater.”

In the documentary, every day embraces a theme; day one is trust, day two is freedom and day three is adapting. Audiences will see how Marsh translated the feelings of the adaptive divers, who shared their losses, struggles, fears and hopes.

“We are so grateful to David for capturing Diveheart in action,” Elliott emphasizes. “My hope for this documentary is to raise awareness to Diveheart’s mission: to revolutionize rehabilitation by using zero gravity underwater to help those with everything from mobility issues to chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. We help our participants find that self-confidence, personal strength and independence, and we will continue to do so in the years to come.

The documentary, “Adapting To Dive,” premieres at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave. in Downers Grove, Ill. To see a trailer of the documentary, click here. Tickets are $12 for general admission and accessible seating.For more information about the documentary and tickets, click here.

Visit diveheart.org for more information about Diveheart. 

FSM Retro Reviews: The Craps Underground

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FSM takes a looks back at Thomas “Irshsetter” Morgan’s classic scorched earth review of the controversial 2004 book The Craps Underground – The Inside Story of How Dice Controllers Are Winning Millions from the Casinos.

“Scoblete’s new book depicts the real world of dice influencing about as accurately as Hogan’s Heroes depicted life in a World War II German POW camp.”

That was my initial impression of Scoblete’s new book which I posted on the message board a few weeks back. Now I’ve had a chance to re-read the book a couple of times and fully digest it. Fortunately, I acquired one of the pre-release copies of the book, gratis. I would have had a SERIOUS case of buyers remorse had I actually paid $24.95 for this 315 page hard cover dog.

My complete review follows.

I read a lot. I spend an hour and a half each work day on a train, so I go through books quickly. In my library, I have probably 40 to 50 books on craps specifically or gambling in general. In all the gambling books I’ve read, I can unequivocally say that no matter how poorly written or conceived the book was, I’ve always found some redeeming quality in the book. The Craps Underground is the exception. If a good gambling book is like a delicious filet mignon, this book is more akin to the stuff they feed people on the TV show, Fear Factor.

Let’s start with the ENTIRE title of the book. The Craps Underground – The Inside Story of How Dice Controllers Are Winning Millions from the Casinos. Pure, unadulterated hype. For arguments sake, we’ll assume that “Millions” means something more than one or two million, ten million would be a reasonable starting point, and it’s at least implied that it also means millions in net profit. Last spring, Frank Scoblete estimated that there are fewer than 200 skilled “dice controllers” operating in the US. By doing a little division, that would mean on average, those 200 dice “controllers” are taking down $50,000 in profits, each. Except for a few rather well bankrolled shooters, there is no evidence that the average dice controller is showing that kind of profit. Yes, many dice influencers are consistently profitable but the title alone, and I’ll repeat myself here, is unadulterated hype.

So, now let’s get into the book a bit. Chapter one opens with Scoblete having a marathon winning session with the dicecoach, Beau Parker. Here’s how Scoblete describes the session with the dicecoach,

“…seven glorious hours shooting dice with a fellow dice controller and newfound friend known as the ‘Bodacious One,’ Beau Parker.”

This session, and these warm expressions of friendship for the dicecoach occurred just a few months prior to the formation of GTC. I’ll get back to that later.

Let’s dive a little further into this drivel. In the early chapters, we get to hear Scoblete wax poetically about “the Captain,” again. Yawn…. hasn’t he beaten that horse to death yet? Then he introduces various future members of the GTC organization. Apparently, these guys never lose! Or if they do happen to have a poor session, it is quickly followed by a miraculous comeback. AMAZING! There are a couple of chapters on “The Lee Brothers.” These two chapters are almost engaging. Except for one thing. OF COURSE “The Lee Brothers” coincidentally have read all of Scoblete’s books, and religiously play like the captain. Subtle as a freight train, that Scoblete.

There’s a chapter on the Las Vegas Craps Festival which I participated in. Scoblete briefly mentions me here, and he certainly had the opportunity to take some shots at me if he wanted to. Surprisingly he didn’t though, for whatever reason. However, he did misrepresent what I discussed that day. Here’s what he had to say about me.

“Irishsetter has strong opinions.”

Well, he got THAT part right but later went on to say,

“In fact, Irishsetter made a strong pitch that people shouldn’t be paying or charging to learn dice control, that all the information should be free.”

In all actuality, I said nothing of the sort. The gist of my discussion was twofold. One, that aspiring dice influencers should learn as much as possible for free, or as cheaply as they can, and two, that there is no one single correct philosophy on how to set, grip and throw the dice. My opinion today is no different. If you’re interested, I have an article on dicesetter.com which goes further into my discussion that day called, The “Missing” Tape – The Article. My guess is that given the opportunity, Scoblete didn’t want to take any obvious shots at me, but instead chose to misrepresent my discussion in an attempt to embarrass me since I do occasionally participate in seminars. What IS missing in the book, is what Scoblete talked about that day. One of the major points of his discussion was that dice influencers would soon begin to experience the kind of heat that card counters get if they didn’t go “underground.” It seems Scoblete had a change of heart. Either that, or his definition of going “underground” is hyping dice influencing in books, holding seminars in casinos, and advertising dice control on the radio and in newspapers and magazines.

Blah, blah, blah. Several chapters not even worth mentioning.

OK, what’s next. Scoblete raids Jerry Patterson’s PARR organization of most of the coaching staff and Golden Touch Craps is born. Despite the fact that I’m intimately knowledgeable about many of the personalities involved here, these chapters are about as interesting as watching hibernating bears. I have to give Scoblete credit though. He mentions his GTC staff and as many hangers on in the GTC periphery as often as possible. Why? Because the average Joe will think it’s really “neat” that Frank Scoblete put them in his book. Pathetic? Yes. But, those folks in the periphery will go out on amazon.com, buy multiple copies of the book, and write a glowing review so their friends will buy it and see their names in print. Oh Boy!

Now we get to the “A and E Special.” It’s my opinion that the truth lies somewhere between what was broadcast by A and E, what has been written on the various web sites, and what is written in this book about the special. What Scoblete wants you to believe is that A and E decided not to broadcast the footage of all the winning sessions that actually occurred. This despite the fact that the A and E special was basically a feel-good piece. The funny thing about the A and E special is that the dicecoach, who was the main focus, invited Frank Scoblete to join him. (Scoblete then invited several other folks. What a guy!) Remember how they’d become “friends” during their marathon craps shoot several months earlier? It seems that ‘ole Scoblete is beginning to have a change of heart again. You see, Scoblete in the A and E chapter elaborates these wonderful stories about the GTC folks involved, but basically trashes everyone else who is not involved with GTC like the dicecoach, Soft Touch, and Hardways.

Blah, blah, blah. A couple more chapters not even worth mentioning.

Ah…finally we’re heading to the conclusion of the book. Scoblete closes the book with his Las Vegas Diary. This portion of the book was published on his site several months back, so I was familiar with this part already. I’ll give you the long and short of his 15 day diary here. Frank wins. Frank says wonderful things about the various GTC folks he plays with. Frank says nasty things about various other people he comes across. They lament that Treasure Island isn’t as friendly as it used to be. Boo-hoo-hoo. Frank and his playing partners lose, but miraculously have a comeback! Heard this before? What is really interesting about the diary is how Scoblete trashes dicecoach, again. Remember, in the opening of the book, Frank and Beau are “newfound friends.” Now, just a year later, here are just a few things that Scoblete now has to say about dicecoach. When asked if Frank knew the dicecoach, he replied,

“No, no” and “I barely know him.”

Apparently he doesn’t even have the cojones to refer to Beau by his name or his moniker at this point. Throughout the diary he refers to him now as “Crapsguy” and basically lays blame on Beau for whatever heat they experience in the casino. Frank writes,

“Some GTC members had a theory that the Crapsguy, the freelance dice-control instructor, had been too public, aggressive and up-front at the tables about what he was doing…”

This coming from the Scoblete is a hoot! He goes on to say,

“even when GTC did our course at Sam’s Town in Tunica we were laid back at the tables and never talked about dice control or handed our business cards across the table to drum up new business as the Crapsguy is wont to do.”

Again, from Scoblete’s pen, this is a riot. I mean, he’s holding a seminar in a casino for Pete’s sake and he complaining about the dicecoach handing out his business card? Besides, just a few pages earlier in the book, Scoblete had elaborated the following story which occurred at the Green Valley Ranch crap tables.

“..a dealer at Sunset Station, who likes to play at Green Valley Ranch, complimented me on my style. I gave him one of our Craps Club Black Chips with our phone number, and whispered to him if he was interested in learning how to roll like that give us a call.”

So, Frank will deride you for behavior that he himself exhibits. Hmmm. What’s that saying? Oh yeah. Pot – Kettle – Black.

I wonder how Beau the dicecoach would have been portrayed in the The Craps Underground had he accepted GTC’s invitation to join their organization. You think perhaps THAT had something to do with Frank’s change of heart, from “friend” to “the Crapsguy?”

Basically, the book in a nutshell is this. 70% of the book is an infomercial for GTC. 20% of the book is various trip reports. Don’t worry. The few sessions which aren’t profitable for Scoblete? Just read on, a miraculous comeback is in store. The final 10% of the book is the subtle trashing of anyone who is not involved with GTC or a member of the GTC flock.

If you read the jacket cover of the book, and anything else Scoblete writes for that matter, it says,

“Frank Scoblete is the number-one best-selling gaming author in America..”

If that’s true, and people really do think Scoblete has something to say, well, then, my mother was right when she said,

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”

About the Author: Thomas Morgan aka Irishsetter is the webmaster of http://www.dicesetter.com and is widely recognized in the gambling community as an expert in dice influencing.

L.A. Comic Con is Nigh! Massive Info Dump

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December 2021 brings with it the return of L.A. Comic Con – IN PERSON! Thousands and thousands of geeks and gamers (said affectionately as we are such geeks) will make their way to Los Angeles to experience the latest in comics, science fiction, gaming, and pop-culture. FSM will be on hand. More on that later. For now, the good folks at L.A. Comic Con have treated us with a massive news dump about the event! See below for the latest info:

L.A. COMIC CON CELEBRATES A RETURN TO FULL-SCALE IN-PERSON EVENTS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ZACHARY LEVI, MING-NA WEN, GIANCARLO ESPOSITO, BRUCE CAMPBELL, AND SPECIAL STAR TREK EXPERIENCE FEATURING NICHELLE NICHOLS  
Programming Includes West Hall eSports, Gaming, and Anime Experience, Smallville Nights, Cosplay National Championship, Laugh Factory Comedy Show, and cast members from Boy Meets World, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Arrow, My Hero Academia, and much more!

L.A. Comic Con to Implement Numerous COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures in Compliance with State and Local Policies and Guidance

WHAT: L.A. Comic Con, L.A.’s largest event for comics, gaming, sci-fi and pop culture, signals a return to full-scale in-person events, leading the way as the first Southern California convention of its kind to bring fans back since October 2019. Full compliance with all Los Angeles Department of Public Health CV-19 guidelines for mega events will be strictly followed, including proof of vaccination or negative test results, and masks will be worn by all attendees. In 2019, over 123,000 fans attended L.A. Comic Con for celebrity panels, autograph signings, activations, comics, cosplay, and pop culture fanfare. The event plays host to 800+ diverse artists and vendors, selling comics, collectibles, art, toys, apparel, and everything in-between. This year, attendees will get up close and personal with some of the biggest and best names in the entertainment industry with a handpicked selection of panels, events, special exhibits, and meet and greet opportunities. Special guests include Zachary Levi, Ming-Na Wen, Giancarlo Esposito, Bruce Campbell, Nichelle Nichols, Tom Kenny, Tom Welling, and many more.

WHEN: The Los Angeles Comic Con will take place December 3–5, 2021.

WHERE:
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Schedule Highlights:

Show Hours

  •  Friday, December 3: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 4:  9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 5: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Consistent with Los Angeles Department of Public Health Guidelines, for this year’s convention, here are a few extra measures that will be taken to ensure the health and safety of everyone attending are considered:

  • There will be three entrances — one in the South Hall and two in the West Hall — employing over 20 magnetometers to spread out and speed up COVID-19 and safety checks
  • All fans and guests will pass through two checkpoints: a COVID vaccination/negative test verification station and then security. Free PCR tests (results available in 15 minutes) will be available for those lacking vaccine verification
  • All convention goers will be required to wear face coverings while attending the event
  • All cleaning standards from LA County and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will be followed before, in between and after all sessions
  • Extra space: With well over 1.2 million-square feet of exhibition space (double the space from 2019), fans will have plenty of room to spread out and maintain safe distances

Programming Includes:

A Star Trek Experience
L.A. Comic Con is teaming up with Atomic Studios to bring you the ultimate celebration of Star Trek, honoring Nichelle Nichols and her contribution to society and pop culture. L.A. Comic Con will host the ultimate Trekkie experience on Saturday and Sunday. Over 35,000-square feet of exhibit space will be dedicated to all-things Star Trek and space exploration. Join over 20 actors from all the Star Trek series for panels, content, merchandise, photo opportunities, and more for an experience that is truly out of this world.

West Hall Expansion Featuring eSports, Gaming, and Anime
L.A. Comic Con is taking over the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center for the first time, thanks to its partnership with PCB Productions. In the 147,000-square-foot West Hall, fans will have the opportunity to watch competitive gaming on the Tiltify Arena stage, created by The Trade Group, past producers of I.E.M. and Dreamhack events. With seating for 800–1,000 patrons, the Arena will be the center point of a hall where fans can play PC games on high-end computers, attend workshops, and interact with some of the top video game and Anime voice-over talent in the industry in intimate settings. Fans will be able to participate in Thankmas, a fundraising campaign to help end global homelessness.

Sideshow Booth
Pop culture collectibles giant Sideshow is exhibiting at Los Angeles Comic Con for the very first time. Sideshow’s booth will feature high end collectibles inspired by fan-favorite characters from the worlds of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and more — including many that will be making their first physical convention debut.

Laugh Factory Comedy Show
Iconic comedy club Laugh Factory is taking over the Main Stage on Friday night of L.A. Comic Con with an exciting two-hour lineup. Fans can kick off their L.A. Comic Con weekend by laughing out loud with some of the best names in stand-up comedy.

6th Annual Cosplay National Championship
Cosplayers will compete for cash and other prizes in the 6th Annual Cosplay National Championship in one of three categories: Master, Journeyman, or Novice. All genres are welcome including characters from film, television, theater, comics, video games, sci-fi, anime, horror, and original creations.

Smallville Nights
Join your favorite Clark Kent and Lex Luthor as they bring some of your favorite Smallville moments to life. Tom Welling (Clark Kent/Superman) and Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) will be reading scenes from the series and bringing fans up to act and improv. Enjoy and laugh as Welling and Rosenbaum attempt to get through scenes from the pilot and beyond without breaking character.

Raised by Wolves Season 2 Sneak Peek
L.A. Comic Con is presenting a sneak peek of HBO Max’s original drama series, Raised by Wolves. The series is produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, with Scott, Aaron Guzikowski, David W. Zucker (The Man in the High Castle), Jordan Sheehan (The Terror), Adam Kolbrenner (Prisoners), and Mark Huffam (The Martian) serving as executive producers. The series was created by Guzikowski, acclaimed writer, and visionary behind the highly lauded film, Prisoners.

In the second installment of HBO Max’s original drama series, RAISED BY WOLVES, Android partners Mother (Amanda Collin) and Father (Abubakar Salim), along with their brood of six human children, join a newly formed atheistic colony in Kepler 22 b’s mysterious tropical zone. But navigating this strange new society is only the start of their troubles as Mother’s “natural child” threatens to drive what little remains of the human race to extinction.

The sneak peek will feature:

  •  Amanda Collin, Star
  • Abubakar Salim, Star
  • Travis Fimmel, Star
  • Niamh Algar, Star
  • Kim Engelbrecht, Star
  • Aaron Guzikowski, Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer
  • Dalton Ross, Executive Editor at Large for Entertainment Weekly (Moderator)

The Official L.A. Comic Con Scavenger Hunt
Fans are encouraged to download the Oasis Digital AR app, in the Apple App Store or on Google Play, to experience Augmented Reality events in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center. Convention goers can participate in the official Los Angeles Comic Con Scavenger Hunt, brought to you by our digital innovation partner, Liquid Avatar Technologies. Find and collect QR codes hidden around the show to win amazing digital stickers, discounts, and special offers! Once you’ve completed the scavenger hunt, visit the Liquid Avatar booth to collect even more great prizes like limited edition commemorative NFTs, collector Liquid Avatars and more!

Main Stage Featured Guests:

Spongebob Squarepants
Spongebob and Squidward are two of the most iconic animated characters ever created, and part of what makes them so recognizable and beloved are their unique voices. Join Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants) and Roger Bumpass (Squidward Tentacles) for a discussion about one of the longest running shows in television history.

Boy Meets World
From 1993–2000, Boy Meets World explored the trials and tribulations of growing up in the 1990s. Join Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), William Daniels (George Feeny), and Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) for a chat about this successful and popular series.

Smallville
Clark Kent grew up in Smallville, Kansas, and before he became Superman, he not only had to deal with being different from everyone else, but he also had to learn his place in the world. From 2001–2011, Smallville brought us a dramatic look at Clark Kent’s formative years. Tom Welling (Clark Kent/Superman), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), John Glover (Lionel Luthor), and Laura Vandervoort (Kara), will present an illuminating look at this popular show.

The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian took Disney+ by storm and has become tremendously popular during its first two seasons. This Star Wars story, set in the years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, tells the tale of a member of the race of bounty hunters that spawned Boba Fett. Ming-Na Wen (Fennec Shand), Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon) will regale convention goers with tales from one of the most innovative production sets ever built.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
From 1993–1996, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers sprang into action to fight all kinds of baddies and protect the town of Angel Grove, and the world at large. The original series, which was adapted from Japan’s Super Sentai series, launched more than 20 iterations and three feature films. Join Jason David Frank (Tommy Oliver/White Ranger/Green Ranger) and David Yost (Billy Cranston/Blue Ranger) for a discussion about this iconic franchise.

My Hero Academia
Adapted from a Japanese superhero manga, My Hero Academia is an anime that tells the story of a young boy, Izuku Midoriya, who wishes to enroll in a prestigious hero academy. English-speaking cast members J. Michael Tatum, Brandon McInnis, Ricco Fajardo, Alexis Tipton, and Christopher Wehkmap will discuss bringing this popular story to North American audiences.

Interviews and Spotlights:

Gerard Way Interviews Frank Miller
Gerard Way, creator of The Umbrella Academy and The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, and co-founder and lead singer of My Chemical Romance, will interview legendary creator Frank Miller (300, The Dark Knight Returns, Give Me Liberty, Ronin, Sin City) on the Main Stage Saturday, Dec. 4th! Enjoy the conversation between the two pop culture giants as they discuss comics, film and what’s next for Frank Miller.

Spotlight on Bruce Campbell
In the late 1970s, Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi collaborated on a horror short called Within the Woods, which became The Evil Dead (1981) which Campbell co-produced and starred in as Ash Williams. Thanks in part to a ringing endorsement from Stephen King, Campbell and Raimi followed with Evil Dead 2 in 1987, and Army of Darkness in 1992. Campbell reprised the role of Ash in the Showtime series Ash vs Evil Dead for three seasons from 2015–2018. Ash has become one of the most iconic characters ever created in the horror genre. Campbell, who also produces and directs, is also known for roles in the film Bubba Ho-Tep and the TV series Burn Notice.  

Spotlight on Zachary Levi
Zachary Levi is an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer, who has appeared in films, on television, and on Broadway. A regular voice actor on Robot Chicken, Levi is also the voice of Flynn Rider in 2010’s Tangled. He also voiced characters in Tangled: The Series. Most notably, Levi starred as the title character in Shazam! in 2019, and Chuck Bartowski in Chuck from 2007–2012. The Louisiana-native has also played the Asgardian Fandral in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok. His theater credits include First Date, She Loves Me, and Sunday in the Park with George.  

World Class Artists & Creators Including:

  • Frank Miller, Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Elektra Lives Again, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, and 300
  • Rob Liefeld, Deadpool, New Mutants, Youngblood
  • Jim Starlin, Infinity Gauntlet Saga, The Death of Captain Marvel
  • Brian Azzarello, Spaceman, Batman: Broken City, 100 Bullets
  • Kyle Higgins, Nightwing, Batman Eternal, Gates of Gotham, Batman Beyond 2.0
  • Donny Cates, Venom, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange
  • Ryan Stegman, Uncanny Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine
  • Andy Kubert, X-Men
  • And many more!

SPONSORS:

Tiltify
The presenting sponsor of the Tiltify eSports Arena in the West Hall, Tiltify is a fundraising platform for the digital generation providing live, interactive technology that engages and inspires communities to donate or fundraise to important causes the world over.

AREA21 in the West Hall
AREA21, the collaborative project of DJ/producer Martin Garrix and producer/songwriter Maejor, is a conceptual sonic and visual exploration that has the duo making music containing universal messages about humankind as seen through the eyes of their alien alter egos M & M. Their adventures are portrayed through a series of songs and accompanying animated videos produced by award-winning animation studio, Titmouse (Run the Jewels, Dua Lipa). Convention goers can check out their videos in the West Hall expansion.

Digital Innovation Partner Liquid Avatar Technologies
Liquid Avatar Technologies, L.A. Comic Con’s Digital Innovation Partner, will showcase its technology through integrations and demonstrations of verifiable credentials, digital identity, unveiling new and exclusive projects, hosting panels and meet-and-greets with writers, artists, and industry icons, and will also create and administer an Augmented Reality scavenger hunt in conjunction with its subsidiary, Oasis Digital Studios, to showcase a host of digital collectibles.

Hot Topic
Hot Topic offers band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise, and fashion apparel and accessories, which you can find at more than 600 stores and online.

Legion M
Legion M is the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company and partners with top Hollywood creators — from independent filmmakers to big Hollywood studios — to produce a slate of movies, TV, and digital content.

Popshop Live
Popshop Live is a live streaming commerce marketplace that is transforming social shopping. The mobile streaming platform allows sellers to go live, sell their products to a community of shoppers and engage directly in real-time interactions. L.A. Comic Con and Popshop Live have partnered together to elevate the digital experience by giving attendees unlimited access to livestream the main stage through the Popshop Live app, interact with their favorite exhibitors after the convention is over with exclusive discounts and products, and bringing L.A. Comic Con alive with a virtual convention in Spring 2022, streaming exclusively on Popshop Live!

That Hashtag Show
That Hashtag Show writes and produces quality content to hype the films and shows you love, keeping you up to date with everything trending in geek pop culture.

UE COMIX™
UE COMIX™ is a self-publishing platform designed to support and promote Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels by Independent Creators. We aim to return control to the aesthetic community through the establishment of a self-made, self-published mindset. Words cannot express the appreciation and excitement we have partnering with L.A. Comic Con and participating in the upcoming events.

Voodoo Ranger
Voodoo Ranger is excited to join everyone on the convention floor this year as the official beer partner of L.A. Comic Con!

WHY: Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, and home to the most high-profile entertainers, artists, studios, and the center of the film and television industry. L.A. Comic Con is a celebration for all things pop culture and is meant to be a place where fans can meet their superheroes, comic book characters, and the creators behind them.

WHO:

  • Nichelle Nichols, Actress, Star Trek
  • Zachary Levi, Actor, Chuck, Shazam!
  • Ming-Na Wen, Actress, The Mandalorian, Marvel’s AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D
  • Giancarlo Esposito, Actor, The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul
  • Bruce Campbell, Actor, Evil Dead, Spider-Man, Bubba Ho-Tep
  • Jason David Frank, Actor, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  • Tom Kenny, Comedian and Voice of Spongebob Squarepants
  • Roger Bumpass, Actor, Voice of Squidward – Spongebob Squarepants
  • David Yost, Actor, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
  • Tom Welling, Actor, Smallville, Lucifer
  • Michael Rosenbaum, Actor, Smallville, Guardians of the Galaxy 2
  • John Glover, Actor, The Walking Dead, Smallville, Scrooged
  • Rider Strong, Actor, Boy Meets World, Cabin Fever
  • William Daniels, Actor, Boy Meets World, Knight Rider, St. Elsewhere
  • Will Friedle, Actor, Boy Meets World, Batman Beyond
  • John Barrowman, Actor, Doctor Who, Flash
  • Casper Van Dien, Actor, Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow
  • J. Michael Tatum, Actor, Black Butler
  • Chris Wehkamp, Actor, My Hero Academia
  • Brandon McInnis, Actor, Black Clover
  • Alexis Tipton, Actress, Sakura Quest
  • Ricco Fajardo, Actor, Black Clover

ABOUT LOS ANGELES COMIC CON:
L.A. Comic Con is Los Angeles’ biggest and best multimedia pop culture convention, held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center. L.A. Comic Con assembles the most exciting, new, and innovative players in comics, movies, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, anime, gaming, and all things pop-culture. Over 123,000 fans attended the 2019 event, making it Los Angeles’ ultimate pop-culture destination. L.A. Comic Con’s top priority is the safety and enjoyment of the show’s fans and regularly updates its CV-19 protocols. As one of the most diverse and celebrated geek and pop-culture events in the United States, L.A. Comic Con gives fans once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to truly enjoy safe interactions with their favorite creators and major players in the entertainment industry.

MORE INFORMATION ON L.A. COMIC CON
For more info on L.A. Comic Con, please visit: https://www.comicconla.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

HASHTAGS: #ComicConLA #ComicConLA21