For the first time in my life, things finally came up Gary. I have been a pretty big nerd for a long time, and by nerd, I mean a sports nerd. Fantasy sports have been a big part of my life for over ten years now, and although my free online Fantasy Locker with Yahoo is packed with trophies, whenever money is involved, I lose. I don't know if it's Karma, pressure, or just bad luck, but for whatever reason, once I have something to gain besides pride, it's all over, might as well just donate the money to someone who actually needs it, (unlike the boozehound degenerates that I slum around with).

So you can imagine my excitement when I got the phone call yesterday from my boy Pistol Pete, "Hey, I am just gonna drop off the money today after work?" "Seriously, I won?????" "Yep." Just like that, I hung up the phone, and a new chapter of my life began. I always said I could die a happy man once I ended this horendous streak, and I truley feel like I can leave this world tomorrow, with a smile on my face.

How did this all happen? To quote one of my idols Happy Gilmore, "Some people call it luck, but I call it.......... well luck I guess. So What?!"  I entered two Playoff Hockey Drafts this year, the illustrious Mazzei Draft, and the not so famous Trumpy Draft. I went in to both with a gameplan, that plan was take the Blackhawks, anyone I could grab, because I had a feeling, then sprinkle on a bit of Bruins, since I love them. Then, before I knew it, things started coming together, both teams were winning, and so was I.

It's crazy how the Fantasy Sports world has changed people. The hardcores go from being huge fans of their teams, to huge fans of whoever they ended up with in their draft, totally forgetting about their lifelong allegiance to said favorite team.

I always told myself that I would never fall victim to the "cheer against your team" syndrom that seems to have broken out like that virus in the movie Outbreak (I never looked at Monkeys the same way after that movie) . Staying true to myself, I have always drafted Bruins, and this year was no different, but, this time, I used my head to mix them into two winning teams.

Come to think of it, I probably would have been able to afford more than three month old Hamburger Helper, KD, and on the good days, KD with No Name brand wieners chopped into it, if I would have not always bet on the Arizona Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Bruins, and the Toronto Raptors.

I guess it's like Steve Morari always says, " When it rains, it pours."

I know what you all are thinking right now  "But Gary, what am I supposed to take away from all this, what is the moral of this story???" The moral is this, it's always more fun to gamble, when gambling on teams and players you cheer for. Sure I can take A-rod or anyone on the Montreal Canadien's roster, but when the guys/teams you like are winning, AND they make you some cash, that my friends, to quote this guy  "Is Perfect!".

The Maestro of Bloganomics, wanted me to touch on the Pete Rose argument. Gambling on your favorite team is like gambling on yourself, it will make you feel better at the time, but it will never get you into the sports gambling hall of fame.

A quick plug for a local sports event, the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Championships are going on this weekend at The PAC. My fantastic chiropractor is representing Saskatchewan, so if you arn't hitting the lake this weekend, go check out some excellent Wheelchair Basketball action.

Finally, the music world lost a special person this week. Ronnie James Dio died on Sunday. He made perhaps the greatest song/music video of all time. We will miss you Holy Diver.
 

This weeks picture that I own is of me and my buddy Endo's old dog Marley, she is now in Heaven, but she will live here forever.

There's a Facebook page with more hot blog party action, click this Beckhem-esque face to check it out.

I am off to win the Mangler Cup this weekend in Waskesiu, have a great long weekend.

Gary Nickle is a blogger for News Talk Radio