I reckon my mates can be classified into two categories, those that love their sport (Group 1) and those that love their sport and bet on it (Group 2). Over the years I have often tried to persuade those from Group 1 to see the light and to come over and join Group 2 through discovering the joys of sports betting. Somehow though it just never seems to work out as planned.

Take this past weekend for example. With the wife and kids at a party I decided to invite two of my Group 1 mates over for a couple of drinks and the Currie Cup semifinals. Roy can on occasions be tempted into having a bet while getting Jason to risk some of his hard earned cash is a bit like trying to part a baby from its dummy, possible but be prepared for plenty of screaming when he realises he isn’t getting it back.

Further to this my record when punting with these two guys present is pretty poor and a pre match discussion with Group 2 mate Brendan had him recoiling in horror at the prospect of me “taunting” the betting Gods by having them both over at the same time. “Take it easy” he warned “you know you can never win with them in the room”.

I shrugged this off as mere superstition and set out to prove that I could not only profit in their company but could bring them along for the ride as well.

The first match passed without incident and a small profit but between games though Roy was clearly restless asking me what I was doing in the 2^nd semi. Before long we were high on Bulls try scorer shirt numbers at 28. His stake was about a 6^th of mine and within minutes he had further diluted his interested convincing Jason to go halves with him, after all, surely the Bulls could not finish try less?

They could (and did) of course and we lost the maximum with Roy and Jason each losing the equivalent of a family meal at Spur while I in my misguided attempts to show them how much fun betting could be dropped the better part of a months bond payment.

When will I learn that some guys are just not meant to bet? It sure is expensive trying to teach them.

This article first appeared in the Citizen CitiGaming section on Thursday 22 October 2009

Brent Graham is a blogger on www.goodforthegame.co.za and presents a sports betting radio show every Saturday morning at 07h30 on 1485AM Radio Today or Channel 169 of the DSTV Audio Bouquet.

You can follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/brentgraham or get on his mailing list by dropping him a line at brent@goodforthegame.co.za