I was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Grew up here. Hot Springs has an interesting past. A history filled with stories of gambling, mobsters, and crooked politicians. At one time, Hot Springs was famous for being the largest illegal gambling center in the US. My point in telling you all this is that people in Hot Springs take our bets seriously. We pay off when we lose.
And recently, I lost a bet.
For the first time in a long time, the University of Arkansas baseball team played in the College World Series. This was the fourth trip for Coach Van Horn. Until this year, he’d never won a game at the CWS. But this year was different! Seated in 5th position in our region, our first game was SC Fullerton, the second seat. We Won! A surprise to everyone, especially Fullerton. Next up was LSU, one of our “arch enemies” in the SEC.
So when I tweeted “Go Hogs”, image my surprise when I discovered one of my favorite authors (Toni McGee Causey) was a rabid LSU fan,(No accounting for taste!) and posts this..
ToniMcGeeCausey oh, we are SO GONNA HAVE A THROW DOWN. Monday, babe. MONDAY. 
I respond: you’re on! And remember…big girls don’t cry
ToniMcGeeCausey: HEH. Deal. Loser buys the cookies. 
I respond: B TW – who’s got the BOOT from football? 
Cookies – you’re on. I love cookies (Explanation: U of AR and LSU play for The Golden Boot in football – a boot shaped trophy made up of our two states)
ToniMcGeeCausey boot? I have no memory of said boot. la la la la la I can’t HEAR you. (I like my cookies w/ chocolate chips+purplngold icing)
So I gently remind Toni ..Arkansas has won The Golden Boot for the last two seasons ..50-48 in 2007 and 31-30 in 2008.
ToniMcGeeCauseyI have short memory. I dunno this mythical boot you keep mentioning. I will have to investigate. Meanwhile, GO LSU.
I respond: Sorry for memory loss. Let me help. AR 31 – LSU 30
ToniMcGeeCausey geez, how could I forget that one… that was the same year hell froze.
I respond: Hard 2 believe hell would freeze 2 YRS IN A ROW. 07 AR 50 – LSU 48; Then AGAIN in 08 AR 30 – LSU 31 Hmmmmmmmm
ToniMcGeeCausey hey, I cannot help it if hell is badly managed.
Well, Monday came, and LSU squeaks by (9-1) and I get this..
ToniMcGeeCausey soooooooo…. are ya makin’ the cookies or buying ‘em?
To compound the pain, we had to play LSU AGAIN on Thursday (6/19) where they barely sneaked past us (14-5).
So, I lost my bet and had to pay up, which OF COURSE I did. But I added a litte something to go with the cookies I sent….
At least I can say we got beat in the CWS by THE BEST! Congratulations LSU Tigers! And thanks to Toni for making me laugh so much this past week.
So, do you gamble? Make Bets? Do you pay off your bets? What’s the most you’ve ever bet and what was it on?
One lucky person will win a copy of Toni McGee Causey’s latest book CHARMED AND DANGEROUS (and I’ll make her sign it too!)
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | ArkansasCyndi, College World Series, Cynthia D'Alba, LSU Tigers, Toni McGee Causey, Un of Arkansas Razorbacks
I’m not really much of a gambler, mostly because I hate to lose. lol
Wanted to drop by and say Hello Cyndi!!!
I am very proud of our Hogs!!!! I hate that they lost to LSU but they played really well this year, plus we have the Boot so it’s all good.
I love to go to Tunica and play the slots. That’s about the extent of my gambling. Everyone keeps telling me I need to come to Hot Springs and play at Oaklawn. Have you played their slots yet? How are they?
Hey Cyndi — those cookies were delicious! And obviously, really good luck.
LOL!
I love the “extra” you sent with the cookies. Makes me want to go to a football game. I’ve never lost a serious bet like this one
. Or won one… hmmm. Must make more bets to let fun ensue.
Fun post!
not much of a betting type when there is money involved. A cookie bet? I would have taken that, and would have bet FOR the hogs.
I do like slots and wish I was better at math to enjoy blackjack. But ack! all the constant counting! and factoring in of what might be left in the deck. Too much for my non-math compatible brain.
I with you Kristen. I hate to lose. This one really hurt!
Hey Heather! Thanks for dropping by. I still love my Hogs and I’m proud of them.
Toni – Glad you enjoyed the cookies. Made a batch for hubby. They lasted less than 24 hours! Thanks for the laughs that week.
Laura – it’s fun to have a bet with someone like Toni, who made losing fun…okay, not fun but tolerable!
Keri- thanks for having me back to guest blog. I get bored with slots, especially if they don’t pay off quickly!
What is this football of which you speak?
(*ducks the flying cookie–oh, wait. That’s a puck, isn’t it?*)
I’ll have you know that I am of the Flippins of Flippin, Arkansas. Seriously. And no, for those uncultured among you, it is not “Flippin’ Arkansas.” Comma, not apostrophe.
I don’t gamble and I know next to nothing about sports. However, I work with some heavy sport gamblers. One of my co-workers agreed to cut his hair if he lost a bet with our boss.
His hair was much, much shorter the following day
Hey, I gamble every time I open a document and write Chapter One! Does that count? I just had to drop by to say I just finished CHARMED AND DANGEROUS and so completely loved every flippin’ word of that book. If anyone ever asks me to define the elusive concept of “voice” – I’m sending them right to that book and anything else Toni writes.
By the way, I live in GATOR country.
xoxo
Rocki
Keri – you’re from AR? Seriously? You can’t be if you don’t know FOOTBALL!!
Kara – Great story about the hair! LOL
Rocki – Did you say GATOR? (holds fingers in sign of cross) Get back. You cannot harm me.
Doesn’t Twitter put you in touch with the BEST people and things! What a cool story, Cynthia.
But I’m so sorry to tell you, the Ohio State Buckeyes Rule (no Gator or LSU jabs please, I’m in a sensitive place.
Don’t you love college football?
Rachel
Rachel!! How cool you stopped by. Buckeyes, huh? (Wipes tears from my eyes) And to think, I had so much respect for you…until now.
Love ya, even if you have NO TASTE in college teams.
Great story, Cyndi!
As you know I married into an Arkansas family. Yankee that I am, (well…I’m from Missouri, but still) they welcomed me in to the fold.
After so many years, I actually love watching Arkansas play football now.
And I have no doubt that if it were allowed, there would be a large Razorback Hog painted on the side of my house.
Alas, the neighborhood HOA won’t allow it.
I’m also not much of a gambler, but my dad once paid off a five dollar bet in the form of a large jar of honey and 500 pennies.
L
Cyndi, of course you know I live in Arkansas, you goof! Oh, wait, Keri Stevens…Hey, fellow Arkansan KERI STEVENS! We live on polar ends of the states. (to be honest, I had to google where you are!). I’m way on the south side-El Dorado.
I don’t gamble much. I was very nervous sitting at a blackjack table in Vegas, but it was also very exciting. If I do make a bet, I will pay it off it I lose.
I buy one lotto ticket every day. That is my version of gambling. It only takes one to win.
I buy lottery tickets every once in a while. Overall, I think I’ve lost more than I’ve won.
LSU is my alumni, and though I adore you I have to side with Toni. Geaux Tigers! That t-shirt would work nicely for wiping down the grill after we get done with all these steaks…Texas longhorn steaks!
Great post and love the history of Hot Springs! I’m all about a good mob story
I’m soooo not a good gambler. I lose at cards and give away my limit of $25 any time I gamble on slots. I have won a few raffles and a couple of blog signing drawings.
Hi, Cyndi!
Lara- FINALLY! I meet a Floridan with taste and good sense. I KNEW I loved you best!
Sissi – Fine with me if you grill Texas Longhorn Steak, but using a U of A shirt to wipe down the grill. (Shakes head in disgust) Will have to rethink my love for you.
Keri Ford – you are a goose.
Mari & Chey- I don’t gamble much. Even lottery tickets seem like throwing my money away.
Jane – I’ve never sat at a Blackjack table. I think I would be nervous. Hubby is pretty good at blackjack, but then, we usually go straight for the buffet!
Great blog, Cindy!
It’s fun to read about Arkansas and LSU . I’m a Mississippi State fan myself but I’ve been in Texas a long time…..I miss the SEC. Go DAWGS!
I’m not much of a gambler but I love the energy in casinos. I’ll play the quarter slot machines or put my money where I’m told when friends are playing craps.
: )
Hey Kay! Mississippi State? I have NO IDEA. I’m learning so much about my friends! LOL
thanks for coming by!
No need to enter me, but I got the notice about this late and had to say y’all cracked me up.
I have bet in the past, and did pay off.
And, yeah, since my Dad was from Fort Smith, the Razorbacks have ever been high on my rooting list. Except when they played the University of Tulsa back in the day. Loyalty insisted I root for TU. Arkansas routinely beat us in football … save one magical year.
I keep my fav teams now that I’m in the Sunshine State, but have become even more of a Gator fan. Tim Tebow rules!
Light,
Nancy
Betting is boring. So are most sports–unless I get caught up in a game, then watch out!
I always pay up.
Susan Shay
http://the-twisted-sisters.com
Nancy – I KNEW I adored you. I didn’t know why…now I do. It’s those Arkansas roots coming through!
But a GATOR fan? Oh Nancy. I shall remember you in my RAZORBACK prayers!
Susan – Betting is boring when you lose! LOL
Mary Marvella! – How nice that you came by yesterday and how bad am I that I overlooked your post! I understand completely the feeding of $25 into slots. Doesn’t take long, does it?
Football? *scratches head* College plays baseball?? How weird. And to make matters worse, I’m from Arkansas! I’ve was never very invested in college sports. I loved going to NY Mets and NY Ranger games. I didn’t care too much about watching on TV–unless it was an important game. Was glued to the TV or the radio for the ’86 playoffs and World Series.
I played the NY lottery for years. Never won much. Arkansas is gearing up for their new lottery. I’ll probably play it. I’ve played the slots at Tunica but it’s been a while. I didn’t have much luck.
I rarely make a personal bet. I just don’t have the kind of luck to win and I hate losing! *cackle*
Shayla – haven’t decided if I”ll play the lottery. Probably not. Hate losing!
Oh, I so hate I missed this topic. Cause, hello, I’m from Louisiana. And I am a huge LSU Tiger fan.
And I agree – la,la, la, la, – I can’t hear you about that golden boot thing.
I love that you love the hogs. SEC rocks and we’ve got the best teams and the best fans. We have fun with it. I am proud of my Tigers, and I enjoyed watching Arky play in the CWS. College sports are so much fun to watch – I adore them.