Todaro resurgence & insider trading scandal overshadows…
…back to back 11 win performance by Zane
In the ultimate clash of team picking strategies, Zane “I’ve filed to legally change my name to ESPN” Pennella and Peter “I couldn’t tell you the last televised sporting event I watched” Todaro battled to an 11-win standoff in week 14. And while 11/15 for may earn you a C- in French class and rationed screen time in the Pennella household, in the football picking world it’s pretty damn good.
In the end, however, the high scoring Monday night Bears-Cowboys tipped the week to Todaro.
Pete’s performance — backed by 8 and 9 win performances by the Todaro women — and a piss poor week from the Commish — catapulted the Todaros into the family lead by a scant 0.1%.
However, Zane’s uncharacteristically strong back to back performance raised a few eyebrows in the family betting community. The commissioner’s own investigations revealed that Zane had been tapping into the Insider line on ESPN. The insider line provides what the ESPN experts think the line should be and can be quite different than the official line.
While Zane’s procurement of this intel does not violate any formal league covenants, one can debate whether his actions fall within the spirt of this family friendly wagering undertaking.
Opinions were split. Mrs. Rauch’ Zane’s science teacher lauded Zane’s willingness to go above and beyond, going so far as to call it “unprecedented”.
Others — particularly those of the Italian persuasion — were less accepting. Rumors about Pop reaching out to his old high school acquaintance Bologna should not be of comfort to Mr. Insider.
If we can actually locate where on the friggin’ voluminous ESPN site this information actually resides, we shall share it. Not that it will likely influence the Todaro family betting approach.
Mr. Insider does lead the individual percentage and weekly win race at the moment. See below for the official results.
-the Commish
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