Storyteller >>>

What we are going to do here, is to have a conversation between a fictitious William the banker, and Page the gambler.
The name of the poem, as well as the name of the banker, was inspired by Bob Dylan’s song ‘’Rambling, Gambling Willie’’.

William >>>

Doesn’t gambling make you moody?

Page >>>

It is part of the artistic temperament to be moody.

William >>>

What does UEFA stand for, for that matter?

Page >>>

the Union of European Football Associations. Basically they own half the world, just kidding.

William >>>

You seem in a good mood, have you won your latest bet or bets?

Page >>>

Yeah yesterday I nailed a Costa Rica match.

William >>>

Very good, so you want to keep this to football?

Page >>>

Yeah, it is what I do these days, horses are allright, and casinos I have been to real ones for that matter.

William >>>

Do you have a favorite league?

Page >>>

I like Germany Second league, and Japanese matches.

William >>>

What about leagues you don’t like?

Page >>>

There is a lot of sketchy ones, like Romania, Guatemala, and Armenia.

William >>>

So YOU ACTUALLY WIN?

Page >>>

I am plus since a few months back. It is a hobby. It is under control.

William >>>

Why did you have to say ‘’It is under control’’?

Page >>>

Well a lot of people have the notion that gambling is addictive and that you lose money. So sometimes one has to let people know it is a hobby, a challenge.

William >>>

Smart people need to have challenges?

Page >>>

As far as I have heard. School was pretty much a breeze up till university time.

William >>>

Ah, what university, and did you bet on them, and you know it is illegal if you bet on the sport you played for?

Page >>>

Haha. No, I just played for lower levels of hockey so no chance on gambling for that. Yeah, The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, both the american football and basketball teams were prominent. I can’t remember placing a bet on either one of them though.

William >>>

So you bet in America time?

Page >>>

This is before they came on with online sportsbooks. I had a bookie like the old days, Keith, and he had a beeper, and he would give me the spread on NBA, basketball matches. Parlay, round-robin that type of thing, I did go minus with that.

William >>>

So let’s about wrap this up?

Page >>>

Sure.

William >>>

Do you have any games for today?

Page >>>

Yes, a few football matches, one in Denmark.

William >>>

Well best of luck with that.

Page >>>

Thank you, and thank you for your time.

William >>>

Mutual. And good luck in the future.