The Color of Cool

by Ed Meyer

posted on October 2, 2008 in General Discussion | No Comments >>

As gamblers we have all seen our share of movies over the years. This past week, one of the best actors that ever played a gambler, passed away. This great actor was Paul Newman.

He played roles that appealed to every person who has been in a card game, shot 8-ball, or had a losing day at the track. He was a man from the old days. He was angling, looking for the edge, or attempting to make a score. How does this play into the our sport of racing? Well, it does. He was the epitome of cool even in the hottest sun.

His lines in movies reflected the soul of a gambler. One of the best lines that I have ever heard was: “Money won is twice as sweet as money earned,” from The Color of Money. That plays into the language of every gambler. There is a little of that in every horse player.

His unwavering ability to keep his luck alive is the mantra of gamblers. To never give up, to keep coming back; prevailing with the patience of stones. This is what it’s all about when we play. Never give up. One bad day can be the open door to the big turn-around. Even though they are movies, they hold what is near and dear to our hearts. Winning…

Here is an excerpt from The Hustler, that every gambler will understand when they are in the zone. When you are coming off a bad turn, and are looking to make the big run. Take it in.

“When I’m goin’, I mean, when I’m REALLY goin’, I feel like a… like a jockey must feel. He’s sittin’ on his horse, he’s got all that speed and that power underneath him… he’s comin’ into the stretch, the pressure’s on ‘im, and he KNOWS… just feels… when to let it go and how much. Cause he’s got everything workin’ for ‘im: timing, touch. It’s a great feeling, boy, it’s a real great feeling when you’re right and you KNOW you’re right. It’s like all of a sudden I got oil in my arm. The pool cue’s part of me. You know, it’s uh – pool cue, it’s got nerves in it. It’s a piece of wood, it’s got nerves in it. Feel the roll of those balls, you don’t have to look, you just KNOW. You make shots that nobody’s ever made before. I can play that game the way… NOBODY’S ever played it before.”

These are words to live by….. I’ll see you at the races…….