Winning a football handicapping contest takes a ton of effort .... Winning a football handicapping contest back-to-back takes a ton of effort and a ton of talent. In the history of Vegas handicapping contests, starting with the original at the old Castaways, through the Stardust and up to the Las Vegas Hilton, nobody has ever won two years in a row. Until now, that is. The honors go to this week's podcast guest Fezzik, a local handicapper and bettor who made a name for himself last year when he anted up his $1500, chose his five teams a week and finished at the top of the heap. In 2009, his record of W53 L29 T3 earned him the title again and the prize of $196,800. The "football hero" talked at length about sports betting, how he goes about handicapping, and his road to success.

On this episode, Howard Schwartz interviews Steve Davidowitz, internationally known race and turf writer. Originally published in 1978 as Betting Thoroughbreds, a Professional's Guide for the Horseplayer and revised in 1995, Steve’s best-selling book is now substantially revised, expanded and updated as Betting Thoroughbreds for the 21st Century -- and the information is still solid, still definitely timely. Additionally, Davidowitz has contributed to several other racing books, all of which are available from Gamblers Book Shop. In this broadcast he talks about the state of thoroughbred racing, of the availability of material for the handicapper, and about playing the races.In this broadcast he talks about the state of thoroughbred racing, of the availability of material for the handicapper, and about playing the races.

This week’s show starts with Howard’s lively and uber fascinating interview with Gene Kilroy, one-time business manager/confidante/get-the-job-done man for the great Muhammad Ali. Perhaps a quote about Ali from Kilroy best describes this guest best: "I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world just to call him my friend. If I was to die today and go to heaven it would be a step down. My heaven was being with Ali.''  (From an interview conducted by Tim Dahlberg, AP, January 17, 2007). Kilroy’s career covered the sports, gambling and entertainment arena, from the front office of the Philadelphia Eagles to the back lots of MGM movies to the top floor offices of some of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas. His reminiscences, thoughts, and opinions here make for a memorable broadcast.

In the second part of the show Howard talks to Las Vegas’ sports talk radio show professional John Kelly. A graduate of Northwestern University, Kelly has been a fascinated observer and participant in the life of the “most exciting city in the world.” The former commentator of the Stardust Line, the longest-running, single-sponsored sports show in the country, Kelly now hosts Leroy’s Sports Hour, available in Nevada on Fox and ESPN Radio outlets and on the Internet at www. AmericaWagering.com. Kelly provides mucho insight into the fast-paced gambling scene, with particular focus on sports wagering.

Arnold Snyder, more noted as an a professional gambler and author of numerous blackjack books (The Big Book of Blackjack and Blackbelt in Blackjack among them) as well as poker (The Poker Tournament Formula and The Poker Tournament Formula 2) has ventured into the (under)world of topless clubs in Las Vegas. Titled Sin City Advisor's Topless Vegas (276 pages, paperbound, $14.95), the book offers tips and guide lines and profiles the best and worst of the topless establishments. In this conversation with Howard, Snyder colorfully describes his research and his funny episodes in interviewing potential resources and intertwines the tale with anecdotes about his earlier days as a 21 player and author. He also explains his interesting transition to tournament poker player and poker book author.