Stan Hey: 6-5 Against
How this punter discovered he'd become a jin
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Punters often have losing streaks. They rationalise such sequences as a temporary loss of touch, or blame external circumstances such as the weather or the bloke who whispered a tip into their "shell-like".
But it becomes spooky when a punter comes to believe that horses and humans are losing because he has put the mockers on them by backing them.
I tipped four football teams for their respective divisions this season and three – Everton, Reading and Southampton – promptly lost their first games. Then Dustin Johnson returned. I had backed Johnson at 40-1 for the US Open at Pebble Beach and he began his final round with a three-shot lead. He fell apart, shooting an 82.
Last week I loyally added him to my portfolio, again at 40-1, for the US PGA Championship (in which Rory McIlroy's gallant third allowed us to break even). Johnson made the final pairing again.
Needing to par the 18th to win, his tee shot crashed into the crowd on a hill. He recovered to leave a seven-foot putt. He missed. He was then penalised two shots for not playing his sand-dune lie as a bunker, ending his play-off chance.
This was no "Grassy Knoll" conspiracy – it was my fault, Dustin. Sorry.
Here are my bets for the week, so that jinxed competitors may know their fate: £10 win on Mark Hughes' Fulham at 11-2 (Blue Square) to beat Manchester United tomorrow; £10 win Liverpool at 23-10 (Betfred) to beat Manchester City on Monday night; £10 win Joshua Tree, ante-post for the St Leger, at 12-1 (Totesport).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments