| Championship sports analysts such as Mike Lineback | | | | "The sports service business is an industry with zero |
| and Jim Kruger may view the Professional | | | | regulation and (it's) rife with deceptive practices," |
| Handicappers League's site contests a bit differently, | | | | declared Kruger, noting that he "loves" league |
| but the bottom line's the same. | | | | contests. |
| The contests not only rev up their competitive | | | | "It is difficult for the prospective customer to |
| juices, they also provide the public a "black and | | | | separate the wheat from the chaff. |
| white" opportunity to see for themselves just how | | | | "Having site contests and showing what handicappers |
| well a handicapper is doing in a particular sport versus | | | | are doing well helps the client make an informed |
| the competition. | | | | choice rather than just listening to what capper has |
| After all, while the handicapping business generates a | | | | the 'best pitch that day.' |
| lot of camaraderie among the various players, it's still, | | | | "Providing customers with accurate data on which |
| much like professional sports themselves, a dog eat | | | | 'capper does well in which sport(s) will in turn help |
| dog industry and one in which the numbers do the | | | | build long-term clientele for the site overall." |
| talking. | | | | Lineback also emphasizes the importance of honesty, |
| Many boast they're the best, but few actually can | | | | integrity and documentation, but has little to say |
| document such claims. | | | | about the contests, "Since I don't consider |
| Lineback operates a one-man service in Topeka, | | | | ProCappers to be a contest, but (rather) a monitor." |
| Kan., while Kruger runs Las Vegas Sports Authority in | | | | He quickly adds, "However, I do take the contests I |
| Sin City. | | | | enter very seriously because I'm a very competitive |
| Currently two of the Top 3 players in the PHL's | | | | person." |
| All-Around standings -- Larry Ness stands between | | | | Like Lineback, Kruger is not overly aggressive in |
| them, with Lineback comfortably on top -- both | | | | marketing plays. |
| boast lengthy lists of handicapping achievements, | | | | He says that makes performing well in contests |
| including victories in league contests. | | | | almost mandatory so he can "stand out from the |
| Lineback, a career handicapper, has dominated overall | | | | crowd in another fashion." |
| standings for several seasons, winning the Major | | | | "Being in the Top 5 or winning site contests is a great |
| League Baseball championship in 2005. | | | | way to be noticed," Kruger said. |
| He also won the recently completed college hoops | | | | "With this understanding, I obviously am very |
| contest, has a third-place NFL finish and was an | | | | competitive in finishing in the Top 5 in every sport I |
| honoree last summer at a league New York-New | | | | handicap. |
| York ESPN Zone dinner in Las Vegas. | | | | "I am good friends with some of the other cappers |
| Kruger, previously a stock broker and stand-up | | | | in the Professional Handicappers League and that |
| comedian, finished fourth in Leroy's College Football | | | | makes the competition even more fun." |
| Contest last fall competing against the nation's leading | | | | Another name to look out for is handicapper George |
| schoolboy handicappers and barely was beaten by | | | | Smeader, who consistently appears in competitions |
| Steve Merril in the league's NCAA football contest. | | | | across the board, from the WNBA and CFL to the |
| He leads the league's 2007 NBA standings and | | | | NBA and college football. |
| finished third in college basketball. | | | | Aaron Glende holds a cushy edge over Vernon Croy |
| The two men agree that over the years, | | | | in the NHL contest. |
| scamdicappers have given the entire industry a black | | | | It's still early in the Major League Baseball campaign, |
| eye that still stings, so site contests provide a way | | | | but the site's two current leaders are Mike Davis and |
| for the public to watch the cream to rising to the | | | | Lenny Del Genio. |
| top on a weekly basis. | | | | |