Bill Simmons mailbag.¨Ü This response seems like one of the great ideas of our time:
You just reminded me of something: There should be a section on eBay that allows the auctioning of enticing future bets. For instance, a few weeks before the NBA season, I placed $300 on 15-to-1 odds that Cleveland would win the 2009 NBA title. Those odds have dropped to 2-to-1. Not that I would (after all, Cleveland is going to win the 2009 NBA title), but shouldn’t I have the option to sell that $300 ticket on eBay? What if someone bid $1,200 on it (which would be a smart move because, again, Cleveland is going to win the NBA title) and I was guaranteed a $900 return on my investment? Should I take the money? This would be a fun Web site, you have to admit. And if eBay can’t do it, then why couldn’t the casinos themselves build a Web site that allows people to sell future tickets and get a second cut on the action? It all makes too much sense.
We’re headed to Vegas this weekend and some of¨Ü us are planning to place a few bets on the Final Four games.¨Ü We’re not frequent gamblers, but it seems like fun and hey, we’ll be in Vegas.¨Ü But I’m starting to think wagering on one of these future odds would be like a gift that keeps on giving.¨Ü Betting makes rock paper scissors exciting, so it would definitely make the MLB regular season a lot more exciting.¨Ü Here are the MLB future odds.¨Ü And here are the NFL future odds.¨Ü Now I just have to choose a couple teams.