Terrible Times in Vegas

Terrible's is, well, a terrible name for a casino, but a great little locals hangout where one still can buy a complete prime rib dinner, with salad, baked potato, veggies and beverage, for seven bucks and change.

Tucked away on East Flamingo, a mile or so from palatial Strip resorts such as Bally's, Caesars Palace and Bellagio, Terrible's formerly was known as the Continental, a decrepit, decaying hotel-casino patronized primarily by Las Vegans who turned out in the wee hours to drink in entertainment offerings by hit act Cookie Jarr and the Crumbs.

Eyesore was the word most frequently used to describe it.

The property was purchased several years ago by Jerry Herbst, a member of a dynastic Sin City family, and totally remodeled.

Its recently-built and always-filled parking garage, snaking buffet lines ($5.95 for a superb breakfast, compared to at least three times as much at other places) and spring and summer pool parties are testimonies to the refurbished resort's growing popularity.

Terrible's now serves as the hub or headquarters of Herbst's gambling enterprises, which consists mainly of a chain gas stations with video poker and slot machines, though one-armed bandits have been installed in other outlets such as grocery and convenience stores.

The joint was jammed for last week's opening four days of March Madness, especially when UNLV was playing.

Every seat in its small but well-equipped sports book, carved out of a ground floor north-side corner, was filled.

Late bookmaker Sonny Reizner, best known for turning the old Castaways into an internationally-known establishment, likely would call it another hole-in-the-wall book.

Detroit native Doug Beil, characterized as a wild and crazy Red Wings fan by one friend and former associate, oversees race and sports operations.

Tall, impecably dressed and youthful appearing, Beil cut his teeth in the betting biz at Bally's under veteran bookmaker John Avello, who now runs the bet shop at Wynn Las Vegas, and did a stint at the Hilton before obtaining his current position.

The doting father of two -- one a track star, the other a soccer player -- Beil's the type of guy who's instantly hard not to like.

He loves oddball European sports like soccer, auto racing and things like the Tour de France, said Hamilton Ward, who worked with Beil at the SuperBook.

He put up Mexican soccer odds long before Hilton did.

He does lots of contests and takes good care of his customers.

Beil was busy, as usual, on Tuesday, but took time out to discuss a wide range of subjects of the mainline variety.

Basketball

Sweet 16 action has been slow, but we'll get a lot on Thursday and Friday, he said.

So far, betting has been split between UNLV and Oregon, but by Friday I expect we'll get a lot of UNLV money.

Right now, they're (gamblers) playing Georgetown and Ohio State.

The Hoyas are favored by 7 1/2 over Vanderbilt and the Buckeyes are a 4 1/2-point pick over Tennessee, with both games slated Thursday.

Georgetown is the second seed in the East, while top-ranked Ohio State is the South's No. 1 seed.

Beil will be pulling for the Rebels, a 2 1/2-point underdog to the Ducks, along with most of the city's gambling community.

They can win, that's why Oregon is a small favorite, Beil said.

UNLV plays great defense, they're tenacious and deep.

If they get past Oregon, Florida will be tough to beat, though all of the pressure would be on them and UNLV would have nothing to lose.

If Florida and UNLV played 10 to 15 times, the Rebels would win a couple and maybe this would be one of the times.

Baseball

Right now, Beil says, baseball bettors are so into hoops that the Boys of Summer are being overlooked, though futures wagers rickle in daily.

And everyone's betting the Cubs, Beil said, echoing the lament Vegas bookmakers have had for years.

Chicago's Northsiders have plunged from 50/1 to 4/1 in Terrible's World Series futures book.

Do I think they can win? Biel said.

I don't think so, but this year we've had more bets on the Cubs than usual.

I wouldn't be shocked to see them do something, but I don't think it will happen.

Chicago's Southsiders are another matter.

Beil expects the White Sox, 2005 Fall Classic champions, to be right back in the 2007 picture.

They're a strong team that plays good defense, but nobody else really leaps out at me, Beil said.

The sames teams that battled it out last year should be doing it again this season ... the Yankees and Red Sox in the East, Chicago and Detroit in the Central.

The White Sox didn't make the playoffs last year, but I think they'll be right back in the mix.

The Twins have good young pitching and it depends on how that comes through, especially (Francisco) Loriano.

In the AL West, I'd look at the Angels.

The A's have lost some players.

In the National League, Beil likes the Mets, Cardinals and Dodgers.

As far as betting goes, we always get the most money on teams from New York, Chicago and LA, he said.

Once the season begins, or a month or two into it, you're going to see more money (bet) on the Mets and, of course, Yankees.

I like The Cardinals again in the Central, not the Cubs.

The Dodgers could be a contender and I'm not totally hooked on the Giants.

There's a lot of parity and mediocrity in the NL West.

It's wide open and I think strong pitching will be the deciding factor.

Horse racing

Beil doesn't have a Kentucky Derby favorite yet.

You have to watch for horses that jump into the water late, he said.

The highly-touted 2-year-olds don't necessarily do well as 3-year-olds.

Horses grow up and mature at different times.

Brian Gabrielle is a documented member of the Professional Handicappers League. Read all of his articles at http://www.procappers.com/BrianGabrielle.htm