CUNY TV Interview to be Replayed in November

Barry Mitchell's interview of Honest Sid author Ronald Probstein will be replayed on CUNY TV's "Science and U!" this November. You can also watch it here:

Bookmaking

When my father Honest Sid was bookmaking on the New York streets he often took me with him.  His idea of what he thought a seven-year old needed to know is described on pages 99-100:

"You remember what I told you a parlay was? You bet on one horse to win and you take those winnings and put it onto another horse to win." "I know what a parlay is, Dad." "Okay.  You make a two-dollar win parlay bet on Sideline in the first race and Roadrunner in the second race.  They both win.  Sideline pays $8 and Roadrunner pays $6.  How much do you get?  Work it out so I can see what you're thinkin'." "That's easy, Dad.  It's $24.  Sideline wins $8, so I can put four bets on Roadrunner.  Then Roadrunner pays $6 for each of my $2 bets.  So I get $24. But I like the other way you taught me better." "Okay, so do that, but let me hear what you're thinkin' again." "Oh, Dad, I just multiply the winning price on both horses and divide by two." My father stood silent, leaning against a car and waiting for me to continue. "Okay, so Sideline pays $6.  Roadrunner pays $8.  Six times eight is forty-eight. To get the answer I just go two into forty-eight.  It's twenty-four. Putting his arm around me, my father pulled me toward him and with a big smile said, "That was great, kid, but tomorrow I'm gonna see how you do when we start bettin' across-the board." With that he pulled a dime out of his pocket and gave it to me, adding, "You won it."