RIP Hank Goldberg

[maumann]

Born on the Fourth of July.

Former ESPN NFL reporter and handicapping expert Hank Goldberg dies at 82

 

[Webster]

When I lived in Miami, used to listen to him on the radio. He was pretty funny and smart, and clearly a degenerate gambler.

 

[tapintoamerica]

When I lived in Miami, used to listen to him on the radio. He was pretty funny and smart, and clearly a degenerate gambler.

Interesting that he was able to market himself as an “expert.” The obit says he was at or over 50% in 15 of 17 years. Doesn’t tell us how often he was at or over the threshold you need to break even vs. the spread. That figure is apparently 52.4% or something close to it. If he hit that figure often, you’d think they’d say as much.

 

[DanOregon]

Born on - and died on - the 4th of July. Loved his gambling insight. I don't want my gambling advice from some Ivy League number-cruncher - I want a guy who looks like he might have some inside dope.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

One thing about Hank. It was an amazing experience standing behind him in a pari-mutual betting line. It took him about 10 minutes to describe his bets on a race to the clerk. Huge mergers in international finance have been completed that were less complex than his wagers on a cheap claimer.

 

[MileHigh]

When I lived in Miami, used to listen to him on the radio. He was pretty funny and smart, and clearly a degenerate gambler.

Same. Listened to him often when I was living down there.

 

[garrow]

RIP to one of the greats of the genre.

 

[poindexter]

He appeared on ESPN'S Daily Wager until about a year ago. Then they just put a picture of him on when he appeared.

 

[Octave]

Ran a great radio show, suffered no fools. He knew a lot about a lot of **** but he really knew the Dolphins best, back when that meant something.
Rest easy, Hammering Hank.

 

[playthrough]

Interesting that he was able to market himself as an “expert.” The obit says he was at or over 50% in 15 of 17 years. Doesn’t tell us how often he was at or over the threshold you need to break even vs. the spread. That figure is apparently 52.4% or something close to it. If he hit that figure often, you’d think they’d say as much.

I looked at that stat with admiration. You're right, a straight 50 percent ATS is losing overall. But 15 of 17 seasons of 50% or better against the airtight lines of the NFL? You'll not going to hear that again, ever.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Fantasy football and the explosion of NFL prop bets beyond the Super Bowl to every day of the year are direct reactions to how it is almost impossible to beat NFL spreads enough to even lose money slowly, let alone make money. Full disclosure: For the 1989 season I was the Herald's betting columnist. I had a 47 percent winning percentage, meaning I lost money slowly, or rather, any reader daft enough to take my advice did.

 

[poindexter]

I looked at that stat with admiration. You're right, a straight 50 percent ATS is losing overall. But 15 of 17 seasons of 50% or better against the airtight lines of the NFL? You'll not going to hear that again, ever.

I have less than zero confidence that that number was ever put to scrutiny.

He was on ESPN in the late 80s when I was in college and he was no great shakes.

RIP and all.

 

[poindexter]

Ran a great radio show, suffered no fools. He knew a lot about a lot of **** but he really knew the Dolphins best, back when that meant something.
Rest easy, Hammering Hank.

1974?

 

[Octave]

I'm referring mostly to the Jimmy Johnson years.
The Dolphins were boring as hell but were good enough to contend and still moved that market.
Hank also knew comprehensively how stupid South Florida sports fans were and are. Did not comfort their ignorance the way many in the state do.

 

[tapintoamerica]

I looked at that stat with admiration. You're right, a straight 50 percent ATS is losing overall. But 15 of 17 seasons of 50% or better against the airtight lines of the NFL? You'll not going to hear that again, ever.

I defer to your judgment and rescind my previous post.

 

[Octave]

And one of the best newsbreakers on the NFL Draft in the '90s.
ESPN knew he was elite and that's why he got those draft assignments, not because he had a face for radio.

 

[playthrough]

I have less than zero confidence that that number was ever put to scrutiny.

He was on ESPN in the late 80s when I was in college and he was no great shakes.

RIP and all.

I wonder if ESPN's excellent gaming reporter David Purdum corroborated it (he's tagged at the end of the story); plus Goldberg must have made a point of leaving that behind and I guess I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

I would bet my mortgage that the Swami never sniffed 50 percent in a season.

 

[matt_garth]

Nicely done

 

[Octave]

That was superb.

 

[nickp]

Hank Goldberg was one of a kind