Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rod Whigham for January 14, 2022

“I took the odds that, as lame as this story arc is, it will seem exciting in comparison to the ones that are coming up in the rest of 2022!”

“There there little lady, don’t you worry your pretty little head about your underperforming girls team; all that matters is you’re trying your gosh-darn best.” [Followed by a sharp elbow to the ribs.]

Wasn’t there a storyline a number of years back about a basketball player who got in considerable trouble gambling with the local bookies?

What’s everyone’s over/under on how long before Pranit is caught and called to meet in Gil’s office? “Bring your playbook and jerseys.”

P4 “Ummm, your first bet? Today? Or whenever you started playing fantasy non-betting fantasy sports? You’re as confusing as this hellish, meandering never-ending plot line we are trapped in, now can it Pranit so maybe we can get out of here before the new year.“

Hey Vito just heard some basketball player named Pranit or Prancer somethin like that over in Milford is showing all the kids how to bet on line . In all reality , this ain’t good for business , right. You’re right Rico .Send Moose and Rocco over to Milford to persuade the chump what he’s doing ain’t good for his health !

I’m happy this betting story line is starting. Here in New York we’re being slammed with online gambling promotions. I fear high school kids are going to get hurt with this.

P1.5 Mimi thinking to herself: “Yes, I will figure out how to explain why the pool needs to be cleaned in January, all this pressure of actually being expected to coach and win second in the Valley is stressing me out big time – I need me some Pedro d****it!”

In about 6 weeks it will be SportsPuke.com. And no, Gil still won’t have a clue to the goings on.

I’ve tried that site- it only allows you to bet on Blue Devil games.

Pranit’s betting on games will lead him to start shaving points. Then, when Goshen is favored by 20 and is up by 22, Pranit will hit a buzzer-beater from outside the line so that Milford loses by just 19! This hustle of the honest gamblers in the network will cause him to lose his membership at Milford Country Club.

P1- It appears Gil’s bread and milk run to Speedco yesterday wasn’t long enough. Mimi yearns to finish her stress reliving session with Pedro.

Maybe Cressa and Maddie are shaving points.

And the gambling addiction begins!

I can’t decide which is a more riveting (serving up a softball here for Ellis) plotline, Mimi’s crisis of character or Pranit’s insatiable desire to be one of the #1 seeds in Mop’s Final Four of annoying characters.

P3: "I’ve been studying that old book, “Tips for Athletes Who Are Degenerate Gamblers” by Art Schlicter and Pete Rose, so I’m all set."

It’s a NFT of my first bet. What’s a NFT? A way to maybe make money on Sportsduke.com.

P2.5 A phone that has no wires,

P 4: “… I got a tip that the girls are puttin in extra work so I’m taking them against the spread.. they’re not as bad as their coach…”

P 1.5: “… can I freshen up your drink?…”

P1- GilPa’s Hi-Karate is so overpowering, he is oblivious to the scent of another stag. Mimi’s expression says it all. Gil’s fingers feel like needles.

Wouldn’t sports betting get him banned? Look what happened to Pete Rose.

Yeah, I’m taking the Bears in the first round of the playdowns!!

P-1: Who is that woman Gil’s talking to? We know Mimi and she’s no Mimi!

P-2.5: A Holloway All Day Sucker

P-3: I got amazing odds betting against us finishing second.

P-1 is brought to you by: Give us Air Supply.

Gil, making his move! Mimi, trying not to vomit at the thought!

So the big plot point is gambling, like many predicted. I wasn’t sure because he was so infatuated with fantasy football. I didn’t think that a fantasy football site would also take bets on games too, but what do I know? And speaking of what I know, I know that today’s Mopped Up Thorp is now online.

https://moppedupthorp.wordpress.com/