Archive: Opinions

Alas, I have a confession to make. In previous writings, I have derided gambling and games of chance as an individual's weakness gone public. I have accused politicians, community organizers, civic leaders and church officials of preying upon the poor who place their hopes and their hard earned money on a bet or some other impossible scheme which promises them untold wealth and fortune. Our own state lottery commission entices the citizenry with this foul phrase, "All you need is a dollar and a dream."

Yet, each year, as the Super Bowl nears, I am drawn into the pack of those who enter into the Super Bowl office pool. After all, the office pool, with its $1.00 per square cost, represents a responsible form of wager. It allows one to fantasize without fear of ending up in gamblers anonymous or wasting the weekly food budget.

One dollar is such a small sum of money, almost negligible, by today's purchasing power. A cup of coffee can run as high as $5.00 depending upon the size, ingredients, and place of purchase. A happy meal costs $2.00, but does it bring much happiness?

The office pool offers so much for that initial $1.00 investment. One gains membership into the group. One becomes bonded with his or her fellow workers. As the only male employee in my office, I am never asked to "knitting night" or "girls' night out." The Super Bowl pool evens the playing field. Gender differences disappear by placing my initials in one or as many squares as I so choose. My co-workers pat me on the back, smile, and wish me good luck. In an instant, I am part of the pack.

This year, the numbers were truly in my favor with zeros, sevens, threes, and sixes. The organizer of the pool, a nurse with more interest in sports than I, shook her head and predicted that I would win at least once if not twice. Others in the office agreed. But I made one fatal error. I had forgotten to consult Lady Luck.

Lady Luck, Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, controls our fate in games of chance. She spins the wheel of fortune in life determining whether we experience prosperity or disaster. From the Roman Poet Seneca (55 BC) to Shakespeare's, history has bore witness to her influence in shaping our destiny.

In past years, I have always written my wife's initials in the office pool. This simple act has resulted in victories almost every time. When purchasing tickets to win a prizes or a gift certificate, it is my wife's name that seems to convince Lady Luck to spin the wheel of fortune in my favor. That simple act serves as the only advantage I need to achieve victory.

This year, I wrote my initials in the office pool squares, and though the numbers looked promising, Lady Luck did not respond favorably. Not a single winner. In a similar venue associated with this year's Super Bowl, I entered my wife's name. As you might have guessed she won several prizes including a restaurant gift certificate, movie tickets, and other promotional items.

Of course, I smiled and realized the error of my way. Fortuna asks so little of those who wish to wager. I have learned my lesson, and I end with a quote from Shakespeare's Sonnet 29, "When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state." And that is to the point.

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