Bookies are no match for mugs’ game

AS the last Democratic primary in 2008 was wrapping up and it became clear Hillary Clinton would not be the party’s presidential nominee, Barack Obama ignored the political analysis of CNN in favour of ESPN on the campaign bus TV.

When he eventually emerged, after watching a documentary on the platinum-plated Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the 1980s, he was inspired to quote the words of the great Magic Johnson: “We don’t cut down the nets for the conference championship,” he shrugged, as all around him celebrated victory.

Well yesterday, letting the relative success of St Patrick’s Day with the bookies go straight to my head, I clipped down the nets, turned off the lights and locked up the gymnasium.