Global Sports' Root defends handicapping reputation
Fires back at veiled claims by former Vegas Insider executive Culver
By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL
When asked last week the reason for his resignation as the director of sports analysis at Internet sports betting site Vegas Insider, Russ Culver said simply, "Wayne Root."
Culver was upset that Vegas Insider was planning a joint venture with Root's Las Vegas-based company, Global Sports & Entertainment.
He said of the move, "It's important to me to keep my standards and not be lumped with the Wayne Roots of the world. When I saw where they were going, I had no choice but to quit."
Root declined to answer Culver's comments at the time, but after the official announcement of the joint venture between his company and Vegas Insider, he came out Monday with both guns blazing.
In the new arrangement, Vegas Insider will be a major sponsor of GSE's nationally televised football betting show, "The Winning Edge," which will be seen on the PAX network and Fox Sports Net. In return, Vegas Insider will promote the show on its Web site (vegasinsider.com) and Root, GSE's chairman and chief executive officer, and his handicappers will sell their selections on the Vegas Insider site.
Root also was highly critical of Culver and disputed Culver's contention that he relies more on glitz and hard-sell than on quality information.
"I'm shocked at Russ' choice to resign from Vegas Insider," Root said. "I was looking forward to competing with him on the Vegas Insider Web site. Competition is good. It's what capitalism is all about. His resignation seems to me to be a lack of faith on his part that he could compete with Wayne Root, the most recognizable name in the sports handicapping industry.
"After all, last I looked, Baskin Robbins didn't quit rather than compete with HŠagen-Dazs. Avis didn't quit due to fear of Hertz. ... Quitting is not the American way, unless you realize you can no longer even compete."
Root challenged Culver to a handicapping contest in which each man would select five college or pro games against the spread, with the loser donating $10,000 to charity.
Culver said he is not fearful of competing with Root, but said, "When Wayne Root wins the Hilton (SuperContest), I'll accept his challenge." Culver is a former winner of the Hilton contest, considered the most prestigious among bettors.
Culver also challenged Root to publicly post every one of his selections on Vegas Insider to track his record. Culver said every pick he made in every sport since 1996 was documented on Vegas Insider.
"If he wants to put up -- and be shut up -- then I challenge him to have every pick he makes documented in writing on Vegas Insider," Culver said. "It would be the first time in his life, but have him put all his picks that he gives out under all his different names charted at the same spot and we'll see if he's a great handicapper or not."
Root said all of his picks already are monitored by the Oklahoma Sports Monitor.
Another high-profile handicapper has quit Vegas Insider because of the deal with Root. Dave Malinsky, who is out of the country, sent an e-mail to friends telling them he would not work with Vegas Insider because of its association with Root.
I guess even his colleagues don't think much of Mr. Root.
