Rating plays via "Dimes" seems to be the overwhelmingly popular way to go here at the site, so I'm not going to rock the boat.

At the end of the day any rating system has two purposes. The first is to let you know how much I like the play. The second it to give you a scale for purposes of bankroll allocation percentage.

The simplest way to put it: My highest-rated release, a 100-Dime play, is twice as strong as a 50-Dime play. And, if we're winning, that 100-Dimer would be a maximum allocation release in relation to your normal-sized wager. That 50-Dimer, on the other hand, would be worth 50% of your normal max wager.

I grew up around gambling. Uncles, cousins, my Dad; everyone always watching games, talking about "the spread." I knew from the time I was 10-years old what it meant to "cover" the number.

I've known Sean Michaels since 2012 through our various businesses and I'm grateful for the opportunity he's given me to be on the site.

Playing the game doesn't automatically make you a better gambler or handicapper, but it does, I believe, give you greater insight and the ability to recognize certain factors. For example, are guys going to be up or down after a big win or loss? Are they going to get caught looking ahead to a big game or revenge situation? Does the loss of a key teammate to injury motivate them or leave them down in the dumps? You've got to have that sense of what players are feeling and insert that into your handicapping. More importantly, you've got to recognize it instantly. That's something my athletic background brings to the table.