In the world of office footy tipping I'm what's colloquially known as "an idiot".
That's because, while some fans throw their loyalties out the window when it comes to tipping competitions, I pick the Dragons each weekend.
For years, those guys would rub their hands together with glee when they see me coming. To them, someone tipping with their heart instead of their head is an easybeat. Might as well take his entry fee and set it on fire, they think, because he'll never see it again.
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Full coverage of the St George Illawarra DragonsFrom a financial standpoint I guess they're right; I am an idiot. Though not as big an idiot as a few years ago when previous grand final defeats of the Dragons led me to refuse to pick either Brisbane or Manly for a whole season. That, I freely acknowledge, was beyond stupid.
But it did get me extra points for tipping a draw when the Broncs and Sea Eagles played each other (even though it wasn't the nil-all draw my anti-Brisbane and Manly mentality was hoping for).
For years, whenever I'd hand over my entry fee at the start of the season, I always knew I was going to finish too low to be a serious contender for first prize, yet too high to snare any cash booby prize for last place.
I knew blindly picking the Dragons each week would kill my chances. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
There's simply no way I could bring myself to tip against the Dragons, which is why the tipping comp is the only footy gambling I ever do. If I ever got into laying bets with FootyTAB, another bookie or some other third party interested in separating me from my cash, I'd be screwed because I couldn't help but place it all on the Red and Whites each week.
So the best thing for me, my wallet and my marriage is to largely steer clear of footy betting.
The reason I pick the Dragons is because it feels like the right thing to do. It'd feel like a small act of betrayal - not to mention a total lack of faith - to pick another team to beat mine. If I did that and the Dragons lost, I wouldn't feel relieved that I won some money, I'd feel guilty.
And I can't see how you can truly barrack for your team during the game if you've got money riding on the opposition.
Mind you, picking the Dragons is pretty easy for me because I'm cursed with ridiculous optimism towards them. I always truly believe they will win or at the very least are in with a red-hot chance.
We could be playing Jesus and his apostles and I'd still believe the Dragons could roll a team captained by the Son of God. We could field a team of Under 7s who need a coach on the field to tell them which way to run and I'd still pick the Dragons.
This year, the Dragons are rewarding my footy-tipping loyalty. Normally, by this stage I'm firmly entrenched in the middle of the pack - largely due to the Dragons' historically poor starts to the season.
But this year, thanks to the Dragons winning a whole lot more than they're losing - including four of their first five games - I'm a lot closer to the top than the bottom in this year's office tipping comp.
Might even win a dollar or two this year. Which would be a first.
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