He Took His Shot! Some Jimmy The Greek Info & Tidbits!

Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder -- By: Derrick Oliver

It’s called ‘taking a shot’ and Jimmy Snyder certainly did that.  In 1948, he bet on the election between Thomas Dewey and Harry S. Truman, getting 17-1 odds on Truman to win…said he ‘knew’ Truman was going to win because Dewey had a moustache and quote, “American women didn't trust men with a mustache."  Talk about finding an edge.  Snyder won $10,000 and his career was off to the races.  Jimmy ‘The Greek’ today on High Roller Radio.

Snyder invested that 10-grand in oil drilling and coal mining but when the ventures failed he moved to Las Vegas.  The year was 1956, and ‘The Greek’s’ career in pro sports betting was about to take off.  He began a weekly pro-football betting line, which eventually led to a 12-year stint on CBS and The NFL Today, a pregame show for NFL.  Alongside Brent Musburger, olne of the best ever, and would predict results.  Snyder, already known in betting circles, well-known to the bookies, Snyder’s cantankerous style and rough charn became an hit with audiences – Jimmy ‘The Greek’ was now a celebrity.

Back then, and still is in most states, sports betting was illegal and taboo so ‘The Greek’ would simply predict each game and the score, with no mention of the line or gambling. 

Sadly, he may forever be remembered for controversial remarks he made to a television reporter that, quote, “African Americans were naturally superior athletes at least in part because they had been bred to produce stronger offspring during slavery.”  Scroll down for this page for the full quote.   A 12 year run on CBS was over…Snyder was fired.  In his New York Times obituary Snyder expressed regret for his comments, “What a foolish thing to say,” he remarked.  Remarks, you might say, that haunted him until his death.

Did you know?  Snyder appeared in a cameo in the 1981 comedy The Cannonball Run, he played a bookie.  In the flick, he offered 50–1 odds against Formula One driver Jamie Blake (played by Dean Martin) and gambler Morris Fenderbaum (played by Sammy Davis Jr.) winning the Cannonball coast-to-coast endurance race.

Tidbit:  Jimmy the Greek and Dean Martin were childhood acquaintances in Steubenville, Ohio.

Tidbit #2:  In 2009, ESPN aired a show in their 30 for 30 series titled The Legend of Jimmy the Greek, which acknowledged his role in the first sportscasts of poker tournaments.

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