The Gambler

“There’s nothing like it,” he would say. “The most beautiful feeling in the world is when you know it’s the other guy that’s going down.” (Location 468)

still relished big risks. And he subscribed to the logic of his friend and casino owner Wilbur Clark of the Desert Inn: “The smaller your bet, the more you lose when you win.”3 Besides, what’s the point—where’s the thrill—winning a small wager? Betting the limit became Kirk’s trademark. (Location 1386)

expect a seat on the TA board of directors. Shortly before the final signatures on the deal, Beckett took Kirk aside for a heart-to-heart. The historically conservative Transamerica Corporation had a problem with Kirk’s heavy involvement in Las Vegas. The gambling business was . . . well, embarrassing to the stodgy bunch in San Francisco. Would Kirk mind putting his TIA man Cramer on the board instead? (Location 1834)

Like any sane gambler, Kirk never looked back. He wanted no part of what-if speculations, no second-guessing about past decisions. Learn a lesson from mistakes and move on, that was Kirk’s way. But Kirk’s legal and financial advisers wanted to blame the SEC. They estimated that Kirk lost $100 million as a direct result of the stock offering denial. Kirk blamed Kirk. He had let himself become vulnerable. He hated that. He hated feeling helpless and at the mercy of forces beyond his control. It took much of the fun out of his life and out of his business in 1970. He vowed never to let anything like that happen again. (Location 2545)