Written by :
Thomas Somach
Published on :
LAS VEGAS — Sports handicapper Wayne Root spent more than 20 years working in television with fellow handicapper Larry Ness, who died Wednesday at age 68.
In an exclusive interview with Gambling 911 Thursday, Root recalled his long working relationship and friendship with Ness, who he co-hosted with on three different sports handicapping television programs.
“The first TV show was Proline, from 1990 to 1999,” Root said.
“We were like a brotherhood—Wayne Root, Jim Feist, Larry Ness, Chip Chirimbes and Lee Pete. Proline was without a doubt the most successful show in the history of our industry. It was the blend of our four personalities that was the secret sauce.
“For a year, Larry also hosted Sports Desk, in addition to his handicapper role on Proline. The next year it was decided I should become the host of Sports Desk.
“For the next five years, Larry was the handicapper on that show, with me introducing him. This was all at the same time as Proline, as we both did double duty.
“Then when I decided to leave Proline and Sports Desk and go off on my own with my own company, WinningEDGE, Larry was my first call.”
And the rest as they say, is history, as far as Root’s own career skyrocketing.
“I was founder and CEO of WinningEDGE and Larry made the big decision to move with me,” Root said. “He took a gigantic gamble. But he believed in my dream. I'll never forget him for that.
“Larry starred with me on our flagship TV show from 2000 to 2010, along with several NFL superstars. But Larry was more than a fellow sports handicapper and star on my show. Larry was a friend. He was like family.
“He visited my home and my family many times in Malibu, California. I lived on the beach. Larry loved my lifestyle so much, he decided to move to Malibu. He became my neighbor, just down the beach.
“He played often with my young daughter Dakota. She called him Uncle Larry. Later Larry went off on his own and sold his picks at many online sports handicapping sites. He was very successful.
“He also taught me something I never forgot. With his online picks he offered a detailed, in-depth write-up on every pick. He told me the customers really appreciated hearing the detailed reasons for the pick. That was the key to his success, he explained.
“I took the ball and ran with it. From that day on, I always made sure all of my picks came with a detailed explanation. Business boomed.”
“Larry Ness was a class act. A true gentleman. His word was his bond. I'm very sad about his passing. It's quite a loss for me and to the industry.”
By Tom Somach
Gambling 911 Chief Correspondent
