The Billion Dollar Bet

Praise for The Billion Dollar BET "In a gripping narrative that is both inspirational and cautionary, Brett Pulley tells us how Robert Johnson built Black Entertainment Television into a billion-dollar media empire. In a remarkable feat of reporting, without Johnson's cooperation, Pulley shows what it really takes to get ahead in America today, and in doing so provides as valuable a cultural as business history." --James B. Stewart Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of DisneyWar, Den of Thieves, and Heart of a Soldier "Like or dislike? Agree or disagree? Bob Johnson's richly varied and fascinating life presses you against the window that Brett Pulley opens widely." --Bernard Shaw retired CNN anchor "Through his BET network, Bob Johnson reached the pinnacle of capitalism, the billionaire boys club, in the spirit of legions of driven, American moguls . . . Veteran business journalist Brett Pulley peels back the layers of this fascinating and complex entrepreneur." --Teri Agins Senior Special Writer, the Wall Street Journal, and author of The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever

When B.J. bets his mother's lottery ticket and loses it to Mavis Mae, he will do anything to get it back before Mavis Mae discovers it is the winning ticket.

The author reveals the story of the rise of daily fantasy sports and the brilliant entrepreneurs disrupting the way fans consume sports.

”This book is your chance to learn from others’ mistakes.”-- Entrepreneur In the 1960s, IBM CEO Tom Watson called an executive into his office after his venture lost $10 million. The man assumed he was being fired. Watson told him, “Fired? Hell, I spent $10 million educating you. I just want to be sure you learned the right lessons.” There are thousands of books about successful companies but virtually none about the lessons to be learned from those that crash and burn. Now Paul Carroll and Chunka Mui draw on research into more than 750 flameouts to reveal the seven biggest reasons for business failure.

When B.J. bets his mother's lottery ticket and loses it to Mavis Mae, he will do anything to get it back before Mavis Mae discovers it is the winning ticket.

Business...or pleasure?

“Rob Miech has outdone himself with this poignant, behind-the-curtains revelation of a world of parlays and money-line wagers, of mob-ruled games, and characters named Lem and Lefty. The brilliant storyteller weaves insight from some of the world’s most prominent names in sports betting into a historic, entertaining, and informative journey.” —Ed Graney, six-time Nevada sportswriter of the year for the Las Vegas Review-Journal The legalization of sports wagering has increased the pot exponentially. But navigating the new systems can be tricky. If you’re a newcomer ready to bet on sports as an occasional pastime, veteran sports writer and Las Vegas insider Rob Miech delivers a vital primer on terminology, options, and procedures. If you’re already taking advantage of the sports betting world as a money-spinning career, he shares the latest approaches and all-new game-changing techniques by tapping the skills, secrets of success, and cautionary counsel of players on both sides of the counter. With behind-the-scenes stories and no-holds-barred interviews with the legendary masters of betting, Sports Betting for Winners shows how, with the right information and a sprinkling of luck, you can capitalize on the numbers behind the numbers and take the bettor’s game to the next level. “Miech gives us the skinny on a billion-dollar business.I'll lay you 9-to-5 you'll feel richer for reading Sports Betting for Winners.” —Mike Downey, award-winning sports columnist, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times “A book on sports betting for everyone—entertaining, informative, anecdote-filled.” —Steve Rushin, author of Sting-Ray Afternoons and Nights in White Castle