Friday, January 27, 2017

Wanta Bet?

Thought for the day:  Forget the lottery. Bet on yourself instead. [Brian Koslow]

[wikimedia]
I could be wrong, but I betcha when man evolved to the point of communication, one of the first things he did was make a wager with his buddy. They likely squabbled over things like who could throw a spear the farthest, who could catch the biggest fish or hunk of meat for dinner, or who could drag his mate around by the hair the longest before she did a little communicating of her own and bit him. The bets became a little more outlandish after man figured out the skill of fermentation. A competitive nature combined with booze... what could possibly go wrong?
[morguefile]

Here's to alcohol, the rose-colored glasses of life. [F.Scott Fitzgerald]

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. [Ernest Hemingway]

Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals, such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer. [Dave Barry]

[amazon]











Heck, bar bets and tricks are so prevalent, you can find numerous books and videos that'll teach you how to con your friends out of drinks and money perform well enough to win those bets fair and square. Years ago, Smarticus did a lot of traveling for work, and when he returned home, he often showed me tricks he'd learned while raising a few beers with his co-workers. Not that I remember the details, but most of the bets involved things like cigarettes, matches, straws, money, glasses, and bottles. Clever. Silly. Harmless.

Other bar bets have been more consequential, like when Ernest Hemingway bet Howard Hawks he couldn't make a good movie from his worst novel. (He could... and he did. To Have and Have Not)

Or when Bennett Cerf bet a client that he couldn't write a book using fifty or less distinct words. (He could... and he did. That client, Theodore Geisel, used the pen name Dr. Seuss to write Green Eggs and Ham.)

But today, we aren't going to worry about the silly, the clever, or the consequential bar bets. Nope, we're gonna talk about an EPIC bar bet. Nobody could get away with pulling off something like this nowadays, but it's amazing that anyone ever pulled it off at all.



The someone who pulled it off was named Thomas Fitzpatrick, AKA Tommy Fitz, who is the gentleman on the left in this picture. He was a Marine during the Korean War, but this intrepid hard-drinking pilot made his infamous bar bet after the war.




[morguefile]





It happened in the wee hours of September 30, 1956, when this 26-year old was drinking with his buddies at a bar in Manhattan.

Fitzpatrick claimed he could fly from New Jersey to Manhattan in fifteen minutes. (Presumably in an airplane, although by that time, I'm sure he and his buddies were already flying pretty high without one.)

Someone dared to challenge his drunken claim. (gasp!)

BET ON!!! (hiccup)

[New York Times]
To prove his point, Fitzpatrick drove to Teterboro airfield in New Jersey, stole an airplane, and without benefit of lights or a radio, flew it back to Manhattan. He'd planned to land on the nearby George Washington High School athletic field, but the dastardly folks there didn't leave the lights on for him. (How inconsiderate!) So, not willing to give up and risk losing the bet, he flew down a narrow street between buildings, lampposts and parked vehicles, and at three o'clock in the morning, set it down on St. Nicholas Avenue near 191st Street... right in front of the bar. 

The New York Times called his feat a fine landing and a feat of aeronautics, and the owner of the airplane was so impressed, he didn't press charges. Fitzpatrick was fined a hundred bucks, and since the monetary amount of the bet was never disclosed, maybe he was lucky enough to have something left over after he covered the fine. Then again, maybe that isn't important. After all, he was already lucky enough to have survived the drunken flight. And that was that.

                                                               Or not.

[morguefile]
Two years later, on October 4, 1958, Fitzpatrick was drinking in another Manhattan bar with his buddies, when someone dared to challenge his drunken boast about stealing a plane and landing it in the street. (gasp!)

What choice did he have? He couldn't let some random dude call him a liar, could he?

No way!

BET ON!!! (hiccup)



[New York Times]


Once again, Fitz drove to Teterboro, stole an airplane and flew it back to Manhattan. This time, just before one o'clock in the morning, he landed on Amsterdam and 187th Street, just outside a Yeshiva building. 

Authorities weren't nearly as impressed with his aeronautical feat this time around. He spent the next six months in the pokey, where I presume the booze was kept well beyond his reach. (Otherwise, he might have made some sort of wager about breaking out of the place...)

Even though Mr. Fitzpatrick passed away in 2009, those who still remember this extrovert with a competitive streak as wide as the Mississippi think of him as a bit of a folk hero.

A drink was even created in his honor... alcoholic, of course.

This drink, called the Late Night Flight, consists of kahlua, vodka, Chambord, blackberries, egg white and simple syrup, and it's designed to represent the layered appearance of New York City's night sky. Pretty, isn't it? (The recipe is readily available online if you're interested.)

This whole story kinda makes me think. Nobody ever claimed that booze increases one's intelligence level or boosts one's decision-making skills, but just think: if Mr. Fitzpatrick could land an airplane under such challenging circumstances while he was inebriated, what in the world might he have been capable of if he'd been sober...?

Next Wednesday will be the IWSG day, meaning I'll be posting here on on Wednesday instead of Friday, but next week, in addition to the Wednesday post here, I'll also be guest posting on another very spiffy blog on Monday, Wednesday, AND Friday. That other blog is The Really Real Housewives of America, a fun and informative blog run by four lovely ladies. They frequently feature guest bloggers, and (woo HOO!) next week, it's my turn. (They must be turning into desperate housewives of America, eh?) Don't worry, I'll remind you on Monday. I hope you can drop by, because I'll be sharing some really smart-assed totally useless helpful tips on saving time and money. Hope to seeya then!

                          Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.


Leroy bet me I couldn't find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and I told him that was a stupid bet, because the rainbow was enough. [Rita Mae Brown]

52 comments:

  1. Rita Mae Brown was right. Too many rainbows would be barely enough.
    A guest post? I will be there.
    And yes, I do wonder just what Mr Fitzpatrick could do sober.

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    1. I agree. There can never be too many rainbows.

      Great! I'll seeya at the other blog next week. (So to speak.)

      Have a super weekend.

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  2. Terrific story, surprised'd never heard of it. Thanks!

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    1. I'm glad you liked the story. I thought it was pretty cool, too.

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    2. I had never heard of it, either, but I LOVED it!!

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    3. Cool! It's always fun to bring something new to the table.

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  3. Flying high took on a whole new meaning for Fitzpatrick. One has to wonder if he was an idiot also when he was sober. My thought is yes.

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    1. HA! Yes, indeedy. It sure did. And you could be right. Alcohol has a tendency to enhance one's natural personality. Sober jerks become even bigger jerks when you add booze.

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  4. People like that I roll my eyes at, yeah, it was a feat, doesn't make it any less moronic though. And whoa hoo, they bet me. Now I have to do it err umm not. Stupid.

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    1. You're right. He wasn't just a talented pilot; he was beyond foolish to have pulled a stunt like that. Twice...

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  5. What a fun story! Hahaha. And I love the bet on yourself quote that your started off with. :)
    Looking forward to your guest posts! Enjoy the weekend.

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    1. Yeah, betting on oneself can be a lot more productive than most other wagers. :)

      Thanks! You have a super weekend, too.

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  6. Quite a tale times two. More often it's a question of living to tell the story. Dangerous words "here, hold my beer" .

    So two doses of brilliance next week- we are ready
    Until then have a fabulous weekend- Prost!

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    1. Yep, the words "Hold my beer" mark the beginning of many bad decisions and tales of woe. (if the guy lives to tell about it...)

      Nope, MORE than two! Once here and THREE times there! (See? Told ya the housewives are getting desperate...)

      Have a super weekend!

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  7. What an interesting guy. Nowadays people pull stunts along that line and they are clapped in jail, fined heavily and made fools of by the media.

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    1. Yeah, he was probably fun to hang around with, but I don't think I would have gotten into an airplane with him. :)

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  8. Flying a plane whilst drunk?! My life flashes before my eyes when going down a flight of stairs when I'm slightly tipsy!

    Never knew those interesting facts about Ernest Hemingway and Howard Hawks, nor Bennett Cerf and Dr Seuss.

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    1. HA! Maybe you should sit on your rump and go down the stairs that way. :)

      It's always nice to see a comment from you. Think you'll ever start posting on one of your blogs again?

      Have a super weekend.

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  9. Nice 2 cum here and thanx 4 havin me. friend Sue ... smiles ... Love, cat.

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    1. Always nice 2 have U here... there... or anywhere. We need more people like U in the world.

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  10. Hey, I know those fun ladies over at the Really Real Housewives! I can't wait to hang out with you.

    You always have the most clever posts. I must share this with my son who is currently living in Manhattan.

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    1. Hi-ya. Yeah, I guess you do... :) I'm looking forward to it.

      You're such a diplomat. It's nice that you said "clever" and not "weird." HA

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  11. It's amazing he survived that drunken flight not once, but twice! Funny story. Adding booze to the equation always seems to increase the likelihood of bar bets and tricks. Have a great weekend and good luck with your guest posts next week!

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    1. I know! He was quite a character, and his wife must have been a saint! :)

      Thanks. You have a super weekend, too!

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  12. You always find the most interesting stories! And I'm not surprised the authorities weren't as impressed the second time...

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    1. I'm not surprised they threw him into jail the second time around, either. He sure wouldn't get off that lightly nowadays.

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  13. You might remember the bar around the corner from work, where I frequently snap a photo of their sign. The quote Here's to alcohol, the rose-colored glasses of life was on their sign one day this week. Ha!

    Interesting stories about those bets. Makes you wonder what else in history happened because of a bet, only we never find out about it.

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    1. HA! It's a small world. :)

      For sure. Then again, maybe we don't want to know what things in history were predicated by a stupid bar bet...

      Have a super weekend, birthday girl. (Birthdays should be celebrated for at least a week.)

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  14. I had never heard of that story about the guy flying the plane, wow... he is lucky he didn't cause damage or hurt himself. I am with you Susan, if he could fly that well inebriated, how awesome could he have been flying sober.

    I'm not a betting person but I am competitive, I think the two are different since I don't put any money down or do anything crazy and I still win... Have a great week xox

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    1. I've always had a strong competitive streak, too, especially when playing cards and certain board games, but I'm mellowing in my old age. (I STILL don't like to lose, though.)

      You have a super week, too, Launna.

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  15. I was an active pilot at one time. Thank goodness I am not competitive or much of a drinker. I remember a rule about not drinking within 24 feet of an airplane or maybe it's 24 hours of drinking in an airplane or something like that.

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    1. HA. Something like that... Some people may feel the need to "fortify" themselves with alcohol before boarding a plane, but none of us want the PILOT to be one of them. :)

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  16. Terrific post !
    Love all the bets with Hemingway, Hawks, Geisel and Cerf. What funny and also clever men. Super interesting.

    cheers, parsnip


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  17. It's possible he might be one of those people who can't manage feats like that when sober; I'm reminded of my brother in law, who sings beautifully when drunk, but can't sing at all when sober, not in tune anyway.
    Here's a bet joke for you. On a hot summer day, a man without a cent to his name really wants a beer. He walks into a bar and makes a bet with a man standing beside a full pint of beer. "I bet I can drink your beer without you even noticing" he says. The other man grins and says Bet's on. The skint man picks up the glass and drains the beer. Ha! says the owner of the beer, you lose.

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    1. HA! You could be right. Most of the time, though, people who sing while drunk just THINK they're singing beautifully. :)

      Love that bar bet. Might earn the bettor a punch in the nose, but at least his whistle's wet.

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  18. Hi Susan - extraordinary exploits ... definitely not something to be repeated often ... and in today's age - never. Good story from River ... but love the stories you tell us ... though I'd rather have rainbows - they have magical qualities ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi-ya, Hilary. No doubt that fella was extraordinary, but methinks he may have had a tiny screw loose, at least when drinking alcohol.

      I'll choose the rainbows, too. :)

      Cheers back atcha.

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  19. A fascinating (not to mention amusing) story, which I had never heard before. And it was enhanced by your ability to tell it so well.
    Fact is so often more incredible than fiction.

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    1. I'm glad you liked the story, cowboy. (I'll bet YOU never engaged in any ill-advised bets while under the influence...)

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  20. I bet you that that was man both generically speaking and gender-specific! :-) Great post.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. Nope, I'll not be taking that bet. I can't imagine any women I've ever known making a drunken machismo bet with another woman.

      Greetings back atcha.

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  21. I believe we all have a finite amount of luck. In November, my suspicions were verified. However, hope springs eternal and I will doubtless make some modest wagers in the future --modest, not devastatingly heavy. If I ever win the California Lottery, the whole state would calve off into the sea. One needs to know one's limits.

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    1. We all have a finite amount of time, but I like to think our luck and good blessings are endless... as long as we're willing to work for it. (The harder I work, the luckier I get!) Your luck most definitely didn't run out in November, dude. You're still with us, aren't you?

      I don't do much betting, but my proverbial money is on our Falcons winning the Super Bowl next week. :)

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  22. Brilliant story, Susan. I love stuff like that. Thanks for the entertainment.

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    1. Thanks, Keith! I'm glad you liked it. I'm a sucker for unusual tales, too.

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  23. I like the quote about the rainbow. And oh my to the betting man, landing in jail is not a fun way to curb a competitive streak. ;)

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    1. Landing in jail may not have been a fun way to curb his competitive streak, but it was probably an effective one!

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  24. Sadly your guest post hasn't yet landed. The recipe for key lime cupcakes which is there instead is good - but not as good as you can be.

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    1. Sorry. I always publish my posts at 12:34 AM, but I guess the "Housewives" go with 6 AM. :( Sorry.

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  25. I can't believe I missed seeing this gem! Not bad on the eyes, was old Tommy Fitz?
    My hubby - fan of anything that defies gravity - is so going to love reading this!

    PS - Love imagining a cave-girl BITING her Mr. (not-so) Wonderful!

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    1. Nope, not bad on the eyes at all. He looks like he had a bit of the devil in him.
      P.S. Me, too. :)

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