HOW SAD FOR YOU, WHERE’S MY VIOLIN?Las...

HOW SAD FOR YOU, WHERE’S MY VIOLIN?

Las Vegas’ legal bookies were a two-point conversion away from their biggest Super Bowl victory ever.

As it turned out, there weren’t too many winners on either side of the betting window after a Super Bowl that ended exactly how bookmakers predicted--with Green Bay a 14-point winner.

“If it wasn’t for that two-point conversion it would have been the biggest win in Nevada bookmaking history,” said Michael Roxborough, who sets the lines for Nevada sports books. “We would have won $20 million at least.”

Instead, most bettors lined up after the game either to get their original bet back or to collect, if they were lucky enough to get the game either at 13 1/2 or 14 1/2 points.

The Packers winning by 13 points would have been the best scenario for sports books that had heavy Packer action at 14 points.

“Nobody cares if bookmakers win except me and their wives,” Roxborough said. “Everybody hates bookmakers.”

You can bet on that.

CALL EVERYBODY BACK AND REPLAY THE GAME

Lost in the excitement of Desmond Howard’s record-breaking kickoff return for a touchdown was the fact the timekeeper made a serious error.

He started the clock too soon.

Normally, the clock starts the moment the receiving team touches the ball, but the timekeeper started the clock while the ball was still in the air. Almost five seconds elapsed before Howard touched the ball.

Maybe the Patriots were so confused by the clock that they nervously let Howard escape them, leading to the touchdown.

OK, maybe not.

--Compiled by HOUSTON MITCHELL