Latest news with #Mazi
New York Times
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
He Claims He's the ‘Sports Betting King.' What Are the Odds?
Mazi VS — 'Mazi' as in Maserati, 'VS' as in the grade of diamond — pulled up outside my hotel in Las Vegas behind the wheel of a red Lamborghini Aventador and suggested that we go for a drive. A thing no one tells you about traveling via Lamborghini: Getting into your seat is like spelunking into a crevasse, and getting out is like climbing out of a coffin. Lambos also were not put on this earth for lurching through rush-hour traffic, and so every time Mazi tapped the accelerator after a light turned green, the car's 6.5-liter V12 engine (behind us) snarled in my ears like a caged tiger. The Aventador has a top speed that exceeds 210 m.p.h., but it drops to 0.1 m.p.h. for speed bumps, and this car has a Blue Book value of more than $250,000. Imagine what it costs to fix a dent. Mazi seemed untroubled by the risk, though. He was accustomed to having six figures on the line. At that very moment, a Wednesday afternoon in mid-March, the day before the start of the first round of the N.C.A.A. men's basketball tournament, he had a total of $1.1 million riding on a three-leg parlay, a high-risk, high-reward sports wager that most pro gamblers tend to shun, not least because you must win all multiple individual bets to collect, while the house has to win only once. Later on, Mazi showed me the actual betting slips: $600,000 at Caesars Sportsbook and $500,000 at Circa on the same three-way outcome, wins for North Carolina, Purdue and Kentucky. All three were heavy favorites in their games, and all they had to do was win, not cover a point spread. But this was March Madness, when upsets happen all the time, and it would take only one to make Mazi $1.1 million poorer. He also stood to win just under $1.35 million, and Carolina had already done its job during a play-in game the night before. 'I got three teams that should be blowouts,' he said. 'So we lookin' good.' Mazi has 2.5 million followers on Instagram, his social media platform of choice, and a key ingredient in his mystique is that he is always somehow looking good, despite operating in a cutthroat, quasi-legal industry in which fates inevitably turn very bad. All the other suckers out there lose on a regular basis, but not Mazi, and he seems to have the betting slips — and the Lambos, the Maybachs, the private jets to Miami, the limited-edition Chrome Hearts jeans that can go for north of $10,000 and the $180,000 diamond chain by the jeweler to the stars Eliantte — that say so. Mazi has taken to calling himself the 'Sports Betting King,' or 'S.B.K.,' initials that are inked on his left hand. In a 2024 podcast, he claimed to have won $25 million the previous year alone. The most respected pros in this world build complex statistical models, scrutinizing micro-movements in betting lines, grinding out tiny advantages, winning pennies on the dollar, and in an excellent year they might get about 55 percent of their picks correct. Mazi claims his win rate sometimes reaches 70 percent, sometimes even higher. His process? Getting 'locked in' at the desk of his home office, then scanning the lines on his phone and picking the ones that look 'too good to be true.' 'Just literally in February we went on, like, an 18-1 run,' he told me as we inched along Las Vegas Boulevard so low to the ground that all I could see around us were the wheels of other cars. 'Right now we're on an 8-3 run.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Newsweek
19-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
What Golden Retriever Does for Her Owners Before Bedtime Melts Hearts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A golden retriever from Key West, Florida, has captured the hearts of social-media users with her unique nighttime ritual, which has gone viral on TikTok. In the clip, shared in April under the username @kristen_flkeysgirl, Mazi can be seen settling down to sleep with her favorite toy at the feet of her owners' bed, only after ensuring they each also have a stuffy to hug through the night. "She's ready for bed, gave us each a friend," the poster writes in the clip. There is nothing cuter than a pup playing with their stuffed animals, like Mazi in the clip, but what makes these toys so appealing to our pets? A Catster article medically reviewed by Dr. Chyrle Bonk says that our pups have multiple reasons to love their stuffies. For starters, toys are very versatile; pups can chew on them for fun, and then, next minute, hold them for comfort. Stuffies are also very easily chewable, which is especially pleasant for puppies going through their teething phase. Plush toys are also fun to play with for pups who love hunting. And, finally, they also make great possessions, making your pup feel like they have something special that is just for them. While toys can help your dog's physical and mental development, they are not always safe, and not all of them are the best choice for your specific pup. Dogs who suffer form separation anxiety do benefit from plush toys and warm blankets, which help them soothe and bring them comfort and a sense of security. However, those with a natural instinct to chew should stay away from stuffed toys and play with hard rubber or reinforced, tough nylon/fabric toys instead. Toys should be replaced as soon as damage starts showing. Small Door Veterinary says that any size piece can pose a choking hazard for your pup. Toys with sharp elements are particularly dangerous as they can cause intestinal punctures or blockages. Stock image: A golden retriever lays in bed with a stuffed toy. Stock image: A golden retriever lays in bed with a stuffed toy. getty images The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 2.7 million views and more than 480,000 likes on the platform. One user, Randi, commented: "My dog 'tucks me in' every night. After I get situated, he gives me a stuffie and then goes and lays down on the couch." Anna posted: "Stop this is the most precious thing ever." Riley added: "I would actually start crying." Newsweek reached out to @kristen_flkeysgirl for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Axios
06-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Mediterranean restaurant Mazi opening soon in South End
New Mediterranean restaurant Mazi will open in South End on March 13. Why it matters: It's the latest project by the Built On Hospitality group, which has had quite an eventful few months with recent openings like Folia in South End and Chief's in NoDa. Built On Hospitality partner and executive chef Chris Coleman (of Goodyear House) partnered with Mazi's owners Troy Brewer and Hemant Patel to develop the menu, according to a press release. What to expect: Small plates, wine and cocktails inspired by countries like Greece, Spain and Morocco, to name a few. It'll feature "more than just the Greek, Israeli, and Lebanese food that most Americans think of, but also (fare from) Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Spain, and Italy," Coleman said in a previous statement. Mixologist Bob Peters created the cocktail menu to "showcase Mediterranean flavors such as lavender, pomegranate and sumac," according to a press release. If you go: Mazi will open only for dinner to start, with plans to add weekday lunch and weekend brunch in the coming weeks. Reservations are now available online. Stop by: 1300 South Blvd., across from the rail trail near Nikko Japanese Restaurant. Open Monday-Thursday 4-10pm, Friday-Saturday 4-11pm and Sunday 4-9pm. Go deeper: The 26 most anticipated new restaurants and bars in Charlotte
