In theory this was a good bet: The house could reap a tempting spread between the yield on the derivatives and its own cost of borrowing.

FORBES: No Thain, No Gain

But here's our unscientific theory about why you shouldn't bet on a sports-crazed executive.

FORBES: Firms That Buy Teams Tend To Underperform

On the theory that getting the eyeballs is half the battle, you might bet on the laggards like Overstock.

FORBES: Magazine Article