One of the country’s most famous bettors — and furniture salesmen — is turning his attention from sports wagers to sports media.
Jim ‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale recently launched Gallery Sports, a website covering all things Texas and Louisiana sports.
The Houston-based furniture store owner — who has gained notoriety from his multi-million-dollar sports bets meant to promote his business — announced the new venture on Twitter earlier this month.
The new media outlet has already hired several notable sportswriters, including former Houston Chronicle reporters John McClain, John P. Lopez, and Richard Justice.
Like all of his other forays, McIngvale’s goal is to drive traffic to his Houston-area furniture stores.
“I’ve always had an interest in sports and my son (James) and I like content that will drive customers to Gallery Furniture,” McIngvale told the Chronicle. “We thought sports was a perfect way to connect with our customers and with all the sports fans in Houston.”
Per the Chronicle, McIngvale plans to launch another website focused on sports betting, called Gallery Gaming, in the future.