World news
Frank Rosenthal, alias “Lefty”, died from a heart attack
Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, the greatest living expert on sports gambling, died past Monday from a heart attack in his home in Miami Beach at the age of 79.
He received his nickname "Lefty" after he refused to answer 37 questions during a hearing in court, referring to the 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination, among others he refused to answer if he was left handed.
He was married to Geri McGee, a former topless showgirl, to who he partly owes his career, because she urged him to get a job in a casino. Started as a simple floor manager, Rosenthal made career and became the manager of the Stardust, Hacienda, Fremont and Marina hotel-casinos. Rosenthal launched a betting parlor and was called "the greatest living expert on sports gambling". During his time in Las Vegas he also owned a local TV talk show featuring guests like Frank Senatra and Muhammad Ali.
His criminal resume includes accusations such as mob involvement, skimming profits from the casinos he managed, federal bookmaking charges, bribery, gambling and organized crime.
It is Rosenthal's turbulent life that inspired Martin Scorsese in 1995 to shoot the movie 'Casino', with the leading actors Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone.