“Cognitive” troubles
Texas furniture store owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has spent the weekend in Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center after being rushed to the Houston hospital with what he described as “cognitive” troubles.
Ever the salesman, McIngvale has posted video updates from his hospital bed since he was hospitalized Saturday, talking about his condition while also promoting his furniture store.
The high-stakes bettor took to X with two videos updating his recovery, with the latest on Sunday shedding light on the blackouts that led to his emergency admission:
McIngvale stated he’d been suffering from nausea going into Saturday when, driving to his furniture store, he did something out of character that he later said should have warned him “something was wrong.”
“For the first time in 43 years, I missed the exit,” he said.
The blackout-like episode returned when the Texan arrived at work but “didn’t know what day it was.” A specialized ambulance for diagnosing and treating acute strokes then arrived at McIngvale’s workplace before taking him to the medical center.
Tributes pour in
In Sunday’s video post, McIngvale stated the hospital was still “running tests to see what is wrong with me,” and wasn’t sure when he’d be discharged.
I will be fine”
The day before, the furniture tycoon assured viewers via X that: “I’ll be alright because they have great doctors at the Texas Medical Center, and I will be fine.”
McIngvale’s passion for local sports teams is accompanied by his high-profile bets to offset, at least partially, the costs of promotions he offers at his Gallery Furniture stores, and has made the 73-year-old a much-loved household name among Houstonians and Texans.
As such, tributes have poured in on X wishing McIngvale well. According to NewsNation, one well-wisher was Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who wrote that he and his wife Cecilia were “praying for your swift recovery.”
US Congressman Chip Roy, (R-Texas) also sent the Houston native a “Get well soon!!” message.
Fighting spirit
McIngvale is a betting legend, earning a cool $75m when the Houston Astros won the 2022 World Series in what stands as the biggest payout in the history of US sports betting. Mack is also a gambling legend for his massive losses, and so far, 2024 hasn’t been kind to him.
In February, McIngvale bet $1m with Caesars Sports on the University of Houston at +750 to win the men’s NCAA basketball title, which had it happened, would have earned the Texan a profit of $7.5m for a total payout of $8.5m. Just before the first round of March Madness, McIngvale placed another $1m with DraftKings meaning he’d have pocketed $15m if the Cougars went all the way.
Instead, the furniture kingpin kissed the $2m goodbye after one of Houston’s key players got injured early in the Sweet 16 game against Duke, which ended in a 54-51 loss.
Never one to let a lost bet get him down, McIngvale was philosophical about losing the $2m, saying at the time the loss of standout guard Jamal Shead was “like losing your MVP quarterback and best defensive player at the same time.”
Mattress Mack isn’t letting hospital get him down either, with his cognitive skills in sound working order as he took the opportunity to advertise Gallery Furniture’s Labor Day sale.