LAS VEGAS — The all-orange Nikes were pure Dave Sharapan. From a block away, they announced his arrival to our first meeting. He wore a mega-grin, eyes splashing with life.

The former oddsman-turned-media maven didn’t make friends; he forged instant bonds that felt as though they would last a lifetime.

The lunch went on for hours. He listened, locked eyes. Undivided attention.

Several times, I was fortunate to spend hours with him in a sportsbook. He would point out who soon was going to prison, who held bricks of cash, ‘‘running’’ for others. People popped by every five minutes to greet him.

Once, he focused in on my San Diego State cap, at the ‘‘19’’ stitched on a side. A custom Tony Gwynn special, the greatest Aztecs baseball player and a Baseball Hall of Famer.

Sadly, in June 2014

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