SPRING BOOK ROUNDUP

In "Double or Nothing: How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas' Legendary Casinos," Tom Breitling reveals that Tim Poster, his longtime friend and business partner, for a time used the theme from "The Sting" as his cell phone ring tone.

Which is appropriate, as illustrated by a quick round of Six Degrees of Newman and Redford.

Bear with us: The ring tone brings to mind the stars of "The Sting," Paul Newman and Robert Redford, which brings to mind the duo's other classic movie, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," the best buddy movie of all time, which, finally, leads to Breitling and Poster.

And that's because "Double or Nothing" is, at its heart, a story of two best buddies who, like Butch and Sundance, partnered up and took on the world, sharing an incredible journey along the way.

In "Double or Nothing" (Collins, $24.95) Breitling and collaborator Cal Fussman recount the Breitling/Poster partnership/friendship from their college-days meeting to their days as dot-com millionaires and through their one-year-and-change run as owners of the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas.

And while Breitling's memoir contains enough behind-the-scenes drama to satisfy any gaming geek, it's a fun read even for those whose interest in the casino industry extends only as far as a parlay card or video poker machine.

"I like that," Breitling offers during a recent phone interview. "In fact, when we started writing the book together, Cal and myself, I said: 'Let's make this a celebration. Let's make this a party.' "

Breitling began making the notes that would form the basis of the book in February 2002. He'd just joined the board of directors of Expedia -- the Internet tourism giant had purchased Travelscape, the pioneering Internet travel site Breitling and Poster founded on a shoestring -- and was marveling that he was sitting in the same room with such high-profile corporate chairmen as former Fox Inc. head Barry Diller.

"It was kind of a surreal meeting," Breitling recalls. "I was the youngest board member of this multibillion-dollar company and, after that, I went to Central Park and started to take notes on this Internet journey."

Still, he hadn't exactly planned on writing a book. "I just said, 'This is a really special time with just some great stories.' I started to take notes because I never wanted to forget those stories."

But, in January 2004, a new chapter began when Poster and Breitling purchased Golden Nugget properties in downtown Las Vegas and Laughlin from MGM Mirage. (They sold the Laughlin property in November of that year.)

It was an unexpected move for Breitling, a self-described square from Barnsville, USA -- actually, Burnsville, Minn. -- who aspired to be the next Bob Costas, but totally expected for Poster, a born entrepreneur who took sports bets from classmates during his days at Bishop Gorman High School.

The pair met through a mutual friend and became partners on the strength of a handshake on a frozen lake. And while their personalities differed in some respects, they shared whatever it is that makes someone want to create a business rather than just work for one.

"I think, looking back, I've never been afraid to take a risk, but I think my risks have always been a little smaller and a little more well-calculated," Breitling says, while "Tim is a much more high-level, strategic thinker."

Together, they're sort of like a car's gas and brake pedals, Breitling says. "Tim's got the gas pedal to the floor and I'm usually the brake, and we usually come together in the middle. I love that."

Breitling's memoir is peppered with anecdotes, many of them hilarious, that reveal much about the day-to-day reality -- and occasional bizarreness -- of owning the Golden Nugget.

Once, while walking through the hotel's bakery, Breitling -- who by then had been co-owner of the Golden Nugget for a whole four days -- asked a baker if he might grab a cookie.

"Mr. Breitling," the baker replied, "you own that cookie."

Looking back, "it's still surreal," Breitling says.

Breitling also writes of the assets he enjoyed that don't appear on any balance sheet. Becoming friends with Tony Bennett. Getting to know casino giants such as Steve Wynn. And, even, the simple thrill of walking into the Golden Nugget that first day and realizing that he and Poster actually owned it.

"It was," Breitling says, "like living out a dream."

Above all, the book is "100 percent a buddy story," Breitling says. "It's all about friendship. It's all about trust and loyalty and partnership."

But Breitling also writes candidly about the stresses of the adventure, including the stress his relationship with actress Jaime Pressly put on his partnership with Poster.

'"There were some challenging moments," Breitling concedes. "But I did want it to be an honest and true narrative."

When Breitling and Poster sold the Golden Nugget, they'd earned a return on their investment so substantial that it surprised even them, the very epitome of the classic deal they couldn't refuse.

Right now, Breitling and Poster are between ventures. But, Breitling says, "our goal is to get back into the hotel and gaming business."

And, in the meantime, Breitling and his wife, Vanessa, are expecting their first child.

It all sounds like solid material for a sequel.

"It's a whole new chapter, which is wonderful," Breitling says.

"Hopefully, we're kind of going to keep writing chapters."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.