Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
07/11/2010 -
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -To Charlie Manuel, the whole All-Star experience whizzed by last summer. He's hoping to change one thing this time - the result.
The Philadelphia manager is set to guide the National League for the second straight All-Star game. The AL has not lost since 1996, extending its string with a 4-3 victory over Manuel's side in St. Louis.
``When the game starts, we were interchanging players and all of a sudden I look up and the game was over. I didn't really get to enjoy the game. I didn't get to see a whole lot of it. I saw it, but at the same time it went by so fast and were doing so many things,'' Manuel said Sunday.
``We lost, I know that. It gets kind of hectic. If we score a bunch of runs in the game, if we can get a lead and get out ahead, maybe I'll get to enjoy and see more of the game,'' he said.
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard plans to talk to Manuel. About a chance to get some more swings, that is.
St. Louis' Albert Pujols won the fan vote to start at first base. Manuel added Howard to the team, and the Phillies first baseman would like to be the NL's designated hitter.
``I might slip him a note or talk to him about what's going on,'' Howard said.
---
NO-NO ON THE VUVU: ThunderStix at the All-Star game? Sounds fine. Vuvuzelas? Hush up.
The policy at Angel Stadium prohibits air horns, artificial noisemakers and other such items. Vuvuzelas, the loud horns that created such a buzz at the World Cup, fall into the banned category.
Fans who bring vuvuzelas to Los Angeles Angels home games are asked to leave them at the guest relations department. The plastic trumpets can be picked up postgame.
ThunderStix, the long, plastic balloons that are banged together to create a racket, have been part of the Angels' cheering section since the 2002 World Series championship.
---
WINFIELD'S MEMORY: It's been 22 years since the Hall of Famer Dave Winfield's final All-Star game in Cincinnati.
That 1988 event is still fresh in his mind. His mother, Arline, was fighting breast cancer and flew to Ohio to be there, but didn't have the strength leave her hotel room to see the game in person.
She died on his 37th birthday Oct. 3 that year, only 18 months after her diagnosis. She was 65.
Now, Winfield is honoring his mom's memory by speaking out for breast cancer awareness through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and on the question-and-answer site Ask.com on a program called ``Answers for the Cure.''
``I know she'd be proud I'm involved now,'' Winfield said leading up to this year's All-Star festivities. ``Now we know so much more about breast cancer than we used to. Twenty some years ago we didn't know where to go for information.''
A 12-time All-Star, that '88 season was one of Winfield's toughest. While his mother was well enough to attend his wedding that February before he headed off to spring training with the New York Yankees, seeing her deteriorate was devastating.
Winfield still batted .322 in 1988 with 25 home runs and 107 RBIs in 149 games. He missed the final five games to be with his mom.
His mother detected her cancer too late when she found a lump, he said.
``That was quite a year for me,'' Winfield said. ``It was a difficult time. She had a mastectomy, radiation and went to doctors in New York and the Mayo Clinic. We did all we could do.''
Winfield knows he is doing his part in the efforts now.
``This is a great opportunity,'' he said.
---
PITCHING SHUFFLE: AL manager Joe Girardi was forced to do a lot of shuffling to his pitching staff on the day before everyone gathers in Anaheim.
The changes began on his own pitching staff with the New York Yankees when CC Sabathia started on Sunday. That made the lefty ineligible to pitch in Tuesday night's game, so Girardi chose Detroit's Justin Verlander to take his spot.
Girardi also lined up the Angels' Jered Weaver to replace Oakland's Trevor Cahill, who started on Sunday. But when Girardi made the change he didn't realize Weaver was also throwing on Sunday. So Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey became the replacement for Weaver.
A couple of pitchers were left out of consideration because they threw this weekend, most notably Seattle's Felix Hernandez. Girardi saw firsthand Hernandez throw a complete-game victory over the Yankees on Saturday night.
``He threw (126) pitches (Saturday) and I wouldn't feel good about putting him in a game on Tuesday. I just wouldn't,'' Girardi said. ``He's deserving. He's been dominant. And that's the hardest part.''
---
EARLY START: Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Andre Ethier, Hong-Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton got an early start to the All-Star festivities.
Los Angeles and the Chicago Cubs played Sunday at Dodger Stadium in baseball's last game before the All-Star break. Either, Kuo and Broxton were introduced before the game and were presented with their official jerseys for Tuesday night's game in Anaheim.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Cahill helps A's down Angels
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trevor Cahill threw seven innings and Jack Cust
hit a two-run homer as the Oakland Athletics took a 5-2 win over the LA Angels
of Anaheim in the finale of a three-game set.
Cahill (9-3) gave up just one unear
<< Teixeira and Yanks club Seattle
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Teixeira went 4-for-5 with two runs scored
and one driven in, and CC Sabathia went seven strong innings to lead New York
to an 8-2 win over the Mariners in the finale of a four-game series.
Sabathia (12-
<< Marlins earn split with Diamondbacks
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla knocked in runs and
six Marlins pitchers combined for a shutout in a 2-0 triumph over the
Diamondbacks to earn a split of this four-game series.
Alex Sanabia made his firs
<< Uruguay's Forlan wins Golden Ball as best player
Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Uruguay forward Diego Forlan won
the Golden Ball on Sunday as the best player at the FIFA World Cup.
Forlan, 31, edged the Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder and Spain's David Villa for
the award. Forl
World Cup all-tournament team has a few surprises >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2010 FIFA World Cup featured the four
most recent World Player of the Year winners, but none of them performed well
enough in South Africa to earn a spot on our all-tournament team.
Perhaps Italy defen
Bandages and all, Creamer a major champion >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paula Creamer squeezed one final par out of prickly Oakmont
and threw her hands over her face. The left hand was bandaged thumb-to-wrist,
something else to absorb the tears.
She cried, yes, but this time the source of her
UGA suspends two >>
Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Georgia head football coach Mark Richt
announced Sunday indefinite suspensions for two players who were arrested on
alcohol-related charges early Saturday morning.
Sophomore tailback Dontavius Jacks
Dodgers option Ely, recall Link >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned struggling
starting pitcher John Ely to Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled pitcher Jon
Link from the same club on Sunday.
Ely went through his second straight poor outing
The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts US credit cards
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds
Will he or won't he? Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.
Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.
"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."
Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.
Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.
But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.
Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback. It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.
Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Baltimore Ravens 15-1
Buffalo Bills 50-1
Carolina Panthers 18-1
Chicago Bears 10-1
Cincinnati Bengals 15-1
Cleveland Browns 100-1
Dallas Cowboys 15-1
Denver Broncos 15-1
Detroit Lions 100-1
Green Bay Packers 50-1
Houston Texans 100-1
Indianapolis Colts 6-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1
Kansas City Chiefs 30-1
Miami Dolphins 40-1
Minnesota Vikings 75-1
New England Patriots 10-1
New Orleans Saints 18-1
New York Giants 20-1
New York Jets 30-1
Oakland Raiders 100-1
Philadelphia Eagles 18-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1
Saint Louis Rams 60-1
San Diego Chargers 6-1
San Francisco 49ers 75-1
Seattle Seahawks 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1
Tennessee Titans 40-1
Washington Redskins 50-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting