Plus Money Sports

2009-09-25T21:11:00.001-04:00

1942-2009:

Bob Stupak, builder of Stratosphere and Vegas World, dies at 67

By Ed Koch, Mary Manning
LAS VEGAS SUN
Published Friday, Sept. 25, 2009

Bob Stupak, a Las Vegas legend who developed the Stratosphere and called himself the Polish Maverick, died today at Desert Springs Hospital after a long battle with leukemia.

He was 67.

The Stratosphere released a statement Friday afternoon saying Stupak will be remembered for his contributions to Las Vegas.

“Bob Stupak was a true visionary and he will be sorely missed. He was instrumental in developing the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower – an icon in Las Vegas, as Mr. Stupak was himself. He will be remembered for his many community initiatives and his many innovative projects within the gaming industry," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

After an unconventional boyhood in Pittsburgh he came to Las Vegas, where he survived a motorcycle crash and sparred with gaming regulators. He eventually built the tallest hotel-casino in Las Vegas.

In his early days, Stupak delved into pop music and motorcycle drag racing before he began selling coupon books. His father, Chester Stupak, was a major player in Pittsburgh gambling rackets from before World War II until his death in 1991.

After Bob Stupak dropped out of school following the eighth grade, he bought a Harley-Davidson and began an odyssey that would lead to Las Vegas.

Stupak's interest in gambling drew him to Las Vegas in 1964. He then took a detour to Australia for seven years, where he continued selling coupon books and got married twice. Stupak stayed in Las Vegas for good in 1971.

In 1973, Stupak opened the Million Dollar Historic Gambling Museum & Casino, which burned down under mysterious circumstances. Rising from those ashes, Stupak built Vegas World in 1974, an outer space-themed casino with a display of cash Stupak had won in some of his most notorious gambling bouts, including poker games and big Super Bowl bets.

Media from around the world came to the April 29, 1996, opening of the 1,149-foot-tall Stratosphere. A bronze statue of Stupak was displayed at the resort north of Sahara Avenue on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Stupak had envisioned an 1,800-foot tower, but the Federal Aviation Administration intervened and prevented him from going that high. Less than three months after the Stratosphere opened, Stupak, a 14 percent owner, resigned as chairman and the bronze statue disappeared. Stupak said later he had never authorized it.

On March 31, 1995, Stupak was nearly killed when the Harley-Davidson motorcycle he was driving collided with a vehicle on Rancho Road, leaving him in a coma for five weeks.

Stupak had attempted to enter the political arena by running for mayor of Las Vegas. He also helped his daughter, Nicole, with a failed bid for a City Council seat in 1991.

"It seems like he was always playing it right to the edge -- good, bad or indifferent," said former United Press International Bureau Chief Myram Borders, who covered Stupak during the years of his greatest contributions to Las Vegas history. "He had a good sense of humor. He was a funny man. Bob seemed to enjoy life very much."

In 1989, Stupak won the World Series of Poker $5,000 buy-in no-limit deuce-to-7 world championship at Binion's Horseshoe, earning a purse of $139,500. He had placed third in that same event in 1984 and would go on to place fourth in that game at the 1991 and 1993 World Series of Poker.

Famed Las Vegas oddsmaker Lem Banker called his longtime friend "a visionary."

"Bob was a decathlon gambler -- sports bets, propositions, poker -- everything at once," Banker said. "He had a lot of heart and a lot of brains."

2009-09-25T19:58:00.002-04:00

Bob Stupak dies at 67

kvbc.com

Casino entrepreneur Bob Stupak died today at 67. Stupak, suffered from leukemia.

Stupak came to Las Vegas in 1971 and opened a small casino. In 1979 Stupak opened Vegas World, a casino which grossed hundreds of millions in the 1980s. In the 1990s, Stupak opened the Stratosphere which was later sold.

Stupak was also involved with the GSN High Stakes Poker series and in 2006 filed to run as a Democrat for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.

News 3 received the following press release regarding Stupak's death:

BOB STUPAK, LONG-TIME LAS VEGAN, DEVELOPER OF THE STRATOSPHERE, PASSES AWAY AT 67

LAS VEGAS - Bob Stupak, who is best known for revolutionizing the Las Vegas Strip with the development of The Stratosphere, passed away today at the age of 67.

Stupak was with close family at the Desert Springs Hospital this afternoon when medical maladies, including leukemia, took his life at 1:15 p.m. Per Stupak's request, he will be cremated and there will not be a funeral.

Stupak was born in Pittsburgh, Penn. in 1942. Stupak made his final move to Las Vegas in 1971, and in 1974 he opened "Bob Stupak's World Famous Historic Gambling Museum" at the north corner of Sahara Avenue at Las Vegas Boulevard South.

In 1979, Stupak opened Vegas World, where he innovated the industry with new twists on promotions and games that would be modeled for years to come. In 1989, Stupak won a widely publicized million dollar wager on Super Bowl XXIII, and later that year he won the Deuce to Seven Lowball Championship Bracelet at the World Series of Poker.

In 1995, Stupak suffered a motorcycle accident that broke every bone in his face and caused him to go into a coma. Although the initial prognosis was that he would not survive, Stupak made a full recovery. He went on to open The Stratosphere in 1996, and sold it to Carl Icahn in 1998. Stupak continued to work in hotel-casino development and as a professional poker player.

Stupak was an integral part of the Las Vegas community, and made substantial contributions to The City of Las Vegas Chester Stupak Family Park, named for his father, the Stupak Community Center, and more.

Stupak is survived by two sisters, Linda Phillips and Nancy O'Conner, both reside in Pittsburgh, Penn., as well as two daughters, Nicole in Sydney, Australia, and Summer in Las Vegas, and his son, Nevada, who also resides in Las Vegas. He is also survived by two ex-wives, Sandra Blumen of Las Vegas, and Annette Hatton of Sydney, Australia.

CFL Friday

2009-09-25T19:03:00.001-04:00

472 Hamilton +4 -110

NCAAFB Thursday 09/24

2009-09-24T19:15:00.000-04:00

302 South Carolina +4.5 E

MLB MONDAY PLAYS 10/21

2009-09-21T18:21:00.002-04:00

952 Pittsburgh Pirates +107
D. McCutchen
961 Baltimore Orioles +128
C. Tillman
964 Chicago White Sox +119
D.Hudson
967 New York Yankees +100
A. Pettitte
966 Kansas City Royals +148
L. Dinardo

NFL 2ND HALF

2009-09-20T22:13:00.000-04:00

233 New York Giants +4.5-105

CFL SUNDAY

2009-09-20T15:25:00.000-04:00

477 Edmonton Eskimos +4-105

MLB Sunday 9/20

2009-09-20T12:50:00.000-04:00

901 Florida Marlins -111
S. West
908 Pittsburgh Pirates -104
P. Maholm

NFL SUNDAY WEEK 2

2009-09-20T12:44:00.003-04:00

209 New England Patriots -3-110

217 Carolina Panthers +6.5-115

adding:

225 Tampa Bay Buccaneers +4-110

224 San Francisco 49ers -1-110

233 New York Giants +3-110

2009-09-19T22:14:00.002-04:00

3-1 in MLB PLAYS TODAY for +2.00 and +35.83 so far for the Year

NCAAF 2ND HALF PLAY

2009-09-19T21:33:00.000-04:00

177 Georgia +3-110

MLB SATURDAY 10/19

2009-09-19T15:53:00.002-04:00

968 Oakland Athletics -108
G. Gonzalez
963 Florida Marlins +105
R. Nolasco
971 Kansas City Royals +175
D HUGHES
978 Texas Rangers -101
S. Feldman

CFL 2nd Half Play

2009-09-18T21:05:00.000-04:00

472 Hamilton Tigercats +1

MLB FRIDAY PLAYS 9/18

2009-09-18T16:44:00.003-04:00

903 Florida Marlins +110
R. VandenHurk
923 Detroit Tigers +131
R. Porcello
925 Kansas City Royals +200
L. Hochevar

NCAA 2ND HALF PLAY

2009-09-17T21:07:00.002-04:00

102 Miami Florida Under 26.5 -110

G Tech/Miami INFO

2009-09-17T17:30:00.000-04:00

GEORGIA TECH Injuries

FB
Richard Watson
hamstring
"?"
*
7:54am
is "?" Thursday vs Miami Florida.
09/10
RB
Preston Lyons
shoulder
"?"
*
4:58pm
missed last game, is "?" Thursday vs Miami.
Players listed as OUT
09/17
LB
Kyle Jackson
foot
OUT
*
8:49am
missed last game, is downgraded to OUT Thursday vs Miami Florida.
08/29
WR
Tyler Melton
knee
OUT
*
2:31pm
is OUT up to 4 weeks.
08/17
QB
Jaybo Shaw
collarbone
OUT
*
7:41am
is OUT Thursday vs Miami Florida.

MIAMI FLORIDA Injuries

DB
Ryan Hill
shoulder
Probable
*
8:53am
missed last game, is upgraded to probable Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
09/13
S
Vaughn Telemaque
shoulder
Probable
*
4:19am
missed last game, is upgraded to probable Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
09/13
DE
Eric Moncur
groin
Probable
*
4:16am
missed last game, is upgraded to probable Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
Players listed as "?"
09/13
WR
Aldarius Johnson
groin
"?"
*
4:18am
is "?" Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
Players listed as Doubtful
09/17
DB
Damien Berry
flu
Doubtful
*
8:00am
is doubtful Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
09/17
OL
Ben Jones
flu
Doubtful
*
8:00am
is doubtful Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
Players listed as OUT
09/16
OL
Cory White
leg
OUT
*
2:39am
is OUT Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
09/15
DB
Joseph Nicolas
illness
OUT
*
3:38pm
is downgraded to OUT Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
09/14
DB
DeMarcus Van Dyke
undisclosed
OUT
*
2:47am
is downgraded to OUT Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
09/07
LB
Levi Paalua
shoulder
OUT
*
7:18pm
is downgraded to OUT Thursday vs Georgia Tech.
08/28
DE
Adewale Ojomo
jaw
OUT
*
9:34am
is out indefinitely.

THURSDAY MLB PLAYS 9/17

2009-09-17T11:18:00.002-04:00

951 Milwaukee Brewers +148
D. Bush
962 Seattle Mariners +117
B. Morrow

2009-09-17T09:09:00.000-04:00

Race-Fix Allegation Rattles Formula 1

By JOHN F. BURNS
NY TIMES

LONDON — Say it ain’t so.

For the last month, Formula One auto racing has been shaken by allegations from a back-of-the field driver that a crash arranged by his Renault racing team in last September’s Singapore Grand Prix enabled Renault’s lead driver to leap from a midfield position to an upset victory.

Many in the sport fear that if the allegation is proven it could be the equivalent of the 1919 Black Sox World Series for Formula One: a scandal that tops all previous upheavals and one that rocks the sport’s already shaky finances, threatening billions of dollars of investment by some of the world’s largest auto companies and corporate sponsors.

Those fears appeared to be confirmed Wednesday when the British-based Renault racing team — financed at a cost of perhaps $300 million a year by the Paris-based automaker Renault — announced it would not contest the allegations when Formula One’s governing body, the International Automobile Federation, also known as FIA, convenes a tribunal to hear the charges in Paris on Monday. The tribunal’s powers include banning Renault from the sport.

“The Renault Formula One team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix,” the team said in a statement.

The statement said the two men who allegedly set up the crash, both veterans of past championships, have left the team. Flavio Briatore, a 58-year-old Italian, was the team’s managing director, and Pat Symonds, a 55-year-old Englishman, was the engineering director.

The Renault team did not return telephone calls.

The day’s developments represented the greatest crisis in the history of a series that has cast itself as the pinnacle of international motor sport, and as a showcase for aerospace-style, groundbreaking technologies that Formula One insiders believe give their series an edge over the more tightly restricted, cost-conscious engineering formulas of Nascar and the Indy Car series that dominate American racing. Formula One claims a worldwide television audience of several hundred million.

There had been no allegations of race fixing in what is now known as Formula One since the 1933 Tripoli Grand Prix.

But Formula One’s stability was shaken before the recent race-fixing scandal by other events, including the imposition of a $100 million fine on Britain’s McLaren-Mercedes racing team two years ago after it was found to have obtained secret technical documents from Italy’s Ferrari team.

Briatore announced last week that he had launched a lawsuit in France. It says the crash allegations were part of an attempt by the 24-year-old driver Nelson Piquet Jr. of Brazil and his father to “blackmail” the team into keeping the younger Piquet as one of its two drivers.

The senior Piquet was a three-time Formula One world champion in the 1980s.

The younger Piquet was fired midway through this year’s 17-race schedule of races in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America. The 2008 Singapore race came near the end of his first season in Formula One. At the time he was under heavy pressure after a series of lackluster performances and an inability to match the speed of his teammate, Fernando Alonso, the winner of two Formula One championships with Renault.

Soon after his last race with Renault, Piquet and his father approached the federation with their allegations, details of which have been leaked to reporters covering Formula One, along with transcripts of the governing body’s interviews with those involved. The Piquets said that the younger Piquet was told at a Singapore meeting with Briatore and Symonds that they wanted him to crash at a narrow spot on the track shortly after an unusually early refueling stop by Alonso. The plan, the Piquets said, was for debris from the crash to slow the field behind the safety car, allowing Alonso to seize the lead as the early front-runners made their own refueling stops.

Piquet crashed on the 14th lap of the race, after Alonso’s refueling stop on the 12th lap, bringing out the safety car. Alonso went on to win.

Nothing in the leaked documents showed Alonso was aware of the plans for the crash. He has declined to comment, pending the Paris tribunal.

According to the leaked documents, the younger Piquet said he was “in a very fragile and emotional state of mind” when he was asked to crash, because Briatore had refused to say whether his contract would be renewed for 2009. Symonds was quoted in the documents as saying it was the younger Piquet who raised the possibility of a crash.

For Formula One, the potential impact runs beyond the risk that Renault will be forced out of the series or quit it. The tribunal will hear claims that the Renault team managers organized the crash to snatch an upset victory that would persuade Renault bosses in Paris, looking for cost savings in the midst of a worldwide slump in car sales, not to pull out of Formula One.

If Renault left Formula One, it would be the third major motor manufacturer to quit in the past nine months, after Honda and BMW. With only teams financed by Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Fiat, the owner of Ferrari, left to draw on the resources of major car manufacturers, Formula One could be forced back to an era when starting grids were composed mainly of small independent teams, without the finances to develop the high-technology engines and aerodynamics that are at the sport’s core.
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2009-09-17T09:08:00.001-04:00

CBS Sports will stream entire SEC football schedule online

by Andrea Adelson on Sep 16, 2009 9:15:00 PM
orlando sports blog

CBS Sports will stream its entire 2009 SEC college football schedule live on CBSSports.com and CBS Sports Mobile, starting with Saturday’s game between No. 1 UF and Tennessee.

The games will be available on CBSSports.com for free and allow viewers the ability to access a scoreboard feature with in-game statistics as well as track college football scores and standings from around the country.

CBS Sports Mobile will offer an application for the iPhone and iPod touch called the CBS Sports: College application, which will provide users in-game box scores and player stats, a college football scoreboard, polls, headlines and standings. CBS Sports: College application is now available for $9.99 from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch.

A total of 15 SEC games will be streamed live on CBSSports.com and CBS Sports Mobile, including the SEC championship game. Additionally, The Army-Navy game, the Gator Bowl and Sun Bowl will be streamed live on CBSSports.com and CBS Sports Mobile.

2009-09-16T22:11:00.001-04:00

915 Colorado Rockies +115
J. De La Rosa

UCLA suspends 4 for Kansas State game

2009-09-16T21:09:00.000-04:00

LOS ANGELES (AP)—UCLA has suspended four football players for violating team rules, sidelining them for Saturday’s home game against Kansas State.

Starting cornerback Courtney Viney was suspended by coach Rick Neuheisel along with running back Milton Knox and receivers Morrell Presley and Randall Carroll. The school didn’t specify the nature of the rule violations.

The players will be allowed to practice during the suspension.

UCLA (2-0) didn’t specify the punishment’s length.

2009-09-16T17:54:00.000-04:00

Chargers ponder injury course
Hardwick is likely to miss home opener
By Kevin Acee
Union-Tribune Staff Writer

6:39 p.m. September 15, 2009

SAN DIEGO – The injury-free version of the Chargers lasted a little more than 30 minutes of the 2009 season, and now they'll hope that depth they're always bragging on keeps coming through.

“There's all kinds of things going through my mind,” General Manager A.J. Smith said. “That was a tough, physical game We got whooped upside down physically. We're just trying to make our way through some of these things for the big picture.”

Center Nick Hardwick's ankle and right guard Louis Vasquez's knee will keep the players from practicing at least one day this week, and Hardwick appears the most likely among the wounded to miss Sunday's home opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I'm doing better than I expected today, actually,” Hardwick told host Darren Smith during his weekly appearance on XX Sports Radio.

But Hardwick left Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on crutches after Monday night's 24-20 victory, and he remained in a protective boot Tuesday.

Scott Mruczkowski, who initially replaced Vasquez, moved over to deliver his first snaps in a real game at center after Hardwick went down and played well. And Brandyn Dombrowski, playing in his first NFL game, filled in adequately at guard after Mruczkowski slid to center.

Whether the Chargers are able to find some help for the interior of their offensive line or hope and pray Hardwick and/or Vasquez get better quickly or attempt to use some bailing wire and hay and go with the Replacement-owskis remains to be seen.

A.J. Smith and his circle of decision-makers met Tuesday to determine, as the GM put it, “What can we do to be comfortable, what can we do to put us in position to help us, short-term and long-term.”

On the defensive line, Jamal Williams and Luis Castillo suffered elbow injuries and are expected to miss practice time and possibly more.

And then there is the man whose injuries are an almost constant topic of late.

LaDainian Tomlinson could well miss Sunday's home opener after suffering a sprained ankle.

While head coach Norv Turner said it is premature to speculate on Tomlinson's availability, he acknowledged that there is a “backup plan” in place with Michael Bennett having been retained for just such a circumstance.

“We don't have to play him like we did a year ago when his toe was bothering him,” Turner said of Tomlinson. “That's why Michael is here.”

Tomlinson rolled his ankle on a play near the end of the first quarter wherein he took a shovel pass and then fumbled after a 1-yard gain, his first fumble in 987 regular-season touches.

Tomlinson carried 10 times after that, including runs for 11 and 13 yards in the third quarter. But his ankle was “tight” enough late in the fourth quarter that he was not on the field for the Chargers' winning drive.

When the topic of his recent injury history was broached, Tomlinson said, “You play the game. That's all you can do.”

For now, the Chargers will cling to the fact that they have a few days to let people heal and make decisions on their direction. And they will continue to believe in some promising young players.

“It is a concern,” Turner said of the injuries. “But the exciting thing to me is I can't say enough about what Mooch did at center, what Brandyn Dombrowski did at right guard. To go in and do the things he did, that's tough. And we played a lot of guys in the defensive line. We played guys – a couple guys, I should say – that got their first NFL action ever because of our situation.

“We are fortunate to have depth. Some of it is very, very young depth, and they're going to learn as they go through it.”

Wednesday MLB PLAYS

2009-09-16T15:45:00.001-04:00

919 Kansas City Royals +164
L. Dinardo
926 Boston Red Sox +110
P. Byrd

2009-09-16T00:00:00.001-04:00

3-1 for +3.36 in MLB Tuesday all Dogs

Tuesday MLB PLAYS 9/15

2009-09-15T18:48:00.002-04:00

970 New York Yankees +113
S. MITRE
967 Kansas City Royals +156
R. Tejeda
975 Oakland Athletics +165
ED. Gonzalez
974 Boston Red Sox +115
D. Matsuzaka

NFL 2ND HALF PLAY

2009-09-14T23:50:00.000-04:00

482 Oakland Raiders +7 -120

NFL 2ND HALF PLAY

2009-09-14T20:35:00.001-04:00

479 Buffalo Bills +9.5 -105

MLB PLAYS 9/14

2009-09-14T18:55:00.002-04:00

901 Houston Astros -118
W. Rodriguez
905 Florida Marlins +104
R. Nolasco
907 Arizona D-Backs +144
B. Buckner
916 New York Yankees -119
J. Chamberlain

2009-09-14T11:37:00.000-04:00

Worst News for Some N.F.L. Teams: Week 1 Counts

By JUDY BATTISTA
NY TIMES

Trying to reassure yourself that it’s just one game and that what happens in the first week of the N.F.L. season won’t matter in the end? Sorry, but it does.

Since 1978, when the league went to a 16-game season (and not counting the strike-shortened 1987 season), the teams that won on the first weekend of the season were more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than the losers. With that sobering thought in mind, here’s a look at what we saw on the first Sunday:

WHO MISSED THE MEMO ON SCORING? Sure, New Orleans, Baltimore and Philadelphia went crazy, racking up 121 points combined, but there were just six games with at least 40 total points. Last season, the first weekend featured nine such games.

On Sunday, the Broncos beat the Bengals, 12-7, on an Immaculate Reception-type catch by Brandon Stokley. (Paging Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco, the season has started.) The Colts beat the Jaguars, 14-12; the Falcons beat the Dolphins, 19-7; and going back to Thursday, the Steelers beat the Titans, 13-10. Even the Cowboys, who finished with 34 points, started slowly before exploding in the second half.

One thing to blame is ragged play by starters who did not play much in the preseason. The worst news of all is that the proposal to go to an 18-game regular season will probably limit even further how much game-speed action starters will get in the preseason, making for more uneven performances to come.

TROUBLE IN CAROLINA The Carolina Panthers have a big, big problem with quarterback Jake Delhomme. Delhomme was in playoff form Sunday, and that’s not a compliment. In the 38-10 loss to the Eagles, he threw four interceptions and lost a fumble before he was mercifully pulled from the game with an astonishing 14.7 quarterback rating.

The Panthers inexplicably gave Delhomme, a wonderful locker-room presence and all-around nice guy, a contract extension last off-season, despite his meltdown in the playoff game against Arizona (five interceptions and a fumble). The deal included $20 million guaranteed, and it’s very difficult to bench a player with so much money committed to him. But in his last seven quarters, Delhomme has had 11 turnovers, including nine interceptions in 51 pass attempts.

Delhomme’s confidence seems permanently shattered, and Carolina’s playoff hopes in the parity-filled National Football Conference South may crumble with it. Coach John Fox said that he did not think last season’s playoff game mattered and that he would start Delhomme next week at Atlanta. He doesn’t have much choice.

After Delhomme came out, his backup Josh McCown went in and promptly sustained a leg injury that caused him to be carted into the locker room. General Manager Marty Hurney may be answering all season why he miscalculated about the quarterback unless he swings a trade or signs an available quarterback (Jeff Garcia, anyone?) soon.

REMEMBER LAST YEAR It turns out that Serena Williams’s implosion Saturday night at the United States Open was a very bad omen for the Miami Dolphins, the team she just bought a share of. Unlike Williams, the Dolphins did not threaten anybody’s well-being Sunday, which, of course, is the whole point of football. All the things the Dolphins did right last season to engineer one of the greatest turnarounds in league history went wrong Sunday in a loss to the Falcons.

Last year, they tied an N.F.L. record with just 13 turnovers. On Sunday, they had four, including two by quarterback Chad Pennington. Last year, the franchise left tackle Jake Long yielded just two and a half sacks. In four quarters Sunday, Long — who had struggled in limited action during the preseason — gave up two sacks.

And the Wildcat, the flavor-of-the-month offense the Dolphins hoped to expand with the rookie quarterback Pat White, went nowhere. Perhaps that is an indication that with the element of surprise gone, it is about to become just like any other offensive play: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

This is what happens to teams after Cinderella seasons: they get tougher schedules (the Dolphins have one of the toughest in the N.F.L. this year) and they get studied. Every defensive coordinator pored over tape of the Wildcat this off-season, anticipating — correctly — that more teams would incorporate it.

And they did not just limit their viewing to the relatively rudimentary Wildcat plays the Dolphins ran last season. They dug deep into college film. Not good news for the Dolphins. Next up are Indianapolis and San Diego, so an 0-3 start is entirely plausible. Even before the Patriots play a down, you can feel the balance of power in the American Football Conference East shifting back to Foxborough.

WAITING FOR VICK T-minus two weeks until the quarterback controversy is in full flower in Philadelphia. That’s when Michael Vick is eligible to play again, and it doesn’t help that Donovan McNabb, who did not exactly light it up, going 10 of 18 for 79 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception (the Eagles got touchdowns on a punt return and a fumble return), fractured a rib while rushing for a touchdown. The Eagles will update his condition Monday for next week’s game against the Saints, but even if he doesn’t miss time, rib injuries tend to linger.

Still, with Vick in the wings, McNabb will certainly force himself to play, even if he’s impaired. Whether or not they want to admit it, the Eagles opened this can of worms when they acquired Vick, especially because they have acknowledged that they want Vick to prepare to be a quarterback, not just someone to run Wildcat plays. They never thought they’d have to deal with a controversy after Week 1, though.
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2009-09-14T08:16:00.001-04:00

Sep. 14, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SPORTS BETTING: Cutler's move leads to two losers

A bitter divorce between the Denver Broncos and young quarterback Jay Cutler made both sides look bad over the summer. The Broncos traded away their future, and were expected to suffer for it, and Cutler was portrayed as a crybaby.

The betting public followed the story and saw two losers.

On the first Sunday of the NFL's roller-coaster ride, wagering was heavy against Cutler's former team and his new team, the Chicago Bears. The decision was split.

At the end of the day, after throwing four interceptions in his Bears debut at Green Bay, Cutler probably wanted to cry. He was the biggest loser.

Earlier, the Broncos won as road underdogs, hurting the betting public on a day when the sports books otherwise took a beating.

"The players got the best of it today," Las Vegas Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said.

There was one big exception, and it was the Broncos, who stunned the Cincinnati Bengals 12-7 on Brandon Stokley's fluke 87-yard touchdown reception with 11 seconds remaining.

The Bengals closed as 5-point favorites at some sports books, after bettors drove the line up about two points in the past two weeks. The point-spread decision was not in doubt, but Stokley's catch off a deflected pass made Denver one of only three underdogs to win outright in Week 1.

Kornegay said even the wiseguys wanted no action on the Broncos.

"It was all Bengals money. I think the little money that came in on the Broncos was from people wearing orange and blue," Kornegay said. "The only things you heard out of Denver were negative. There was nothing positive. So I'm not sure why you would consider betting the Denver side."

Kornegay paused and said, "But the Bengals laying 41/2 points against anyone is inviting. They are so inept."

NFL betting might be 60 percent handicapping skill and 40 percent luck -- those percentages are up for debate -- and three games served as examples.

The Bears, who closed as high as 5-point underdogs, led 15-13 going into the final two minutes. But Packers bettors had their prayers answered as Aaron Rodgers fired a 50-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings with 1:11 left. Green Bay added a 2-point conversion and, after Cutler threw another interception, miraculously covered the spread with a 21-15 win at Lambeau Field.

The New York Giants, 61/2-point home favorites, appeared to be the winning side. But we were fooled again. Jason Campbell's 17-yard pass to Chris Cooley with 1:30 left got the Washington Redskins in the back door with a 23-17 loss.

Underdog bettors had to feel secure about the Kansas City Chiefs, who closed as 13-point 'dogs at Baltimore. A game that was tied with over two minutes to go turned into a 38-24 victory for the Ravens, and going into the details of how it ended would just further torture those who backed the Chiefs.

The Ravens were among eight favorites to cover, joining Atlanta, Dallas, Green Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Seattle.

"There were negative results," Kornegay said. "Even though we're going to end up losing, it's a good day for us because of all the people coming out."

A lot of those people bet on the Packers, and many of them will be on New England and San Diego tonight.

"The parlay liability is adding up," Kornegay said. "There definitely is going to be liability out there (today) on those two big favorites."

The Patriots are 11-point home favorites over the Buffalo Bills. The best bet, according to professional gambler Steve Fezzik, is to take the Bills under their regular-season win total.

"Buffalo under 71/2 wins is a great bet," Fezzik said. "The Bills look terrible. They just can't score at all."

Fezzik, who said, "I can't lay more than 10 points in the NFL," is tempted to lay 91/2 points with the Chargers at Oakland.

"I think San Diego is going to the Super Bowl. I think Oakland is going under six wins," Fezzik said. "There is no price I want Oakland at because the Chargers will kill them in this game. Even though it opened 61/2, the right side at 9 is still San Diego.

"If you can lay less than 10 with San Diego, go ahead and do it. The spot to bet the Raiders was Week 1 in the preseason, and that was the only spot."

With some luck, the favorites should cover tonight.
Reply With Quote

2009-09-13T19:20:00.001-04:00

477 Chicago Bears +5.5 -110

2009-09-13T18:15:00.003-04:00

The gambling public came back with a vengeance Sunday afternoon following a brutal two weeks in College Football. NFL results had the two most bet on teams come through for public sports bettors.

The biggest was the Minnesota Vikings, who had nearly 95 percent of the action in their game against Cleveland. By the 4th quarter, the Brett Favre-led Vikings were dismantling the Browns.

Dallas, which had the second heaviest betting action and 85 percent of the money coming in, also managed a win.

Online bookies did breathe a sigh of relief as a heavily bet on team failed to cover.

The Cincinnati Bengals managed to score in the final seconds of their low scoring game against Denver, but the Broncos came back to win. The Bengals were a -4 ½ favorite.

The Detroit Lions were keeping their game in New Orleans close within the -13 ½ to -14 spread with still plenty of time on the clock in the 4th quarter at press time. *Final 45-27

Philadelphia easily beat Carolina on the road and also received some decent betting action.

Houston got crushed by the Jets while Indianapolis failed to cover but won against Jacksonville. Both these teams were getting relatively even action in their respective matchups.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher

CFL 2nd Half Play

2009-09-13T17:47:00.002-04:00

449 Saskatchewan +3 +105

Delhomme throws 4 picks, fumbles

2009-09-13T17:16:00.001-04:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has been benched, and backup Josh McCown has been injured in a rout by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Delhomme was taken out after a miserable performance Sunday brought his total turnovers to 11 in the past two meaningful games. McCown limped off with a left knee injury in the fourth quarter after he was sacked by Darren Howard.
Third-string quarterback Matt Moore entered the game with the Panthers trailing 38-10.
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb also left in the third quarter with a rib injury.
Carolina's problems started with Delhomme, who threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in less than three quarters Sunday against Philadelphia. Carolina coach John Fox pulled him for McCown, who received a loud cheer from the crowd, after Delhomme's fourth pick.
Delhomme was 7 of 17 for 73 yards. His fumble was returned for a touchdown.
Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in Carolina's 33-13 playoff loss to Arizona in January. He received a five-year, $42.5 million contract extension in April that included $20 million in guaranteed money.

2009-09-13T17:06:00.000-04:00

Report: McNabb has broken rib

As folks in Philly celebrate their local NFL team's season-opening win with a mug full of suds, they might soon be crying in their beer.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a broken rib when he was hit in the end zone after scoring a touchdown in Sunday's 38-10 shellacking of the Carolina Panthers.
It's not yet known whether McNabb will miss any time, or whether he'll suck it up and play. (After all, it's not like he has swine flu or polio. Or lupus.)
If he can't go, Kevin Kolb will get the start next week, when the Saints come walking in loose single-file fashion to the Linc.
As of Week Three, Mike Vick can play. But Jay Glazer of FOX reported earlier today that Vick thinks he's "several weeks away" from being back into top form.

2009-09-13T14:21:00.002-04:00

MLB adding:

965 Los Angeles Dodgers -112
C. Billingsley
967 Milwaukee Brewers +151
C. Narveson
981 Chicago White Sox +140
M. Buehrle

2009-09-13T12:51:00.000-04:00

ADDING:

467 Detroit Lions +14-104

Sunday MLB Plays 9/13

2009-09-13T12:38:00.002-04:00

Early Games

973 Toronto Blue Jays +148
R. Romero
959 Atlanta Braves +160
J. Vazquez
970 Cleveland Indians -102
C. Carrasco

2009-09-13T12:37:00.001-04:00

Kansas City
QB
Matt Cassel
leg
OUT
is downgraded to OUT Sunday vs Baltimore.

NFL WEEK 1

2009-09-13T10:28:00.001-04:00

ADDING:

458 Carolina Panthers +3 -125

Las Vegas Hilton SUPERCONTEST breakdown

2009-09-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Looks like everyone in the contest is on the 49ers and Jaguars today.

Sf +6.5: 110
jax +7.5: 101
gb -3.5: 88
min -4: 78
cin -4.5: 77
was +6.5: 72
phi -1: 71
hou -4.5: 70
dal -6: 69
ne -11: 67
no -13: 58
car +1: 56
mia +4: 52
chi +3.5: 52
sd -9.5: 52
stl +8.5: 49
nyg -6.5: 42
bal -13: 41
nyj +4.5: 41
cle +4: 39
tb +6: 38
sea -8.5: 37
atl -4: 35
pit -6: 32
oak +9.5: 32
ten +6: 29
ari -6.5: 28
det +13: 26
buf +11: 26
kc +13: 25
den +4.5: 20
ind -7.5: 17

Week 1 Hilton Picks By Most Contestants

1
San Francisco +6.5
By 110

2
Jacksonville +7.5
By 100

3
Green Bay -3.5
By 88

4
Minnesota -4
By 78

5
Cincinnati -4.5
By 77

Week 1 Hilton Picks By Widest Margin

1
Jacksonville +7.5
By 83

2
San Francisco +6.5
By 82

3
Cincinnati -4.5
By 57

4
New England -11
By 41

5
Minnesota -4
By 39

MLB PLAYS 9/12

2009-09-12T12:15:00.003-04:00

901 Cincinnati Reds +175 WINNER
J. Cueto
906 St Louis Cardinals +105 LOSE
K. Lohse
919 Oakland Athletics +122 WINNER
B. Anderson

2-1 +1.97

NCAA FB PLAYS Saturday 9/12

2009-09-12T12:04:00.004-04:00

329 UCLA +11 -105 WINNER
340 Michigan +3 -105 WINNER
353 Air Force +3-110 LOSE
356 Washington State +3-105 LOSE
378 UNLV +7-110 WINNER

CFL 2nd Half Play

2009-09-11T20:32:00.000-04:00

443 Hamilton +1 -110

Friday Night MLB Plays 09/11

2009-09-11T19:07:00.003-04:00

MLB

961 Milwaukee Brewers +125
B. Looper
965 Los Angeles Dodgers +110
H. Kuroda
979 Chicago White Sox +122
G. Floyd

2009-09-10T23:58:00.000-04:00

2-0 on the Night . Cashing with Clemson +5.5 and Tennessee +6.5

NFL WEEK 1

2009-09-10T20:21:00.001-04:00

451 Tennessee Titans +6.5 -105

NCAA Football Play 9/10

2009-09-10T17:46:00.004-04:00

301 Clemson +5.5 -105

NFL WEEK 1

2009-09-09T17:46:00.002-04:00

Will be Adding Plays depending on line movement.

462 Cleveland Browns +4-105

2009-09-09T17:43:00.002-04:00

Adding: 958 Washington Nationals run line +1.5 +115
G. Mock

2009-09-09T16:17:00.000-04:00

Brady Quinn wins Cleveland Browns quarterback competition

by Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
Wednesday September 09, 2009, 2:55 PM

UPDATED: 3:25 p.m.

BEREA, Ohio -- Brady Quinn has won the quarterback competition and will start Sunday's game against the Vikings, a league source told The Plain Dealer today.

Browns coach Eric Mangini told the quarterbacks Tuesday night and Quinn took the first-team reps in practice Wednesday afternoon.

Quinn acted Wednesday as though he didn't know. "We're just out there continuing to battle with one another to get everything better for our team,'' he said.

The website profootballtalk.com reported that Buffalo wide receiver Terrell Owens has posted a congratulatory message to Quinn on his Twitter page.

Quinn went 1-2 in his three starts last season. Details to come.

Wednesday MLB PLAYS 09/09

2009-09-09T15:53:00.002-04:00

959 Florida Marlins -113
R. Nolasco
971 Tampa Bay Rays +136
J. Niemann
976 Kansas City Royals +174
R. Tejeda

2009-09-09T09:53:00.000-04:00

By Jeff Haney
LAS VEGAS SUN
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009

No one has bothered to establish a hall of fame for sports bettors.

Howard Schwartz wants to correct that oversight.

Schwartz, proprietor of the Gambler’s Book Shop in Las Vegas, is not so presumptuous that he would call himself the driving force behind the idea. Instead, he prefers the term “curious initiator.”

In that spirit, Schwartz informally introduced a list of 14 potential candidates for a sports betting hall of fame last week at a gathering of sports handicappers, poker players and other gambling figures at his store on East Tropicana Avenue.

Though the idea is still in its infancy, Schwartz envisions a sports betting hall of fame that would eventually have a physical location and perhaps an annual induction ceremony. It would honor the accomplishments of gamblers and others of influence in the sports betting business and serve as a resource for those interested in the history of gambling.

Inductees would fall into one of three categories: Bettors (self-explanatory); bet-takers, including bookmakers, oddsmakers and executives; and innovators, a catchall classification that could include politicians, publicists, talk-show hosts and the like.

Schwartz’s initial list was not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather to act as a starting point in the discussion of a sports betting hall of fame.

All are worthy candidates:

Lem Banker — The dean of Las Vegas sports bettors, Banker has been gambling high and hobnobbing with movers and shakers for more than a half-century.

Sen. Howard Cannon — In 1974, Cannon championed legislation that reduced the 10 percent federal tax on sports wagers to 2 percent (it was later cut to .25 percent, or one-quarter of 1 percent), paving the way for an explosion in popularity in Nevada sports betting.

Bill Dark — An innovative bookmaker in the early days of Las Vegas sports betting, Dark is credited with creating the over/under (total runs) bet in baseball wagering.

Gene Maday — At the helm of the old Little Caesars Sports Book on the Strip, Maday was famous for booking the biggest bets in town.

Art Manteris — A veteran gaming executive, Manteris helped usher in the modern era of sports betting in Nevada, where sports gamblers now collectively risk as much as $2.6 billion a year at the windows.

Bob Martin — The manager of the old Churchill Downs sports book in Las Vegas and later the Union Plaza sports book, Martin was the nation’s No. 1 oddsmaker in the 1960s and 1970s. His Las Vegas Sun obituary in 2001 stated that he was called “the most powerful man in football” because of his oddsmaking prowess.

Charles McNeil — A gambler and bookmaker who got his start in Chicago in the 1930s, McNeil is credited with developing and popularizing the concept of the point spread.

Mort Olshan — In 1957 Olshan founded the national betting publication “The Gold Sheet,” dedicated to offering readers no-nonsense gambling advice and sports predictions.

Lee Pete — He’s now retired in Ohio, but in his prime Pete brought betting talk into the lives of millions of listeners throughout the West as the host of the Stardust Line radio show. “We reached 38 million people, and about half of them were bookies,” Pete, an inveterate wisecracker, told the Toledo Blade in 2007.

Sonny Reizner — The director of the old Castaways sports book from 1976 to 1987, Reizner popularized football handicapping contests, now a major part of the Las Vegas betting scene. In an era of less stringent regulation, Reizner gained fame for posting betting lines on the “Dallas” TV show cliffhanger “Who shot J.R.?”

Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal — In his obituary last year, The New York Times wrote that Rosenthal established the prototype for the modern sports book at the Stardust in 1976, “with plush seating and myriad television screens, bringing a comfort and glamour to the kind of betting that had always been treated as a little bit sleazy.”

Michael “Roxy” Roxborough — The world’s most influential oddsmaker for much of the 1980s and 1990s, Roxborough issued an authoritative opinion on betting lines from his Las Vegas office.

Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder — Before his career came to an ignominious end, Snyder was a prominent booster of Las Vegas-style sports betting as an oddsmaker and, later, as a (sometimes) fearless forecaster on “The NFL Today” on CBS Sports.

Billy Walters — In the book “Gambling Wizards,” author Richard W. Munchkin wrote that Walters’ betting group, one of the first to harness the power of computer-assisted analysis in sports gambling, crushed bookies from coast to coast in the 1980s. Walters helped revolutionize football betting in the process.

2009-09-09T09:51:00.001-04:00

Ole Miss Players Battle Flu Symptoms

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Flulike symptoms continued to ravage members of the Mississippi football team, including quarterback Jevan Snead.

The athletic department said more than a dozen Rebels players were sick with flu symptoms, including fevers as high as 103 degrees. Tests to confirm the presence of swine flu take two weeks to complete, but officials were not taking any chances.

“From what we understand the standard protocol across the country is to treat all the symptoms as if they are swine flu,” said Shannon Singletary, the Ole Miss senior associate athletic director for sports medicine.

A university spokeswoman said 368 students reported flulike symptoms and a system that reports absences to faculty has reported twice as many students missing class over the last two weeks than is usual for a full month during the fall flu season.

Before its opening game last week against Stanford, Washington State reported 13 players with flulike symptoms.

At least 10 Wisconsin players also had flulike symptoms, and Coach Bret Bielema kept his players from attending a news media session to limit their exposure. Campus health officials said about 200 students sought medical attention the first week of school. Lab work showed the vast majority have H1N1 virus.

2009-09-09T09:50:00.000-04:00

Poker player loses it all after day in court

Wednesday, 09 September 2009 14:34 KM News
The Copenhagen Post

Earning a living from playing poker is illegal, even if online poker games are run outside Denmark, the Supreme Court rules

A 35-year-old unemployed man has been told by the Supreme Court to hand over 194,000 kroner he won playing online poker.

The court ruled that because the man had earned the money over the course of an entire year, and because it was his sole form of income, he had violated laws banning earning a living from gambling.

The court chose, however, to throw out a 5000 kroner fine the man had been given by the Eastern High Court when he was originally convicted in November due to uncertainty about whether online poker was covered by the law.

The man is the second person found guilty of the charge in recent months. In June, the Eastern High Court found a long-timer organiser of poker tournaments guilty of the same charge.

His sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court, but the court upheld laws banning poker tournaments.

That decision covered only poker tournaments. Online poker was not considered during the trial. The court grounded its decision to waive the fine on the uncertainty over rules governing internet poker.

In issuing its decision today, the court ruled that even though computer servers used to run the poker games are placed outside of Denmark, the individual computer used to play is located in the country and subject to Danish law.

An estimated 50,000 Danes play online poker, according to poker website pokernet.dk.

Lawyers for the state underscored that the decision does not outlaw online gambling.

‘We will decide on a case by case basis whether someone is playing professionally,’ Crown Prosecutor Svend Larsen said.

Tuesday MLB 09/08

2009-09-08T18:47:00.002-04:00

905 Florida Marlins -103
R. VandenHurk
922 Toronto Blue Jays -105
R. Romero
920 New York Yankees -138
C. Gaudin

CFB/CFL PLAY

2009-09-07T17:36:00.003-04:00

NCAAF

212 Florida State -5.5

CFL

407 Edmonton +7

CFB 2ND HALF PLAY

2009-09-07T17:34:00.002-04:00

209 Cincinnati +3

CFL 2nd Half Play

2009-09-06T17:30:00.000-04:00

Sask +0.5 -115

MLB Sunday 09/06

2009-09-06T12:40:00.002-04:00

902 New York Mets +135
M. Pelfrey
918 Cleveland Indians +122
D. Huff
923 Texas Rangers +101
D. Holland

MLB Play Friday 9/04

2009-09-04T16:54:00.002-04:00

919 NYY +104 J. Chamberlain

Bombers abandon Pacman plans

2009-09-02T22:45:00.001-04:00

THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won't be signing Adam (Pacman) Jones after all.

The team announced Wednesday it has ended its pursuit of the controversial ex-NFL cornerback, one day after a source told The Canadian Press that Jones had agreed to join the Bombers.

"It is unfortunate that this situation became public; however, our position has remained consistent," Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly said in a statement. "We will pursue athletes that we believe will contribute to our organization on and off the field.

"We have completed our assessment and due diligence and at this time we will not be pursuing the services of Adam Jones."

A league source requesting anonymity told The Canadian Press that Jones was having trouble crossing the border into Canada because of his past legal troubles, and that played a major part in the Bombers' decision

Jones is a former first-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans who has twice been suspended by the NFL for off-field incidents. He was released in February by the Dallas Cowboys.

Jones was suspended for the entire 2007 season after he pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct in connection to a shooting incident in Las Vegas. He was given a one-year suspended sentence for the charge.

The cornerback's time with the Cowboys was cut short last season for another behaviour-related suspension, an off-field scuffle with a member of the security detail provided by the team.

Before joining the Cowboys, Jones was arrested six times and involved in 12 instances requiring police intervention.

While the Blue Bombers ultimately opted to pass on Jones, CFL teams have often taken on a troubled former NFL star looking to resurrect or continue his career in Canada.

Ricky Williams spent the entire 2006 season with the Toronto Argonauts while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Former NFL first-round draft pick Lawrence Phillips -- who was sentenced 10 years in jail in 2008 for seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon -- spent time with Montreal and Calgary in 2002 and '03.

Receiver Andre (Bad Moon) Rison spent the '04 season with Toronto despite having been arrested several times for failing to pay child support.

2009-09-01T12:38:00.000-04:00

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick was hospitalized in good condition Tuesday after being shot in the arm during an apparent robbery attempt at an off-campus apartment complex.

Brad Fisher, a spokesman for DCH Regional Medical Center, said the 6-foot-4, 306-pound defensive end from Elizabethtown, Ky., was in a regular room and likely would be released within a day.

"It's not life threatening," said Fisher. The bullet missed vital areas, he said.

Police Chief Steve Anderson told the Tuscaloosa News the player suffered a gunshot wound to the forearm. The player was in an apartment parking lot about 10 p.m. Monday when he was approached by a man wearing dark clothes, a dark ball cap and a blue bandanna over his face, the chief said.

Deaderick did not know the man, who pointed a gun and said "Give it up," Anderson said. When Deaderick refused, the assailant fired the gun, striking the player in the arm, the chief said. Police were searching for the shooter.

Deaderick started all 14 games last season as a junior. He made 36 tackles last season and was second on the team with four quarterback sacks

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/09/01/deaderick.ap/index.html?eref=si_topstories#ixzz0PsEWCSIo

2009-09-01T11:49:00.000-04:00

If controversial cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones is going to return to the NFL, it will be via the Canadian Football League. Jones agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers late Monday night and is expected to join the team as early as Wednesday.

"It'll be a good experience for me to get back in game shape and compete and play football, which I like to do," Jones told SI.com. "I'm real happy for the opportunity that's been given to me. Of course it's disappointing to me to not be playing in the NFL. But things happen and you have to adjust. "

The issue with Jones, who turns 26 on Sept. 30, has never been physical skills; it has been off-the-field incidents. He was suspended for the 2007 season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, and last year after being traded from Tennessee to Dallas he was suspended for four games following an altercation with a team-employed bodyguard.

Several NFL general managers said in the last week that Jones has the skill set to be a productive player, but one added: "He's already got 2 1/2 strikes against him, so he's just not worth the time."

John Murphy, the Blue Bombers' director of player personnel, understands that sentiment. But he says none of the NFL coaches or personnel people he has spoken with the last two weeks has called Jones a bad teammate or malingerer, and Jones has not had any run-ins with the law since 2007.

"If I was in the same position in the NFL I might have a lot more reservations," Murphy said. "But for me it's a win-win. I'm smart enough to know that if I'm looking for somebody who can be a playmaker for the second half of our season, there isn't a better football player who's not in the NFL, at 25 years old, who's ready to play football, is going to play with a chip on his shoulder, and is going to bring some fun and excitement to our team, our locker room, our city, and our league.

"And at the same time it's a business decision as well as football decision. From a marketing standpoint, a business standpoint and a football standpoint, I could go to 100 NFL training camps and every preseason game and more people will hear and know about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the next two weeks -- from the coverage we'll receive -- than in the last 10 years."

Financial terms were not immediately available, but they were good enough for Jones to pass up a contract offer from the fledgling United Football League. The deal with the Blue Bombers came together over the last two weeks, according to Jones' representatives, Jason Fletcher and Warrick Robinson. Fletcher said money was only one factor in the decision to sign with Winnipeg. Others included opportunities to play in 10 games versus six in the UFL, to be in an established league versus one that is just starting up, and to play offense and special teams as well as defense.

Another key factor: The CFL could offer him quicker return to the NFL.

UFL players are prohibited from jumping to the NFL prior to Dec. 1, but CFL players can depart earlier if granted a release from their contract. Murphy said Jones has led him to believe that he wants to play the remainder of the season, which ends Nov. 8 (Nov. 29 for the playoffs). But he added: "Nothing is written in stone."

Fletcher and Robinson said there are no restrictions on Jones returning to the NFL this season. "He's eligible now, meaning today's date, to sign or play with an NFL team. He's in good standing with the NFL office. There's nothing pending, no restrictions." The NFL office confirmed that Jones is good standing.

Jones struggled at times last season after returning from the one-year suspension, but says he has dropped 8-10 pounds and is back to his playing weight from 2006, when he played at an elite level in his second season with the Titans. He has been working out in his hometown of Atlanta in preparation of an eventual signing with an NFL club -- if not now, then later in the year.

"All of the NFL teams I'm talking to told me they will be monitoring his progress every week, in games and in practice," Fletcher says. "They said once he shows that the physical ability has not eroded, and once he shows that he can keep clean, he'll get another shot, without a doubt."

For now, that shot will begin with the CFL.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/09/01/trotter.pacman.canada1/index.html#ixzz0PrxTzFLS

2009-09-01T11:11:00.000-04:00

Leagues' suit is moot, Delaware judge says

By CRIS BARRISH
The News Journal

Following a federal appeals court order that limits Delaware’s sports betting plans to multigame wagers on pro football, Delaware’s chief federal judge has closed a lawsuit brought by America’s sports leagues against the state.

The two-paragraph order by Gregory M. Sleet of U.S. District Court, issued late Monday, noted the opinion of the appeals court and dismissed the lawsuit that charged that Delaware’s plans violated federal law.

Delaware had sought to expand gambling beyond the National Football League parlay bets it briefly offered in 1976 under an exemption to a 1992 federal ban on sports betting. Specifically, the state wanted to offer single-game bets and wagers on college and other pro sports.

A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia ruled, however, that Delaware could not expand and that no lower court trial was needed.

Gov. Jack Markell’s office said today it has 14 days to appeal to the full 12-judge appeals court, and was reviewing its options.

Delaware’s racetrack casinos are permitted to offer bets on a minimum of three NFL games using a point spread -- the amount by which one team is favored to win.

Delaware Park and Dover Downs said they will open their sports books on Sept. 10 -- opening night for the NFL. Harrington Raceway’s Midway Slots has not publicly revealed its plans.
Reply With Quote

2009-08-31T10:27:00.000-04:00

As in hoops case, U-M investigates

FREE PRESS STAFF REPORTS

When athletic director Bill Martin said Sunday that Michigan would investigate the allegations of NCAA rules violations by the football team, the announcement had the ominous tones of a bad, old script for U-M fans.

He noted that the university had contacted the NCAA and Big Ten, telling them that U-M would launch a full investigation. He noted that the university believed it complied with all NCAA requirements.

A decade ago, Michigan took a similar path in response to a Free Press report that said basketball booster Ed Martin had provided large sums of money and loans to star players, including Chris Webber, Robert Traylor and Maurice Taylor. The scandal cost coach Steve Fisher his job and saddled the program with crippling major violations and led to a federal criminal investigation of how Martin, who ran gambling operations at Detroit area Ford plants, supplied money to the players.

U-M took the lead to investigate itself during the scandal, as the NCAA prefers to do when rules violations are alleged. U-M hired an outside law firm to assist in the probe and worked alongside Big Ten officials and the NCAA as the lengthy inquiry unfolded.

Now the focus is on the storied football program, which has the most victories in NCAA history. The program never has been found guilty of a major NCAA violation.

In a story published Saturday night on Freep.com and in Sunday’s editions, the Free Press reported that numerous players had told the paper that the football team routinely violated NCAA rules that govern off-season workouts, in-season practices and summer scrimmages.

The Free Press interviewed 10 current or former players and the parents of four others. In separate interviews, five players gave almost identical accounts of how the program is run, and a sixth player confirmed most of the descriptions. Several players declined to be interviewed at length but did not dispute the allegations when asked specifically about them.

In addition, the paper cited on-the-record comments about U-M’s time requirements. Senior defensive tackle Terrance Taylor talked in September 2008, the day after a game, about how Sundays had changed under Rodriguez.

“It was like 10 hours,” Taylor said. “Everybody was like, ‘Where are you at?’ ‘I was at practice all day.’ My parents were still here. They were like, ‘Where you at?’ I was like, ‘I was at the building all day.’”

The NCAA allows just four hours of practice a day during the season.

The Free Press also interviewed two freshmen who, speaking on the record during a recent football media day, described daily and weekly commitments that would greatly surpass what the NCAA allows during off-season work.

Freshman linebacker Brandin Hawthorne of Pahokee, Fla., who enrolled in January, said of winter conditioning: “We’ll work out from, like, 8 to 10:30. We come back later, have one-on-ones, seven-on-sevens, a little passing. Then Ill go watch a little film.”

Receiver Je’Ron Stokes, who’s from Philadelphia and arrived on campus in June, said of summer workouts: “We do the weight room at least three times a week and seven-on-sevens and one-on-ones. Speed and agility on the other days. Every day we have something new to get ready for the season.’”

During off-seasons, the NCAA limits players to eight hours of football activities during the week.

Players who played for previous coach Lloyd Carr said he stayed within the NCAA limits.

Players from the 2008 and 2009 squads run by Rodriguez said the Wolverines were expected to spend two to three times more than the eight hours allowed for required workouts each week. Players are free to exceed the limit, but it must be truly voluntary. Several said players who failed to do all the strength and conditioning were forced to come back to finish or were punished with additional work. In addition, the players said members of Rodriguez’s quality-control staff often watched seven-on-seven off-season scrimmages, held at U-M’s football facilities.

NCAA rules allow only training staff — not quality-control staffers — to attend as a safety precaution. Quality-control staffers provide administrative and other support for the coaches but are not allowed to interact directly with players during games, practices or workouts. If the NCAA concludes that U-M willfully and repeatedly violated the rules, the NCAA could find the football program guilty of major violations for the first time in its history.

In recent years, the NCAA has penalized several schools for violating off-season workout rules or practice time limits. But most of those cases also involved other major violations or were secondary violations committed on a much smaller scale than the conditions players described at Michigan.

At San Diego State, the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions found in 2003 that an assistant coach had conducted improper mandatory workouts with offensive linemen over four summers, that attendance was kept, that at least one practice was videotaped, and that one year, coaches conducted impermissible athletic activities before spring practice. An assistant coach also violated rules by providing hats and T-shirts to the offensive linemen. The NCAA characterized the violations as major, because the violations were not isolated or inadvertent. San Diego State self-imposed the following penalties: the forfeiture of six scholarships total over the course of three years, the loss of 21 practice days over a three-year period, a reduction in off-campus recruiting and individual penalties for the assistant coach in question. The Committee on Infractions added two years of probation.

Chuck Wynne, director of Communications Strategy for the NCAA, said the time limits went to a central tenet of the NCAA — protecting the well-being of student-athletes.

Wynne was commenting generally, not about the specifics of the U-M players’ accounts. Former coaches at other schools, also speaking generally, said the rules were important and, they believed, widely followed.

“All the rules are pretty clear,” said former Baylor coach Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association since 1994. “Rules are rules. Some carry greater penalties than others. The rules are to be adhered to, period. You’re not partially married. You’re either married or you’re not married. …

“If you’re my neighbor, and I see you’re breaking the rules, my responsibility if I want to criticize you for breaking the rule is turn you in. It’s not to turn around and start breaking the rule because you are doing it.”

Teaff said most of these rules were instituted in the last 20 years for the health and safety of players.
Reply With Quote

Sunday Night MLB

2009-08-30T19:44:00.000-04:00

955 Atlanta Braves +117
J Jurrjens

NFL

2009-08-30T16:41:00.000-04:00

Chicago
Cutler and the rest of the first team will play into the third quarter.

Denver
Starters will play into the 2nd half. QB's Kyle Orton and Tom Brandstater will split time.

MLB Sunday 08/30

2009-08-30T12:51:00.002-04:00

959 Washington Nationals +286
G. Mock
963 Colorado Rockies +124
J. Hammel
969 Tampa Bay Rays +151
J. Niemann
972 Boston Red Sox +127
P BYRD

Lotto shakeup looms

2009-08-30T12:42:00.002-04:00

It is about time for anyone who plays in Ontario
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/688234
Direct link to story above with comments.

OLG boss in crosshairs as Liberals scramble to pre-empt new onslaught on error-prone agency

Aug 29, 2009 04:30 AM
Rob Ferguson
Robert Benzie
Queen's Park Bureau

The Liberal government is set to clear house at the troubled Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in a mad scramble to pre-empt another eHealth-style spending scandal, the Star has learned.

Three informed sources said OLG chief executive Kelly McDougald is fighting for her $400,000-a-year job, which she got two years ago with a mandate to reform the error-prone monopoly that oversees everything from casinos to the popular Lotto 6/49.

Sources said late yesterday that the Liberals hope to short-circuit an expected onslaught from the Progressive Conservatives when the Legislature returns Sept. 14 and are concerned about the impact of any new controversy on the Sept. 17 by-election in the mid-town Toronto riding of St. Paul's.

"Something big is up," a senior government official confirmed.

"By next week, OLG will look much different. And by the time this is over, they'll be forced to clean up their act."

McDougald has already been reprimanded by the Liberals for a series of problems at the gambling agency – including awarding foreign-made Mercedes-Benz cars as casino prizes at the same time as the province was bailing out General Motors and Chrysler.

An audit last winter also found:

A Good Samaritan treated shabbily when he tried to turn in a cache of lost tickets;

A malfunctioning slot machine erroneously informing a player he'd won $42.9 million when the maximum payout was $9,025;

A misprinted scratch-and-win ticket that led a man to believe he had won $135,000 when he hadn't.

But the straw that broke the camel's back appears to be Liberal fears of a reprise of the eHealth Ontario debacle at OLG.

The Tories, repeating their successful strategy that exposed spending run amok at the electronic health records agency, are seeking thousands of pages in OLG documents under freedom of information legislation.

Records sought include expense accounts of senior executives, spending on leased, owned and rented venues, such as luxury boxes at sports stadiums, contracts for consultants as well as travel costs.

So far, the Tories have been stonewalled in their request for information as the Liberals try to beat them to the punch by taking pre-emptive action.

"The concern is she's been running OLG like it's a private-sector company when it's a government agency," said one Liberal insider.

McDougald was not in her office yesterday afternoon and did not return emails and calls from the Star.

She was put in the top job after previous troubles at the Crown agency, where it was found that lottery retailers, employees and their families won $198 million in prizes over 13 years, dating from 1996.

"Any CEO that's running a large organization under public scrutiny certainly feels under the gun," McDougald, a former Bell Canada and Nortel executive, told the Star in March.

OLG officials were also unavailable for comment yesterday.

The Liberals were reluctant to talk on the record because negotiations on the future of the OLG executive team are expected to continue through the weekend and into next week.

Premier Dalton McGuinty issued warnings to government agencies like OLG in the wake of the eHealth scandal – which saw consultants paid $2,700 a day while expensing $3.99 bags of cookies to taxpayers – that such spending no longer passes the sniff test and must stop.

Tory MPP Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka) said the party has been trying since January to glimpse the inner workings of OLG.

"So far, we've been getting rebuffed. It certainly looks a lot like eHealth because with that we had to be very persistent – it wasn't just ask once and get the information. It certainly makes us suspicious."

Miller said the Tories targeted OLG because the organization "has had quite a few problems."

He added that voters would likely see through any OLG shake-up that seemed to be politically motivated.

The eHealth scandal continues to dog the Liberals, who are watching the issue resurface in the St. Paul's by-election.

Sunday MLB Rest/Injury Info

2009-08-30T11:42:00.003-04:00

Sea
OF
Ichiro Suzuki
calf
"?"
is "?" Sunday vs Kansas City.

Cubs
LF
Alfonso Soriano
knee
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs NY Mets.

Bos
LF
Jason Bay
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Toronto.

Tor
3B
Marco Scutaro
head
Probable
missed last game, is upgraded to expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Boston.

Cards
RF
Ryan Ludwick
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Washington.

NYY
RF
Nick Swisher
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Chicago White Sox.

CWS
1B
Paul Konerko
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs NY Yankees.

Players listed as Doubtful
08/30
RF
Alex Rios
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs NY Yankees.

S.F.
C
Bengie Molina
quad
Doubtful
missed last few games, is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Colorado.

Mil
CF
Mike Cameron
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Pittsburgh.

LAD
LF
Manny Ramirez
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Cincinnati.

S.D.
1B
Adrian Gonzalez
arm
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Florida.

2009-08-30T11:29:00.001-04:00

Scott Kazmir is just what Angels needed
The deal for the left-hander probably means an end to Lackey's career with the Angels after this season

By Bill Shaikin

August 29, 2009

The Angels all but bid farewell to John Lackey on Friday, with neither sadness nor anger. They enhanced the chance that his last season here might end just like his first season, with the World Series, and there is no sorrow in that.

The Angels do not traffic in sentiment. They got better for today with him, and for tomorrow without him.

You might like Scott Kazmir in September, for he is not Trevor Bell, a good kid here two years two soon.

You might love Kazmir in October, for he has twice beaten the Boston Red Sox this season, both times at Fenway Park. In the Angels' last 14 postseason games against Boston, their starters have zero victories.

And you might be delighted in the winter, if some team signs Lackey for twice what the Angels will pay Kazmir, and if the Angels use the difference to bring back Bobby Abreu and Chone Figgins.

"We look at this opportunity as a fit for us not only in the short term but in the long term," General Manager Tony Reagins said.

The Angels made a terrific trade in both respects, acquiring Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays for three prospects, most notably left-hander Alex Torres.

"I'm excited about it," Lackey said. "We had a pressing need. It's fun to play for an organization that makes things happen to help the team."

The Angels can't hit their way to a ring. They outscored all comers in 2002, but with a far better bullpen than they have now. Kazmir, a two-time All-Star with a dynamic fastball, fits nicely into an uncertain rotation.

Lackey appears solid. Jered Weaver could match his career high in innings pitched tonight, with a month left in the regular season. Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders, who knows?

That middle reliever the Angels so desperately need? They just got him, at least for October, in the person of whichever starter does not make playoff rotation.

The Angels rushed the kids -- Bell, Anthony Ortega, Sean O'Sullivan -- with poor results.

Torres might end up better than all of them. When Manny Ramirez took his rehabilitation road show to the California League in June, Torres struck him out twice. When the Angels asked about Heath Bell in July, the San Diego Padres asked about Torres.

But he's in double-A now, at 21. Kazmir was in the majors by then. He's 25 now, endorsed by and reunited with his old Tampa Bay pitching coach, Mike Butcher.

"He's still in the prime of his career," Reagins said. "We think he's going to improve."

Kazmir had the best strikeout ratio in the American League from 2005 to 2008, with an earned-run average that started with 3 every year.

That ERA starts with 5 now. His velocity has been inconsistent and his strikeouts down, two caution flags. Yet he struck out 10 in his last start, with a fastball that Reagins said hit 95 mph.

The Angels have scouted Kazmir for two months. They say he'll be fine. If he is, the Angels have a bargain, at $8 million next season and $12 million in 2011, with a club option at $13.5 million for 2012.

If Lackey would have taken that kind of money, the Angels would have signed him already. No hard feelings. He earned his chance to try free agency.

But he is at the top of an otherwise dreadful class of free-agent pitchers, one in which the Angels no longer need to worry about shopping. They have Kazmir, Weaver, Saunders and Santana all under control through at least 2011, eradicating any perceived need to overpay for the likes of Jarrod Washburn or Jason Marquis.

We prodded the Angels to pursue Paul Byrd earlier this season, to alleviate the burden from the young and the injured. The Angels preached patience, got to first place with what they had, and now they have acquired not a stopgap but a potential stopper.

Kazmir's future is not guaranteed. He has had elbow and shoulder trouble in the past, and the Angels are on the hook for $22.5 million, including a buyout of the option year. For a major-market team, it's a risk worth taking.

Lackey's future is not guaranteed either. Amid the excitement in the Angels' clubhouse, Lackey said he still could imagine a future in Anaheim.

"I'm not worried at all," he said. "There's plenty of money here, if they want to spend it."

MLB SATURDAY PLAYS 08/29

2009-08-29T15:45:00.002-04:00

901 Houston Astros +121
B. Norris
922 Baltimore Orioles -101
C. Tillman
926 Minnesota Twins +102
C. Pavano

CFL 2nd Half Play

2009-08-28T21:09:00.000-04:00

Argos +4.5

NFL X INFO

2009-08-27T13:58:00.003-04:00

Jax update

The entire starting linebacker corps – Clint Ingram, Daryl Smith and Justin Durant – isn’t expected to play tonight, and it’s likely most of the club’s frontline players will see little, if any, action against the Eagles.

Philly

QB Donovan McNabb and the starters are expected to play 3 quarters. Kevin Kolb is scheduled to play the 4th quarter.
RB
Brian Westbrook
ankle
Probable
is probable Thursday vs Jacksonville.
Players listed as Probable
QB
Michael Vick
none
Probable
is probable Thursday vs Jacksonville.
OG
Stacy Andrews
knee
Probable
is upgraded to probable Thursday vs Jacksonville.
Players listed as Doubtful
DE
Darren Howard
thigh
Doubtful
is doubtful Thursday vs Jacksonville.
FB
Leonard Weaver
knee
Doubtful
injured last game, is doubtful Thursday vs Jacksonville.
OG
Shawn Andrews
back
Doubtful
is doubtful Thursday vs Jacksonville.
Players listed as OUT
CB
Sheldon Brown
ribs
OUT
is OUT Thursday vs Jacksonville.
DL
Amon Gordon
achilles
OUT
IR.
TE
Cornelius Ingram
ACL
OUT
IR.
OG
Todd Herremans
foot
OUT
is expected to miss the entire pre-season.
LB
Stewart Bradley
ACL
OUT

Jax

WR
Mike Sims-Walker
knee
"?"
is "?" Thursday vs Philadelphia.
DE
Jeremy Mincey
thumb
"?"
injured last game, is "?" Thursday vs Philadelphia.
LB
Lamar Myles
ankle
"?"
left last game, is "?" Thursday vs Philadelphia.
Players listed as Doubtful
LB
Justin Durant
hip
Doubtful
is doubtful Thursday vs Philadelphia.
RB
Montell Owens
knee
Doubtful
is doubtful Thursday vs Philadelphia.
LB
Clint Ingram
concussion
Doubtful
left last game, is doubtful Thursday vs Philadelphia.

Rams

St Louis Head Coach Spagnuolo said he plans to keep his No. 1 units on the field at least through the first half. QB Kyle Boller will start and play the 1st half.

Rams

QB
Marc Bulger
finger
OUT
missed last game, is OUT Thursday vs Cincinnati.
Players listed as "?"
DT
Adam Carriker
ankle
"?"
is "?" Thursday vs Cincinnati.
Players listed as Doubtful
RB
Kenneth Darby
knee
Doubtful
is downgraded to doubtful Thursday vs Cincinnati.
DE
Leonard Little
Knee
Doubtful
is doubtful Thursday vs Cincinnati.
Players listed as OUT
G
Jacob Bell
concussion
OUT
is OUT Thursday vs Cincinnati.
WR
Brooks1 Foster
foot
OUT
is OUT 6-8 weeks.
WR
Donnie Avery
foot
OUT
is OUT 4-6 weeks.
CB
Eric Bassey
ACL
OUT
is out for the season.

Cinci

QB
Carson Palmer
ankle
OUT
missed last game, is downgraded to OUT Thursday vs St. Louis.
Players listed as Doubtful
DE
Antwan Odom
achilles
Doubtful
injured last game, is downgraded to doubtful Thursday vs St. Louis.
Players listed as OUT
TE
Ben Utecht
concussion
OUT
is expected to miss preseason.
CB
David Jones
foot
OUT
is expected to miss preseason.
WR
Antonio Chatman
ankle
OUT
is expected to miss preseason.
TE
Matthew Sherry
shoulder
OUT
is expected to miss preseason.
DL
Pernell1 Phillips
leg
OUT
is expected to miss preseason.
K
Shayne Graham
groin
OUT
is expected to miss preseason.
TE
Reggie Kelly
achilles
is out for the season.

Miami

Chad Pennington is expected to play into the 3rd quarter. Chad Henne will play into the 4th quarter.

T.B.

Byron Leftwich is expected to start and play approximately 1½ quarters. Luke McCown is expected to follow and play approximately 1½ quarters. Starters are expected to play three quarters.

MLB PLAY WEDNESDAY 08/26

2009-08-26T18:25:00.002-04:00

964 Colorado Rockies +128
J. Fogg

2009-08-26T18:22:00.001-04:00

Bally's reopens sports book

By ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The sports book at Bally's reopened today after a nearly five-months hiatus.

The book was closed in late March as a cost savings measure by owner Harrah's Entertainment with customers sent to Paris Las Vegas next door.

The book was reopened for the start of football season, the busiest time of the year for sports betting.

2009-08-26T11:48:00.001-04:00

Have taken a couple days off should be back tonight with Free Pick and Injury Info.

Sunday Night Baseball

2009-08-23T20:01:00.000-04:00

929 NYY Sabathia +119

More SUNDAY MLB INFO

2009-08-23T12:07:00.003-04:00

LA Dodgers
1B
J. Loney
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Chicago Cubs.

MLB: Game 915-916
LA Dodgers
2B
O. Hudson
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Chicago Cubs.

CWS
RF
Jermaine Dye
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Baltimore.

AZ
3B
Mark Reynolds
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Houston.

Houston
CF
Hunter Pence
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Arizona.

Reds
3B
Scott Rolen
head
Probable
15-day DL. (08/07), is expected to be activated off the DL and in the starting lineup Sunday vs Pittsburgh.

MLB SUNDAY PLAYS 08/23

2009-08-23T11:51:00.002-04:00

912 Colorado Rockies -111
U. Jimenez
919 LAA Angels +119
T. Bell
925 Minnesota Twins -103
C. Pavano
928 Oakland Athletics +119
B. Tomko

Sunday MLB Info

2009-08-23T11:04:00.004-04:00

Philly
2B
Chase Utley
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs NY Mets.

Mets
P
Oliver Perez
knee
Probable
is upgraded to expected to start Sunday vs Philadelphia.

Florida
1B
Jorge Cantu
neck
Probable
pinch-hit last game, is upgraded to expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Atlanta.

Wash
SS
Cristian Guzman
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Milwaukee.

S.F.
CF
Aaron Rowand
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Colorado.

Cleve
SS
Asdrubal Cabrera
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Seattle.

Balt
RF
Luke Scott
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Chicago White Sox.

RF
Jermaine Dye
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Baltimore.

AZ
3B
Mark Reynolds
rest
Doubtful
is not expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday vs Houston.

NFL X SATURDAY 08/22

2009-08-22T16:15:00.002-04:00

413 Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5-106
420 Green Bay Packers -3-114

MLB PLAYS SATURDAY 08/22

2009-08-22T16:12:00.002-04:00

953 Cincinnati Reds +136
J. Lehr
959 Florida Marlins +160
C. Volstad

NFL X Info

2009-08-22T12:23:00.008-04:00

Tampa Bay
QB Bryon Leftwich will start the game.

Jacksonville
Coach Jack Del Rio said that both lines will play about a half, and that QB David Garrard will play "a little longer" than last game. Del Rio said the rest of the players will play about the same as they did in the last game.

Pittsburgh
First Team Offense will play 15 snaps. (Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (achilles) is not expected to play).QB Charlie Batch will start followed by Dennis Dixon who is to play 2 quarters.

Washington
The Redskins' first-team offense could play early into the second quarter or until Coach Jim Zorn sees enough "production".

Carolina
The starters are slated to play the entire first half.

Miami
QB Chad Pennington is expected to start and the starters will play a quarter.

Detroit
Matthew Stafford will start at QB. Daunte Culpepper will likely enter the game in the second quarter, Drew Stanton in the second half.

Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills' first-team offense is expected to play into the second quarter.

Green Bay
Head Coach McCarthy said that the starters likely will play 20-25 plays.

New Orleans
Starters are expected to play into the 2nd quarter, QB Joey Harrington will bring in the second team midway in the 2nd quarter and play into the 3rd quarter with Mark Brunell finishing the game.

Houston
Starters will play for about 25 snaps on Saturday. "We'll up the ones," Kubiak said. "They'll basically play about a quarter-and-a-half of the game, then the twos will play about a quarter-and-a-half and then the threes will finish the game." The rotation will be Matt Schaub followed by Dan Orlovsky and then Alex Brink.

NY Giants
Starters are expected to play into the 2nd quarter

Chicago
Starters are expected to play into the 2nd quarter.

San Diego
Starters are expected to play most of the 1st half.

Arizona
Head Coach Whisenhunt said Warner and the rest of the starters will likely play most of the first half, Brian St. Pierre will be the second quarterback in, followed by Matt Leinart and Tyler Palko.

Oakland
QB JaMarcus Russell and the rest of the starters will play most or all of the first half. Jeff Garcia will make his Raiders debut against the 49ers in relief of Russell. Bruce Gradkowski is scheduled to relieve Garcia in the third quarter, with Charlie Frye taking over in the fourth quarter.

San Francisco
QB's Shaun Hill and Alex Smith are both expected to get around 15 snaps.

Denver
Starters expected to play into the 2nd quarter, Backup QB Chris Simms expected to play 2 quarters.

Seattle
First-unit offense and defense to play the first two quarters

NFL X 08/21

2009-08-21T17:17:00.001-04:00

410 St Louis Rams +3

MLB Friday Plays 08/21

2009-08-21T17:14:00.002-04:00

919 LAA Angels +118
S. O' Sullivan

2009-08-21T14:38:00.000-04:00

Betphoenix Account Holders:

Betphoenix web based services will be offline today from 3 PM est to 3.30 PM est.

We thank you in advance for your patience and consideration.

NFL X 08/20

2009-08-20T18:56:00.001-04:00

404 Indianapolis Colts +4-110

MLB Plays 08/20

2009-08-20T18:45:00.002-04:00

957 Atlanta Braves +112
K. Kawakami

968 Toronto Blue Jays +166
B. Cecil

969 Baltimore Orioles +1.5 +118
B. Matusz

2009-08-20T18:41:00.000-04:00

Kraft says Brady will play

Posted by Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff August 20, 2009 06:26 PM

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft stopped to chat following the team's Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Hall at Patriot Place, which was held prior to tonight''s home preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kraft, who correctly predicted that quarterback Tom Brady would start the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles last Thursday, told the Globe that Brady would play tonight in front of the home fans as well.

"They'll see him," said Kraft.

Brady did not take a lot of the snaps in the team's final practice open to the media prior to tonight's game, which was held on Tuesday afternoon. That day backup Kevin O'Connell got the majority of the snaps.

The last time the home fans saw Brady in a game at Gillette Stadium he was crumpled on the ground following the lunging hit of Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, a hit that ended Brady's 2008 season just 15 offensive snaps in.

2009-08-20T10:36:00.000-04:00

PLAXICO BURRESS PLEADS GUILTY

By LAURA ITALIANO and CLEMENTE LISI
NY POST

August 20, 2009 --
Here's one break Plaxico didn't catch.

In a stunning move, former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress pleaded guilty today to criminal possession of a weapon and agreed to spend 20 months behind bars.

The ex-Super Bowl hero shot himself in the thigh with his unregistered Glock last November at a Midtown nightclub.

He was indicted in Manhattan Supreme Court earlier this month on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment.

In what was supposed to be his arraignment this morning, Burress instead entered a guilty plea after making a deal with prosecutors.

Burress was at the Latin Quarter nightclub last Nov. 29 when an unlicensed gun tucked into his waistband slipped down his leg and fired, shooting him in the right thigh.

The Giants released Burress in April.

2009-08-20T10:28:00.001-04:00

Joe Torre says Dodgers sign RHP Vicente Padilla

By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Wednesday the
club signed free agent pitcher Vicente Padilla, two days after
the right-hander was released by Texas.

Torre said that Padilla will pitch Saturday at Triple-A
Albuquerque before joining the Dodgers and will make his first
scheduled start for his new team on Aug. 27 at Colorado.

The club later confirmed the 2002 All-Star signed a minor league
contract.

The Rangers put Padilla on unconditional waivers Monday after
being designated for assignment on Aug. 7. He cleared waivers
and became a free agent on Wednesday.

Padilla, who was the Rangers' No. 2 starter when the season
began, was 8-6 with a 4.92 ERA in 18 starts this season.
Originally acquired in December 2005 in a trade with
Philadelphia, Padilla was 43-34 with a 4.90 ERA over the last
four seasons with the Rangers.

The move suddenly made sense for Los Angeles after right-hander
Hiroki Kuroda was hit in the head by a line drive on Saturday in
Arizona. Kuroda went on the disabled list Wednesday as he
recovers from post-concussion symptoms.

If Kuroda hadn't gotten hurt, would the Dodgers have pursued
Padilla?

"That's a good question," Torre said. "I still think we probably
look to be better. We were talking about him before."

The Dodgers had also discussed John Smoltz, who was released by
Boston but the right-hander signed with St. Louis on Wednesday.

The Dodgers will owe Padilla a prorated portion of the minimum
salary for the rest of the season, which comes to about
$100,000. The Rangers must pay the remainder of Padilla's $12
million salary this season.

Padilla joins a staff that has just three healthy starters
remaining from the group that began the season. Chad Billingsley
returned to the rotation Tuesday after missing two starts with a
hamstring injury. Also healthy are Randy Wolf and Clayton
Kershaw, who started Wednesday night after displaying flu-like
symptoms a day earlier.

Padilla angered the Rangers earlier this season by throwing at
hitters, including two incidents involving former teammate Mark
Teixeira in a game on June 2. The next day he was put on waivers
in a move the team hoped would be a wake-up call. Padilla made
his next start on June 7. He hit Oakland's Kurt Suzuki, then was
designated for assignment two days later.

"If he did that on a regular basis on purpose, that's not
something that we do," Torre said. "If someone pitches inside
and as a result, somebody gets hit that's a different story."

In going back to the National League, Padilla will have to bat,
which could make him a target for retaliation, something he
didn't have to face in the American League with the designated
hitter.

Padilla played with Arizona in 1999-2000.

The 31-year-old from Nicaragua had a reputation for distancing
himself in the Texas clubhouse and not having a positive
attitude. Torre said he isn't worried about the possibility of
Padilla messing up the Dodgers' feel-good clubhouse chemistry.

"If he can help us win ballgames, if there's any issues that
come up that are in contradiction to that, then we deal with it.
Until that time, he's going to have a clean slate here," the
manager said.

"I don't think it's a risk. As a team, we're far enough along if
somebody is a bad influence, I don't think that's going to
affect other people."

Manny Ramirez was ready to welcome Padilla upon hearing the
news, even though he said he didn't know the pitcher.

"A pitcher that is going to go out there and protect his
players, I want that guy on my team," he said.

Asked about Padilla's portrayal as a bad teammate by Texas
management and some players, Ramirez said, "That's what they
said about me when I came to L.A. and they were wrong."

2009-08-20T10:26:00.000-04:00

Williams sisters to become Miami Dolphins part-owners

Wed Aug 18
BY DAVID J. NEAL
MiamiHerald.com

Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams will be announced next week as Miami Dolphins limited ownership partners, a person familiar with the deal said.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross indicated Monday that three limited partners would be announced next Tuesday and at least one would be African-American. Ross also has said he wants the ownership group to reflect South Florida's diversity. Ross has brought in Hispanic music personalities Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony as limited partners this summer.

The Williams sisters, who were raised in Compton, Calif., but live in Palm Beach Gardens, have won a combined 18 Grand Slam tennis titles and would be the Dolphins' first African-American ownership partners.

2009-08-19T22:06:00.002-04:00

High stakes: Delaware has much riding on sports betting

By A.J. Perez, USA TODAY
Aug 19, 2009

HARRINGTON, Del. — Moments after touring a construction site here last week, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell removed his hard hat and boasted he'd never placed a sports bet.

The muffled hum of machinery behind him seemed to say otherwise.

Harrington Raceway, a harness racing track at the state fairgrounds in rural Kent County, has about 75 workers hammering and painting nearly 24 hours a day in anticipation of Sept. 1 — the day Markell intends to have Delaware join Nevada as the only states offering virtually unlimited sports betting.

While officials of Delaware's three horse-track-based casinos say they have spent a combined $12 million upgrading their facilities, the cash-strapped state government has racked up tens of thousands on outside lawyers to fight a fierce legal challenge by the major sports leagues and the NCAA.

"It will be a relief to see it up and running," says the governor, looking cool in a dark gray suit as the midday sun beat down.

After reworking a bill initially opposed by the casinos, pushing it through both houses of the legislature and selecting a vendor, Markell (Mar-KELL) faces one final — and formidable — hurdle: the federal courts.

A panel from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia will hear arguments Monday on the leagues' bid to halt Delaware's plan while their lawsuit against the state proceeds in U.S. District Court in Wilmington. A trial in that portion of the case has been set for December.

So, even if the appellate court allows sports betting to begin in Delaware as scheduled, just in time for major-college football's season openers, there is no certainty about how long it will last. Meanwhile, the preparations continue and the tension rises.

The track-casino owners have purchased several roadside billboards in Delaware, the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas and along the Atlantic City Expressway to try to attract potential traveling bettors.

Here, at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino and at Delaware Park, track-casino owners are hoping to attract a new type of bettor to offset the loss of customers to current and potential casinos and slot machine venues in neighboring Maryland and Pennsylvania.

At the state Capitol, officials are counting on new revenue to help alleviate a budget crisis that has resulted in a year-long hiring freeze and talk of layoffs.

And at the respective headquarters of the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NHL and the NCAA, the leagues are fearing what they see as a threat to their sports' integrity.

About a half-hour from Harrington Raceway, at Buffalo Wild Wings in Dover, Brady Campbell of Camden-Wyoming, Del., does not see how the sports leagues have a case.

"To me, it's no different from playing the lottery," says Campbell, 34, who sat in a booth with his family. "I can kind of see why they're concerned with people throwing games, but it's already legal in Nevada. What's the difference if another state allows it?"

Plenty, judging by how hard the leagues are fighting Delaware. Shortly after U.S. District Court Judge Gregory M. Sleet denied the leagues' request for a temporary injunction this month, the leagues filed a series of motions to the 3rd Circuit, including one requesting expedited handling of the case. Circuit Judge Theodore A. McKee granted that request Friday, setting the stage for Monday's hearing.

Markell, in his first year in office, has plenty at stake even if Delaware prevails.

"If the federal courts come in and say sports betting isn't allowed, that's an automatic excuse," says Joseph Pika, a professor and associate dean of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware. "If this thing goes through and the revenue falls short, that'd be a much bigger issue for the governor."

Slots to sports

Comparisons to Nevada, and Las Vegas in particular, seem far-fetched when it comes to gambling here. Delaware approved slot machines to supplement its flagging horse racing industry 15 years ago, and three of the state's racetracks built casinos, mostly catering to retirees.

The clientele at Dover Downs — the only Delaware casino with an attached hotel — is 60% female, and the average age of gamblers is 58, according to casino President and CEO Ed Sutor. He says surveys show sports gamblers in the mid-Atlantic region are 90% male and in their mid-30s — a demographic Delaware casinos have long sought.

"I think it's going (to bring in a younger crowd)," says Mark Boulden, 25, a Camden-Wyoming resident who works the front desk at Gold's Gym in Dover. "Sports betting is big on the East Coast. New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore are close. Now, they'll all be able to come in and place bets on the game, I think you'll see a lot of people in their 30s and 40s with established careers come in and bet. But as far as taking off like Vegas, I don't think so."

In Nevada, sports betting accounts for about 1.5% of overall gaming revenue, according to the 2008 Nevada Gaming Abstract. Indirectly, however, sports gambling provides Nevada's casinos with some of their biggest weekends as fans flock to the state for major events such as the Super Bowl and Final Four.

"It's standing room only for those events," says Bill Sattler, race and sports book director for Harrah's, the Flamingo and two other Las Vegas casinos. "The state of Nevada has a lot more to offer, and I'm not sure anybody can compete with us."

A projection by Delaware's Department of Finance said adding sports gambling — which includes the state taking a larger cut of slot machine revenue — would bring in an additional $53 million annually. That figure, however, was based on the state allowing only parlay wagers, in which a bettor must correctly pick the outcomes of multiple games to win.

Now that Delaware has decided to take single-game bets, the state could reap millions more.

But the addition of single-game betting has drawn the sports leagues' ire, particularly the NFL's.

The leagues argue that allowing bets on single games would violate the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Delaware — along with Nevada, Oregon and Montana — was grandfathered in under the 1992 law because it had a form of sports betting during the prior two decades.

Delaware had sports betting for one year (1976) but only took parlay bets on the NFL. Because of that, the leagues argue that Delaware should not be allowed to take single-game bets and bets on sports other than the NFL.

In a filing last week, the leagues argued they would suffer irreparable harm if Delaware was allowed to move forward Sept. 1. The way the public views pro and amateur sports in the USA and those sports' integrity would be jeopardized, their lawyers wrote.

Banking on betting

Not so, says Michael Barlow, the top lawyer in the governor's office. Brandywine Bookmaking, which runs 11 sports books in Nevada, was tapped to provide odds in the state.

Tom Cook, acting secretary of Delaware's Finance Department, says the state won't have to hire any additional employees, leaving enforcement of the sports bets to the existing two enforcement officers and four state troopers tasked with monitoring the three casinos.

With the addition of table games at least six months off, casino operators said there could be hard financial times ahead if the courts block sports betting.

"I hope there would be no layoffs. We've already had to cut 100 employees through attrition because of the economy," says Patricia Key, president of Harrington Raceway. "If that happens, we'd be at a break-even point, maybe even a loss."

And Sutor, whose company is publicly traded, would have to explain to stockholders why he spent $5 million to refurbish a restaurant with dozens of flat-screen televisions and betting boards.

"I think we'll go forward with sports betting in some form, even if it's only parlay betting," Sutor says. "If nothing else, we'll have an upgraded race book that might be able to lure in more horse bettors."

MLB Plays 08/19

2009-08-19T18:16:00.002-04:00

904 Pittsburgh Pirates +149
P. Maholm
906 Washington Nationals +143
C. Balester
921 Boston Red Sox +143
C. Buchholz

2009-08-19T09:43:00.003-04:00

Favre’s Return to NFL May Boost Vikings on and off the Field

By Erik Matuszewski

Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Brett Favre’s latest comeback may lift the Minnesota Vikings on and off the field.

The National Football League’s all-time leading passer and three-time Most Valuable Player yesterday agreed to join a team that last season boasted the league’s top-gaining running back and stingiest rush defense.

Favre’s arrival in Minneapolis has lowered the Vikings’ odds of winning the Super Bowl and his presence will boost sales of tickets and merchandise, said Rick Gentile, professor of sports management at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

“It’s a win for the NFL, it’s a win for the Vikings during the baseball season, it’s good for the Fox network, it’s good for all (television) rights holders,” Gentile, a former CBS Sports executive, said in a telephone interview. “That high could last all year if he has a good season.”

Favre’s return for a 19th season comes less than a month after he told Vikings coach Brad Childress that he’d stay retired and about three weeks before the team’s Sept. 13 regular-season opener in Cleveland.

While he missed all of training camp, Favre comes with quarterback records including 464 touchdown passes and 65,127 passing yards. ESPN said he signed a one-year contract worth $10-12 million.

‘Experience and Leadership’

“It really is a perfect fit,” Favre, who spent his first 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, said yesterday during a news conference. “We have a really good football team here, a really good running game and I felt I could offer some experience and leadership.”

The Vikings wasted no time in touting their new addition.

“Are you ready 4 some football?” was the message posted on the team’s Web site minutes after the signing, a reference to Favre’s jersey number. There was also a link to purchase Favre jerseys for $260, or earrings and shot glasses bearing his name and number.

Favre had the best-selling jersey in the league with the Jets last season and the NFL Network said yesterday that NFLShop.com sold out the initial allotment of his 1,200 Vikings jerseys within hours.

Favre will probably also help ticket sales. While the Vikings had about 55,000 season-ticket holders last year, they failed to sell out several games and turned to sponsors to buy tickets to avoid local television blackouts, according to the Business Journal of Milwaukee.

Super Bowl Odds

Favre’s arrival has dropped the Vikings’ odds of winning the Super Bowl to 14-1, according to Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which advises Nevada sports books on betting lines. Minnesota, which had odds of 22-1 at the end of last season, is the eighth favorite among the NFL’s 32 teams.

Former quarterback Ron Jaworski, now an analyst for ESPN, said the Vikings are now “the team to beat” in the National Football Conference.

“They are now a complete team,” Jaworski said.

Minnesota last year made the playoffs with a 10-6 record, yet a different quarterback has led the team in passing yards each of the past three seasons. Favre now moves to the top of the depth chart, ahead of Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.

“We felt like we had an opportunity to add a piece to the puzzle,” Childress said at a news conference. “The more good tools you can have on a team, the better off you are.”

Several months ago, Favre appeared poised to join the Vikings after having surgery to repair a torn biceps muscle in his throwing arm, an injury suffered last season with the Jets.

High School Rehab

He met with Vikings’ officials, underwent rehabilitation and worked out with a high school team in his home town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

He then decided to remain retired before the start of the Vikings’ training camp, having also found a tear in his shoulder’s rotator cuff.

When Childress reached out again two days ago, Favre said he reconsidered after talking to James Andrews, who performed his surgery.

“I had to be reassured that this wouldn’t be an issue once again, but my arm has felt good,” said Favre, who led the Jets to an 8-3 start last season but struggled to a 1-4 finish with the torn muscle.

Favre has started 269 consecutive games, the longest streak by a quarterback and one short of the NFL record held by former Viking Jim Marshall.

“After I said no three weeks ago, at times I was okay with it, other times I felt like I could really help that team,” Favre said. “That was the competitive fire in me. I didn’t want to look back. I didn’t want to say, ‘What if?’”

After opening the regular season against Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco, Minnesota hosts the Packers on Oct. 5, five days before Favre’s 40th birthday. The Vikings visit the Packers on Nov. 1.

“I think I made the right decision,” said Favre, who might play in the Vikings’ next exhibition game on Aug. 21. “Time will tell.”
Reply With Quote

2009-08-19T09:43:00.002-04:00

Aug. 19, 2009
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Sports books alter odds to reflect Favre's return
BOOKS ALTER ODDS TO REFLECT FAVRE'S RETURN

Las Vegas sports books are making minor adjustments on the Minnesota Vikings after the NFL team signed quarterback Brett Favre on Tuesday.

"It's a slight upgrade for the Vikings," Las Vegas Hilton sports book director Jay Kornegay said. "At first, we were not going to move anything. But we looked at it, and the Vikings were already a popular team, and Favre will make them more popular than ever. We made some subtle changes."

The Hilton changed the Vikings from 31/2- to 4-point road favorites over the Cleveland Browns in the regular-season opener. The Vikings' odds to win the NFC dropped from 8-1 to 7-1, and their odds to win the Super Bowl dropped from 18-1 to 15-1. Minnesota's regular-season win total moved from 9 (over minus-140) to 91/2 (over minus-120).

"In reality, I don't think Favre is going to make that much difference," Las Vegas Sports Consultants oddsmaker Jason Been said. "It's more just public perception instead of reality. I just don't believe Favre is healthy. He completely wore down in the second half of last season with the Jets."

MATT YOUMANS/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

2009-08-18T22:48:00.000-04:00

Twins DH Kubel injures knee

ARLINGTON, Texas(AP) -- Minnesota Twins designated hitter Jason
Kubel has left the game against the Texas Rangers after bruising
his left knee.

With a runner on third and two outs in the first inning Tuesday
night, Kubel fouled a ball off his left leg. He remained on the
ground in obvious pain for several minutes before walking slowly
to the dugout.

Kubel left with a 3-2 count and was replaced by Brendan Harris,
who struck out on the next pitch when he was unable to check his
swing.

Kubel was charged with the strikeout.

In the second, Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez was struck on
the left wrist by a foul ball that bounced off the plate.
Medical personnel checked on Gomez, who remained in the game and
struck out.

2009-08-18T22:47:00.002-04:00

Church calls comments by Manuel a `low blow'

By MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Ryan Church made it clear: He didn't appreciate
those recent comments by New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel.

After Mets slugger David Wright was hit in the head by a pitch
last weekend, causing a concussion, Manuel said Wright was a
"different animal" than Church, who missed much of last season
with New York following a pair of concussions.

Church, traded to the Atlanta Braves last month, took exception
to that, inferring that Manuel was questioning his toughness.

"It just felt like a low blow," Church said. "I saw it. I wasn't
happy. If he had a problem with me or anything like that, you'd
think he'd tell it to my face. I had plenty of opportunity to
talk while I was wearing that uniform. It just was like, all
right, now that I'm wearing another one, why would he come out
and say that?"

When he met with reporters before Tuesday night's series opener
against the Braves, Manuel was told that Church called the
comments a "cheap shot."

But Manuel said he meant no disrespect. He said he was simply
trying to explain that the players involved were different, just
like the concussions.

"There's no ill intent," Manuel said. "I don't mean to take a
shot at him. If that's how he felt, I apologize to him. I like
Ryan Church."

Manuel and Church appeared to have a strained relationship
during the outfielder's 1 1/2 seasons in New York, though they
both disputed that perception publicly.

The Mets were criticized for rushing Church back from his second
concussion last year, and Manuel said the two didn't communicate
very well about the injury.

"We didn't have clarity on the message that we were getting from
him," Manuel said. "I'm as much to blame as he is."

Church said he doesn't blame the Mets for how they handled his
injury, and he's ready to move on.

"It's water under the bridge," he said.

In other news, the Mets announced that they signed their top
draft pick, left-hander Steven Matz from nearby Ward Melville
High School on Long Island, about an hour drive from Citi Field.

The club gave Matz, selected No. 72 overall, an $895,000 signing
bonus.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Matz grew up a Mets fan and will report
to the rookie-level Gulf Coast Mets in Florida. He was at Citi
the ballpark with his parents and spoke with reporters in New
York's dugout, sitting on the bench next to general manager Omar
Minaya and amateur scouting director Rudy Terrasas.

"It's like surreal," Matz said. "It's really starting to set in
now."

Minaya said the deal got done only a couple of minutes before
the midnight deadline Monday night.

The Mets also purchased infielder Wilson Valdez's contract from
Triple-A Buffalo. He replaces Alex Cora, who will miss the rest
of the season because of two injured thumbs.

Cora was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to
Thursday, for the second time this season. He is scheduled to
have surgery on his right thumb Thursday. Five weeks later,
he'll get his left thumb fixed. Both need ligament repairs.

The move means the depleted Mets have used the disabled list 20
times (among 18 players) this season, most of any major league
team, according to the commissioner's office.