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06/23/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In less than 24 hours, I will be hopping on a train bound for New York's Penn Station and the annual NBA Draft that will take place upstairs at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.
I really enjoy the draft, but as far as my job description goes it's an exercise in futility.
Mock drafts have become all the rage as everyone throws in their two cents on who is going to end up where, even though we all know a handful of trades will throw a monkey wrench into all the predictions.
Usually as the big day approaches, the rumor mill heats up as the league's general managers play a game of high-stakes poker designed to fool their brethren.
For instance, everyone knows Washington is picking Kentucky point guard John Wall with the No. 1 overall pick and Philadelphia will quickly follow by selecting college player of the year Evan Turner out of Ohio State. But, that hasn't stopped the Wizards from saying Turner is in play for them or from raving about Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson.
At the end of the day, it's all just part of the game. If an overmatched general manager that likes a specific player buys into that type of posturing, you might end up getting an extra piece to the puzzle.
Of course, that doesn't mean there isn't serious wrangling going on also. For instance, New Jersey, which holds the third pick, is trying to bait lightly- regarded Minnesota president of basketball operations David Kahn into making a mistake.
The Nets have the first real decision in the draft and will select one of three players - Favors, Johnson or Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins. Since New Jersey already has an All-Star-type center in Brook Lopez, you can take Cousins out of the equation, leaving Favors or Johnson as the choice.
Most think Favors, the Georgia Tech power forward, has a bigger upside and would be the better fit for the Nets, but Kahn had already tipped his own hand by ripping Favors' conditioning and Cousins' maturity.
Smelling blood in the water, New Jersey is now pretending Johnson is its guy, floating the idea that drafting the Syracuse star will help them land Utah power forward Carlos Boozer in free agency.
While both Minnesota and Favors' camp now say that the insult was "completely overblown," Kahn has successfully boxed himself into a corner and may have to give the Nets something extra for the right to draft a player that would have fallen to him if he just kept his mouth shut.
It's not the first mistake Kahn has made. The embattled and unpopular Minny basketball chief has alienated many of his peers and a number of his own players with a grating personality.
Kahn has already assured various agents he's going to move Al Jefferson before next season, lowering the high-priced power forward's value on the trade market. Meanwhile, second-year point guard Jonny Flynn, who was reportedly frustrated throughout his rookie season with the triangle offense, could be moved for something significant but his heir apparent, Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio, isn't sold on Kahn or the organization.
CP3 OPEN TO A TRADE
New Orleans isn't called the Big Easy because the city promotes a stress- inducing lifestyle. People flock to New Orleans to party and forget about their troubles, but Chris Paul would like his organization to develop more of a "Type A" personality.
With trade speculation brewing all around him and reports surfacing that the Hornets are actively shopping the All-Star, Paul admitted he would consider leaving the organization if it isn't committed to winning championships.
"My first choice is to be in New Orleans," Paul said in a telephone interview with ESPN. "I just want to make sure we're committed to winning. If we're not committed to winning and trying to get better so we can contend with the Lakers, the Celtics and all these other top teams, then I'm open to being traded."
Hornets general manager Jeff Bower has tried to downplay any impending deal but finances are a problem for the Hornets. George Shinn's proposed sale of the team to Gary Chouest has been delayed and many believe Shinn doesn't want to be on the hook for the $50 million owed to Paul over the next three seasons, something he denied on Wednesday.
"The resolve that my partner Gary Chouest and I have will always remain the same -- to continue to build our legacy in New Orleans, and to develop a path and plan to win an NBA Championship for New Orleans and all of Louisiana," Shinn said in a statement. "We are about building and sustaining a winning tradition.
"Chris Paul is the cornerstone of our franchise and brings us unequaled support on and off the court. We will continue to build around Chris Paul, and we want to see him in a Hornets uniform for the remainder of his career. We have an exciting future, and with the leadership of our new head coach and players like Chris Paul, we know the best is yet to come. We plan to take advantage of any opportunities to improve our team."
SPURS SET TO LAND SPLITTER?
The Spurs are famous for landing talented international players and may finally be on the verge of snaring Brazilian star Tiago Splitter, the 28th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Splitter was expected to declare for the 2006 draft but an expensive buyout clause in his contract with Saski Baskonia of the Spanish ACB League discouraged NBA teams from drafting him. Understanding they weren't going to get a key contributor so late in '07, San Antonio took a flyer out on Splitter, who had a contract in Spain that reportedly earned him eight times the money he would have received under the NBA's rookie salary scale.
The Spurs can now offer Splitter, 25, a deal starting at the mid-level exception, about $5.5 million, and a total package worth between $25 million and $30 million, prompting many to believe that San Antonio will sign the 6- foot-11 Spanish League MVP soon after free agency opens on July 1.
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has called the reports "presumptuous" since Splitter could still make more money in Spain and Baskonia is set to offer the center a new deal through 2015.
Splitter has made his intentions clear, however:
"My dream is to play in the NBA and I hope everything works out well. But it's not in my hands," Splitter told Noticias de Alava. " [Leaving for the NBA] depends on how interested the Spurs are in me. It's totally up to them."
INDY NEEDS A PACE CAR
Larry Bird isn't playing coy. Intent on upgrading the point guard position, the Pacers president of basketball operations has reportedly inquired about New Orleans' Darren Collison, San Antonio's George Hill, Denver's Ty Lawson and Flynn.
"There's a lot of options out there," Bird said. "At this stage, you're just talking to different teams. You make offers and people start thinking about them. There's nothing concrete right now, but we do have a lot of offers out there."
The surprising sticking point may be Bird's desire to keep the underachieving Brandon Rush.
BROWN OPTING HIS WAY OUT OF LA
I guess a pair of rings are enough for the Lakers' Shannon Brown. The athletic guard is expected to opt out of a deal set to pay him $2.149 million next season in the second year of a two-year, $4.148 million deal.
Brown would like to stay in Hollywood and is just looking for a little more money and security, but this could end up being an example of bad advice from his agent, Mark Bartelstein.
Kobe Bryant has reportedly been urging the Lakers to sign former nemesis Raja Bell in free agency. Bell, who missed the majority of last season after undergoing surgery to repair ligaments in his non-shooting wrist, is a tough defender and solid weak-side three-point shooter.
He's also an upgrade over Brown and his arrival in Los Angeles would likely insure Shannon's exit.
<< Federer, Djokovic, Roddick reach third round at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Six-time champion Roger Federer,
third-seeded Novak Djokovic and three-time runner-up Andy Roddick were among
Wednesday's second-round winners at Wimbledon.
The top-seeded world No. 2 Federer was teste
<< Mets sign Ramon Ortiz to minor league contract
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets have signed right-hander
Ramon Ortiz to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo.
Ortiz, 37, went 1-2 with a 6.30 earned run average in 16 games (two starts)
with t
<< Venus, Clijsters, Henin move on at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1s Venus Williams,
Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin were a trio of second-round winners Wednesday
at Wimbledon 2010.
The second-seeded Williams handled Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-0
<< Group E bookends to meet at Green Point Stadium
Cape Town, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams at opposite ends of Group
E will get together at Green Point Stadium on Thursday as disappointing
Cameroon faces the Netherlands.
The Indomitable Lions entered the competition with
Phil Jackson leaning toward retirement >>
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson says he's leaning toward retirement, but will wait until next week to make his final decision.The 11-time NBA champion said Wednesday he'll get the results of another battery of medical
Oak Tree at Santa Anita set for 2010 >>
Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The annual Oak Tree at Santa Anita racing meet
has been confirmed for this year. The announcement came at Tuesday's meeting
of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).
The announcement put an end to spec
Grizzlies hold 3 1st-round picks, many options >>
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -The Memphis Grizzlies have three first-round draft picks and many options Thursday night.They can package picks and trade for a current NBA player, combine picks and one of their players to move up or simply use all three to bol
Cavs trying to deal into NBA draft >>
CLEVELAND (AP) -The Cleveland Cavaliers don't currently have a coach, any draft picks or a clue if LeBron James is coming back.But in this volatile summer, things are changing quickly.The Cavs, who traded away their selections while chasing an NBA t
Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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