Tuesday, May 30, 2006
WSOP trip giveaway!
DreamPoker is giving away one…count it ONE…all expense paid seat and experience to the ultimate game in Poker….The World Series of Poker! We thought your players might be interested.
All DreamPoker players that rake up 200 DreamWSOP points at DreamPoker over the next few weeks until the 22nd June 2006 will be thrown into an EXCLUSIVE WSOP freeroll. Winner of this freeroll enjoys a fully inclusive trip to the 2006 WSOP, a package which includes flights, accommodation and of course their very own seat at the tournament.
DreamPoker will even throw in trendy DreamPoker gear to get them noticed and keep them intimidating and respected at the tables.
Players can monitor their progress in the 'Message of the Day' in DreamPoker's awesome software. Like we told you…this one is for all the chips!
10/1 England to win the World Cup
£1 million says England can’t win the World Cup
With the World Cup only ten days away VC Bet is offering England to win the tournament at odds of 10/1 for one day only, today, Tuesday 30th May. The firm has promised to lay the price for at least £1 million to both existing and new customers.
The price stands out as the best available for patriotic punters, surpassing the current best odds of just 8/1 with a traditional bookmaker and 8.2/1 on the exchanges.
Explaining the decision, Chairman Victor Chandler commented “We will lay England at 10/1 to lose at least £1million. After seeing the England ‘B’ team struggle against Belarus last week I genuinely believe England cannot win the World Cup, the strength in depth is just not there to be world champions. 10/1 is the price for one day only and by laying it to lose £1m I will allow at least 4,000 customers to have £25 each.”
Customers will be restricted to a maximum of £25 each, in the hope that as many people as possible can benefit from the excellent price. The price of 10/1 will be available from 8.30am Tuesday until kick-off in the England v Hungary friendly.
With the World Cup only ten days away VC Bet is offering England to win the tournament at odds of 10/1 for one day only, today, Tuesday 30th May. The firm has promised to lay the price for at least £1 million to both existing and new customers.
The price stands out as the best available for patriotic punters, surpassing the current best odds of just 8/1 with a traditional bookmaker and 8.2/1 on the exchanges.
Explaining the decision, Chairman Victor Chandler commented “We will lay England at 10/1 to lose at least £1million. After seeing the England ‘B’ team struggle against Belarus last week I genuinely believe England cannot win the World Cup, the strength in depth is just not there to be world champions. 10/1 is the price for one day only and by laying it to lose £1m I will allow at least 4,000 customers to have £25 each.”
Customers will be restricted to a maximum of £25 each, in the hope that as many people as possible can benefit from the excellent price. The price of 10/1 will be available from 8.30am Tuesday until kick-off in the England v Hungary friendly.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
NBA Draft Lottery Winners and Losers
For the third consecutive year, the team with the worst record in basketball did not win the NBA Draft Lottery. Despite a record of 21-61, the Portland Trail Blazers slipped to the fourth selection for the 2006 draft. This was not a huge surprise, given Portland only had a 25% chance of winning the top pick.
Trail Blazers President Steve Patterson did not seem shaken by his team's drop in the order, hinting to the fact that last year's fourth selection, Wake Forest point guard Chris Paul, was the overwhelming NBA Rookie of the Year for the Hornets.
"You may find a player with as big an impact at No. 4 or even No. 6 as you may at No. 1," Patterson said.
Meanwhile, the team that did beat the odds and claimed the first overall pick was the Toronto Raptors, despite only an 8.8% chance of winning. General Manager Bryan Colangelo, recently hired away from the Phoenix Suns, was excited about the first pick and said it is a sign of things to come for the downtrodden Raptors.
"For us to have this kind of luck is a symbol of a reversal of fortune going forward," Colangelo said. "We have our work cut out. This will help."
The biggest loser in the lottery had to be a team that wasn't in it: the New York Knicks. After posting their worst record (23-59) in 20 years, the Knicks weren't a factor Tuesday night. Why? Because in the 2005 off season, Isiah Thomas dealt the rights to New York's No. 1 pick in 2006 to the Chicago Bulls for underachieving center Eddy Curry.
The 6'-11'' Curry had been diagnosed with heart problems, which is why the Bulls were looking to deal him. In New York, Curry averaged fewer than 26 minutes per game in 2005-06, and less than one block and six rebounds per outing. He also was rarely on the court during crunch time due to his weak defense.
Thus, the lottery's biggest winners had to be the young, up-and-coming Bulls, who ended up with the second overall pick. The Bulls were 41-41 this season and earned the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they pushed the second-seeded Heat to the limit in the opening round. The Bulls already have one of the best young backcourts in the league with Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, and will look to add a front-court impact player in this year's draft.
"We made the deal, and we're lucky we got in the lottery," said John Paxson, the Bulls' Executive Vice President.
As for the players vying for to be taken No. 1 overall, there does not appear to be a clear-cut choice. Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison, Texas power forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge, LSU forward Tyrus Thomas and Italian power forward Andrea Bargnani are considered the top candidates.
Aldridge, who reaffirmed his stock in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 with a 26-point, 13-rebound performance against West Virginia, could be the slight favorite for the Raptors. Toronto also likes Bargnani, who is considered a prospect in the mold of Dirk Nowitzki.
The Raptors' Colangelo would not comment on which way the team is leaning.
"Right now we've got a month to go, and we'll see what comes our way and see what we can dig up," Colangelo said. "I think there are about five or six names that could be there. We need a one [point guard] or a five [center]."
This year's draft may be as much about the players not in it as those who are available. With the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, this will be the first year that high school seniors won't be eligible for the draft. That eliminated Greg Oden, a 7-foot prep phenom bound for Ohio State this fall, who would have been a lock for the first pick.
Another big man who will not be on the draft board this year is Joakim Noah, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 NCAA Final Four. Noah led the Florida Gators to a surprise NCAA title, but decided not to strike while the iron was hot and come back to Gainesville for a run at another championship.
Those are two names most GMs would have rated at the top of their boards this year.
So maybe there is no true big winner of the 2006 lottery. The big winner in the NBA could be the team with that lucky ping-pong ball in 2007.
World Cup promotions from Sportingodds
2006 FIFA World Cup with SportingOdds.com
The 2006 World cup – who’s your Bud?
Find details below of the great 2006 World Cup promotions from Sportingodds.com.
FREE £10 Bet and a 6 pack of BUDWEISER!* - ALL NEW CLIENTS
Enjoy a Beer and a Bet with SportingOdds during the World Cup.
Sportingodds are giving all new clients a Free £10 Bet on the winner of the World Cup plus a 6 pack of Budweiser - The Official beer of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™
To claim your free £10 Bet and 6 pack of Budweiser simply:-
Open an Account with Sportingodds.com
Place £10 worth of bets on any World Cup market
You will then be offered a free £10 bet on the World Cup
On placing your Free Bet you will automatically qualify for a free 6 pack of Budweiser. A voucher for you to claim your Budweiser will be sent to the address you have registered on your account within 7 working days.
*See www.sportingodds.com for full terms and conditions
Chill out, we’ll sort the Bud – Available to ALL clients
SportingOdds is the only place to bet this World Cup - and here's why: We've teamed up with Budweiser to offer all our customers complimentary Bud when you bet with us. Plus you can qualify to enter an incredible prize draw to win a trip to Brazil, a Ferrari (for a week!) and a host of other prizes! To top it off we're offering unrivalled promotions on all England games and a state of the art stats centre to ensure you're always up-to-date on the World Cup
Simply place 5 x £10 bets on the World Cup over the tournament, and we'll send you a six-pack of Budweiser.
In order to claim your Budweiser, you must register your interest by clicking on the "Claim Your Bud" button on the Sportingodds.com website.
The more bets you place, the more Bud we will send you!
Place a further 20 x £10 bets, and we'll give you a crate (24 bottles) of beer to enjoy over the World Cup.
Enter the World Cup prize draw
On qualifying for a crate of Bud Sportingodds will enter you in to a superb World Cup prize draw to win a Holiday of a lifetime to Brazil, a Ferrari for a week, plasma screens and much more... !
Also Sportingodds are offering Second Goal scorer Refunds and a Scorecast Sizzler refunds on EVERY ENGLAND match!
Visit www.sportingodds.com now to make the most of these fantastic 2006 FIFA World Cup offers.
$1,000,000 in Guaranteed Prizes!
Join Joanna Krupa, the World's Hottest Swimsuit Model, at the special Million Mania Tournament with $1,000,000 in Guaranteed Prizes being held by titan Poker.
This tournament will be staged on Sunday, July 16, 2006, at 4pm EST.
Direct buy-ins to the Million Mania are available for $1000 + $100, but players can win their seat at one of our daily Multi Table Qualifier Tournaments. Complete list of satellite tournaments:
Daily Multi Table Qualifier at 21:15 EST ($55 + $5) offering one seat in the Million Mania for every 20 players that register.
Daily Multi Table Qualifier at 18:00 EST ($27.50 + $2.50) offering one seat in the Million Mania for every 40 players that register. Re-buys available.
Ongoing Sit 'N' Go Satellite to the 21:15 MTQ ($15 + $1.5) for 10 players. First and second places get seats in the MTQ; third place wins $30.
Ongoing Sit 'N' Go Satellite to the 18:00 MTQ ($7.50 + $0.75) for 10 players. First and second places get seats in the MTQ; third place wins $15.
Ongoing Sit 'N' Go Satellite to the 18:00 MTQ ($5 + $0.50) for 6 players. First place gets a seat in the MTQ.
Daily Multi Table Qualifier at 19:15 EST ($6 + $0.60) offering one seat in the next day's MTQ at 21:15 MTQ for every ten players.
At least 80 players will finish "in the money" and take a share of the $1,000,000 in Guaranteed Prizes. Win your seat at our upcoming Million Mania Tournament today!
Please note: The Million Mania tournament will take place only if a minimum of 100 players are registered to participate. Titan Poker reserves the right to change the conditions of this tournament and/or cancel it at its discretion. All of Titan Poker's standard terms and conditions apply.
Tripple winnings for French Open
French Open Promotion
Ladbrokes Sportsbook are running the following special promotion on the French Tennis Open :-
Place a bet on the result of any French Open Men's Singles match, and if your selection wins 6-0 6-0 6-0, we will Treble your winnings to a max stake of £1,000
- T&Cs Apply (see web site)
Ladbrokes Sportsbook are running the following special promotion on the French Tennis Open :-
Place a bet on the result of any French Open Men's Singles match, and if your selection wins 6-0 6-0 6-0, we will Treble your winnings to a max stake of £1,000
- T&Cs Apply (see web site)
Friday, May 26, 2006
Weekend World Cup Offers from VC Bet
Saturday sees 13 days to go to the start of the World Cup finals so its:-
13/1 Ronaldo Top Tournament Goalscorer
Win Only. Maximum stake £25 per person. Available on Saturday only. Normal price 8/1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday sees 12 days to go so its:-
12/1 ANY English Player Top Tournament Goalscorer
Win Only. Maximum stake £25 per person. Available on Sunday only.
13/1 Ronaldo Top Tournament Goalscorer
Win Only. Maximum stake £25 per person. Available on Saturday only. Normal price 8/1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday sees 12 days to go so its:-
12/1 ANY English Player Top Tournament Goalscorer
Win Only. Maximum stake £25 per person. Available on Sunday only.
VC Bet World Cup Offers
14 Days to go .......
VC Bets 14/1 offer:-
14/1 Owen to score in the World Cup Final
14/1 Rooney to score in the World Cup Final
14/1 Lampard or Gerrard to score in the World Cup Final
Prices available on Friday 26th May only. Maximum stake £25 per person.
VC Bets 14/1 offer:-
14/1 Owen to score in the World Cup Final
14/1 Rooney to score in the World Cup Final
14/1 Lampard or Gerrard to score in the World Cup Final
Prices available on Friday 26th May only. Maximum stake £25 per person.
Major League Baseball review
Major League Surprises and Disappointments at the Quarter Pole
We're a little over a quarter of the way through the major league baseball season, and like every season, there have some been some great stories and some sad tales so far. With Barry Bonds finally catching the Babe in home runs, we can now focus on the teams and the pennant races.
Detroit 'Stop' City
The biggest surprise in all of baseball has to be the Detroit Tigers. Heading into Tuesday's games, Detroit has the best record in the majors at 30-14, one game ahead of the defending world champions, the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers were expected to improve under new manager Jim Leyland, but no one could have predicted this kind of success.
Detroit will be in the race for the long haul because of their outstanding starting pitching. The Tigers' staff is leading everyone with a 3.26 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Veteran Kenny Rogers has led by example in his first year in Motown. He's headed towards another all-star birth, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.91 ERA. Rookie Justin Verlander has been outstanding, winning 6 of his 9 starts including a 5-hit shutout of Kansas City on Monday night. Fourth-year pro Nate Robertson is 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA, and 23-year-old Jeremy Bonderman, who was expected to be the club's ace coming into the season, has a 1.14 WHIP and is averaging 8 strikeouts per 9 innings.
Angels Can't Get Out of the Infield
No American League team has been more disappointing than the Los Angeles Angels. Mired in last place in the AL West, only the anemic Royals have a worse record than the Angels. Their offense has been pathetic. They are dead last in the majors with a .299 on-base percentage and last in the AL in slugging percentage.
The only player hitting anywhere close to his average is Vladimir Guerrero. But the Angels have no one in the lineup to protect Guerrero, so teams have already started to pitch around the all-star outfielder. Los Angeles had a chance to acquire Manny Ramirez in the off-season, but decided the price tag was too high for the Red Sox slugger and went with unproven youngsters like Casey Kotchman, Robb Quinlan, and Dallas McPherson. They have combined for 2 HRs and 11 RBIs so far.
Return of the Big Red Machine
Over in the Senior Circuit, Cincinnati has gotten off to a Red-hot start. Cincinnati is hanging tight with St. Louis in the NL Central and would be the National League wild card representative if the season ended today.
The Reds have belted the second most home runs in the National League behind only the Brewers. Adam Dunn leads the team with 16 big flys, trailing only Albert Pujols, who is in a league of his own. Dunn and fellow 26-year-old outfielder Austin Kearns are both slugging over .500 and with the return of Ken Griffey Jr. to the lineup, Cincinnati's offense should continue to put up impressive numbers all season.
While the Reds' offense was expected to be good, not much was expected of the pitching. A March trade with the Red Sox changed all that, though. Cincinnati acquired Bronson Arroyo in the deal for outfielder Wily Mo Pena with the hopes that he would turn out to be the team's ace. Arroyo has not disappointed as he has an NL-leading 2.40 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He even blasted a home run in each of his first two starts. The rest of the Reds' staff has been average at best, however, and ultimately will be their downfall.
The Loveable Losers
In a position all too familiar to their long-suffering fans, the Chicago Cubs are struggling again. Like the Angels in the American League, the Cubs can point to their pitiful offensive output as the reason for their problems. Chicago is last in all of baseball with a .364 slugging percentage and their .301 on-base percentage ranks last in the NL.
Injuries have decimated the Cubs. Star pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have been out all season with shoulder injuries. Wood just returned but was tagged for 3 home runs in 5 innings in a loss against the light-hitting Washington Nationals in his first start of the season last week. Prior has just started throwing off the mound in his rehab assignment and the club hopes he can return to the majors in early June.
The other devastating injury to Chicago was to first baseman Derek Lee. Lee, who was a triple-crown contender last season, was off to another brilliant start batting .318 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs through 14 games. Lee is still in a cast after breaking his wrist and most likely won't be back until after the All-Star break. Even if the Cubs get all of their stars back from injury, don't bet on them making a run in the NL Central. They'll be too far back with not enough time left.
We're a little over a quarter of the way through the major league baseball season, and like every season, there have some been some great stories and some sad tales so far. With Barry Bonds finally catching the Babe in home runs, we can now focus on the teams and the pennant races.
Detroit 'Stop' City
The biggest surprise in all of baseball has to be the Detroit Tigers. Heading into Tuesday's games, Detroit has the best record in the majors at 30-14, one game ahead of the defending world champions, the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers were expected to improve under new manager Jim Leyland, but no one could have predicted this kind of success.
Detroit will be in the race for the long haul because of their outstanding starting pitching. The Tigers' staff is leading everyone with a 3.26 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Veteran Kenny Rogers has led by example in his first year in Motown. He's headed towards another all-star birth, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.91 ERA. Rookie Justin Verlander has been outstanding, winning 6 of his 9 starts including a 5-hit shutout of Kansas City on Monday night. Fourth-year pro Nate Robertson is 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA, and 23-year-old Jeremy Bonderman, who was expected to be the club's ace coming into the season, has a 1.14 WHIP and is averaging 8 strikeouts per 9 innings.
Angels Can't Get Out of the Infield
No American League team has been more disappointing than the Los Angeles Angels. Mired in last place in the AL West, only the anemic Royals have a worse record than the Angels. Their offense has been pathetic. They are dead last in the majors with a .299 on-base percentage and last in the AL in slugging percentage.
The only player hitting anywhere close to his average is Vladimir Guerrero. But the Angels have no one in the lineup to protect Guerrero, so teams have already started to pitch around the all-star outfielder. Los Angeles had a chance to acquire Manny Ramirez in the off-season, but decided the price tag was too high for the Red Sox slugger and went with unproven youngsters like Casey Kotchman, Robb Quinlan, and Dallas McPherson. They have combined for 2 HRs and 11 RBIs so far.
Return of the Big Red Machine
Over in the Senior Circuit, Cincinnati has gotten off to a Red-hot start. Cincinnati is hanging tight with St. Louis in the NL Central and would be the National League wild card representative if the season ended today.
The Reds have belted the second most home runs in the National League behind only the Brewers. Adam Dunn leads the team with 16 big flys, trailing only Albert Pujols, who is in a league of his own. Dunn and fellow 26-year-old outfielder Austin Kearns are both slugging over .500 and with the return of Ken Griffey Jr. to the lineup, Cincinnati's offense should continue to put up impressive numbers all season.
While the Reds' offense was expected to be good, not much was expected of the pitching. A March trade with the Red Sox changed all that, though. Cincinnati acquired Bronson Arroyo in the deal for outfielder Wily Mo Pena with the hopes that he would turn out to be the team's ace. Arroyo has not disappointed as he has an NL-leading 2.40 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He even blasted a home run in each of his first two starts. The rest of the Reds' staff has been average at best, however, and ultimately will be their downfall.
The Loveable Losers
In a position all too familiar to their long-suffering fans, the Chicago Cubs are struggling again. Like the Angels in the American League, the Cubs can point to their pitiful offensive output as the reason for their problems. Chicago is last in all of baseball with a .364 slugging percentage and their .301 on-base percentage ranks last in the NL.
Injuries have decimated the Cubs. Star pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior have been out all season with shoulder injuries. Wood just returned but was tagged for 3 home runs in 5 innings in a loss against the light-hitting Washington Nationals in his first start of the season last week. Prior has just started throwing off the mound in his rehab assignment and the club hopes he can return to the majors in early June.
The other devastating injury to Chicago was to first baseman Derek Lee. Lee, who was a triple-crown contender last season, was off to another brilliant start batting .318 with 3 homers and 10 RBIs through 14 games. Lee is still in a cast after breaking his wrist and most likely won't be back until after the All-Star break. Even if the Cubs get all of their stars back from injury, don't bet on them making a run in the NL Central. They'll be too far back with not enough time left.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
New SLOTS from Aus Vegas & Lasseters
AusVegas has just released an amazing new slot which is bound to appeal to keen astrologists and horoscope followers alike!
Astro Gold is AusVegas Casino’s latest innovative slot product, themed on the Astrological Zodiac.
Featuring a minimum bet of 10 cents and for you high rollers, a maximum bet of $450 per spin. This 5-reel, 15-line slot has an astronomical top prize of US$90,000!
Remember, at AusVegas, new players who deposit $10 receive $40 bonus!
Lasseters has also released a brand new, exclusive slot game - Supernova.
As the title suggests, this space-themed slot is set to send you into a spin with its incredible images, sounds and animation.
Supernova is a 5-reel, 25-line slot, featuring an edge-of-your-seat bonus round, up to 25 free spins and a one-of-a-kind gamble feature with a maximum payout of US$15,000!
At Lasseters, you receive an incredible 500% Sign Up Bonus!
Astro Gold is AusVegas Casino’s latest innovative slot product, themed on the Astrological Zodiac.
Featuring a minimum bet of 10 cents and for you high rollers, a maximum bet of $450 per spin. This 5-reel, 15-line slot has an astronomical top prize of US$90,000!
Remember, at AusVegas, new players who deposit $10 receive $40 bonus!
Lasseters has also released a brand new, exclusive slot game - Supernova.
As the title suggests, this space-themed slot is set to send you into a spin with its incredible images, sounds and animation.
Supernova is a 5-reel, 25-line slot, featuring an edge-of-your-seat bonus round, up to 25 free spins and a one-of-a-kind gamble feature with a maximum payout of US$15,000!
At Lasseters, you receive an incredible 500% Sign Up Bonus!
Tarver-Hopkins - Legacies on the line
Did you catch “The Executioner” and “The Magic Man” this weekend, hyping their June 10th clash in Atlantic City? It is the “Fight to the Finish” for both; their legacies are in the balance. This bout raises questions for fans: Will it be a snooze? Who wants it most? More important, who should I bet on?
This was my take on their split-screen TV interview.
Tarver did his usual “Angry Black Man” routine, complaining about everything! His picture is on the wrong side of the poster, he gets no respect, he said fried--they gave him scrambled--it never ends. The Dangerfield “I Get No Respect” act is getting old.
Tarver, you get props for blasting Roy in 2, but here is a news flash… That win does not make you the greatest of all time. It’s crunch time brother. You need this one.
Hopkins was on the other side of the screen… Or someone that looked like him. This guy was lifeless -- boring. Has the master “trash talker” finally been out-smacked? Maybe B-Hop is becoming a “Golden Boy.” Soon he will be carrying a brief case and selling life insurance. Sometimes, I think he never wanted to buck the system, but rather, to become a part of it. He earned the recognition and the money, but has he lost his edge?
Marvin Hagler said it best: “It’s hard to get up and train when you are sleeping in silk sheets.” Where are you “X”? Bring back the leather mask and the axe-wielding executioners at your side. With two losses in a row to Jermain Taylor, you need this one.
Well, like you, I got zero from the interviews. So, I turned to stats for an indicator:
Height goes to Tarver, but only by an inch.
Reach is equal.
KOs: Tarver has a 5% edge
Bernard has had almost twice as many bouts.
They both have had 2 losses since 2003
Bernard fought once more then Tarver in the past three years.
Now, I know who to bet on…NOT! Even their resumes are equal. This is not the mismatch some would have you believe. They are on equal terms.
Finally, I decided to canvas friends. I tracked down some of the biggest names in the game: Emmanuel Steward, Oscar Suarez, Tim Smith, Paul Malignaggi, Brian Kenny, and Johnny Bos.
Oscar Suarez: “It’s going to be an interesting fight, but we always favor the left-handed fighter,” he said a smile. “No disrespect to Mr. Hopkins, but I still see a lot of hunger in Mr. Tarver, so I give him the slight edge.”
After my regular dose of Dibella’s Broadway Boxing, I went to my favorite diner and bumped into matchmaker extraordinaire, Johnny Bos. “First you will see Hopkins, and then you will see Hopkins on the canvas,” he said. It made me consider staying in NY on June 10th for Cotto-Malignaggi at the Garden.
Paul Malignaggi: “I think Hopkins has the style to beat Tarver -- rough him up. Tarver has problems with guys like that—just watch his battle with Glen Johnson.”
The NY Daily News’ Tim Smith: “Tarver is the type of guy that loses focus in a bout. He doesn’t do everything he should do. The guy should be a killer in the ring, but he has a tendency to take rounds off.” He thinks Hopkins can pull out a decision.
ESPN’s Brian Kenny: “I think it depends on what kind of shape Tarver comes in. How easy Tarver gets back down to 175. I think it will be an interesting fight, boring fight, probably dreadful, tactical. As for a pick…I might pick Bernard.”
Trainer and HBO commentator Emmanuel Steward: “I think this fight is a toss-up, maybe a slight edge towards Bernard Hopkins”. Emmanuel made a keen observation on why not to bet based on size: “Tarver is a big light heavyweight; he has to come down from like 210 pounds. But the fact that Tarver is not a physical fighter makes it easier for Bernard to move in and still be effective.”
Bernard gets the media nod, 5-1.
Feeling lucky? There’s more money to be made betting Hopkins, and many experts are picking the underdog. But Tarver is vastly underrated. Roy Jones did everything to duck him… for good reason. He is probably the most decorated amateur in boxing history. In 1996, he was the only U.S. amateur ever to win the nationals, the Pan-Am games, and the world championships, all in one year.
On June 10th, “The Magic Man” retires Bernard Hopkins.
This was my take on their split-screen TV interview.
Tarver did his usual “Angry Black Man” routine, complaining about everything! His picture is on the wrong side of the poster, he gets no respect, he said fried--they gave him scrambled--it never ends. The Dangerfield “I Get No Respect” act is getting old.
Tarver, you get props for blasting Roy in 2, but here is a news flash… That win does not make you the greatest of all time. It’s crunch time brother. You need this one.
Hopkins was on the other side of the screen… Or someone that looked like him. This guy was lifeless -- boring. Has the master “trash talker” finally been out-smacked? Maybe B-Hop is becoming a “Golden Boy.” Soon he will be carrying a brief case and selling life insurance. Sometimes, I think he never wanted to buck the system, but rather, to become a part of it. He earned the recognition and the money, but has he lost his edge?
Marvin Hagler said it best: “It’s hard to get up and train when you are sleeping in silk sheets.” Where are you “X”? Bring back the leather mask and the axe-wielding executioners at your side. With two losses in a row to Jermain Taylor, you need this one.
Well, like you, I got zero from the interviews. So, I turned to stats for an indicator:
Height goes to Tarver, but only by an inch.
Reach is equal.
KOs: Tarver has a 5% edge
Bernard has had almost twice as many bouts.
They both have had 2 losses since 2003
Bernard fought once more then Tarver in the past three years.
Now, I know who to bet on…NOT! Even their resumes are equal. This is not the mismatch some would have you believe. They are on equal terms.
Finally, I decided to canvas friends. I tracked down some of the biggest names in the game: Emmanuel Steward, Oscar Suarez, Tim Smith, Paul Malignaggi, Brian Kenny, and Johnny Bos.
Oscar Suarez: “It’s going to be an interesting fight, but we always favor the left-handed fighter,” he said a smile. “No disrespect to Mr. Hopkins, but I still see a lot of hunger in Mr. Tarver, so I give him the slight edge.”
After my regular dose of Dibella’s Broadway Boxing, I went to my favorite diner and bumped into matchmaker extraordinaire, Johnny Bos. “First you will see Hopkins, and then you will see Hopkins on the canvas,” he said. It made me consider staying in NY on June 10th for Cotto-Malignaggi at the Garden.
Paul Malignaggi: “I think Hopkins has the style to beat Tarver -- rough him up. Tarver has problems with guys like that—just watch his battle with Glen Johnson.”
The NY Daily News’ Tim Smith: “Tarver is the type of guy that loses focus in a bout. He doesn’t do everything he should do. The guy should be a killer in the ring, but he has a tendency to take rounds off.” He thinks Hopkins can pull out a decision.
ESPN’s Brian Kenny: “I think it depends on what kind of shape Tarver comes in. How easy Tarver gets back down to 175. I think it will be an interesting fight, boring fight, probably dreadful, tactical. As for a pick…I might pick Bernard.”
Trainer and HBO commentator Emmanuel Steward: “I think this fight is a toss-up, maybe a slight edge towards Bernard Hopkins”. Emmanuel made a keen observation on why not to bet based on size: “Tarver is a big light heavyweight; he has to come down from like 210 pounds. But the fact that Tarver is not a physical fighter makes it easier for Bernard to move in and still be effective.”
Bernard gets the media nod, 5-1.
Feeling lucky? There’s more money to be made betting Hopkins, and many experts are picking the underdog. But Tarver is vastly underrated. Roy Jones did everything to duck him… for good reason. He is probably the most decorated amateur in boxing history. In 1996, he was the only U.S. amateur ever to win the nationals, the Pan-Am games, and the world championships, all in one year.
On June 10th, “The Magic Man” retires Bernard Hopkins.
By Carlos Guzman
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
NL West - Quarterly Report on Divisional Races
Now that most teams have played around forty games, let’s look on in the Divisional Races:
NL WEST
Here’s a division where all the teams are in the hunt for the title. Not much has been determined in the first quarter of the season except that the division is not nearly as bad as many thought it would be. All four teams currently have winning records and they are only separated by 2.5 games.
Arizona has been led by Brandon Webb (7-0), who is probably the early leader in the NL CY Young race. Unfortunately, the rest of their pitching staff has about a 6.00 ERA. Jose Valverde (13 saves), Luis Vizcaino (3.38 ERA) and Brandon Lyon have led a bullpen that is improved over last year’s version. After a miserable start, Shawn Green has been on a torrid pace and Chad Tracy was recently rewarded with a $13 million plus contract extension for his fine work. The offense has been a moneyball fan’s dream: Craig Counsell (.387 OBP), Conor Jackson (.372) and Luis Gonzalez (.387) have certainly managed to get on base. Most analysts of the minor leagues rank Arizona near the top of the list and they are going to need to dip into their system to get some rotation help if they are to win the division or compete for the wildcard.
Colorado has been one of this year’s early surprises. One of the best bets in recent years was against the Rockies on the road, but they have dramatically improved this year. The skepticism usually associated with their gaudy numbers are not valid this year as guys like Brad Hawpe who is hitting .340 overall is hitting .383 on the road. Matt Holliday has added 11 dingers and Garrett Atkins has filled out what has been a very productive, albeit no name, middle of the order. In Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, the Rockies have developed two nice young starters. Brian Fuentes (10 saves, 1.45 ERA) is having his second straight good year. The Rockies appear to finally have a sound plan in place. In a division that will beat up on each other, you can’t count the Rockies out.
The Dodgers have gone the high risk/high reward strategy the last couple of years. Nomar Garciaparra is the perfect example. He has hit .369, but injuries have limited him. J.D. Drew has 8 homers and 33 RBI so far, but don’t you wish wagerweb.com let you bet on whether or not he would make it through the season? Kenny Lofton (.350 OBP) keeps chugging along, but the Dodgers are waiting for Furcal (.244) to get going. Brad Penny has been pitching well (4-1, 2.53), but also has a dicey injury history. Will Eric Gagne be healthy and effective for the second half of the year? Like Arizona, the Dodgers have a strong farm system. Unlike Arizona, they may be willing to trade a few to fill holes.
Most of the attention surrounding the Giants has been around Barry Bonds. The fact that Bonds is hitting close to .250 and still has an OBP close to .500 speaks volumes about the Giants offense, especially without Moises Alou. The starting rotation led by a resurgent Jason Schmidt (3.07 ERA), the recently returned to action Noah Lowry (3.38 ERA) and Jamey Wright (3.38 ERA) have pitched well enough to keep them in contention, but it would seem another bat is needed for them to stay in the race.
The San Diego Padres recently won 15 out of 18, but still appear to be the weakest team in the division. Mike Piazza has hit 6 homers and has hit better of late, but 15 RBI for a cleanup hitter is just not going to cut it. The challenges of Petco aside, this team has a definite power outage. Only Khali Green has joined Piazza in hitting over 5 homeruns to this point. As usual, Brian Giles continues to get on base with an OBP over .400 and Trevor Hoffman (7 saves, 1.20 ERA) and Scott Linebrink (3.27 ERA) lead a strong bullpen.
So it will come down to Arizona’s farm system, Colorado’s youngsters, The Dodger’s health, The Giants pitching and San Diego’s ability to keep doing it with mirrors. Stay tuned.
NL WEST
Here’s a division where all the teams are in the hunt for the title. Not much has been determined in the first quarter of the season except that the division is not nearly as bad as many thought it would be. All four teams currently have winning records and they are only separated by 2.5 games.
Arizona has been led by Brandon Webb (7-0), who is probably the early leader in the NL CY Young race. Unfortunately, the rest of their pitching staff has about a 6.00 ERA. Jose Valverde (13 saves), Luis Vizcaino (3.38 ERA) and Brandon Lyon have led a bullpen that is improved over last year’s version. After a miserable start, Shawn Green has been on a torrid pace and Chad Tracy was recently rewarded with a $13 million plus contract extension for his fine work. The offense has been a moneyball fan’s dream: Craig Counsell (.387 OBP), Conor Jackson (.372) and Luis Gonzalez (.387) have certainly managed to get on base. Most analysts of the minor leagues rank Arizona near the top of the list and they are going to need to dip into their system to get some rotation help if they are to win the division or compete for the wildcard.
Colorado has been one of this year’s early surprises. One of the best bets in recent years was against the Rockies on the road, but they have dramatically improved this year. The skepticism usually associated with their gaudy numbers are not valid this year as guys like Brad Hawpe who is hitting .340 overall is hitting .383 on the road. Matt Holliday has added 11 dingers and Garrett Atkins has filled out what has been a very productive, albeit no name, middle of the order. In Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, the Rockies have developed two nice young starters. Brian Fuentes (10 saves, 1.45 ERA) is having his second straight good year. The Rockies appear to finally have a sound plan in place. In a division that will beat up on each other, you can’t count the Rockies out.
The Dodgers have gone the high risk/high reward strategy the last couple of years. Nomar Garciaparra is the perfect example. He has hit .369, but injuries have limited him. J.D. Drew has 8 homers and 33 RBI so far, but don’t you wish wagerweb.com let you bet on whether or not he would make it through the season? Kenny Lofton (.350 OBP) keeps chugging along, but the Dodgers are waiting for Furcal (.244) to get going. Brad Penny has been pitching well (4-1, 2.53), but also has a dicey injury history. Will Eric Gagne be healthy and effective for the second half of the year? Like Arizona, the Dodgers have a strong farm system. Unlike Arizona, they may be willing to trade a few to fill holes.
Most of the attention surrounding the Giants has been around Barry Bonds. The fact that Bonds is hitting close to .250 and still has an OBP close to .500 speaks volumes about the Giants offense, especially without Moises Alou. The starting rotation led by a resurgent Jason Schmidt (3.07 ERA), the recently returned to action Noah Lowry (3.38 ERA) and Jamey Wright (3.38 ERA) have pitched well enough to keep them in contention, but it would seem another bat is needed for them to stay in the race.
The San Diego Padres recently won 15 out of 18, but still appear to be the weakest team in the division. Mike Piazza has hit 6 homers and has hit better of late, but 15 RBI for a cleanup hitter is just not going to cut it. The challenges of Petco aside, this team has a definite power outage. Only Khali Green has joined Piazza in hitting over 5 homeruns to this point. As usual, Brian Giles continues to get on base with an OBP over .400 and Trevor Hoffman (7 saves, 1.20 ERA) and Scott Linebrink (3.27 ERA) lead a strong bullpen.
So it will come down to Arizona’s farm system, Colorado’s youngsters, The Dodger’s health, The Giants pitching and San Diego’s ability to keep doing it with mirrors. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
MLB - Fantasy Tip of the Week
We are about 1/3 of the way through the 2006 MLB season, and whether you are doing well or are struggling, this is a crucial time. You know what categories you need to improve on and one of the best ways to improve your standing is to pick up guys who have started off slowly but are due to break out. Here is a list of players to target who have had a bad spring but should soon get as hot as the weather:
Batters:
Marcus Giles, 2B, Atlanta –He is historically a .300 hitter who is currently hitting .235. He’s a perfect buy-low candidate.
Manny Ramirez, OF, Boston – Usually good for 40 HRs and 130 RBIs, he is currently in single-digits in HRs and very low in RBIs. He is the ONE player who is due to go crazy in the month of June.
Juan Pierre, OF, and Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Chicago Cubs – Both players have seen their value decrease with the injury to Derrek Lee. Pierre isn’t scoring or hitting as well as normal, and Ramirez’s numbers are all down. When Lee returns, watch these numbers start to rise.
Ken Griffey Jr., OF, Cincinnati – IF he can stay healthy, a power surge is coming.
Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado – Now over his mysterious stomach ailment, he should be sending many homers into the Mile-High air shortly.
Reggie Sanders, OF, Kansas City – Should be good for at least 15 homers and 15 steals in the upcoming months.
Garret Anderson, OF, LA Angels – The Angels’ offense has been horrible so far, so look for Anderson to have more RBI opportunities as they begin to heat up.
Jeff Kent, 2B, LA Dodgers – Kent is always good for 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, so take advantage now and reap the rewards later.
Cliff Floyd, OF, NY Mets – Floyd has really struggled so far, barely batting over .200. That won’t continue.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NY Yankees – Along with Manny Ramirez, he is the highest-profile player on this list. Look for A-Rod to really explode soon. He is too good a player not to.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, and Bobby Abreu, OF, Philadelphia – It’s amazing the Phillies have done as well as they have with two of their biggest players slumping. Abreu is about to bust out, so snag him quickly. Rollins is the best SS in the NL, but you wouldn’t know it judging from his numbers so far. He will hit over .300 and get you at least 20 steals the rest of the way, so grab him now!
Jason Bay, OF, Pittsburgh – He’s already started to break out, but if you can find an owner who isn’t paying attention, go get those 20-25 HRs and 75-80 RBIs that are coming.
Richie Sexson, 1B, and Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle – These two were supposed to be the Mariners’ power duo of the future, but it just hasn’t happened….yet. Look for both of these guys to get it together soon and help Ichiro out.
Jim Edmonds, OF, St. Louis – With only 5 HRs so far, Edmonds is a very good candidate to bust out. He’s normally good for 35, so look for him to get at least 25 more for the year…IF he can stay healthy, which is always his biggest issue.
Carl Crawford, OF, Julio Lugo, SS, and Aubrey Huff, 3B, Tampa Bay – All 3 of these guys have had slow starts due to injury (Lugo/Huff) or just a sub-par performance (Crawford). All 3 should start to pick it up together.
Mark Teixeira, 1B-DH, Texas – With only 4 HRs so far, Big Tex is my bet to hit the most homers in the AL from here on out. He is simply too good a player not to have a huge hot streak and in the 100-degree Texas heat, the ball simply flies out of the stadium.
Jose Guillen, OF, Washington – This is a talented player if he can keep his head on straight. He was projected to have 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, so pick him up now and hope he stays on the straight and narrow. The numbers will come if he can.
Obviously not all of these players will break out and start to hit immediately, but they have done much better historically than this year. Next week, I’ll take a look at some pitchers to acquire that fall under the same classification.
By Chris Goudey
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
Batters:
Marcus Giles, 2B, Atlanta –He is historically a .300 hitter who is currently hitting .235. He’s a perfect buy-low candidate.
Manny Ramirez, OF, Boston – Usually good for 40 HRs and 130 RBIs, he is currently in single-digits in HRs and very low in RBIs. He is the ONE player who is due to go crazy in the month of June.
Juan Pierre, OF, and Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Chicago Cubs – Both players have seen their value decrease with the injury to Derrek Lee. Pierre isn’t scoring or hitting as well as normal, and Ramirez’s numbers are all down. When Lee returns, watch these numbers start to rise.
Ken Griffey Jr., OF, Cincinnati – IF he can stay healthy, a power surge is coming.
Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado – Now over his mysterious stomach ailment, he should be sending many homers into the Mile-High air shortly.
Reggie Sanders, OF, Kansas City – Should be good for at least 15 homers and 15 steals in the upcoming months.
Garret Anderson, OF, LA Angels – The Angels’ offense has been horrible so far, so look for Anderson to have more RBI opportunities as they begin to heat up.
Jeff Kent, 2B, LA Dodgers – Kent is always good for 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, so take advantage now and reap the rewards later.
Cliff Floyd, OF, NY Mets – Floyd has really struggled so far, barely batting over .200. That won’t continue.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NY Yankees – Along with Manny Ramirez, he is the highest-profile player on this list. Look for A-Rod to really explode soon. He is too good a player not to.
Jimmy Rollins, SS, and Bobby Abreu, OF, Philadelphia – It’s amazing the Phillies have done as well as they have with two of their biggest players slumping. Abreu is about to bust out, so snag him quickly. Rollins is the best SS in the NL, but you wouldn’t know it judging from his numbers so far. He will hit over .300 and get you at least 20 steals the rest of the way, so grab him now!
Jason Bay, OF, Pittsburgh – He’s already started to break out, but if you can find an owner who isn’t paying attention, go get those 20-25 HRs and 75-80 RBIs that are coming.
Richie Sexson, 1B, and Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle – These two were supposed to be the Mariners’ power duo of the future, but it just hasn’t happened….yet. Look for both of these guys to get it together soon and help Ichiro out.
Jim Edmonds, OF, St. Louis – With only 5 HRs so far, Edmonds is a very good candidate to bust out. He’s normally good for 35, so look for him to get at least 25 more for the year…IF he can stay healthy, which is always his biggest issue.
Carl Crawford, OF, Julio Lugo, SS, and Aubrey Huff, 3B, Tampa Bay – All 3 of these guys have had slow starts due to injury (Lugo/Huff) or just a sub-par performance (Crawford). All 3 should start to pick it up together.
Mark Teixeira, 1B-DH, Texas – With only 4 HRs so far, Big Tex is my bet to hit the most homers in the AL from here on out. He is simply too good a player not to have a huge hot streak and in the 100-degree Texas heat, the ball simply flies out of the stadium.
Jose Guillen, OF, Washington – This is a talented player if he can keep his head on straight. He was projected to have 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, so pick him up now and hope he stays on the straight and narrow. The numbers will come if he can.
Obviously not all of these players will break out and start to hit immediately, but they have done much better historically than this year. Next week, I’ll take a look at some pitchers to acquire that fall under the same classification.
By Chris Goudey
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
NL CENTRAL - Quarterly Report on Divisional Races
After a few weeks and with some surprises, the NL Central has begun to look a lot more as expected, particularly at the very top.
With a lineup containing the best player on the planet, the Cardinals have recently started to pull away and seem well on their way to their third straight division title. Pujols’ numbers are mind-boggling (22 homers and 54 RBI).
Barring an injury or a stunning slump, he’s practically locked up the MVP Award in May. Underrated David Eckstein has an OBP of .390 and provides the kind of spark few leadoff hitters can match. While injuries and age have slowed Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen to some degree, they are both still dangerous hitters. Juan Encarcion and Yadier Molina have been disappointments, but the rest of the lineup has picked them up so far.
Chris Carpenter has continued to pitch like an ace and starters Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, and Jason Marquis form a solid rotation that always keeps the Cardinals in the game. After a slow start, closer Jason Isringhausen has rounded into form. Only injuries will keep the Cards from playing in October.
Losers of 10 of their last 15, the “Big Red Mirage” are starting to play like their talent level indicates they should. Bronson Arroyo has been an outstanding acquisition and is obviously thrilled not to have to face those tough NL lineups, but you simply can’t send out such a mediocre starting rotation and expect to stay in the race. I told you a few weeks back to bet against them and those who listened are a bit richer today.
The Astros got off to a hot start before their starting pitching went through a horrid stretch. Roy Oswalt remains one of the league’s top pitchers and Wayne Rodriguez has been a nice surprise, but Andy Pettitte has struggled, Brandon Backe is out for the year, and the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent.
Brad Lidge has struggled (mostly with his control), but expect him to turn things around. Morgan Ensberg hit home runs in six straight games early in the year and Lance Berkman would be an MVP candidate in a league without Pujols. Also, very quietly, Brad Ausmus has put together a very good year (.418 OBP). The Astros could stay in the wildcard race and may soon get the kind of help that could rocket them to the finish line.
The Brewers are fun to watch. They lead the majors in home runs, and youngsters Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and Bill Hall mix nicely with veterans Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee, and Corey Koskie. The only thing is they may be too dependent on getting home runs and they strike out too much. A bit of small ball might help them at times. Getting Ben Sheets healthy would help a rotation that has one underrated star (Chris Capuano) and mostly back-of-the-rotation types. Derrick Turnbow is showing he’s no fluke, but the bullpen lacks depth. This year’s trendy sleeper pick will stay around a while, but ultimately doesn’t have enough for the playoffs.
First the Red Sox, then the White Sox, now the Cu … stop right there. Derrek Lee’s injury has revealed just how impotent the rest of the Cubs lineup is. Juan Pierre has an OBP of .271. Aramis Ramirez is hitting only .231. It’s ugly on the North Side. Greg Maddux’s May has been very different than his April and still no sign of Mark Prior. Dusty Baker must be on edge. No playoffs here, folks.
The Pirates were expected to be an improved team this year, but their starting pitching has failed them. Zach Duke has hit a bit of a tougher time facing teams the second time around, and whatever happened to Oliver Perez, who was thought to be a fast rising star? Not much hope in the Steel City either.
So early on, it looks like it’s the Cards division to lose and the Astros waiting for Roger Clemens to make them serious wildcard contenders.
By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
With a lineup containing the best player on the planet, the Cardinals have recently started to pull away and seem well on their way to their third straight division title. Pujols’ numbers are mind-boggling (22 homers and 54 RBI).
Barring an injury or a stunning slump, he’s practically locked up the MVP Award in May. Underrated David Eckstein has an OBP of .390 and provides the kind of spark few leadoff hitters can match. While injuries and age have slowed Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen to some degree, they are both still dangerous hitters. Juan Encarcion and Yadier Molina have been disappointments, but the rest of the lineup has picked them up so far.
Chris Carpenter has continued to pitch like an ace and starters Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, and Jason Marquis form a solid rotation that always keeps the Cardinals in the game. After a slow start, closer Jason Isringhausen has rounded into form. Only injuries will keep the Cards from playing in October.
Losers of 10 of their last 15, the “Big Red Mirage” are starting to play like their talent level indicates they should. Bronson Arroyo has been an outstanding acquisition and is obviously thrilled not to have to face those tough NL lineups, but you simply can’t send out such a mediocre starting rotation and expect to stay in the race. I told you a few weeks back to bet against them and those who listened are a bit richer today.
The Astros got off to a hot start before their starting pitching went through a horrid stretch. Roy Oswalt remains one of the league’s top pitchers and Wayne Rodriguez has been a nice surprise, but Andy Pettitte has struggled, Brandon Backe is out for the year, and the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent.
Brad Lidge has struggled (mostly with his control), but expect him to turn things around. Morgan Ensberg hit home runs in six straight games early in the year and Lance Berkman would be an MVP candidate in a league without Pujols. Also, very quietly, Brad Ausmus has put together a very good year (.418 OBP). The Astros could stay in the wildcard race and may soon get the kind of help that could rocket them to the finish line.
The Brewers are fun to watch. They lead the majors in home runs, and youngsters Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and Bill Hall mix nicely with veterans Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee, and Corey Koskie. The only thing is they may be too dependent on getting home runs and they strike out too much. A bit of small ball might help them at times. Getting Ben Sheets healthy would help a rotation that has one underrated star (Chris Capuano) and mostly back-of-the-rotation types. Derrick Turnbow is showing he’s no fluke, but the bullpen lacks depth. This year’s trendy sleeper pick will stay around a while, but ultimately doesn’t have enough for the playoffs.
First the Red Sox, then the White Sox, now the Cu … stop right there. Derrek Lee’s injury has revealed just how impotent the rest of the Cubs lineup is. Juan Pierre has an OBP of .271. Aramis Ramirez is hitting only .231. It’s ugly on the North Side. Greg Maddux’s May has been very different than his April and still no sign of Mark Prior. Dusty Baker must be on edge. No playoffs here, folks.
The Pirates were expected to be an improved team this year, but their starting pitching has failed them. Zach Duke has hit a bit of a tougher time facing teams the second time around, and whatever happened to Oliver Perez, who was thought to be a fast rising star? Not much hope in the Steel City either.
So early on, it looks like it’s the Cards division to lose and the Astros waiting for Roger Clemens to make them serious wildcard contenders.
By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
France 15/1 to win World Cup
Continuing VC Bet's countdown to the World Cup, tomorrow sees only 15 days to go to the big kick-off...
... and here is our offer to match it:
15/1 France to win the World Cup
Max stake £25 per person.
... and here is our offer to match it:
15/1 France to win the World Cup
Max stake £25 per person.
World Cup Fever Hits Australia
World Cup Fever Hits Australia
World Cup fever is set to hit Australia on Thursday (Australian time) when the Socceroos play a friendly international against Greece in Melbourne. More than 90,000 fans are expected to attend the game. But not all fans will be barracking for the home side - Melbourne has the second largest Greek population outside of Athens.
Current betting on Canbet.com shows the home team Australia at 120* with Greece at 235 and the draw 225.
Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink has named Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka as Australia's captain for the 2006 World Cup in Germany next month. The 30-year-old Viduka first captained the national team in the play-off win over Uruguay with regular captain Craig Moore sidelined because of injury.
Australia begins their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 12.
Betting on Australia's first World Cup Finals game against Japan is already available with Canbet.com where the Socceroos are priced at 120, Japan 190 and the Draw 220.
For current odds and more information, please see http://www.canbet.com.
World Cup fever is set to hit Australia on Thursday (Australian time) when the Socceroos play a friendly international against Greece in Melbourne. More than 90,000 fans are expected to attend the game. But not all fans will be barracking for the home side - Melbourne has the second largest Greek population outside of Athens.
Current betting on Canbet.com shows the home team Australia at 120* with Greece at 235 and the draw 225.
Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink has named Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka as Australia's captain for the 2006 World Cup in Germany next month. The 30-year-old Viduka first captained the national team in the play-off win over Uruguay with regular captain Craig Moore sidelined because of injury.
Australia begins their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 12.
Betting on Australia's first World Cup Finals game against Japan is already available with Canbet.com where the Socceroos are priced at 120, Japan 190 and the Draw 220.
For current odds and more information, please see http://www.canbet.com.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
VC Bet World Cup Offers
£60 Free Bet offer…
Open an account with VC Bet between 5th June and the 19nd June and we’ll match your first bet with a free bet up to a maximum of £60. (or equivalent currency)
Terms and conditions apply as current £20 offer.
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All matches, First Goalscorer bets:
Have a bet on the First Goalscorer and if your player fails to score the first goal but scores at any other time in the match we’ll give you a free bet to the same value on a match of your choice!
Applies to singles only, maximum free bet £25 per person per match. Free bet available within 48 hours and must be used within 7 days.
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All matches, Correct Score bets:
Have a bet on the Correct Score and if the match finishes 0-0 we’ll give you a free bet to your stake value on the match of your choice!
Applies to singles only, maximum free bet £25 per person per match. Free bet available within 48 hours and must be used within 7 days.
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Customer Loyalty/Re-activation Offer
Bet with VC Bet throughout the World Cup and we’ll reward you for your loyalty…
Place a bet of £5 or more on at least 10 group matches and we’ll give you a £10 free bet on the second round match of your choice….
Place a bet of £5 or more on at least 20 group matches and we’ll give you a £20 free bet on the second round match of your choice….
Place a bet of £5 or more on at least 30 group matches and we’ll give you a £30 free bet on the second round match of your choice!
Place a bet of £5 or more on all 48 group matches and we’ll give you a £60 free bet on the second round match of your choice.
One offer per person, void and promo cash (free) bets do not count towards free bets bonus.
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In Running Offer
Have any bet in-running during a World Cup match on ANY IN RUNNING MARKET and if there is a goal scored in Injury time (90.00 mins or later in normal time) we will refund 50% of your losses as a free bet to use on any future in-running market during the World Cup.
Applies to singles only, maximum free bet £25 per person per match. Free bet available within 48 hours and must be used within 7 days.
Monday, May 22, 2006
VC Bet World Cup Countdown..
Over the remaining days to the start of the World Cup, VC Bet will be running a series of special enhanced odds on the World Cup which correspond to the number of days left until the tournament begins, eg 17 days will be 17/1.
Tuesday’s special is….
WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN….17 DAYS….
17/1 Ronaldinho Top Tournament Goalscorer
Max stake £25 per person.
Wednesday’s special is….
WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN….16 DAYS….
16/1 Beckham Top England Tournament Goalscorer
Max stake £25 per person.
These prices will be available from midnight to midnight on the day in question. The maximum stake per person initially is £25, although this may increase as we get nearer the time.
All these prices will be best price available in the industry.
Tuesday’s special is….
WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN….17 DAYS….
17/1 Ronaldinho Top Tournament Goalscorer
Max stake £25 per person.
Wednesday’s special is….
WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN….16 DAYS….
16/1 Beckham Top England Tournament Goalscorer
Max stake £25 per person.
These prices will be available from midnight to midnight on the day in question. The maximum stake per person initially is £25, although this may increase as we get nearer the time.
All these prices will be best price available in the industry.
This Week on TV (5-22/5-28)
If you’re not captivated by the NBA playoffs, place a bet on who will coach the Knicks next year and how many games they will lose. Expect coaching and executive rumors to heat up with the league finals as the backdrop. Over in the NHL, the end of the season will mean a huge amount of player movement as the new collective bargaining agreement continues to create turmoil.
*All times Eastern
Monday, May 22
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., local/satellite)
The season isn’t even half over, and these two teams have traded the division lead half-a-dozen times. Expect this to continue at least until October because neither the Sox nor the Yanks have the pitching to break away from the other one.
Tuesday, May 23
WNBA, Connecticut at Minnesota (9 p.m., ESPN2)
Take a break from the long baseball season by watching this game and be a true maverick among sports fans. The most surprising bet on this game would be whether anyone outside of hardcore fans watches it. Still, if you want to see high school level basketball played by unattractive women, this is the sport for you.
Wednesday, May 24
Tigers at Royals (8:10 p.m., local/satellite)
The Tigers have to be considered a major success story this year as nobody expected that Jim Leyland would have them playing this well this fast. The Royals, on the other hand, continue to be one of the most predictable teams in sports. Still, even lousy teams win sometimes, and Detroit intends to be a real contender, they have to fatten up on teams like Milwaukee.
Thursday, May 25
Senior PGA Championship (2 p.m., USA)
The Masters tour now has so many recognizable faces that if the cameras don’t get too close, you’ll think its 1980, and the sport was back in its good old days. It may not be 1984, but these guys can still play, and Masters tournaments have a depth of potential winners that rivals even the main tour.
Friday, May 26
Soccer, U.S. versus Venezuela (7 p.m., ESPN2)
The U.S. squad prepares for the World Cup with this tune-up against Venezuela. The American squad actually has a shot at making it pretty far into the tournament this year, so these warm-up games should help the coaching staff make some important player decisions.
Saturday, May 27
NASCAR Busch Series (8 p.m., FX)
Kyle Busch has dominated the Carquest Auto Parts 300, winning it each of the last two years and finishing second in 2003. Expect the competition to be stiff as more and more Cup drivers moonlight in Busch cars.
Sunday, May 28
Indianapolis 500 (12 p.m., ABC)
Though the race has lost a lot of its luster in recent years, it gained some attention last year with Danica Patrick’s attempt at becoming the first woman to win the race. Patrick didn’t win and still hasn’t won a race, but she has been competitive and will be the story again.
By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb Sportsbook Contributing Writer
Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How to Do: Celebrity and Expert Advice on Living Large
” is available from Amazon.
*All times Eastern
Monday, May 22
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., local/satellite)
The season isn’t even half over, and these two teams have traded the division lead half-a-dozen times. Expect this to continue at least until October because neither the Sox nor the Yanks have the pitching to break away from the other one.
Tuesday, May 23
WNBA, Connecticut at Minnesota (9 p.m., ESPN2)
Take a break from the long baseball season by watching this game and be a true maverick among sports fans. The most surprising bet on this game would be whether anyone outside of hardcore fans watches it. Still, if you want to see high school level basketball played by unattractive women, this is the sport for you.
Wednesday, May 24
Tigers at Royals (8:10 p.m., local/satellite)
The Tigers have to be considered a major success story this year as nobody expected that Jim Leyland would have them playing this well this fast. The Royals, on the other hand, continue to be one of the most predictable teams in sports. Still, even lousy teams win sometimes, and Detroit intends to be a real contender, they have to fatten up on teams like Milwaukee.
Thursday, May 25
Senior PGA Championship (2 p.m., USA)
The Masters tour now has so many recognizable faces that if the cameras don’t get too close, you’ll think its 1980, and the sport was back in its good old days. It may not be 1984, but these guys can still play, and Masters tournaments have a depth of potential winners that rivals even the main tour.
Friday, May 26
Soccer, U.S. versus Venezuela (7 p.m., ESPN2)
The U.S. squad prepares for the World Cup with this tune-up against Venezuela. The American squad actually has a shot at making it pretty far into the tournament this year, so these warm-up games should help the coaching staff make some important player decisions.
Saturday, May 27
NASCAR Busch Series (8 p.m., FX)
Kyle Busch has dominated the Carquest Auto Parts 300, winning it each of the last two years and finishing second in 2003. Expect the competition to be stiff as more and more Cup drivers moonlight in Busch cars.
Sunday, May 28
Indianapolis 500 (12 p.m., ABC)
Though the race has lost a lot of its luster in recent years, it gained some attention last year with Danica Patrick’s attempt at becoming the first woman to win the race. Patrick didn’t win and still hasn’t won a race, but she has been competitive and will be the story again.
By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb Sportsbook Contributing Writer
Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How to Do: Celebrity and Expert Advice on Living Large
” is available from Amazon.Friday, May 19, 2006
Poker Strategy Software
If you are a keen online poker player, you should be looking at some of the Poker Strategy Software that is available. Below we have listed some of the ones that may help YOU to improve your chances of coming away a WINNER!
For more information, you can also visit the poker section at The Betting Directory
Texas Calculatem
- If you’ve never played poker with an odds calculator, Texas Calculatem is definitely THE ONE to start. There are already over 25,000 players using Texas Calculatem to win more money at the poker tables!
When you play with Texas Calculatem, you’ll instantly see the strength of your hand and get real-time betting advice. It uses complex mathematical formulas to recommend the best play on every hand – check, call, fold, or raise. It’s all based on your hand and the cards that have been played.
It’s no wonder Texas Calculatem is the hottest selling odds calculator on the market. It’s so accurate it’s hard not to win money! Plus, it’s completely customizable. You can adjust its betting advice to meet your style – loose or aggressive, tight or passive. Even change it up based on positioning or pre and post-flop betting.
If you want to start making REAL money playing poker, you must PLAY with Texas Calculatem. Best of all, you can get it for FREE!
Just visit the Texas Calculatem site.
Doesn’t it always seem like the smartest poker player always wins the most money?
Well if you want to be the smartest guy at the poker table, you have to play with Holdem Genius.
Holdem Genius is the odds calculator guaranteed to help you play smarter and win more money. It’s so simple to use. Just drag and drop the Genius,and it will automatically attach to your poker game.When you do, it watches your hand and instantly calculates your hand odds and pot odds with no manual inputs from you – EVER! Plus, Holdem Genius gives you real-time betting advice based on the strength of your hand,
your outs, the community cards, and what your opponents likely have.
You can even adjust the settings on Holdem Genius to match your personal playing style. Make it more aggressive in late position or tighter pre-flop. It’s up to you.
Plus, Holdem Genius can attach to multiple games at once making it easier for you to play more games and WIN MORE MONEY!This is the best way to dominate your opponents at the table. When you know the odds, it’s easier to WIN! The best part is you can get Holdem Genius for free just by opening a new account with one of their partner poker rooms. Go to the Holdem Genius website right now and get your FREE license!
Then you’ll be on your way to winning more money as a Texas Holdem Genius!Regardless of how skilled YOU are, to stay one step ahead of the competition and win the most money, you don't need just an odds calculator - you need the latest, most advanced poker odds calculator.
Calculatem Pro is just that – the most advanced poker odds calculator you’ve ever seen.Every player dreams of the day he’ll become a poker pro, but few ever achieve that status. Now you can have the advantage most pros have – they understand their odds of winning in EVERY situation.
When you’re playing with CalculatemPro, you’ll have that advantage and INSTANTLY know:- - the Strength of Your Hand
- - your Odds of Winning
- - which Hands can Beat You
- - your Odds of Drawing Out
- - your Odds of Winning on the River (helps eliminate “Bad Beats”)
- - your Pot Odds
- - how to Strategically Bet each hand, and
- - MUCH MORE!
You may never become a poker pro, but you can win money like a pro if you’re playing with Calculatem
Pro!
Just click this link to visit the Calculatem Pro website, and open a new account to get your free license.
If you’re serious about winning money at poker, this is the BEST CALL you’ll EVER make!
Yeah? Well, then you need to get Sit & Go Shark. Sit & Go Shark is a poker odds calculator developed by poker pro and author Roy Rounder.
Poker odds calculators, wildly helpful to players in the fast-paced online poker environment as they offer real-time advice based on the strengthof the player’s hand, are quickly becoming the norm in online Texas Holdem poker, but Sit& Go Shark does more than just calculate your odds of winning.Sit & Go Shark is a one-of-a-kind poker tool, and its advice is based on Roy Rounder’s own proven approach to online Texas Holdem poker. It uses a complex mathematical algorithm to help the player determine the proper play in every situation. Shark instantly compiles data based on current table circumstances – considering everything from the player’s cards to blinds to positioning to pot odds and much more on every single hand.
Sit & Go Shark then digs deep into the massive database of Roy Rounder’s Texas Holdem poker rules to offer the best advice for the player. And all of this dynamic poker advice displays right beside the table andin real-time. So while Shark works, the player plays.Sit & Go Shark is the only online poker aid created specifically for the ever-popular Sit & Go tournaments, and it’s the first one to tap into Roy Rounder’s own personal database of Texas Holdem poker strategies.
The best part is you can get Sit & Go Shark for FREE just by opening a new account with one of their partner poker rooms. Get Sit & Go Shark now and finish in the money in every tournament!
Win two tickets to the World Cup!
Win 2 World Cup tickets to see England v Trinidad & Tobago plus runner up prizes!!!
This is the ultimate prize for football fans and England supporters!
This fabulous VIP trip to watch England's World Cup game against Trinidad and Tobago includes return flights on a private jet and hospitality for two lucky people!
Just imagine the atmosphere, the tension and the look on your mate's face when you tell them you're going!
It gets better though! There are also runner up prizes of one Plasma TV and home surround sound system so you can watch all the matches in style and five further runner up prizes of digital camcorders.
This is the ultimate prize for football fans and England supporters!
This fabulous VIP trip to watch England's World Cup game against Trinidad and Tobago includes return flights on a private jet and hospitality for two lucky people!
Just imagine the atmosphere, the tension and the look on your mate's face when you tell them you're going!
It gets better though! There are also runner up prizes of one Plasma TV and home surround sound system so you can watch all the matches in style and five further runner up prizes of digital camcorders.
Da Vinci Code - bet the opening weekend gross take
Wagerweb.com is offering bettors the chance to predict the opening weekend grosses of “The Da Vinci Code.” The site puts the over/under at $70 Million.
There are many reasons given for declining movie attendance. Some blame rising ticket costs. Others point to the Internet and video games as just some of the competing entertainment options. Maybe it’s that people can simulate the experience of the movies with home theaters. Still others say that people hate the 20 minutes of ads they are subjected to before each film. But the main reason might be the actual films themselves.
People still enjoy the communal experience of going to the movies. And this is one of many reasons it may be worth taking a flyer and betting on the over on the box office of “The Da Vinci Code.”
Since the beginning of last summer, only five films have opened to greater than $65 million on their opening weekends. Those films were “Star Wars: Episode 3,” “War of the Worlds,”; “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire,” “Ice Age: The Meltdown,” and “Chronicles of Narnia.” So what makes this a pretty good bet to be number six?
Awareness is off the charts. Forty million copies of the book The Da Vinci Code were sold. Many were surely passed along to friends. If you’ve been on a plane or a train or walked along a beach in the last couple of years, it’s been hard not to pass at least one person reading the novel. Walk into any book store, and there are sections devoted to books analyzing the original book. And, come on, when you first read that the film was going to star Tom Hanks, wasn’t your first thought “Too bad there was already a movie called ‘The Sure Thing.”
There is a definite lack of competition. “MI:3” and “Poseidon” both opened to disappointing grosses. Most adults looking for summer films often complain that summer films are only about “things blowing up and talking animals.” “The Da Vinci Code” is for them. Until the new summer princes of romantic comedy, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, open their movies later this summer, what’s the big date movie? While not your typical summer action flick, “The Da Vinci Code” still contains a lot of thrills and suspense, plus a strong female lead to complement Tom Hanks. This film will be filling a void when it opens this weekend.
“The Da Vinci Code” is controversial. Senior Vatican officials are urging a boycott of the film. This proposed boycott has only brought additional attention to the film, but now some might say that there is no such thing as bad publicity. This is not necessarily true in the movie business. Russell Crowe’s affair with Meg Ryan killed the box-office for “Proof of Life.” Tom Cruise’s antics on Oprah had a negative effect on “MI:3,” and all the press surrounding Bennifer certainly didn’t help sell any Ben Affleck or Jennifer Lopez movies. However, those examples were about the talent. When the film itself is controversial, press tends to help it. The people who haven’t read the book are likely to be curious as to what the fuss is all about. Sony is not very concerned about the bad press. In fact, its commercials embrace it by calling “The Da Vinci Code” “The most controversial thriller ever.”
There are some concerns. The film hasn’t screened yet. Not all best selling books become hit movies (although it certainly helps to drum up interest). But, short of a Pixar cartoon, Harry Potter and your friendly neighborhood Spiderman, how many sure things are there? “The Da Vinci Code” has enough going for it for you to bet the over.
There are many reasons given for declining movie attendance. Some blame rising ticket costs. Others point to the Internet and video games as just some of the competing entertainment options. Maybe it’s that people can simulate the experience of the movies with home theaters. Still others say that people hate the 20 minutes of ads they are subjected to before each film. But the main reason might be the actual films themselves.
People still enjoy the communal experience of going to the movies. And this is one of many reasons it may be worth taking a flyer and betting on the over on the box office of “The Da Vinci Code.”
Since the beginning of last summer, only five films have opened to greater than $65 million on their opening weekends. Those films were “Star Wars: Episode 3,” “War of the Worlds,”; “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire,” “Ice Age: The Meltdown,” and “Chronicles of Narnia.” So what makes this a pretty good bet to be number six?
Awareness is off the charts. Forty million copies of the book The Da Vinci Code were sold. Many were surely passed along to friends. If you’ve been on a plane or a train or walked along a beach in the last couple of years, it’s been hard not to pass at least one person reading the novel. Walk into any book store, and there are sections devoted to books analyzing the original book. And, come on, when you first read that the film was going to star Tom Hanks, wasn’t your first thought “Too bad there was already a movie called ‘The Sure Thing.”
There is a definite lack of competition. “MI:3” and “Poseidon” both opened to disappointing grosses. Most adults looking for summer films often complain that summer films are only about “things blowing up and talking animals.” “The Da Vinci Code” is for them. Until the new summer princes of romantic comedy, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, open their movies later this summer, what’s the big date movie? While not your typical summer action flick, “The Da Vinci Code” still contains a lot of thrills and suspense, plus a strong female lead to complement Tom Hanks. This film will be filling a void when it opens this weekend.
“The Da Vinci Code” is controversial. Senior Vatican officials are urging a boycott of the film. This proposed boycott has only brought additional attention to the film, but now some might say that there is no such thing as bad publicity. This is not necessarily true in the movie business. Russell Crowe’s affair with Meg Ryan killed the box-office for “Proof of Life.” Tom Cruise’s antics on Oprah had a negative effect on “MI:3,” and all the press surrounding Bennifer certainly didn’t help sell any Ben Affleck or Jennifer Lopez movies. However, those examples were about the talent. When the film itself is controversial, press tends to help it. The people who haven’t read the book are likely to be curious as to what the fuss is all about. Sony is not very concerned about the bad press. In fact, its commercials embrace it by calling “The Da Vinci Code” “The most controversial thriller ever.”
There are some concerns. The film hasn’t screened yet. Not all best selling books become hit movies (although it certainly helps to drum up interest). But, short of a Pixar cartoon, Harry Potter and your friendly neighborhood Spiderman, how many sure things are there? “The Da Vinci Code” has enough going for it for you to bet the over.
To place your bet go to Wager Web and click on "Media"
By Jonathan Wachs
Contributing Writer Wager Web
By Jonathan Wachs
Contributing Writer Wager Web
World Cup Betting
WILL YOU BET ON A 1966 FINAL REPEAT?
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Bet365 are offering odds of 18/1 that England face Germany in the World Cup 2006 final on 9th July in Berlin. This bet has been popular so far, even though the teams could meet as early as the last 16 stage instead.
It’s an 11/1 shot that England face Brazil in the final and a generous 20/1 that they come face-to-face with Argentina instead.
Other interesting ‘Name the Finalist’ selections are Brazil v Argentina (10/1), Germany v France (50/1), Italy v Spain (40/1) while USA v Iran is a massive 20,000/1!
THREE LIONS TO WIN THEIR THREE GROUP MATCHES?
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England are 11/4 with bet365 to win all three World Cup group games. Sven Goran Eriksson’s men face Paraguay in their first match, Trinidad & Tobago in their second game and Sweden last of all.
The price of 11/4 may seem huge if they manage a win in their first two games. However, if you think it’s an ambitious bet, England to score 6 or 7 points instead is a 10/11 shot while bet365 go 2/1 that they score under 6 points instead.
You can bet on the Group Points of every World Cup team with bet365. Brazil are a tempting 13/8 to win each of their three group games.
ENGLAND 11/4 FOR REPEAT QUARTER FINAL DEFEAT
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England are 11/4 with bet365 to repeat their 2002 quarter final exit in Germany. They also bowed out at the last-8 stage during Euro 2004 so there’s bound to be plenty of takers at the current odds.
England are currently 7/1 to win the World Cup and 8/1 to finish Runner-Up. They’re 9/2 to reach the semi-final stages and just 5/2 to fall at the last-16 stage instead. For those doomsayers amongst us, they’re 9/2 to fail at the group stages.
You can bet on the ‘Stage of Elimination’ for every World Cup team with France 4/1 to reach the semi finals, Holland 10/3 to reach the quarter finals and Spain 15/8 to fall at the last 16 stage.
BRAZILIANS LEAD WAY IN GOLDEN BOOT MARKET
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Ronaldo (10/1) and fellow team-mates Adriano (12/1) and Ronaldinho (12/1) lead the way on bet365’s Top Goalscorer market. This reflects the view