Yahoo! News: Sports News
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:35 GMT
Jul 03, 2009 02:21PM
Phil Jackson says he'll return to Lakers (AP)
AP - Phil Jackson will return to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season, getting a clean bill of health following a record championship season.
Jul 03, 2009 02:21PM
Federer seeks 15th Slam vs. Roddick at Wimbledon (AP)
AP - Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer channeled Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash.
Jul 03, 2009 04:00PM
Ramirez apologizes to fans, teammates (AP)
AP - Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues and apologized to fans and his teammates. He refused to talk about steroids, though.
Jul 03, 2009 04:11PM
Report: Turkoglu agrees to terms with Blazers (AP)
AP - Hedo Turkoglu reportedly agreed to join the Portland Trail Blazers after helping Orlando reach the NBA finals.
Jul 03, 2009 04:16PM
Tiger moves into lead at Congressional (AP)
AP - The best of Tiger Woods came Friday when his game was falling apart.
Jul 03, 2009 10:33AM
Report: Celtics offer Wallace a contract (AP)
AP - The Boston Celtics have offered forward Rasheed Wallace a contract as part of a major push to land the coveted forward, according to a published report on Friday.
Jul 03, 2009 09:44AM
NFL coaches visit troops in Iraq in first USO trip (AP)
AP - The soldiers expressed their gratitude over and over to the NFL coaches who made the trip to Iraq.
Jul 03, 2009 03:54PM
Lakers head coach Jackson commits to another season (Reuters)
Reuters - Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson will stay in charge for the 2009-10 season, he said on Friday as he ended speculation about his future.
Jul 03, 2009 03:35PM
Red Sox pitcher Dice-K's going to Florida (AP)
AP - Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will head to Florida on Monday to begin a spring training-like strengthening program that the Red Sox hope will get him back to the big leagues later this season.
Jul 03, 2009 12:08PM
Owen completes stunning Manchester United move (AFP)
AFP - Michael Owen has joined English champions Manchester United on a two-year contract, the club announced here on Friday, in a remarkable turnaround for the injury-prone striker.
Jul 03, 2009 02:18PM
Coyotes sign Heshka to 1-year contract (AP)
AP - The Phoenix Coyotes signed defenseman Shaun Heshka to a one-year contract Friday.
Jul 02, 2009 07:58PM
Strasburg wins Dick Howser Trophy (AP)
AP - Former San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Washington Nationals last month, has been selected as the winner of the Dick Howser Trophy as college baseball's player of the year.
Jul 03, 2009 12:56PM
Federer, Roddick book Wimbledon title showdown (AFP)
AFP - Roger Federer reached a record 20th Grand Slam final, and a seventh straight Wimbledon title match Friday, while Andy Roddick ended Andy Murray's bid to become the first British champion here since 1936.
Jul 03, 2009 04:19PM
Diaz, Kemp share Farr lead (AP)
AP - Laura Diaz barely remembers the last time she led an LPGA Tour event. Sarah Kemp never had.
Jun 27, 2009 10:25PM
Argentina's Maidana stuns Victor Ortiz (AP)
AP - Marcos Maidana stopped Victor Ortiz early in the sixth round of an action-packed fight Saturday night, using a punishing right hand to upset one of boxing's top prospects.
Jul 03, 2009 03:45PM
Earnhardt eyes Daytona as part of turnaround (AP)
AP - Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't know when he'll end his winless streak, or how long it will take to turn around his horrendous season.
Jul 03, 2009 04:27AM
Asia Olympic Council backs Tokyo's 2016 bid (AP)
AP - The Olympic Council of Asia has endorsed the bid of Tokyo to host the Summer Games in 2016.
Copyright (c) 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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UFC 100 Betting - The "Other" Fights
Posted: July 2, 2009
Looking at the UFC 100 odds, it’s hard not to get super excited about the title fights. Guys like Brock Lesnar and Georges St-Pierre are among the sport’s biggest superstars? However, let’s not forget that UFC 100 is a spectacular fight card all the way through, from the title fights to the undercards. Let’s make some picks for the non-title fights.
DAN HENDERSON (24-7) VS. MICHAEL BISPING (18-1)
Sports predictions favorite: Henderson -300
The Ultimate Fighter 9 coaches meet in a battle that may not be as lopsided as the odds makers think. Dan Henderson is a justifiable favorite; he’s a former Olympic wrestler who can dominate opponents on the ground. He also has heavy hands, though his striking isn’t technically crisp, and a granite chin. He’s among the toughest fighters the sport has ever seen, willing to face the best fighters in multiple divisions.
I have to wonder, though, if Bisping doesn’t deserve more credit on the UFC 100 fight card. He has heart and fantastic fitness to match Henderson. While he lacks pure finishing power, he can land points with good technical striking. Hendo has the ground advantage but Bisping’s Jiu-Jitsu is underrated. I can’t help but think the younger, quicker Bisping can surprise Henderson with his energy and grind out a decision. I’m going for the big upset.
Pick: Michael Bisping +240
JON FITCH (22-3) VS. PAULO THIAGO (11-0)
Sports predictions favorite: Fitch -400
Poor Jon Fitch. In another era, he could be a long-standing welterweight champion. He’s a superb wrestler with a strong jaw and underrated punching power, but he’s just not on the level of freakish athlete Georges St-Pierre, so he may be stuck in No. 1 contender status for a long time – especially after losing to GSP in his one title shot.
Don’t make a betting management blunder and get sucked in by Thiago’s 11-0 record. His brutal knockout of Josh Koscheck was fluky and he hasn’t truly been tested in the UFC yet. He’s biting off way, way more than he can chew with Fitch.
Pick: Fitch -400
MARK COLEMAN (15-9) VS STEPHAN BONNAR (14-5)
Sports predictions favorite: Bonnar -300
Two of the UFC’s gritty fighters meet in a battle of guys coming off tough losses. Hall-of-famer Mark “the Hammer” Coleman looked done – as in ready to retire – in his last fight against Shogun Rua but insists on laboring through another fight. He’ll have to try and use his big wingspan to bring Bonnar down, as Bonnar has the big advantage standing up.
Bonnar may have the best chin in the entire UFC, so Coleman won’t hurt him. He’ll have to win on points and hope Bonnar doesn’t catch him with a big punch, but I don’t like Coleman’s chances.
Pick: Bonnar -300
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PGA Betting - AT&T National Odds
Posted: June 30, 2009
The UFC 100 fight card is set but we still have several weeks to wait, so the best remedy may be to calm down, kick back and enjoy some golf. How about Tiger's tournament? The AT&T National doesn't have a super-deep field but it does have several favorites all with great chances to win. Let's break down the list.
THE ELITE - Tiger Woods (+150)
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to bet on Roger Federer's Wimbledon odds and the same applies to Tiger on the links. he sat out last year's tourney with his leg injury but placed sixth the year before. While he has to work on his shot making -- namely, approaches and driving accuracy -- to contend this week, Congressional favors long hitters, so that gives his value a nice boost. We don't need to say much else, do we? Tiger will be in the hunt come Sunday.
THE CONTENDERS - Jim Furyk (+1600), Anthony Kim (+2200)
Furyk seems on the cusp of victory. He hasn't won a tourney since 2007 but he has three top-10s in his last four starts and his peripherals -- including driving distance and proximity to hole -- set him up well to succeed. He's also finished third at this event two years running. You obviously can't forget about Anthony Kim. He's the defending champ, he's finally breaking out of his slump (two top-20s in last two weeks), and his price per head of +2200 is solid for a former winner.
THE SLEEPERS - Hunter Mahan (+1800), Robert Allenby (+3300)
I suppose Mahan isn't a total sleeper as he's making noise lately with two straight top-10s on Tour. He's seventh in ball striking and should post some low figures this week. It's also strong betting management to consider Allenby, who tied for third last year and had four straight rounds in the 60s.
Daily sports pick: Furyk. He has experience, a great track record at Congressional and a desire to get the monkey off his back.
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NASCAR Odds - Johnson, Hamlin Set For New Hampshire Showdown
Posted: June 25, 2009
NASCAR betting players know how good Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson are on the flat surface of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, site of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 on Sunday, so it's no surprise that they're at the top of the list in your offshore sportsbook. Kurt Busch is the defending race-winner in this event, but he won't be one of your sports picks this week.
New Hampshire Odds - Sunday, June 27, 2:00 PM ET
Johnson is the favorite this week with odds of +700, and his 9.0 finishing average in seven summer races at New Hampshire is third among active drivers. This includes a win back in 2005. The three-time defending champion finished fourth at Sonoma last week, which is a great result for him on a road course, and he's been as good as anyone in the series lately with three top-sevens in four races, including a win at Dover. He could have won at Michigan and Pocono, if not for bad fuel mileage.
Hamlin has odds of +800 with a finishing average of 5.0 in the New Hampshire summer race, which is the best among active drivers, and includes a win in 2007. Hamlin has had some bad luck with mechanical problems and pit stops over the last year or so, and he should have won at Martinsville and Richmond this year, when he led 441 laps between the two short tracks, only to come up short (pardon the pun).
Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart come in with NASCAR odds of +800 and +900, respectively, and Gordon would love a win to cut into Stewart's 84-point advantage atop the standings. Gordon won here last in 1995, but he has eight top-10s in 16 summer races here, while Stewart has a pair of wins from 2000 and 2005, and he can't fall out of the top five if he wanted too. These are two of the best drivers NASCAR has ever seen, so it's no surprise that gambling software would have them close to the favorites.
Longshots to watch out for are Carl Edwards at +1100, and Martin Truex Jr. at +2000. Edwards' 13th-place run at Sonoma was excellent for his standards, and he's run in the top seven in five of his last six races. Truex Jr.'s 8.3 average in three summer races here is second only to Hamlin, and if they put a good car under him, he can surely challenge for the top.
However, this will come down to Johnson and Hamlin, and with
all the rough luck Hamlin has had, you have to think he's due. He's also one of
the best short-track racers of the last 10 years, and New Hamsphire is right up
his alley. Go with the No.11 this week in your New Hampshire odds.
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MLB Weekly Preview – June 24-26
Posted: June 23, 2009
Wednesday, June 24
Cubs @ Tigers – 7:05 p.m. ET
Rich Harden (4-3, 5.27) vs Rick Porcello (8-4, 3.54)
Two of baseball’s hotter teams clash in Detroit when the Cubs travel to Comerica Park. They’ll be in tough against rookie Rick Porcello, who continues to impress, though he’s more vulnerable at home 4.22 ERA. Meanwhile, flamethrower Rich Harden continues to struggle but everything could click at any moment. Some run support from slumping Alfonso Soriano would go a long way.
Phillies @ Rays – 7:08 p.m. ET
Joe Blanton (4-3, 5.28) vs Matt Garza (4-5, 3.83)
The World Series rematch continues! Joe Blanton usually pitches better on the road, but he struggles at Tampa’s Tropicana field (7.64 ERA). Matt Garza, meanwhile, usually pitches his best against top teams. The Rays will be the favorite, but the powerful Philly bats can end a slump at any moment.
Thursday, June 25
Cardinals @ Mets – 1:10 p.m. ET
Chris Carpenter (5-1, 1.53) vs Johan Santana (8-5, 3.22)
Is this the pitching matchup of the year so far? Baseball predictions don’t get tougher than Carpenter-Santana. When Carpenter is healthy, he’s among the game’s best, and he’s proving that this year. He also has red-hot Albert Pujols supporting him. But will that be enough to overcome Santana, perhaps the NL’s top ace, in New York?
Dodgers @ White Sox – 2:05 p.m. ET
Chad Billingsley (9-3, 2.83) vs Clayton Richard (2-1, 4.03)
If Carpenter and Santana don’t watch their backs, L.A.’s Billingsley will steal the Cy Young from them this year. The Dodgers’ workhorse seems to give a quality start every time he takes the hill. He still has an uphill battle against the big White Sox bats in homer-friendly U.S. Cellular Field, though. And Clayton Richard is holding his own in Chicago’s rotation.
Friday, June 26
Giants @ Brewers – 8:05 p.m. ET
Matt Cain (9-1, 2.28) vs Yovani Gallardo (7-4, 3.00)
How many Cy Young contenders are there in the NL? 10? Two more go head to head when Matt Cain and the Giants visit the Milwaukee Brewers in a battle of Wild-card contenders. Cain is pitching as well as anyone on the planet this month but he faces a potent lineup and will have to keep the ball down, as Gallardo should mow through the San Fran lineup. This one is so close to call that you may want to try out some betting software to help you choose.
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Wimbledon Betting – Nadal Might Play, But How Well?
Posted: June 18, 2009
After Rafael Nadal exited the French Open surprisingly early and his coach said that he was battling a knee problem, there was some real trepidation as to whether he would be able to play at Wimbledon.
As the third Grand Slam of the tennis season approaches, a lot of Wimbledon betting are wondering what kind of impact – if any – the reigning Wimbledon champ can make.
Nadal got back on the court earlier today in a warm up against Australian Lleyton Hewitt and lost. That’s not a good sign.
Hewitt handled Nadal rather easily, 6-4, 6-3 as Nadal was visibly hampered by a bad knee.
If these were NFL odds we were examining, Nadal would be very questionable to play. The difference is that in the NFL, there are 52 players on the team and if one isn’t at full strength, the others can pick up the slack. In tennis, Nadal will be out there on his own and if his knee is not at full strength, he’s in trouble.
Nadal is a very courageous tennis player and a lot of people are expecting him to play at Wimbledon, even if it is only for a round or two. Given the way he winced in pain at times today, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to make it all the way to the final to defend his title.
That’s good news for Roger Federer as a lot of people making their sports picks have switched to him. Federer, who won the French Open, has renewed confidence. Not only that, virtually the only guy who beaten him in the past few years is now out of his way for Wimbledon.
Federer dominated the grass at the All England Club and he should feel less pressure to win now that Nadal isn’t going to be a threat. Federer lost in a classic match last year and there were some concerns that he might not be able to regain his form if he were to face Nadal again but that thinking is no longer in play.
Wimbledon was supposed to be the titanic clash between Nadal and Federer and while that storyline is gone, it is replaced with another one that is just as captivating. Federer is aiming for his 15th Grand Slam title, which would give him the most Grand Slams ever. With Nadal hurting, most betting services are anticipating that it will happen.
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US Open Betting – Tiger Woods A Heavy Favorite
Posted: June 16, 2009
The US Open odds are posted and surprise, surprise, Tiger Woods is the betting favorite. Woods has been the betting favorite at virtually every event he’s participated in this year – and for the last 10 years – so this doesn’t come as too much of a shock.
But what is a surprise to the golf betting community is just how big of a favorite Tiger Woods is. He is +140 to win the event and the next closest golfer, Phil Mickelson, isn’t even inside of 15-to-1.
There is a reason why Eldrich Woods is such a big favorite: he has a good history at the US Open, majors and Bethpage State Park, where this year’s US Open will take place.
For starters, Woods has three US Opens to begin with. That’s quite a bit and the most among active golfers, which is one of the reasons to like him. Aside from his wins, he has Top 20 finishes in 10 of his last 11 US Opens, which gives you the indication that he’ll be in contention all the way until the end, which is not the kind of security you can get from most golfers.
One of the US Opens that Woods has won was the one back in 2002 when the golfers were on this very course: Bethpage Black.
It’s going to play very long this year because of the rain and this course will reward the big hitters and the accurate ones as well, and Woods just seems to fit that profile really well.
Take a look at your Hunter Mahans and your Stewart Cinks, or other golfers who may fit this courses profile, but at the end of the day, the best sports pick is Woods – even if the value is so low.
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