08/08/2008 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Restricted free agent forward Josh Smith has signed a five-year, $58 million offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday.
The Atlanta Hawks have claimed all summer that they would match any contract offer the Georgia native received. They have seven days to make good on that promise, or Smith, whom Atlanta selected 17th overall in the 2004 draft, becomes a member of the Grizzlies.
Smith, 22, is coming off a career year in which he averaged 17.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 blocks in 81 games for the Hawks, who made the playoffs for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign, and pushed the eventual NBA champion-Celtics to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
In four seasons with Atlanta Smith has averaged 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 307 games.
The Hawks already lost the services of Josh Childress this offseason, when the forward agreed to play overseas by signing a three-year, $20 million contract with the Greek franchise Olympiakos.
<< Old Firm rivals set to battle for league crown once again
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time a team other than Celtic or
Rangers lifted the Scottish Premier League trophy was the 1984-85 season, and
that trend figures to continue this year with the two Glasgow clubs entering
the sea
<< Motherwell signs O'Brien, Nielsen
Motherwell, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Motherwell boss Mark McGhee has snapped
up Celtic winger Jim O'Brien and Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen.
O'Brien, who has been on trial at Fir Park for the last month, has signed a
two-
<< Wi making the most of a situation
Bloomfield Hills Township, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Charlie Wi, 36, is making
the most of his first-ever appearance in a major championship.
Wi posted his second consecutive, even-par 70 and is tied with Ben Curtis as
low men in the clu
<< 2008 College football week one plays
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - About a year ago this time, I gave out
three first week college football plays. All three were winners.
Georgia Tech, a one-point road favorite, had no problem dismantling Notre
Dame, 33-3, outgaining th
Sabres, Bouck agree to deal >>
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Tyler Bouck
to an undisclosed contract Friday.
Bouck, 28, logged 11 goals, 18 assists and 86 penalty minutes in 79 games
while servicing as the captain of the Portland P
Chivas, K.C. aim to get back on winning track >>
Kansas City, KA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA and the Kansas City Wizards, two
Major League Soccer teams coming off shutout losses in league play last week,
face off at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Saturday in a rematch of last year's
Western
New York desperate for win against D.C. United >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull New York's winless skid moved
to seven matches Wednesday, but it's tough to criticize the Major League Soccer
team for a loss to Barcelona.
Barcelona defeated the Red Bulls 6-2, and afterward
Texans release RB Bell, sign OT Tucker >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans released running back
Mike Bell on Friday, just eight days after signing him.
The move was necessitated by the signing of offensive tackle Torrin Tucker, an
undrafted free agent out
MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.
Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.
According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).
Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.
''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.
''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''
Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.
”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.
For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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