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03/03/2010 - Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning to a local group headed by businessman Jeff Vinik has been completed.
Vinik controls Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, LLC, and becomes chairman of the team. The group's purchase, approved unanimously by the NHL Board of Governors, includes the lease to the St. Pete Times Forum and ownership of adjacent real estate.
"The Lightning is a great franchise in a terrific community," said Vinik, who signed the purchase agreement on February 4. "We thank Oren Koules and his partners for beginning the turn-around of the Lightning hockey club. Our goal now is to build a world-class organization, on and off the ice."
Vinik, also a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox, takes over for owners OK Hockey, LLC, which includes Hollywood producer Koules. That company had just taken control of the team prior to the 2008-09 season and revamped the entire front office and roster in hopes of building a winner.
The Lightning finished 24-40-18 last season and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. However, they have already surpassed that win total this season, sitting at 26-25-11 through 62 games in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.
Vinik, 50, posted an open letter to Lightning fans Wednesday on the team's website.
"As the new owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, I would like to express my appreciation to the entire community for welcoming me as caretaker of your hockey team and the St. Pete Times Forum," the letter reads. "I pledge to you that every one of us at the Lightning will work our hardest to create a world- class organization, both on and off the ice. My goal is to return to the days when the entire Tampa Bay area proudly cheered together for its hockey team."
Since Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup title in the 2003-04 season, the team has not advanced past the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The franchise's best years came under the control of Palace Sports and Entertainment, whose nine-year run included four playoff appearances, a Southeast Division title and the Stanley Cup title in 2004.
A Boston resident, Vinik is the founder and chairman of Vinik Asset Management and previously managed Fidelity's Magellan Fund.
<< Rangers pick up D Eriksson from Phoenix
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers added some depth to the
blue line by acquiring veteran defenseman Anders Eriksson from the Phoenix
Coyotes prior to the trade deadline on Wednesday.
Eriksson was sent to the Ran
<< Yelle returns to the Mile High City
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche have acquired forward
Stephane Yelle from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Cedric
McNicoll and a 2010 sixth-round draft pick.
Yelle returns to the franchise with wh
<< Hurricanes deal Alberts to Canucks
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes dealt defenseman Andrew
Alberts to Vancouver on Wednesday in exchange for the Canucks' third-round
draft pick in 2010.
Alberts posted two goals and 10 points in 62 games for Caroli
<< Braves bring final 11 under contract
Lake Buena Vista, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves agreed to terms
with the final 11 players on their 40-man roster Wednesday.
One-year contracts have been granted to right-handers Jair Jurrjens, Kris
Medlen and Luis Valdez
Flames acquire Delmore from Detroit >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames acquired defenseman Andy
Delmore from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Riley Armstrong.
Delmore has been assigned to the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey
League.
Moore paces Purdue over Hoosiers >>
West Lafayette, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - E'Twaun Moore led Purdue with 21 points
and had six rebounds as the seventh-ranked Boilermakers won their first game
since losing Robbie Hummel for the season, 74-55 against the Indiana
Hoosier
Manning undergoes procedure for neck injury >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton
Manning underwent a procedure on Tuesday to relieve pain in his neck caused by
a pinched nerve.
The team released a statement on Wednesday concerning Manning.
Orlando has little trouble dismantling Golden State >>
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwight Howard posted 28 points and 12 rebounds
to lead a 117-90 Orlando Magic rout of the Golden State Warriors at Amway
Arena.
The rest of the starting five hit double-digit scoring as well for a Mag
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.
MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds
With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.
Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season. Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money.
This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy. A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.
Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:
| Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State) Michael Bush (RB, Louisville) Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia) Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville) Chris Leak (QB, Florida) Mike Hart (RB, Michigan) Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State) Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame) Drew Tate (QB, Iowa) Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal) Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn) Chad Henne (QB, Michigan) Kyle Wright (QB, Miami) Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State) Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama) JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State) Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina) Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech) |
5-2 7-2 7-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 18-1 18-1 20-1 30-1 35-1 35-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 |
For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.
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