Celtic topples Hearts to extend SPL lead
Soccer Betting Lines
02/08/2012 -
Edinburgh, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic moved four points clear of
second-place Rangers on Wednesday after securing a 4-0 win over Hearts at
Tynecastle Stadium.
The Hoops charged out to a three-goal lead in the first 30 minutes with goals
from Scott Brown, Victor Wanyama and Joe Ledley, while Gary Hooper added a
fourth goal on the hour mark to extend Celtic's winning streak to 13 games.
Brown needed just three minutes to put his team in front as he found the lower
corner of the net with a shot from 12 yards.
James Forrest set up the next tally in the 20th minute when picked out Wanyama
with a pass that the midfielder dispatched past goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald
from inside the penalty area.
Ledley put his name on the scoresheet on the half-hour mark when Georgios
Samaras crossed the ball into the area from the left and the Wales
international got his head to it, redirecting it past MacDonald from six
yards.
The scoring was capped 30 minutes from time by Hooper, who beat the 'keeper
from close range after being set up by Wanyama.
Hearts remains in fourth despite sustaining its second successive defeat.
<< Flames give D Smith two-year deal
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Derek
Smith to a two-year contract worth $1.55 million on Wednesday.
"Derek came to training camp this year on a two-way contract and played his
way into our startin
<< Benschop helps AZ join PSV at the top of the league
The Hague, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A hat trick from Charlison Benschop
helped AZ Alkmaar on its way to a 6-0 triumph at Den Haag on Wednesday,
allowing the club to join PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie table.
AZ slip
<< Wildcat Creek comes in for Hutcheson Stakes
Hallandale Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A field of six three-year-olds have
been entered for Saturday's $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The
seven-furlong contest is an early prep for next month's $1 million Florida
Derby.
<< Catania, Roma finish all square in resumed match
Catania, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The final 25 minutes of Roma's match at
Catania concluded on Wednesday with neither side able to break the 1-1
deadlock they started the day with.
The match was suspended after 65 minutes bec
<< Panthers sign long snapper to 4-year deal
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Panthers signed long snapper
J.J. Jansen to a four-year contract on Wednesday.
Jansen, 26, has played all 48 games in his three NFL seasons with the Panthers
and went without a mistake this p
Air Force fires basketball coach Reynolds >>
Colorado Springs, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Air Force men's basketball coach Jeff
Reynolds was fired Wednesday with the team in the midst of a six-game losing
streak.
Athletic director Dr. Hans Mueh made the announcement. Associate head co
Sharapova, Goerges reach QFs in Paris >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova and six-
seed Julia Goerges of Germany were second-round winners Wednesday at the Open
GDF Suez.
Sharapova, who withdrew from this event last year due to illness, advanc
Yankees sign veteran INF Branyan >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees signed veteran infielder
Russell Branyan on Wednesday.
The minor league deal includes an invitation to spring training.
Branyan, 36, has played for 11 teams since appearing in his first
Colts name Telesco VP of football operations >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indianapolis Colts have promoted Tom
Telesco to vice president of football operations.
Telesco, who spent 14 years in the personnel department, was promoted by new
general manager Ryan Grigson. The
Heat G Chalmers inactive vs. Magic >>
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers was inactive
for Wednesday night's game at Orlando because of a left hand sprain.
The Heat said Chalmers, who has played all 25 games this season, was day-to-
day with the i
NFL owners, already life's biggest winners, want to try their luck with the lottery.
That was the news out of their meetings last week, where team bosses voted unanimously to allow stamping state and local lottery tickets with franchise logos, if, ahem, any governments wanted to do a deal.
A shocker: Within days the Pats announced they'd be sponsoring the Massachusetts state lottery, the Skins said they'd slap their sticker on Virginia scratch-offs and the Ravens admitted they were talking to Maryland lottery bosses. In all likelihood, it won't be long before every team is a presenting sponsor of scratch-offs or just plain old pick fives. "The change in policy was approved 32-0," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. "So you can expect to see more deals soon."
It's a branding opportunity too big for the owners to ignore, and one a couple of dozen baseball franchises have enjoyed for years. The fact the NFL has been slower to act than those slack-brained Seligites is indicative of its complicated relationship with all forms of gambling. Consider this: Last Thursday, as the Pats and the Redskins finalized their new lottery deals, a lawyer representing the NFL argued before Delaware's Supreme Court that the state's newly signed sports betting law should be repealed.
The NFL betting is the face of opposition to sports gambling . And as much as it would like to share that responsibility with other leagues, that's not going to happen as long as more than 40% of all money legally wagered on games is bet on football. That's why the Brewers can do a multi-million dollar deal with a local casino, or the Celtics can make their own pact with the Mass lottery, and the response is, "Sweet, let's play." But when the NFL does it the stakes are higher, and everyone from NPR's Frank Deford to the Associated Press to the guys blogging at Deadspin will line up to play gotcha.
So I asked Aiello, who surely knew there'd be piling on, how the league can rail against being bait for sports bettors, then allow its franchises to be just that for lotteries, the most insidious and addictive form of gambling around. He emailed me this response: "We are not moral crusaders. NFL personnel are permitted to engage in legal forms of gambling, except for betting on NFL games. We are making a distinction here between the spread of gambling on the outcome of our games and supporting state lottery scratch-off games, that have nothing to do with the outcome of our games."
Here's where I should rip him. But, the thing is, he's right. Not to get Obama on you, but this is a complicated, nuanced issue. As much as lotteries are considered a tax on the poor, the NFL isn't a socially obligated government program -- it's just a business. Scratch-off's help the bottom line, sports betting doesn't.
Now, it's okay to call the league hypocritical when it releases injury reports, which players have told me only helps bettors … But when it supports other forms of gaming? Big Deal.
Now, it's okay to call the league hypocritical when it releases injury reports, which players have told me only helps bettors. And it's okay to mutter something obscene when the league pretends gambling doesn't help drive TV ratings and fan interest and put money in owners' pockets. But when it supports other forms of gaming? Big Deal. The Bears should put an orange "C" on every deck of cards dealt at Harrah's in Joliet; the Eagles should slap their logo on roulette wheels at the Borgata in Atlantic City; the Dolphins should hold training camp at the El San Juan in Puerto Rico.
Seriously.
The NFL's problem, when it comes to the gambling world, isn't hypocrisy, it's worse: The bosses lack vision. That's why the league is picking unwinnable fights in Delaware and taking pot shots from critics after making smart sponsorship deals. Roger Goodell and his gang are acting and thinking locally rather than globally, which is rare for them, especially compared to their professional (and amateur) counterparts.
The NBA held its All Star game in Las Vegas and David Stern's kingdom didn't crumble (although the town did bring plenty of players to their knees.) I'd say it's 6 to 5 and pick 'em that Lebron will make a road swing through Sin City before his career is over.
Even the NCAA College Football Betting is more progressive on this issue than the NFL. Several years ago Rachel Newman Baker, college sports' gambling czar, opened a dialogue with Vegas bookmakers to learn about how they do business. She's visited Nevada sports books, studied their operations and listened to how they regulate action. Now she knows she can expect a call from bookmakers, who lose money when sports are fixed, if they think something sketchy is going on in NCAA games. She's not in favor of sports betting, but, as she once told me, "I know it's not going away, either."
The NFL can't seem to accept that. And until it can find peace with the idea, it'll get flack, even when it's right.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts MasterCard needs.
MySportsbook.com is operated by Sportingbet, a UK gambling company which is publicly traded on the AIM on the London Stock Exchange.
Sportingbet easily forms the world's largest Internet gaming company, with a truly global outreach. This also provides added transparency and accountability to this online Sportsbook and thus provides more safety and security for our customers. MySportsbook offers betting lines on all major sporting events. Our staff of almost 400 people includes clerks ready 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to care for your needs.
MySportsbook's competent, experienced managerial staff and personnel are backed by a state-of-the art sports wagering software.
We offer a 15% sign-up bonus to new customers who use Neteller for deposit and 10% bonus for all other deposit methods. Casino clients can take advantage of a 5% cash back monthly. Clients are also eligible for a 5% re-up bonus on subsequent deposits and 10% cash back on NFL losses.* Our instant-play flash casino is no-download, just click and go to a wide range of games including online Blackjack, 3-Card Poker, Craps, Baccarat, Roulette and Pai-Gow Poker, as well as a variety of slots and video poker games for the complete online casino Las Vegas experience.
My Sports book accepts all credit cards, online checks, Neteller, Firepay and bank wires. MySportsbook guarantees prompt, hassle-free payouts, as well as unparalleled individual attention from its acclaimed customer service department.
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
|