Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
06/29/2010 -
CLEVELAND (AP) -As he dressed in his spacious corner locker, LeBron James glanced over at the news scrolling across the flat-screen TV on the far wall. The ticker read: ``NBA: Kobe Bryant signs three-year contract extension with Los Angeles Lakers.''
Buttoning his shirt following the game in April, roughly one month before his quest for a championship would end awkwardly and two months before becoming The Free Agent Of All Free Agents, James wasn't a bit surprised.
``Did anyone really think he was leaving?'' he asked incredulously. ``Kobe's been there since he was like 17. That's his home. He wasn't going anywhere.''
Hmm. Sound like someone you know, 'Bron?
The league's MVP grinned and bit his top lip. Not saying.
Soon enough, we'll have his answer.
At the heart of James' impending free agency, a moment of controlled chaos hyped beyond anything in recent sports memory, is one underlying question: Can he move away from the only place he has ever known?
James hits the market at 12:01 a.m. Thursday as the valedictorian of this historic 2010 free-agent class. He might have already decided where he'll dribble, drive and dunk next. Even if he has, he's still going to listen to offers and can't sign with anyone until July 8.
Depending on whom you believe, the soon-to-be No. 6 is either headed to New York to resurrect the sorry Knicks; or to New Jersey to plot global domination with rap mogul pal Jay-Z and Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov; or to Chicago to follow Michael Jordan's magnificence; or to Miami to join Olympic teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a terrifying trifecta; or to Dallas where he could play with buddy Jason Kidd and watch his beloved Cowboys all the time.
Or, he'll stay in Ohio, kick back in the 40,000-square-foot palace he built not far from the Akron streets where he was raised and continue to play for the Cavaliers.
Right now, nobody knows.
In a guessing game changing by the minute, one thing is certain: James' decision will be made by one person - LeBron Raymone James.
He has listened to his advisers, consulted with friends, former coaches, Nike bigwigs, gazillionaire Warren Buffett and others of influence. But James and only James will make the final choice before signing on the dotted line.
What's he going to do?
``What's best for him and his family,'' teammate Shaquille O' Neal said before the Cavs' postseason collapsed in a second-round loss to Boston. ``He's 25, but he's something I've really never seen before.''
There's never been anyone like him - or anything like this.
Never before has one player carried such clout into free agency. Despite never winning a championship - or even one game in the finals - James has the league bowing at his expensive sneakers. The anticipation of his league-tilting decision has caused an information feeding frenzy only rivaled by Tiger Woods' sex scandal.
Teams have revamped their rosters for him, with Chicago and Miami doing the most maneuvering.
Cities have spent big bucks campaigning for him, calculating the economic impact of his arrival, or in Cleveland's case, a possible departure.
Corporate jets will descend upon Northeast Ohio in the coming days, loaded with teams hoping to lure James away. The Nets' delegation led by Prokhorov, Jay-Z, new coach Avery Johnson and outgoing president Rod Thorn will make their sales pitch first, followed by the Knicks and at least four other teams.
Everyone wants him.
All that matters, though, is what James wants.
He has spent seven seasons in Cleveland, a marriage manufactured by the lucky bounce of a draft lottery ball that sent the local kid up Interstate 77 to play as a pro and transformed a forgotten franchise into one of the league's powerhouses.
Although the Cavs have enjoyed unparalleled success with James, events over the past month or so have threatened to drive them apart forever. Cleveland's postseason flop - losing three straight, including Game 5 at home by 32 points to the Celtics - was followed by coach Mike Brown's firing, the resignation of GM Danny Ferry and owner Dan Gilbert's failed pursuit of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.
As of Tuesday, Cleveland still hadn't hired a coach but was zeroing in on Lakers assistant Brian Shaw.
If the Cavs were hoping to make an impression, this isn't the one James wanted to see.
James, who will pass on his $17.1 million option for next season to officially become a free agent, wants stability and structure, not an organization seemingly making changes on the fly.
Although other teams can't formally meet with James until Thursday, the Cavs have been in touch with him, agent Leon Rose and business manager Maverick Carter since Cleveland's season ended. Gilbert and new GM Chris Grant recently visited James at his Bath, Ohio, home, and the Cavs are expected to make a final run at the superstar after the other suitors make their presentations.
``Our goal is to re-sign LeBron,'' Grant said stating the obvious.
Cleveland, a city tortured by a pro sports title drought approaching a 47th birthday, is counting on loyalty to put a full-court press on James' heart and persuade him to stay. The Cavs can offer him more money (as much as $30 million on a six-year contract), and they have one asset no other team can offer - this is home.
Since his season ended, James, whose puzzling performance in the Game 5 loss to Boston will tarnish his legacy should he sign elsewhere, has given no hints at his plans. He has made two public appearances, most recently at a LeBron Appreciation Day in Akron, where he showed up as the event was winding down. He professed love for his hometown, saying ``everything I do is for this city.''
If that's true, he'll follow Bryant's lead and stay home.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Strasburg should be Stars-burg
Ryan Franklin spent more than 15 seasons trying to become an All-Star, wending through Bellingham and Appleton and Port City, working as a starter, middleman and setup guy, waiting for that special night to hear the PA announcer call his name, jog t
<< Athletics' Braden scratched from start
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden was
scratched hours before his scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles on
Tuesday due to elbow stiffness.
In 15 starts this season, Braden is 4-7 with a 3
<< A Little Warm comes up hot in Delaware
Stanton, DE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three months after finishing second in the
Louisiana Derby, A Little Warm got back into action Tuesday afternoon at
Delaware Park. The three-year-old colt returned to racing in a 1 1/16-mile
allowan
<< Braves activate OF Diaz from DL
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves activated outfielder Matt
Diaz from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.
Diaz, who was placed on the DL on May 15 and underwent surgery on his infected
right thumb shortly after, takes t
Rays' Upton not in lineup against Red Sox >>
BOSTON (AP) -Center fielder B.J. Upton was not in the starting lineup against Boston on Tuesday night, and Rays manager Joe Maddon said it was not because of Upton's confrontation with teammate Evan Longoria in the dugout Sunday.Upton and Longoria h
Yankees pitching coach Eiland returns >>
NEW YORK (AP) -Pitching coach Dave Eiland has rejoined the Yankees after taking nearly a month off to attend to what he described as a personal private matter.Eiland says he was able to keep up with the Yankees while he was away. Starter A.J. Burnet
Habs send Kostitsyn to Nashville for two players, pick >>
Montreal, Quebec (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens traded forward
Sergei Kostitsyn to Nashville for forward Dustin Boyd and goaltender Dan
Ellis, the club announced on Tuesday.
Both teams will also be swapping future considerations.
Barnes and Holmes win CVS Charity Classic >>
Barrington, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Barnes and J.B. Holmes teamed for an
impressive 13-under 58 on Tuesday to win the CVS Charity Classic at Rhode
Island Country Club.
Barnes and Holmes finished at 21-under 121 and edged out
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting