This week on the PGA Tour: WGC-CA Championship
The PGA Tour returns to one of the most famed courses in America this week for the invite-only World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral’s Blue Monster.
Many believed that Tiger Woods might return to competitive golf at this event because he loves Doral and always plays well at the Miami-area course, but Woods isn’t back on Tour yet. But the field is otherwise as strong as it possibly could be, with the other nine of the Top 10 players in the world on hand (48 of the top 50) as well as the Top 10 in both FedEx Cup points and the PGA Tour money list. Nine of the 10 tournament winners from this year also are in the field.
`It’s just below the majors for us,” PGA golfer Paul Casey said of the CA Championship. “It’s the next step down. It’s there the world’s best turn up — limited fields, no cut, shootout for 72 holes. If you win any World Championship event, you’ve beaten the world’s best. Certainly, around the Blue Monster gives it something extra.”
Tiger has won 16 career WGC events — the next-closest is Geoff Ogilvy with three. Six of those Woods wins have come at the CA in 10 career starts, and Tiger has yet to finish outside the top 10 in the event. So that opens up the door for everyone else.
Phil Mickelson is the WagerWeb.com favorite at +400, and he is the defending champion here. Last March, Mickelson, taken to a hospital on the eve of the final round with heat exhaustion and dehydration, survived seven lead changes in 11 holes against Nick Watney before hanging on with seven pars for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot victory. Lefty finished at 19-under 269 and earned $1.4 million, then the biggest check of his career. That snapped an 0-for-26 drought in WGC events. In 10 career pro PGA Tour starts at Doral, Mickelson has finished in the top-10 just twice: his win last year and second to Tiger in 2005.
However, Lefty’s title defense will come this week without benefit of a practice round because he won’t arrive at Doral until Wednesday night. Of course Mickelson skipped the year’s first World Golf Championships event, opting to take his family on a spring-break vacation instead of teeing it up in the WGC Match Play.
Camilo Villegas is the No. 3 favorite on WagerWeb.com at +900 to win on the heels of his five-shot victory just up the Florida coast in the Honda Classic last week. World No. 2 Steve Stricker is the second favorite this week on WagerWeb.com at +800. He finished tied for 13th last year at Doral and six of his last seven rounds there have been below par.
Jim Furyk (+1000) also bears watching this week. In 13 starts at the Blue Monster, he’s had six top-10 finishes, including a victory in 2000. He also finished second in both 2003 and ‘08.
Joining Mickelson as former winners of this tournament in the field this week are Ogilvy (2008), Ernie Els (2004) and Mike Weir (2000).
Golf betting odds at WagerWeb Sportsbook
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Marion Jones to play for Tulsa in WNBA
It’s not too often you will find WNBA copy here on WagerWeb.com, but one of the former biggest names in women’s sports is headed to the league: disgraced Olympian Marion Jones.
The WNBA’s Tulsa Shock have signed the 34-year-old ex-track star after she worked out for head coach Nolan Richardson (yes, the former Razorbacks coach) on Saturday.
“We’re thrilled to have her,” Richardson said., “In the workouts last week I saw how hard she works. She has things you can’t teach, like speed and great hand and eye coordination. She looks chiseled. Her age [34] might be saying one thing but everything about her is saying she’s young.”
Jones, who was stripped of five medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics after she admitted to using steroids, will play in the WNBA as a rookie free agent. She was released in September 2008 from a Texas federal prison after completing most of her six-month sentence for lying about doping and her role in a check-fraud scam. Jones also gave berth just eight months ago to her third child.
Jones was a starting point guard on the 1994 North Carolina NCAA national championship team and drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in 2003 but never played in the WNBA. She hasn’t played organized basketball since leaving UNC in 1997. She will make roughly $35,000 in her first season in the WNBA.
The Shock initially played in Detroit beginning in 1998 and won WNBA titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008. The team moved to Tulsa in November 2009.
Is this a publicity stunt for the WNBA and the Shock? Of course it is, but that league needs all the publicity it can get, and the Shock need to sell tickets. The Shock begin the 2010 season May 15th at home against the Minnesota Lynx.
Bet on the WNBA at WagerWeb.com
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Browns’ Anderson rips Browns fans after being cut
You knew Derek Anderson’s time was going to be up in Cleveland after the team acquired QB Seneca Wallace from Seattle a few days ago, and indeed the Browns did cut Anderson on Tuesday, most likely clearing the way for Brady Quinn to be the starting QB in 2010 with Wallace as his backup – although there certainly will be an open competition for the job, and new Browns president Mike Holmgren loves Wallace from his time in Seattle.
In dumping Anderson, the Browns avoided paying Anderson a $2 million roster bonus and a $7.45 million salary in 2010. But Anderson did anything but leave Cleveland quietly.
“The fans are ruthless and don’t deserve a winner,” Anderson said. “I will never forget getting cheered when I was injured. I know at times I wasn’t great. I hope and pray I’m playing when my team comes to town and [we] roll them.”
In a statement released Wednesday, Anderson said those words came out of frustration. At least he didn’t say he was misquoted.
“I said some things to [News-Herald reporter] Jeff Schudel earlier that I regret,” Anderson said. “Those of you who got to know me personally from covering the Browns over the past five years, know this was out of character for me. I wasn’t taken out of context, but I was speaking out of frustration after my career with the Browns came to a close.”
Ironically, Anderson now may visit Seattle, which obviously needs a QB after dealing Wallace. The Arizona Cardinals also could look at Anderson to backup Matt Leinart. Of course Anderson had a breakout 2007 season with 29 TD passes in leading the Browns to 10 wins. That earned him a big contract, but he has just a 48.0 percent completion percentage the past two seasons. His overall record as a Browns starter was 16-18.
Bet on NFL football at WagerWeb.com
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Spartans may not have Chris Allen for Big Ten Tournament
The Big Ten co-regular season champion Michigan State Spartans are the third seed in the Big Ten Tournament, but MSU won’t have a starter for its tourney opener and possibly beyond.
That would be guard Chris Allen, who was suspended by Coach Tom Izzo indefinitely from the team. Izzo gave few details about Allen’s suspension, but confirmed he won’t play Friday in MSU’s first game of the Big Ten tournament. MSU, the No. 3 seed, plays against the winner of Thursday’s Minnesota-Penn State game in Indianapolis.
“Somebody has got to grow up,” Izzo said of Allen, who has started the last 21 games. “It’s taken a little longer for some guys to grow up.”
Izzo ordered Allen to not practice Tuesday and said he wasn’t sure if Allen will travel with the team to Indianapolis for the tournament. If Izzo decides he can play Saturday and beyond if the Spartans win, Allen will come down separately on Friday. The team is scheduled to leave Thursday. Izzo said Allen has had some classroom issues, though his eligibility is not a concern. This is mostly “a basketball issue,” Izzo said.
In the regular-season finale win over Michigan, Allen went scoreless in 24 minutes and didn’t attempt a shot. It was the first time in 101 college games that Allen did not shoot (Izzo said it had nothing to do with that). The junior leads the Spartans in 3-pointers (51) and 3-point percentage (40.8). Allen has started 26 of 31 games and is averaging a career-best 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He is the fourth MSU guard to be punished in some way by Izzo this season. It’s not clear who would start in Allen’s place.
Despite all of Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament success, the Spartans haven’t won the Big Ten Tournament in 10 years. They are favored at +150 on WagerWeb.com to do so this season even though Ohio State and Purdue are higher seeds (based on tiebreakers, as all three tied for the Big Ten regular-season title).
Bet on college basketball at WagerWeb.com
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Wednesday NBA: Nets (7-56) at Mavericks (44-21)
Well, Wednesday night’s New Jersey-Dallas game certainly looks like one of the major mismatches of the season, with the Nets still having a shot at the fewest wins in a season in NBA history — not to mention 4-28 on the road – and Dallas currently on a 12-game winning streak.
Ah, but this might be one of those typical trap games for Dallas and a good spot to take the Nets and the points – New Jersey is getting 11 on WagerWeb.com’s NBA odds.
Dallas can do nothing wrong at the moment and can tie the Cavs for the longest winning streak in the NBA this season at 13. Of course the Nets and Mavs are bound by the Jason Kidd for Devin Harris trade a few years ago. And that trade certainly looked lopsided for the Nets for a while. Harris was an All-Star last season and in the four games against the Mavericks since he became a Net just over two years ago, Harris has outscored Jason Kidd by nearly seven points. He also managed to embarrass Kidd on Dec. 19, 2008, when he scored 41 points in a 121-97 Nets win.
Kidd is having a career resurgence this season, leading Harris in every major category but points. Kidd currently ranks fifth in the NBA in assists with 9.4 a game and leads all full-time guards in rebounding with 5.5 per game. Kidd had had 17 points in Dallas’ 117-101 win at the Meadowlands on Dec. 2. That loss was the Nets’ record-setting 18th straight to start the season.
Harris is playing much better of late. In the past 16 games, he’s he’s averaged 20.6 points and has averaged 29.5 points in his last two games.
The Nets are led in scoring by Brook Lopez, who has become one of the best young centers in the league. He has started all 63 games this season, averaging 19 points, nine rebounds and nearly 1.9 blocks.
The Mavs’ Caron Butler is averaging 19 points in the past six games and shooting better than 50 percent. Dallas has scored 108 points or more in four consecutive games. The Mavs have won nine consecutive home games against the Nets.
Dallas point guard J.J. Barea, who has seen increased minutes in the Dallas backcourt with Jason Terry out, is doubtful for tonight’s game. Center Brendan Haywood also is unlikely to play.
Bet on the NBA at WagerWeb.com
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Wednesday NHL: Kings (82 points) at Blackhawks (91 points)
What is it with the second period when it comes to the Chicago Blackhawks? The Hawks, who enter Wednesday’s game with L.A. just two points out of the points lead in the Western Conference, have surrendered 12 second period goals in four games, including five to the Red Wings in Sunday’s 5-4 Detroit victory.
“That second period lull, it seems that we give away the momentum or give up quality chances or goals,” coach Joel Quenneville said.
Chicago has opened as a -168 moneyline favorite on WagerWeb.com’s NHL odds against L.A.
Goalie Cristobal Huet was pulled during that loss to the Wings, so Antti Niemi will start in net tonight. Huel had started the past three games but gave up four of those goals to Detroit. Niemi gave up another as Chicago wasted a 2-0 lead in the 5-4 loss.
Niemi started the four games leading up to the Olympic break, and he won all four. But he was pulled in a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders in the first game after the break. Chicago has everything in place to win the Stanley Cup except at the most important position: goaltender.
Los Angeles is a great road team with an 8-2 mark in its last 10 games away from the Staples Center. The Kings are coming off perhaps their best performance of the season — a 6-0 rout of Columbus on Monday night. The Kings limited the Blue Jackets to just 11 shots — the fewest by any team in a game this season. L.A. and Chicago have split two meetings this season, each winning on home ice.
Chicago’s Patrick Kane is on an eight-game point streak during which he has 4 goals and 13 points. L.A.’s Alexander Frolov is coming off a four-point night in the win over Columbus and has 4 goals and 9 assists in nine games.
Bet on the NHL at WagerWeb.com
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Wednesday NCAA: Pac-10 Tournament – Washington State vs. Oregon
The Pac-10 Tournament opens on Wednesday night in Los Angeles with one game, Washington State vs. Oregon, and it’s quite likely to be the last game for Ducks coach Ernie Kent.
Kent reportedly has told his players he won’t be back next season. The Ducks are 15-15 in Kent’s 13th season at the helm. Kent, 55, has led the Ducks to a school-best 234-172 record, and he is the longest tenured Pac-10 coach. He has taken Oregon to the NCAA tournament five times, but the team has finished in 10th and ninth place, respectively, over the last two seasons.
Washington State had an even more disappointing season, finishing last in the Pac-10 during the regular season. It became the first conference team to finish last despite at least six league wins, and their 16 overall wins are the most ever by a last-place team.
The Cougars closed with six losses in seven games, including a 74-66 loss at Oregon to closet the regular season. Lekendric Longmire had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Ducks, while Klay Thompson had a game-high 22 points for Washington State. Wazzu is technically the No. 9 seed for the Pac-10 Tournament because Southern Cal is not participating due to self-imposed sanctions.
The Ducks have a 157-122 edge in the all-time series with WSU and swept the series this year for the first time since 2006-07. These two teams met in the opening round of last year’s tournament, with the Cougars winning 62-40. WSU has lost its last six road games but is 3-0 in neutral-site games this year.
Thompson leads WSU and ranks third in the conference with 19.6 points per game. He has scored double figures in 24 of the Cougs’ 30 games this season and reached 20-plus points in 16 of the 30 contests.
The winner of this game faces Pac-10 regular-season champion Cal on Thursday. WSU holds a 3-1 advantage against Oregon in the Pac-10 Tournament and has ousted Oregon from the event the past two years.
Bet on college basketball at WagerWeb.com
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Real life bridezilla causes fist fight in bridal shop (video)
A bridal shop brawl was caught on tape in Detroit when a customer freaked out after the shopkeeper refused to alter her dress.
Watch footage of the bride-to-be’s posse rampaging throughout the store in the gallery. In a more extensive report, the store owner says, “They don’t know how to deal with things in the United States. They think they in Fallujah or the mountains of Iraq or somewhere.”
Hahahahaha priceless.
[See post to watch Flash video]
Read more on this story here.
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Andi Muise
Born on January 12, 1987 in North Bay, Ontario, Muise was discovered at the age of 14 in a Barrie mall by Michèle Miller, owner of the International Model Management agency, who also discovered Jessica Stam.
Muise has modelled for major brands, such as Emporio Armani, Hockley and FCUK, as well as shooting for GQ and Allure magazines, and advertising for Bloomingdale’s, Intimissimi, Pantene, Kenneth Cole, and Urban Outfitters.
In 2005, she appeared in Victoria’s Secret 10th annual fashion show, also walking the runway for them in 2006 and 2007. She has walked for shows that include Abaete, Lacoste, Lela Rose, Yigal Azrouel, Nanette Lepore, Oscar de la Renta, Trovata, and Dolce & Gabbana. She appeared on Project Runway, walking for designer Santino Rice in the season finale.
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
101-year old Chinese woman growing horns
An elderly Chinese woman has stunned her family and fellow villagers by growing from her forehead a horn than resembles a goat’s.
Grandmother Zhang Ruifang, 101, of Linlou village, Henan province, began developing the mysterious protrusion last year.
Since then it has grown 2.4in in length and another now appears to emerging on the other side of the mother of seven’s forehead.
The condition has left her family baffled and worried.
Her youngest of six sons, Zhang Guozheng, 60, said when a patch of rough skin formed on her forehead last year ‘we didn’t pay too much attention to it’.
‘But as time went on a horn grew out of her head and it is now 6cm long,’ added Mr Zhang, whose eldest brother and sibling is 82 years old.
‘Now something is also growing on the right side of her forehead. It’s quite possible that it’s another horn.’
Although, it is unknown what the protrusion is on Mrs Zhang’s head, it resembles a cutaneous horn.
This is a funnel-shaped growth and although most are only a few millimetres in length, some can extend a number of inches from the skin.
Cutaneous horns are made up of compacted keratin, which is the same protein we have in our hair and nails, and forms horns, wool and feathers in animals.
They usually develop in fair-skinned elderly adults who have a history of significant sun exposure but it is extremely unusual to see it form protrusions of this size.
The growths are most common in elderly people, aged between 60 and the mid-70s. They can sometimes be cancerous but more than half of cases are benign.
Common underlying causes of cutaneous horns are common warts, skin cancer and actinic keratoses, patches of scaly skin that develop on skin exposed to the sun, such as your face, scalp or forearms.
Cutaneous horns can be removed surgically but this does not treat the underlying cause.
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]