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08/25/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The West Division returns to play this week after a bye, with the two basement dwellers set to host the top teams. The Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions have a lot of work cut out for them to get back into the swing of things, a task made harder with all the coaching speculation underway. Few would have thought Wally Buono's position as head coach of the Lions would ever be in doubt, but after limping to a 1-6 record to start the season, those questions are now being asked.
BC LIONS
Since Buono took over in 2003, the Lions have never missed the playoffs. Although the team has shown its decline over the last three seasons, this year's dramatic fall for one of the all-time winningest CFL coaches still comes as a surprise.
The Lions' problem on the field this season has been the same since Week 1 - an inexperienced o-line that fails to protect its quarterback and running backs. The Lions just can't find the time to find their offensive rhythm when they are constantly being hurried.
With the league's best defensive team coming up next, it will be even tougher to find their mojo with the ball.
Offensive key to the next game (Calgary Stampeders): Protect the quarterback. There is a possibility Casey Printers will be back from injury to start this game and if that's the case, the Lions are better off for it. But BC will get nowhere if they can't control the field around the line of scrimmage.
Defensive key to the next game: The Stampeders have many offensive weapons, backed up by a healthy balance between their passing and running game. However, the Stamps rely on their quarterback Henry Burris more than anything (he's thrown more touchdowns than any QB out West), so the Lions need to force the Stamps to run the ball to keep it close. Doing that starts with cutting off Burris's favorite target, Nik Lewis.
Look ahead: After Calgary, the Lions play three different eastern teams. While two are against Montreal and Toronto, BC has historically done well against the East. The Lions' most realistic chance of making the playoffs will be crossing over to the East Division, making these three games crucial to its hopes of a postseason berth.
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
As dire as things are on the Pacific Coast, they aren't as bad as across the Rockies. Edmonton has put up a terrible -94 point differential in scoring, which is 50 points worse than the Lions.
What this stat suggests is that nothing has worked for the Eskies all season. Arkee Whitlock remains one of the league's best running backs, but more is needed for this once-proud organization.
Losing 56-15 against Calgary in Week 7 was the latest debacle for Edmonton.
There is good news, however. Ricky Ray, who had only five pass attempts in their last game before leaving with injury, will be back this week. Though Ray has yet to find the magic from earlier in his career, he is a much better option than the backups behind him.
Offensive key to the next game (Saskatchewan Roughriders): Ray must dazzle, and it's possible to do that against Saskatchewan. The Riders have given up (by far) the most passing yards of any team in the West, and so Edmonton's best chance at scoring points will be to get it done through the air.
Defensive key to the next game: Part of the reason for Saskatchewan's lackadaisical pass defense is that they welcome teams to try and outgun Darian Durant and the league's best receiving corps. The Eskimos have to find a way to limit Durant's ability to go big and force him to complete short passes.
Look ahead: The schedule does not get any easier for the Eskimos. After their tilt with the Riders, they have a home-and-home series with the Stampeders, followed by a date in Montreal with the Alouettes.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
The Stampeders headed into the bye week with the greatest momentum of any team. They became the top team in the league while at the same time making a dynamic statement when they trounced their Albertan rivals, 56-15, in Week 7.
When the Stamps won the Grey Cup in 2008, they had a league-best 13-5 record. Though there are many games still to be played, Burris and company look even deadlier this year, as they're on pace to score more points and allow even fewer.
The Stamps have the record to back up their strong play, but with so many games having come right down to the wire, they have also shown a resiliency that was missing last season.
Another road game in BC will put that to the test once again.
Offensive key to the next game (BC Lions): Burris needs to be mistake-free, as BC has a much better defense than its 1-6 record would indicate. In their meeting before the bye week, Burris threw for just 238 yards and had one interception, a stat line that allowed BC to come within five points of forcing overtime. Burris will need to execute better against a hungrier team.
Defensive key to the next game: The Stamps used some clever ploys to knock Lions QB Travis Lulay off his game in Week 7. If Printers remains on the sidelines, the Stamps need to do the exact same thing this week and keep Lulay uncomfortable. Tactics don't change if Printers is in the game, but the Stamps will have to be more cautious with the more experienced quarterback.
Look ahead: The Stamps have a home-and-home series with Edmonton after their matchup with BC, meaning a 3-0 run is a strong possibility. However, Calgary has shown some weakness on the road - at least in the fact they aren't as dominating as they are at home. A 1-3 record, even against the league's two worst teams, is a possibility if the Stamps don't take their opponents seriously.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Since losing 40-20 to Calgary in Week 4, the Riders have lost a little of the magic they started the season with, when they beat Montreal, 54-51, in their season opener.
Much of that has to do with the sloppy play of quarterback Darian Durant. After throwing seven touchdowns and just one interception over the first three games, Durant has been picked off a whopping eight times over his last four contests, to go along with just four TD's. It's no surprise that during Durant's struggles the Riders have mustered a mediocre 2-2 record over that span.
Offensive key to the next game (Edmonton Eskimos): Playing a road game is never easy, and so the Riders need Durant to find his accuracy, and fast. The Eskimos are not as challenging a team to square up against, but the Riders QB should use this game as a launching point for an improved second half of the season.
Defensive key to the next game: QB Ricky Ray, wide receiver Fred Stamps, and running back Arkee Whitlock. These are the three biggest offensive weapons the Eskimos have. Stopping at least two of three will eliminate any hope of an Edmonton upset.
Look ahead: The Riders have a classic home-and-home series against prairie rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers coming up after this week. Though Saskatchewan has proven to be the superior team this season, there's no guarantee this will translate to two easy wins. With another match against Calgary looming three weeks from now, the Riders need to win in order to prepare themselves for the upcoming western showdown.
<< Carlos Eduardo leaves Hoffenheim for Rubin Kazan
Sinsheim, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoffenheim midfielder Carlos Eduardo
completed a move to Russian champions Rubin Kazan on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Brazilian has spent the past three seasons with Hoffenheim,
scoring 13 goals i
<< Vikings acquire WR Camarillo from Dolphins
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly
acquired wide receiver Greg Camarillo from the Miami Dolphins.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Dolphins got cornerback Benny
Sapp in return.
M
<< Could be a wide-open Open
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2010 U.S. Open will get underway in
less than a week, and this year's fields appear to be a bit more wide open
than usual.
We already know we'll have a new men's champion next month, as 2009 winner
Ju
<< Jaguars ink RB Kolby Smith
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars signed running
back Kolby Smith, the club announced on Wednesday.
Smith, 25, joins the Jaguars following a brief stint with Denver. The 5-
foot-11, 219-pounder was signe
Bower named McNeese State's starting QB >>
Lake Charles, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - McNeese State has named Jacob Bower as its
starting quarterback for the 2010 season.
The Idaho native and former Tulsa quarterback is a 25-year-old graduate student
at McNeese State.
He will see action
White Sox place Putz, Thornton on DL >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox have placed relievers
J.J. Putz and Matt Thornton on the 15-day disabled list.
Putz left Tuesday's 7-5 win over Baltimore after throwing three pitches and
has been diagnosed with ri
Kings agree to terms with D Mitchell >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms
with free-agent defenseman Willie Mitchell on a two-year contract worth $3.5
million per season.
Mitchell's 2009-10 season was derailed by a concussion, lim
Benitez faces unenviable task at Inter >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Rafael Benitez era at Inter Milan got
off to a good start this past Saturday, as the Spaniard claimed his first piece
of silverware in a 3-1 win over Roma in the Italian Super Cup.
Benitez will have
(This is an update of a sportsbook for the May 4th issue of ESPN The Magazine).
The Kentucky Derby's post-position draw happened on Wednesday. And, as is always the case, shortly afterwards, a buzz raced around Churchill Downs. It was a low rumble at first, nothing that the squares in the mint julep crowd pick up right away. But by the time the sun set over the twin spires, the chatter was impossible to ignore. Everyone -- sharps, trainers, owners -- was talking about one thing: the wise guy horse, the pre-draw long shot us mopes didn't have on our radar until it was too late.
"You think you're hearing the scoop," says handicapper Lane Gold. "Then you get to the window, the odds are short, and you missed it."
Recognizing a wise-guy horse early is as hard as picking a Derby bonnet. That's because handicappers don't like hype (see ya, I Want Revenge). They want Thoroughbreds who look good losing prep races like the Santa Anita Derby. They eye horses who ate up the field after starting wide or made an easy transition from synthetic tracks to dirt. They look for ponies who showed muscle gain race to race and those who ran hard after several weeks' rest.
"A wise guy," says John Avello, a bookmaker at Wynn Las Vegas, "looks for a horse who can improve."
When I first wrote Horse Betting for The Mag, which I turned in a three weeks before Wednesday's draw, I predicted these three horses had wise guy potential:
CHOCOLATE CANDY (15-1 in mid-April, currently 20-1 according to Avello): His second-place finish at Santa Anita, following a seven-week layoff, proved two things: He can run after resting, and -- by losing a high-profile prep race -- he wouldn't be overhyped.
DESERT PARTY (15-1; 15-1): He was upset in the UAE Derby by a horse he had beaten twice. The public remembers his loss, but the wise guys his wins.
PIONEEROF THE NILE (8-1; 4-1): The big favorite at Santa Anita struggled to win, so he initially got less hype than Quality Road and I Want Revenge.
You may have noticed that the odds on Pioneerof the Nile have been cut in half, from 8-1 to 4-1. Which means the wise guys took a shine to him long before the post-position draw. But, to be honest, this is one of those years with four elite horses getting everyone's attention, squares and sharps alike.
"You're not gonna get a lot of chatter about a horse that isn't in that group, which includes Pioneer, I Want Revenge, Dunkirk and Friesan Fire," Avello told me Wednesday. "We don't have a group of horses behind those top four who look like real legit contenders."
Come Derby week, the final two elements in picking a wise guy horse are how he's working out and what gate he's coming out of.
(By the way, picking a Preakness favorite is a whole different bale of hay, partially based on how horses finish in the Derby. You can see my analysis of who has the best shot at Pimlico on Insider Sunday morning.)
Well, early in the week I Want Revenge, Pioneerof the Nile and Friesan Fire were working out better than anyone. Some thought Friesan Fire, currently 6-1, might have run too fast, burning a five-furlong run in :57 4/5. "When you are running that fast you have the sense that it took something out of him," says Gold. "The Derby is longer than any horse has run, and if they need that extra surge you worry they won't have it because they burned it in the workout."
But, Gold points out, Friesan Fire's trainer is Larry Jones, Two years ago his horse Hard Spun did a five-eighths workout in :57 3/5 and then went on to finish second, behind Street Sense, in the Derby. "Every trainer has different methods," says Gold. "And clearly he knows what he's doing."
Now, as for starting position, Gold says to remember this: Churchill Downs traditionally has 14 starting gates. For the Derby, it brings out auxiliary gates and between the original 14th gate and the new 15th gate, there is a little more space than there is between gates 1-14. "That 15 position will give you a precious second or two to sort out what's happening to your inside," says Gold. "Sixteen is also okay because you can follow the horse in front of you."
Dunkirk, one of the race favorites, is coming out of gate 15. In 16 is Baffert's Pioneerof the Nile. I Want Revenge drew 13, where Smarty Jones won from in 2004, and Friesan Fire picked the sixth position. "He doesn't have a lot of speed to the inside of him," says Gold. "So he will get a clear shot to be near the front."
All the jibber-jabber means this: Pioneerof the Nile has leapfrogged from 8-1 to being the second favorite, along with Dunkirk, behind I Want Revenge. Meanwhile, Friesan Fire, with a good trainer, a strong week of training and a decent post position, is still at 6-1. "By Saturday, it's possible he could go from fourth to the favorite," says Gold.
In other words, meet Friesan Fire, your 2009 wise guy horse.
"Now," says Avello, "it's time for action."
To visit this horse betting site go to MySportsbook.com for all your horse racing betting needs.
Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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