NCAA probe on agent dealings extends to Alabama
NCAA Football Betting Lines
07/20/2010 -
Tuscaloosa, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA's investigation into possible
improper dealings with sports agents has reportedly reached the University of
Alabama.
A number of schools have had athletes' names surface in an increasingly
sweeping investigation tied to possible rules violations, and apparently for
attending the same party alleged to have been thrown by an agent in Miami.
The Tuscaloosa News is reporting Alabama junior defensive lineman Marcel
Dareus is the latest name to be caught up in the mix. At the heart of the
probe is whether Dareus or any other collegiate athletes attended the party
and if any money was provided for things like transportation, entertainment,
food or lodging if they were found to have attended.
It was reported last week that South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders and
several members of the North Carolina football team, including star defensive
tackle Marvin Austin, were also being investigated by the NCAA for similar
allegations.
ESPN quoted Alabama head coach Nick Saban as saying that the university is
looking into the situation. Dareus led the SEC in sacks with 6 1/2 as a
sophomore in 2009. He added 33 tackles, nine for a loss, and one interception
in 14 games for the Crimson Tide.
<< Malisse advances, Tipsarevic upset in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seventh-seeded Xavier Malisse was a straight-
set winner, while fifth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic was an upset victim in
Tuesday's first-round action at the Atlanta Tennis Championships.
The Belgian Mali
<< Phillies P Moyer leaves game
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer
left Tuesday's game against St. Louis after one inning with a left elbow
strain.
Moyer allowed two hits in one scoreless inning, throwing 18 pitches. It
<< Power looking for his fifth road/street course win in 2010
Edmonton, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: IZOD IndyCar. Date: Sunday, July
25. Race: Honda Indy Edmonton. Site: City Centre Raceway. Track: 1.96-mile,
14-turn temporary street/airport course. Start Time: 6:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 95.
Miles: 186.2
<< Trucks join Nationwide at ORP
Clermont, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck. Date:
Friday, July 23. Race: AAA Insurance 200. Site: O'Reilly Raceway Park at
Indianapolis. Track: 0.686-mile oval. Start time: 8:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 200.
Miles: 137.2. 2009 w
<< Will the Edwards-Keselowski feud boil over to ORP?
Clermont, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Nationwide. Date: Saturday,
July 24. Race: Kroger 200. Site: O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Track:
0.686-mile oval. Start time: 8:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 200. Miles: 137.2. 2009
winner: Carl Ed
Mora, Francis help Marlins rout Rockies >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Melvin Mora finished a triple shy of the cycle
and Jeff Francis tossed seven scoreless innings, as the Colorado Rockies
dominated the Florida Marlins, 10-0, in the second test of a four-game series
at Sun
Mora, Francis help Rockies rout Marlins >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Melvin Mora finished a triple shy of the cycle
and Jeff Francis tossed seven scoreless innings, as the Colorado Rockies
dominated the Florida Marlins, 10-0, in the second test of a four-game series
at Sun
League voids Kovalchuk's deal with Devils >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NHL has rejected Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year,
$102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on grounds that it
circumvents the league's salary cap.
The report is according to TSN Canada.
The
Braves top Padres behind Diaz, Jurrjens >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Diaz homered in his third straight game
and Jair Jurrjens tossed seven strong innings, as the Atlanta Braves defeated
San Diego, 4-1, in the opener of a three-game series at Turner Field between
the top
Timberwolves to introduce Ridnour Wednesday >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Timberwolves will announce
the signing of free agent guard Luke Ridnour on Wednesday.
The team scheduled a press conference to introduce the former Milwaukee Buck,
who agreed to a four-yea
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.
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