Beware PayPal customers.

July 30 2008 @ 18:13

The Government is using its ugly paws to crack down on those US citizens using offshore "tax havens". Read the story here.

Elsewhere, researchers believe that legalizing online gambling could possibly reduce harmful effects which the illegal online operations can generate. It appears that illegal gambling can be more addictive than the run of the mill casino gambling which is legal. No kidding.

According to “The Online Wire”, we will be blessed with what probably will be the greatest 100 meter showdown of all time between Tyson Gay, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. “Until this week many believed it was strictly a two-man fight between Gay and world record holder Bolt but Powell´s triumph over Bolt in Stockholm has altered the form radically”. The Wire says. The current odds at Bodog sportsbook are Gay 5/4, Bolt 7/4 and Powell 11/4.

Will Michelle Wie ever learn? Apparently not. Having trouble competing against her own gender, barely making cuts and missing a plenty, her posse decides it would be an uplifting experience to battle against the big boys this weekend in Lake Tahoe. The way I see it is that after her 87 tomorrow she won’t tee off on Friday because she wept all night.

Finally, by acquiring Mark Texeira from the Braves, did the Angels tamper with their clubhouse chemistry? Casey Kotchman was red hot before Anaheim unloaded him to Atlanta.

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 18:13 | Category: Misc  | Comments: 1 | Permalink

Feeling exotic today

July 26 2008 @ 13:38

This article documents a new sportsbook for gamblers who want to bet on something a little obscure. For example: How many homeruns will A-Rod hit before Madonna’s 50^th birthday? Seems to me that Bet Us sportsbook has been offering these sort of exotic bets for a while now, but I digress.

Speaking of exotic, how about Poker Star Isabelle Mercier showing a little more than her hands.

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 13:38 | Category: Misc  | Comments: 0 | Permalink

NFL odds

July 23 2008 @ 18:40

It’s never too early to start looking at NFL betting, here is an appetizer for the 2008/2009 season.

Also I’m offering a small collection of assorted individual odds:

Tom Brady (+300) is the favorite to win the MVP, followed by Peyton Manning (+500).  Long shot: Buffalo RB Marshawn Lynch (+3000).

Raider running back Darren McFadden (+350) gets the nod for rookie of the year, in close pursuit is another RB, Cowboy Felix Jones (+450). Long shot: Jaguars DE Derrick Harvey (+1500).

Tom Brady (+ 250) again delivers in the category of “Most passing yards” and who else but Peyton Manning (+400) comes in second. Long shot: Cleveland Derek Anderson (+2000).

The Colts’ Reggie Wayne (+450) and the volatile Randy Moss share the spotlight for “Most receiving yards”. Long shot: Detroit Roy Williams (+1800).

Same goes for “Most rushing yards” with Adrian Peterson (+250) and LaDanian Tomlinson who will be going neck and neck for the rushing title. Long shot: Marshawn Lynch (+2500).

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 18:40 | Category: Football  | Comments: 1 | Permalink

The Open is open.

July 18 2008 @ 20:33

I love the Open Championship. You wake up, make coffee, and watch live golf. All day.

Honestly, I just couldn’t leave the house.

My belief was that of Greg Norman coming back to reality and smell my coffee but to no avail, the man was impressive again today and with Crissie at your side, who knows? She’s won 18 majors herself, Ahh! That’s the male ego for you; make an impression on your new wife. At 53, he’s one shot off the lead. Amazing.

Beautiful swinging Tom Watson at the ripped old age of 58 missing the cut by a mere stroke still had the fire in his eyes and competed as if Jack was still in the midst but sadly went home, and than there is Rich Beem who stunningly quits after just 7 holes yesterday, he was 11 over at the time.  It’s ok Rich the 88 rule does not apply here like on the LPGA. Remember, you were once a PGA Champion?

John Daly’s aching body and all, I will digress on the nature of his ailments, but still stuck it out with an 89. You da man!

How about David Duval? The lad only made but one cut this year and is suddenly in the thick of things. Smiling throughout his day…

Sergio missing a footer on 18 and whines about it. Rocco, having the time of his life eating fish & chips with a pint, 60 degrees in July, guys shooting in the 80’s. Vijay out, Mickelson in, Tiger wishing he was there.

The Open has it all.

Cheerioh!

Update: July 19th, 2008

Greg Norman’s improbable yet magical run continues tomorrow in Southport, England where the weather forecasters predict considerable cloudiness. High around 60F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph.

Even though Norman carries a two shot lead going into the last round, he is not the favorite to capture the Claret Jug. That distinction belongs to Irishman Padraig Harrington.

Here are the odds provided by Bookmaker.com

Padraig Harrington +250

Greg Norman +300

KJ Choi +400

Anthony Kim + 2000

Simon Wakefield +2000

Sergio Garcia +2000

Ross Fisher +2200

The field +1000

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 20:33 | Category: Baseball  | Comments: 2 | Permalink

Europe knows how to gamble

July 15 2008 @ 21:05

Europeans have always had an aversion to the American style of casino gambling. While We believe that bigger is better, Europeans know that good things come in small packages, and this goes for online gambling in Europe too. Not only are businesses smaller, but they are more protected by the government and more heavily based on what they call "good causes" and social control.

The U.S legal situation is absurd says Mark Davies, the international marketing director for the firm Betfair, based in Britain. “Poker is a game played by many tens of millions of Americans. It is played by Presisents and judges. It’s strange to say it’s illegal just because it is online.”

In Britain, where client regularly wager in betting shops, online gaming is now legal, which is why companies such as PartyGaming have gone public on the London Stock Exchange.

The U.S. is losing about $7 billion a year by prohibiting Internet-gambling companies, says Las Vegas attorney Anthony Cabot. Says Eugene Christiansen, chief executive of Christiansen Capital Advisors, based in New Gloucester, Maine: "They have to stand by and watch British and other countries' companies eat their lunch."

Simply put, we are losing this battle.

Speaking of Brits and gambling, The Open Championship is about to tee off on Thursday and British bettors will have a wide open Tigerless field to choose from. So it seems that even players can quietly bet on themselves. Why am I not surprised? At the 2005 British Open, 20% have admitted to placing a bet on themselves and 12% on another player. Still, back in the 70’s, gambling on golf, although more secret, was apparently thriving in closed circuit as you can attest with this piece written by Bob Harig from ESPN. Enjoy.

By the way, Sergio Garcia is the favorite followed by Ernie Els. Here are the odds presented by Bodog.

My picks: Two Aussies: Adam Scott 22-1 and Geoff Ogilvy 28-1

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 21:05 | Category: Misc  | Comments: 2 | Permalink

Internet gambling bill in jeopardy

July 14 2008 @ 17:52

Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, a cult hero, as this story says here, for online gambling believes that the internet gambling bill still might not pass next year. Here is this piece.

He considers that a lot of members of Congress voted for that (ban) without having given it a lot of attention, and he thinks that there is growing opposition to it. He once said: "I think that this may be a case where, after the fact of having voted for it, people don't like it and they reconsider."

 Indeed, Internet gambling is a case where no one is complaining or crimes being committed, so let it ride.

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 17:52 | Category: Misc  | Comments: 2 | Permalink

Bonds is done

July 10 2008 @ 19:31

Poor Barry Bonds, still lingering outside the baseball diamond, is believed to be just ten days or maybe ten needles away from game shape form. This is according to Bond’s agent Jeff Borris who was slighted by the last team he made contact with about a possible return for his troubled slugger, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Here, the agent cries out that it is all a big conspiracy. Yeah Jeff, your man doesn’t have a job because he’s awaiting jail for perjury, cheated his way past the real homerun king, Hank Aaron, is also a selfish prick, and never won a World Series. He got what he deserves: rejection that is. Happy trails and see you in court Barry.

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 19:31 | Category: Baseball  | Comments: 2 | Permalink

Brett Favre Alert!

July 8 2008 @ 18:39

Reports suggest that Brett Favre, who simply won’t go away, has sent a text message to Packer GM Ted Thompson who happens to be on vacation. The story is right here.

Apparently, Thompson hardly communicated with Favre in the offseason, which upset Favre, but Packer’s coach Mike McCarthy maintained regular contact with him. In March, when Favre told the Packers he was planning to quit, they made little or no effort to talk him out of it. So on March 4, he announced his retirement and two days later held a tearful farewell news conference at Lambeau Field.

However, doubt about his decision persisted. It is also believed that Thompson visited Favre at his Hattiesburg, Miss., home in May and, according to sources, Favre would have un-retired at that point had Thompson asked him to come back. But Thompson never broached the subject with him.

About two weeks ago, Favre called McCarthy to express his desire to return, but Favre was rebuffed. With training camp opening on July 28, this situation seems destined to come to a head within the next week or two. Stay tuned for this tiresome saga.

Notes around the leagues

I stand corrected: Last week I touched on the Wimbledon subject about how the game had gotten boring and without significant rivalries. My apologies to Rafael and Roger.

A-Rod all the time: This quip I found somewhere on the net, Alex Rodriguez says he won't participate in the home-run derby, even though the All-Star Game is being played at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez feels there is no sense competing in a home-run competition when he's still struggling to get to second base with Madonna.

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 18:39 | Category: Football  | Comments: 4 | Permalink

All you need is...money

July 3 2008 @ 18:15

I enjoyed reading this piece written by Rick Reilly from ESPN about some current and ex athletes who lost it all on gambling, expensive cars, and lawsuits or were deceived by the people they trusted like agents, lawyers and business managers. The article is right here:

Speaking of money, NHL owners and general managers were quite eager to dispatch astronomical salaries to free agents over the week and some of the signings were questionable at best. Indeed, the Jeff Finger household is probably partying through the night, the marginal defenseman just inked a deal for four years and fourteen million. The Toronto fans have just been given the Finger.

Michael Ryder, the former Hab, with all of his 31 points under his belt, who last year was famously known for flicking paper planes from the press box while his Montreal Canadiens were in a heated battle against the Bruins, is another happy camper. Guess who signed the forward for three million a year? The Bruins.

Around the Leagues

 Please Brett Favre, just go away already. In tennis, a Williams is going to win Wimbledon and tears will be shed. Are the Tampa Bay Rays for real? Well sweeping Boston was a sure sign to let us know that they are. A-Rod and Madonna? “Just friends” said the slugger. In fact, so close a friend to the Material Mom that he visited her Manhattan pad right after his wife, Cynthia, gave birth to their second child. A true friend indeed.

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 18:15 | Category: Misc  | Comments: 3 | Permalink