World Series of Poker brand headed to the United Kingdom

With the 2008 WSOP upon us, people are already planning to take the WSOP brand to Europe.

Harrah Entertainment Inc. Chief Executive, Gary Loveman, says he's looking at taking the World Series of Poker and making it the premiere online poker brand of the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

''If you take a look at the legal landscape in continental Europe and the United Kingdom, there are countries where it's demonstrably legal and there's absolutely no encumbrance,'' Gary Loveman said.

''Those are areas that are very attractive to us.''

Loveman was at the Global Gaming Expo when he made the announcement. The Global Gaming Expo is the largest trade show of the year for the North American casino industry.

The 2008 World Series of Poker tournament spokesman, Gary Thompson, says Harrah's is in the process of studying the market and legal conditions for this venture before deciding to give it the green light, if you will.

Thompson says the WSOP won't enter the online poker market ''where there are any gray areas.''

Harrah's bought the rights to the World Series of Poker in 2004, and it is the game's pinnacle event of the year. But attendance this year was hurt because many online poker sites didn't give out prize packages to U.S. residents awarding them seats in the main event that cost $10,000 each.

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more of the best online poker rooms there are today.

2008 World Series of Poker No-Limit Texas Hold'Em Poker

Who will win the 2008 NHL Playoffs?

Yes, apparently, they're still playing hockey.

And if the 2008 NHL playoffs started today, the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings would have the No.1 seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively.

The New Jersey Devils currently have 90 points and will play six of their last 10 games at home. New Jersey is now 42-24-6 and are 1st in the Atlantic. The Devils' record at home is 22-12-1.

On the road, the New Jersey Devils are tough with a record of 20-12-5.

The Devils will play the Philadelphia Flyers if the playoffs started today. New Jersey leads the regular season series versus the Philadelphia Flyers 5 - 1.

In the Western Conference, the Detroit Red Wings have 100 points under their belt. Detroit is 47-20-6, and 1st in the Central Division.

The Red Wings' home record is 25-9-2. On the road, the Red Wings are 22-11-4. Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk leads the team in assists with 55 and made 28 goals in 72 games that he played.

While Detroit Red Wings left wing (Red Wings left wing?..) Henrik Zetterberg has 36 goals, 42 assists and thus have 78 points in 65 games. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will play a vital role in Detroit's quest to win the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup.

Other NHL teams in pursuit of the penultimate 2008 NHL Stanley Cup from the Eastern Conference are the Montreal Canadiens, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ottawa Senators, the New York Rangers, and the Boston Bruins.

On the other side, Western Conference teams Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars will challenge Detroit.

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more NHL hockey betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 NHL Playoffs 2008 NHL Stanley Cup

How's your 2008 March Madness bracket doing?

It's on people.

The 2008 March Madness bracket tournament is all set. Leading the pack in the East is the number one seed, North Carolina Tar Heels.

The North Carolina Tar Heels wrapped up first place in the regular season, capturing the ACC conference title by coming up with a 76-68 victory over the Duke Blue Devils.

The win over the Duke Blue Devils gave the Tar Heels a 14-2 regular-season conference record and a 29-2 overall mark. Duke finished 13-3 in the conference. Usual starters for North Carolina are point guard Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Marcus Ginyard, Deon Thompson, and Tyler Hansbrough.

The 2nd seed in the East Division belongs to Tennessee Volunteers. Having won its first outright SEC championship in 41 years, Tennessee now hopes to break another jinx. Despite their success in their two seasons under head coach Bruce Pearl, they won the SEC Eastern Division in 2006 and were tied for second last year, the Tennessee Volunteers have been one-and-done in the conference tournament.

The Tennessee Volunteers have not gotten out of the second round of the tournament since 1991, the season before the league expanded to 12 teams. Volunteers head coach Bruce Pearl is hopeful that will change this year after they rolled to a 14-2 conference record with their 89-56 thumping of South Carolina in the regular season finale.

In the Midwest Division, the number one seed belongs to the Kansas Jayhawks. The Jayhawks seem equipped to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2003. ''This is the year,'' Kansas guard Brandon Rush said.

''This is the year we've got to do it. We've got five seniors leaving. Some might be leaving early. We've got to make it happen. We're not ever going to have a team like this again.''

Brandon Rush, a junior for the Kansas Jayhawks, and forward Darrell Arthur, a sophomore, likely will be selected in the first round of this summer's NBA draft. Guards Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins could follow suit.

The 2nd seed belongs to the Georgetown Hoyas. Georgetown finished the season with 27-5 (15-3) to earn them the number two seed in the Midwest Division. Georgetown is 6-0 this season in games decided by three points or fewer. The senior class currently has a 19-4 record in one-possession games for their careers.

In the South Division, the top seed belongs to the Memphis Tigers.

The goal for second-ranked Tigers, now that it has its second No.1 seed in three seasons, is pretty simple, the 2008 NCAA Final Four or bust. This will be the Tigers' 21st NCAA tournament appearance, their fifth in six years, but they haven't played in the Final Four since 1985.

The lone appearance for these Memphis Tigers in the national championship game was 1973, when it lost to UCLA.

The number two seed belongs to the Texas Longhorns. The Big 12 championship Texas shared with Kansas was the second in three seasons for the Longhorns and their third overall in 10 years. The 26 regular-season wins is a record for Texas, which has won at least 25 games in five of the past six seasons.

In the West Division, the UCLA Bruins are at the top, earning the No.1 seed in the West. ''It's great that we're close to home,'' Pac-10 player and freshman of the year Kevin Love said. ''This is my first time around, so I'm excited for it.''

The third-ranked UCLA Bruins (31-3) earned the school's first No.1 seed since 1995, when the Bruins won their 11th national championship.

The second seed in the West belongs to the Duke Blue Devils. The Blue Devils' 76-68 loss to North Carolina, a defeat that cost the Blue Devils the regular-season ACC championship, denied them the top seed in the conference tournament. Duke fell to 13-3 in ACC play and 26-4 overall.

Who will win the 2007-08 NCAA College Basketball Championship? Sportsbetting.com has the odds.

North Carolina Tar Heels 6-1

UCLA Bruins 9-2

Memphis Tigers 6-1

Duke Blue Devils 9-1

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

March Madness North Carolina Tar Heels

Is Sam Cassell the answer to the Celtics PG dilemma?

How insane was that deal?

The Boston Celtics just got another high caliber guard in Sam Cassell just when we thought getting both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen was enough.

Sure, we know that over the years, Sam Cassell has already lost a step or two, but they say as years go by, your intelligence gets deep. Same as the case of Sammy, which is what the Celtics needed.

Sam Cassell still has that killer mid-range shot that he's been known for, add that to his stability at the clutch. Many people are saying Sam has lost his touch compared to when he was with the Houston Rockets.

I say, he's still a solid outside threat and he will get wide open jumpers whenever the opposing team double-teams any of the Boston 'Big Three,' that's Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

Coming from the 1994 and 1995 Houston Rockets championship teams, Cassell brings leadership to the team to beat in the league right now. For sure, Cassell will help this team deep into the 2008 NBA playoffs.

Asides from bringing talent and leadership, this also means that the Celtics will have a far more deeper bench with Cassell, Posey, Pollard and newly acquired P.J. Brown.

Most of the Celtics bench players have been through the playoffs. Add that with the hunger of the young guns and superstars in the team and you have a very tough out in the East.

Who will win the NBA title in the 2007-08 NBA basketball season? AcesAce Sportsbook has the odds.

San Antonio Spurs EVEN +350

Cleveland Cavaliers EVEN +1,300

Boston Celtics EVEN +450

Detroit Pistons EVEN +1,000

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Boston Celtics Sam Cassell

Will Mike Tyson bite Evander Holyfield again?

Maybe. If they come up with a third match between these two heavyweights.

That's apparently what some people are buzzing about. Mike Tyson - Evander Holyfield III is apparently in the works and you won't believe where all of this came from first.

Rumors are afloat that Evander Holyfield is considering to have a rematch with Mike Tyson. This was just out of the picture for Evander until he was approached by one of Mike Tyson's intermediaries.

But as always, when it comes to very publicized fights like this, there is one similar reaction to the fighters being asked. If the price is right.

Let's face it, these are the two most respected boxers of all time. But after all the things that has happened during the previous fight, I can't blame some people expecting another ''ear-biting'' incident.

Evander ''The Real Deal'' Holyfield, as we all know, is a very dedicated athlete. Discipline and dedication is what Evander is all about. (At least that's what Evander and his people says...) He is a professional in and out of the ring.

''Iron'' Mike Tyson, on the other hand, has been surrounded by controversies ever since he came back in boxing. He has always been a common target for the tabloid community and by simply looking at the youngest heavyweight champion of the world, I can't blame them.

If I was a betting man, Evander Holyfield should be the clear choice. Although I would like to see Mike Tyson kick Holyfield's ass once and for all.

That's if he doesn't find Holyfield's ear appetizing again.

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more boxing betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Mike Tyson Evander Holyfield

Dwyane Wade ain't injured, he just quit on the Heat

I don't blame him too.

In case you didn't know it yet, it was reported that Dwyane Wade will miss the rest of the 2007-08 NBA basketball season so he can rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee.

According to Dwyane Wade, this left knee has been bothering him for about a year now, probably justifying why he and the rest of his pathetic Miami Heat, SUCK. Of course, being the real hoops fans that we are, we know better.

''I'm doing what's right,'' Dwyane Wade said. ''I would love to be out there with my teammates, but in the long run, I think my teammates would love for me to be healthy and be out there with them when we're fighting to get in the playoffs again.''

That's a rather nice way of putting it. What Wade probably meant here is this. ''I'm quitting on my stupid teammates this season because I'd rather lie flat on my bed inside my beach house in this cesspool called Miami than play and get fucked by the other teams in the league that are obviously way WAAAY better than us this year.''

Yes, I got all that when Wade said ''... and be out there with them when we're fighting to get in the playoffs again.''

Getting in the 2008 NBA playoffs as far as this stupid Miami Heat team is concerned is already out of the question this season. They fell to 11-51 after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers last Monday, making them the obvious choice for the worst basketball team in the country this year.

Hell, your local basketball team just might beat these sick fucks from Miami at this point. Even Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley agrees.

''There's no doubt it's a function of the record. My God, it didn't take a news bulletin for that,'' Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley said. ''Yes, we aren't going to make the playoffs. It's a lost season. We know that. We don't want it to be a lost career. That's how I look at it.''

Mr. Riley, do humanity a favor and just keep yourselves out of the league.

Who will win the NBA title in the 2007-08 NBA basketball season? AcesAce Sportsbook has the odds.

San Antonio Spurs EVEN +350

Cleveland Cavaliers EVEN +1,300

Boston Celtics EVEN +450

Detroit Pistons EVEN +1,000

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Dwyane Wade Miami Heat

The North Carolina Tar Heels, the team to beat in the coming 2008 March Madness bracket tournament?

After winning the ACC regular season championship, who can say otherwise?

The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, otherwise known as the 2008 March Madness, is probably the largest, most elaborate championship tournament in American sports.

It will involve 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of Men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It is scheduled to begin on March 18, 2008, and will conclude with the championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The host institution will be the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Of course, San Antonio is proud to be hosting its third Final Four in a decade and fifth overall NCAA Division I Championship in as many years.

Leading the pack are the North Carolina Tar Heels. North Carolina ended up where it was expected to be, atop the Atlantic Coast Conference with a record of 29-2 (14-2).

The Tar Heels settled for a perfect second half of the conference schedule, capped by winning 76-67 versus the Duke Blue Devils for the outright regular season championship.

The Tar Heels have at least won or shared three of the last four regular season titles. The 29 victories are the most in school history entering postseason tournaments.

A rematch with the Duke Blue Devils for these Tar Heels is possible. If so, that could very well set this year's bracket wars on fire for sure.

This North Carolina Tar Heels team is led by forward Tyler Hansbrough, a 20-10 player averaging 23.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest. He is one of the reasons why the North Carolina Tar Heels are probably bound to win the 2008 March Madness wars.

Who will win the 2007-08 NCAA College Basketball Championship? Sportsbetting.com has the odds.

North Carolina Tar Heels 6-1

UCLA Bruins 9-2

Memphis Tigers 6-1

Duke Blue Devils 9-1

Ohio State Buckeyes 100-1

Florida Gators 100-1

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

March Madness North Carolina Tar Heels

Juan Manuel Marquez to fuck Manny Pacquiao up

It's this Saturday people and I just know all them Pacquiao fans (if any...) will hate on me once again after reading this article.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao, the man who just adores them duck fetus, will once again showcase what he claims as his ''boxing skills'' as he tries to win the WBC Super Featherweight championship belt from defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

Apparently, Pacquiao calls that godforsaken in-ring technique he got from some street thug ''boxing,'' he he... Whatever it is, he'll be bringing it to the ring against the scientific approach Juan Manuel Marquez will probably use come fight night. And in case you were wondering, I want Marquez to kick ass.

Specifically speaking, I want to see Juan Manuel Marquez knock the duck fetus off Manny Pacquiao's weird-looking mustache. Yup, and Marquez definitely has the credentials to do just that too.

The defending WBC Super Featherweight champion has NEVER been knocked out in his 52-fight professional boxing career. Aside from getting disqualified in his first fight 15 years ago, his only losses have been 12-round decisions, proving that this dude can stand toe-to-toe with the best of them.

Losing to a third world moron like Pacquiao shouldn't be in his itinerary.

Sure, Marquez was knocked down by Manny Pacquiao THRICE, during their first fight on May 5, 2004. But Pacquiao, being the dumb sonuvabitch that he is, just wasn't able to follow up on it. Marquez came back in the late rounds and although he failed to steal the win from Pacquiao, his performance during that fateful night still is considered as one of the best comebacks in the history of boxing.

Hell, Marquez's comeback even convinced the crowd that night that he should've won, although Pacquiao's fans thought otherwise of course.

This Saturday, Juan Manuel Marquez has the opportunity to finish what he started with Manny Pacquiao. Dubbed as ''Unfinished Business,'' that's exactly what Marquez has coming into this one.

And when it's all said and done, I'm hoping Marquez will finally FINISH this BUSINESS he has with Pacquiao, along with Pacquiao's godforsaken boxing career.

Can Juan Manuel Marquez beat Manny Pacquiao and knock the duck fetus out of that odd mustache? AcesAce sportsbook has the odds.

Juan Manuel Marquez +160

Manny Pacquiao -190

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for the best boxing betting odds there is available today.

Manny Pacquiao Juan Manuel Marquez

Cavaliers to vent all their frustrations on Bobcats Sunday

Because the last time these guys were on the floor, they got beat by a team that has no business whatsoever beating them.

101-99 was the final score when the Cleveland Cavaliers visited the Washington Wizards last Thursday. With only a few more games left into the 2007-08 NBA basketball season, the Cavs can't afford to lose winnable games like that if they want to solidify their spot in the East for the playoffs.

Still playing without All-Star Gilbert Arenas, the Washington Wizards came up a much needed win for the returning Caron Butler, then celebrating his 28th birthday and who was coming off a 16-game absence because of an injury.

The returning Caron Butler scored 19 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 101-99 upset of King James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Oh yeah, it was upsetting for the Cavs alright, specially for LeBron James, marking his appearance on the cover of the April issue of Vogue magazine with a rather subpar game.

LeBron James did score a game-high 25 to lead the Cleveland attack. But after shooting 9-22 from the field, facing the Wizards defense last Thursday sure was a nightmare, to say the least.

So how did he explained his rather pathetic night?

''I missed shots. I'm human. I can miss shots,'' LeBron James said. ''We still had a chance to win. That's all I can ask of my team and my teammates. We turned the ball over once again. I turned the ball over too many times.''

The Cleveland Cavaliers have now lost back-to-back games, losing five of their last ten. Luckily for them, they're in the Eastern Conference where winning doesn't matter as long as you don't lose more than majority of the teams in the ''weaker'' half of the league.

On Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Charlotte Bobcats, a team going nowhere this year. The Cavs shouldn't have any problems whatsoever beating these guys down.

Who will win the NBA title in the 2007-08 NBA basketball season? AcesAce Sportsbook has the odds.

San Antonio Spurs EVEN +350

Cleveland Cavaliers EVEN +1,300

Boston Celtics EVEN +450

Detroit Pistons EVEN +1,000

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James

Flavio Briatore says Fernando Alonso has one-in-five chance to win the 2008 F1 world championship...

Whatever that means.

With merely DAYS before the 2008 F1 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Renault big boss Flavio Briatore says Fernando Alonso only has one-in-five chance of winning it all this season. Yes, they're probably throwing in the towel already.

Flavio even told the media that he's not as optimistic as his returning Spanish driver, Fernando Alonso, of winning this year's title. Hmm... A little dissension within the team already perhaps? Uh oh...

''Fernando is talking about us having a 30 percent chance for the Championship,'' Flavio Briatore said. ''I think it's about 20 percent, which means he is more optimistic than me.''

''We can't recover everything in three months but we hope to be fighting and winning races by the middle of the season.''

Flavio Briatore agrees with Fernando Alonso that the new R28 Renault will be using this season is not fast enough to challenge the Ferraris and the McLarens yet. But both of them will still be hoping for the best.

Whatever that means.

''Yes, it (the car) is too slow for him (Alonso),'' Briatore said. ''But we are working hard and Fernando is not the type who pushes in the tests. He is more concerned in understanding the car and giving information to the engineer. Fernando tells you exactly the quality of your car.''

''We are a little delayed but last year was difficult because in 2006, with Fernando, we were fighting for the title up to the last race with Ferrari,'' Briatore added.

''We won it but, in the process, we neglected the development of the new car.''

Who will win the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Kimi Raikkonen 2.75

Lewis Hamilton 3.00

Fernando Alonso 7.00

Felipe Massa 7.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more F1 betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 F1 Season F1 Australian Grand Prix

It's about time to talk about the 2008 NFL Draft

And hopefully, this year's class will be the new icons of football just so they can also cry on their own retirement press conferences.

From April 26-27, the league will draft the best college football players of the nation and give them the baptism of fire, so to speak, in the coming 2008-09 NFL football season.

Who are the best players to get in the 2008 NFL Draft? Let's start with the obvious one. There is no doubt that Chris Long will be the first pick this year. Chris Long, bragging an outstanding college football career, would be like a long lost family member for Bill Parcells in case the Miami Dolphins do get him as the overall No.1 draft pick.

Let's hope this guy will be a perfect fit for the Miami Dolphins defense and maybe, those guys from Florida would start winning games for a change.

Next we have Vernon Gholston, who has a work ethic that is out of this world. This dude has unbelievable strength, specially when you see him benchpress 225 pounds with 37 reps and do broad jumps of 35.5 inches.

You wouldn't believe it until you see it.

He is more machine than man. This dude, if picked by the second worst team in the NFL last season, that being the St. Louis Rams, will definitely help the team's quite miserable pass rush.

Jake Long at third to the Atlanta Falcons wouldn't be a surprise. Although Falcon fans are worried of seeing their team draft another failure like Robert Gallery on draft day, their team needs all the help they can get at the position.

The sleeper of this year's draft could very well be running back Darren McFadden. The Oakland Raiders just signed running back Justin Fargas, yes, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Raiders STILL get this guy to add to their already packed HB slot.

Raiders owner Al Davis loves to draft speed and the flashiest player available and Darren McFadden fits both categories.

If Jake Long gets drafted early, then the Kansas City Chiefs just might have to settle with Sedrick Ellis. In Ellis, the Chiefs are getting a juggernaut of a player, a powerhouse who throws defensive linemen like paper.

Who will win Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida? Sportsbetting.com has the very VERY early odds on that one people.

New York Giants 12-1

New England Patriots 5-2

Dallas Cowboys 7-1

Indianapolis Colts 8-1

Want more odds? Visit Sportsbetting.com for more football betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

NFL Draft Darren McFadden

2008 WSOP Event soft opening is on May 28 and 29

''Soft opening?'' What the fuck does that mean?

The 2008 World Series of Poker officials plan a ''soft opening'' for the tournament on May 28 and 29 so players can register early in order for them to play in satellite tournaments and cash games.

''This 'soft opening' will give players a chance to register early and avoid the lines we had last year during opening weekend, our busiest time,'' Geno Iafrate, vice president and assistant general manager of the Rio, said.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the 2008 WSOP event, Oscar nominee Don Cheadle and poker professional Annie Duke will host the second annual Ante Up For Africa charity tournament at the Rio on July 2.

July 3 is the first of four start days for the 2008 Main Event. Last year, a total of 6,358 entrants competed for a Main Event prize pool of $59.8 million. Players may choose their Main Event start dates as long as seats are available on the selected dates.

Pre-registration for the 2008 WSOP has been made February on-site at the Main Cage of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

''The team is still hard at work on the schedule of events for next year, but we've received so many requests for the dates that we decided to announce them now,'' Jeffrey Pollack, the commissioner of the World Series of Poker, said.

The World Series of Poker brand is owned by Harrah's License Company, LLC an affiliate of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through its operating subsidiaries.

Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, nearly 70 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The company's properties operate primarily under the Harrah's, Caesars and Horseshoe brand names.

Harrah's also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos.

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more of the best online poker rooms there are today.

2008 World Series of Poker No-Limit Texas Hold'Em Poker

Who will win the first race of the 2008 F1 season at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne?

March 16 is the date when F1 racing begins yet another chapter after the rather intriguing season they just had in 2007.

And as always, the 2008 F1 season begins in Australia, where the best F1 drivers of the world come together at Melbourne park to kick off their respective campaigns, all of them hoping to culminate with a world championship.

Yes people, the stage is set for the 2008 F1 Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the 2008 Formula One season. The Australian Grand Prix will be held from 14 March - 16 March at Melbourne Park, Australia beginning with a series of qualifying runs before the big race on the 16th.

It will be the 13th grand prix at the circuit and will be the 23rd Formula One race in the land down under.

Defending F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who won the Australian Grand Prix last year, is still the favorite to win in Melbourne tis season. Renault driver Fernando Alonso and McLaren - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton follow from the second and third spots respectively.

Fernando Alonso who drove for McLaren - Mercedes in the 2007 F1 season, came in second place last year behind Kimi Raikkonen. This time, Fernando Alonso hopes to pose a threat and dethrone Kimi, this time behind the wheel of a Renault, a car that has won Fernando Alonso two Formula One world drivers' championships.

Last year's 3rd podium spot went to Lewis Hamilton, then a rookie driver for McLaren - Mercedes. He looked like a sure bet to win the 2007 F1 world drivers' championship as a rookie had it not been for a disappointing performance during the last race of 2007 in Brazil.

Lewis Hamilton will still be racing with McLaren - Mercedes with new teammate Heikki Kovalainen, who raced for Renault before switching places with Alonso coming into this season.

Who will win the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Kimi Raikkonen 2.75

Lewis Hamilton 3.00

Fernando Alonso 7.00

Felipe Massa 7.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more F1 betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 F1 Season F1 Australian Grand Prix

Can the Rockets win 18 straight against the Hornets?

I knew it, Yao Ming was only slowing this team down.

I guess that's a bold statement at this point of the 2007-08 NBA basketball season eh? Say what you must, but Houston just keeps on winning games without their rather ''soft'' center playing.

Hell, the Houston Rockets haven't lost a game since January 27 and just last Thursday, they just pounded another powerhouse team from the West, this time the Dallas Mavericks, for their 17th straight win. That's their best winning streak in franchise history.

Houston Rockets star, Tracy McGrady, dropped 31 points to go with his nine assists while Skip to My Lou, (that's Rafer Alston for the rest of you...) added 24 points to beat the Dallas Mavericks, 113-98.

Josh Howard scored 21 points for the Dallas Mavericks while ''the Jet'' (yes, that moniker is ridiculous...) Jason Terry added 17. Dallas has now lost three straight, losing four of their last five games ALL with new acquisition Jason Kidd.

Hmm...

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki didn't play, serving a one-game suspension for his flagrant foul on Utah Jazz star Andrei Kirilenko. But I reckon we'd still see the same result even if the seven-foot German did play. Yes, the Rockets are THAT hot at this point of the season.

The 17-game winning streak the Houston Rockets now own is tied for 7th place among the best winning streaks in NBA history. On Saturday, these Rockets will go for their 18th straight win against the New Orleans Hornets in New Orleans, Louisiana.

If the Rockets win that one, their winning streak will extend to 18 games and will be tied for 4th place among the best NBA winning streaks EVER.

Crazy huh? And to think these guys were 24-20 before this rather mad dash to the playoffs. The Rockets, with this crazy streak, are now 41-20. WOW.

Who will win the NBA title in the 2007-08 NBA basketball season? AcesAce Sportsbook has the odds.

San Antonio Spurs EVEN +350

Cleveland Cavaliers EVEN +1,300

Boston Celtics EVEN +450

Detroit Pistons EVEN +1,000

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Houston Rockets New Orleans Hornets

Fernando Alonso pretty much says his F1 team sucks

For all ya'll who didn't know, Alonso will be back with Renault once the new season kicks off.

You read it people, the two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso will be racing for Renault again in the coming 2008 F1 season after the dissension that has happened last year within the McLaren - Mercedes camp that resulted to a rivalry between him and then McLaren rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton.

That rivalry SHOULD continue now that both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton will be racing for separate teams. Hamilton's team, McLaren - Mercedes, already is one of the leading candidates to win both the drivers' and constructors' titles. Alonso's? Let's just say the two-time world champion ain't buying in to their hype just yet.

Fernando Alonso fears that podium finishes in the coming season is STILL out of the team's reach. He believes that P7 is the best Renault can hope for at this point. He he... Looks like the guy is throwing in the towel already eh?

''We are pretty far behind,'' Fernando Alonso told reporters. ''We are not in a position to fight for anything important right now.''

''I think it's looking like at the end of last year; two Ferraris, two McLarens and two BMWs, and if everything goes like that, you can almost only fight for seventh place. Thinking about the podium would be too optimistic right now, but then you arrive in the first grand prix, you start warming up in practice, your morale starts going up and you think you can be on the podium.''

''But right now, thinking coldly, reaching the podium is a dream. In our current shape it will be hard to make it into Q3.''

Alonso also reckons Ferrari and McLaren could face a tough challenge from BMW this season as he believes the German team have once again closed up on the front-runners.

He couldn't care less about his team.

Who will win the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Kimi Raikkonen 2.75

Lewis Hamilton 3.00

Fernando Alonso 7.00

Felipe Massa 7.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more F1 betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 F1 Season Fernando Alonso

Can Aaron Rodgers really replace Brett Favre as the new starting QB for the Green Bay Packers?

For the Packers' sake, he better.

In case you didn't know it yet, Brett Favre has played his last game with the Green Bay Packers after ''officially'' announcing his retirement last Thursday. The focus now shifts to the question on who will be the one to replace Favre as the new Packers starting quarterback.

Young Aaron Rodgers, Favre's backup during his last years with the Packers, could be the man. And while we are still more than a few months away from the 2008-09 NFL football season to find out if this kid can really fill in the shoes of the man dubbed as the ''ultimate Packer,'' at least the Packers organization is optimistic about it.

Rodgers remembered the training camp of 2006, when Brett Favre started preparing him for the day when he will be taking over after his ageless teammate retires.

''That's when Brett came to me and he really encouraged me in a couple areas where I could improve my mental toughness and the way I would deal with adversity,'' Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday by telephone from California.

''He told me it was important to think about body language and attitude all the time because everybody's watching you at all times.''

That's exactly what's been going on now that Brett Favre has announced his retirement. Aaron Rodgers, all of a sudden, is the new face of the Green Bay Packers franchise. THAT means, every single move he makes from here on out WILL BE scrutinized for sure.

''You can't replace a legend and I know that going in,'' Rodgers said. ''All I can do is try to be the best quarterback I can be. I'm not going to let anyone outwork me and I'm going to be accountable to my coaches and teammates.''

''I know it's a challenge, but I've got a good team around me and I had three years to learn from Brett, who is the greatest quarterback ever.''

Somebody tell Mr. Rodgers to stop kissing Favre's ass and start preparing for probably the toughest NFL season he'll be having in his career.

Who will win Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida? Sportsbetting.com has the very VERY early odds on that one people.

New York Giants 12-1

New England Patriots 5-2

Dallas Cowboys 7-1

Indianapolis Colts 8-1

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Brett Favre Aaron Rodgers