Can the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2008 NBA Finals?

After three years of absence, SHOWTIME is back on the biggest stage of pro basketball.

You read it people, the Los Angeles Lakers return to the NBA Finals after winning Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals, beating the defending champions Spurs 100-92, to clinch their best-of-seven series, 4-1.

Kobe Bryant wants that NBA title BAD and with the way he led the Los Angeles Lakers past the Spurs in Game 5, his hunger for the title this year was on display. Hell, he IS the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year and highlighting his season with a championship ring is just the perfect ending to a ''dream season.''

The San Antonio Spurs just had no answers for Kobe as No.24 came up with one of the best performances of the 2008 NBA playoffs. Kobe Bryant came up with a game-high 39 points in dethroning the NBA champions. Pau Gasol chimed in with 12 points and 19 rebounds while Lamar Odom added 13.

Who knew the Lakers will end their series with the San Antonio Spurs in five games? This is a testament how BAD the Lakers, specifically Kobe Bryant, wants to win the title in the 2008 NBA Finals.

''I think it is a tremendous accomplishment,'' Kobe Bryant said. ''I think the West is extremely tough. We're all extremely excited and proud about it. Now, it's time to go on and see if we can't finish it off.''

''My heart's still pumping, that adrenaline is still running from the game,'' Lamar Odom said after Game 5. ''Maybe when I sit down and have something to eat, I'll realize what just happened.''

''We came out here, played our game, and won. It's satisfying, but one more step.''

''I like not to get involved personally in this and think of this as a team effort,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said regarding what playing in the NBA Finals means to him as well as the opportunity to overtake legendary head coach Red Auerbach for most championships won by an NBA coach.

''As much as I appreciate the league trying to emphasize the Western Conference trophy, that doesn't mean too much when that big prize is still out there.''

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

Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals

2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China almost here

The biggest event to hit Asia is only a few days away.

With merely days to go before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China take place, you can be rest assured that all the preparations, hard work, and effort people put in for this won't be in vain with this being the most prestigious sporting event to hit Asia.

One of the traditions practiced in the 2008 Beijing Olympics is the lighting and relaying of the torch. With the theme, ''Light the Passion, Share the Dream,'' the Nanjing torch relay was soon followed at Hefei for its next stop. Leading the lighting of the torch was Sun Yue, who carried the Olympic torch proudly, reaching the Drum Tower Park and lighting the cauldron. That marks the conclusion of the Nanjing leg of the Olympic torch relay.

Sun, a former captain of the Chinese national women's volleyball team and currently a coach for the Jiangsu team, was the last of 208 torchbearers who ran the relay. Among the torchbearers were Yu Kaixiang, 14, a middle school student, and Xu Zhize, 91, a retired teacher.

Following a minute's silence in remembrance of the earthquake victims in Sichuan, the 12.9-kilometer relay started at East Square of the Olympic Sports Center, taking the torch past numerous landmarks, including Nanjing University. Donation boxes were set up along the route to enable spectators to donate for earthquake relief activities.

In other Beijing Olympic Games preparation, host China will try its best to make Olympic stadiums ready ahead of the Games while it goes all out for earthquake relief, that's according to Xi Jinping, the Chinese vice president.

''The preparation for the Olympic Games has moved into the last and critical stage. We will do it well while working hard for quake relief. We will pay equal importance to the two things and not delay one for the other,'' said Xi after visiting three Olympic stadiums.

Earthquake relief and preparing for the Beijing Olympic Games? Boy, Mr. Xi definitely has a lot on his mind lately huh?

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

2008 Beijing, China Olympic Games

Can the Penguins win Game 4 and beat the Red Wings?

Tying this series.

That's the mindset the Penguins should be in coming to Game 4 of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals this Saturday. They are down in this best-of-seven affair, 2-1, against the Red Wings but with Game 4 to be played in Pittsburgh, the Penguins have a good chance of bringing it back to square one.

The Pittsburgh Penguins should be confident too. After all, they did win their first game of the Stanley Cup finals at home, winning Game 3 to improve to a perfect 9-0 at the Mellon Arena in the postseason. Their 3-2 win over Detroit last Wednesday was also their 17th straight win on their home ice, making Pittsburgh a one nasty place to play hockey if you are a visiting team.

After the Detroit Red Wings simply dominated Pittsburgh during the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals, the Penguins fought back in Game 3, fueled by the support of their fans at the Mellon Arena.

The Penguins scored their first goal of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals in the very first quarter of Game 3 after suffering shutout losses in games 1 and 2. The Red Wings were playing catch-up all game long since, as Pittsburgh were already in a comfortable 2-0 lead before Detroit got their first goal of the game.

''Whether it was me or anybody else, we just wanted to get the first one,'' Sidney Crosby said. ''We wanted to get a goal, find a way. That was the mind-set going in, and it was nice to get it for sure.''

This Detroit Red Wings team has a knack for letting other teams catch up to them in a seven-game playoff series. They were leading the Nashville Predators 2-0 in the first round before they let the Predators tie it back to square one in Game 4. The Dallas Stars also caught this Red Wings team napping in the 2008 NHL Western Conference finals, forcing a Game 6 after being down to Detroit 3-0.

Can the Pittsburgh Penguins stage a comeback like most teams have against Detroit in these playoffs? Game 4 is this Saturday in Pittsburgh. Game on people. Game on.

Who will win the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Detroit Red Wings 3.50

Pittsburgh Penguins 5.50

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.

Detroit Red Wings Pittsburgh Penguins

Why the Online Poker Community won't root for Justin Bonomo at the 2008 World Series of Poker

Wait, who the hell is this guy anyway?

For all ya'll who have absolutely no idea who Justin Bonomo is, Justin ''ZeeJustin'' Bonomo is a guy who got introduced to cards with the role playing card game ''Magic: The Gathering.'' We'll get into why the online poker community won't be rooting for him at the 2008 World Series of Poker later.

Yes, you read it, he began with that, playing at an early age of 12 and winning in major ''Magic: The Gathering'' tournaments all over the world. Oh yeah, he sure won a lot of cash at that age too, winning tournaments that has prize pools reaching up to $250,000.

Justin Bonomo started playing poker at the age of 16 after noticing that some ''Magic: The Gathering'' players started taking up the game. He started playing online at Party Poker and soon found himself with $10,000 after an initial deposit of $200. He continued to build his bankroll by joining $200 tournaments.

That's when his problem with the online poker community started.

After building a fierce reputation as an online poker player, winning hundreds and thousands of dollars, he found himself caught and publicly humiliated for ''cheating'' by using multiple accounts in major online tournaments.

Around $100,000 were confiscated from his account and he was banned from playing on two of the largest poker sites on the Internet, Party Poker (where it all began...) and Poker Stars. Bonomo made several attempts for a public apology but was shunned by several stalwarts of the online poker community.

A few years later, Bonomo has not only rebounded but has flourished after having made a successful transition from online poker to live tournament play. At the age of 19, Bonomo became the youngest player EVER to make a European televised poker table in 2005.

Today, at the age of 22, Bonomo has made over a million dollars in live tournaments. He cashed three times at the WSOP and almost won in the WSOP Circuit Caesars Las Vegas Main Event.

He also final-tabled four of eight tournaments at the 2006 WPT Five Diamonds WPT Classic and bubbled out of the televised final table in the main event making over $260,000.

Which of these poker bloggers will win the most money at the 2008 World Series of Poker?

Justin Bonomo 4.00

Daniel Negreanu 3.50

Brian Townsend 5.50

Thomas Fuller 11.00

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

2008 World Series of Poker Justin Bonomo

Can the Spurs win Game 3 and beat the Lakers?

They have to, because being down 0-2 to the Lakers, their title reign is almost over.

Coming to the 2008 NBA playoffs, the Spurs have showed the championship experience that they've been riding on since winning their very first title of the Duncan era in 1999.

Since then, the San Antonio Spurs have become the measuring stick to which teams aspire to be someday. Although they haven't won championships in three consecutive times like their Western Conference rivals from L.A. have, the Spurs are still the current kings of the West. That's until one team tells them otherwise.

The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, have rediscovered how to win again. After all the losing campaigns they've had, this year's Lakers have secured the best record in the West. All of a sudden, the date when they lost Shaquille O'Neal along with their championship form back in the summer of 2004 was quickly forgotten.

Especially with Kobe Bryant winning this year's Most Valuable Player award, the Lakers winning the title seems destined to happen.

But of course, it won't be easy, with the 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals now shifting to Texas at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

With guys like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker waiting for Kobe and Pau Gasol, winning in Texas IN THE FREAKIN' playoffs is a very difficult task indeed.

Like the Pistons, the Spurs are ready to show the Lakers why they have been so successful all these years.

Sure, they didn't dominate the regular season like the Lakers have but when it comes to the playoffs, the Spurs is a team you definitely don't want to play against.

Especially playing against them in Texas.

Who will win the 2008 NBA Western Conference Finals? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Los Angeles Lakers 1.40

San Antonio Spurs 5.50

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

San Antonio Spurs Los Angeles Lakers

Bet on the Euro 2008 Championships now!

From June 7 to 29, all of Europe will be all about football.

Well, when you come to think of it, aren't they always anyway? The 2008 UEFA European Football Championship, otherwise known as Euro 2008, is almost here, adding even more European football flavor to this part of the world already infested with it so much already.

Of course, Euro 2008 is still the biggest football event of the year after the 2008 UEFA Champions League. It is going to take place in Austria and Switzerland from the 7th of June to the 29th.

A total of sixteen European teams will take part in the Euro 2008 championships as hosts Austria and Poland will be competing in the tournament for the first time. European as well as global audiences are going to be a part of this football championship event. More over three weeks and 31 matches will decide which country will be crowned the football champions of Europe.

International football betting is also going to be a big part of the Euro 2008 championships. It is second only to the world cup in terms of the total amount of money wagered during the whole event.

Football gambling is always very lucrative to gamblers and when it comes to Euro betting, bookers always look at it as a gold mine.

Making money by betting on the 2008 Euro championships solely depends upon how well informed the gambler is and how much information the booker has about football and the propensity to make good and well informed decisions.

If one is smart enough to make quick decisions and to work according to the winning strategies, Euro 2008 betting can be a profitable source of income.

Euro betting can also be performed online. Through smart money management, bookies or the gamblers will be able to make a profit, making Euro betting a very comfortable lifestyle for anyone.

Which country will win the Euro 2008 Championships? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Italy 8.00

Germany 5.00

France 9.00

Spain 7.00

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

Euro 2008 UEFA Cup

For all ya'll wondering how to be invited to the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, read this...

The NHUPC, yes, it's a big poker tournament that doesn't have WSOP written on it.

While majority of the poker players around the world are probably anxious for the 2008 World Series of Poker, the rest who have no plans competing on this year's WSOP event probably has the NHUPC in mind.

And that's the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. But unlike the WSOP, the event's selection process is a little more complicated. In fact, the NHUPC selection committee has implemented a list of criteria that will result to automatic invites to the heads-up tournament probably to avoid the confusion.

This year's field is loaded with the top players in the game. That includes 11 former heads-up champions, six WPT players of the year and a combined 112 WSOP bracelets.

Here is the list of criteria.

• Previous five National Heads-Up Poker Champions
• Previous two National Heads-Up runners-up
• Defending National Heads-Up semifinalists
• Any player who cashes in the past four consecutive years of the NHUPC
• Previous three World Series of Poker main event champions
• Defending World Series of Poker main event runner-up
• Beginning with the 2008 WSOP, multiple-bracelet winners in the same year will receive an automatic invitation to the next Heads-Up Championship
• Defending World Series of Poker Player of the Year
• Defending World Series of Poker Heads-Up Champion
• Defending World Series of Poker Europe main event champion (must be 21 or older)
• Reigning World Poker Tour Player of the Year
• Reigning Monte Carlo European Poker Tour Grand Final Champion (must be 21 or older)
• Reigning Card Player magazine Player of the Year
• Reigning Bluff magazine Player of the Year
• Reigning ALL IN magazine Player of the Year
• Online and NBC qualifiers (1-3) (must be 21 or older)
• Host venue qualifiers (2)

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

2008 World Series of Poker NHUPC

Pistons to win Game 3 and beat the Celtics in Detroit

HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE. Remember when I told ya'll that this was the very thing the Celtics hold so dearly? Well, it belongs to the Pistons now.

After the Celtics went 9-0 in the 2008 NBA playoffs, a little dose of reality was slapped on their faces when the Pistons won where no team has in the postseason, the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.

Yep, the Detroit Pistons, after winning Game 2 to tie the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at one game apiece, have now snatched homecourt advantage from the Boston Celtics. What was once a best-of-seven affair has been reduced to a best-of-five and the Pistons now have home cooking on their side.

And being a fan of the Detroit Pistons, you just know I'm loving every minute of this. After all that talk about how the Boston Celtics this season are destined to win the NBA title, and how their BIG THREE is the most talented trio ever assembled in basketball, the Pistons winning Game 2 sure was one way to shut all that talk up.

With homecourt advantage now with the Pistons, the Boston Celtics now have to do something they've never done before in the playoffs, that's win away from Boston.

Can the Celtics do it? If they're playing in Miami, maybe. But this is the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan we're talking about baby, and winning there, ESPECIALLY in the playoffs, is almost an impossible task.

For what it's worth, the Celtics remain confident.

''It's definitely going to be a challenge for us being that we haven't won a road game,'' Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who scored 26 points in Game 2, said. ''But I don't think that is bothering us, like, psychologically. We have no choice now but to get it done on the road.''

The Boston Celtics are a miserable 0-6 on the road in the playoffs. I don't know about you but as far as I'm concerned, betting on the Pistons in Game 3 is like withdrawing money from your ATM machine.

Who will win the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Finals? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Detroit Pistons 6.50

Boston Celtics 2.75

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

Detroit Pistons Boston Celtics

Detroit Red Wings are back in the Stanley Cup Finals

Detroit is once again, HOCKEY TOWN.

The Detroit Red Wings return to the chase for the Stanley Cup championship title after earning the ticket for the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins following a six year drought.

The Detroit Red Wings started the 2007-2008 NHL regular season with a bang, racing to a 10-2-1 back in October. They were 17-6-2 through November and 29-8-3 before the start of the new calendar year. This was en route to a seventh straight Central Division title, which was won by 24 points, the widest margin during any of the seven recent titles.

Coming into the 2008 NHL playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings faced the Nashville Predators in the first round where they had somewhat of a breakdown after having a 2-0 series lead over the Predators. But with playoff experience helping Detroit, they clobbered the Predators, outscoring them 5-1 to safely advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.

In the second round, Detroit matched-up against the Colorado Avalanche. The Red Wings swept them as if the Avalanche were nothing, winning in convincing fashion, 8-2 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

In the 2008 NHL Western Conference Finals, the Red Wings faced a more resilient and somewhat stubborn opponent in the Dallas Stars. But still, Detroit was simply better. Detroit won the first three games before dropping two and then bouncing back to win the West and advance to the 2008 Stanley Cup championship series to face the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Detroit Red Wings have superb talent, a strong work ethic and the confidence to win this year's trophy. Add the fact that they are very well coached, this team is definitely the best team coming out of the Western Conference.

Who will win the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Detroit Red Wings 3.50

Pittsburgh Penguins 5.50

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 Stanley Cup Finals Detroit Red Wings

Can the Pittsburgh Penguins continue their domination of the NHL Playoffs in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals?

Domination. That's exactly what the Penguins have showed in the postseason.

The Pittsburgh Penguins made it look easy all through out the 2008 NHL playoffs, earning a 12-2 record in the postseason on their way to the best-of-seven 2008 Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit.

These Pittsburgh Penguins showcased their talent right of the bat, needing just 68 seconds in Game 1 of the very first round to deliver the message that this year's Stanley Cup is rightfully theirs. That's when veteran Gary Roberts scored the first of his two goals during a 4-0 shellacking of the Ottawa Senators during a game in which he led his team throughout.

The Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby, were unquestionably the most prepared, most determined, most talented team in the Eastern Conference. They are where they are today because their best players really were the best players in hockey this year.

It's as simple as that.

The Pittsburgh Penguins rolled through the 2008 Eastern Conference playoffs, winning the first three games of each series, losing only Game 4 in New York and again in Philadelphia before bouncing back with clutch series-clinching performances against the Rangers 3-2 in overtime and the Flyers with a dismantling 6-0 win.

The Penguins are 8-0 at home in these playoffs, six times winning by more than one goal. You have to wonder if the Detroit Red Wings even have a chance against these guys in the finals.

The Penguins, whose core players barely average 21 years of age, had 10 of their 12 victories won by multiple-goal margins, even though most of these Penguins had previously won only one playoff game during their NHL careers.

Who will win the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Detroit Red Wings 3.50

Pittsburgh Penguins 5.50

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 Stanley Cup Finals Pittsburgh Penguins

Manchester United V Chelsea in Champions League Final

It's an all-English final in the Champions League people!

A historic feat is about to happen in Moscow, Russia as the 2008 UEFA Champions League final will be between two teams from the Premiere League, Chelsea FC and Manchester United. It will all take place on the 21st of May, 2008 at the Luzhniki Stadium.

You read it folks, the final game of the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League will be contested by the Manchester United Red Devils and Chelsea, making it an all-English club final for the first time in Champions League history. This is only the third time that two clubs from the same country have contested in the same Champions League Final, the others being the 2000 and 2003 finals.

In a series of coincidences, during the week Manchester United qualified for the Champions League final in Russia, Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg advanced to the 2008 FA Cup final hosted at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. How about that huh?

The 2008 UEFA Champions League final will be played on natural grass, temporarily installed for this match replacing its artificial turf. Due to the time difference, this will be the first European Cup final to be played over two days, scheduled to finish at 0:30 local time if there are no extra time and penalties.

Fans that will lord the historic match can use their respective tickets to the game as a form of visa.

''Following high level discussions involving the UEFA President, Michel Platini, the Russian Government and UEFA are pleased to confirm that all supporters will be able to use their match ticket as a visa entry to the Russian Federation for a period of 72 hours,'' an official statement said.

''The visa exemption applies to all ticket holders coming to Russia for the final in the period between 19 and 23 May 2008. Supporters will need to present a valid match ticket, a valid passport and a completed immigration form upon entrance to the Russian Federation.''

''Anyone overstaying the 72-hour entry period will then have to pay the fee for a regular visa when leaving the country.''

Who will win the 2008 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Manchester United -0.5

Chelsea +0.5

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

Manchester United Chelsea FC

2008 WSOP Players would have to go Full Tilt now

That is if they want to earn the Earth-shattering $10 million those guys from Full Tilt poker are offering.

You read it poker fans, (I know there are still some of you here reading a sports gambling guide...) top poker site Full Tilt poker is taking WSOP qualifiers to the next level by offering an astonishing $10,000,000 to the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event champion.

That is if they win their Main Event seat through Full Tilt Poker's satellites and qualifiers. Dubbed the $10 Million Main Event Mania, this monstrous poker promotion has been running for the fourth year in a row now.

The odds of this happening may be far-fetched but it is by no means impossible. Full Tilt Poker has pledged to award at least fifteen $12K Main Event prize packages each week from March to June 22, 2008. The $12,000 entry includes buy-in to the 2008 WSOP Main Event and an extra $2,000 so the winner can travel like Snoop Dogg.

Full Tilt is hosting a series of qualifier tournaments including the 150 Seat Main Event Guarantee, Race to the Main Event Giveaway, $200 Tuesday Main Event Guarantee, $300 Wednesday Main Event Guarantee, $1000 Thursday Main Event Guarantee and the $500 Sunday Main Event Guarantee.

With the sheer number of qualifiers available, it would be almost impossible for an avid poker fan to not find a game he or she can fit into.

What happens if the player only makes it to the final table? Well, that player is not going to go home empty-handed. Aside from the substantial WSOP prize money, Full Tilt is more than willing to reward hard work with a hefty bonus.

That is if the player agrees to wear Full Tilt Gear during the Main Event and during interviews. Full Tilt Poker will give away a one-time cash payment of $50,000. Also, a Full Tilt qualifier who makes it to second or third place will receive a cash payment of $100,000.

For more information on the $10 Million Main Event Mania or to join Full Tilt Poker's 2008 World Series of Poker qualifiers, visit Full Tilt's website at http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/.

Hurry up while those guys are still bent over for ya'.

Which of these ''Celebrity'' poker players will win the most money in the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

James Woods 6.00

Jennifer Tilly 6.00

Shannon Elizabeth 6.00

Ben Affleck 10.00

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

2008 World Series of Poker WSOP Bracelet

What will Larry Brown and Michael Jordan do together with the Charlotte Bobcats next NBA Season?

Iverson was THAT CLOSE from getting his mentor back to his bench. Unfortunately, Larry Brown opted to go with MJ.

As expected, former New York Knicks head coach Larry Brown takes over as the new head coach of the struggling Charlotte Bobcats after missing basketball hysteria only the 2008 NBA playoffs can bring.

Larry Brown replaces Sam Vincent, who was fired after spending the whole 2007-08 NBA basketball season with the Charlotte Bobcats. This marks the 9th NBA coaching job for the Hall of Fame coach.

Brown agreed to a four-year contract joining Michael Jordan, NBA part owner and Executive of the Charlotte Bobcats, with both being former students from the University of North Carolina.

''I think I've coached almost everybody in the NBA, but I'm going to challenge everybody to do their best,'' Larry Brown said. ''That's what Michael is about and that's what I'm about.''

The Charlotte Bobcats are in their fourth year in the NBA and Larry Brown will be giving this struggling franchise instant credibility. He is one of only five NBA coaches with more than 1,000 wins and the only coach to lead teams to NBA and NCAA titles.

Brown's stint in the NCAA has pulled off remarkable turnarounds just like when he took the UCLA Bruins to the NCAA Final Four and when he won an NCAA title with the Kansas Jayhawks, although most of his experience has been in the NBA.

Larry Brown improved teams in Denver, San Antonio, Indiana and Philadelphia and won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons back in 2004.

Brown, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002, will now try to get the Jason Richardson-led Bobcats into the playoffs and help Michael Jordan taste success for the first time in two stints running NBA teams.

''I told Michael, 'I'm not coming here unless I know you're fully committed,''' Larry Brown said. ''He told me that last year and he told me it again. You know how competitive he is. He wants to win. I can get to him at anytime, and he's surrounded himself with people that I really respect and like.''

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.

Charlotte Bobcats Larry Brown

Can Big Brown win the 2008 Preakness Stakes?

Yep, another boring weekend is upon us as this godforsaken bloodsport continues with the Preakness at Pimlico.

It's the 2008 Preakness Stakes people, running for the 133rd time this Saturday as the top thoroughbreds of the world assemble at the Pimlico race track looking to be crowned the new champion of the ''Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.''

Kentucky Derby champion, Big Brown, is the heavy favorite to win the 133rd Preakness Stakes this Saturday. After winning the first leg of this year's Triple Crown trail, all eyes will be fixed on the colt as he looks to continue his run to become Triple Crown champion, something this bloodsport of horse racing failed to have for quite a long time now.

After winning the Derby from post 20, the last post position at Churchill Downs, Big Brown will come out from the middle this time after drawing post position 7 from the field of 13 last Wednesday. That'll probably give the Kentucky Derby champ a rather tough race come Saturday with him bunched up in the middle right that. STILL, bettors think otherwise.

Big Brown has been given 3-5 odds to win the second leg of the 2008 Triple Crown series by Daily Racing Form's national handicapper Mike Watchmaker. Pimlico linemaker Frank Carulli gave the colt 1-2 odds to win this weekend.

Big Brown, after winning these races from an outside post position by at least four lengths, winning the 20-horse field in the 2008 Kentucky Derby from post 20 and the 12-horse field in the Florida Derby from post 12, will have the opportunity to save ground this time as he comes out from the middle for the Preakness. STILL, some are still uncertain if the heavy favorite can take advantage of it or not.

''He gets to save some ground for the first time,'' Michael Iavarone said, whose IEAH Stables is a co-owner of Big Brown. ''I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.''

Behindatthebar, the Lexington Stakes winner, is the second choice on Watchmaker's morning line, at 10-1, with Gayego, the Arkansas Derby winner, next at 12-1. Carulli has Gayego the second choice at 8-1, with Behindatthebar the third choice at 10-1.

Are you ready to have the next 30 minutes of your life wasted on horseshit like this? Then you should watch the 2008 Preakness Stakes this Saturday.

Can 2008 Kentucky Derby champion Big Brown win the 2008 Preakness Stakes? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Big Brown 1.25

Behindatthebar 11.00

Gayego 5.50

Kentucky Bear 17.00

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

2008 Preakness Stakes Big Brown

Here's your MVP with the rest of the 2008 NBA Awards

Yep, the best players of the 2007-08 NBA regular season were finally recognized.

As the second round of the 2008 NBA playoffs heat up, it's that time of the year when the best players in the NBA are finally recognized. Of course, ya'll should know this if you've been following this year's playoff wars but in case you're not, we'll give them to you anyway.

Let's start with the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year Kobe Bryant. Kobe, with 82 of the possible 125 first-place votes, earned his first ever MVP trophy after 12 years playing in the league that saw him win scoring titles, three NBA world championships and of course, 81 points.

NBA Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant kept Sonic fans packing Seattle despite the fact that the team was nowhere near playoff contention this year and they could be leaving for Oklahoma next season. With overall no.1 draft pick Greg Oden out for the whole year, Durant made sure the Rookie of the Year honors will go to him and so it did.

Next, we have the NBA Sixth Man Manu Ginobili. The San Antonio Spurs are fortunate to have a guy of Ginobili's caliber come off the bench. We all know that the Argentinian can start for any team that he wants but being the consummate teammate that he is, he doesn't mind coming off the bench in San Antonio as long as they keep on winning championships.

And boy, did they won a lot of them.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett is hoping that defense really wins championships. KG led the Boston Celtics from having the worst record in the league last year to simply the best team in basketball. The Celtics have become a defensive force because of Garnett and as long as they have gunners like Paul Pierce and sweet shooting Ray Allen, scoring points won't be a problem.

NBA Most Improved Player Hedo Turkoglu has finally become a bona fide star in Orlando, becoming his team's go-to-guy in the fourth quarter. Sure, shooting all those three-point shots for a living sure is a tough way to live but man, he pulls it off.

NBA Head Coach of the Year Byron Scott, together with Chris Paul, transformed the New Orleans Hornets from a lottery-bound team to one of the league's legitimate title contenders this season. Can coach Scott and CP3 keep their Cinderella run going? Wait and see.

Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Dwight Howard complete the All-NBA First Team. Yup, it is only fitting to have the top three vote getters in the MVP race (Bryant, Paul and Garnett respectively) go side by side with the league's leading scorer (James) and basketball's hottest commodity (Howard) for the NBA's no.1 team.

If Charlotte ends up with a starting five like that, maybe they'll start winning more games.

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.

Kobe Bryant NBA Awards

Bodog has Odds on the 2008 FA Cup Final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City at the Wembley Stadium

Who would've thought that none of the final four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal will be playing in the FA Cup final?

That should probably give us one boring 2008 FA Cup final this Saturday right? Um... Sure it will. Hell, these soccer games don't have much hype going for them anyway unless of course, David Beckham is playing.

STILL, after a season of shocks including Kevin Keegan's return to Newcastle, the mass competition for promotion in the Championship and a wave goodbye from 'The Special One' Jose Mourinho, the biggest one of all would have to be the 2008 FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City since this is the first time in 17 years that not one of the 'big four' have made it there.

Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth should be the clear favorites on Saturday against Cardiff City. Pompey were having a great season before things got serious in the FA Cup. They still finished a more than respectable eighth place in the Premier League, but you get the feeling that had they exited the cup competition early they may have challenged for a European slot via the league.

Without a win in five games Redknapp is well aware that his side haven't been firing on all cylinders. He has been resting key players in the build up to their trip to Wembley, but he will still be slightly anxious with their drop in form in the build up to their first FA Cup final in 69 years.

Dave Jones' Cardiff City have nothing to lose on Saturday. It's their first cup final appearance in 71 years and they're looking to enjoy it. Unlike Pompey, their FA Cup run actually improved their performances in the Championship.

After an inconsistent start to the season, where some thought the manager's number was up, the Bluebirds started picking up results and were even challenging for a play off place for a short while.With two teams in relative unfamiliar surroundings the neutral fan will be hoping the performances shown in the semi finals at the Wembley stadium last month aren’t repeated, where both sides won their games 1-0 in cautious encounters.

Being the last game of the season for both teams though, this should be an attacking game. Both sides are capable of scoring goals, and equally conceding them at times. Without cup-tied Jermaine Defoe, Pompey will be relying on seasoned pro Nwankwo Kanu to fire them to victory. He might just do that.

Who will win the 2008 FA Cup Final at Wembley? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Portsmouth -1

Cardiff City +1

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

Portsmouth Cardiff City

You want a Nude Photo of the Hot and Sexy Maria Sharapova?

We do.

But unfortunately, the hot and sexy Maria Sharapova doesn't want to take part in any photo shoot whatsoever lately. So much for the latest Sharapova panty shot eh? Yep, we still love them Russian panties alright.

Sharapova is being threatened by the WTA Tour that they will fine her sweet little ass for a whopping $300,000 or more if she doesn't flaunt her Russian ass in a promotional photo session for the 2008 Italian Open in Rome on May 12.

With the 2008 French Open at Roland Garros just around the corner, this is definitely bad news for all ya'll Frenchies expecting to see more of Maria Sharapova plastered around your town. After all, what's better than having Sharapova's panties promoting the biggest tennis tournament on clay right?

Expectedly, Sharapova is a little bit irate when she heard the news. But after releasing this statement, it looks like the sexy Russian sex goddess ain't giving in to the request.

''They want me to do this shoot on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Internazionali BNL Italia tourney after flying 12 hours from L.A.,'' 2008 Australian Open champion, Maria Sharapova said in a statement posted on her Web site last Friday.

''I have set my own personal rules when it comes to doing shoots and I never do shoots before tournaments because they are mentally draining and I want to just focus on my tennis.''

''To be honest, I would love to do this and help promote the tour as much as possible,'' she said. ''But to force me to do this shoot the day before a Tier I tournament is just not right.''

Yes, that means she is no longer interested in showing off her sweet little panties days before any tennis tournament. Fortunately for us, you can still wait for her little skirts to fly open DURING a tennis match. YAY!

Who will win the 2008 French Open at Roland Garros? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Rafael Nadal 1.71

Justine Henin 2.60

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

French Open Maria Sharapova

2008 Preakness Stakes is next to bore you like crazy

Unfortunately for most of us, the horseshit ain't over. After the Derby comes the 2008 Preakness Stakes.

All roads lead to the Pimlico Race Course as Triple Crown series title hopeful, Big Brown, along with the top thoroughbreds of the country, set their sights to Baltimore for the 2008 Preakness Stakes on May 17. The Preakness Stakes will be running for the 133rd time then.

The Preakness Stakes is an American Grade I stakes, 1-3/16 mile (1.91 km) thoroughbred horse racing event for three-year-old horses.

Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg) while fillies have 121 lb (55 kg). The Preakness Stakes has been termed ''The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans'' mainly because a horseshoe of black-eyed susans, the state flower of Maryland, is traditionally placed around the winner's neck.

The 2008 Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the 2008 Triple Crown series. It should be interesting since it is the shortest race of all three legs. It almost always attracts the Kentucky Derby winner. After all, whoever wins the Derby will be the ONLY ONE to have the chance to capture the Triple Crown.

In this year's case, Big Brown.

It also attracts some of the other horses that ran in the Derby, and often a few horses that qualified but did not start in the Derby. The Preakness Stakes is followed by the third leg of this year's Triple Crown series, the 2008 Belmont Stakes.

As for the 2008 Kentucky Derby champion Big Brown, the thoroughbred should be a heavy favorite at Pimlico after becoming the first horse since the filly Regret in 1915 to win the Derby off just three career starts and the second to win from post position No.20.

''I don't know who's going to beat him,'' said Graham Motion, who trained 19th place Adriano. ''To win off three starts, even Curlin could not do that.''

Can 2008 Kentucky Derby champion Big Brown win the 2008 Preakness Stakes? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Will there be a Triple Crown winner in U.S. thoroughbred racing in 2008?

Yes - Triple Crown winner in 2008 2.20

No Triple Crown winner in 2008 1.62

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

2008 Preakness Stakes Big Brown

Can the Spurs tie their second round series with the Hornets in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Playoffs?

Reality has set in.

After earning a shocking upset of the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2008 NBA playoffs, and winning the first two games of their second round series with the defending champions from San Antonio by at least 18 points, the Hornets had a dose of reality after the Spurs handed them with a 110-99 loss in Texas that cut their series lead to 2-1.

Yes, the defending champs, San Antonio Spurs, finally earned their first win in the second round, beating the Hornets 110-99 behind the 62 points from Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

The New Orleans Hornets couldn't do anything as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili scored 31 points each to overshadow CP3's game-high 35 points for the visiting New Orleans team.

Both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili kept the Spurs in the game during the first half before they put the Hornets away for good in the second half, outscoring New Orleans 29-22 in the third and again 27-21 in the fourth.

Sure, Chris Paul was simply perfection for New Orleans, with his 35 points and nine assists, but the fact of the matter is, it's really tough to beat the defending champions on their own turf. The win let the Spurs avoid a 0-3 hole from which no NBA team has made it back to win a playoff series.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan was also big, literally and figuratively, for San Antonio after coming up with a massive double-double, 16 points and 13 rebounds, to fuel the defending champions back in this best-of-seven series.

Game 4 is this Sunday as the Spurs try to even the series at two games apiece. Of course, the Hornets would love to take a commanding 3-1 advantage with the series shifting back to New Orleans on Tuesday.

It should be one helluva' game.

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.

New Orleans Hornets San Antonio Spurs

Is Billups ready to lead Pistons over Magic in Game 4?

The answer to that could probably have an effect on this best-of-seven second round series.

The Pistons and the Magic will resume their best-of-seven war in the 2008 NBA playoffs on Saturday for Game 4 with Orlando still trailing 2-1. STILL, with Billups questionable for Detroit, the Magic have the best opportunity to tie this series come game time.

You read it people, Chauncey Billups is questionable for the Detroit Pistons when they take on the Magic in Orlando this Saturday. Billups strained his right hamstring with just only four minutes past the very first quarter of Game 3. With their floor general down, the Magic took advantage en route to a convincing 111-86 win Wednesday night.

Will Chauncey Billups be available for Detroit to play the Orlando Magic in Game 4? Detroit fans certainly hope so. ''That's going to be a decision Arnie and him are going to have to make,'' Detroit Pistons head coach Flip Saunders said of his strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander and his star guard Chauncey Billups.

''If he's ready to go he's going to play. If he doesn't go it's more than likely that he's not going to be able to function at a high enough percentage to where it's going to matter if he plays or not.''

For what it's worth, Arnie Kander claims they are fortunate Chauncey Billups didn't suffer a high-velocity injury. ''This was just stretch-related,'' Kander said. ''He went a little beyond his normal range. But you don't fear these as much as the ones that are speed-based.''

Kander also said an MRI won't be necessary.

''You can tell more by your hands,'' Kander said. ''The fibers felt great. He was walking as he left the arena, walking normally. He was looking good. If he feels as good in the morning as he did last night, to me that's tremendous. Usually in the morning you feel really bad, and he didn't.''

Let's hope all these are not merely wishful thinking.

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.

Detroit Pistons Orlando Magic

Can Felipe Massa win in Turkey and beat Kimi Raikkonen?

The F1 season resumes in Turkey on Sunday and it looks like it'll just be between two drivers from Ferrari come raceday.

The 2008 F1 season, after four races, is being dominated by Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen as he looks to become double world champion for the first time in his F1 career behind the wheel of the flaming red Scuderia.

However, this coming race on Sunday, the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix, has been dominated by his teammate, Felipe Massa, the past two years. Yup, there's something about the Istanbul circuit that brings out the best in the Brazilian and on Sunday, he'll be looking to dominate again for the third straight year.

''You do not need to be a mind-reader to work out what is my target for this weekend. I want to record a hat-trick of Turkish victories,'' Felipe Massa said. ''It might be possible, but you can never be sure.''

''At the last race, starting third on the grid, I was unable to win on a track where overtaking is very difficult. At the moment, I am enjoying a tough competition with Kimi and my second place in Spain was still a good result. But I will be trying everything to go one better this Sunday.''

''I have to say that Istanbul Park is a fantastic track and I enjoy driving there a lot. I think we have a good car in the F2008 and I feel it can be quite strong this coming weekend. There is every reason to think we can fight for the win.''

Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, can't seem to follow up on his maiden win of the year when he won the first race of the F1 season in Australia. He is currently nine points behind Kimi Raikkonen in the drivers championship standings, despite that, he remains optimistic coming to Istanbul.

''A few people have questioned my commitment, my ability to drive,'' Lewis Hamilton said. ''I'm not Superman but I believe I have the ability to win a World Championship.''

''Everybody makes mistakes. I'm sure Nelson Mandela, at 90-odd, still makes mistakes. That's life. What people say about my performances does not really bother me what does concern me is doing the job to the best of my abilities.''

''Once we get everything right, our car is as quick as any. Then it is down to the driver to pull out extra bits of time. I think I can do that.''

Can Felipe Massa win the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Felipe Massa 3.00

Kimi Raikkonen 1.91

Lewis Hamilton 7.00

Fernando Alonso 26.00

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

Kimi Raikkonen Felipe Massa

The Rocket Roger Clemens is sorry that he's so fucked this 2008 MLB baseball season.

The Rocket finally apologized.

After going through a butt-load of steroids allegations, New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens apologized Monday for his wrongdoings in his personal life.

News broke out last week that Roger Clemens had a decade-long relationship with country star Mindy McCready that began when she was 15 and an aspiring singer. In addition, the report also linked the seven-time Cy Young Award winner to former Manhattan bartender Angela Moyer and Paulette Dean Daly, a former wife of champion golfer John Daly.

''Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry,'' Roger Clemens said in a statement issued by spokesman Patrick Dorton.

''I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right.'' Roger Clemens denied having an affair with a 15-year-old but didn't specifically address whether he had a romantic relationship with McCready.

Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens' former trainer, accused the pitcher in December's Mitchell Report of using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000 and 2001, before players and owners agreed to ban them from baseball.

Clemens, a 354-game winner, has repeatedly denied using steroids and human growth hormone. The defamation suit is being contested in federal court in Houston.

''I believe my personal life has nothing to do with the accusations of steroid and HGH use,'' Roger Clemens said. ''I have already made clear that I did not use them. Now, I have been accused of having an improper relationship with a 15-year old girl. Nothing could be further from the truth. This relationship has been twisted and distorted far beyond reality. It is just one of many, many accusations that are utterly false.''

He he... I wouldn't want to trade lives with this poor dude. He sure has a lot on his mind these days.

Roger Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said last week he will talk with his client about whether to proceed with the defamation suit following the wave of unpleasant publicity.

''He's getting pummeled,'' Hardin said. ''I've never seen somebody get beat up like this. In some ways, I think we're on uncharted ground. That's always a decision the client has to make. That's not the lawyer's decision.''

Which team will win the 2008 MLB World Series? AcesAce sportsbook has the odds.

Boston Red Sox +300

New York Yankees +400

Cleveland Indians +1,000

Los Angeles Dodgers +2,000

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

MLB Baseball Roger Clemens

Ex - Packers QB Brett Favre on Madden NFL 09 cover

Can Madden STILL curse somebody who has already walked away from the game?

Yes people, that's probably what some sick nut is wondering after all them players fell to this somewhat stupid but deadly cursed video game the past few years. But since Favre, already retired from football, won't be taking snaps in the coming 2008-09 NFL football season, can the dreaded Madden curse still get him one way or the other anyway?

If you're still hoping that Brett Favre decides to come out of retirement, you'd probably be happy to know that Favre is not totally ruling a comeback out. He says although a return is highly unlikely, he is not ruling out the possibility of him making a return to the field.

Like say, if the Green Bay Packers needed him after Aaron Rodgers, the team's new starting QB, goes down with an injury, we might see No.4 back on the field sooner than we think. Then, and only then, can we (if you're a Favre fan like most of us...) can start worrying about the reality that he just agreed to be the face of a cursed video game franchise.

As far as those boys behind the Madden NFL 09 video game is concerned, choosing Brett Favre as their next cover boy was easy. He is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play football and with them choosing a retired player to appear on their cover, they won't risk receiving a butt-load of hate mail from Packer fans once the dreaded Madden curse strikes down on the immortal football icon.

After all, he is no longer playing for the team. YET.

''Madden NFL Football and Brett Favre are sports icons who have set the standard and revolutionized their positions within their respective genres,'' Madden NFL Executive Producer Dale Jackson said.

''Brett Favre is a perfect fit for the Madden NFL 09 cover, as he epitomizes everything the franchise has stood for the past 20 years; longevity, excellence, and a love of football.''

Madden NFL 09 will be available for the Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation2 and PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment systems, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP (PlayStationPortable) handheld entertainment system and is rated RP by the ESRB.

Yep, we're salivating for this game already.

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.

Brett Favre Madden Curse

2008 NFL Draft ended Michael Vick Era in Atlanta

Yes, the Falcons drafted a quarterback.

Coming into the brand new 2008-09 NFL football season, the Atlanta Falcons are hoping that the guy they drafted will finally save their franchise from the shithole they have fallen into after Michael Vick decided to bet on pitbulls.

You read it people, the Atlanta Falcons just drafted a guy that can potentially save this franchise and put them back on the map. As NFL commissioner Roger Goodell walked to the podium, he leaned towards the mic and said these very words Michael Vick probably didn't want to hear.

''With the third pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select [dramatic pause] Matt Ryan, quarterback.''

Yes folks, the Atlanta Falcons, after the rather miserable and pathetic performance they got at the position last season, drafted the former Boston College Eagles quarterback in hopes of finally having a solid man at the position that could finally give this team more wins for a change.

After the Atlanta Falcons drafted Matt Ryan, it is safe to say that the career of Michael Vick as a member of the Atlanta Falcons is... OVER. There will be no comeback for Vick with the ATL, perhaps there will be no comeback at all.

And if Michael Vick was watching the 2008 NFL Draft from prison, watching Matt Ryan drafted by his former team should give him a familiar feeling. You see seven years ago, Vick stood on the very podium where Ryan did last Saturday.

There was a freshly issued Falcons ball cap on Vick's head and a beaming NFL commissioner at his side. Together he and Paul Tagliabue had pinched the sleeves of a Falcons No. 1 jersey and held it in the air for the requisite draft day photo op. Vick's silverish-blue suit gleamed in the lights.

Vick was supposed to redefine how the quarterback position was played then. After the betting activities he had with pitbulls, yup, he redefined how the quarterback position is played alright.

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.

Atlanta Falcons Michael Vick

Big Brown to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby from Gate 20

Yes, this godforsaken horse racing event is still on in this first Saturday of May. Imagine that.

And just in case you're most of us, that is ''I could give a rat's ass about horse racing,'' the godforsaken horse racing event we're talking about here is the 134th Run for the Roses. Otherwise known as the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

You read it people, the gates are already set and the horses already have their respective positions for Saturday's 134th Kentucky Derby to kick off the 2008 Triple Crown series. Starting off at gates one to five are Cool Coal Man, which has 20-1 odds t win it all, Tale of Ekati - 15-1, Anak Nakal - 30-1 and both 20 - 1 long shots, Court Vision and Eight Belles.

Kentucky Derby rookie Gabriel Saez has the call on Eight Belles, who brings a four-race winning streak into the Run for the Roses. ''We're going to give it a whirl,'' said Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones, who finished second in last year's Derby with Hard Spun.

''If she runs her race against the colts and doesn't get intimidated we feel like she can be right there.''

While on gates six to ten, 3-year-old colt Z Fortune by trainer Steve Asmussen has 15-1 odds to win, Big Truck follows at the seventh spot, while Visionaire takes the eight. Pyro, who won the Louisiana Derby before finishing 10th in the Blue Grass Stakes, is the third choice on both lines at 6-1.

Pyro sits at post 9 and Colonel John, the Santa Anita Derby winner, wound up in post 10.

Gates 11-15 is considered as the sluggish group of the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Jockey Rene Douglas will ride Z Humor that has 30-1 odds and then followed by Smooth Air and Bob Black Jack, both having 20-1 odds to win the Derby. One of the horses trained by Todd Pletcher, Monba, will be at gate 14 with 15-1 odds while Adriano gets the 15th spot.

The last remaining five horses from 16-20 fills up the 20-horse race field. Denis of Cork has 20-1 odds and landed at the sweet 16 spot, followed by Cowboy Cal, another horse by trainer Todd Pletcher, looking to put an end to his 0-19 Derby stint. Colts Recapturetheglory and Gayego drew number 18 and 19 respectively.

The last spot for Saturday's one-mile Derby was taken by Big Brown. Florida Derby winner Big Brown was marked the 3-1 favorite to win the $1,451,800 purse and a garland of roses. Big Brown will be ridden by two-time Derby winner Kent Desormeaux.

Big Brown, who has won his three starts by a combined 29 lengths, was installed as the 3-1 favorite on the morning line set by Mike Battaglia of Churchill Downs. Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper, also has Big Brown at 3-1.

The only Derby winner to leave from the No. 20 post was Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. Will we see another one this year? Big Brown definitely has the credentials to do just that. Yep, I'm picking Big Brown to win it.

Can Big Brown win the 134th Kentucky Derby? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Big Brown 5/2

Colonel John 9/2

Pyro 7/1

Adriano 16/1

Recapturetheglory 25/1

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

2008 Kentucky Derby Big Brown