 |
 Basketball Betting |
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
|
||||
Overrated no more; Dalembert deliversBasketball Betting Lines01/15/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Samuel Dalembert isn't the most popular athlete in Philadelphia. In fact, Sammy D. and his massive contract, have turned the player into a bit of a pariah in the City of Brotherly Love. Despite possessing the length and natural instincts to be an excellent rebounder and top-tier shot blocker, Dalembert has always been something of a disappointment. A lack of basketball IQ and disdain of the weight room made Dalembert the poster boy for underachievement in a moribund era of Philly basketball. His six-year contract that dwarfs the deals of other sports stars in the city like baseball's Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, football's DeSean Jackson and hockey's Mike Richards, has caused many fans to label him as overrated. Any perceived deficiencies on the basketball floor were dwarfed this week by Dalembert's work in the real world, however. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Dalembert spent the first 14 years of his life in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country before moving to Montreal. He may have moved on and moved up, parlaying a couple of seasons at Seton Hall into a shot at the NBA, but he never left Haiti behind. Currently the only active Haitian player in the NBA, Dalembert is scheduled to make $12.12 million this season. The average per capita income in Haiti is $1,300. The Sixers' center understands he rose from the depths of poverty and has taken a keen interest in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program, traveling all over the world to expand the game's reach and help the poorest among us. In the last offseason, Dalembert returned to Haiti to scout locations for a children's academy. In fact, Dalembert has done so much for the same community that often boos him, he was awarded the NBA Community Assist Award last February in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the Philadelphia area for his ongoing philanthropic and charitable work. Understandably, Dalembert was devastated as news trickled in of the catastrophic earthquake in his homeland earlier this week a disaster that has killed up to an estimated 50,000 people and left thousands more homeless, hungry and in despair. Although most of his family has moved to the United States, Dalembert thought of his many friends and more distant relatives and wanted to charter a flight to Port-au-Prince, but it just wasn't feasible. Instead, he did what he could, using his power as an NBA player to educate many of us on the history of Haiti and encourage anyone who could to pledge their support, after he scored 12 points and pulled down a season-high 21 rebounds against New York on Wednesday. Dalembert himself is scheduled to present a personal check of $100,000 to Caryl M. Stern, the President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, before the Sixers host the Sacramento Kings at the Wachovia Center on Friday. A long-time NBA partner who has been on the ground in Haiti since 1949, UNICEF is currently providing support to the victims of this unfolding humanitarian crisis. Funds are being used to provide safe water, temporary shelter systems and essential medical supplies and additional services to the estimated three million victims, at least half of whom are thought to be children. "My heartfelt thanks to Samuel Dalembert and the Philadelphia 76ers for their generous contribution," said Stern. "This will help provide essential life- saving supplies to the people of Haiti, especially for the thousands of children most in need without shelter, clean water, nutrition, and those separated from their parents in this disaster." In addition to his personal contribution, Dalembert has also pledged to match the amount of money donated by Sixers fans at the UNICEF table on the concourse during the game on Friday. "While I cannot begin to imagine what my friends and family are going through as they deal with this terrible tragedy, I will do everything that I can to help raise funds to aid in the relief efforts," said Dalembert. Overrated? Not today. -Those who would like to help in the Haitian relief effort can text GIVE to UNICEF (864233) to donate $5.
<< Holtz takes over at South Florida
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Skip Holtz was officially introduced Friday as the new head football coach at South Florida, one week after the dismissal of Jim Leavitt in the wake of allegations that he struck a player during a game this pa
<< Dodgers avoid arbitration with Billingsley and Kemp
<< Preki, Dooley elected to Hall of Fame
<< Red Stars send U.S. star Tarpley to Athletica
<< Getting things ready for 136th Kentucky Derby
Georgia tabs Grantham to run defense >>
Athens, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Georgia has hired Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham to be its next defensive coordinator. Head coach Mark Richt announced the move Friday a little over a month after deciding not to renew
NFL Divisional Round: Ride the Dogs >>
Bengals' Ochocinco replaces Welker for Pro Bowl >>
Atlanta selects Heath No. 1 in WPS draft >>
England's Lynn snatches Joburg Open lead >>
Super Bowl 2009 BettingSuper Bowl 2009 Betting propositionsUnderdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder. Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while. Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books. If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl. Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX. By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI. In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite. So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs. While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl. There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog. In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl: SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots. XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired. XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers. Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard |
|
