NBA referee report finds no additional illegal activity
Basketball Betting Lines
10/02/2008 -
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA released the results of a review of
the league's embattled officiating program Thursday in the wake of the Tim
Donaghy scandal.
Donaghy, a former NBA referee, received a 15-month prison sentence for his
role in betting on NBA games.
Lawrence B. Pedowitz, a former chief of the Criminal Division in the United
States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, was appointed
by the NBA to review the officiating program and make recommendations.
Following a 14-month investigation, Pedowitz recommended significant changes,
but found no evidence of illegal activity by any referees other than Donaghy.
The 116-page report recommended strengthening the NBA's anti-gambling rules,
improving the enforcement of these rules and creating a "culture of
compliance" among all league and team employees, including through the
reorganization of the management of the referee program and the creation of an
anonymous hotline for gambling information.
The report also said the league should increase monitoring of games for
suspicious activity, and should increase efforts to eliminate the perception
of referee bias by making more information available about the referee program
and increasing access to the referees by fans and media.
"We are very appreciative of the effort by Mr. Pedowitz and his staff
considering the extraordinary nature of the review," NBA commissioner David
Stern said. "Mr. Pedowitz, who together with his team conducted approximately
200 interviews, was given the broadest possible mandate and was provided
unfettered access to our employees, records, data and video library to ensure
the independence and thoroughness of his report.
"We welcome the recommendations from Mr. Pedowitz in areas where we can
improve -- all of which will be adopted, and many of which have already been
adopted, including the hiring of Army Major General (Ret.) Ronald L. Johnson
as the senior vice president, referee operations. These measures are a
beginning, not an end. We know that the NBA's success hinges on the integrity
of our sport and on competition that allows teams to win based on their own
skill and performance. We expect nothing less from our referees than the
highest level of accuracy, professionalism and integrity."
Meanwhile, Stern has also asked Pedowitz to review the new program at the end
of the upcoming season.
"I have asked Mr. Pedowitz to continue his service by reviewing our program at
the end of the season to ensure that it comports with his recommendations and
aspires to the highest levels of integrity."
<< Mets give GM Minaya extension
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets officially signed general
manager Omar Minaya to a three-year contract extension through the 2012 season
on Thursday.
The deal also contains club options for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
<< Phillies slam Sabbathia, take 2-0 lead in NLDS
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shane Victorino hit a grand slam, and
Brett Myers tossed seven strong innings as Philadelphia downed Milwaukee, 5-2,
in Game 2 of the teams' National League Division Series.
The Phillies took a 2-0 l
<< Bears suspend DT Harris
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bears suspended three-time Pro
Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris for Sunday's road game against the Detroit
Lions for breaking an unspecified team rule.
Harris missed this past Sunday's victo
<< Rays 1B Pena leaves game
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos
Pena left Thursday's 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the
American League Division Series with blurred vision in his left eye.
Pena had appa
<< Colgate-Georgetown football game cancelled
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The football game between the Colgate
Raiders and Georgetown Hoyas scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled.
Due to an outbreak of norovirus on the Georgetown campus, the contest will not
be played.
Rays sting ChiSox in postseason debut >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Evan Longoria finished 3-for-3 with two
home runs and three RBI as Tampa Bay made its postseason debut a winning one,
with a 6-4 triumph over Chicago in Game 1 of the American League Division
Series
Shin leads Samsung World Championship >>
Half Moon Bay, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning Women's British Open champion
Ji-Yai Shin fired a five-under 67 on Thursday to take the first-round lead of
the Samsung World Championship.
Paula Creamer is alone in second place at minus-
Phillies slam Sabathia, take 2-0 lead in NLDS >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shane Victorino hit a grand slam off
CC Sabathia, and Brett Myers tossed seven strong innings as Philadelphia
downed Milwaukee, 5-2, in Game 2 of the teams' National League Division
Series.
Knicks' Jeffries fractures fibula >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Knicks forward Jared Jeffries will
miss up to two months after fracturing his left fibula during Thursday's
practice.
Jeffries suffered the injury after landing awkwardly and breaking the
No Bull! Pittsburgh downs No. 10 South Florida >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LeSean McCoy ran for 142 yards and a pair of
touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 4:43 remaining in the fourth
quarter, boosting Pittsburgh to a 26-21 upset of 10th-ranked South Florida.
McCoy,
Big 12 Conference betting odds
Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State
 Texas joins Texas A&M and Kansas as locks after getting league win No. 11. Texas Tech greatly helped its own hopes and crippled OK State's with the two-point win Saturday. Is K-State the last reasonable hopeful? Could be an elimination match in Stillwater on Tuesday, at least for the Cowboys.
Work left to do:
Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on.
Oklahoma State [18-9 (5-8), RPI: 50, SOS: 35] Still without a road win, the Cowboys now need to win two on the road just to get to .500 in conference play. It's hard to recall a team (OK, other than Clemson) falling so precipitously from lock status to almost certainly out of the NCAAs at this point. There are wins to be had in the last three, including a very big home game against K-State on Tuesday, but this team is reeling. Can you tell the pressure to win is getting to them with the way the final possession played out at Texas Tech? There are some good nonconference performances to lean on, specifically beating Missouri State and Syracuse on neutral floors and Pitt in OK City, but if the Pokes don't right this very, very soon, that won't be enough.
Kansas State [20-9 (9-5), RPI: 56, SOS: 96] It pays to be in the Big 12 North. The nine league wins are Colorado (twice), Missouri (twice), Iowa State (twice), Baylor, Nebraska and (a good one against) Texas. That helps explain the middling computer profile. The win over USC is nice, but the nonconference leaves a lot to be desired. The game at OK State in Stillwater on Tuesday is huge, as it could KO the Cowboys and leave K-State with a home date against Oklahoma with which to work.
American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.
It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with).
Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)
2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)
MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.
|
