Sports Betting Tips and Game Handicapping Picks

Who will win the 2008 Tour de France?

Jeffdstuff — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:23:12 +0000

Will we see a ''winner'' in this year's Tour?.

The 2008 Tour de France is almost ready to conclude despite all these doping scandals that have plagued cycling's premiere event.

Of course, this year’s Tour is still something Cadel Evans to lose. He already has a firm grasp on that title and if everything works out as planned, I won’t be surprised to see this guy winning it. So who else will win this year’s Tour if Evans finds himself being tested positive for performance enhancing drugs?

First we have Damiano Cunego. He has shown considerable growth as a rider since winning the 2004 Giro d’Italia, the type of results and maturity that is needed to win the world’s biggest cycling race.

The 26-year-old won the young rider classification in his only Tour de France appearance in 2006 but failed to live up to his earlier promise until he won the Giro di Lombardia last fall. Add to the fact that he is a former winner of the Giro d’Italia, the ‘’little prince'’ who rides for Lampre is a huge talent in stage racing, especially in the mountains. Next we have Alejandro Valverde. Known as the ‘Green Bullet’ in some circles, he might just be blasting his way to the top of the Tour de France podium.

The 28 year-old Spaniard from Murcia who was brilliant throughout 2006 has that same spark this year, thanks to big wins like Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Dauphine Libere. The former was a welcome addition to Valverde’s solid palmares, but the latter, coming only three weeks before the Tour de France depart, indicates that his one-day racing legs have developed to handle stages races.

Alejandro Valverde is also a proficient...

Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. bout pushed back

Jeffdstuff — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:35:00 +0000

Since beating Bernard Hopkins with his thousand slaps, Joe Calzaghe the Pride of Whales and current WBO and WBC Super Middleweight Champion as well as Ring Magazine’s Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion postponed his fight against Roy Jones Jr. who is duly noted for once owning the WBA, WBC, IBO, IBF, NABF, WBF [...]

Bob Arum considering a Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya fight

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:24:49 +0000

As of late, Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions is seriously considering the Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya fight that everyone has been questioning him about. Bob Arum hinted that the WBC Lightweight Champion Manny Pacquiao has the chance to fight “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya by the end [...]

Fedor Emelianenko victorious over Tim Sylvia but wins more

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:24:24 +0000

As every mixed martial arts fan knows, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) headed by Dana White is the pinnacle of all mixed martial arts shows by far in the United States. Lately the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the leading promoter of mixed martial arts has seen some stiff competition in Affliction led by [...]

Padraig Harrington successfully defended his British Open title in 2008

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:17:44 +0000

Skepticism probably plagues Harrington's win with Tiger Woods unable to be a part of it.

But wait, Padraig Harrington did win the British Open last year too right? And after he won yet again, winning the 2008 British Open, you have to wonder if we’ll have a different story if Tiger did play or not.

You read it, Padraig Harrington bagged the 137th Open Championship, winning the title for the second straight year after beating both Greg Norman and Ian Poulter. He is now a back-to-back British Open champion people, and if you don’t know the guy before, you SHOULD now.

Two weeks ago, nobody probably predicted Padraig Harrington will have a re-peat, if you will. Harrington was at home practicing with an injured left wrist. And as the 14th ranked player in the world, he was not 100 percent sure he can continue to play in the Open Championship.

Adding insult to injury, Harrington tweaked the wrist again a day before the British Open starts, then saying his chances of finishing the Open were just 50-50. Lady luck sure have a nasty sense of humor eh?

‘’If you ask, me my best trait over the years, it’s always been my ability to learn, to look around, take the best of everything and try to put it together. I do enjoy that end of things. And I do believe I’m getting better with time,'’ the 36-year-old Harrington, who now has 13 European Tour titles, said.

Padraig Harrington first had to take the lead from Greg Norman, which he did on the par-3 12th when Norman missed a 10-foot par putt. Then came a late charge from Ian Poulter, who made a 15-foot birdie on the 16th and saved par with a 15-footer on the final hole for a 69 that looked like it might be good enough to win.

But the Irishman responded with...

Will Cadel Evans win the 2008 Tour de France?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:14:52 +0000

Because quite frankly, you’ll never know who’ll win it even after the tournament is over.

It has been well documented that doping scandals have always plagued cycling’s premiere event. And these doping scandals can snatch the title away from whoever wins it, like last year when Michael Rasmussen should’ve been the winner but because of him getting tested positive for dope, the 2007 title was then literally handed over to Alberto Contador. Guess what, we already have THREE in the 2008 Tour de France.

Sad huh? The latest of which? Riccardo Ricco. The guy already won two stages of the Tour de France as people are probably starting to marvel his endurance in what is a very very grueling spot. When he was tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, it was all over.

The biggest question now is, who will will don the maillot jaune of best overall rider when the three-week race concludes in Paris? Who will be the next Lance Armstrong?

The list of favorites boils down to just five men; Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo).

But since Cadel Evans is the first guy we mentioned, let’s find out if this dude can win this one shall we?

Cadel Evans has been in the top ten in the last three years, including second in 2007, that’s why he is the hottest pick for the 2008 title. Last year, just 23 seconds separated him from a Tour victory.

This year, his morale has surely been raised, thanks to one of his best spring campaigns in years, with wins in Vuelta a Andalucía (stage), Paris-Nice (Mont Ventoux stage), Coppi e Bartali (overall and stage) and the recent announcement that the Silence-Lotto team would be 100 percent behind him, leaving top sprinter Robbie McEwen to look after himself in the bunch gallops.

Can he win it all? There’s only one way to...

Ronaldinho joins AC Milan

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:38:08 +0000

Former Barcelona FC Star Ronaldinho is now a member of Italian football giants AC Milan.

You read it people, Ronaldinho won’t be playing for Manchester City in the coming 2008-09 English Premier League season but instead, will play in the San Siro to join AC Milan in the Italian Serie A.

After spending his last years in the Spanish league dealing with numerous injuries, the (now) former Barcelona superstar, Ronaldinho, is hoping he’ll have a fresh start in the Italian league as he tries to help AC Milan bring the title home to the San Siro.

Ronaldinho, together with another Brazilian footballer, the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka, will form some kind of combination in AC Milan. Their success, of course, remains to be seen.

For now, the Italian football giants are excited to introduce their newly acquired star. Thursday was the day when they formally introduced the Brazilian football icon to the excited AC Milan fans.

Ronaldinho is happy about the transfer of course. After he realized that he is no longer welcomed in Barcelona, why wouldn’t he?

‘’I can confirm that I strongly wanted to join AC Milan,'’ Ronaldinho said. ‘’It’s true. Many things have happened but in the end I have become a Rossonero player. I am happy to find so many Brazilians but also all the champions that wear the Rossoneri colours.'’

‘’I am really happy. After many years I am here. I am delighted to have arrived to AC Milan and I hope to be able to give a lot of joy to everyone.'’

How can Manchester City compete with...

Katie Hoff is ready for the 2008 Bejiing Olympics

Jeffdstuff — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:24:04 +0000

The Beijing games are almost here.

Of course, we’re still a few more weeks from August 8, 2008, when the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games start. Hopefully, the U.S. basketball team will find the redemption they’re looking for since Europeans started beating them on the basketball courts.

One who’ll also be looking for redemption is swimmer Katie Hoff. She was just a shoo-in to make the 2004 Olympic team. She was just 15 years old then. But something happened back in Athens that made her so eager to redeem herself in this year’s Olympic games.

Her trip for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens was the first international flight she did it without her parents, who couldn’t afford the cost of last-minute travel to the Olympics. Yup, her parents were not around to support her. And to make matters worse for the young lady, her coach, Paul Yetter wasn’t even allowed on the pool deck and couldn’t be with Hoff much of the time.

With all these factors, her losing in the 2004 Olympics in Athens was almost known even before she took the flight. She finished 6th in her heat and 17th overall.

Katie Hoff admitted that she really didn’t get over her disappointment in Athens until she went to Montreal for the 2005 World Championships. And back on July 25, 2005, nearly a year after Athens, Hoff finally found redemption in these international tournaments. She won the 200 IM final in 2:10.41.

‘’When I touched the wall in the 200 IM, the first thing I thought was, ‘OK, I’m good again,”’ Hoff said. ‘’I proved to everyone, especially to...''

Will Brett Favre comeback to the Packers?

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:07:34 +0000

Will he or WILL HE?

That is the question lurking around everybody's mind. But as far as the coming 2008-09 NFL football season is concerned, the Packers believe that the biggest star of their franchise to date won’t suit up, staying retired since making the announcement at the end of last season.

You see, rumors began to come out last week that Brett Favre will postpone retirement for the third straight year and return to the field as football’s ‘’Ultimate Packer.'’ Of course, Favre initially didn’t agree but since we are still a long way from the start of the season, you can’t really blame Packer fans for hoping.

But after the Green Bay Packers made the announcement, confirming that No.4 will stay retired, will their fans still keep on hoping? Current and former team presidents of the Packers organization believes that Favre will remain retired and coming back for his 18th NFL season is not even a plan whatsoever for probably the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.

‘’I keep going back to his retirement announcement and how sincere and heartfelt that was,'’ current team president and CEO Mark Murphy said. ‘’I think it’s pretty reasonable that, as an organization, we’re going to move on.'’

The Packers’ chairman emeritus Bob Harlan also added his thoughts on the said Favre comeback. ‘’What I remember about him is he was ready to retire, and that’s how I feel today. I think down deep, that’s exactly how he feels.'’

A few days ago, news broke out about...

2008 Del Mar Horse Race Meet Begins

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:36:50 +0000

The horse racing continues after the Triple Crown series with Del Mar.

Dubbed as ‘’where the surf meets the turf,'’ the 2008 Del Mar race meet opens with the Oceanside Stakes and will close with the anticipated $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, running until September 3.

Del Mar horse racing is the biggest event in California. From an old-fashioned race track started by Hollywood legend Bing Crosby and his high-profile gang in 1937, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club today is among America’s best attended race tracks.

The Del Mar 2008 Race Meet comes a week ahead of the Saratoga 2008 race meet.

The track has a one mile main dirt track and a seven furlong turf course. The track runs during the summer at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and can stable more than a thousand horses.

In early 2007, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club installed a new Polytrack surface for a price of approximately 9 million dollars. On July 18, 2007, Jon Court became the first jockey to win a race on the new Polytrack surface.

The track races, stretching from July to September, presents the following graded stakes races; Grade 1 Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup Handicap, Del Mar Debutante Stakes, Del Mar Futurity, Del Mar Oaks, Eddie Read Handicap, John C. Mabee Handicap and the...