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      Nevada sportsbooks record lowest Super Bowl win in 10 years

      February 8, 2011 /
      Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy holds the Vince Lombardi trophy high and celebrates winning Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on February 6, 2011. Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers (L) and president/CEO Mark Murphy applaud. The Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win. UPI/Brian Kersey

      The Nielsen Co. said on Monday that an estimated 111 million people watched the Packers beat the Steelers on Sunday night. But while the FOX network and advertisers cashed in, the Nevada sportsbooks did not.

      According to Covers.com (via the Nevada Gaming Control Broad), Nevada sportsbooks won “just” $724,176 on Super Bowl wagers this year. In comparison, the sportsbooks raked in over $6 million in each of the last two Super Bowls.

      At kickoff, the Packers were 3-point favorites over the Steelers, while the over/under total was set anywhere from 44.5 to 46 points. A total of $87,491,098 was wagered on the Super Bowl, which was the most since 2008.

      While the sportsbooks in Nevada still recorded a profit, it was the lowest win in the past 10 years. In fact, MGM Mirage sportsbook manager Jay Rood told Covers that the Packers’ win was the worst Super Bowl loss he’d seen in 25 years. That’s surprising considering the Giants’ win over the Patriots in 2008 cost the books over $2 million, which was their largest loss ever.

      Of course, no one will be shedding a tear for the books any time soon. Since 2002, Nevada sportsbooks are up approximately $70 million on the Super Bowl. Most of us won’t ever see $1 million, so I certainly won’t lose sleep tonight thinking about their “losses.”

      External Sports, NFL, Super Bowl

      Why are Bill Simmons and Peter King talking about the Week 15 Giants/Eagles game?

      February 8, 2011 /
      New York Giants Matt Dodge dives for Philadelphia Eagles DeSean Jackson who returns a punt 65 yards for a touchdown with no time remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter at New Meadowlands Stadium in week 15 of the NFL in East Rutherford, New Jersey on December 19, 2010. The Eagles defeated the Giants 38-31. UPI /John Angelillo

      I just listened to Bill Simmons’ post-Super Bowl podcast and he said that if the Giants had held on to beat the Eagles in Week 15, the Packers wouldn’t have made the playoffs. Peter King also said that the Packers have the Eagles to thank for their playoff berth.

      Green Bay finished 10-6, the last Wild Card team and sixth seed in the NFC, by virtue of winning tiebreakers with the 10-6 Giants and 10-6 Bucs. We all know the Giants story: Up 31-10 over Philly at home with eight minutes left in the game, the Giants gave up 28 points in the last half of the fourth quarter and lost 38-31. The killer was punter Matt Dodge blowing the game and keeping a punt to DeSean Jackson inbounds with 14 seconds left in a 31-all game. Jackson returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Who knows what would have happened if that game went to overtime, but that’ll stay a mystery.

      Maybe I’m missing something here because, clearly, I’m not in the same league as Bill Simmons and Peter King. It appears that Simmons and King are counting the Giants’ win in Week 15, but aren’t considering the Eagles’ loss. If the Eagles lose that game in Week 15, they don’t win the East. The Giants win it at 11-5. Assuming Philly beats Dallas in Week 17 (a reasonable assumption since they didn’t play many of their starters in a 14-13 loss), the Eagles would have finished 10-6 and would have been tied with Tampa Bay and Green Bay for the 6th and final spot in the NFC. This assumes the Eagles would have still lost to the Vikings in Week 16, which is a fair assumption since they played their starters.

      The first tiebraker between three teams is a head-to-head sweep, which isn’t applicable because the Bucs didn’t play either the Packers or the Eagles. The second tiebraker is conference record. The Bucs and Packers went 8-4 while the Eagles would have gone 7-5 (with a loss against NYG but a win against DAL), so the Eagles would have been eliminated at this point.

      The next tiebraker is record in common games. Both teams were 2-3 in common games. The Packers beat the 49ers and the Lions, and lost to the Lions, Redskins and Falcons. The Bucs beat the 49ers and Redskins, and lost to the Falcons twice and the Lions.

      The next tiebraker is strength of victory. I’m not sure how this is calculated or where I can find it, but acccording to CBSSports.com, that was the tiebraker that gave the Packers the No. 6 seed over the Giants and Bucs:

      Green Bay is the No. 6 seed over the N.Y. Giants and Tampa Bay based on strength of victory (.475 to the Giants’ .400 and the Buccaneers’ .344).

      So the Packers would have gotten the No. 6 seed over the Bucs. They would have played the Giants in the first round of the playoffs. Maybe they would have won or maybe they would have lost, but either way, they would have made the postseason.

      So Bill Simmons and Peter King (and anyone else), please stop talking about the Week 15 Giants/Eagles game with regard to the Packers’ Super Bowl win. Thank you.

      External Sports, Fantasy Football, NFL

      Court of Appeals sides with NFL – Williams Wall may yet be suspended

      February 8, 2011 /

      Breaking news on the story that will never die: The Minnesota State Court of Appeals has sided with the NFL in the 2008 StarCaps case against Vikings’ defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

      The other players that were impacted by the ruling were Pat Williams, Will Smith, Charles Grant and Grady Jackson. The latter two players are out of football and Pat Williams is a free agent. This means Kevin Williams and Smith could be on the reserve/suspended list for the first four games in 2011 (assuming there even is a season, that is).

      StarCaps was a dietary supplement the players took that is banned under the league’s substance abuse policy. The supplement can be used as a masking agent for steroid use, which is obviously what the NFL was most concerned with. Of course, cough drops are probably banned under the league’s substance abuse policy, so what isn’t the NFL concerned with? (Not that I’m complaining about the league wanting to be drug-free.)

      This has to be one of the most annoying stories in sports and here’s hoping that it finally has an ending. It would be nice if the league were just as motivated and relentless in its efforts to sign a new CBA deal as it is trying to suspend these four players.

      External Sports, NFL

      Nuggets/Lakers talking Carmelo trade?

      February 8, 2011 /
      Los Angeles Laker’s Andrew Bynum poses for photos during the media day at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, Ca., on September 25, 2010 (UPI Photo/Lori Shepler)

      ESPN is reporting that the Lakers are willing to give up Andrew Bynum in a deal to acquire Carmelo Anthony.

      The Lakers’ package would be built around center Andrew Bynum. Denver has no interest in Ron Artest and isn’t particularly interested in Lamar Odom either, sources said. A straight-up deal of Bynum for Anthony works financially, but there could be other players involved since Denver would look to shed more salary if possible.

      The Lakers are an interesting landing spot for Carmelo because there’s a chance that he could re-sign there if the team were to play well after his arrival. L.A. is not New York, but it’s a metropolitan city and Anthony’s wife, LaLa Vasquez, could pursue her entertainment career there.

      If I’m the Lakers, I do this deal in a New York minute (pun intended). I am not confident that Bynum will ever fully get past his knee issues, which seem more chronic than something he’ll eventually get over. They would lose some size, but Carmelo can play power forward and it would give the Lakers a star to build around once Kobe Bryant finally retires.

      For the Nuggets, Bynum is a risk, but if he can get healthy and stay healthy, he’s a potential All-Star and is better than any of the players that the Knicks are currently offering. Like I said, I think he’ll be battling knee issues all his life, but I’m not a doctor and I’m not privy to his medical file. Maybe the Nuggets’ doctors take a look and decide it’s worth the risk. I would have to assume that’s the case if this deal eventually goes through.

      I suspect the Lakers are one team that have the Knicks worried. Carmelo could get out to L.A., enjoy playing in the Finals and eventually decide to re-up.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Young situation in Texas once again proves that sports is a business first

      February 8, 2011 /
      es in the first inning at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas, USA, 15 October 2010. This is the first game of the best of seven of the 2010 American League Championship Series. EPA/PAUL BUCK fotoglif760759

      On June 16, 2010, Michael Young hit a two-out ground ball up the middle off Marlins’ pitcher Jay Buente to collect his 1,748th hit of his career. With that base-knock, he passed Ivan Rodriguez for first place on the all-time Rangers’ career hit list.

      If he continues to play in Texas, he would probably need half a season to become the all-time games played leader in franchise history. But that’s only “if” Young continues to play in Texas.

      Young is furious with the Rangers over what he perceives as being “misled and manipulated” by the club. We can only speculate as to why he feels that way, but chances are he’s feeling disrespected because the club is saying one thing and doing another. The Rangers publicly maintain that they want Young to be their primary DH and play multiple positions as a super utility player. But for the past month, they’ve flirted with other DH options like Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez (both of which have signed with other clubs).

      If the Rangers want Young to DH, why would they speak with those other candidates? It’s hard to blame Young for feeling shunned. He moved to third (albeit begrudgingly at first) to make room for Elvis Andrus in 2009 and is now being replaced with the signing of free agent Adrian Beltre. Young is overpaid at $16 million a year, but given what he’s done for the Rangers over the past decade, he deserves the club’s respect.

      Of course, that’s not the point is it? The point is that he’s making $16 million, plays shoddy defense and the Rangers feel like they can replace him in the lineup with cheaper options. Sports aren’t usually about respect. Young isn’t worth what the Rangers are paying him, so they’re taking the necessary steps to replace him. Sure, they’re publicly maintaining that they still need him, but actions speak louder than words. I can tell my girlfriend that she’s the only one I want to be with but if I turn around and flirt with three other women at the bar, how is she supposed to feel?

      Nobody should blame Young for feeling the way he does, especially considering he helped them reach their first World Series last year. Just because he’s overpaid doesn’t mean he hasn’t earned the club’s respect. If the Rangers told Young that he would be their DH, then that should have been the end of it. Thome and Ramirez (two players who would have been difficult to keep on the bench and out of the DH spot) should have never been in the discussion.

      But the Rangers are also trying to do what’s best for them in the long run, which is shedding Young’s contract. After all, they’re running a business you know.

      External Sports, MLB

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