CFL to amend financial rules in wake of secret deal
Football Betting Lines
06/16/2009 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Canadian Football League has announced plans to change its financial rules after it was revealed that British Columbia Lions owner David Braley helped Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon purchase the Toronto Argonauts out of bankruptcy in 2003.
The Toronto Globe & Mail first reported the secret transaction and the league responded with a statement acknowledging the pact. Both ownership groups also provided statements, and all three parties said the league's bylaws were not broken.
Braley, according to the Globe & Mail, paid half of the $2 million franchise fee for the purchase and continued to provide financial assistance to the Argos afterward.
The league, while saying it had no knowledge of the transaction at the time, said Braley never had a stake in the Argos and added that competition between the teams was never compromised.
"I have been informed that British Columbia Lions owner David Braley provided financial assistance to Toronto Argonaut owners Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon, as they sought to strengthen our league by strengthening a storied franchise in our largest city," CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said in a statement. "There has been no suggestion, nor is there any evidence, that this financial transaction had any effect whatsoever on the competitive integrity of our game.
"There is every indication that all three of these gentlemen acted, and continue to act, out of love for the Canadian Football League and respect for its fans. There has also been no breach of the league's Constitution or its bylaws. However, there is clearly a need for improved transparency in such matters. And I intend to work with our Board of Governors to revise our rules so that such financial transactions, no matter how well intended, must be shared with the Commissioner and all governors."
Braley said it was only his intention to help the CFL and the Argonauts when he offered his financial assistance.
"I am a passionate supporter of our country and those things which make it unique and strong, including the Canadian Football League," Braley's statement read. "For that reason, at a difficult time in the history of the Toronto Argonauts, I offered Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon financial assistance. While I am always willing to share my business advice and counsel with any of my fellow governors, I have never directed the operations of the Toronto Argonauts, and I have certainly never been an owner of the Toronto Argonauts."
Sokolowski and Cynamon offered a similar reply.
"To encourage the purchase of the Toronto Argonauts during a very difficult time in the team's history, David Braley offered financial assistance to us to make the transaction more attractive," Sokolowski and Cynamon stated. "This did not breach the league's Constitution or its bylaws. David Braley is not an owner of the Toronto Argonauts and has never been an owner of the Toronto Argonauts nor has he directed in any way the team's operations. David Braley is a staunch supporter of the CFL and has only ever acted to protect the league's best interests."
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rangers duo Maurice Edu and Kevin Thomson are struggling to win their races to be fit for the new season. Thomson is recovering after having cruciate ligament surgery while Edu injured his knee in the c
<< Spurs reach agreement with ex-boss Ramos
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tottenham has finally agreed a compensation
package with Sevilla for former manager Juande Ramos.
The Spaniard's appointment as manager at White Hart Lane in October 2007
annoyed Sevilla and they
<< Astros activate Matsui from 15-day disabled list
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros activated second baseman
Kazuo Matsui from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.
Matsui had been on the DL since May 30, retroactive to May 26, with a strained
right hamstring he suffered
<< Ballardini set for Lazio job
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Palermo boss Davide Ballardini is set to
be confirmed as the new coach of Lazio.
Ballardini resigned after leading the Sicilian club to an eighth place finish
in Serie A this season but is set to ma
<< Fighting an uphill battle
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This week, the BCS will hear a proposal
by the Mountain West Conference to bring about an eight-team playoff system
for the national title. The only problem is, while the BCS will go through the
motions, its
Berlin, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hertha Berlin General manager Michael Preetz has rejected reports that unsettled coach Lucien Favre is poised to quit Hertha Berlin. Favre's future at the Berliner Olympiastadion has been the subject o
Nats activate Wells from DL >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals activated pitcher Kip
Wells from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday and optioned right-hander
Jason Bergmann to Triple-A Syracuse.
Wells has been on the disabled list since May
Villa opens talks with Tottenham's Bentley >>
Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aston Villa have opened talks with David
Bentley as they attempt to complete the signing of the Tottenham midfielder.
The 24-year-old moved to White Hart Lane from Blackburn Rovers last summer in a
16mi
Villarreal to tighten its belt next season >>
Villarreal, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - President Fernando Roig has confirmed that
Villarreal will be operating on a reduced budget next season.
The Yellow Submarine will be coached by Ernesto Valverde next season following
Manuel Pellegrini'
Report: Clemson extends Purnell through 2016 >>
Greenville, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clemson head basketball coach Oliver
Purnell has reportedly agreed to a contract extension that runs through the
2015-2016 season, according to the Greenville News.
Purnell has been with the progr
American Idol Betting Season 6 Strategies
It's that time of year folks. Betting on American Idol Season 9. And we have plenty of American Idol Season 6 strategies appearing below. With the Top 24 finalists revealed, online gambling sites will be offering betting odds on each of them, including MySportsbook.com.
No other “event” has been growing as fast as wagering on American Idol. It has turned into a huge betting event with reasonably high limits and all sorts of profit-making potential for sharp bettors. Last year, MySportsbook.com experienced unprecedented traffic as a result of the American Idol betting craze.
Every week there will be odds to win American Idol, various elimination props and contestant versus contestant match-ups at the MySportsbook.com website.
Whether a fan of America’s top-rated show or watching only because of a wife or girlfriend, here are some of basic strategies to use when betting American Idol.
Odds to Win
There are a few things to consider when looking for the right win bet. First off, remember that this bet is for the long haul. Many people make the mistake of picking the performer who sang the best the previous week. This strategy leads to an underlay situation – betting a price, which is less than what it should be.
All Idol contestants struggle at some point in the competition, so you should always look for value. In last year’s competition alone, two performers who had some of the best performances early in the series were subsequently bet down to low prices - Lisa Tucker and Ace Young. After just a few weeks, Tucker had already been eliminated, while Young quickly became a huge long shot to win America’s largest talent search.
A better strategy is to look for performers who don’t necessarily get the praise from the judges, but show flashes of the talent necessary to go the distance.
Another important thing to remember when betting any contestant to win is the demographic breakdown of the voters, the viewing public and potential future CD purchasers. Unlike sporting events, American Idol is not decided on the field of play – it’s decided by the American public under the guiding influence of the shows producers.
Understand that the great state of Alabama has a mighty edge when it comes to American Idol.
Therefore, to be successful betting on American Idol, put any personal opinions or prejudices aside and think like the majority of the voting public. Remember that the typical voter is young, female and quite often, Southern.
If a contestant cannot appeal to this demographic, no matter how much talent he or she possesses, they’ll struggle for votes. Looks, demeanor and charisma are extremely important. And it’s no coincidence that every Idol winner so far has hailed from a Southern state.
Elimination Props
Every week MySportsbook.com anticipates offering a prop on who’ll be eliminated from the show each Wednesday night. A suggestion to handicap this is to gauge an overall feel for who’s the least popular contestant left in the competition. Generally the least popular performers have recently appeared in the bottom three and will have been the target of repeated criticism from the judges.
Last year, resources included dialidol.com and votefortheworst.com. Dialidol.com measures the volume of each contestant’s voting line. While by no means a perfect science, it does give a good indication of who is generating votes and who isn’t. Meanwhile, votefortheworst.com is a site that attempts to build support for the worst competitor to keep them in the competition for ‘entertainment’ value. The site has a proven track record of keeping performers around who most feel should have been voted off a long time ago.
Contestant vs. Contestant Match-ups
The best strategy for doing well on match-ups is to assess how close either of the contestants is to being eliminated. If neither is expected to be voted off of the show in the coming weeks, the value is almost always on the underdog. If both are expecting an imminent exit in the near future, the favorite in the match-up might offer value.
Watch for American Idol betting odds on each of the contestants shortly and good luck with these American Idol betting strategies.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL lines
Now that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow. Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season. Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints. These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order. As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS. The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens. The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers.
MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:
Saints +6 @ Colts -6
Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)
Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)
Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5
Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1
Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3
Patriots -5 @ Jets +5
Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5
Steelers -4 @ Browns +4
Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6
Bears +6 @ Chargers -6
Lions +3 @ Raiders -3
Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5
Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4
Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3
Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3
Super Bowl line (2008)
NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5
MySportsbook is a large, publicly traded company with strong financial backing. You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.