07/24/2008 - Toronto, ON (Soccer Betting) - The Major League Soccer All-Stars improved to 5-0 against foreign opponents with a 3-2 victory over English Premier League side West Ham United in the 2008 MLS All-Star Game at BMO Field on Thursday night.
West Ham joins Celtic, Chelsea, Fulham and CD Guadalajara as victims of the MLS star-studded lineups in recent years.
Christian Gomez, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Dwayne De Rosario scored for the MLS All-Stars on Thursday night while Dean Ashton scored both goals for the Hammers. Toronto native De Rosario of the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo scored the game-winner in the 69th minute on a penalty kick in front of his hometown fans, which were 20,844 strong.
The Chicago Fire's Blanco earned the all-star MVP award with a goal and an assist in 45 minutes of action.
Carlton Cole caused the MLS some problems early on, dribbling through defenders and creating offense, but it was MLS and FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper that had the first legit chance in the game. After taking a chip pass from the Colorado Rapids' Gomez in the box, Cooper turned to shot, but was disrupted enough by defender Joe Widdowson to force his shot wide in the 19th minute.
Seven minutes later the Hammers scored the game's first goal when Ashton received a pass from Cole and fired to the far post.
Less than a minute later, however, the MLS All-Stars equalized when Gomez took a pass from Blanco, raced into the offensive third past the West Ham defense, and slotted a shot into the far-post side-netting. Blanco and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham got assists on the play.
Just before halftime Blanco put the MLS All-Stars up 2-1 when he took a pass in the box and curled a shot into the far post side netting, just over the fingertips of Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green.
That was how the score stayed until Ashton scored his second goal of the game in the 67th minute to make it 2-2. The English international fired from long range, but it deflected off the head of Kansas City Wizards central defender Jimmy Conrad and in, giving New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis no chance.
Less than two minutes later MLS answered right back again as De Rosario was taken down after being sprung in the box by a pass from New York Red Bulls' forward Juan Pablo Angel. Referee Mauricio Navarro called the penalty kick on Lucas Neill and De Rosario buried it for the winner.
MLS will play its weekend schedule on Sunday and Monday this week because of the all-star game, with four games on Sunday - New York at San Jose, Los Angeles at Dallas, Chicago at Kansas City, and Columbus at Colorado - and one on Monday - Toronto at Real Salt Lake.
<< Weir and Kim among Canadian Open leaders
Oakville, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Canada's own Mike Weir fired a six-under 65 on
Thursday to share the first-round lead with two-time winner this year, Anthony
Kim, and Eric Axley at the Canadian Open.
Play was suspended for the day due to d
<< Lions sign top pick Cherilus
Allen Park, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Lions on Thursday signed
offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus to a five-year contract. Per club policy,
financial terms of the deal were not released.
Cherilus was selected in the firs
<< Rays activate SS Bartlett
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays activated shortstop
Jason Bartlett from the 15-day disabled list Thursday.
Bartlett has been sidelined with a right knee sprain since July 3. He
came into Thursday's actio
<< Wood put on DL
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs placed pitcher Kerry Wood on
the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a blister on his right index finger.
The move is retroactive to July 14.
The Cubs will make a corresponding roster move
Marlins reinstate P Miller from DL; option P Tucker to Double-A >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins reinstated pitcher Justin
Miller from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday.
The reliever had been sidelined since July 5 with right elbow inflammation.
Miller is 2-2 with a 4.58 earned
Blanco's goal, assist leads MLS All-Stars over West Ham >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Major League Soccer All-Stars improved to
5-0 against foreign opponents with a 3-2 victory over English Premier League
side West Ham United in the 2008 MLS All-Star Game at BMO Field on Thursday
night.
Chargers sign first-round pick Cason >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Chargers and cornerback
Antoine Cason agreed to terms on a five-year contract Thursday.
Cason, the 27th overall pick in April's draft out of Arizona, is expected to
be in camp Friday
Warriors re-sign G Ellis >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Golden State Warriors re-signed
guard Monta Ellis, executive vice president of basketball operations Chris
Mullin announced on Thursday.
According to the Mercury News, it is a six-year deal
“You play to win the game!”
Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.
The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.
The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.
Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?
Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.
Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.
Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.
Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.
The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.
Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.
This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.
First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”
The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason.
Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Sports Betting News: Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting