UEFA President Platini embarrassed by fees
Soccer Betting Lines
07/02/2009 -
Nyon, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - UEFA President Michel Platini has again
spoken out against the escalation of transfer fees after admitting he is
"embarrassed" by Cristiano Ronaldo's $131 million move to Real Madrid.
World and European player of the year Ronaldo is the headline signing made by
the Spanish giants this summer after joining from Manchester United for a world
record fee.
However, Real have not stopped there as they have spent a combined 200million
on Ronaldo, Brazil star Kaka, Valencia defender Raul Albiol and Lyon and France
striker Karim Benzema.
Fellow France forward Franck Ribery has also been linked with a $57.5 million
move to the Bernabeu and Platini is concerned at the massive outlay made by
Real so far in the close season.
"Ronaldo's transfer stood out for me, but if Real have guarantees from the
banks," he told L'Equipe.
"On a personal note, I don't understand how anyone can spend [$131 million] on
a player. I'm embarrassed.
"But I remember the Maradona transfer from Barcelona to Napoli [in 1984]. This
would be the equivalent of [$10.5] million and I found that vulgar. I think
there is something wrong there.
"I don't like that and even less given the fact that today players sign
contracts only to then go and break them.
"But, as I said, if clubs have the money, what can I do?"
(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)
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not disclosed.
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<< Stars sign D Skrastins
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars signed free agent defenseman
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Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joey Votto's single to left in the bottom of
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Ze Roberto set to join Hamburg >>
Hamburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto is poised
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The versatile 34-year-old rejected the offer of a new one-year from Bayern to
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Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran Inter Milan striker Julio Cruz will
decide at the beginning of next week where he will play his football next
season.
The 34-year-old Argentinian is out of contract at the San Siro and is we
Report: Rubio to remain in Spain for two years >>
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Timberwolves first-round draft
pick and international sensation Ricky Rubio will reportedly play out his
contract with DKV Joventut, choosing to remain with the Euroleague team for
the nex
Wigan finally snares Thomas >>
Wigan, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wigan Athletic has finally signed Honduras
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Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Church collected three hits and drove
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Mets rallied from a five-run deficit to top Pittsburgh, 9-8, in the makeup
contest
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Michael Vick is back, Brett Favre isn't and the NFC East remains the best division in the NFC, maybe in all of football.
As players start to gather for the start of another season, some things change and some stay the same in the world of the NFL.
Bet 2010 Super Bowl Odds
The NFC East has been the dominant division in the National Conference for a while, despite limited playoff success, save for the New York Giants surprise Super Bowl win two seasons ago.
Hell, there's a generation of kids in Texas who have never seen the Cowboys win a playoff game (last win was in 1996).
But collectively, the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins (well, maybe not so much the Redskins) are as good as a division gets in an NFC conference that has struggled to stay competitive with the AFC side.
Sports bettors have both acknowledged the NFC East's dominance, as one glance at the NFL future odds menu will show.
Looking over the NFL betting odds at online sports book MySportsbook.com we see the top three teams listed to win the NFC Championship are all from the NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys - 7 - 1
Philadelphia Eagles - 13 - 2
New York Giants - 9 - 2
Slotting in behind these three are two teams from the NFC North: the Minnesota Vikings (15-2) and the Chicago Bears (10-1).
Again, despite the lack of recent playoff success, the Dallas Cowboys are popular with the sports betting community, as they hold 14% of all the money wagered on who will win the NFC Championship.
So far, the New York Giants are the bettors' favorite to represent their conference in the Super Bowl, as they have 24% of the overall NFC Championship betting volume.
And what about the Philadelphia Eagles? For the most part, the Eagles had a very productive offseason, the kind that could bring them back to the top.
They had a good draft adding the likes of WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy.
Unfortunately, the team received a blow when long-time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson passed away on Tuesday.
But this team will make a real run at the division title this year. Going into the regular season, Philly is listed at +240 to win the division.
Last season the Eagles were 9-6-1 SU and 10-6 ATS.
Teams from the NFC East will play teams from the AFC West in the regular season and the Eagles haven't really been a good bet in the last 20 games against the likes of San Diego, Oakland, K.C. and Denver, only going 8-12 ATS.
Two seasons removed from that Super Bowl title, the New York Giants see themselves listed as the odds-on favorite in NFC East championship futures at +162.
Plaxico Burress is gone and with him all the bad publicity surrounding the gun in the sweatpants incident, but can they replace him in the offense?
Last season the Giants were a very reliable bet going 12-4 ATS.
In the Giants' last 20 games against fellow teams from the NFC East; they are 13-7 ATS.
Dallas is listed at +240 to win the division.
Dallas went 9-7 SU and 7-9 ATS last season and with the amount of talent the Cowboys have, a similar performance won't do.
The Cowboys have been atrocious against divisional rivals, going 6-14 ATS in their last 20.
The Washington Redskins are longshots to win the division at +550.
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