On the men’s side, an upset loss at Roland Garros hasn’t stopped Roger Federer from being the favorite at 3 to 2. It’s hard to blame oddsmakers when the Swiss Mister has won six of the last seven Wimbledons. His great rival Rafael Nadal is predictably next up with 5 to 2 odds, followed by local favorite Andy Murray (9 to 1) and 2009 runner up Andy Roddick (10 to 1).
The Williams’ sisters’ early oustings at the French Open haven’t affected their Wimbledon odds. Serena leads the women’s favorites with 9 to 4 odds and Venus is close behind at 4 to 1. Books are high on Justine Henin’s comeback bid after her respectable showing at Roland Garros; they place her odds at 7 to 1.
Get your Wimbledon Futures in the Bodog Sportsbook!
JOHANNESBURG - The Soccer World Cup was set to become the biggest-ever betting event in the United Kingdom where bookmakers were predicting online gambling to help turnover surged beyond US$1.5 billion, according to international media reports.
The reports said British punters were expected to bet around £1bn, breaking all records, with the growth of online gambling seeing many more people becoming punters. ?And British gamblers were breaking with tradition to back other teams and not just England their usual favourite. A spokesperson for bookmakers Paddy Power, Darren Haines, told journalists that gamblers were placing bets on a whole variety of teams, matches and outcomes
"It's huge, really surging this week and soccer fans are going into a World Cup frenzy,” said Haines. ? “We anticipate more than £1bn being gambled industry-wide, and the further England go in the tournament, it's more likely that this figure will be comfortably surpassed. It will be the biggest betting event in British history, without a doubt."? Another betting shop chain, William Hill, also predicted a US$1 billion World Cup turnover for the industry in the UK thanks to online gambling.
A William Hill official said: "This is the World Cup in which internet betting has really come into its own." The official added that online betting could work to the advantage of bookmakers because of the very wide variety of punters with different views on possible outcomes that are able to place bets online.
He said: "We have online clients in 188 countries who are betting on the World Cup, which dilutes the impact of everyone betting on England. If England reach the final and lose on penalties to New Zealand, that would be perfect for us."?? Other factors for the predicted record betting beside the growth of online gambling include the scheduling of matches, which will see games televised from South Africa at evening peak times.
The sources said gangsters can always reap "hundreds of millions of yen each season without breaking a sweat" through bets on ballgames--and sumo wrestlers have been among their best customers.
"The actual number of (sumo) people involved in gambling is much larger than the figure announced by the Japan Sumo Association," said a source in a crime syndicate.
Ties between sumo stables and yakuza groups have long been known. But the latest scandal to hit the sumo world may shed light on the extent of such relations.
Japan Sumo Association sources said Wednesday that oyakata sumo elders were among the 65 people who confessed to gambling.
Ozeki Kotomitsuki, whose real name is Keiji Tamiya, admitted to police Monday that he had bet on baseball, investigative sources said Tuesday. The wrestler said he also paid 3 million yen ($32,900) in cash to a former gangster who had threatened to expose his gambling habits.
The sumo association quoted Kotomitsuki's stablemaster as saying the ozeki will skip the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament that starts July 11. Formal disciplinary action will be taken after the police wrap up the case.
The investigative sources said Kotomitsuki initially denied involvement in gambling during questioning by Tokyo police in May.
But the sources said Kotomitsuki on Monday revealed what had happened.
He told investigators that in December last year, he tried to collect several million yen in unpaid winnings through a gambling contact at his stable. But instead, a former gangster demanded the 34-year-old ozeki pay 3 million yen in hush money.
The former gangster then raised the price to 100 million yen, the sources said.
A yakuza-related source who said he was acquainted with Kotomitsuki described the ozeki as "a good customer from years back."
Under gambling arrangements, a person inside the sumo stable contacts a bookie on the crime syndicate side by cellphone text message and receives the day's ballgames with spreads around noon, the source said.
The contact collects bets at the stable and sends them to the bookie that evening.
A winning bet doubles the sum gambled, while a losing bet is collected by the bookie. The bookie also collects 10 percent of a winning gambler's initial bet.
According to the source, bookies stay in contact with each other and share customers to make it easier to collect fees.
Minimum bets are normally between 5,000 yen and 10,000 yen, and makuuchi wrestlers regularly throw down 100,000 yen to 1 million yen, the source said.
"Sumo wrestlers have a penchant for competition, so many become regular customers," the source said.
Sumo has long been a major source of revenue for yakuza organizations. The Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest crime syndicate in Japan, had emphasized its promotional role for grand sumo tournaments, as well as other entertainment, such as pop music, according to police records.
The direct involvement of yakuza subsided following police crackdowns on organized crime, but the gangsters maintained indirect relations with the sumo world, such as serving as bodyguards to prevent skirmishes during tours, according to a Kanto-based yakuza source.
Sumo wrestlers, with their many corporate supporters, have also become a target for gangsters hoping to build ties in legitimate businesses. Gangsters wine and dine wrestlers in an attempt to get cozy with corporate executives.
Another yakuza source called the grand sumo tournament "a place for socializing."
Mickelson has played so well recently that Bodog has made him a co-favorite with Woods. The two golfers both offer bettors odds of 7/1. The only player close to those odds is Lee Westwood at 10/1.
All other golfers have odds resembling a long shot chance of victory. Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk, and Ernie Els are all going to the first tee with 28/1 odds.From there, the odds go all the way up to 250/1.
Woods has yet to show that he has recovered mentally from the break-up with his wife. Back in November last year, Woods was cruising as the number one player in the world, but then a series of affairs were revealed by various news agencies. Woods entered a sex addiction treatment center, but even after therapy it appears his personal life is still in shambles.
Once considered a lock to break Jack Nicklaus' major titles won record, critics now believe that breaking the record is no foregone conclusion for Woods. The US Open kicks off today and will run through Sunday.
Of course road course races are a totally different animal in NASCAR with some drivers specifically suited just for these tracks. Kasey Kahne is one of the favorites on Bodog as he is the defending champion of this race and won the pole on Friday. It’s Kahne’s 17th career pole but first in 2010. Five of 21 all-time races at Sonoma have been won from the pole.
Might this be the week that four-time series champion Jimmie Johnson win his first race since late March? He is among the betting favorites, as usual, but JJ doesn’t fancy road courses: He is a combined 0-for-16 at the two tracks at which NASCAR drivers actually turn right (and left). Johnson did qualify second for his third front row start at Infineon.
Kyle Busch might be the man to beat here. He swept the road course races in 2008 and has an average finish of 10th in the past three races at Sonoma. Points leader Kevin Harvick is not a good bet this week as his average finish in his past two starts at Infineon is 29.5. His driver rating here is the worst among the current Top 12 in the points standings.
Tony Stewart might be ready to return to Victory Lane as he has two victories and two second-place finishes at Sonoma, including last year. He has only one finish outside the Top 15 in his 11 career starts there.
By far the best long-shot bet should be Marcos Ambrose, a road course specialist. He was the fastest in practice this week and has finished second and third in his past two road course races. Boris Said is another road course specialist but he finished 14th or worse in his past five road course races.
Get all your NASCAR odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
:dirol
Tiger Woods, in his prime, was one of the best bets in sports history. The odds for Woods to win a major championship usually hovered around three to one, and any bettor with the means took full advantage. Things have changed, however, heading into today's US Open. Woods is no longer the dominant force he was back in the early years of the new millennium.
Mickelson has played so well recently that Bodog has made him a co-favorite with Woods. The two golfers both offer bettors odds of 7/1. The only player close to those odds is Lee Westwood at 10/1.
All other golfers have odds resembling a long shot chance of victory. Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk, and Ernie Els are all going to the first tee with 28/1 odds.From there, the odds go all the way up to 250/1.
Woods has yet to show that he has recovered mentally from the break-up with his wife. Back in November last year, Woods was cruising as the number one player in the world, but then a series of affairs were revealed by various news agencies. Woods entered a sex addiction treatment center, but even after therapy it appears his personal life is still in shambles.
Once considered a lock to break Jack Nicklaus' major titles won record, critics now believe that breaking the record is no foregone conclusion for Woods. The US Open kicks off today and will run through Sunday.
Tiger Woods, in his prime, was one of the best bets in sports history. The odds for Woods to win a major championship usually hovered around three to one, and any bettor with the means took full advantage. Things have changed, however, heading into today's US Open. Woods is no longer the dominant force he was back in the early years of the new millennium.
Mickelson has played so well recently that Bodog has made him a co-favorite with Woods. The two golfers both offer bettors odds of 7/1. The only player close to those odds is Lee Westwood at 10/1.
All other golfers have odds resembling a long shot chance of victory. Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk, and Ernie Els are all going to the first tee with 28/1 odds.From there, the odds go all the way up to 250/1.
Woods has yet to show that he has recovered mentally from the break-up with his wife. Back in November last year, Woods was cruising as the number one player in the world, but then a series of affairs were revealed by various news agencies. Woods entered a sex addiction treatment center, but even after therapy it appears his personal life is still in shambles.
Once considered a lock to break Jack Nicklaus' major titles won record, critics now believe that breaking the record is no foregone conclusion for Woods. The US Open kicks off today and will run through Sunday.
Federer is the 11/8 favorite on Bodog’s tennis odds and is the top seed despite having lost the world No. 1 spot to Nadal following the Spaniard’s title at the French Open. Nadal is the 5/2 second choice at Bodog. He won Wimbledon the last time he competed in this tournament, beating Federer in a five-setter in 2008 that ranks as possibly the greatest tennis match in history. Nadal missed last year’s tournament, which Federer won for the sixth time in seven years, with a knee injury. Nadal is 14-7 all-time head-to-head against Federer.
The Swiss star’s odds have shifted some since opening with much of the early Bodog action on Nadal. Federer won the Australian Open but hasn’t taken a tournament since. His streak of 23 consecutive semifinals reached at a Grand Slam was ended at the French Open by Robin Soderling, who is a good long-shot value to win Wimbledon at +1400.
Nadal seemed to have the tougher draw than Federer, but Nadal caught a big break it would seem with the withdrawal of 27th-seeded Ernests Gulbis, who could have met Nadal in the third round. Nadal still would likely have to get through guys like Andy Murray and Soderling.
Federer is a remarkable 76-2 on grass since 2003 but did lose on the surface in a warm-up tournament to Lleyton Hewitt. The Aussie is in Federer’s half of the draw along with Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick, who pushed Federer to five sets in last year’s final and is the only realistic American hope.
Get all your Wimbledon odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
:dirol
Kinda like a ballgame going 40 innings or 10 overtime periods in hockey.....Just crazy.
For Kessy and Ross, their road to victory started with a few easy wins on Saturday over No.32 Sarah Day and Kristin Ursillo (21-13 and 21-9); and over No. 17 Tara Kuk and Kim Whitney; and another sweet win over No. 8 Brooke Hanson and Lisa Rutledge (21-10, 21-15, and 21-15, 21-15).
Never heard of Belmar until now? Us neither.
But if you were to ask any Belmar resident they'll tell you that the beachfront between the Belmar Fishing Club at 1st Avenue to the John A. Taylor 5th Avenue Pavilion — is beach volleyball at its best. In fact, the AVP Nivea Belmar Open has been a popular event on the Jersey Shore for the past 17 years.
And with Sunday's big win over the fourth-seeded team of Rachel Scott and Elaine Youngs, Jennifer Kessy and April Ross maintain their No. 1 spot atop the AVP and FIVB tournament standings.
What's next for Kessy and Ross? The AVP Nivea Tour Hermosa Beach Open on July 16-18. Get all your online sports odds at Bodog Sportsbook.
Federer had reached the semifinals of a record 23 straight Grand Slam tournaments until being knocked out in the quarters of the French Open about a month ago. Federer had reached the past seven finals at Wimbledon – only losing in 2008 to Rafael Nadal – and was attempting to tie Pete Sampras’ record of seven Wimbledon titles. Grass courts are Federer’s best surface, so this result is much more stunning than the French Open loss.
The 29-year-old said afterward that that he was playing with two previously undisclosed injuries, in his right leg and back.
“Under the circumstances, I think I played a decent match,” Federer said Wednesday. “It's just not good and healthy to play under these kind of conditions."
Federer was very fortunate to escape his first-round match with a five-set win but had looked good since then before Wednesday. Perhaps that Aussie Open title in January, his 16th career Slam title, will be his last. It seems that big hitters are starting to solve him.
Berdych is a hard-serving 24-year-old from the Czech Republic. He is on the rise as he had never gotten past the Round of 16 at a major championship until reaching the semifinals at the French Open last month, before losing to Robin Soderling – Soderling is who ousted Federer in the previous round at Paris. Berdych also beat Federer earlier this year in the fourth round at Miami.
This result is a huge break for third-seeded Novak Djokovic, who faces Berdych on Friday in the semifinals. Djokovic won his quarterfinal match earlier Wednesday, beating Yen-Hsun Lu, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
World No. 1 Nadal is in the other half of the draw and is in the semis after beating Soderling in his quarterfinal. The Spaniard, who looks for his second Wimbledon title, faces British hope Andy Murray, who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets on Wednesday — bet on all the semifinal matches match with Bodog's tennis odds. Needless to say, Nadal’s odds at Bodog to win the tournament will grow even shorter with Federer out.
Get all your Wimbledon odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
:dirol
i think spain is going to crush germany
what do you think??
Alabama
Ohio State
Boise State
Iowa
Texas
Florida
TCU
Arkansas
Georgia
Virginia Tech
Wisconsin
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Oregon State
Stanford
Penn State
Georgia
USC
Oregon
Miami
LSU
West Virginia
Cincinnati
Pitt
Navy
:dirol
Interestingly, Power’s four wins this season have all come on road courses, as Edmonton is. The Aussie’s win at Toronto last weekend extended his championship lead to 42 points over Dario Franchitti, who now calls Power – the only driver with multiple wins this year — the one to beat in this circuit. And he certainly should be the one to beat at Edmonton, as that’s the track where Power claimed his first IndyCar series win last year.
Franchitti is the second favorite on Bodog’s IndyCar odds at 4/1, but he hasn’t won since the Indianapolis 500 for his only victory so far this year after five on the way to the championship in 2009. Franchitti has five wins in 16 starts in Canadian races in his career. Scott Dixon has had success at this race, finishing third last year and winning the inaugural IndyCar Series race at Edmonton in 2008. And Helio Castroneves is always in contention here, finishing runner-up both years. Dixon and Castroneves are the only drivers to lead laps in both Edmonton races
If you are looking for a longer shot, consider Justin Wilson, who started from the pole and led the most laps in Toronto but finished seventh. He has two runner-up finishes on street courses this season. And of course there’s Danica Patrick, who is currently 50/1. In 10 IndyCar starts this year she has one Top-5 finish and has led only one lap.
The Edmonton City Council voted this week to retain this race for at least the next three years.
Get all your IndyCar odds and props at Bodog Sportsbook
It was the first time since the 2003 PGA Championship that Woods shot over par in every round of a tournament. His 298 and 18-over par were his highest stroke and score in relation to par in a PGA Tour 72-hole event in his pro career. Tiger set the tournament record here 10 years ago and this time around he was only 39 shots worse. Only Henrik Stenson kept Woods from finishing in last place.
"(I'm) just not playing well," Tiger said to reporters. "Shooting 18 over par is not fun. The only thing I can say all week is I was patient, and unfortunately that's not enough."
If Phil Mickelson finishes in the Top 4, Lefty is your new No. 1 golfer in the world rankings. Tiger has been atop the rankings since June 2005. Mickelson was tied for 10th at 5-under and set to tee off just before 1 p.m. ET.
Shockingly, Tiger might not even make the U.S. Ryder Cup team. He is currently outside the automatic qualifying places for the squad with just one event remaining to earn points — this week's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, a windblown, British Open-style course built on the northern shores of Lake Michigan in Kohler, Wisc. Woods said he would be leaving for Wisconsin immediately.
Tiger Woods clearly isn't himself this year.
Clearly something is amiss with Tiger Woods. If Tiger was ever going to win a tournament it seemed it would be this weekend’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, as Tiger had won the event an astounding seven times in 11 tries heading in. But Tiger’s day is already done Sunday and so might be his reign as the world’s top-ranked golfer. Tiger shot a final-round 77, capping a week that saw him shoot 18-over par for four rounds and finish in a tie for 78th in an 80-player field. Just digest that for a minute. Tiger had never finished worse than fifth at this event!
It was the first time since the 2003 PGA Championship that Woods shot over par in every round of a tournament. His 298 and 18-over par were his highest stroke and score in relation to par in a PGA Tour 72-hole event in his pro career. Tiger set the tournament record here 10 years ago and this time around he was only 39 shots worse. Only Henrik Stenson kept Woods from finishing in last place.
"(I'm) just not playing well," Tiger said to reporters. "Shooting 18 over par is not fun. The only thing I can say all week is I was patient, and unfortunately that's not enough."
If Phil Mickelson finishes in the Top 4, Lefty is your new No. 1 golfer in the world rankings. Tiger has been atop the rankings since June 2005. Mickelson was tied for 10th at 5-under and set to tee off just before 1 p.m. ET.
Shockingly, Tiger might not even make the U.S. Ryder Cup team. He is currently outside the automatic qualifying places for the squad with just one event remaining to earn points — this week's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, a windblown, British Open-style course built on the northern shores of Lake Michigan in Kohler, Wisc. Woods said he would be leaving for Wisconsin immediately.
Tiger Woods clearly isn't himself this year.
My wife is a big Tiger Woods fan even after all that has went down, and she was shocked at his performance over the weekend. She says he has that Post Dramatic Stress Syndrome...I call bullsh** on that. I am glad he is stumbling, he needs to feel how it is not on top and not having the support behind he is use too..
Sean Foley is not Woods' coach -- at least not yet. The Canadian-born swing coach works with Firestone winner Hunter Mahan, Sean O'Hair, Stephen Ames and others.
Foley says Woods asked him to look at his swing during Tuesday's practice round at the PGA Championship. On two holes, Foley stood behind and in front of Woods to videotape his swing.
Asked if he was working with Woods, Foley said, "I wouldn't say that. But the possibility is there."
Woods played with Mahan and O'Hair, as he did at The Players Championship in May when Foley joined him and prompted speculation of a new swing coach. Foley dropped back after nine holes to spend time with Ames.
After his last performance he better do something...he is in survival mode right now. LOL
Apparently rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. Woods started the day with a birdie and ended it the same way, shooting one-under par 71 overall.
"I played too good not to shoot under par, and it would have been very disappointing and frustrating to end up at even par as well as I played today," a rejuvenated Woods told ESPN.com
Woods needed a solid start as he's not long removed from the ugliest performance of his career.
He shot 18 over par for four rounds just days ago at the Bridgestone Invitational, and he had won there seven times before.
After the ugly day Woods has turned out a promising performance at one of the toughest courses on the PGA Tour.
:dirol
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young is next on the list of athletes getting in trouble in a Gentleman's Club, being issued a Class C assault citation and fined $500 as a result.
According to security video from the Dallas, TX club, Young exchanged words with a man in the manager's office of Club Onyx after the man made a negative sign referencing the University of Texas, where Young became a college football superstar. Young then left the office, only to return and throw a punch at the man, leading to a scuffle.
Small potatoes considering what most athletes have been doing with their free time nowadays, but seeing as NFL commish Roger Goddell has been coming down hard on any shenanigans from his players, a suspension could be in his future.
"The organization has been in touch with Vince and we will continue to gather additional information," Titans director of media relations and services Robbie Bohren said.
Neither Young nor the other individual involved in the incident will be arrested.
Will this affect their chances at a Super Bowl? Bet on it in the Bodog Sportsbook!