Home Run Derby

The All-Star game returns to St. Louis for the first time since 1966. St. Lous Cardinal, Albert Pujols and St. Louis native, Ryan Howard are the favorites to win. Defending Champ Justin Morneau, and the guy who everybody thinks won last year, Josh Hamilton are not participating. The 4 NL 1B men are the top 4 favorites, as the 4 AL players are first timers, as is Adrian Gonzalez. Busch Stadium plays fair to lefthanded and righthanded hitters. The dimensions: 336 feet to left, 335 to right, 390 to both power alleys and 400 to center.

Anyway, here are the participants and the odds. Let get some predictions in, you gambling junkies!

Albert Pujols (2-1) Reached the Semi Final in '07 and lost in Finals in '03.
Ryan Howard (5-2) Won '06, lost in first rd in '07
Prince Fielder (7-2) Lost 1st rd in '07
Adrian Gonzalez (5-1) First Derby
Carlos Pena (6-1) First Derby
Joe Mauer (6-1) First Derby
Nelson Cruz (8-1) First Derby
Brandon Inge (10-1) First Derby

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Goodell to Gamblers: "Eff you, pay me".

Gamblers beware, Roger Goodell will not stand to have you attempt to revitalize the US economy! From the WSJ.com:

The NFL, which says it will earn $8 billion in revenue this year, is threatening to file a lawsuit against the state of Delaware, where the supreme court unanimously concluded last month that parlays -- bets on the outcome of two or more events -- are constitutional, opening the door, as early as this fall, for the state to host what would be the first legal sports books outside of Nevada.

The NFL seems to have a hypocritical stance on the issue, the article reports the following:

Critics also say the NFL's position is inconsistent. The league recently decided to allow teams to sell their logos to other state lotteries for games that do not involve the outcome of football games. The logo of the New England Patriots, who were the first to sign a deal, will appear on Massachusetts scratch-off lottery tickets this summer.

The article goes on to state that Delaware projects to make an estimated $55 million in tax revenue to help cover their fiscal shortfall in the coming year. The NFL, apparently, is not interested in helping out the First State's economy.

Let's be honest though, people are going to bet on football games regardless of whether it is legal or not, and the NFL would be naive to think this will have any effect on the number of people gambling on sports each weekend. One of the primary reasons the NFL is so popular in America is because of gambling, and I'm sure their is a correlation between NFL betting trends and high ratings. Fantasy football is an extension of gambling for God's sake, and CBS and FOX seem quite content to inundate their viewers with fantasy statistics throughout halftime. My guess is the only way we will see legal gambling outside of Nevada will be when we begin seeing NFL-licensed casinos springing up around the country.

What are your thoughts?

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Inaugural Degenerate Gambling Post

I know I'm getting ahead of myself here, but it's never too early to talk about NFL wagering, right?. Vegas has released the Over/Under Win totals for the 2009 NFL season and I couldn't resist commenting. The sportsbook has some serious confidence in the NFC East this year, setting the line at 10, 9.5, 9 and 8 for NYG, PHI, DAL and WAS, respectively. I can't say I disagree too much with any of their picks, but if I were a gambling man - which I am - here are my first thoughts on who I like:

• Carolina OVER 8.5 at +100


• Arizona UNDER 8.5 at -110


• Philly OVER 9.5 at -145


• Oakland OVER 5.5 at -140 if this babe's husband is the starter.


• Seattle OVER 7.5 at -150

These are just first impression/no research whatsoever picks. I basically just secured the Eagles to win less than 9.5 games this year, and for that I apologize.

Thoughts?

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