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05/19/2010 -
SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) -Nothing like a little lottery luck to restore hope after a season gone horribly wrong.
The Washington Wizards, terrible on the court and troublemakers off it, finally had something go their way Tuesday night when they won the NBA's draft lottery.
``We deserved a break, the fans deserved a break and I just had a good vibe,'' incoming owner Ted Leonsis said. ``I just said if ever a franchise deserved some good luck, it's this because last year was an incredibly tough year for the city, the fans, for the franchise, for the Pollin family.''
The Wizards moved up from the No. 5 spot to earn the top pick in next month's draft, when they will likely choose between Kentucky freshman John Wall and national player of the year Evan Turner of Ohio State.
Washington was represented by Irene Pollin, who wore the 1978 Bullets championship ring of her late husband, longtime owner Abe Pollin. When the Wizards pulled off the surprising win, her jaw dropped and she appeared to mouth 'Oh my God!!' with wide eyes.
``I felt with Mrs. Pollin up there, what a wonderful transition and what a great statement to the fan base that the Wizards can rebuild and make the transition and make this an exciting, exciting team again,'' said Leonsis, the Washington Capitals owner whose purchase of the team from the Pollin family is expected to be completed in early June.
Abe Pollin died at age 85 in November.
``This is very, very special. I have been in this my entire adult life and to be here, representing my husband, this is very special to me tonight,'' Irene Pollin said. ``I think it's the culmination of my husband's dream because he wanted another ring and maybe this will get us another ring.''
The Philadelphia 76ers, another disappointment this season, moved up from the sixth spot to grab the No. 2 pick. The Nets continued the run of failure by teams with the best chance of winning, falling to the third.
Mikhail Prokhorov, the Russian billionaire who was approved as Nets owner last week and represented the team on stage, shrugged off the disappointment.
``Sometimes luck makes all the difference, but it never comes down to one player,'' Prokhorov said. ``I'm sure we're going to get a great player. For our team, the only way is up.''
The lottery victory - despite only a 10.3 percent chance - is just about the only thing that has gone right in a disastrous year for the Wizards, marred by the suspension of All-Star Gilbert Arenas for bringing guns into the Verizon Center locker room. They finished 26-56 after being widely forecast to finish in the middle of the Eastern Conference.
Irene Pollin hopes the lottery win will help fans forget the turbulent season, when the Wizards also traded former All-Stars Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison to cut salary after things fell apart.
``Fans are fickle. But I think this is a wonderful thing for our fans who have really stuck by us,'' Pollin said. ``They really have been through a very, very tough year. Actually when I got up and spoke to them, I was thanking them for sticking by us and being so supportive even though we had all the problems.''
So will Arenas play with the No. 1 pick or be replaced by him?
``I'm just going to come in and work hard ... just try to win games for the organization this year,'' Wall said.
Team president Ernie Grunfeld told reporters on a conference call that earning the No. 1 pick would not affect the team's plans for Arenas.
``Gilbert is still with us. He's been down at our gym, working out and getting ready,'' Grunfeld said. ``The more good players you have, the better.''
But the Wizards will have to do better than they did the last time they had the No. 1 pick. That was in 2001, when Hall of Famer and former Washington executive Michael Jordan selected Kwame Brown, considered one of the biggest busts ever at No. 1.
The Nets had a 25 percent chance of winning after going 12-70. Instead, the team with the worst record still hasn't won since 2004, when the Orlando Magic selected Dwight Howard.
Asked before the lottery about potentially changing the system to keep teams from losing on purpose to improve their probability of winning, commissioner David Stern said he thinks, ``the results of the lottery, if anything, are causing teams with the worst record to feel as though a paucity of wins is not being adequately recognized and compensated.''
The other losers this time were the Minnesota Timberwolves, who fell from second to fourth. Sacramento (No. 5) and Golden State (No. 6) also tumbled - the second straight year the Kings went the wrong way in the lottery.
The Kings went from first to fourth last year, but did end up with Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans - who represented them Tuesday. So maybe the Nets shouldn't lose hope.
The NBA draft is June 24 in New York.
Philadelphia brought its own lucky charm, a used hockey stick from the Philadelphia Flyers' rally from 3-0 down to stun the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Still looking for a coach after firing former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, they stand to grab either Turner or Wall.
``We had a rough year,'' team president Ed Stefanski said. ``We feel that our talent was better than our record but we have to prove it now.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Thatcher leaves game with tightness in side
SAN DIEGO (AP) -San Diego Padres reliever Joe Thatcher left the game against the San Francisco Giants in the 12th inning with tightness in his side and back on Tuesday night.``When I went out there for the second inning, I was feeling some tightness
<< A's clip Mariners in 10th
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kurt Suzuki's two-out RBI single in the bottom
of the 10th inning gave the Athletics a 6-5 win in a back-and-forth battle
with the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a two-game set.
Suzuki came up with ru
<< Road warriors: Blackhawks down Sharks again in San Jose
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago captain Jonathan Toews registered a
power-play goal and one assist, as the Blackhawks defeated San Jose, 4-2, to
take a commanding lead in the Western Conference finals.
Toews, currently riding an
<< Dodgers roll over Astros for ninth straight win
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hiroki Kuroda pitched six solid frames and
the Dodgers capitalized on two-out opportunities to win their ninth straight
game, a 7-3 victory over slumping Houston to sweep a two-game set.
Russell Martin
Suns hope to bounce back against "lucky" Lakers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns hope to bounce back from their first
blowout loss in over four months when they take to the Staples Center floor
for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the defending champion Los
Angeles Lakers t
Paulino still in search of first win as Astros host Rockies >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston's patience with starter Felipe Paulino has to be
running thin, as the Dominican right-hander sports an 0-6 mark and 5.72 earned
run average in seven starts this season.
The Astros hope that Paulino can help both hi
Drama-filled Marlins take act on road to face Cardinals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With or without All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez, the
Florida Marlins will continue to move forward and stay positive. They hope to
keep that trend going tonight in the opener of a two-game road series against
the St. Louis
Karlovic out of French Open >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Croatia's Ivo Karlovic has withdrawn from
the 2010 French Open because of injury.
The big-serving Karlovic last played earlier this month at Madrid, where he
lost to Fernando Verdasco in the second
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with).
Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)
2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)
MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.
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