11/15/2008 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have withdrawn the franchise record-setting offer they made to left fielder Manny Ramirez last week, but the club is still interested in bringing the slugger back.
The offer, a two-year deal for $45 million with a club option for a third year worth another $15 million, would have been the second-highest annual salary in the majors behind New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti extended the previous offer at the general managers meetings to the 12-time All-Star and MVP of the 2004 World Series.
Though the offer expired on Thursday night, as Ramirez and agent Scott Boras were allowed to speak with other teams beginning Friday, Colletti has said he is interested in having Ramirez back in Dodgers' blue.
Boras and Ramirez will now have an opportunity to hear offers of varying length and worth from other clubs. Boras is seeking a longer-term deal, up to six years, for Ramirez.
Ramirez, who is an unrestricted free agent, just completed an eight-year, $160 million contract he signed with Boston in 2001. The Dodgers acquired the slugger from the Red Sox on July 31, and Ramirez led LA to the NL Championship Series before losing to World Series champion Philadelphia.
Rodriguez makes $27.5 million annually based on the 10-year contract he signed in December of 2007, although his yearly salary fluctuates from $32 million for the upcoming season to $20 million at the conclusion of the deal.
Ramirez hit .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBI in just 53 games after joining the Dodgers. He batted .299 with 20 homers and 68 RBI in 100 contests for Boston in 2008.
<< Wallace, Pistons send Lakers to first loss
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rasheed Wallace notched a season-high 25
points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons captured a
106-95 win against the Lakers, sending Los Angeles to its first loss of the
season.
<< Stoudemire's jumper, block help Suns edge Kings in OT
Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Amare Stoudemire hit the game-winning jumper
with 4.5 seconds left in overtime and blocked the final shot attempt, and
Shaquille O'Neal recorded 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, as the
Phoenix
<< Hamhuis gives Preds overtime win over Ducks
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Hamhuis scored with 2:43 remaining in
overtime and the Nashville Predators earned a rare 4-3 road win over the
Anaheim Ducks.
J.P. Dumont, Ryan Jones and Joel Ward also scored for the Pred
<< Harden leads No. 15 Sun Devils past Delta Devils
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - James Harden scored a game-high 24 points and
doled out 10 assists to lead No. 15 Arizona State in an 80-64 thrashing of
Mississippi Valley State in the season-opener for both schools.
Ty Abbott added 18
Davydenko rolls Murray; Djokovic next in Masters Cup final >>
Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Murray's sky-high ride to the
lucrative Tennis Masters Cup semifinals came to an abrupt end Saturday, as
Nikolay Davydenko closed strong in both sets to reach the final at the $4.45
million
No. 17 Miami opens season against Florida Southern >>
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 17th-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes
will play host to the Florida Southern Moccasins on Saturday night in Coral
Gables.
While this game represents the season opener for Miami, Florida Southern
alread
No. 10 Gonzaga hosts Montana State-Billings in season opener >>
Spokane, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs are set to
host the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets in the season opener for both
teams.
For Montana State-Billings, there is no where to go but up under the guidance
of f
No. 14 Tennessee opens season at home versus Chattanooga >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The defending Southeastern Conference
Champion Tennessee Volunteers begin their quest for a repeat, as they tip off
the 2008-09 season against the visiting Chattanooga Mocs of the Southern
Conference.
Chatta
In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere.
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
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