Disclaimer: It’s only one game into the new Basketball season.

Fact: Portland Trailblazers beat up on Philadelphia.

Conclusion: Maybe I was a bit hasty in my assessment of the Blazers (not of Paul Allen).

Last night, I attended the opening night of this 2011-2012 NBA Basketball season for the Portland Trailblazers at the Rose Garden.

Believe me: the final score is NOT indicative of how lopsided the game was. The TBs  fell behind in the first quarter (2 – 0) but gained the lead and never looked back. They out performed the Sixers in every aspect of the game.

Now what makes this important to me? Well, I had written them off (as my previous posts indicated) as forever-inept… AND having lost their star players: Brandon Roy, Greg Oden (again), and LaMarcus Aldridge (albeit temporarily) – I felt (knew) that front office decisions in the last minutes since the lockout and before the opening game once again meant doom for the team.

I haven’t seen any good decisions there in years (ever?)…

But, I have a friend (Jeff) who’s a BIG TB fan… and yesterday he told me that this is the BEST team that’s ever worn the TB colors! Huge! I know!… so, I decided to attend the opening night game to see for myself (thanks for the Cap and for the Chalupa).

My good friend Matt from Las Vegas is here visiting, he’s always up for a challenge, (He’s NEVER seen the TBs win in person – now THAT’S a challenge) so off we went…

I was surprised. Jeff might have been right! Again, it’s way too early to be singing their praises, but what I saw from the last minute additions to the team is impressive!

UPDATE:

Tonight, the Sacramento Kings came into the Rose Garden and were slaughtered as if lambs amongst lions. I’m impressed again.. and especially with the star of this game (and IMO last night’s game too): Gerald Wallace!

Not there’s a real ironic twist: A man with the initials “GW” that I can like!

Yes, Surprise was the word of the day yesterday as the Titanic of horse racing, the 1-9 favorite Uncle Mo lost to two (not just one, but two – Toby’s Corner and Arthur’s Tale)  rivals in the Wood Memorial.

BTW: As you know, I had picked Uncle Mo to win that race (as did everyone else it seems – after all, he went off at 1-9) so that was a loss. What I didn’t have time to tell most of you was this. When Uncle Mo showed those odds (1-9) I jumped off him! At those odds, no horse is bettable because you risk your money for a very small return… it’s just not smart! So, the play in this case was to bet EVERY OTHER HORSE to win… and hope for an upset. Because, the closest odds to the favorite was an amazing 17-1 (late betting pushed him down to 8-1 – may have been his connections who always bet at the very last moment)… the other horses were well into the high 20′s, the 30′s, and beyond. So, place one unit on each of the other horses to win, and 2 units on the favorite-of-the-rest (8-1).

Playing $10 units, your bet would have been $90, and your return was nearly $200.

At the start of that race, Uncle Mo was also the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Less than two minutes later… dog meat! Well, that’s a little harsh, he’s still a good horse in a so-so crop of 3 year olds. That’s horse racing! As we know, anything can and does happen. Unless it’s discovered that Uncle Mo was injured (and Bob Baffert said he tore a quarter at the gate) Uncle Mo had no excuses as the times were very, very slow.

Here, see for yourself:

So, where does that leave us in the hunt for a winner on May 7th at Churchill Downs? It doesn’t appear at this moment that we’re going to have a Triple Crown Winner… again! (1978 was the last)

Ok, Uncle Mo’s an also ran, Dialed In barely beat a 68-1 long shot, Premier Pegasus is out with an injury, Jaycito too… Where’s Beetlebomb when you need him?

All of this makes next week’s race at my favorite race track in all of North America very much in the spotlight.

If The Factor wins the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn next week, he will undoubtedly be the favorite in the Kentucky Derby as well.

The race to enter The Kentucky Derby tightens up considerably today through two very important prep races; the Santa Anita Derby, and the Wood Memorial.

Here’s how I see them:

Santa Anita Derby – Today’s SADerby is going to be hottly contested based upon of all things: the horses! Duh! You say… but consider the facts that great careful breeding, high prices, famous connections, perfect training and deep pocket owners can all do their parts and still not make the grade… in this case: The Grade I, Million Dollar SAD!

Today, in the last chance for Left-Coast horses to qualify for the Kentucky Derby (and subsequently the Triple Crown) we’ll see only nine horses enter the starting gate.

On Thursday, the runaway favorite to win (8-5) Premier Pegasus was scratched due to a hairline fractured cannon bone. The horse will have to wait this out to heal.

Then, yesterday, Bob Baffert announced that his top contender Jaycito would also sit this one out due to a bruised foot… also not career ending, but he’ll need to rest it awhile. He might enter the Grade III, Lexington Stakes to get into the qualifying money for the Kentucky Derby.

So, that leaves nine: nine horses that would have finished up the track are now battling for the win. Current favorite: Silver Medallion (a triple crown name – right?) will have some trouble with two other stake’s winners in Anthony’s Cross and front-running Comma To The Top. Bob Baffert is hopeful that his long-shot; Midnight Interlude (another sexy name) will give him the win he needs for a trip to Kentucky.

With all these hiccups, who can handicap this one?

I will try:

Anthony’s Cross and Silver Medallion have both been absent since Feb 12th… question? SM has never run on the dirt… question?

Midnight Interlude is a big, unproven horse that may not be able to handle the distance nor his own weight… question?

Comma To The Top finished fourth in the San Felipe after a front end dual that sank his rivals to dead last in the race. Despite that, or because of it, I’m picking Comma To The Top to upset in the Santa Anita Derby. He’ll still go to the front, but may be handled a bit to conserve his energy. That’s the promise his trainer Peter Miller delivered Thursday.

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Wood Memorial – This one is not so contentious. The clear and overwhelming favorite (1-5); Uncle Mo (also the current favorite to win the Kentucky Derby) will break out of the starting gate against nine opponents in the premier race at New York’s Aqueduct Race Track.

The 2010 Champion 2 Year Old Colt is a galloping sensation. His stride beats anything we’ve seen this year and perhaps preceding years going back to the late 70′s. He’s 4 for 4 and looks to stretch out his perfect record today.

The second choice Toby’s Corner will get blinkers for the first time. The other “contenders” are admittedly trying to get into the exacta and/or the trifecta bowing to the superior horse.

Secretly, the trainers all say; IF… if the horse (Uncle Mo) stumbles or has a bad day…

So, barring that, my pick for the Wood: Uncle Mo… Duh!

Sure, Dialed In, the 5-2 second favorite in the eight horse field ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Nick Zito, won the Florida Derby. But I have to ask “So What”? It was his trademarked long-strided stretch run that got him the win… but…

… and that’s a HUGE “but” – over who?

Soldat? the 3-2 favorite… where was he? completely out of the money… that’s where!

Stay Thirsty? missing in action as were all the others including Flashpoint the much heralded speedster who gave up his run for the Swale to enter here… oops!

The race was exciting, there’s no doubt, and the times were hohum pretty good… but this was a Grade I race, and the times should have been spectacular!

Up the backstretch (and everywhere else) Shackleford (who?) was pressed by To Honor and Serve had the solid lead. Third was Flashpoint with Soldat on the inside, and trailing everyone was Dialed In… some 14 lengths back.

Around the final turn Shackleford, ridden by Jesus Castanon, kept a hold on the lead with To Honor and Serve second and Dialed In making his rally from last.

Shackleford still led with a furlong to go as Dialed In began to grind it out and catch the former.

Dialed In caught the leader just yards before the finish and was able to stick his head out as he and Shackleford hit the wire.

To Honor and Serve, the 7-2 third pick, finished third followed by Flashpoint, Soldat, Arch Traveler, Stay Thirsty and Bowman’s Causeway

Notice that no one else but Shackleford, To Honor and Serve, and Flashpoint even got a call until Dialed In joined the mix!

So, the race was all hype and no result!… save one: the amazing presence of Shackleford, the longest shot on the board at 68-1 in the photo at the finish.

Obviously, no one gave this horse (named for Charles Shackleford of NC State fame) a chance to beat the others today. However, his winnings of $212K put him in the top 20 money earners headed for the Kentucky Derby. He’s currently 19th (out of 20) and doubtful to stay in.

Plus, I’m not convinced he deserves to be in the KD. His connections will decide whether to point him there in the next day or two. Time is running out to enter another graded race, and his winnings are probably too low NOT to enter another.

My guess is; he’s a no go!

What about Dialed In? Yeah, he’ll be there, but I can’t be excited about his chances after watching today’s race. Ditto Soldat et all!

The Kentucky Derby race to the post begins today. There’s a big field of horses trying to qualify for the Run for the Roses. It’s a matter of money… that is, the top money earners of this year’s crop of three-year-olds will get into the big race on the first Saturday in May (May 7th).

Update: Results below…

Since 2004, the Kentucky Derby has had 20 horses in the race. If more than 20 (the limit) are entered, the top graded money earners are admitted.  Last year, the bubble horse was “Make Music for Me”, and his earnings were a record high $218,750.

So, it’s no small order to get into the Kentucky Derby any longer, with the current system for qualifying, coupled with the huge crop of horses that appear this time of year as contenders, coupled with the “machines” in place for developing quality horses (that would include breeding practices, trainers and their methods, big money owners, better facilities, improving medical, physical and exercise treatments, racing grounds and surfaces, savvy riders, marketing) there is little likelihood of ever seeing a short field Kentucky Derby again.

Currently, tied for fifth-place in earnings (with “The Factor”) is a much lauded horse “Mucho Macho Man” And he’s running as the favorite in the first Million Dollar race at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans… the Grade II “Louisiana Derby” at a mile and an eighth.

Mucho Macho Man’s connections (majority partner; Dean Reeves) has been pointing MMM toward the KD since late last summer. Trainer; Kathy Ritvo took over the reigns from her trainer husband; Tim Ritvo when he took on the huge responsibility of Racing Vice President of Magna. They too are focused on getting their horse entered in the Kentucky Derby.

UPDATE: Mucho Macho Man finished a strong third in the race and may still be in the running for the Kentucky Derby. But it will be a difficult 6 weeks as the connections try to solve the puzzles: 1) Why didn’t he win. 2) Do we enter him in another race before the Kentucky Derby to assure ample winnings. 3) Do we rest him, and train him into the race – hoping that his current earnings are enough?

Meanwhile, the winner of the Million Dollar “Louisiana Derby” will HAVE to run at Churchill Downs on May 7th due to the enormous purse he won today. “Pants on Fire” was entered by his trainer; Kelly Breen to set the race for PoF’s stable mate; “Nacho Business”, but “Pants on Fire” didn’t know that. He ran a great race on his own under the handling by jockey; Anna Rose “Rosie” Napravnik.

Stay Tuned…

I’m thoroughly disgusted.

Disgusted with ESPN’s “Sports Center”!

Why?

Because they just wouldn’t shutup about Auburn.

Ok – Auburn came back from behind. HoHum!

They ended up winning 28 – 27. They won by ONE POINT! One point my friends – what the hell’s all the praising about?

On the other hand – they HAD to say SOMETHING about the Number One Team – Oregon. Not that they wanted to… it was like “Oh Yeah – there was another game tonight – number one ORYGONE – (couldn’t even pronounce it correctly) – beat their opponent (again – yawn) by 19 points. And quietly (even ashamedly) admit that Oregon came from behind too – but don’t make a big deal of it!

By the end of the night – during their wrap-up… I was so sick of their praises of Auburn (Number TWO – still) that I decided to time their coverage…

The score?     
Auburn game = 6 minutes and 05 seconds of hyperbole.
Oregon game = 3 minutes and 10 seconds (and they sounded ashamed to include it).

And of course the great win by Nevada over the pretender; “Boise State” also made
it big on the clock (more time).

So, I’m happy about the games (even the Auburn game) but really angry about the reporting….

I think the #1 team; Oregon Ducks (the only one to hold on to the ranking for a full month now) scratched and clawed its way to the top – and then is under reported. Why? Maybe it’s because they are so good that a win is boring!

Oh Well! – Go Ducks!

The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

Like father, like son.

On one hand, I feel sorry for Cam Newton (QB – Auburn). Not for what he’s done, but because he’s doing just what his low-life father has taught him to do.

Let’s tackle the recruiting allegations first. It is alleged that the father (Cecil Newton) actively pursued money in exchange for a national letter of intent for his son Cam. That means that the father wanted to be paid for an agreement to play football on behalf of his son.

The facts are all over the news and the internet, so let me just voice my opinion here. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Too many people have told the same story here and Cam’s only official answer was a no-answer to “something that occurred not 3 months ago, not 6 months ago….” . The key there is “Something That Occurred”… what more do we need? He said it: “something that occurred”!

You want more? OK…

Where was Cam Newton during this “alleged” extortion? … this “alleged” requesting for bribes? He was at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas! What the hell is that? If he is so good as a football player, what’s he doing at “Blinn”??????

I’ll tell you what he was doing there… he was HIDING! Yes: Hiding! He was caught cheating at Florida in Gainesville – not once, but THREE times…

Further, he was caught with a stolen laptop at Florida.

He was scheduled to be expelled for these FACTS… so he skipped…

He left Florida and HID at Blinn.

That’s when his father began shopping his son to the bigger universities. Mississippi State was close to signing Cam when his father said “It will take more than a scholarship” to sign his son…

Mississippi State refused to pay a student to play football… Cam is reported to tell the MS recruiter (tearfully) that he changed his mind because his father made the decision to go to Auburn… “Because the Money was Too Good”.

My question is to the Heisman Trophy voters…

What the hell do you need? The Heisman Trophy requires among other things INTEGRITY!

There is NO integrity in Cecil Newton – and none in his son Cam!

He was caught cheating, he ran, he extorted money from Auburn, he signed for the money….

What the Hell do you need?

Do NOT vote for Cam Newton – he deserves what his father hath wrought! Cam happily spent the money, now let him reap the rewards.

Don’t give him the trophy only to have it taken back (like Reggie Bush) years later.

Vote for a good man as well as a good football player…

Vote for LaMichael James or Kellen Moore…

…but NOT for the Low-Life’s son: Cam Newton, because,

… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Well, well, well, I’m a genius! I got through to the BCS computers… after 3 weeks of getting it wrong – they finally got it RIGHT!

Oregon is #1 -

Number 1 in the human polls…

And now; Oregon is Number one in the BCS too!

My sincerest Congratulations to the Oregon Ducks! This is the first time in their history they’ve been Number One and the first time they’ve opened 8 – 0 since 1933.

Coach Chip Kelly is so level headed – he seems to pay NO attention at ALL to this. I’ve been impressed with his interviews. He’s said that this means nothing, and he’s simply preparing for the next challenge.

With or without his acknowledgment, the next challenge is to remain No 1.

In the past four weeks, All four of the #1 ranked BCS colleges has been knocked off the perch. Three lost by defeats, and now Auburn lost due to the fact that they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. (see yesterdays post – below)

Oregon WILL break the curse on Saturday at 3:30 (ET) when they defeat the unranked Washington Huskies (3-5). Coach Kelly is not one to overlook an opponent, and he won’t take the Huskies for granted this week. As I write this, the Ducks are hard at work preparing for them.

Best of luck to you Oregon – and we’ll see you in the BCS Bowl!

The BCS is either wrong or stubborn! You tell me…

Oregon is #1 in BOTH (human) polls.
Oregon beat its opponent this week by a larger margin than did Auburn.
Oregon scores more points (and much sooner) than any other team.
Is ranked FIRST in many stats.
Oregon has a legitimate Heisman candidate.
Oregon has allowed fewer points in the second half than ANY other team.
(These facts just keep coming)

Yet Oregon is #2 to Auburn???????

… and ever worse: #3 Boise State (.8846) is closer to #2 Oregon (.9060) in points than Oregon is to #1 Auburn (.9371) in points…..  What are they thinking?

Look at this: The Harris Poll (which is SUPPOSED to be figured into the BCS formula) shows the points thusly:
#1 Auburn (2611)
#2 Oregon (2818)
#3 Boise State (2668)

Yet Oregon is #2 to Auburn???????

Now look at the USA Today Poll:

#1 Auburn (.9153)
#2 Oregon (.9919)
#3 Boise State (.9376)

In fact, they show Auburn as BARELY ahead of #4 TCU (.8868)

Yet Oregon is #2 to Auburn???????

BCS is either wrong or stubborn! You tell me…

Someone PLEASE explain to me just what criteria is fed into the BCS computers that keeps Oregon from #1. I know, I know, the three guys who input data into the computers refuse to reveal that information. I’m telling them to stop, look at reality, and reconfigure their input data (and/or formula).

BCS is either wrong or stubborn! You tell me…

July 28th was a good day!

On that day, HR2267, the gambling bill written by Congressman Barney Franks (overturning the UIGEA) passed through the House Financial Services Committee, and signed on it’s 70th Co-Sponsor, Rep John Campbell, California.

It’s not such a small step either. Before the bill even reaches the House for a vote, we have a great number of Lawmakers ready to vote YES!

While the House Financial Services Committee approved the Internet gambling regulatory bill, it has been now been sent to the House Energy and Commerce and the House Judiciary committees.
If the bill passes those committees, it would go before the House of Representatives. It needs only a majority of the vote, only 148 votes in favor of the bill are needed.
The House is on vacation this month (August) and has a full agenda when it returns in September. Just when they’ll get our bill of course, is anybody’s guess right now.
Add to that, the November election is looming and looking very shaky so that will have a definite dampening effect on when (or if) our bill, which would regulate online gambling in the US by overturning the UIGEA, comes to a vote.
Unfortunately for sports fans, Online Sportsbooks in the US would not be covered by this legislation.
So, let’s hope more co-sponsors sign on. Let’s hope the bill goes to the House for a vote. And let’s hope the outcome is the only fair one – the revocation of that horrible UIGEA.