Amateur Poker Tour Offices are Raided by the Government!

As if the war on gambling hasn’t already become ridiculous enough, I just read where the fine folks at the Colorado Bureau of Investigations raided the offices of the Amateur Poker Tour, which are located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. No arrests were made, but records and member lists were confiscated.

This all stems from an investigation over whether or not the company is running an illegal gambling operation. The APT hosts Texas Hold’em tournaments and other games in bars and restaurants throughout the Denver metropolitan area. They also have a VIP player membership where people pay $199 in order to be eligible for special tournaments and bigger prizes. The latter seems to be what has caused the feds to take an interest.

CBI agent Ralph Gagliardi was quoted in the Denver post saying, “There are a number of poker operators that are legitimate in the state. Players can join a game for free and are given chips for free. At the end of the game, the winner can trade chips in for prizes, including cash, which might come from the operator. When a host or organizer charges any kind of fee for participation, Colorado law defines the game as illegal.”

The APT has 2,250 members, and 250 of those are “Gold Card” members who play in the exclusive tournaments with prize pools as high as $10,000. In addition to the membership costs, the bars and restaurants pay the APT in the hopes of increasing their business by pulling in poker enthusiasts. The APT gets $300 per quarter and $50 per table per night to host the games.

Despite the raid, the APT is continuing to operate. They even have a $500 buy-in tournament on May 4th at Binion’s in Las Vegas. According to their website, however, they are reassessing their VIP program and member benefits.

Ironically, their website states that, “We keep hearing how, ‘The APT is so fun, it’s hard to believe it’s legal.’”

Amateur Poker Tour Offices are Raided by the Government!

Fantasy Impact from 2007 NFL Draft

Every year, the NFL Draft features players who come right into the league and make an impact from a fantasy standpoint. Just look at last year and the emergence of players like Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, and Vince Young. Well, 2007 is a new year, and it’s time to take a look at 10 rookie players who could have an impact on the upcoming fantasy season.

1. Calvin Johnson (WR, Detroit Lions) - The 6’5, 239 pound burner will play an important part in Mike Martz’s offense. Lining up across from Roy Williams, Johnson should enjoy single coverage early in his career and make smaller defensive backs pay. The Lions will no doubt spread the ball around, but expect Johnson to get his share of catches and do very nicely in te touchdown category.

2. Adrian Peterson (RB, Minnesota Vikings) - A large back with excellent speed and power, Peterson has been described as a “violent” runner. His speed will be showcased on the Vikings indoor turf, although he will have to split carries with incumbent runner Chester Taylor. Still, the Saints showed last year that a running back tandem can still be productive from a fantasy standpoint.

3. Marshawn Lynch (RB, Buffalo Bills) - A well-balanced runner, Lynch will step right in as the starter for the Bills since their previous starter, Willis McGahee, departed in the offseason. While their running game has failed to impress over the last few seasons, having a back who can stay healthy will be a big plus.

4. Dwayne Bowe (WR, Kansas City Chiefs) - The former #1 receiver for LSU, Bowe finds himself on a team desperate for a quality WR. After all ,the trio of Rod Gardner, Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker isn’t exactly striking fear into the league. Expect Bowe to become a key part of the passing game. The biggest question is who will be throwing him the ball?

5. Craig Davis (WR, San Diego Chargers) - Here’s another team that needs help at wide receiver. Antonio Gates is a phenom, but it’s a bad idea to rely so much on one player. Expect the 6’1” Davis to get involved early and often.

6. Greg Olsen (TE, Chicago Bears) - Considered the best tight end in this year’s draft, Olsen has the good fortune of going to a team whose quarterback (Rex Grossman) likes to throw to the position. The Bears may not be as dominant as they were last year, so look for Olsen to get a lot of dump-off passes as Grossman (or his eventual replacement) scrambles around like a deer in the headlights.

7. Brandon Jackson (RB, Green Bay Packers) - Jackson was drafted in the 2nd round as a possible replacement for Ahman Green. Assuming he can beat out Vernand Morency and Noah Herron, Jackson should get the bulk of the carries. And since he’ll be lining up behind Brett Favre, it’s safe to assume that he’ll at least get a chance to show what he can do.

8. Chris Henry (RB, Tennessee Titans) - The team drafted LenDale White in last year’s draft, but he failed to develop as expected and has reportedly battled weight problems in the offseason. You know it must be bad, as the Titans were forced to grab Henry in the 2nd round. This 6 foot runner with a 4.41 time in the 40 may very well be the starter come opening day.

9. Sidney Rice (WR, Minnesota Vikings) -The Vikings are another team in desperate need of a reliable receiver. Rice may or may not be that guy, but he’ll certainly have a chance to compete with the likes of “studs” like Bobby Wade and Maurice Mann. Add to this the fact that starter Troy Williamson has trouble holding onto the ball, and Rice may be the Vikings’ breakout receiving threat. Unfortunately, he’ll be getting thrown balls from Brooks Bollinger or Tarvaris Jackson, so this one could be a little dicey.

10. Michael Bush (RB, Oakland Raiders) - Bush is a huge runner who’s listed at 6’3” and 250 pounds. If it were not for a broken leg last season , the consensus is that he would have been a 1st rounder on draft day. The Raiders’ new coaching staff is obviously not sold on starter LaMont Jordan, as they also picked up Dominic Rhodes in free agency. If Bush is healthy, and those two players falter, he may well get a shot sooner than expected.

Fantasy Impact from 2007 NFL Draft

Mayweather vs. De La Hoya - Bodog Props

On Saturday, May 5th, “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya (38-4, 30 KO) will fight “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. (37-0, 30 KO) for De La Hoya’s WBC Light-Middleweight Championship. The event will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and it is expected to be the biggest fight of 2007 (it also has the possibility of being the biggest fight in pay-per-view history).

Mayweather is moving up in weight, so many experts wonder if the difference in power between he and De La Hoya could be a factor. One thing is for sure, however, Mayweather is the fastest fighter in the business right now, and he’s more than willing to stay outside and jab his way to a decision win. De La Hoya, on the other hand, will more than likely be looking to get inside and bang away at his opponent with ferocious left hooks.

Both men are physically gifted, so the outcome of the bout may well depend on who has the determination to execute their gameplan. And if you’re equally determined about who will win the bout, why not head on over to Bodog and place a bet? They’ve got every base covered when it comes to odds for this historic fight. Just take a look.

Prop Bets for Mayweather vs. De La Hoya

What will be the final result of the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya?

Floyd Mayweather by Decision +115

Mayweather by KO, TKO, or DQ +400

De La Hoya by Decision +270

De La Hoya by KO, TKO, or DQ +360

Draw +1300

Will the fight go the distance?

Yes -250

No +200

Round Props for the fight.
Mayweather wins fight in Round 1 +6000

Mayweather wins fight in Round 2 +6500

Mayweather wins fight in Round 3 +4000

Mayweather wins fight in Round 4 +3500

Mayweather wins fight in Round 5 +2800

Mayweather wins fight in Round 6 +3000

Mayweather wins fight in Round 7 +2500

Mayweather wins fight in Round 8 +2500

Mayweather wins fight in Round 9 +3500

Mayweather wins fight in Round 10 +3000

Mayweather wins fight in Round 11 +2000

Mayweather wins fight in Round 12 +1500

Mayweather wins fight by Decision EVEN

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 1 +7000

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 2 +6500

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 3 +4500

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 4 +4000

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 5 +4000

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 6 +4000

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 7 +2500

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 8 +3000

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 9 +2500

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 10 +1500

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 11 +1500

De La Hoya wins fight in Round 12 +1200

De La Hoya wins fight by Decision +270

Draw +1300

Will the fight go over 1 minute and 30 seconds into the 10th round?

Over 9 ½ -450

Under 9 ½ +325

Will the fight go over 1 minute and 30 seconds into the 8th round?

Over 7 ½ -650

Under 7 ½ +450

Will the fight go over 1 minute and 30 seconds into the 6th round?

Over 5 ½ -1200

Under 5 ½ +650

Will the fight go over 1 minute and 30 seconds into the 4th round?

Over 3 ½ -3000

Under 3 ½ +1500

Will the fight go over 1 minute and 30 seconds into the 2nd round?

Over 1 ½ -8000

Under 1 ½ +3000

Who will be the points leader on HBO ringside judge Harold Lederman’s scorecard after 3 rounds?

Mayweather leads -140

De La Hoya leads +110

Will the fight leader on Harold Lederman’s scorecard after 3 rounds be the winner of the fight?

Leader on Lederman’s scorecard after 3 rounds wins the fight -260

Leader on Lederman’s scorecard after 3 rounds loses the fight or draw +110

Will either fighter be knocked down or out?

Either fighter knocked down or out? +160

No knockdowns or knockouts -200

Will either fighter have points deducted?

Either fighter has a point deducted +700

No penalty point taken in fight -1500

If you would like to read more about the upcoming Mayweather/De La Hoya fight, click here

Mayweather vs. De La Hoya - Bodog Props

2007 NFL Draft - Top 10 Steals of the Draft

The 2007 NFL Draft is in the books, and there was enough action to keep football fans talking for months. That’s a good thing, because we now enter that dark time of the year when NFL news is frighteningly scarce until the start of training camp.

With so many teams scrambling for the next Dan Marino, Barry Sanders or Jerry Rice, there were bound to be a fair amount of steals, reaches, and outright busts. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 10 steals of the draft.

10. Steve Breaston - WR - Taken by the Arizona Cardinals in the 5th round, Breaston has 156 career catches for the Michigan Wolverines, good enough for 5th on their all-time leading receiver list. He also holds the Big Ten record for punt return yardage and should make an immediate impact on the Cardinals’ special teams.

9. Ray McDonald - DT - While he still needs some work to reach his full potential, McDonald is a solid player who was rated among the top five defensive tackles by many experts. He fell all the way to the third round (#97 overall) and got snagged by the 49ers with their compensatory pick. Considering the other solid free agent moves that the Niners have made in the offseason, it looks as though San Francisco may be poised to return to the NFL spotlight.

8. Darrell Jackson - WR - The Niners traded their 4th round pick to Seattle to secure the rights to veteran wide receiver Darrell Jackson. Jackson, 28, has been the best receiver on the Seahawks for the past several years, and he should add an immediate legitimacy to the 49ers passing attack. All this for only a 4th round pick. The Niners should be patting themselves on the back.

7. Paul Posluszny - LB - Drafted by the Buffalo Bills (who traded up to get him) with the 34th overall pick, “Poz” is a high energy player who wreaked havoc in college on behalf of Penn State. His college career ended with a school record 372 total tackles. Most had him projected to go in the first round, so the Bills were able to pick up a starting running back and then turn around and still get him. That had to make them very happy.

6. Leon Hall - CB - Michigan’s career pass breakup leader, he was widely projected as a top 10 selection, but the Bengals were fortunate enough to grab him at 18. While making a contribution on special teams and returning kicks, Hall also recorded 180 career tackles. In 2006, he was a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection.

5. Alan Branch - DT - Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 33rd overall pick, Branch was a player than most had projected as going in the first round. In fact, Branch was projected as a top 10 pick by many when the college season was still underway. But his NFL Combine workout was very average, and that caused him to start sliding in the eyes of many scouts. Getting him in the 2nd round had to make the Cardinals ecstatic, as mock drafts earlier in the year had them taking him with the 5th overall pick.

4. Michael Bush - RB - It’s always a good thing when you can get 1st round talent in the 4th round, and that’s exactly what the Oakland Raiders did with the 100th overall pick in the draft. Before a broken leg last fall, Bush was a consensus 1st rounder. And since the Raiders already have runners LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes, there’s no hurry for Bush to get on the field. While he may not make an immediate impact, this is a pick that could pay huge dividends down the road.

3. Ryan Kalil - C - The best center in the draft, Kalil may also be the best offensive lineman in this year’s draft. Centers aren’t usually taken high, but his talent still made him a possible 1st rounder. Instead, he fell all the way to the 59th pick and was taken by the Carolina Panthers. He’ll start from day one and should be a lynchpin of the offense for years to come.

2. Brady Quinn - QB - The Brady Quinn sage was the story of the draft, as the highly touted Notre Dame quarterback kept falling and falling through the 1st round. He lobbied for the Browns to take him with their first pick (3rd overall), but they elected to get OT Joe Thomas. But as luck would have it, he was still around at the 22nd overall spot, and the Browns traded up with the Dallas Cowboys to get the native of Dublin, Ohio. Even though 21 teams passed on him, Quinn was rated by many experts ahead of the first overall selection in the draft, QB JaMarcus Russell.

1. Randy Moss - WR - Over the last several seasons, the 6’4” receiver has struggled with the Oakland Raiders, but all that is about to change. On Sunday, he was traded to the New England Patriots for a 4th round draft pick. Moss promptly restructured his deal to put less of a financial burden on his new team, and the Patriots made it clear that any negative behavior by the sometimes emotional wideout would result in his outright release. So for a measly 4th rounder, the Pats got a big play threat who has career numbers of 10,700 receiving yards and 101 touchdowns. They might as well give the Patriots the Lombardi Trophy right now.

For more on the 2007 NFL Draft, read the following:

NFL Draft Recap - NFC North

NFL Draft Odds from Bodog

2007 NFL Draft - Top 10 Steals of the Draft

Tiffani-Amber Thiessen - Babe of the Day

Our Babe of the Day for Monday is the lovely Tiffani-Amber Thiessen. You may remember her from such television shows as Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210. I remember her most from a series of dreams I had featuring her, Jenna Jameson, and a pack of sled dogs. But that's a story for another time.

Tiffani-Amber Thiessen - Babe of the Day

Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act Gets Criticism

The Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act introduced by Representative Barney Frank is raising criticism by some in the online gambling industry. After having several days to read the language of the bill, industry insiders are left uncertain whether the IGREA would protect online gambling operators.

Stocks of internet casinos took a down turn on the London Stock Exchange when this news hit. It had been hoped that the bill would protect online casinos, their affiliates and the financial institutions which handle money transactions for online gambling. Instead, many suggest that the bill would leave these outfits in jeopardy, while clearing the way for Indian casino operators to enter the online gambling business.

Provisions of the bill apparently make it illegal to run an online casino in a state where land-based casinos are illegal.

Even within those states, one would have to receive a license to run an online casino, which would be arbitrated by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Instead of leaving it to a regulatory committee, the bill seems to leave regulation in the hands of one man, one who strangely is a law enforcement individual.

Click here to learn more about the new online gambling bill.

NATIVE AMERICAN CASINOS

There is an exception for Native American tribes who operate legal land-based casinos. They would be excempt from local state laws and could build online operations. The charge is that Barney Frank is doing no more than working on behalf of the Indian tribes to get special status for them. I hope that isn't the case.

It seems that some players don't think the bill has a chance to become law. If it simply helps one small section of the poker industry, I don't see the widespread support gathering for the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. If this actually sees to the interests of the huge sub-section of America which wants the government out of their rights to spend their gambling money online, then this bill could pick up momentum.

One thing is for certain. The Wire Act was never a problem before the Bush Administration came to power. To see the Department of Justice waste its time running around prosecuting online gambling transactions is absurd. What a complete waste of taxpayer money.

Wouldn't the people be better served if the DoJ spent all its time fighting the War on Terror or the War on Drugs?
Nope. The Bush Administration prefers to fight the "War on Gambling".

Anyway, I'm not sure where I stand on this bill. I have to learn more, because I'm no lawywer myself. It is said the bill does help the "financial system", which I assume means the online banking institutions. If that's the case, then this bill does help online casinos. That is what has brought American internet poker playing to a halt.
THE POKER PLAYERS ALLIANCE

I want to see where the Poker Players Alliance comes down on this argument. Their organization has the resources to get solid legal advice, and will be interested in a law which gives American players unconstrained freedom to play online poker. Stay tuned for our ongoing coverage of this debate.

Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act Gets Criticism

Pokerstars Sunday Million Results

The Pokerstars Sunday Million had a prize pool exceeding $1,400,000 this weekend. The Sunday Million is the biggest weekly tournament every week, usually drawing 7,000 to 8,000 players per tournament.

This was a special monthly $500 buy in. This reduces the field, thought the prize money remains the same. The field this time was over 2,800 dedicated online players.

The event was won by MattSuspect, a veteran internet tournament player who was making his second trip to a Pokerstars Sunday Million final table. Throughout much of the final table, the big stack was Aussie_Jase, who came into the final round holding the most chips. This didn't last and he busted out in 4th.

When the tourney got down to MattSuspect versus gunning4you, the two players agreed on a by-the-chip split of the final jackpot. This is the typical way these events go, where the final players limit the chance they lose a bunch in the head-to-head showdown. I'm not sure if I like the idea of these kind of deals, but maybe I'm just old school.

As Pokerstars stipulates, the players had to play for who won the final 30,000 chips. MattSuspect won the final showdown, giving him the edge in the final chip standings.

1. $223,637 - MattSuspect
2. $175,818 - gunning4you
3. $89,136 - dazzy2004
4. $73,440 - AUSSIE_JASE
5. $59,040 - Dubner
6. $44,640 - Luie Sojo
7. $31,392 - Dogg11
8. $19,872 - Azzel
9. $11,520 - amichaiKK

The Fult Tilt $400,000 guarantee boasted 2,300+ players this week, with first prize being $81,000. That prize went to MathforPoker. He pushed out Toppsett, who went all-in with a 10-9 offsuit against a Q-10 suited. A Queen came on the flop and that was just about it.

Pokerstars and Full Tilt Poker have these big tournaments every weekend. Come expecting to play for most of the day. The Sunday Million has been known to last 11 or 12 hours, or even more. So you need to stock your fridge before you start. You don't want to lose that extra hundred thousand to make a trip to the nearest drive thru window.

Pokerstars Sunday Million Results

2007 NFL Draft Recap - Grading the NFC North

Welcome to the Daretogamble.com NFL Draft analysis. Here's where we weigh in with our grades on this last weekend's NFL draft extravaganza. Time to pull out the crystal ball and predict the Houston Texans will win the 2010 Superbowl, or something equally wacky.

Here are some ground rules for the proceedings, by the way.

One, I don't grade every round the same. It seems like I see draft gurus grade the "whole" draft as if the 7th is as important as the 2nd round. There might be some badass get selected, but if anyone knew who those people were going to be, they would have been drafted rounds higher. To pretend otherwise is just nonsense.

I think the studs are just a little more important (or at least more predictable) than arguing about who the best 7th round gunner on special teams is.

Two, I do take into account all the personnel moves over the weekend. I'm not going to get tunnel vision and grade a team only on the selections it made. If a team made a trade or acquisition associated with this draft, I want to factor it in.

Basically, who helped themselves the most over the weekend of the NFL draft? That's the question we are answering here.

BODOG SUPERBOWL ODDS

Chicago Bears - 10 to 1
Green Bay Packers - 50 to 1
Minnesota Vikings - 70 to 1
Detroit Lions - 100 to 1

CHICAGO BEARS

1st - Greg Olsen - TE - Miami (Fl.)
2nd - Dan Bazuin - DE - Central Michigan
3rd - Garrett Wolfe - RB - Northern Illinois
3rd - Michael Okwo - LB - Stanford
4th - Josh Beekman - G - Boston College
5th - Kevin Payne - DB - Louisiana Monroe
5th - Corey Graham - DB - New Hampshire
7th - Trumain McBride - DB - Mississippi
7th - Aaron Brant - OT - Iowa State

Grade: C

Greg Olsen gives Rex Grossman a big target in the middle of the field, and Grossman has shown a propensity for throwing to his tight ends. Olsen is more of a threat than Desmond Clark was last year. Beekman is a great value in the 4th round, but Okwo and Wolfe are considered 2nd round reaches. With Thomas Jones gone, the Bears are hoping Cedric Benson stays healthy, or else Wolfe gets significant playing time. The Bears went with quantity over quality in the defensive backfield.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

1st - Justin Harrell - DT - Tennessee
2nd - Brandon Jackson - RB - Nebraska
3rd - James Jones - WR - San Jose St.
3rd - Aaron Rouse - DB - Virginia Tech
4th - Allen Barbre - OT - Missouri Southern
5th - David Clowney - WR - Virginia Tech
6th - Korey Hall - LB - Boise St.
6th - Desmond Bishop - LB - California
6th - Mason Crosby - K - Colorado
7th - Deshawn Wynn - RB - Florida
7th - Clark Harris - TE - Rutgers

Grade: C-

The Packers could use help in the defensive front, but Justin Harrell was a bit of a reach at this point. Bowe and Meacham were on the board as receiving options for Favre, while higher rated defenders were also there. Brandon Jackson is a name for you fantasy football players to keep in mind. The 2nd rounder is already pencilled in as the Packers starter, though there were bigger names still left on the board in the second. Heck, the way the NFL goes, Florida runner Deshawn Wynn could win the starting job. Rouse and James Jones are reaches. It seems like the Packers always get plenty of bodies at receiver, but a high draft pick or a trade for Randy Moss would have been nice. Barbre and Clowney were value picks were they were taken.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

1st - Adrian Peterson - RB - Oklahoma
2nd - Sidney Rice - WR - South Carolina
3rd - Marcus McCauley - DB - Fresno St.
4th - Brian Robison - DE - Texas
5th - Aundrea Allison - WR - East Carolina
6th - Rufus Alexander - LB - Oklahoma
7th - Tyler Thigpen - QB - Coastal Carolina
7th - Chandler Williams - WR - Florida International

Grade: A

The Vikings got the best value in the 1st round drafting Adrian Peterson. With his upright running style, Peterson might be an injury risk. But he has frequently been compared to Eric Dickerson, which isn't such a bad thing. On the turf, he should be deadly. It's become standard for NFL teams to have two runners, so I'm not too worried about ball distribution between Peterson and last year's high-priced free agent, Chester Taylor. Peterson becomes the home run hitter. I would have figured Minnesota would have coveted Dwayne Jarrett for their West Coast offense, since big (and relatively slow) receivers have flourished in it in the past. Instead, the Vikes took Sidney Rice, whom many tout as a future star. But didn't the Vikings already draft a speedy wideout from South Carolina? This pick is to cover up for the failed Troy Williamson pick two years ago.

DETROIT LIONS

1st - Calvin Johnson - WR - Georgia
2nd - Drew Stanton - QB - Michigan St.
2nd - Ikaika Alama-Francis - DE - Hawaii
2nd - Gerard Alexander - DB - Boise State
4th - A.J. Davis - DB - North Carolina State
4th - Manuel Ramirez - G - Texas Tech
5th - Johnny Baldwin - LB - Alabama A&M
7th - Ramzee Robinson - DB - Alabama

GRADE: B

After years of ripping Matt Millen, it's reflex to criticise his drafts. But it really is hard to complain about Calvin Johnson, even if this is the 4th first round receiver in 5 years. All the world assumes Calvin Johnson is the best player in this draft. He has every measurable you can imagine: size, speed, body control, great hands. Put Johnson and Roy Williams together and the Lions are going to give lots of defenses match up problems. The problem is, wasn't Charles Rogers a can't miss prospect, too?

I guess it's not the same, but no pick is certain, if for no other reason than injuries. Meanwhile, the Lions secured their quarterback of the future in the early second round. We can argue all day which of the 2nd round passers are best. I'm not sure if Stanton is "the Guy", but I guess he is for now. The problem is, they could have draft Paul Posluszny in the early second and chose not to. If Stanton busts and Posluszny turns into a perennial Pro Bowler, then watch out, Matt Millen.

At least the Lions had a philosophy throughout the rest of the draft. Detroit added speed, speed, speed throughout the draft, so they should flourish on the home turf in years to come.

2007 NFL Draft Recap - Grading the NFC North

Boxing Results - Juan Diaz, Felix Sturm and More!

This weekend saw a lot of important, action-packed boxing matches. Here are the results, along with the odds that were posted by Bodog. Hope you were a big winner on one or more of these.

(NOTE: Winners are in bold.)

April 27th Fights

WBU LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR

Sergio Gabriel Martinez (-300) vs. Saul Roman (+240) - Martinez won after knocking out Roman in the 4th round.

How many rounds will the Martinez/Roman fight last?
Over 9 ½ rounds -120
Under 9 ½ rounds -120

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Mike Anchondo (-450) vs. Darling Jimenez (+300) - Jimenez scored the upset after knocking out Anchondo in the 3rd round.

How many rounds will the Anchondo/Jimenez last?
Over 9 ½ rounds -185
Under 9 ½ rounds +145

April 28th Fights

WBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Stipe Drews (-325) vs. Silvio Branco (+250) - On the undercard of the Sturm/Castillejo fight, Drews captured the WBA Light Heavyweight title by a unanimous decision over Silvio Branco. Drews became the first world champion from Croatia since it became an independent republic. The scorecards were 116-113, 116-112 and 115-113. Drews also defeated Branco for the European title three years prior to this fight.

How many rounds will the Drews/Branco fight last?
Over 11 ½ rounds -350
Under 11 ½ rounds +275

WBO LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

Ricardo Torres (-600) vs. Arturo Morua (+400) - Torres won a 12 round decision over Morua.

How many rounds will the Torres/Morua fight last?
Over 7 ½ rounds -120
Under 7 ½ rounds -120

WBA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

Felix Sturm (-280) vs. Javier Castillejo (+220) - Sturm regained his WBA Middleweight Title from Castillejo by a unanimous decision. Castillejo had defeated him nine months earlier, but Sturm proved too fast for the Spaniard last night. The fight was scored 116-112, 115-114 and 116-112. This is Sturm’s third title.

How many rounds will the Sturm/Castillejo fight last?
Over 11 ½ rounds -265
Under 11 ½ rounds +205

WBO MINIMUMWEIGHT TITLE

Ivan Calderon (-500) vs. Ronald Barrera (+350) - Calderon picked up the decision and the WBO belt after 12 tough rounds of boxing.

How many rounds will the Calderon/Barrera fight last?Over 11 ½ rounds -450
Under 11 ½ rounds +300

WBO/WBA LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Juan Diaz (-260) vs. Acelino Freitas (+200) - This was an exciting fight, and the action was very competitive until the 8th round. At that point, a tiring Freitas began to take loads of punishment and quit the fight after the round. This was very similar to his surrender in the Diego Corrales match, although he did meet the canvas three times in that bout.

How many rounds will the Diaz/Freitas fight last?
Over 10 ½ rounds -185

Under 10 ½ rounds +145

If you’d like to read more from the exciting world of boxing, click on either of the links below:

Boxing Odds from Bodog

Mayweather vs. De La Hoya

Boxing Results - Juan Diaz, Felix Sturm and More!

Jessica Biel - Babe of the Day

She got her start on the family television show 7th Heaven, but lovely Jessica Biel soon tired of being cash as a goody-goody and decided to start showing a little flesh (but not enough for my taste). Now she's a fixture in movies, having starred in such films as Blade: Trinity, The Illusionist, and Summer Catch. No doubt, being elected our Babe of the Day is a career highlight.

Jessica Biel - Babe of the Day

YAHOO! Launches Online Poker Site

While the U.S. government may have done their best to stamp out online gambling within the borders of their own country, it is powerless to prevent American companies from offering real money online gambling to other countries. For this reason, the news that California-based Yahoo! is entering the world of online poker has come as welcome news to gamblers around the world.

It has also served to shake up the world of online gambling, as Yahoo! Is the first of the Internet giants to become involved in the gaming industry. Their site, Yahoo Poker, is a U.K. based portal which offers a cash online poker room powered by BOSS Media software. As might be expected, Americans are barred from playing at the site.

As an ISP, Yahoo! Will have access to a vast number of potential players. It will also have a distinct marketing advantage due to its brand name on the Internet. For these reasons, it will most likely become one of the dominant poker sites in very short order. Both Party Poker and Poker Stars have stated in the past that the real competition will start when one of the online titans decides to set foot into the real money arena. One had to wonder how long it will be before AOL and others throw their hat into the ring (assuming, of course, that the venture is a success) and begin to put the squeeze on online casinos like Bodog?

The poker site is part of an International Poker Network, which is made up of 21 different poker websites. The Yahoo! UK and Ireland Games site also supports real money bingo. And in case you’re wondering, these sites are currently up and running.

It seems as though Yahoo! is taking a responsible approach, as there is a 1000 pound/Euro limit in place for a 10-day period. That means that players will be restricted as to the amount of money they can lose within a specific period of time. This is, of course, designed to help curve compulsive gambling. While I wonder as to its effectiveness, you have to respect the sentiment.

It should also be noted that Yahoo! made their announcement the same day that American politician Barney Frank introduced a bill that would eliminate the restrictions placed on online gambling by the U.S. government. While that piece of legislation is by no means guaranteed to pass, it seems as though Internet gambling outside of America is thriving.

For more articles about online gambling, try the following:

Barney Frank Proposes UIGEA Repeal

Online Petition to Repeal the UIGEA

YAHOO! Launches Online Poker Site

Bet on Celebrity Scandals - Gere and Snoop Dogg

Every time I check the news, it seems as though a celebrity is involved in some sort of scandal. Granted, the press makes a lot of this stuff up themselves, but the stars also seem happy to do their part. What’s even better is that you can actually wager on some of these events and put a few extra bucks in your pocket. Bodog, for instance, is particularly good about posting such proposition bets.

These things pop up all the time, so it’s best to check back every few days to see if anything new is being offered. Just take a look at what I found the other day while looking at the Bodog site.

RICHARD GERE KISSING CONTROVERSY

During an April press conference in New Delhi, India to promote safe sex to truck drivers and AIDS awareness, actor Richard Gere kissed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty several times. Protestors demonstrated their progressive views by promptly burning effigies of Gere and beating them with sticks. Photos of Shetty were also burned, and many people demanded an apology from her.

The protests spread to other cities in India, and hundreds of thousands took to the streets. Shetty responded by saying, “I understand this (kissing) is his culture, not ours. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such a manner. I understand people’s sentiments, but I don’t want a foreigner to take bad memories from here.” Shetty has also argued that this kind of behavior by protestors promotes a ‘regressive‘ image of India.

For his part, Gere has apologized to the actress several times and maintains that he was simply trying to entertain the audience since he could not speak the language. He labeled his behavior “a naïve misread of Indian customs.”

On April 26th, an Indian court in Jaipur (the capital of Rajisthan) issued a warrant for Gere’s arrest. The warrant has been criticized by many, including former Indian attorney general Soli Sorabjee, who said, “Magistrates should not behave like the Taliban moral police. The order is unsustainable and makes us look ridiculous.”

So what will happen next? Well, you can head on over to Bodog and wager on the following options:

What penalty will Richard Gere receive for his publicly kissing Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty?

(Results must be made public by May 31st, 2007 for wagers to have action. Max bet of $50.)

He will be fined only - 1/1

He will make a public apology only - 5/4

He will be sentenced to jail time only - 10/1

He will be banned (permanently or temporarily) from entering India - 6/1

He will be fined and sentenced to jail time - 8/1

COUNTRIES BAN SNOOP DOGG

On April 26th, 2006, Snoop Dogg and his posse were turned away from a British Airways’ first class lounge at Heathrow Airport. Unhappy with the decision, the group began throwing whiskey bottles in a nearby duty-free shop. The group was arrested for “violent disorder and affray” (I have no idea what ‘affray’ means - go look it up). The group spent the night in a British jail and have been banned from British Airways for the “foreseeable future.”

But Snoop’s problems with foreign countries didn’t end there. On March 24th, 2007, his visa request to enter the United Kingdom was rejected because of the Heathrow incident, forcing the rapper to miss a series of concerts with Diddy.

Then, on April 26th, 2007 (exactly one year after the Heathrow incident), Australian authorities banned him from entering their country. Their given reason was “He doesn’t seem the sort of bloke we want in this country.” This forced him to miss the MTV Australian Video Music Awards. All this leads to the question…

What will be the next country to deny Snoop Dogg entry?

(It must become public knowledge that Snoop Dogg has been barred from one of the following countries by December 31st, 2007 for wagers to have action. Max bet is $50.)

Canada - 7/1

France - 11/1

Germany - 11/1

Spain - 9/1

Ireland - 7/1

Italy - 12/1

Scandinavian Country - 15/1

Other EU Country - 9/1

China - 12/1

Japan - 6/1

South Korea - 15/1

North Korea - 13/1

India - 12/1

Other Asian Country - 10/1

Iraq - 30/1

Iran - 18/1

Afghanistan - 25/1

Any African Country - 20/1

And if you just can’t get enough of celebrity prop betting, check out these articles and get in on the betting action:

Alec Baldwin Tirade

Will Paris Hilton go to jail?

Bet on Celebrity Scandals - Gere and Snoop Dogg

WPT Championship - Recap of Day 5 & 6

As day 5 of the World Poker Tour Championship began, there were still 27 players in contention. At the end of the day, however, the field would be reduced down to the final six players.

Phil Hellmuth, unfortunately, would not make it to the final table and continue his quest to be the first player to win both the WSOP Championship and WPT Championship (although Carlos Mortensen still had a chance to accomplish this). He went all in with pocket jacks against Thomas Wahlroos, but it just so happened that Wahlroos had pocket aces. Phil was sent packing in 18th place.

Roland de Wolfe finished 4th last year, and he was no doubt hoping to improve on that. But he moved all in with A-J against Jimmy Tran’s A-K. The end result was De Wolfe finishing in 26th place.

Jim “KrazyKanuck” Worth finished in 16th place, while Sorel “imper1um” Mizzi finished in 15th. David Levi came in 13th, and Can Kim Hua was eliminated in the 12th spot. When Grant Lang was knocked out in 11th place, the remaining 10 players were moved to the final table. At this point, the standings were:

1. Paul Lee - 8,994,000
2. Thomas Wahlroos - 7,186,000
3. Guy Laliberte - 3,410,000
4. Carlos Mortensen - 3,394,000
5. Tim Phan - 2,356,000
6. Kirk Morrison - 1,783,000
7. Mike Wattel - 1,434,000
8. Jimmy Tran - 1,327,000
9. Scott Fischman - 1,265,000
10. Tommy Vu - 1,083,000

While it took 5 ½ hours to go from 27 players to 10, it took another 5 ½ hours to go from 10 players down to the final 6. That’s an elimination of one player every hour and 20 minutes. But in the end, only 6 remained to go into Day 6. Let’s take a look.

WPT CHAMPIONSHIP FINALISTS

Seat 1 - Kirk Morrison - 4,194,000
Seat 2 - Guy Laliberte - 4,690,000
Seat 3 - Carlos Mortensen - 6,501,000
Seat 4 - Mike Wattel - 2,887,000
Seat 5 - Paul Lee - 11,828,000
Seat 6 - Tim Phan - 2,162,000

Play then stopped for the day and resumed on Day 6 to crown a new WPT champion. The first elimination occurred on Hand #21 when Mike Wattel busted out against Kirk Morrison’s K-J. Tim Phan was the next to go. He went all in on the button with pocket nines and was called by Kirk Morrison and his pocket aces.

On Hand #73, Guy Laliberte called Kirk Morrison’s all in with the over card and a flush draw. Morrison had pocket deuces, and those held up to put Laliberte out of the tournament. At this stage, Morrison had twice as many chips as Mortensen and Paul Lee combined.

On Hand #87, Paul Lee moved all in from the big blind and Morrison called. Morrison had A-10 while Lee had A-9. Lee didn’t get any help on the flop, though, and a later 10 card sealed his fate.

Heads-up play started at this point, and Morrison led Mortensen by 19.45 million to 12.8 million. Morrison had the advantage in the early stages and continued to add to his chip lead. Mortensen seemed to be on the ropes several times, but Morrison could just never quite put the cagey Spaniard away.

At one point, the blinds had increased to the point that 3 million was in the pot before the cards were even dealt. On the 95th hand of heads-up play, Mortensen raised to almost 5 million. Morrison moved all in and Mortensen called with a K-J. Morrison had an A-4. The flop came up 7-4-3, giving Morrison the lead with a pair of fours. The turn card was a jack, and Mortensen shot into the lead. A 3 came on the river and Carlos Mortensen took the win and became the first player to ever win the WSOP Main Event and the WPT Championship. The final payouts looked like this:

1. Carlos Mortensen $3,970,415
2. Kirk Morrison $2,011,135
3. Paul Lee $1,082,920
4.Guy Laliberte $696,220
5. Tim Phan $464,110
6. Mike Wattel $309,405

We here at DaretoGamble want to send out our congratulations to Carlos Mortensen and his history-making victory. This cinches that he will go down as one of the greatest tournament players of all time.

WPT Championship - Recap of Day 5 & 6

Boxing Odds from Bodog

Tonight and Saturday, there are several good boxing matches scheduled to take place. As usual, Bodog is offering wagers on almost every fight that you can imagine, including the upcoming Mayweather Jr/De La Hoya bout (Saturday, May 5th). Pro boxing could really use a shot in the arm right now, and any of these fights have the potential to do so.

April 27th Fights

WBU LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR

Sergio Gabriel Martinez (-300) vs. Saul Roman (+240)

How many rounds will the Martinez/Roman fight last?

Over 9 ½ rounds -120

Under 9 ½ rounds -120

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT

Mike Anchondo (-450) vs. Darling Jimenez (+300)

How many rounds will the Anchondo/Jimenez last?

Over 9 ½ rounds -185

Under 9 ½ rounds +145

April 28th Fights

WBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Stipe Drews (-325) vs. Silvio Branco (+250)

How many rounds will the Drews/Branco fight last?

Over 11 ½ rounds -350

Under 11 ½ rounds +275

WBO LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

Ricardo Torres (-600) vs. Arturo Morua (+400)

How many rounds will the Torres/Morua fight last?

Over 7 ½ rounds -120

Under 7 ½ rounds -120

WBA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

Felix Sturm (-280) vs. Javier Castillejo (+220)

How many rounds will the Sturm/Castillejo fight last?

Over 11 ½ rounds -265

Under 11 ½ rounds +205

WBO MINIMUMWEIGHT TITLE

Ivan Calderon (-500) vs. Ronald Barrera (+350)

How many rounds will the Calderon/Barrera fight last?

Over 11 ½ rounds -450

Under 11 ½ rounds +300

WBO/WBA LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Juan Diaz (-260) vs. Acelino Freitas (+200)

How many rounds will the Diaz/Freitas fight last?

Over 10 ½ rounds -185

Under 10 ½ rounds +145

If you enjoy boxing, then I also recommend the following articles:

Mayweather vs. De La Hoya

List of Current Boxing Champions

Boxing Odds from Bodog

Babe of the Day - Ashley Kahsaklahwee

Today's Babe is a lovely model by the name of Ashley Kahsaklahwee. Suddenly, I have an urge to watch Flashdance.

Babe of the Day - Ashley Kahsaklahwee

2007 World Snooker Championship - Round One Recap

Several week ago, we gave you a rundown on Bodog’s odds for the first round of the upcoming 2007 World Snooker Championship. Well, the tournament started on April 21st, and the first round has already come and gone. In fact, they are well on their way to completing the second round. Before we get too far behind, we thought we should probably give you an update on what’s taken place to this point.

The World Snooker Championship will run from April 21st until May 7th at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. In the first round of heads-up play, competitors will battle in a best of 19 frames series. In the second round, it’s the best of 25 frames (which is also the same for the quarterfinals). The semifinals are the best of 33 frames, and the finals will be decided over a best of 35 series.

Here’s a quick rundown of the money to be paid out (all money is in Euros):

Winner - 220,000

Runner-Up - 110,000

Losing Semifinalists - 42,000

Losing quarterfinalists - 22,000

Last 16 - 14,000

Last 32 - 10,600

Last 48 - 7,400

Last 64 - 4,500

High Break - 10,000

Maximum Break - 147,000

Now let’s take a look at the winners and losers so far. If Bodog offered a betting line on the match, I have made sure to include that as well. Winners are in bold.

ROUND 1 MATCHES

Graeme Dott (Defending champion -250) vs. Ian McCulloch (+175)

Peter Ebdon (-400) vs. Nigel Bond (+260)

Anthony Hamilton (+120) vs. Marco Fu (-165)

Matthew Stevens (-450) vs. Joe Delaney (+275)

Steve Davis (-250) vs. John Parrott (+175)

Barry Hawkins (-175) vs. Fergal O’Brien (+125)

Ronnie O’Sullivan (-200) vs. Ding Junhui (+150)

Shaun Murphy (-280) vs. Judd Trump (+200)

Ken Doherty (-250) vs. Mark Allen (+175)

Stephen Maguire (-225) vs. Joe Perry (+165)

Mark Williams (-165) vs. Joe Swail (+120)

Stephen Hendry (-700) vs. Dave Gilbert (+425)

Stephen Lee (+115) vs. Mark Selby (-160)

Neil Robertson (-150) vs. Ryan Day (+110)

John Higgins (-400) vs. Michael Holt (+260)

Ali Carter (-200) vs. Andy Hicks (+150)

Here’s a list of the Round 2 matches. Keep in mind that many of these are still underway. For odds on these and later rounds, be sure and check out Bodog.

ROUND TWO MATCHES

Ian McCulloch vs. Anthony Hamilton

Stephen Maguire vs. Joe Swail

John Higgins vs. Fergal O’Brien

Neil Robertson vs. Ronnie O’Sullivan

Mark Allen vs. Matthew Stevens

John Parrott vs. Shaun Murphy

Peter Ebdon vs. Mark Selby

Ali Carter vs. Stephen Hendry

Be sure and check back later for more updates from the 2007 World Snooker Championship.

2007 World Snooker Championship - Round One Recap

The Best of Daretogamble.com - Bodog Bets - Tournament News - Online Gambling Legislation

Welcome to the latest installment of The Best of Daretogamble.com. Every week, I try to hook readers up with several of the most intriguing and important stories of the week around here. This site contains poker news, tournament results and future bets.

ONLINE GAMBLING LEGISLATION

We are trying to do our part to help the pro-gambling legislation moving through Congress these days. Those Americans who dare to gamble would like to see it go back to the good ole days, when we could play at our favorite online casinos with no government interference.

On Thursday, we covered the new gambling legislation being introduced on Capitol Hill by Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts. He hopes to get support from enough congressmen to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

Others are stepping up to help the effort. We also covered the story of an online petition to let the Congress know how displeased we are with their shenanigans. FullTiltPoker.com is also doing its part, holding freerolls every day to help the Poker Players Association with its membership drive.

NEWS FROM THE POKER WORLD

Dare To Gamble also covers poker tournaments throughout the world. We had an update of the ongoing World Poker Tour Championship, which has not yet wrapped up. Our site also covers online poker tourneys, including the weekly Pokerstars Sunday Million.

BODOG.COM BETS

This site is chock full of Bodog proposition bets. We have the fairly straight bets, like our series of NFL Draft bets for this weekend's 2007 NFL Draft. We have continuing coverage of the NBA Playoff Season, too.

We also have the weird bets, like the Alec Baldwin proposition bet. This one covers Baldwin's continuing marital and child custody disputes in the wake of his seemingly insane rants on his 11-year old daughter's cellphone.

Daretogamble also features Bodog bets including such subjects as Sanjaya Malakar and American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, the Heroes television show, the replacement for Bob Barker, the Heinekin Cup for Rugby, Soccer Futures, U.S. Open golf bets and French Open tennis wagers. Bodog has a bet for everyone.

The Best of Daretogamble.com - Bodog Bets - Tournament News - Online Gambling Legislation

Barney Frank Introduces Gambling Legislation - Hopes to Repeal the UIGEA

Barney Frank today introduced legislation on the floor of the U.S. Senate that would repeal the major provisions of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

I urge every online poker player in the U.S. to contact their local congressman about this gambling legislation. Now is the time for our voice to be heard.

To help those in their moment of outcry, I include a link to some internet gambling talking points. These are the major arguments for legalizing online gambling in America.

If you want a quick paraphrase, here is a list of gambling talking points.

FIVE ARGUMENTS FOR ONLINE GAMBLING

1. There should be debate allowed before a law is passed.

The UIEGA was attached to the Port Security Bill 15 minutes before a vote was demanded before the Congress. This meant that congress people were forced to vote a law into existence without ever reading what that law was.

It seems reasonable that bills should be debated before they are made the law of the land. The UIGEA undermined the democratic process.

2. The new gambling law is inconsistent with previous federal and state gambling laws.

This federal law ignores the fact that many other forms of gambling are sanctioned by the federal government. In fact, even certain forms of internet gambling are allowed.

If the argument against internet gambling is that it is immoral, then this argument is undermined when the government expressly sanctions several other forms of betting. It supports horse and dog track betting, state run lottery betting and land-based casino betting.

To label one form of gambling immoral and support several other forms of gambling is unreasonable and hypocritical.

3. According to the World Trade Organization, the UIGEA violates international standards of commerce.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act flaunts two WTO rulings on the subject. The current administration argued before the WTO court that the law is a moral issue. The hypocrisy of our gambling laws is noticed by other countries.

According to a WTO agreement that U.S. leaders signed, it is illegal for one nation to bar foreign companies from providing a service to its citizens which it allows its own companies to provide. This violates free trade laws. The U.S. government allows U.S. race tracks to take internet wagers, but bans foreign companies from doing the same. This is a clear violation of international law.

Due to the UIGEA, the U.S. is currently in violation of international commerce standards. The WTO has ordered the U.S. to comply or face sanctions. When we flaunt international law, we undermine our arguments when bringing sanctions against rogue states and regimes which disregard human rights, such as Iran and China.

4. This law drives legitimate operators out of business, allowing unethical operators to dominate the market. This puts problem gamblers at risk.

Publicly-traded internet casinos were forced to stop taking U.S. customers. But corrupt outfits continue to operate. This is not unlike The Prohibition Era with alcohol. This will lead to criminal domination of online gambling.

Before this law, gamblers would go to legitimate online casinos with provisions that not only ensured players would receive their winning shares, but meant out-of-control gamblers were not allowed to lose their entire bankroll. Under the new system, internet gamblers are at the mercy of unethical casino operators.

The law will not stop problem gambling. It simply drives it into the shadowy corners of the internet.

5. What Americans do with their money in the privacy of their own home is none of the government's business. This is a libertarian issue.

If internet gamblers want to spend their hard-earned money playing cards online, they should be able to do it. Online gambling is not an infringement of the rights of anyone else, therefore the government has no place banning it.
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The United Kingdom regulates online gambling, collecting taxes and ensuring the online casinos do not abuse customers. The United States Congress should take a lesson from the UK.

AMERICANS SHOULD DEMAND RIGHTS

This is a matter of the government invading the privacy of American citizens' homes. Americans should stand up for their civil rights and let their lawmakers know that they have gone too far this time. The UIGEA is a bad precedent which could lead to further online rights infringements.

Join the Poker Players Alliance and help them fight to repeal the UIGEA.

Barney Frank Introduces Gambling Legislation - Hopes to Repeal the UIGEA

More NFL Draft Odds from Bodog

The start of the NFL Draft is only two days away, and we have some more prop bets for you, courtesy of our friends at Bodog Sportsbook. Please keep in mind that there are no parlays on these wagers, and the maximum you can bet is $100 on each item. But enough with the jibber jabber - let’s jump right in.

What pick in the NFL Draft will be used on Alan Branch?

Alan Branch made his name in college as a Defensive Tackle and Defensive End for the Michigan Wolverines. He chose to skip his senior season and declare for the 2007 NFL Draft.

In 2006, Branch was part of one of the best defenses in college football. In 35 games with the Wolverines, he recorded 57 tackles (17 for losses) and 9 sacks.

It has been reported that Branch wants to play for the Washington Redskins. The fact that they have a top 10 pick this year (6th overall) reportedly factored into his decision to come out a year early. But according to most expert draft boards, he may not get his wish (NFL.com has him going 8th to Atlanta, which is his highest projection).

Here are the current odds:

Picked in the top 9 +250

Pick 10 (Houston) +550

Pick 11 (San Francisco) +375

Pick 12 (Buffalo) +800

Pick 13 (St. Louis) +265

Pick 14 (Carolina) +450

Pick 15 or later +120

What position will Mr. Irrelevant be in the 2007 NFL Draft?

Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to the last overall player taken in the NFL Draft. The term first came into being in 1976 when for NFL receiver Paul Salata would hold “Irrelevant Week” and invite the player and his family for a weekend in Newport Beach, California.

While these players are usually among the first to be cut, some have went on to have success. For example, Jim Finn is currently a fullback for the New York Giants and has had a successful NFL career. Special teams ace Marty Moore became the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in a Super Bowl when he did so with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.

The current odds are:

Offensive Player -120

Defensive Player -120

What round will Troy Smith be drafted in?

Troy Smith is a Quarterback who led Ohio State University to a 2006 undefeated season and captured the Heisman Trophy in the process. In high school, he was coached by Ted Ginn, Sr., the father of expected first-round wide receiver (and Smith’s Ohio State teammate) Ted Ginn Jr.

Smith had an outstanding 2006 season for the Buckeyes, capping it off with a brilliant game against Michigan where he threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns on the way to a 42-39 victory. But despite all this, he is only projected to go somewhere in the second or third rounds. This is mostly due to his size (6 foot, 205 pounds), which is considered by many to be too small for the professional level.

Smith has urged his hometown team, the Cleveland Browns, to select him in the draft, but quarterback Brady Quinn has also been doing the same. A website has even been set up to encourage the Browns to draft Smith (DraftTroy.com).

The current odds are:

1st Round +1200

2nd Round +450

3rd Round -110

4th Round -120

5th Round +300

6th Round +500

7th Round +1000

How many Offensive Lineman will be drafted in the first round?

I don’t have much to say on this one. While good offensive lineman are needed to be successful, they’re also about as exciting as watching paint dry.

Here are the odds at the moment:

3 +325

4 +120

5 +175

6 or more +325

And if you’re still craving more football action after reading this, then check out the following NFL Draft articles:

NFL Draft Odds from Bodog

Which Running Back will the Buffalo Bills draft?

More NFL Draft Odds from Bodog

NBA Playoffs Round 1 Results - Cavaliers - Mavericks - Spurs Win

The Mavs and Spurs evened their first round series and all is right with the world. Like most people expected, two of the bullies of the NBA refused to fall behind 0-2 in their opening match ups.

Meanwhile, the Cavs continue their drive to become one of the bullies in the Eastern Conference. Lebron James and his teammates are playing what should be a tune up for a deep playoff season. Here are the full results from Wednesday.

Washington Wizards 102
Cleveland Cavaliers 109

Cleveland Leads Series 2-0

Denver Nuggets 88
San Antonio Spurs 97

Series Tied at 1-1

Golden State Warriors 99
Dallas Mavericks 112

Series Tied at 1-1

These series will shift to a new venue over the weekend, changing the dynamics of the game-to-game betting. Here's an recap of each series as the scenery shifts.

CAVALIERS AND WIZARDS

The Wizards continued to scrap to stay in a playoff game. The Cavaliers cruised to a 2-0 series lead.

Drew Gooden scored 24 points and 14 rebounds, including six straight baskets at one point in the first half. Gooden later said he was "making it rain". Lebron finished the deal for Cleveland, leading the team with 27 points.

Antawn Jamison once again led the Wizards, posting 31 points and 10 rebounds. Once again, it wasn't enough. The Wizards home a return home helps them pull back into the series, though the rest of America have to applaud that the Wizards are at least keeping it close without two stars, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler.

SPURS AND NUGGETS

Tim Duncan led the Spurs after an anemic 14 point Game 1. The Spurs Defense clamped down on the Nuggets, who only posted 88 points. Only a late surge kept that from being the overriding storyline of the game.

San Antonio fans have to be a little concerned. Though the Spurs built their lead to 17 at one point in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets cut the lead to 3 with 45 seconds left. This was mainly on the strength of several amazing shots by Allen Iverson, who finished with 20 points.

Iverson wasn't happy with the game, though. He and Nugget Coach George Karl were working the officials from the locker room after the game. Both pointed out that Iverson took 25 shots, yet did not have one trip to the free throw line.

MAVERICKS AND WARRIORS

In the most compelling game of the night, the Mavercks got 28 from Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse bounced back from his Game 1 shutout. Dirk Nowitski had a quiet 23, while Josh Howard added 22.

Dallas returned to the big lineup they used in the regular season. Their players seemed more comfortable playing in their normal position, while their bench rotation looked deeper with Dampier and Diop in the mix. It was back and forth in the first half, with both teams trading the lead. But Dallas came out in the third on a mission.

The Warriors lost their cool in the second half. They were only down 2 at half, but a rough third quarter got ugly when Baron Davis was ejected from the game. Stephen Jackson followed him to the locker room in the fourth.

Davis picked up two quick fouls late in the third, along with a technical foul in a minor altercation with Jason Terry. After the second foul (both of which were not questionable), Davis began to heckle the refs. As the home crowd applauded, Baron Davis began to applaud the referee in a kind of taunt.

After Don Nelson was asked to stop his player, Davis got his second technical and was escorted from the court.

Stephen Jackson's ejection came after the game was decided, but his status for Game 3 is in some doubt. He refused to leave the bench area in a timely fashion, which the announcers seemed to think could lead to a suspension.

I thought Jackson's antics were relatively minor, but I assume the broadcasters have an insiders knowledge of the NBA, so gamblers need to keep an eye out on this issue.

Other NBA Bodog Bets

NBA Playoffs Results
2007 NBA Champion Bets

NBA Playoffs Round 1 Results - Cavaliers - Mavericks - Spurs Win

World Poker Tour Championship - Day 4 Recap

639 players gathered last Saturday at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas with one goal in mind…win the World Poker Tour Championship. After 4 days of grueling play, only 54 players remained in the hunt for $4 million dollars and the right to call themselves the WPT Champion.

Phil Hellmuth was in the lead, starting the day with over $1.8 million in chips. He had been helped by the fact that he started at one of the easiest tables in the tournament and had several shortstacks sitting to his left. But his play on Day 4 was overly aggressive, and his involvement in too many pots eventually cost him the chiplead. According to Hellmuth, “Playing a lot of pots is a tricky thing. Sometimes it could cost you. Sometimes you can reap the benefits.”

While Hellmuth finished the day in 19th place and with $738,000 in chips, players were being eliminated all around him. In fact, only two and a half levels were played before only 27 players remained. The remaining players were asked if they wanted to finish all 5 levels or call it a day. A few were more than happy to stop, so play was suspended until today at noon.

As expected in a tournament of this magnitude, there were plenty of pros who failed to advance to day 5. Patrik Antonius, for example, finished in 52nd place after his A-J was beaten by Jim “KrazyKanuck” Worth’s pocket Kings.

Paul Lee moved into position as the chipleader after winning a huge pot off of Loi Phan which amounted to almost $2 million. Afterwards, he used his massive stack to bully everyone at his table. It was a tough day for those sitting nearby, and Lee finished the day close to $3.6 million.

Keep in mind that Carlos Mortensen and Phil Hellmuth are both still in the tournament, and that a WSOP Main Event champ has never won the WPT Championship. Both men have a chance to make history and pick up a few million dollars in the process. But as we all know, anything can happen in the world of poker.

As Day 5 begins, here’s the way it looks:

END OF DAY 4 CHIPCOUNT

Paul Lee $3,601,000
Kirk Morrison $2,980,000
Carlos Mortensen $2,429,000
Sorel Mizzi $2,256,000
Thomas Wahlroos $1,847,000
Jake Minter $1,568,000
Benjamin Johnson $1,280,000
Tim Phan $1,273,000
Scott Fischman $1,268,000
David Levi $1,258,000
Guy Laliberte $1,232,000
Grant Lang $1,201,000
Mike Wattel $1,060,000
Loi Phan $1,007,000
David Baker $983,000
Tommy Vu $830,000
Can Kim Hua $760,000
Richard Anthony $755,000
Phil Helmut $738,000
Adeeb Harb $735,000
Paul Waseca $581,000
James "KrazyKanuck" Worth $556,000
Roland de Wolfe $460,000
Jimmy Tran $458,000
Robert Wazelle $284,000
Raymond Davis $274,000
Tom Pniak $270,000

Play resumes on Thursday at noon, and it will continue until there are only players left. While you’re waiting for the results of Day 5, why not read the following articles:

Pokerstars Sunday Millions Results

European Poker Tour - Day 1 Recap

World Poker Tour Championship - Day 4 Recap

List of Current Boxing Champions

The upcoming superfight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya is right around the corner, and I have to admit that it’s somewhat renewed my passion for the sport. Boxing has always been a favorite of mine, it’s just been a little lackluster over the last few years (most of which can be blamed on the faltering Heavyweight division).

But whether you’re following the sport for the first time or simply renewing your interest, it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of who’s on top. With 17 weight classes and 4 major titles within each, that comes to a grand total of 68 champs to keep up with. That’s why I’ve prepared this handy synopsis of all the current champs.

And don’t forget that Bodog can meet all your wagering needs when it comes to boxing. They’ve got odds for the previously mentioned De La Hoya/Mayweather fight, as well as odds for all the other major fight cards (including MMA action). Anyway, here’s the list:

CURRENT BOXING CHAMPIONS

HEAVYWEIGHT (unlimited)

WBA - Ruslan Chagaev

WBC - Oleg Maskaev

IBF - Wladimir Klitschko

WBO - Shannon Briggs

CRUISERWEIGHT (200 pounds)

WBA - Virgil Hill

WBC - Jean-Marc Mormeck

IBF - Krzysztof Wlodarczyk

WBO - Enzo Maccarinelli

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (175 pounds)

WBA - Silvio Branco

WBC - Chad Dawson

IBF - Clinton Woods

WBO - Zsolt Erdei

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (168 pounds)

WBA - Anthony Mundine

WBC - Mikkel Kessler

IBF - Alejandro Berrio

WBO - Joe Calzaghe

MIDDLEWEIGHT (160 pounds)

WBA - Javier Castillejo

WBC - Jermain Taylor

IBF - Arthur Abraham

WBO - Jermain Taylor

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT/SUPER WELTERWEIGHT (154 pounds)

WBA - Travis Simms

WBC - Oscar De La Hoya

IBF - Cory Spinks

WBO - Sergei Dzindziruk

WELTERWEIGHT (147 pounds)

WBA - Miguel Cotto

WBC - Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

IBF - Kermit Cintron

WBO - Antonio Margarito

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT/SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT (140 pounds)

WBA - Souleymane M’baye

WBC - Junior Witter

IBF - Lovemore N’dou

WBO - Ricardo Torres

LIGHTWEIGHT (135 pounds)

WBA - Juan Diaz

WBC - David Diaz

IBF - Julio Diaz

WBO - Acelino “Popo” Freitas

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT/SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT (130 pounds)

WBA - Edwin Valero

WBC - Juan Manuel Marquez

IBF - Mzonke Fana

WBO - Joan Guzman

FEATHERWEIGHT (126 pounds)

WBA - Chris John

WBC - Injin Chi

IBF - Robert Guerrero

WBO - Vacant

JR. FEATHERWEIGHT/SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT (122 pounds)

WBA - Celestino Caballero

WBC - Rafael Marquez

IBF - Steve Molitor

WBO - Daniel Ponce De Leon

BANTAMWEIGHT (118 pounds)

WBA - Wladimir Sidorenko

WBC - Hozumi Hasegawa

IBF - Vacant

WBO - Jhonny Gonzalez

JR. BANTAMWEIGHT/SUPER FLYWEIGHT (115 pounds)

WBA - Nobuo Nashiro

WBC - Cristian Mijares

IBF - Vacant

WBO - Fernando Montiel

FLYWEIGHT (112 pounds)

WBA - Takefumi Sakata

WBC - Pongsaklek Wonjongkam

IBF - Vic Darchinyan

WBO - Omar Narvaez

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (108 pounds)

WBA - Vacant

WBC - Edgar Sosa

IBF - Ulises Solis

WBO - Hugo Cazares

STRAWWEIGHT (105 pounds)

WBA - Yutaka Niida

WBC - Eagle Kyowa

IBF - Muhammad Rachman

WBO - Ivan Calderon

And here are a couple of additional articles that you might be interested in:

Pacquiao vs. Solis - Bodog Odds

Calzaghe Defeats Manfredo

List of Current Boxing Champions

Babe of the Day - Candace Kroslak

Today's Babe is the lovely Candace Kroslak. I have no idea what she's been in (if anything), but I think we can all agree that she should be in more stuff.

Babe of the Day - Candace Kroslak

Ohio State and Florida NFL Draft Bet on Bodog

Continuing along the theme of the Ohio State/Florida college sports rivalry, Bodog has another bet surrounding the Buckeyes, Gators and the upcoming NFL Draft.

This question revolves around whether Florida or Ohio State will have more players drafted in the 7 rounds of the 2007 draft. The BCS champion Gators are the favorites to win this bet, though the Buckeyes were more highly touted throughout the regular season last year.

This bet looks easier to decipher than the "which college has a player drafted first". The numbers seem to favor the Florida Gators heavily.

Which of these two universities will have the most players drafted?

Ohio State +105
Florida -145

Florida won the national title game, which explains why they are the favorites to win this bet.

THE CASE FOR OHIO STATE

But think back to last fall, and you'll remember that Ohio State was the #1 ranked team through the entire regular season. They were considered the powerhouse of college football. Florida frankly didn't look very impressive much of the season, so one is tempted to wonder if this isn't a dummy bet.

THE CASE FOR FLORIDA

That being said, below is a list of players who are thought to be "draftable" from both colleges. The Gators have 13 players, while the Buckeyes have 9 rated as draft worthy. Those look like bad numbers for people betting the Buckeyes.

Basically, you are probably hoping that Joe Cohen, Jemalle Cornelius and Chris Leak go undrafted, while one or two of the more obscure Buckeyes get snatched up in the late rounds.

It looks to me like the BCS Title Game has stuck in the minds of scouts and prognosticators. Certain Gators players might have been marginal when Florida was the underdog to win the game. After the smashing win, several were given a boost over the rival Buckeyes.

That might be dangerous, considering Ohio State was the darling of ESPN last year. Either now or then, it looks like the pundits are/were wrong.

THE HARD NUMBERS

Look at the numbers and you will see why the Gators are a favorite in this bet. Stranger things have happened, but I wouldn't bet on it in this case. Bet the Gators here.

FLORIDA GATORS (13)

Reggie Nelson S
Jarvis Moss DE
Brandon Siler ILB
Ray McDonald DE
Marcus Thomas DT
Dallas Baker WR
DeShawn Wynn RB
Reggie Lewis CB
Earl Everett OLB
Ryan Smith CB
Joe Cohen DT
Jemalle Cornelius WR
Chris Leak QB

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (9)

Ted Ginn Jr. WR
Anthony Gonzalez WR
Antonio Pittman RB
Troy Smith QB
Doug Datish C
Quinn Pitcock DT
Jay Richardson DE
David Patterson DT
Antonio Smith CB

OTHER NFL DRAFT WAGERS

NFL Bet Buckeyes and Gators
NFL Rookie Receiver Bet

Ohio State and Florida NFL Draft Bet on Bodog

2007 NFL Draft Bet - Bodog.com Proposition Bets - Ohio State and Florida

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida Gators have