MLB Betting: Up in the Interleagues

May 15th, 2008

Vladimir Guerrero

We take a look at the Subway, Freeway and Lone Star series going down this weekend. (AI Wire Image)

 

It's that time of year again: interleague play.

The Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees, the Freeway Series between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Lone Star Series between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros all go down this weekend.

If you have deep pockets, you could simply play the odds and bet on the American League team every time. The AL has dominated the NL 154-98 in 2006 and 137-115 in 2007.

But if you're dealing with smaller margins and are looking for advantages in certain matchups, allow Bodog Nation to give you the 411 on some of the more historical series kicking off on Friday.

Subway Series Schedule

  • Friday: Mets @ Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET
  • Saturday: Mets @ Yankees, 1:05 p.m. ET
  • Sunday: Mets @ Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

Read the remainder of MLB Betting: Up in the Interleagues in Bodog Nation.

'Point Break' Sequel

May 15th, 2008

Point Break

Reportedly, Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze will not star in the film. (Courtesy Largo Entertainment)

 

Yes the rumors are true. In fact, rumors that began circulating today was news that already broken a year ago by Time Out New York, who conducted an in-depth interview with writer Peter Iliff. This time around, Iliff is slated to both write and direct the sequel.

Time Out NY: "Why remake Point Break? It's been 17 years."

Peter Iliff: "What's interesting is that because so much time has gone by, we're not necessarily making a sequel. We're making another movie, but we're following the character of  the first film, Bodhi. His mates were all killed, and he had a choice: you can go to jail or you can have an honorable death of suicide by wave. And, of course, he survives. And he would flee off the grid to somewhere like Indonesia, which is the last frontier of  surfing, and he would create a life here."

Time Out NY: "He survived that perfect storm?"

Peter Iliff: "In truth, only Mark Foo has been killed in big-wave surfing, and it's probably because his leash held him down. Guys do survive these waves quite often. So what's interesting is to follow the story of someone who's set up a new life here, who resumes criminal activities and thus invites attention. This character would now have a family; he would have a stepson who would be a major Indonesian character. There'll be a new love interest, who'll be Asian, and coming after this guy would be a new Hollywood character. I don't want to give it away but it ends very much the same way."

Will Indiana Jones die at the end of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?  Get your movie odds in the Bodog Sportsbook today.

Big Brown Preakness Stakes Favorite

May 15th, 2008

Big Brown

Everyone is saying that the Preakness is Big Brown's party. (AP Images)

 

After an outstanding victory when Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown crossed the finish line 4 3/4 lengths ahead of the other contenders, all signs point to Big Brown as the odds-on favorite to win the 2008 Preakness Stakes. This Saturday, the colt will face 12 other three-year-olds in the $1 million, 1 3/16 mile race.

"It looks like it's Big Brown's party," Yankee Bravo trainer Paddy Gallagher said of the $1 million Preakness at the Pimlico Race Course. "We're just glad to be a part of it."

If Big Brown can win the Derby, Preakness and the June 7 Belmont Stakes, he will become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to claim the Triple Crown. Big Brown looks to see if he can capture the middle jewel of the Triple Crown at the 133rd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday May 17th. 

Post-time for the Preakness Stakes is 6:15 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBC. Don't forget to get your Preakness betting in the Bodog Racebook today.

First Event of World Poker Tour Canada's Inaugural Season Wraps Up

May 15th, 2008

Poker pro Gavin Smith played the WPT Canada

Poker pro Gavin Smith was on hand for the first event of the inaugural WPT Canada season. (Bodog Beat Image)

The contradictorily-named World  Poker Tour Canada (Why wouldn't a stop in Canada not be part of the normal "World" Poker Tour? Is Canada not part of the world?) kicked of its inaugural season last week at the Coast to Coast Poker Championships at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Colombia, which may or may not be part of Canada and/or the world.

Beating out a field of 302 players, which included poker pros Gavin Smith, Kenna James, Brad Booth, Bodog Beat favorite Lacey Jones, WPT Champion Scott Clements, Lee Markholt and WPT-Made Millionaire Antonio Esfandiari, local hero Keith Winterman took down the $224,100 first-place prize.

The Coast to Coast Poker Championships were filmed for broadcast in Canada with James making his TV commentator debut alongside host and well-known Canadian sports announcer, Jim Van Horne. The episodes will debut in Canada later this summer.

Wish there was more to tell you, like when and where the next WPT Canada event will take place, but apparently the WPT Canada does not extend outside of the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Colombia, and therefore also not outside of Canada and/or the world. Maybe.

Peter Pan Winner Casino Drive to Race in Belmont Stakes

May 15th, 2008

Casino Drive

Casino Drive might give Big Brown a run for her money. (AP Images)

 

While the racing establishment focuses on Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown's quest for the illusive Triple Crown, there is another story unfolding in the thoroughbred world that is increasingly attracting attention.

Saturday's Grade 2 $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes, traditionally a prep for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, unveiled a Japanese shipper with the credentials to make a big impression on the North American racing scene.

Not only did Peter Pan winner Casino Drive get the victory in only his second lifetime start, he plans on taking his undefeated streak into the 140th Belmont and a potential confrontation with Big Brown.

The Far East invader, who demolished a maiden field in Japan prior to the Peter Pan, won by over five lengths completing the 1 1/8-mile feature in 1:47 4/5 under Kent Desormeaux, who just happens to be the rider of Big Brown.

"Yeah, he can run a lot. It's going to be fun," said Desormeaux, "He's a phenomenal talent, and we've got our hands full with this one." Referring to the Belmont, the rider proclaimed "It's going to be ultimately exciting for all of the fans." Interestingly, a rider hasn't been named for Casino Drive in the Belmont.

A victory over Big Brown in the final leg of this year's Triple Crown would give Casino Drive the unprecedented distinction of being the third consecutive Belmont Stakes winner from his dam, Grade 2 heroine Better Than Honour, following Jazil in 2006 and champion filly Rags to Riches, who upset Curlin in last year's running.

Casino Drive is now perfect from two career tries and like Big Brown, untested in the process. He has earned a chance to test this year's Derby hero in the Belmont Stakes, a grueling 1 ½ mile event that promises to live up to it's reputation as racing's "test of champions." Saturday's Preakness remains as Big Brown's last step before he faces another fresh challenger on the road to the Triple Crown.

Get all your Preakness odds in the Bodog Racebook today.

Curlin to Start in Grade 1 Stephen Foster

May 15th, 2008

Curlin

Curlin has banked more than $8.8 million. (AP Images)

 

Last year's Preakness winner Curlin, the reigning king of thoroughbred racing, could take on the roll of ambassador for the sport if he ventures out on a worldwide tour later this summer. The colt's connections have indicated that the prestigious $5.8 million Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Paris' Longchamp Racecourse in France and the $4.6 million Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse are being considered as possible engagements for the frequent flyer. Along with North America's $5 million Breeders' Cup, the $6 million Dubai World Cup and the $5.5 million Melbourne Cup, the above events comprise the five richest thoroughbred races in the world.

Racing's brightest star has already accounted for the Breeders Cup and $6 million Dubai World Cup on the dirt, and adding any of the other top three international turf events to his winning resume would be an unprecedented accomplishment.

Owned primarily by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables, Curlin has now banked more than $8.8 million and is a little more than $1 million short of Cigar's all-time record of nearly $10 million. A victory in any of the above mentioned races would embed him in the lofty position of racing's leading all-time money earner.

Curlin is tentatively scheduled to make his first start since his Dubai World Cup Classic victory in the Grade 1$750,000 Stephen Foster on June 14 at Churchill Downs. His nomination to the Foster has created a dilemma for the Churchill racing department who faces the task of luring opponents to challenge him. Their objective is to weigh the superstar high enough to encourage challengers, but not too high to chase the main attraction elsewhere.

"Having a horse like Curlin is great, but it sure does make it tough to get anybody else," Churchill's senior vice president of racing Donnie Richardson lamented.

Stay tuned to Bodog Beat for your up-to-the-minute Preakness coverage and be sure to bet on the Preakness Stakes in the Bodog Racebook today.

Online Slot Caesar’s Empire Keeps Paying Out Big Time

May 15th, 2008

Augustus Caesar

Don't stop hailing Caesar quite yet. He's still handing out the cash. (Image Courtesy kopiati at flickr.com)

 

As we saw in yesterday's list of Bodog online casino big winners, the Caesar's Empire slot paid out the most. Well Caesar ain't done yet as the latest list of big winners has the same slot paying out the top prize of the day.

Jason F. of CA won $40,795 playing the Caesar's Empire online slot yesterday making him the day's biggest casino winner.

The rest of yesterday's top ten winners included:

  • Angus L. of TX who spun the Roulette wheel and won $20,098.
  • Frank L. of CA was yesterday's biggest Blackjack winner for $11,050.
  • Calvin L. of VT was right behind Frank with $10,750 from Blackjack.
  • Gwyneth P. of FL grabbed a piece of the Aztecs Treasure for $9,613.
  • Rick B. of ID made $9,295 at the virtual Blackjack table.
  • Linda L. of TN made $8,480 from the Paris Beauty online slot.
  • Sam S. of MS faced off against the king of the jungle and made $7,942 at the Tiger Treasures slot.
  • Renee W. MA took a dip in the Crystal Waters slot and came out with $7,584.
  • Brian P. of IN was another Blackjack winner with $5,150.

Want to check out Caesar's Empire while the slot is hot? Head over to the Bodog online casino.

"Plus-Sized" Whitney Thompson Wins "America's Next Top Model"

May 15th, 2008

Whitney Thompson

Whitney Thompson became the first "full figured" model to take the crown on America's Next Top Model. (Courtesy CW)

 

When the show first started, us Bodog Beat employees admittedly only watched America's Next Top Model for the T&A. We quickly realized however, that this show offered mostly protruding rib cages and sunken-in chests. D'oh!

However, this season, Whitney Thompson, who weighs more than 80 pounds and was dubbed "plus sized" (aka: the show's resident fatty) gave us something to leer at. And, surprisingly, she actually won the show — as previous seasons plus-sizers were eliminated early on.

"This is what people should look like," Thompson told the media, referring to herself, "rather than skin-and-bones, which is disgusting and sends a bad message to people everywhere."

And Whitney's prize? Oh Tyra Banks has only mentioned it several hundred times: a contract with Elite Model Management, a cover and a six page spread in Seventeen magazine, and a $100,000 modeling…yawn…contract with Cover…blah…blah…snore. Is this crap coming back for another season?      

Want to see other hot models? The Bodog Girls are pretty hot.

Charles Barkley Owes Wynn Las Vegas a Lot of Money

May 15th, 2008

Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley likes the casino action. (AI Wire)

 

Sometimes, news comes across the Bodog Beat desk (that's a lie - we don't have a desk) that almost demands attention. Namely, when the world of sports and casino collide. This, friends, is one of those times.

It turns out that retired NBA star Charles Barkely wasn't lying when he claimed to have something of a gambling jones. A Las Vegas-based prosecutor claimed Barkley owes the Wynn Las Vegas $400,000 in unpaid markers. Barkley received the markers on October 18th and 19th of last year.

"We're in the process of sending Mr. Barkley notice that we're considering filing a criminal complaint," Clark County District Attorney David Roger said. "He'll have an opportunity like anybody else to make restitution to the hotel."

Barkley, 45, played 16 seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets. He was named MVP in 1993 and was an 11-time NBA All-Star. Barkley also played on the USA Olympic "Dream Team" in 1992 and 1996.

Barkley estimated during a May 2006 interview with ESPN that he'd gambled away about $10 million over the years.

NBA Basketball Betting!

Video High Five: Boston Loves Manny Being Manny

May 15th, 2008

That's fairly impressive stuff. (Video Courtesy of Red Lasso)

 

What more is there to say about Man-Ram? His spectacular running-grab-scale-wall-high-five-fan-double-up-Aubrey-Huff play was just another example of why Ramirez is one of the most engaging baseball players ever.

MLB Baseball betting!