Lakers sign Theo Ratliff

Basketball Betting Lines

07/22/2010 - El Segundo, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers added depth to their frontcourt on Thursday by signing veteran center Theo Ratliff.

The Los Angeles Times reports it's a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum of $1.35 million.

The 37-year-old Ratliff, entering his 16th NBA season, averaged 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots in 28 games for the Charlotte Bobcats last season. He started the season with San Antonio and averaged 1.6 points and 1.9 boards in 21 contests with the Spurs.

"I've had a long and very rewarding career, and joining a storied and legendary franchise such as the Lakers adds an even more special element," Ratliff said. "I look forward to playing for Coach (Phil) Jackson and with great players such as Kobe (Bryant), Derek (Fisher), Pau (Gasol), Lamar (Odom), Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum and all my other new teammates, and hopefully to helping the Lakers win a third straight championship."

Originally selected by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft (18th overall), Ratliff has twice been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1999 and 2004) and has led the league in blocked shots three times (2000-01, 2002-03 and 2003-04).

Horseraxing Basketball Betting News

<< Pavano stretches unbeaten streak, blanks Orioles
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Pavano's remarkable campaign continued against an American League bottom-feeder, as Minnesota blanked Baltimore, 5-0, in the first of four games at Camden Yards. One season removed from a 5-plus e

<< Mariners deal minor league INF Hannahan to Red Sox
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners traded minor league infielder Jack Hannahan to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Hannahan, a third-round draft pick by the Tigers in 2001

<< Hamburg loans striker Berg to PSV
Hamburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamburg loaned 23-year-old striker Marcus Berg to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on Thursday. Berg joined PSV on a one-year loan deal. PSV is coached by former Schalke boss Fred Rutten. Berg scored four goals i

<< Westermann signs five-year deal with Hamburg
Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Heiko Westermann finalized his move from Schalke to Hamburg on Thursday, as the German defender signed a five-year deal with his new club. Westermann, 26, had 12 goals in 92 matches for Schalke. H

<< Chelsea's Alex to miss start of season
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea defender Alex will miss the start of the English Premier League season with a thigh injury that will sideline for one month, the club announced on Thursday. Alex was injured in training, joini

Milwaukee uses long ball, Gallardo's impressive start to down Pirates >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yovani Gallardo came off the disabled list and tossed six scoreless innings, and the Brewers used a pair of home runs to down the Pirates, 3-2, in the finale of a four-game set. Prince Fielder and Rickie

Phillies fire hitting coach Thompson >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies, who have struggled at the plate and are seven games behind NL East-leading Atlanta, fired hitting coach Milt Thompson Thursday night. The move came hours after the

Notre Dame-Miami to renew rivalry in 2012 >>
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Miami and the University of Notre Dame football programs have agreed to play each other in 2012, 22 years after the schools last met. The game will be played at Soldier Field in Chica

Chivas defender Bornstein out with knee injury >>
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA captain Jonathan Bornstein will be sidelined two weeks with a knee injury suffered Sunday in the SuperLiga match against the Houston Dynamo, the Major League Soccer club announced Thursday. Bornst

A-Rod moves one step closer to 600; Yankees down Royals >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Rodriguez hit home run No. 599 and drove in four runs total, and the Yankees defeated the Royals, 10-4, in the start to a four-game series at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez hit his 16th homer of the season a

Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.

For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.