Free Contests at BetUS – Football and Basketball
Free Contests at BetUS – Football and Basketball
In the gambling world there is nothing like a free shot. Whether it’s a free bet or a free contest, you can’t go wrong when you have a chance to show off your expertise, win some cash or prizes and it doesn’t cost you a dime. Every year BetUS gives bettors a ton of “Betsson Gutschein Code” to allow them to show off and make some money.
Millsap rallies Jazz past Rockets in OT (AP)
The Utah Jazz understand how to finish games. It’s the starts that need some work. Paul Millsap scored 12 of his 27 points in overtime and the Jazz rallied from another double-digit deficit in a 103-99 win over the slumping Houston Rockets on Saturday night. Al Jefferson had 24 points and 13 rebounds and C.J.
Durant scores 40, Thunder beat Grizzlies (AP)
Kevin Durant’s big second half featured just the kind of performance the Oklahoma City Thunder needed in the closer’s role. Durant scored 28 of his 40 points after halftime, Russell Westbrook added 22 points and 11 assists, and the Thunder avenged a loss at Memphis earlier this week by beating the Grizzlies 109-100 on Saturday night.
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Former draft bust Akili Smith has a surprising new path
Former draft bust Akili Smith has a surprising new path
Akili Smith found the NFL to be tough going. (Getty Images) LostLettermen.com is a college football and men’s basketball site. Today, we check in on the current whereabouts of NFL draft bust Akili Smith. Former Oregon quarterback Akili Smith isn’t where anyone thought he would be 13 years after he was selected with the third overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft: Slogging toward the finish line of finally getting his college degree. “I gotta do a Spanish or a math (classes), so I’m thinking that’s going to take about a year and a half. So I should be done here in the next couple years,” Smith recently said by phone. More from LostLettermen.com • NFL Draft’s Top 10 memorable moments• Ray Lewis’ son commits to Miami (FL)• Joe Montana selling house for $35M•Flutie’s daughter: Pats cheerleader Smith, now 36, never finished his degree as a senior at the University of Oregon when he realized he would make millions as a high NFL draft pick. He’s now finishing what he started, taking classes last semester and planning to chip away over the summer at the 20 remaining credits he needs at a junior college in his native San Diego. In order to receive his diploma, Smith will eventually move back to Eugene to finish his requirements now over a decade removed from his exploits on the gridiron. [Related: NFL draft's 50 biggest busts: Where are they now?] In the meantime, Smith is the quarterbacks coach at St. Augustine High School in his hometown. He is also setting up a football company called “Akili Smith Training” in the area. Of course, this isn’t the path scouts foresaw for Smith prior to the 1999 draft. A junior college transfer that dominated as a senior for the Ducks, draft pundits drooled over Smith’s cannon arm and athleticism leading up to the draft despite the fact Smith had just 11 starts for Oregon. (Getty Images)But Smith wasn’t ready for the fame, fortune and attention afforded to high draft picks. He flamed out of the NFL after just four seasons and five career touchdown passes with the Cincinnati Bengals and has admitted he partied and drank too hard to succeed. His football career finally came to a close in 2007 after stints in NFL Europe and the CFL. Smith has vowed to work hard toward a degree that will help him become more attractive for significant college or NFL coaching jobs and appears at ease with the label of an “NFL draft bust.” “[Being called a bust] used to really bother me about three, four years ago. But now when I look back on it, it doesn’t really bother me no more. I know that it was me that did it,” Smith said. [Related: Mark Rypien's daughter, Angela, takes talents to new Lingerie team] “Now, was the [Bengals] organization where it needed to be at that time? No. Marvin Lewis and the Browns [ownership] have done a great job getting it where it’s supposed to be, getting it in the right direction, where it needs to be. “But it’s still my fault for the off-the-field shenanigans that I was doing. I can hold my head up high now and deal with it.” The ex-quarterback said that he ran away from the pressures in Cincinnati, where he was deemed a savior for a franchise that hadn’t made the playoffs since 1990 with Boomer Esiason under center. “You have to run towards your problems, address them and get them fixed,” Smith said. [Related: Ex-Bengal Ki-Jana Carter now running… sanitation company?] At this point in his life, Smith said he wants to relay that message to young football players and help them avoid the pitfalls that led to him falling short of his advanced billing. Smith has some advice for the young quarterbacks that will be selected in this month’s NFL draft — and he speaks from experience. “I think these guys need to stay in their respective [NFL] cities, stay at the facility, stay in their community, stay at the local YMCA and things of that nature to try to build that brand depending on what team you play for,” Smith said. “Then obviously you can pop on home or head down to South Beach or something like that, then get back … because you are now part of that NFL team, that corporation. That’s the biggest thing that I didn’t understand.” According to Sports Illustrated in 2009, Smith would fly back and forth between Cincinnati and San Diego answering calls from “multiple women, my boys, club promoters” and living a life on the party scene. He called himself an “embarrassment.” [Related: NFL draft bust Tony Mandarich goes from lineman to cameraman] As for Smith’s future after graduation, he said he will reach back out to Cal head Jeff Tedford, his former college offensive coordinator for whom he was an administrative assistant in 2010, and Oregon, a program he heaped praise upon for its success under coach Chip Kelly. Smith certainly offers a unique perspective to young players. “I can show you how to get there and I can show you how to get yourself out of there,” Smith said. And he might be able to do it in more than one language. Most popular on LostLettermen.com:• PHOTO: Ryan Tannehill’s model fiancee turning heads• VIDEO: RB crashes during NFL combine 40-yard dash• PHOTO: ESPN’s Jenn Brown gets hitched to actor• PHOTOS: Football helmet design concepts go viral on web• Stars Behind Bars: Ex-football standouts now in prison
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Pacers hand Celtics fourth straight loss (AP)
Pacers hand Celtics fourth straight loss (AP)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—Danny Granger scored 21 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 97-83 victory over Boston on Saturday night, the Celtics’ fourth straight loss. Paul George and Darren Collison each scored 17 points and Roy Hibbert added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers (9-3), who won their third straight. The Pacers improved to 5-0 at home, with four wins by double digits. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett both scored 21 points for the Celtics, but Brandon Bass was the only other Celtic in double figures with 10 points. Boston (4-7) fell to 1-4 on the road. It was Indiana’s second win in two tries against the Celtics this season. Indiana won at Boston 87-74 on Jan. 6. The Pacers held the Celtics to 39 percent shooting. Indiana led 56-48 at halftime, then took control after the break. Hibbert blocked a shot by Garnett, then Collison drained a 3-pointer at the other end to give the Pacers a 67-54 lead and force Boston to call timeout. Pierce hit a 3-pointer right out of the timeout, but Indiana quickly reasserted itself. A 6-0 run, including a jumper and a fast-break layup by Collison, helped Indiana take a 75-60 lead. Collison’s baskets were part of a 9-0 run by the Pacers during which they held the Celtics scoreless for five minutes. Collison scored 11 points in the third quarter to help Indiana take an 82-67 lead. The Pacers held the Celtics to 7-for-22 shooting in the period. Indiana never looked back. A dunk by George gave the Pacers a 91-73 lead with just over four minutes remaining. Notes: Pierce passed Kevin McHale and moved into third place in Celtics history in games played (972). He still trails John Havlicek (1,270) and Robert Parish (1,106). … Purdue coach Matt Painter attended the game to watch two of his former players, Boston forward JaJuan Johnson and Boston guard E’Twaun Moore. Moore and Johnson both entered the game in the second quarter. Moore hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter and finished with seven points. Johnson had a dunk in the final minute and finished with four points. … Ray Allen, who entered the game leading the league in 3-point percentage, made 1 of 3 and finished with seven points. … Boston failed to score more than 100 points for the ninth straight game.
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C-a-C: DeAndre Jordan struggles through short-term memory loss
C-a-C: DeAndre Jordan struggles through short-term memory loss
DeAndre Jordan(notes): “You are not a basketball. Why am I holding you aloft beneath the rim?” Child: “JE NE SAIS PAS JE SUIS JUSTE UN PETIT ENFANT” Jordan: “Wow, I forgot you are French. Wow, I forgot I know French.” Navigating the lockout is a constant struggle when are living with That Thing from “Memento.” Courage, DeAndre. Best caption wins instructional “Muzzy” tapes, like DeAndre doesn’t remember using. Good luck. In our last adventure: Marcus Banks(notes) is considering an offer to play in Lick-tenstein. (That will be 10 comedy dollars, please. I accept PayPal.) Winner, Grey Ghost: Marcus Banks enjoys making faces at his new Brian Cardinal(notes) action figure. Runner-up, Kb: Banks: “How can I afford this? Because I’ve been making the NBA average salary the last few seasons even without playing more than 25 games a year. Thank you, NBPA.” NOTE: I think you meant to write, “Thank you, Phoenix Suns and Robert Sarver,” since they’re the ones who ACTUALLY SIGNED Banks to a five-year, $21-million contract in 2006 to back up Steve Nash(notes). Like Clay Davis and most everybody else in the world, Marcus Banks will take any mother’s father’s money if he just GIVIN’ it away. Winner, Al: Things were cool with the “double dog dare,” but Marcus fell for the “triple dare you.” It was not a happy ending. Related: Marcus Banks, DeAndre Jordan, Brian Cardinal, Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns, Create-a-caption, NBA lockout
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Game 5 start Wilson’s Texas swan song? (AP)
Game 5 start Wilson’s Texas swan song? (AP)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—St. Louis’ Allen Craig(notes) had no chance of getting another pinch-hit RBI off Texas reliever Alexi Ogando(notes) in Game 3 of the World Series. Craig pulled off that feat to win Game 1, then did it again for the first run in Game 2. His success earned him a spot in the starting lineup Saturday night. He was batting second and playing right field, with Lance Berkman(notes) moving to designated hitter. Craig is the first player to have two pinch hits in a single World Series. For them to come in his first two World Series at-bats, and both to be so crucial, is pretty incredible. For them to come off the same pitcher, and on virtually the same pitch in the same spot is “kind of weird,” Craig said. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. It also was the byproduct of a lot of hard work. As a rookie in 2010, Craig went 1 for 7 with three strikeouts as a pinch hitter. He didn’t exactly embrace the role for all the obvious reasons—coming off the bench means you’re not starting, and the odds are stacked against a guy coming in cold with only one chance to make something happen. But Craig took a different approach this season. He accepted that it was his way of making a difference when he didn’t start. He talked to coaches Mark McGwire and Mike Aldrete about the best mindset for those chances, and the results showed. He went 7 for 22 with only a single strikeout. His .318 as a pinch hitter was even a smidge better than his .315 average in all other at-bats. “I try to take it for what it’s worth—a brief chance to impact the game,” Craig said. “Most of the time, you’re not going to be successful because it’s that hard to do. I just try not to put too much pressure on myself and trust my ability and keep it simple. Don’t try to hit the ball too hard or anything like that. Just see it, hit it and hope they can’t catch it.” So is it fair to say that he no longer considers it a pain? “It’s grown on me a little bit,” Craig said, smiling. GUNNING FOR 80: Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki was so excited about taking the mound for the ceremonial first pitch of Game 3 of the World Series that he tweeted about it before heading out to Rangers Ballpark. He wrote: “Fired up for tonight. Already warmin up in my backyard. Radar gun gonna read mid 80s. Let’s do this. Go rangers.” Nowitzki threw out a first pitch this summer, soon after leading the Mavs to their first NBA championship. As the MVP of the finals, he received a huge ovation and lots of laughs for walking out carrying a basketball. He did his trademark step-back jumper with the big ball, then threw the pitch so high that Michael Young had to jump to catch it. Young was to be behind the plate again. Nowitzki was in the stands for Game 6 of the AL championship series, wearing his Rangers jersey with his name and basketball number, 41. Between him being a fan, and the championship connection, it only made sense for him to have this honor—except, apparently, to some MLB officials. Nowitzki initially was told he couldn’t do it, supposedly because of something to do with the NBA lockout. Once word of that spread, and was roundly panned, baseball officials gave the green light. Meanwhile, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa went to dinner Friday night with Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. “I asked him about what we do to get an edge in this series, and he said, `Hand the ball to Dirk,”’ La Russa said. “And I said, `I can’t do that.’ He said, `This is Dallas, I can’t be telling the Cardinals how to beat the Rangers.”’ GRIDLOCK: The Rangers and their NFL neighbors, the Cowboys, are doing all they can to spread the word to people with tickets on Sunday—leave early. Like, now. The Cowboys kick off at 3:15 p.m. Sunday against, of all teams, the St. Louis Rams at their stadium, just a few blocks from the Rangers’ ballpark. The Rangers and Cardinals begin Game 4 of their series at 7:05 p.m. Because of the proximity of the venues, each team uses the others’ parking lots. They can’t this time, and there will be the traffic nightmare of roughly 80,000 football fans leaving around the time 50,000 baseball fans will be arriving. “We encourage everyone to be patient and arrive early,” the Cowboys wrote in a news release issued Friday. To try unclogging things, the Cowboys are opening their parking lots at 10 a.m. The Rangers are opening their lots at 2 p.m. FLIP IT, FLIP IT GOOD: Sluggers Josh Hamilton of the Rangers and Lance Berkman of the Cardinals will be down the street a few hours before Game 4 on Sunday taking part in the pregame coin toss for the game between their cities’ NFL teams. Hamilton will represent the Cowboys, and Berkman the Rams when the referee makes the flip. Kickoff is at 3:15 p.m. The Rangers are scheduled to take batting practice at 4:15 p.m., and the Cardinals at 5:15 p.m. GAME 4 STARTERS: Texas left-hander Derek Holland was a joke in his World Series debut last year. He walked all three batters he faced in Game 2, only to see them all score after he left. Seriously, Holland himself says he jokes about how things went “because if you let it eat you up, it’s going to hurt you more.” He also proudly notes that he bounced back with a scoreless inning in his only other outing, the final inning of a loss in Game 4. On Sunday night, he’ll get a chance for a better World Series memory when he starts Game 3 against St. Louis and right-hander Edwin Jackson. “To be honest, now that I’m getting to start, I have a lot more that I want,” Holland said. “I feel like I’ve got a lot to prove after what happened last year, but it’s obviously not going to take me out of my game or what I have to do for this next start.” Jackson’s World Series history is similarly underwhelming. In 2008, he pitched two innings in relief for Tampa Bay in a Game 4 loss to the Phillies. “I’m definitely going to take advantage of it and do my best and leave it on the field,” Jackson said. Both starters are 1-0 this postseason, and both their teams are 3-0 when they start. They haven’t exactly been innings-eaters, though. Jackson has gone from six innings to 4 1-3 to two innings. His ERA is 5.84 and opponents are hitting .314. Holland has gone 2 2-3 and 4 2-3 in his last two starts. Jackson started once against Texas this season and lost, giving up four runs on 11 hits over 5 1-3 innings while pitching for the White Sox. MISSING MITCH: A year ago, rookie first baseman Mitch Moreland was a surprise standout for the Texas Rangers in the postseason as the went to their first World Series. Going into Game 3 of this year’s World Series, Moreland was hitting only .105 (2 for 19) in the playoffs and hadn’t yet played against the St. Louis Cardinals. And the left-hander wasn’t in the lineup against a right-handed pitcher Saturday night. “It’s obvious he hasn’t had a very good playoffs compared to last year,” manager Ron Washington said Saturday. “We certainly haven’t given up on Mitch.” Moreland didn’t make his major league debut until late July 2010 after Justin Smoak was traded for Cliff Lee. But Moreland played 15 of 16 playoff games last year (starting 13 at first base) and a team-best .348. He was 6 of 13 in the World Series, including a homer in Game 3 at Rangers Ballpark, and was the only Texas player with a hit in every World Series game. In 134 games this season, his first full season in the majors, he hit .259 with 16 homers and 51 RBIs. “He’s progressed a heck of a lot,” Washington said. “He handled himself well when things didn’t go as well. That’s growth. We’ve still got a lot of confidence in Mitch.”
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Etan Thomas considers the owners’ point of view, in caricature
Etan Thomas considers the owners’ point of view, in caricature
Veteran big man Etan Thomas(notes) is the rare NBA player who may be better known for his exploits off the court than on it. In addition to occupying the end of many teams’ benches, Thomas has written and performed poetry, become a political activist, and served as a vice president of the players’ union. He has many interests — not quite a renaissance man, but not your typical professional athlete either. In other words, he has a reputation as a thoughtful man. So, when he penned a piece for ESPN.com written from the point of view of the NBA owners during the lockout, I approached it with some interest. Here’s a sample: The fans will always side with us no matter what the facts are. They don’t see us as greedy; they see the players as greedy. They don’t see us as being unreasonable; they see the players as being unreasonable. Their anger will turn directly toward the players once they no longer have basketball in their living rooms. We know fans don’t want to see their favorite teams broken up because of a strict hard cap or an incredibly harsh luxury tax, which is the same as a hard cap. But it isn’t about what the fans want; we plan to impose our will on the players, and the fans will have no choice but to accept the outcome. We haven’t budged drastically from our original proposal because, quite frankly, we don’t feel we have to. We’re just going to sit back and wait for the players to self-destruct while we stick to our position. [...] We also know that if teams controlled their own spending, hired the right people to evaluate talent and made better decisions, they wouldn’t be operating in the red. But that isn’t how we are going to present it to the public. We will divert the attention away from the real crux of the problem. These passages are indicative of the quite lengthy piece: It presents the owners as condescending, arrogant, and generally disdainful of anyone who dares question their right to make money. (There’s also a bizarre reference to the romantic comedy “The Break-Up,” presumably because it’s Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley’s favorite movie.) It’s a reasonably accurate portrait of the apparent owner mindset, but also one that seems counterproductive to the task at hand. I’m no fan of the owners’ approach to the lockout — it’s mean-spirited at best (and dishonest at worst) to make claims of financial ruin without opening every franchise’s books. However, Thomas is not just a commentator on the lockout: He’s a key member of the negotiating team. Given his role, painting the owners in such a poor light goes well beyond spin control and veers towards recklessness. As a negotiator, Thomas must keep things courteous and respectful at all times. Things would be different if the players’ union were taking an especially hardline stance during these talks, but all indications show that it is focused on working out a deal. How exactly does Thomas’ column help it reach that goal? It’s necessary for a union leader to boost morale and remind members that their cause is a noble one. But that’s best done by arguing for the righteousness of their own point of view, not turning the perspective of the opposition into something they’re likely to construe as a barren field of straw men. The lockout is a labor fight, not a debate of principles judged on the merits. The players need to win the battle by convincing the owners to agree to their demands, not by insulting them in public. Why would Thomas feel the need to alienate them when they’ve already shown the ability to be remarkably immature in the face of perceived slights and discord? Is a bigger gap between players and owners a positive outcome at this stage? Related: NBA lockout
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