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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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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Carmelo Anthony doesn’t understand ‘Muhammad Ali-type statements’
Carmelo Anthony doesn’t understand ‘Muhammad Ali-type statements’
The lockout isn’t over yet, so we could have something to top this, but it appears as if an NBA player has given us the first Kenny Anderson-type statement. You remember Kenny, right? During the lockout that stretched from July of 1998 to January of 1999, he was quoted by the New York Times as saying this, unabashedly: ”I was thinking about selling one of my cars,” he said recently, laughing. ”I don’t need all of them. You know, just get rid of the Mercedes.” Oh, Kenny. He wasn’t lying, and he wasn’t wrong. But even in those relatively well-heeled economic times, the statement didn’t sit well with … well, anyone. And yesterday, in talking to NBA.com’s David Aldridge, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony(notes) passed this along: It was shortly after that that my man Michael Tillery (who, by the way, disagrees with me that the stars couldn’t put their own run together), from the terrific website The Starting Five, asked Anthony why the star players don’t speak out like the NFL’s players did during the NFL lockout. “We’re not allowed,” Anthony said. “I mean, everybody has their own opinion. You hear people talk here and there. But nobody comes out and says what they really want to say. That’s just the society we live in.” He laughed a little. And, then: “Athletes today are scared to make Muhammad Ali-type statements.” Oh, Carmelo. He’s not lying. He’s not wrong. But comparing Ali’s stand against a conflict in Southeastern Asia that had gone terribly wrong to a discussion over the sharing of actual billions of dollars in Basketball Related Income is the absolute height of absurdity. Yes, athletes today are scared to make Muhammad Ali-type statements (as is the case with most people that want to keep their jobs), but the application of an anecdote like that to a situation like the NBA lockout is completely and utterly wrong. Aldridge mentions as much: Forget for a second that Ali got in trouble (with some) for his vocal opposition to the Vietnam War, for refusing induction into the Army and for not only becoming a Muslim, but a Muslim who supported the controversial teaching of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad until Muhammad’s death in 1975. Kind of big things. And by comparison, Anthony was asked about speaking up on a labor dispute involving millionaire athletes and billionaire owners. Kind of little things, in the grand scheme. And, in Anthony’s defense, his point about the relative lack of star power at the bargaining table between the NBA and its players is well-taken. Yes, in 1998 and 1999 a David Falk-led coterie of famous players helped lead the NBA’s Players Association, but to an ultimately disastrous affect. The space between the 1995 lockout and the 1998 lockout was filled with escalating top tier salaries and the routine signing of average players to, quite literally, minimum salary contracts. The stars, during the 1998-99 lockout, attempted to keep that status quo before the rank and file got their way. It wasn’t until then that the 1998-99 lockout ended. Here’s Carmelo: “You saw me at a lot of meetings. You see CP. You saw ‘Bron at a couple of meetings. But right now, the same thing just keeps going back and forth, so we don’t know how powerful we are at this moment. We’ll just see what happens.” What happens next, according to CBS’ Ken Berger, is a negotiating session on Tuesday that will possibly bleed (or swim, lovingly) over to Wednesday before the observance of Rosh Hashanah sets in on Thursday and Friday. Though it would have made an impact last week to have seen LeBron James(notes), Anthony, and Kobe Bryant(notes) at the photo opportunity in Las Vegas, supporting their union while a litany of agents attempt to take it down from the inside, their presence isn’t really needed in New York this week. And in that time, perhaps Carmelo could find another outspoken athlete to compare his particular plight to. Something perched in the middle of, say, Kenny Anderson and Muhammad Ali. Related: Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, New York Knicks, NBA lockout
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LB Vrabel retires, named Ohio St. asst. (AP)
LB Vrabel retires, named Ohio St. asst. (AP)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—Former All-Pro outside linebacker Mike Vrabel believes his 14 years in the NFL will help him as an assistant coach at his alma mater. After several days of speculation, Vrabel officially retired from the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday and also announced he was returning to Ohio State as a linebackers coach. He’ll take the spot vacated by his former roommate and teammate, Luke Fickell, who was elevated to head coach after Jim Tressel was forced to resign on May 30. Vrabel believes his playing days relate and translate to his new job. But that doesn’t mean he’ll often be sporting the three Super Bowl rings he won with the New England Patriots. “I haven’t worn them since the day I got them,” he said at a news conference on Monday morning in the Buckeyes’ practice facility. “Once you win them, you don’t really have to wear them. People know that you won the Super Bowl and you helped contribute to a championship team. I don’t anticipate, you know, putting three rings on and going out on a recruiting trip.” The 35-year-old Vrabel played four years for the Pittsburgh Steelers, eight seasons with the Patriots and, for the past two years, the Kansas City Chiefs. He said working with so many young players on the Chiefs roster was good preparation for a coaching career. “I got plenty of practice,” he said of coaching. “That’s a young football team. It was a great role to go out there and play. And not only help them on the field but help guys in the locker room and film room. I was blessed to have a lot of great coaches. But these last two years, when you’re coaching 20- and 21-year-old guys that are fresh out of college, that’s probably helped me the most.” Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, who sent a second-round draft pick for Vrabel and quarterback Matt Cassel before the 2009 season, called Vrabel a winner. “His genuine love for the game, his preparation, his work ethic, leadership and dependability are qualities you want from every player,” Pioli said. “He is a champion in every sense of the word and I’m confident all of these qualities will make him a great coach. I cannot overstate my respect for him as a person and a football player.” Vrabel lettered from 1993-96 at Ohio State when John Cooper was the head coach. He was a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year. As a senior in high school in Akron, his host on his official recruiting visit to Ohio State was Fickell. “Mike is something that our kids obviously emulate,” Fickell said. “They want to be like him and what he’s done here at Ohio State, what he’s done in the NFL and obviously what he’s done later in life as a father and husband. It’s a great role model.” Active in the NFL Players Association’s executive committee and its negotiations with the league, Vrabel said he was unsure if he would have retired if there were no lockout going on in the pros. He also conceded that he had grown tired of gearing up for another new season. “I just came to the point where I couldn’t train to prepare for an NFL season. I’m not going to pretend I can do it anymore,” he said. “This is where I want to be.” While with the Patriots in 2007 he had 54 solo tackles, 12 1/2 sacks and forced four fumbles and was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams for the only time in his career. He finished with 742 tackles and 57 sacks in 206 games. He was also known during his Patriots days as a short-yardage or goal-line fullback/tight end. He caught 10 career passes—every one going for a touchdown. Fickell said he consulted several people about the pitfalls of hiring a close friend. “(Vrabel) said to me, `Give me a reason to retire,”’ Fickell said. “I remember going to (Ohio State men’s basketball) coach (Thad) Matta and asking him, `Can you hire your best friend?’ He knew what I was talking about. He said very clearly, `Yes, you make sure you set the standards and the guidelines of what you need to have done.”’ Vrabel has had at least two skirmishes with the law. During his Ohio State playing days, he was arrested along with a teammate for beating up a man in a bar parking lot in Kent, Ohio. They eventually pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of disorderly conduct, paid a fine and performed 30 hours of community service. Their attorney in that case was Chris Cicero, the Columbus lawyer and former Ohio State walk-on who sent emails to Tressel in April 2010 that players were taking improper benefits from a tattoo-parlor owner. Just this past April, Vrabel was arrested for theft from an Indiana riverboat casino. The charge will be dropped if he isn’t charged with another crime for 180 days, according to a diversion agreement signed in late June. Ohio State has been through a tumultuous last few months. Five players were suspended last December for the first five games of the upcoming season for taking cash and discounted tattoos from a Columbus businessman. Ohio State later discovered Cicero’s emails to Tressel. Tressel was required by his contract and NCAA rules to report any possible violations involving his players, yet he did not report anything to his superiors for more than nine months. Shortly after he was pressured to step down, star quarterback Terrelle Pryor—one of the suspended players—gave up his senior season for a shot at playing in the NFL. In a related matter, a source close to the Ohio State program has disclosed that Dorian Bell, a linebacker from Monroeville, Pa., was also handed a five-game suspension last week by the NCAA. Bell, a redshirt sophomore, had already been suspended for the entire 2011 season by Tressel for an undisclosed violation of team policy. AP Sports Writer Doug Tucker in Kansas City contributed to this report. Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rustymillerap
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