Unlimited Overtime

Ice Hockey has used it for some time so why not now for football? Well I’ll tell you why. This is a sure fire way to take away a lot of excitement from the game. If Blatter were annoyed that Chelsea had won the Champions League with their tactics they’d win a lot more with this in place. Although I can’t help but think making the players really earn their money by playing for hours on end would be a sight.

Crossbar Challenge (if you don’t know what we’re on about click here for a best of!)

This is a game championed by the Saturday morning TV show Soccer AM and lays down the gauntlet to players by challenging them to hit the crossbar from the halfway line. Ultimately requires a lot more skill than a penalty shootout and can also be set out in a similar format. Under Blatter’s rules it probably goes down as another of his so-called “tragedies”.

End the game as a draw

There was once a time when you could conceivably have an infinite number of replays to decide a cup-tie so why not a return to that sepia tinged era. While they’re at it there should be a stipulation that they wear some kind of garish kit from bygone days if it heads to a second replay. Got to make it exciting after all.

What Ray says goes

For a couple of seasons now anyone watching televised football will have become familiar with the sight for sore eyes of Ray Winstone giving us the la’est loive odds on behalf of bet365. Now to make matches get closer to their conclusion how about what ever Ray says goes? It would solve Blatter’s conundrum, make it really easy to bet on and, most importantly, keep Ray happy. Wouldn’t want to meet him down a dark alley with a snooker ball in a sock after all would we Sepp!

Management Deathmatch

A cute take on the MTV show where, instead of wax models, a ring is erected in the middle of the pitch should the game end in a draw. The two managers then don a pair of boxing shorts and gloves before fighting until we have a winner. We can’t imagine there will ever be the need for it to go to points and Blatter may well face some kind of backlash from certain sections of the public. From a betting point of view it makes it even more exciting. Who needs penalties!

If any of our readers have a better idea on how Sepp can rid the game of this tragic element then feel free to comment below. So far he has his best man, Franz Beckenbauer, on the job and with these two in charge who knows what could befall the beautiful game.

Out in front with 27 percent of the vote were the valiant Lions bowing out in the semi finals. We didn’t specify whom England will go out to and you’ve got to think that it’ll be either Portugal or Germany on penalties. That is the way it usually pans out. More about that later.

Andy Carroll being on the plane, and the cheap price of beer in Poland and Ukraine, make it no surprise 21 percent think it will all be marred by a drunken frolics. It’s what those frolics might entail which fascinates us.

Next up comes one of the most likely ends to the tournament in the mind of anyone that doesn’t let themselves get too caught up in the whole occasion – stumbling through the group and out to the Irish. That polled 19 percent and is obviously also under the premise that the Irish – and English –make it through the group.

This is reflected in the next answer – lose all three games – which also took 19 percent of those voting. We don’t have Rooney for the first two after all.

England winning the tournament isn’t a realistic outcome according to most in the iGaming industry with just 12 percent thinking Roy Hodgson’s men will succeed and 2 percent the boys in white, or navy blue, will bow out in the final, on penalties, to the Germans.

There you have it. By our reckoning England will be out in the semis and celebrate it with one momentous piss up. This week we ponder which ‘new’ Asian casino will be the biggest in the future.

The best of the best from Europe will be locked, stocked, and ready to roll when the opening ceremony takes place on the 8th of June at the two host nations, Poland and the Ukraine. We already touched on the championship odds for all the participating teams, not to mention a shot-at-the-moon €25,000 wager at 66/1 odds by a BetVictor customer for Sweden to win the whole enchilada.

In this space, we’re going to take a good look at the lines for arguably the most popular prop bet heading into the tournament: the Golden Boot Winner.

Four years ago, Spain’s David Villa won the Golden Boot after scoring four goals in the tournament. Those who backed the Spanish striker cashed in handsomely, too, thanks to the 15/1 pre-tournament odds given to him. This year, Villa’s status for tournament is still up in the air after tearing his ACL in the La Liga season. With the defending Golden Boot winner out of the picture, a new crop of football studs and some old favorites have taken his place to make up the top of the 2012 Golden Boot list.

On top of that list is German striker Mario Gomez, checking in at 7/1 odds. Gomez is just coming off of a devastating Champions League tournament after his squad, Bayern Munich, lost to EPL club Chelsea in the Finals. The question now is how much effect will that have on the same man that scored a total of 41 club goals for the season leading up to Euro 2012?

Next up is the Netherlands’ Robin Van Persie at 9/1 odds, followed by Portugal’s Christiano Ronaldo at 12/1 odds. These two have been stalwarts for their respective national teams and their recent club forms – Van Persie had 37 club goals for Arsenal this season whereas Ronaldo scored an astonishing 60 goals for Real Madrid – suggest that they’re going to find the back of the net a whole lot more than they did during Euro 2008, where they combined for a total of 1 goal, coming from Ronaldo.

After Ronaldo are three names that we’re also all familiar with: Germany’s Miroslav Klose and Spain’s “Fernan-duo” of Fernando Torres and Fernando Llorente. All three have been given 14/1 odds to win Euro 2012′s Golden Boot Award, around the same line that Villa had when he won the award four years ago.

Rounding out the top 10 favorites for the award are France’s Karim Benzema (16/1), the Netherland’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (16/1), and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (20/1).

Noticeable names that are not in the top 10 but could give a good showing at the tournament include Germany’s Lukas Podolski (22/1), England’s Wayne Rooney (25/1),  Italy’s Mario Balotelli (25/1), Spain’s Cesc Fabregas (33/1), and the Netherland’s Wesley Sneijder (33/1).

Rafael Nadal

To no one’s surprise, Nadal is the clear-cut favorite to win his seventh men’s title at Rolland Garros while Williams has been pegged as the favorite to win her second French Open women’s title.

Over on the men’s side, parity isn’t so much an issue because it really doesn’t exist. You have the Big Three in Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer and then there’s everybody else. The odds certainly reflect gap between these three players and the rest of the field as Nadal’s 4/5 line is followed closely by Djokovic’s 2/1 odds and Federer’s 8/1 odds.

The next players on the totem pole? Juan Martin del Potro at 12/1 and Andy Murray at 20/1. Everybody else, beginning with David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych at 33/1 odds is in “lotto-ritory”: put in a small wager with hopes of cashing in big should the stars align in your favor.

Meanwhile, the women’s side is where the parity’s at, especially when you consider that a lot of the top contenders are dealing with a variety of injuries, including tournament favorite Serena Williams – 5/2 odds – who is nursing a nagging lower back injury. Likewise, world number one Victoria Azarenka – 7/2 odds – didn’t even make it to the Italian Open because of a shoulder injury. Same goes for Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova – 9/1 odds – and her abdominal strain.

One contender that appears to be peaking at the right time is Maria Sharapova. The long-legged hottie has been penciled in at 6/1 odds, followed by Kvitova, Li Na (10/1), Sam Stosur (12/1), Agnieszka Radwanska (16/1), and Caroline Wozniack and Angelique Kerber both getting  (25/1).

While the women’s tournament figures to be a crap shoot, the men’s tournament is looking like it’s Nadal’s to lose. Right now, all we know is that we’re gearing up for an intense two weeks of clay tennis action.

That’s going to be the rallying cry of supporters of thoroughbred I’ll Have Another after it won the Preakness Stakes in yet another remarkable final stretch, besting rival and race favorite Bodemeister. With its Preakness triumph, I’ll Have Another inches one step closer to winning the prestigious Triple Crown for the first time since 1978.

Similar to its win at the Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another had to dig in deep and make one last furious rally against Bodemeister. With a shot at the Triple Crown hanging in the balance, I’ll Have Another pounced on Bodemeister’s late lead, closing the gap with each stride before finally beating its rival by a nose in the finish line.

With wins at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes already in the bag, I’ll Have Another and its jockey, Mario Gutierrez, are now setting their sights on the Belmont Stakes, which will be held in three weeks’ time at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

If the chestnut colt somehow pulls it off, it will only be the fourth horse to win horse racing’s equivalent of a Grand Slam. The Triple Crown has only been achieved three times – Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed – and it hasn’t been accomplished for 34 years.

Despite being the favorite at 8/5 odds, Bodemeister failed to capitalize on another late lead, falling at the wire to its rival. If it would have held on for both races, the conversation would have been much more different with thinking heads like us lauding Bodemeister for its quest of the Triple Crown.

But with one miraculous rally after another, it’s I’ll Have Another’s turn to be in the spotlight, one that is pretty well deserved.

As for its Triple Crown quest at the Belmont Stakes, the line-up of horses that will participate has not yet been officially announced, but what we do know is that Bodemeister won’t be in the field. That wrinkle clears a potential hurdle for I’ll Have Another’s chances to achieve horse racing immortality.

In the absence of Bodemeister, a number of strong competitors will also be part of the field looking to thwart I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown chances. One of them is Dullahan, the third place finisher at the Kentucky Derby who curiously skipped the Preakness Stakes.

The rest of the field is expected to round into shape in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, we need to start appreciating I’ll Have Another and its trainer Mario Gutierrez for their tremendous achievement.

From 15/1 long-shot odds at the Kentucky Derby to  its 5/2 odds at the Preakness, should there be any suspense who’s going to be the favorite to win at Belmont?

The Kentucky Derby runner-up has been listed as an 8/5 favorite to take the victory that eluded it at Louisville. Despite not being the favorite, I’ll Have Another’s win at Kentucky has vaulted it up the favorites list with 5/2 odds. Coming in tied at third in the list are Creative Cause and When The Day Well, both of whom were given 6/1 odds.

Of the six horses that competed at Kentucky and will be behind the gates at Preakness, I’ll Have Another saw its odds jump from 15/1 in Kentucky to 5/2. Needless to say, we know the reason behind that. Meanwhile, Bodemeister’s 4/1 odds at Kentucky didn’t change too much with its 5/2 Preakness odds. Creative Cause also saw its odds jump from 11/1 to 6/1 while Went The Day Well saw its chances of winning sky rocket from 30/1 at Kentucky to 6/1 at Preakness.

As for the rest of the field, Daddy Knows Best has been listed at 12/1, followed closely by Teeth Of The Dog at 15/1. As for the back of the pack, Zatterholm has been given 20/1 odds, and tied for the ultimate long-shots are four horses that could pay off handsomely should they miraculously pull off a Coventry. Tiger Walk, Pretension, Optimizer, and Cazzetti are all slated at 30/1 odds.

The odds are still subject to change, although that would probably happen only at the day of the race. So if anybody’s looking to strike gold at the Preakness the same way those who backed I’ll Have Another’s 15/1 odds cashed in at the Kentucky Derby, maybe its not that stupid to place an amount on Tiger Walk.

If for nothing else, the name sounds pretty cool for a thoroughbred.

We’re saying this because a BetVictor customer has just put a sizable amount of cash – 25,000 Euros! – on Sweden to win Euro 2012. Normally, huge betting amounts that hit five digits are best laid on favorites, which in this case would’ve been World Cup champs Spain, who have been given 5/2 odds to win Euro 2012. If you’re not feeling La Furia Roja, the next logical choice would’ve been either Germany or the Netherlands, with 11/4 and 13/2 odds, respectively.

But this particular customer decided to lay some serious wood on a national team that’s currently ranked 17th in the world. That ranking would actually have been impressive if not for the fact that of the 16 teams ahead of Sweden, 11 are playing in Euro 2012.

BetVictor spokesperson Charlie McCann explained through a press release: “The customer came on late last week and asked would we lay the bet and we said yes immediately; he came back today with the cash and we are more than happy to lay the bet on a nation whose best show in the Euros to date is when they reached the last four back in 1992.”

Now, we’re not saying that it’s a foolish bet, but at 66/1 odds to win Euro 2012, it’s a definite long-shot at best.

But in the event that some kind of miracle happens and the football gods have anointed the Swedes as the champions of Euro 2012, this customer will stand to win a staggering 1.65 million Euros.

That could potentially end up being one of the most improbable payouts in recent time, one that would even make Fred Done feel good about himself.

Check out all the odds for all 16 teams participating in Euro 2012:

Spain – 5/1

Germany – 11/4

Netherlands – 13/2

England – 10/1

France – 10/1

Italy – 14/1

Portugal – 20/1

Russia – 22/1

Ukraine – 40/1

Croatia – 50/1

Sweden – 50/1

Czech Republic – 66/1

Poland – 66/1

Greece – 80/1

Denmark – 100/1

Republic of Ireland – 100/1

The short answer: no.

As for the long answer? Well, that’s going to feature a whole lot more head-scratching after Manchester City pulled off one of the most remarkable and unbelievable comebacks in sporting history to win, or some would say, ‘steal’, the English Premier League title from the hands of its cross-town neighbors, Manchester United.

Here’s how the scene looked like entering “Super Sunday”. Both Manchester teams were tied in the points standings with 86 points apiece. But with a bigger goal differential, City was in the driver seat to win its first English football title in 44 years. The only thing they needed was to win their season finale against a Queen Park Rangers team that was on the verge of relegation. A United win would be irrelevant if City nabs those final three points.

For their part of Super Sunday, United disposed of Sunderland 1-0, ratcheting up the pressure for the Citizens to win against league doormat Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium.

The best home team in the league needing a win to secure its first ever EPL title against the worst road team in the league. Sounds pretty academic, right?

Not quite.

Everything seemed to be going according to plan for City after Pablo Zabaleta put them in front in the 39th minute, leaving them only a half and some few minutes of extra time to win the title. But just like sports drama at its finest, that was still a half unplayed, where anything, and we mean anything, could happen.

That’s when things took a turn for the surreal.

First, QPR star Djibril Cisse took advantage of a misplay by Joleon Lescott and drew QPR even with a strike in the 48th minute. In the 55th minute, notorious hot-head, and QPR captain Joey Barton was sent off after going WWE on Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero with a chop to the elbow on the former and a knee to the back on the latter. So with only 10 men the rest of the way, Man City’s road to the EPL title just got a little easier, right?

Again, not quite.

In a spectacular display of defensive fortitude, QPR repelled wave after wave of City’s attacks before somehow breaking through in the 66th minute with a scintillating counter-attack, culminating in a powerful header by Jamie Mackie in the 66th minute. Somehow, through whatever kind of sports drama you could think of, QPR was ahead 2-1 against a team on the verge of the most disastrous choke job in English football history.

With time running out and tears slowly filling the Etihad Stadium, City manager Roberto Mancini subbed in strikers Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotteli, two names that would figure heavily in the dramatic conclusion of the match.

After 90 minutes of play and QPR’s defensive wall still holding strong,  it seemed like a formality that this stunning result would be the stake that’s driven to the hearts of City fans the world over.

Then, the scene turned from the surreal to just epic madness.

Two minutes into extra time, Dzeko struck in a powerful header past QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, drawing the home team even and giving them three minutes of real time to pull off the craziest ending to an EPL season in history. As soon as the ball was put in play, City went back on the attack, clinging on to whoever thread of championship hope they had left.

Within seconds of the final whistle being blown at the Etihad Stadium, City had one last attack left. Balotelli, regarded as a pariah a few weeks ago, caught the ball on the top of the box and before getting tackled, managed to squeeze in a pass to a streaking Sergio Aguero, who jumped over a defender and launched a kick that will go down in the legend of Manchester City, beating Kenny and finding its way on the back of the net.

Manchester City 3, QPR 2.

The scene and fallout after the Argentine Aguero, the son-in-law of Diego Maradona, scored the championship goal that won Manchester City the 2012 EPL title was pretty hard to describe. 15 hours later, we still can’t explain exactly what happened.

The only thing we know is that Man City are the champs. How they did it, we’ll probably never fully come to grips with; it was one of the most unbelievable finishes to any sporting event we’ve ever seen.

Crazy. Ridiculous. Epic. Scintillating.

We can run thought a dictionary’s worth of adjectives and it still won’t capture the conclusion of that match and the championship repercussions that came out of it. Maybe we’ll just leave it at that then, because no matter how much superlatives we throw around to describe that game, the truth is that no amount of words will really describe those final three minutes.

Turkey’s football federation has cleared all 16 teams accused of fixing matches whilst at the same time banning two players for up to three years. Federation officials concluded that “elements of the alleged disciplinary violation [had] not materialised” in connection to the inquiry that involves champions Fenerbahce. A criminal case is still ongoing with 93 officials, players and coaches being investigated. The players banned by the federation are Turkish international Ibrahim Akin for three years and Turkish international Ibrahim Akin for two years.

Espanyol are ready to take a radio station to court after it alleged fixing took place at the club. Spanish radio station Cadena Cope reported last week that Sporting Gijon’s 3-0 over the Barcelona-based club was under suspicion. The club are demanding €3 million in compensation, with a statement from the team reading: “Espanyol will file a lawsuit against Cadena Cope and the journalist Juan Antonio Alcala to repair the honour and image of the squad.”

The latest development in this on-going saga comes after Republican legislative leaders pulled their proposal to finance a new $975 million off the table. With one proposal dead, an old one resurfaced, one that involves the use of gambling revenue to pay for the share the state will carry in financing the building of the stadium. The House has scheduled a vote next Monday to determine whether this new proposal has the legs to carry on the wishes of replacing the old Metrodome, the home of the Minnesota Vikings, in favor of a brand-new stadium.

House Speaker Kurt Zellers, an opponent of the new bill, officially served notice to Gov. Mark Dayton that the ball is now firmly in the latter’s hands. “The fate of the stadium is now in the governor’s hands…This is his top priority,”  the speaker said.

For his part, Gov. Dayton is now asking residents of Minnesota to make their voices heard in support of this new proposal. “I ask all Minnesotans, who care about the stadium, to contact their legislators and urge them to vote “Yes” next Monday,” the governor said in a statement.

It’s been no secret that the Metrodome is one of the most out-dated stadiums currently being used in the NFL. It’s roof actually collapsed spectacularly a few years ago from the immense weight of snow that had fallen on top of it. The Vikings have, for the longest time, pursued the building of a new stadium that will be subsidized by tax money and the pressure for a decision has been ratcheted up now that the team is out of a lease binding them to play in the old stadium. If nothing comes to pass, the Vikings have been considered as a prime candidate for relocation.

The existing proposal that’s scheduled for a vote next week would involve the team putting $427 million in private financing on the table with the rest of the money to be collected from sales taxes derived in the city of Minneapolis, as well as gambling taxes that will be collected by the state. If this bill pushes through, bars and restaurants that are currently offering small gambling operations would be given allowed to expand their establishment’s gambling choices, which would then increase profits, leading to more state money that could be used in financing the stadium.

However this soap opera plays out, you can be sure that there’s going to be animosity on both sides of the fence. Stadium politics has become an increasingly contentious topic for a lot of states and the on-going debate on how to finance a project that could hit the billions is something state leaders aren’t taking lightly. Opinions will clash, lines will be crossed, and principles will be tested.

But for the sake of everyone who loves and supports the Minnesota Vikings, we’re just hoping that something is done to ensure that the team stays where they belong.

And if the state can generate enough money from gambling revenue, then it’s an avenue that’s certainly worth looking into – again.

It was last April 3 when BetFred’s Fred Done hastily decided to call off the dogs on the Premier League championship race, paying out bettors who had Manchester United winning their 20th EPL title. “Back in 1998 Fergie told me to never pay out early again but Sir Alex need not worry, I’ve not got it wrong this time,” Done said last month. “United are past the post for a record 20th title. Even with the derby to come a five point lead is just too much for City.”

A month later – and with a pair of matches to go – Fred Done at least got it half-right. There’s a Manchester team on top of the standings, except that it’s not United. It’s City.

In a whirlwind month that saw the Red Devils drop an inexplicable loss to Wigan, 1-0, and scoring a draw against Everton, 4-4, after choking a two-goal lead, City turned the championship tables on their cross-town rivals by running off three matches in a row – 4-0 against West Brom; 6-1 against Norwich; and 2-0 against Wolves – all in decimating fashion.

With an eight-point lead cut down to three, United still had a chance to take control of the title with a win against City at Etihad Stadium. Winning the match would’ve put them in a commanding six-point lead on the tables while a draw would let them retain their precarious three-point lead with two matches left.

Instead, Vincent Kompany scored the only goal of the match, leading City to an unprecedented – at least for their standards – reversal of fortune that has Fred Done and his boys over at BetFred sweating buckets.

So, what are the title odds for the two Manchester teams? City is 27/50 favorite and United is a 7/4 underdog.

Not exactly what BetFred had in mind, right?

—

Moving on down to the rest of the league, the next important race in the EPL is the Top 4 finish, currently being contested – in a tight race, no less – by Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Chelsea. Arsenal is in a the driver’s seat with 66 points, follow by Tottenham and Newcastle with 65 points each, and Chelsea trailing the pack with 61 points. For the Gunners, the road to a Top 4 finish is looking like a formality at 7/100 odds. Their last two matches are against two inferior teams that are in no danger of relegation: Norwich and West Brom. So you can pencil in Arsenal in that third spot.

Taking in the shape of a City-United title race is the Tottenham-Newcastle battle for the fourth spot, which could potentially end up being a ticket to a Champions League appearance, provided Chelsea doesn’t upset Bayern Munich in the 2012 Finals. Currently, the two teams are tied with 65 points apiece, although Tottenham’s superior goal differential compared to Newcastle -  23-9 – puts them firmly entrenched at the 4 spot. Betting odds for a Top 4 finish on both teams reflect that grim reality for Newcastle fans as the Spurs have 1/5 odds to secure the place with Newcastle at 11/4 odds. The latter’s date with Manchester City this weekend won’t help their cause considering the stakes involved for the Citizens in that match too.

—

And then there’s the race that nobody wants to be a part of: relegation.

The bottom rung of the EPL standings is currently occupied by Wolves, who is already a cinch to be relegated from the Premier League next season. Likewise, Blackburn is also close to being dropped from the EPL with their 1/100 relegation odds a stark reminder of their unenviable predicament.  Where it gets interesting is the last relegation spot, which could be claimed by either Bolton or QPR.

Currently, Bolton is in the bottom three on the basis of goal difference compared to QPR – the Wanderers are -31 whereas the Park Rangers are -23. Despite having the goal difference advantage, Bolton have been given even odds to be relegated with QPR being given 8/11 odds.

The slight favorite status on the latter comes as a result of the last two matches for each team with Bolton facing a more difficult road to scoring points, thanks to a season-ending date with Manchester City.

Fast forward to this week, when Business Insider pointed out that Simmons appeared to have a personal stake in James winning the MVP. This prompted Simmons to withdraw his ballot to avoid (in ESPN’s words) “the perception of any conflict.” ESPN said it had policies regarding employees gambling, but also stated that “for many sports fans, gambling is a part of sports discussion. Therefore, periodically, our commentators include references to gambling in ways that are appropriate for their role and relevant to our audience. In Bill’s case, he connects with millions by sharing common interests. Gambling in sports is a part of that cultural connection and appropriately at times part of Bill’s work.” Sort of like how it’s occasionally appropriate for CalvinAyre.com reporters to guzzle a fifth of Hendricks gin because, you know, it’s our job. Punch in, punch out, drink too much punch, get punched out… All in a day’s work.

ESPN recently published a profile that touched on the NBA betting habits of one Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr. When not ruminating on the size of Manny Pacquiao’s skull, Floyd is a serious NBA bettor. In March, we first heard about ‘the bag’ aka the leather duffel in which Floyd keeps neatly bound stacks of $100 bills, exclusively for the purpose of Floyd’s sportsbook visits. But ESPN has since reported on the existence of a separate bag, one which (at the time of writing) contained $20k worth of Mega Millions lottery tickets – confirming our suspicions that it was Floyd who held up the line of hopefuls waiting to buy tickets at that gas station along the California/Nevada border. (Sadly, we’re no wiser as to what that $20k investment returned, nor which one of Floyd’s toadies was responsible for checking each ticket.) Anyway, in the latest ESPN bag story, someone in Floyd’s entourage misplaces a winning betting slip worth $80k and unintentionally comic follies ensue. Worth a read.

As Floyd prepares for his weekend tilt against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas, the suggestion is being made that Nevada will see less of these marquee matchups in future. Just as Singapore is set to eclipse Las Vegas in terms of gaming revenue, boxing announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. envisions a day when Singapore becomes the more likely host of top-flight boxing events. Lennon told Reuters that “it may take some time, and it won’t happen overnight, but the world is moving east in many ways, the economy, the language and so forth, making that shift is not out of the realms of possibilities.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were more than happy to oblige.

Earlier this week, the Bucs went and signed Eric LeGrand to their 90-man off season roster, a move that may not be all that surprising, until you find out the condition LeGrand is in.

You see, Eric LeGrand is in a wheelchair and is paralyzed. He has been since October 16, 2010 when his Rutgers Scarlet Knights were playing a football game against Army and LeGrand suffered a debilitating spinal injury after tackling kick returner Malcolm Brown at the old Giants Stadium. The injury left him paralyzed from the neck down.

First year Tampa coach Greg Schiano was on the field that day as the head coach of Rutgers and he witnessed first-hand the sight of one of his student-players being carted of the field with doctors telling him the he would never come off the ventilator that was attached to him in the hospital. But what the doctors never counted on was LeGrand’s fighting spirit, and from the moment of the accident, his will and determination to beat the odds has been on full display. Five weeks ago, he was off the ventilator. And now, he’s determined to prove to those people who said that he will never walk again that they were wrong too.

In a move that’s as unprecedented as it is heart-warming, Schiano gave LeGrand the opportunity that was stolen from him on that fateful October day: he gave him a chance to be a part of a professional football team.

On the Tampa Bay Bucs’ official website, Schiano recalled a moment leading up to the draft that this year should have been the class LeGrand would have been a part of. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance,” Schiano said.

“The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men.”

While LeGrand understands that hey may not be able to play football anymore, that hasn’t weakened his resolve in trying to live a normal life once again. A year after he was injured, LeGrand was already in the early stages of therapy to be able to walk again. LeGrand also told SI.com’s Jon Wetheim that his goal is to go back to Giants Stadium, stand on the very spot where he got hurt, lie down, and get back up.

As for other aspects of his life, LeGrand hasn’t let the injury get in the way of him attaining his degree, resuming his studies via Skype during the university’s 2011 spring semester with plans of earning his degree in labor studies next fall.

But more than just football and school, LeGrand’s injury and his subsequent attitude towards full recovery has become a source of inspiration for a lot of people. SI.com put him on the cover of one of their issues and they voted his story as the 2011 Moment of the Year. In addition, he was also the recipient of the New Jersey Sports Writers Association’s Most Courageous Athlete Award.

Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano has been by LeGrand’s side from the moment of the injury all the way to the young man’s road to recovery. Through all that, Schiano saw the unwavering courage and fighting spirit of this young man. And if signing him to the team’s 90-man offseason roster was the least he could’ve done to show the world LeGrand’s courage and bravery, then sign us up in support of that move.

Eric LeGrand will never be able to play football anymore. But his injury has made him into something more than just a football player; he’s become the kind of inspiration that makes us believe in the power of courage and determination.

Eric LeGrand, you sir, have our respect.

The Money man is set for another substantial payday this weekend for fighting Miguel Cotto, and on Tuesday, Floyd held a media scrum at the MGM Grand to hype the bout. Naturally, the assembled sports reporters – including Yahoo’s Kevin Iole – would have loved to change the subject to the fight the world really wants to see (Mayweather v. Manny Pacquiao), but, either out of sheer politeness or because they’d been warned off by Floyd’s handlers, they declined to bring up the Philippine congressman’s name.

Thankfully, Floyd brought up the subject himself in a 15-minute harangue about Pacquiao’s alleged use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and why such illegal activities make Floyd fear that his children won’t receive a quality education. “When my career is over, if I’m hurt, or something is going on, because something has happened in a fight, I can’t come to you and say, ‘Yo, I need you to pay my rent for this month. I need you to pay my bills for this month. I need you to pay my car note. I need you to put my kids through school.’ So, my health is more important.” Er, okay…

Pressed to justify his Pacquiao PED allegations, Floyd appeared to suggest he might follow the lead of Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel and consider an alternate career in a chapeau shop. See, Floyd believes Manny’s head has “probably grown” from a size 7-1/4 to an 8 from steroid abuse. Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum (who used to promote Floyd) later suggested Floyd’s cranial conspiracy theory stems from a commercial Manny shot for Hennessy cognac, in which an actor plays a young Manny along the road to boxing glory.

Arum said Floyd has likely had the commercial drilled into his subconscious, because the spot gets regular rotation during National Basketball Association games, on which Floyd is well known to have the occasional five-, six- or seven-figure flutter. “[Floyd’s] seeing this commercial over and over in just about every NBA game that’s on television … and yeah, there are two different-sized heads, but one’s an actor’s and the other’s is Manny’s.” Arum also rejected Floyd’s continued PED allegations. “Manny is not using now and has not ever used steroids … This is like [Floyd's] working for Manny’s attorneys and giving more and more material to them for the defamation case.”

Anyway, watch the spot and compare skulls for yourself…

It’s hard to accept that a man as fearless on the field as Seau would apparently find life away from the gridiron too great a challenge. In 2010, Seau drove his SUV off a California cliff following an arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. Despite tumbling 100 feet, Seau was not seriously injured, and later told authorities he’d fallen asleep at the wheel. Suspicions remain as to whether this accident was a failed suicide bid. No suicide note was found with Seau’s body on Wednesday.

Seau is best remembered for 12 hard-hitting years with the San Diego Chargers. Drafted in 1990, he made an immediate impact and was named a Pro Bowl alternate in his rookie season. This was followed by 12 consecutive years of Pro Bowl starting honors. In 2003, Seau was traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he played three more seasons, followed by four injury-plagued seasons with the New England Patriots. Seau decided to retire in 2010, and was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame the following year. Although he led the Chargers to the Super Bowl following the 1994 season, Seau never got to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Seau’s death marks the eighth player from the 53-man Chargers 1994 Super Bowl squad to die before reaching 45 years of age. Two died from heart attacks, another from an enlarged heart, one OD’d on drugs, one was killed in a plane crash, another in a car crash and one was struck by lightning. The manner of Seau’s death mimics that of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson, who also shot himself in the chest in February 2011.

Prior to taking his life, Duerson left instructions for his brain to be studied for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which he suspected was caused by the skull-rattling hits incurred via the game he and Seau both loved. The condition is being diagnosed more frequently these days among athletes in heavy contact sports – including football, hockey and boxing – and is said to cause psychotic symptoms. There’s no indication that Seau complained of any such symptoms, nor whether his family will request that his brain be examined for signs of CTE. Regardless, a sad exit for such an admired sports figure.

The bookies haven’t had the best of times since Fabio Capello was sacked back in February and needless to say, today’s appointment wasn’t a particularly good one as far as they were concerned. Picking long-time favorite ‘arry Redknapp would have been a winner for a number of firms with SkyBet one of those that were worried about Redknapp not being appointed back in February. Today Helen Jacob was in somber mood.

“Harry Redknapp would have been a brilliant result for us. As Redknapp had been such a short price for such a long time, customers had looked at bigger priced alternatives,” Jacob told CalvinAyre.com. “The best backed and most realistic of which was Hodgson, who came in for consistent support at around the 16/1 mark in recent months.”

Stan James was in the same camp, with spokesperson Rory Jiwani telling us: “In the end, Roy Hodgson turned out to be a five-figure loser for StanJames.com. Immediately after Fabio Capello’s resignation, we decided to keep Harry Redknapp on our side, as he looked a certainty for the job. But in the last month, we were best price Redknapp and hardly took a bet as the uncertainty mounted.”

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe believed the FA took the easy option by picking Hodgson over Redknapp.

He said: “Harry was always favourite – largely because the media would not hear of anyone else getting the job and gave the impression they ‘knew’ it was a matter of when, not if. Personally, I always believed that the FA would probably revert to ‘Brian ‘Too Hot To Handle’ Clough-mode, and that even if they didn’t, Harry, a man who appears to love to be loved, might believe that a couple of England defeats may undo all the work he has done over the years making himself popular with pundits and punters alike.”

Sharpe also added that Hodgson wasn’t alone in receiving support from the punters, adding: “Roy Hodgson was not without punter support, however, so it was not one-way traffic in the market, with Stuart Pearce also coming in for a fair amount of betting support.”

Heading into the European Championships, the sportsbooks are split on what effect the appointment of Hodgson will have on the attitudes of bettors looking to get behind the team. Charlie McCann from BetVictor spoke to us earlier and was far from glowing of the new boss, his belief being that the “punter in the street” won’t be getting behind Roy.

He added: “Roy Hodgson has never captured the public’s imagination and I just wonder if punters will desert England as a result of what has generally been perceived as a conservative/unimaginative but safe appointment.”

Jiwani at Stan James commented that the former West Brom boss has his “work cut out to convince England fans that he is the right man for the job”.

Lastly, Paddy Power celebrated the appointment the only way they know how – by releasing the latest ad in their “We Hear You” advertising campaign. The ad contains hot Eastern European birds merged with goal-line technology and Roy Hodgson smashing a TV in the face! Check it here:

Sure, he lost the fight on a split decision, ceding his WBA Light Heavyweight Title to “Bad” Chad, but if anything, Hopkins didn’t do those who thought he was over-the-hill any favors. The man, at 47 years old, is absolutely ageless. And even in defeat, he still gave Dawson plenty to work for.

At a prime 29 years old, Dawson (31-1, 17KOs) methodically went to work on the Executioner (52-6-2), absorbing as much as he could take and dishing out more punishment in return. In doing so, Chad may have finally given Hopkins thoughts on whether the latter’s proverbial fountain of youth had officially dried out.

Unlike the first fight between the two that ended in a controversial TKO-turned-no-contest, Dawson left little doubt that he was more than ready to supplant Hopkins as the king of the light heavyweight division.

It was far from a pretty fight for Dawson, who, despite being the challenger, was the favorite leading up to the fight, receiving 1/4 odds compared to the champion who came in as the underdog with 7/2 odds. Dawson had to contend with Hopkins’ cunning MBA in “ring generalship”. Dawson, though, was undaunted. He kept pressing the action against the champ, cranking it up in the later rounds when he knew that Hopkins, behind in the scorecards at that time, would try to stem the tide.

In the end, it wasn’t enough for Hopkins. Chad Dawson didn’t come close to knocking out the champion – no one ever has – but he did accomplish the mission he first set out to do in their first fight some six months back. He scaled Mt. Executioner, conquered it, and is now ready to face the biggest and baddest men the light heavyweight division has to offer.

And as far as Bernard Hopkins goes from here, there’s nothing left to prove, unless he wants to show everybody that he can still compete at a high level when he’s 50.

But for a man who many consider as one of the best boxers in the sport, we know that the Executioner has accomplishments that no other boxer in history can ever come close to replicating. The way he continues to be a force as a fighter at his age is beyond remarkable and something that we may never get to see in the sport of boxing ever again.

So if you’re a Hopkins fan and you were rooting for that 7/2 odds to cash in, don’t feel to bad about the losing bet. It was a long shot, anyway. Soak in the thought that  we may have seen the last of a great champion in the boxing ring.

Bernard Hopkins was never the flashiest fighter, nor was he the most vicious puncher.

But as boxers go, the man has no peer. And while congratulations go out to “Bad” Chad on his impressive performance, part of us are also applauding the ageless 47-year old fighter who, in defeat, still gave his 29-year old rival everything he could handle.

This rivalry will hit fever pitch when the two English Premier League rivals square off on Monday at the Etihad Stadium, a match that carries implications not just on the EPL standings, but also on the record books.

United could have avoided all this drama if they had just played to their form in recent weeks. But after a commanding eight point lead on the standings only a few weeks ago, United squandered a lot of it, thanks to a shocking 2-1 loss to Wigan Athletic and more egregiously, giving up a two-goal lead to Everton at Old Trafford, settling instead for a 4-4 draw. Combine that with three City wins against West Brom, Norwich, and Wolverhampton and that once in surmountable eight-point lead has been cut to three with three games left.

So really, it’s no surprising that folks from England have taken a Super Bowl-like interest into the match. If City wins, they draw even with United on the standings but take first place due to a superior goal-difference ratio. For United, the name of the game is to win, or at the very least, draw against their crosstown rivals. Either scenario would put the Red Devils comfortably in first, and unless something completely historic happens, the title comes back to Old Trafford.

The last time these two teams met in Old Trafford, City completely destroyed their rivals, running away with a 6-1 dismantling over United proved City’s equal-standing against their big brothers. If the Citizens can replicate that performance in their home turf – they’re a spotless 16-1-0 at the Etihad – then expect a barnburner of a match that will be watched, at least according to the EPL, by over 650 million people in over 190 countries.

Read that again: 650 million people in over 190 countries.

Yeah, no pressure on these guys, right?

Sportsbooks have also taken serious interest in the match considering the stakes that are involved for both teams. With momentum on their side and home field advantage, Manchester City is a slight favorite to upend their crosstown rivals with 6/5 odds to beat Manchester United. On the red side, oddsmakers have given United 12/5 odds to score the upset. A draw, something United will be looking for, hits with equal odds (12/5) with a United win.

There’s no question that whoever wins this match will be poised to win the English Premier League title, something that seemed implausible only a few weeks ago when United was comfortably ahead in the standings. But that’s the beauty of sports. You don’t know what’s going to happen until everything’s all said and done.

If it were that predictable, then sports books would be bleeding money hand over fist.

Entering the semis, everybody and their mothers had already penciled in both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona to renew their El Clasico rivalry on the biggest stage in club football. The two teams, considered as the two best football clubs in the world, were overwhelming favorites to beat Bayern Munich and Chelsea in their respective semi-finals matches.

But like we always say, there’s no such thing as a sure bet in sports.

And so, against all odds, Bayern Munich and Chelsea both took down the Spanish giants, setting up a Champions League final that will have an interesting take, not just for football fans, but also for sports bettors.

The early favorite to win the title now is Bayern Munich, who beat Madrid on penalty kicks after Bastian Schweinsteiger sent Los Blancos packing with a dead-eye, straight-down-the-middle penalty kick past the flailing arms of Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Real seemed to be on top form early on as Christiano Ronaldo scored two early goals – one on a penalty kick – to give the home team a 2-0 lead. But the ever-so-important “away” goal reared its head once again when Bayern stalwart Arjen Robben scored on his own penalty kick in the 27th minute, tying the aggregate score at 3 apiece. After a scoreless second half and overtime, Real Madrid shot themselves on the foot with repeated PK misses from Ronaldo, Kaka, and most egregiously, Sergio Ramos.

The other semi showdown between Chelsea and Barcelona followed a similar script when the latter took a 2-0 lead, only to see Chelsea’s Ramires score an away goal past injury time in the first half. With the score at 2-1 and Chelsea holding an “away” goal advantage, Barcelona applied incredible pressure on the second half, forcing The Blues, already a man down after John Terry was sent off to the showers due to a red card, to spend almost the entirety of the 45-minute second half protecting their own goal. To their credit, Chelsea showed remarkable poise under pressure, bending multiple times but not breaking and erasing every Barca attack that came their way. The English team finally broke through in the 91st minute when Fernando Torres scored on a breakaway, sending Chelsea to the finals and bringing a dramatic halt to Barcelona’s European dominance.

Now, the stage is set for what’s looking like an enthralling finals between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. The latter will have a decided advantage considering that the game will be played on their home pitch. Early odds for the match already has Bayern as the slight favorite at 8/11 odds whereas Chelsea is getting 13/5 odds to upset the Bavarians on their home turf. Bayern’s early favorite status is largely due to it playing on its home field even if the talent level on both squads are right on par. Chelsea will be on a slight disadvantage as a number of their players will be suspended for the game, adding even more pressure on the English team to dig deep and use up whatever intestinal fortitude they have left after taking down Barcelona.

We also expect heavy action on both sides as the two teams have strong fan bases.  And don’t forget, the England vs Germany angle will always draw support on both sides.

Interestingly, both teams have had their recent share of heartbreaks on this stage. Chelsea was in perfect position to win their first title but John Terry lost his footing on his penalty kick, hitting the post on his kick despite a wide-open net. Two years after that, it was Bayern Munich’s turn to taste bitter defeat in the hands of Inter Milan at the 2010 Finals.

With fresh wounds still on their badges, both Bayern and Chelsea will undoubtedly give a show worthy of a classic. That much we expect.

Whichever side you’re on – be it Bayern or Chelsea – you can expect this match to have the same kind of atmosphere as a World Cup finals match. The pressure’s on for both teams to exorcise their past Champions League demons and go home with the trophy that everybody thought a Spanish team would have in the end.

But the truth of the matter is neither Barcelona nor Madrid will be playing in the finals.

It’s Bayern Munich and Chelsea. And if we’re putting down money on a bet that it’s going to be an epic clash, we’re betting the house on that one.

But when you leave behind the promo tours, the 24/7 episodes, and the continuous media coverage surrounding it, you’re left with two men standing in the middle of the ring, armed only with a pair of tightly-wrapped fists and serious malicious intent to destroy one another.

Prize fights like Mayweather-Cotto is the kind of event that makes people drop whatever it is their doing, shell out $60 for the pay-per-view and plop down on their couches to watch two men annihilate each other.The two protagonists, especially “Money May”, are locks for the Hall-of-Fame. Both are also at the peak of their boxing powers, which means that no matter how heavy the odds are stacked against Miguel Cotto – oddsmakers are favoring Mayweather at 1/7 odds while Cotto is a heavy underdog at 9/2 odds – there’s always that chance he lands an overhand right and puts the first blemish on Mayweather’s spotless 42-0 record.

Miguel Cotto is no slouch. He’s held four world championship belts in his career, he’s the current WBA Light Middleweight Champion, and his only loss that’s worth noting – sorry, we’re not counting that controversial Margarito fight – came in the hands of Manny Pacquiao. If there’s anybody that can put some pressure on Floyd in a big-money fight outside Pac Man, it’s the Puerto Rican bomber.

And for all his greatness inside the ring, Mayweather has never been a model citizen outside of it. He’s characterized by a lot of folks as arrogant and full of himself. He’s been in trouble with the law far too many times than we care to count. And oh, by the way, did we mention people think he’s arrogant and full of himself?

Combine these two elements together and you have a fight that people, fans and bettors alike, will be all eyes on.

And if you’re a betting man, you can pretty much expect some serious action on both sides. One side will be on Floyd, despite his heavy favorite odds. When you’re behind a man who is the unquestioned pound-for-pound king of the sport and boasting of an impeccable 42-0 record, you’re going to feel confident shelling out them bills for odds that are as good as a sure thing.

On the flip side, Cotto backers will point to the combination of getting premium ‘dog odds and the glorious sight of Floyd getting his first loss as the primary motivations in risking their disposable income. It’s not a bad wager, per se, but considering how Floyd supporters have cashed in 42 times in 42 fights, it’s certainly a gamble putting money against Money.

But through all the hooplah, the betting, and the side shows, the fight is still all about the fighters. When they both step inside that ring, they won’t be thinking about anything else apart from the other man.

Training. Family. Money. No thought of it.

Unlike all of us who will simply watch and cheer for the fighter we’re backing, those two have no other choice but to do the most primal instinct in all of us: fight to survive.

And if it has to be done at the expense of the other, then so be it.

Floyd Mayweather Jr and Miguel Cotto on May 5.

The world is waiting.