The Super Saints

When you think of great teams in the NFL, past and present, the Saints never seem to come up in the conversation.  Images of fans wearing brown paper bags over their heads can be remembered more easily.  But not anymore.  The Saints have erased all of the bad memories and now can say, that they are the best in the world.  The Saints faced a ten point deficit at the hands of possibly the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Peyton Manning.  The Colts seemingly had no problem walking up and down the field against the Saints’ defense, and tied a Super Bowl record with a 96 yard drive for a touchdown.

But New Orleans wouldn’t be denied, as they rallied back to cut the lead to 4 at half.  In the second half of the game, it was all Drew Brees.  He was 29 for 32 in the second half, leading his team to score 25 points against just 7 for the Colts.  One of the most memorable moments must have been head coach Sean Peyton elected to try an onside kick at the start of the second half, which worked.  When this game is spoke of for many years to come, and when it is replayed, that decision will be shown over and over.  This was the first time the Saints had ever reached the Super Bowl, and they would walk away with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  In doing so, they beat what most people thought was the best team in the league, guided behind the MVP.  But the Saints wouldn’t be denied as they won 31-17, as 5 point underdogs.

For us, we stayed away from the side and once again issued the total.  Last year, we issued the Over and watched Big Ben take his team down the field for a game winning score which gave us the cover.  This year, we figured that the game would be played with the mindset to keep the other offense off of the field, and we were right.  Peyton Manning only had 6 snaps from center in the entire 2nd quarter.  50 dimes issued on the inflated 57 total to go Under and it did.  We are now 2-0 in the Super Bowl with 105 dimes of net profit with these totals.

The NFL Playoffs

At the start of the 2009/10 playoff’s things didn’t go too well as we issued the Cincinnati Bengals over the New York Jets.  Carson Palmer couldn’t find an answer for the Jets’ defense as he was 18 for 36 and only threw for 146 yards.  The Bengals were held under 300 total yards for the game and turned the ball over twice, compared to the Jets’ who didn’t have any turnovers and gained 353 total yards with Sanchez having a nice 12 for 15, 182 yard day and a touchdown.

In day two, we took it on the chin as we got swept issuing the New England Patriots who were beat up 33-14 by the Baltimore Ravens.  And then watched the number 2 ranked defense get torched by Arizona, only to give us some hope when Green Bay rallied and then lost in overtime.  Not the start we wanted as we ended up going 0-3 for the weekend.

Week 2 would be totally different, as we issued a 25 dime play on the New Orleans Saints who dominated Arizona by getting to Kurt Warner throughout the game.  Brees threw for 247 yards and 3 touchdown passes, while Reggie Bush stepped up with 84 yards on only 5 carries.  Bush finished the day with two touchdowns as he had one rushing, and one returning a punt for 83 yards.  We ended the day with our first ever teaser, tapping the Saints and the Colts, who went on to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 20-3, as it was the Colts’ defense that played shut down football.  On Sunday, we issued the Minnesota Vikings who absolutely dismantled the Cowboys 34-3, with Brett Favre having one of his best games throwing for 4 touchdown passes.  The defensive line made its point that the Cowboys will look to rebuild their offensive line in the off-season, as they sacked Tony Romo 6 times.  Total turn around as we got swept the previous week, and now we sweep the board going 3-0.

The conference games came and we issued our highest rated release of the season with the Indianapolis Colts over the Jets for 65 dimes.  The Jets started off the game with a 17-6 lead, after Indy failed to punch it in on two goaline situations.  But Peyton Manning rallied the offense to put up 24 unanswered points, while the Colts defense shut the Jets down.  Colts advanced to the Super Bowl behind a 30-17 win and cover.  With only one game remaining, we are currently 4-3 in the playoff’s, with 4 straight winners in a row.

Upgrades to Our Site

In our attempt to improve our site and meet the needs of our customers, we have changed some items and upgraded others on the site.

• Free Pick Box: Located on the right hand side of the site, the free pick box will route all users to a page that will display the free pick.  Many customers, who either do not have internet access during the day or are restricted from certain sites, can not view our free pick on You Tube.  So now, there will be a free pick each day loaded on the site which can be obtained by simply clicking the box.
• Myspace: We still have a Myspace account, but will no longer use a direct link to it on our site.  Honestly, we do not update the Myspace page each day and it is something that most of our users, do not have.  So, if you need to contact us, feel free by email and check our updates on Twitter.
• New Package: We no longer will offer the Weekend Pass, and now have a 6 Month Package.  Many customers have been asking for this package since the summer of last year, and although this package is not fully completed, (the day count is not updated yet), this will be ready  first thing next week.
• New Video Library: Now that we have a free pick link, we will use our channel to do instructional videos on how to use our site, and other videos will be informational tips and advice related to gambling.  This will still take a few weeks before it is completed.  The Library will now list every video on our site and no longer direct to a You Tube based shared video.
• Quicker Links: Scrolling over the top navigation bar will now have quicker links to live scores, odds, injuries and weather by each sport.  Before, you were directed to a page that displayed a general amount of information and another link had to be clicked to go to a certain sport.  Now, the quick links are on the navigation bar by simply dragging and leaving the mouse over the link you want.
• $25.00 Coupon: This will be one of the most popular add ons that we implemented on our site.  Now all new users can get a one time $25.00 coupon that can be used for any package.  The coupon will also be good for daily packages and if there should be a day where the daily package price is under the $25.00 coupon used, you will have a remaining balance that can be used whenever you please.

There are many other features, and when completed, notices on our Blog and Twitter will keep all informed.  Thank You.

Big Dog Cashes In

Coming into Wednesday night, there were a lot of enticing games on the board.  Pittsburgh and Georgetown, Iowa State and Texas Tech, Baylor and Kansas, and in the NBA the Utah Jazz took on the San Antonio Spurs.  We stayed in college basketball and first took Kent State over Buffalo, and wagered to win 25 dimes.  After the first half, which was close at times but Kent built a nice 10 point lead, the Golden Flashes’ offense lit the board up.  Kent State put up 55 second half points, while only allowing 30 and easily cruised to an 89-54 win by 35 points.  All that was left was for us to hit our highest rated release of the entire college basketball season.  We issued 50 dimes on Bradley over Southern Illinois.  Bradley came into this matchup with a losing record at 8-9, while the Salukis’ were 10-6.  The start of the game was the key for the win as Bradley opened the first half with a 15-0 lead, as Southern Illinois missed their first 8 shots.  Salukis responded by outscoring Bradley 18-6 to cut the lead by 3 points.  In the second half of the game, Southern Illinois took their first lead 55-54, after going on a 7-0 run, but a crucial 3 point foul on Carlton Fay, sent Sam Maniscalco to the free throw line.  He hit all three shots putting Bradley back on top.  Fay and Freeman both missed 3 pointers for Southern Illinois and Bradley got the outright win as a 7 point dog.  We capped off the night going 2-0 with an easy 35 point win with a 4 point favorite and got the outright victory with an underdog bringing in 75 dimes for the night.

Plaxico Burress Denied Furlough

Manhattan prosecutors have successfully blocked Plaxico Buress’ bid for a work release. The state’s Department of Corrections have denied the former Giants star’s work-release application, and his sentenced will be continued, prolonging his release from prison on gun charges.  Burress is serving two years for accidentally shooting himself in the thigh with his unlicensed hand gun at the Latin Quarter nightclub last year. The DA’s office had opposed the application, although the state had received many letters from Buress’ friends and family in support of him attaining the work-release program. Burress can re-apply for the program in July. The gun wasn’t licensed in New York or New Jersey, where Burress lived, and his Florida concealed-weapons permit had expired. He also failed to report the incident to authorities. Manhattan Chief Assistant DA Mark Dwyer had said that a quick furlough would send a bad message. The Giants released Burress in April, but the 32-year-old said he hopes to resume his NFL career after he gets out of prison.

Plaxico Burress was drafted in the first round, 8th overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000, after a successful college career at Michigan State.  He had 22 receptions his rookie year and tripled that number the following year with 66 and 6 touchdowns.  In 2004, he recorded his fewest amount of receptions since his rookie season with 35, and left the team for the New York Giants.  In his first season with the Giants, he would catch 76 receptions and 7 touchdown passes and quickly become Eli Manning’s top target.  The next two years Burress caught 22 touchdown passes, and was one of the key players in the Giants winning the Super Bowl.  When released, his return to the NFL, coupled with his past troubles, will be a daunting task.

Mike Shanahan Returns

Less than 48 hours after Jim Zorn was fired as head coach of the Washington Redskins, owner Daniel Snyder inked a five year contract for Mike Shanahan. He will be the next coach in a long list of candidates that failed to deliver Snyder’s promise to Redskins fans when he purchased the team to win a Super Bowl. The Redskins are 82-99 since Snyder bought the team, missing the playoffs in eight of 11 seasons. Shanahan will be Washington’s seventh coach since Snyder came along in 1999 — a stretch that has included only two playoff victories. Shanahan won the Super Bowl twice in 14 seasons with the Denver Broncos, but was fired a year ago after they missed the playoffs for the third straight season. The Broncos opted for coach Josh McDaniels, who in his first year, traded top pick Jay Cutler, and finished the season 8-8, after a solid start and missed the playoffs.  Shanahan has been one of the big names surfacing the league, with Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher.  The Redskins finished the regular season with a 4-12 record and will have a top draft pick coming into the new year.  With the team in disarray and bickering among teammates, Shanahan will have his work cut out for him.

Randy Johnson Retires

Randy Johnson became the 24th pitcher in the history of baseball to win 300 games last season with the San Francisco Giants.  Big Unit was also one of the key players that led the Arizona Diamondbacks to a World Series in 2001. Johnson and Curt Schilling were co-MVPs during that series, when one of the most memorable moments came when Johnson entered Game 7 in relief in the eighth inning and earned the win after being the winning pitcher in Game 6 the night before.  Randy Johnson also won 5 Cy Young awards, with only Roger Clemens winning more with 6.  In 22 years he pitched for Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, the Yankees and the Giants, Johnson went 303-166. His 4,875 strikeouts rank second all-time to Nolan Ryan (5,714). He also pitched 37 shutouts.

He was one of the most feared left handers, if not pitchers in the game.  A fierce intensity, and a menacing stare, Big Unit will go down as one of the greatest pitchers ever to play the game.  The 46 year old suffered a tear in his rotator cuff, missed the next several weeks and finished 8-6 with a 4.88 ERA for the Giants last year.  The injury may be factor that led to his decision to retire.  Unlike Clemens, Randy Johnson’s career will be remebered without a blemish and he most likely will be a first ballot candidate for the Hall of Fame.

MLB Key Acquisitions – Part 2

Here are some of the key acquisitions from December 9th to January 3rd 2010.

December 9th

• Veteran left handed pitcher Randy Wolf signed a multi year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers with an option for 2013
• The New York Yankees acquired Curtis Granderson in a 3 team, seven player deal to strengthen their outfield.

December 10th

• The Houston Astros signed former Philadelphia Phillies 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz to a one year contract.

December 14th

• Hideki Matsui signed a one year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

December 15th

• The Chicago White Sox traded RHPs John Ely & Jon Link to the Los Angeles Angeles to acquire center fielder Juan Pierre.
• The Boston Red Sox signed former Angel Ace John Lackey to a lucrative 5 year contract.
• The Boston Red Sox signed free agent  Mike Cameron to a two year contract.

December 16th

• The Philadelphia Phillies traded left handed star Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners in a three team 8 player deal that sent two top prospects to Toronto and Roy Halladay to the Phillies.
• The Philadelphia Phillies signed Roy Halladay to a 3 year, 60 million contract extension.

December 18th

• The Seattle Mariners trade RHP pitcher Carlos Silva for outfielder Milton Bradley.The
• Philadelphia Phillies exercised their option and signed short stop Jimmy Rollins until 2011

December 26th

• The New York Mets signed free agent pitcher Kelvim Escobar to a 1 year deal.

December 29th

• The New York Mets signed free agent, Jason Bay, to a 4 year contract with a 2014 option.
• The San Francisco Giants sign Mark DeRosa to a 2 year contract.

December 31st

• The Chicago Cubs signed free agent  Marlon Byrd to a 3 year, 15 million dollar contract, in hopes of filling holes in the outfield.
• The Philadelphia Phillies signed closing pitcher Danys Baez

2009 Year In Review

2009 started off with a really solid January, closing out the NFL playoff’s and college bowls with a combined 14-4 record.  We also we’re heating up in the NBA, but towards the end of the month, we hit a snag in college basketball.  Our troubles continued as we had our first losing month in February, primarily because of a bad streak of college basketball releases, although we did hit our 55 dime play on the Super Bowl.  But March was a nice bounce back month with our NBA plays leading the way and a complete turnaround in college hoops.  It continued into April as we won 398 dimes for the month and ended the college basketball season hitting just under 60%.  May would be another solid month, as baseball began its season and we stayed hot in the NBA, finishing the season with a 63-29 overall record, (49-22 in 2009).  June would be the first month that would see our bankroll topple 1000 dimes, and the future looked very promising with football right around the corner.  But July was a losing month, as baseball began to level out, and our releases weren’t hitting.  August wouldn’t be very productive, but September would be horrendous.  The main reason our yearly figures didn’t turn out the way I wanted them too, was because of the lousy start to both college football and the NFL.  The year for us could be summed up into a year of two halves.  The first 6 months being great and very profitable, while the last 6 months being difficult and costing us some of our bankroll.  We did finish out the year winning just under 700 dimes, but the NFL proved to be tough for us this year which paled in comparison to last year’s run.

Our goals for 2010, will be to win 1200 dimes of net profit for the year, while staying more balanced and disciplined, as I got away from myself at the start of the football season.  2009 was very profitable, especially because the average play I release is between 20 to 30 dimes, but it was a disappointing end to a year that seemed to be very promising.

Jack Johnson’s Pardon

The Justice Department’s pardon attorney, Ronald L. Rodgers, said the department, as a policy, does not process pardons for dead people.  But Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Rep. Peter King of New York, both Republicans, were sending a new letter to the president Wednesday, Trying once again to pardon former heavyweight champion of the wrold Jack Johnson.  Both houses of Congress passed resolutions this year urging a presidential pardon for Johnson, who became the first black heavyweight champion in 1908 — 100 years before Obama was elected the first black president.

Johnson’s victory led to a search for a “Great White Hope” who could beat him. Two years later, Jim Jeffries, the American world titleholder Johnson had tried for years to fight, came out of retirement but lost in a match called “The Battle of the Century,” resulting in deadly riots.  In 1913, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes. After his conviction, he fled the country, but agreed years later to return and serve a 10-month jail sentence.

“Mr. Johnson’s conviction was motivated by nothing more than the color of his skin,” McCain and King wrote. “As such, it not only injured his family, but also our nation as a whole.”  When he unveiled the resolution in April, McCain said he was sure that Obama “will be more than eager” to issue the pardon.