Bombers re-sign QB Pierce

Football Betting Lines

02/02/2012 - Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have re-signed veteran quarterback Buck Pierce.

Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

"We are thrilled that we were able to get a deal done with Buck," said Blue Bombers general manager Joe Mack in a statement. "His experience and leadership is invaluable in our locker room and we look forward to having him return in 2012 and help our team compete for a Grey Cup championship."

A seven-year CFL veteran, Pierce had a standout season in 2011. He recorded career highs with 261 completions, 3,348 passing yards and 324 rushing yards as he led the Blue Bombers to an East Division championship.

Pierce, who just completed his second year in Winnipeg, would have been eligible for free agency on February 16. He started his CFL career in 2005 with British Columbia and has thrown for 13,162 yards with 68 touchdowns.

Wwfreearcade Football Betting News

<< Bombers extend contract of GM Mack
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday extended the contract of general manager Joe Mack through 2014. Mack began his current role as the head of football operations in 2010, returning to the club for wh

<< Stony Brook to visit Syracuse, Army
Stony Brook, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stony Brook will travel to FBS programs Syracuse and Army and play six home games as part of its 2012 football schedule. It will be the second straight year Stony Brook has scheduled two FBS opponents. The

<< Gaels and Toreros tangle in WCC affair
Moraga, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 18th-ranked Saint Mary's Gaels put an 11- game win streak on the line this evening, as they welcome the San Diego Toreros to Moraga for a West Coast Conference matchup at McKeon Pavilion. Randy Bennett's Gae

<< 24th-ranked Bulldogs set sights on Cougars
Provo, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 24th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs continue their quest for the top spot in the West Coast Conference as they head to the Marriott Center to square off with the BYU Cougars. This will be just the second meeting bet

<< Gators and Gamecocks collide in Gainesville
Gainesville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 12th-ranked Florida Gators put a five- game win streak on the line this evening, as the welcome the South Carolina Gamecocks to Gainesville for an SEC showdown at the O'Connell Center. Billy Donovan's G

Tepper tabbed to head Buffalo defense >>
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University at Buffalo has named Lou Tepper as its defensive coordinator. Tepper has more than 35 years of Division I coaching experience, including a six-year run as head coach at Illinois. He guided

Underrated Sixers fight for respect >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - "Philadelphia is the only city where you can experience the thrill of victory and the agony of reading about it the next day," - Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt. The Sixers could only gain a victor

Melo cleared to return for Syracuse >>
Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Syracuse center Fab Melo has been reinstated by the university and will return to the court Saturday after missing three games. The school didn't disclose why Melo was forced to sit, citing federal stude

Mast wins European Senior Q School >>
Lagoa, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American Dick Mast posted a four-under 67 on Thursday to earn the victory in the Finals of European Senior Tour Qualifying School. Mast, the only player to shoot four rounds in the 60s, finishe

New England acquires Colombia forward Moreno >>
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Revolution acquired Colombia forward Jose Moreno on loan from Colombian power Once Caldas on Thursday. The 30-year-old Moreno has played in Colombia, Ukraine, Argentina, Romania and Peru duri

SPORTS BETTING - Tennis is an underrated and under-utilized bettors' sport.

Ten years ago, at just about this time, I called Alan Boston in Vegas and left him a voicemail that went something like this (abridged version): "Hey Alan, Chad Millman from ESPN The Magazine calling. I want to do a book about wise guys, you in?"

A couple weeks later I got a message back (abridged version): "I don't know, maybe," Boston said. "Call me and we'll talk about it. But not later today. I got $1,000 on Andre Agassi to win the French Open at 40-1, and he's in the finals."

Here's what happened next (abridged version): Agassi won his tourney. Boston won his $40,000. I wrote sportsbook.

In the ten years since, how much has been wagered on the big-time tennis events? Put it this way: The Nevada Gaming Commission doesn't even track the number year by year because it's so small.

"Tennis makes up about one-tenth of one percent of our take," says Lucky's bookmaking boss Jimmy Vaccaro. "The last big golf major we probably had $100,000 worth of bets. In tennis, we might have written two big tickets."

Tennis' lack of popularity amongst the American bettoratti is no surprise, really. For starters, the biggest sports betting holidays -- the Super Bowl, the NCAA tourney -- are must see TV. People, at least the degenerates I know, plan vacations around watching those events in Vegas sports books.

But Wimbledon? Doesn't exactly reel in the whales. "Seriously, it's the nuts as an event," says Boston. "But who even knows when it's on?"

Here's another reason that helps explain why golf gets traction, something I call "The Bubbe Theory." My Bubbe is pushing 95 and has cataracts so bad that, to her, even the most crystalline Chicago day is mostly cloudy. But she still listens to the Cubs games, and she still calls me in a fit if she disagrees with something Rick Telander writes in the Chicago Sun Times. She's a sports fan. If she doesn't know you, you're just filling a niche. And niche players, even historically good ones like Roger and Raf, don't drive betting volume. Only the highest profile names attract square money, which inflates wagering totals like a shot of saline to the lips. Bubbe, and the public, loved Agassi, tennis' last cross-the-rubicon, mainstream draw. She also has a crush on Tiger. She's given me standing orders to put a sawbuck on the big cat whenever I walk through a sports book (or mistakenly tap into one via my Internet machine.) That explains why the Masters is getting $100K in action at some books while the four tennis majors might not get that combined this year.

This isn't a case of tennis being a difficult sport to bet. In fact, in Europe, it's probably the second most popular sport for gambling after soccer. Granted, as the WSJ football betting last week and The Mag's Shaun Assael examined in even greater depth last year, that might be because gamblers across the pond see it as an easy game to fix. But it could also be because, over there it holds the kind of sway the big two do over here.

Street corners in Spain are peppered with public courts and kids doing their best Raffy impressions. In some war torn parts of Eastern Europe poverty-stricken kids view tennis as an escape route, like football or basketball here. A couple years ago The Mag's Lindsay Berra wrote a great piece about Belgrade's Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic. They learned the game as kids while bombs were raining down on their homeland. They practiced in drained swimming pools. Not exactly Nick Bolletierri conditions.

In the United States, casual fans think tennis is played four times a year. But on the tightly packed European continent, national interest in homegrown talent runs deep every weekend. Of the ATP's current top 20 players, only two, tennis betting and James Blake, are American. Fourteen are from Europe, representing six different countries.

No wonder fans from Lisbon to Bhudapest get jacked up for the net game, whether it's Wimbledon or a low-level tourney like the Estoril Open in Portugal (congrats to Spain's Albert Montanes for winning that one, btw). Chances are good that someone representing their flag will not only be playing, but have a shot at winning.

And that's all any bettor can ask for.

To visit this sports book go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.