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03/17/2010 - Surprise, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington released an apologetic statement Wednesday regarding his cocaine use during the 2009 season.
Washington, 57, just finished his third season with the Rangers and led the team to an 87-75 finish in 2009, the club's first winning campaign since 2004.
"I am truly sorry for my careless, dangerous, and frankly, stupid, behavior last year," Washington said. "I am not here to make excuses. There are none. I fully understand that I disappointed a lot of people -- my family, my players, coaches, as well as the team's leadership, especially (president) Nolan Ryan and (general manager) Jon Daniels, as well as young people who may have looked up to me."
Washington also detailed his offering of a resignation letter following the drug test in which he tested positive.
"Shortly after I (used cocaine), MLB notified me that I would have a routine drug test," Washington said. "Before even taking the test, I notified the league about the drug use. Right after that test, I told Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan about my shameful behavior. I offered them my resignation.
"They asked a lot of difficult questions. Remarkably, these two men, after a lot of thought and prayer, allowed me to stay here through last season. However, they also directed me to immediately begin MLB's drug treatment program, which is a thorough and exhaustive process, and it includes the administration of drug tests at least three times a week."
Washington added that he completed the drug treatment program. He also stated that his usage was an isolated incident as opposed to a continuing problem.
An earlier SI.com report said that under MLB, Washington was considered a first-time offender and went through counseling that's mandatory for non- players who fail a test or admit to drug use. MLB policy mandates managers and coaches be subject to random testing once a year. But while the report said Washington was cleared to have his testing scaled back to that level, he voluntarily will continue the increased testing.
Washington was hired as the Rangers' manager in November 2006. In three seasons with him at the helm, Texas has gone 241-245.
<< Kansas City brings Diop back to MLS
Kansas City, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Wizards signed Senegalese
midfielder Birahim Diop, the Major League Soccer club announced on Wednesday.
"Birahim is a guy who brings a physical presence to the field," Wizards
Manag
<< Spoiler replaces rear wing starting with Martinsville
Concord, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NASCAR will replace the rear wing with the
spoiler on the current Sprint Cup Series cars, beginning with next week's race
at Martinsville Speedway.
During a news conference held on Wednesday at Charl
<< Bears release CB Vasher
Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bears released long-time
cornerback Nathan Vasher on Wednesday.
Vasher, who was a fourth-round pick by the Bears in 2004, has spent the last
six seasons in Chicago. He signed a cont
<< DE Edwards reaches 4-year deal with Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -Free agent defensive end Dwan Edwards has signed a four-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.The team announced the deal Wednesday.A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press early Wednesday morning tha
Chargers bring back DL Ian Scott >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Chargers re-signed veteran
defensive lineman Ian Scott to a one-year deal.
The terms of the contract have not been released.
Scott appeared in the final 13 games for the Chargers last s
Seahawks sign LB McCoy for one year >>
Kirkland, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks announced the signing of
linebacker Matt McCoy to a one-year contract on Wednesday.
McCoy, 27, spent the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2009,
McCoy appeared in 12 gam
Browns re-sign three >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns announced the re-signing of
linebacker Marcus Benard, linebacker Blake Costanzo and running back Chris
Jennings on Wednesday.
All three had been exclusive rights players, meaning they
Niners add CB Paymah >>
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco 49ers agreed to terms
with cornerback Karl Paymah on a one-year contract on Wednesday. Financial
terms were not disclosed.
The 27-year-old spent the 2009 season with Minnesot
Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.
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