Henry to New York exactly what MLS needs
Soccer Betting Lines
07/12/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In one of the worst-kept secrets in soccer, French striker
Thierry Henry will be announced as Red Bull New York's second designated
player at a press conference on Thursday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
What does the signing of the former Arsenal and Barcelona star mean to New
York and Major League Soccer?
Everything.
Not only will signing the 32-year-old star add a big name to help Red Bull and
MLS gain some long-term traction in the New York market, but it will
immediately put MLS in the news cycle after the dramatic World Cup exploits of
the United States national team put soccer's popularity in America at an all-
time high.
The fact that New York is able to add one of the top scorers in English Premier
League history, a player only three years removed from being Arsenal's captain,
is a major coup for MLS.
Don't believe me? Ask Henry's buddy, Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, also
part-owner of the 2011 MLS Expansion Vancouver Whitecaps.
"He's played at some of the biggest clubs in the world," said Nash at Red Bull
Arena on Saturday. "He's had a fantastic time at Arsenal, a fantastic time at
Barcelona and when you've been a professional soccer player at the highest
level with all those expectations since you're 17, sometimes you welcome a
change."
Nash went on to talk about how much Henry loves New York and the United States,
and how much he can add to MLS.
"I think we're lucky, too, because Thierry's still a world-class player," he
said. "We've seen players come over before who've shown how great they were
but not necessarily every night. I think he's still capable of playing at the
highest level of this game. It's amazing that he's willing to come over here
at this stage of his career, to be honest."
Not since the Los Angeles Galaxy signed David Beckham prior to the 2007 season
has MLS scored such an international star.
In a league where the Galaxy have cornered the market in both points and
headlines (even with the long-term Achilles injury to Beckham), New York now
has an opportunity to balance out the spotlight with its own star, in the first
year of its brand-new soccer-specific stadium.
Prior to the 2010 MLS season, New York's other designated player, striker Juan
Pablo Angel, told The Sportsbook Betting Lines he was "excited about [opening Red Bull
Arena] because I'm sure it will change the perspective of the game in this
region."
Now with Henry, and the Red Bulls reportedly closing in on a third DP, that
perspective should continue to evolve.
"Getting top-quality, experienced players is obviously going to help us
continue what looks like a decent year for the club," New York general manager
Erik Soler told media on Saturday. "We're going to get a good player in and
we'll have to take it from there and see. It will lift the whole team and make
everybody even sharper and better, and it will be a great experience for us."
<< Three advance in Prague
Prague, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A trio of unseeded women, including
Slovenian Polona Hercog, posted first-round wins Monday at the $220,000 Prague
Open tennis event.
Hercog humbled German Tatjana Malek 6-4, 6-2 on the red clay at
<< Chivas USA's Braun earns MLS Player of Week
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chivas USA forward Justin Braun was
voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 15 of the 2010
season on Monday.
Braun scored both of his club's goals in its 2-0 win over th
<< Hanescu ousted in Stuttgart
Stuttgart, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eighth seed and 2009 runner-up Victor
Hanescu was an opening-round upset victim Monday at the Mercedes Cup tennis
event.
The Romanian Hanescu was knocked out by Swiss Marco Chiudinelli 7-6 (7-4), 6
<< Serra exits Bastad
Bastad, Sweden (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eighth-seeded Frenchman Florent Serra was a
first-round upset victim Monday at the Swedish Open.
Italian Potito Starace stifled Serra 6-2. 6-2 on the red clay at Bastad Tennis
Stadium.
In other first-ro
<< Edoardo Molinari in top 20 of world rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edoardo Molinari collected his first
European Tour win Sunday at the Scottish Open and in the process, moved inside
the top 20 of the world rankings.
Molinari moved up 22 places to 19th this week.
ESPN's Berman honored with Pete Rozelle Award >>
Canton, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - ESPN host Chris Berman has been recognized as
the 2010 recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Pete Rozelle Radio-
Television Award.
The award recognizes long-time exceptional contributions t
AL Notebook: Cano finally starting to 'get it' with Yankees >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It wasn't long ago that there were some people inside the
New York Yankees organization who wanted to deal Robinson Cano.
Some felt he was too lazy in the field. Others didn't like his approach at the
plate. His harshest c
NL Notebook: Better late then never for Reds' Rhodes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There may not be a more random All-Star on this year's
National League squad than left-handed specialist Arthur Rhodes. Then again,
there may not be a more deserving player either.
Forget the moonball he served up to Ryan
Canucks sign D O'Brien, three others >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks on Monday announced the
signing of defenseman Shane O'Brien.
O'Brien, 26, had two goals and six assists with a plus-15 rating in
65 games for the Canucks last season. He has
This Week in Golf - July 12th through July 18th >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, The Old Course
at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland - The season's third major championship
is on deck and it's being contested at the home of golf, The Old Course at St.
Andrews
Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
Get free Super Bowl XLIII Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting with credit cards
Sportsbook Betting
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
NFL Betting Lines
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.
|