The Girls Next Door add a little excitement to the Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby odds are this weekend. Personally, I’ve never been a big horse racing guy; every year I tell myself I’ll do a little research and put down a fun bet, but it just never seems to happen. Either way, I’m a lot more excited for the second round of hockey betting to get underway tonight.

However, I did realize the “Run for the Roses” does have one stellar thing going for it: some gorgeous ladies. I did a little digging around today on Kentucky Derby betting, and I was pleasantly surprised to come across the bevy of beauties that show up each year. Feel free to Google around yourself, though my favorites have to be Hef’s ladies and Gabrielle Union. So maybe I will put a bet down on the Derby this year. Tuning in might be worth it just for the eye candy.

Ok, quick look at tonight’s hockey:

Chicago at Vancouver: I’m pretty torn on this one. Vancouver looks like a team on a mission from God, but Chicago overcame its inexperience and knocked off the hapless Flames. My head says the Blackhawks are just happy to be here and the Canucks win in six; but my gut says Chicago’s big, strong, young defensemen are going to shove around the Sedins. Today I’m going with my head and backing the Canucks.

Oh, he's got a flying elbow too.

Well, so much for Mr. Nice Guy eh NBA odds fans? Dwight Howard, commonly regarded as one of the nicest players in the NBA, surprised everyone last night be delivering an elbow to Samuel Dalembert’s head. The blow only grazed Dalembert but, had it connected, it would have had the same effect as Superman elbowing Lex Luthor in the face–it would have knocked his head clean off his body. The video has been very popular on YouTube, proving a good Christian mixed with uncontrollable rage equals a big hit.

The ugly incident overshadows a monster game by Howard, in which he put up 24 points and 24 boards. Now the No Balls Association has a tough decision on its hands–suspend a pivotal player late in a playoff series, or give him a free pass because of his superstar status. Basketball betting fans are definitely eagerly awaiting that one.

Let’s have a look at tonight’s games:

Heat vs Hawks odds: Dwyane Howard sucked ass in Game 5 because his back hurt. Well guess what, D-Wade–the ice caps are melting, the economy is in the shitter and swine flu is killing Mexicans faster than drunken, right-wing Texas rednecks “protecting the border from drugs”–everybody else showed up for work, why can’t you? And most of us aren’t making $15-million a year. I think the Hawks take this one at home.

New Orleans at Denver odds: First, let’s take a look at the highlights from Game 4. Honestly, that’s about the only way possible to describe the Hornets’ effort. Way to lay down and die, you losers. Denver wins this one in a walk.

After watching San Jose bow out of the playoffs last night, hockey betting fans are either lamenting or joking about how the Sharks fell on their sword  yet again. I take issue with that, however–implying the Sharks fell on their sword implies they had a sword and put up a fight. No such luck here.

Many expected the Ducks-Sharks series to resemble a rough-and-tumble Fight of the Year along the lines of Pacquiao vs Hatton odds, but no such luck. In fact, it was the fourth straight year San Jose won at least 44 games, including two with over 50 wins, that it bowed out early.

This was supposed to be the Sharks’ year to finally break through and capitalize on their regular season success. Instead, their failure has got me wondering about regular season wonders of the past few years and whether or not they were able to eventually come through. Let’s have a look:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 1992-2006

The story: Bill Cower’s Steelers enjoyed 11 winning seasons during his 15-year tenure, but the run included four AFC Championship losses and a Super Bowl defeat.

Did they do it: Yes, beating Seattle 21-10 in 2005.

Good thing they’ll be remembered for: Cower’s chin/spittle; Jerome Bettis auditioning for a position on the offensive line

Bad thing they’ll be remembered for: Getting dubious help from the officials in the Super Bowl; Kordell Stewart’s sideline cry-fests

BUFFALO BILLS, 1990-1993

The story: Four straight losses in the Super Bowl.

Did they do it: Nope.

Good thing they’ll be remembered for: Providing poor, Third World children with four years worth of Buffalo Bills Super Bowl Champions clothing and memorabilia

BOSTON RED SOX, 1986-2004

The story: Bill Buckner boots the ball against the Mets. You know the rest.

Did they do it: Yes, a four-game sweep of the Cardinals in the World Series. More importantly, they defied all MLB odds and came back from down 3-0 in the ALCS against the Yankees.

Good thing they’ll be remembered for: The Bloody Sock; wiping that shit-eating grin off the Yankees’ collective face

Bad thing they’ll be remembered for: Fever Pitch, pink hats, Red Sox “Nation”

CHICAGO CUBS, 1909-present

The story: After winning the World Series in 1908, the Cubbies have been oh-fer since.

Did they do it: Not yet.

Good thing they’ll be remembered for: maintaining an adorable charm despite over a century of failure

Bad thing they’ll be remembered for: Steve Bartman

NEW YORK KNICKS, 1984-2000

The story: The Patrick Ewing era Knicks always had plenty of talent, but it was an uphill battle against Jordan’s Bulls and others.

Did they do it: Nope. The closest they came was a loss in the 1994 Finals.

Good thing they’ll be remembered for: This Patrick Chewing commercial (Ok, maybe not… but they should be!)

Bad thing they’ll be remembered for: Ewing not being able to get the job done

SACRAMENTO KINGS, 2000-2005

The story: Chris Webber, Mike Bibby et al make the Kings relevant

Did they do it: No. Despite five straight seasons of at least 50 wins, Sacramento bowed out early every year, often to the Lakers.

Good thing they’ll be remembered for: Vlade Divacs and Peja Stojakovic igniting the NBA’s Euro-trash run; Divacs smoking at halftime

Bad thing they’ll be remembered for: Getting screwed by the officials in a playoff series against the Lakers

I said draft a real athlete, a "leaper". Not a "leper", damn it.

With the playoffs raging in full force, I’m sure many of you were expecting hockey betting or NBA lines today. Instead, as I’ve been inspired by the NFL Draft, I’m giving you a clip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Why? The clip is pertinent to Al Davis for two reasons. Firstly, our would-be Holy Grail stealer bears a striking resemblance to the Oakland Raiders’ owner, don’t you think? And secondly, Al Davis choose poorly.

Yep, Big Al did it again, opting to draft speed instead of, you know, good football players. He passed up Top-5 receiver Michael Crabtree for Derrius Howard-Bey, who can run but is still working on that tricky “catching” thing; and safety Michael Mitchell, who was such an out-of-left field pick that he got his “You’ve been drafted by the Raiders” phone call while restocking the condiment dispensers at Wendy’s. Again, fast kid, no game.

So this has got me pumped for 2010. What kind of sickly, half-dead rabbit will the Crypt Keeper pull out of his hat next season? Let’s investigate some potential candidates:

BEN JOHNSON, receiver

Pros: Former fastest man in the world; Considers Cheetah an acceptable means of compensation.

Cons: The NFL has a drug testing policy.

1997 FERRARI BERLINETTA, tight end

Pros: 0-60 MPH in 4.8 seconds. Better hands than Bey-Howard.

Cons: Sloppy route runner, as tires make poor transition to grass.

WILLIE HAYES MAYES, cornerback

Pros: Once beat two Major Leaguers in a footrace despite wearing pajamas and giving a 20-yard head start.

Cons: Runs like Mayes but hits like shit. In prison.

SWINE FLU, linebacker

Pros: Spreads incredibly quickly, can cover the whole field.

Cons: Its all-consuming hunger for death knows no bounds, including teammates and fans.

I WANT REVENGE, linebacker

Pros: Likely favorite on Kentucky Derby odds.

Cons: Raiders’ crappy baseball/football field equals increased risk of leg injuries, meaning it’s off to the glue factory.

FUGITIVES FROM THE LAW, running back

Pros: Unrelenting desperation makes them extremely elusive, tough to tackle.

Cons: Bengals usually get them first.

Time to trade in that stick for a golf club, Joe.

Ok, I’m really feeling the hockey betting today. Some big, BIG games this weekend but we’ll start with tonight. The Caps take on the Rangers trailing 3-1 in the series. This is not how many people expected it to go (I definitely didn’t) and now Washington finds itself on the brink of elimination. Herik Lundqvist has been wreaking havoc on NHL lines, so Rangers fans can thank him for what’s shaping into an upset. I’ve been really disappointed with Mike Green’s play, but I know I can count on Ovechkin to go down fighting. Expect a big game from him tonight.

The Sharks host Anaheim. Man, oh man. If we were betting Kentucky Derby odds I’d say just shoot the damn horse already, put the poor thing out of its misery. I can’t even believe what’s happening in San Jose so how do you think they feel? The body language looks terrible. There’s no fight left in this team and I don’t know how any true playoff warrior could look Joe Thornton in the eye right now. Bet on Anaheim.

Calgary and Chicago play on Saturday night. I’m a little worried about the Blackhawks. They showed some nice resolve coming backin the last game but they still lost in the end and I’m sure they were disappointed. I’d love to see this series go seven games… I think Chicago gets it done at home and loses to Calgary in Game 6.

Lastly, we have New Jersey and Carolina. It’s insane but this has been the best game on Stanley Cup odds. Both goalies are playing excellent right now and the teams have traded wins the whole series. No reason to believe it’ll change with the series moving back to Carolina. Take Cam Ward and the Canes.

Maybe Doc Rivers should suit up for Boston

Some crucial games on the basketball betting scene tonight. First up, the Bulls and Celtics clash with the series tied 1-1. Man, I don’t know what to think about this one. Leon Powe is down and out for Boston now too. It’s not like Powe was an all-star or anything, but this team is just running out of legs. Doc Rivers is going to have to suit up pretty soon. More Rondo/Rose fun tonight, so that’s exciting. I think Chicago takes it.

Speaking of legs, the Lakers seem to have more than all the Kentucky Derby odds competitors combined. Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom. Hell, even Trevor Ariza is averaging 21 points pre game! Madness. Utah is in a lot ot trouble and obviously can’t afford to fall down 3-0 against LA. The Jazz are great at home though (33-8) so they definitely have a chance. I think they pull it out tonight, though this series is still clearly going to the Lakers.

In hockey betting tonight, we’ve got two important swing games coming up. Nobody is talking about it, nobody is watching it, but the Hurricanes/Devils series has been great. It’s tied up at 2-2 with three of the games being seperated by just one goal and two of them going to overtime. They’ve flip-flopped wins and New Jersey is at home tonight, so I like Devils odds this evening.

Meanwhile, out west, San Jose is clawing for its playoff life. Being down 2-1 isn’t so bad, but the Sharks have really been outplayed by the Ducks so far, losing two games at home and barely sneaking away with a win the other night (San Jose blew three leads in the 4-3 victory).  I really thought the Sharks were going to win it all on Stanley Cup odds. Now I really think they’re going to blow this series, starting with a loss tonight.

Lastly, just wanted to quickly talk about MLB odds and the Blue Jays. Jays win again! Last night they somehow escaped a blown save by BJ Ryan (the Beej is in bad shape, by the way… I hope Cito goes a different direction soon) and won in extras. I don’t know how they’re doing it, but old Dirty Harry is loving every second.

If you’re looking for a true thoroughbred you can always scour Kentucky Derby odds… but why not just turn to the ice and Alexander Ovechkin instead? Hockey betting fans are more than aware of Ovie’s on-ice exploits–scoring in droves, his wild celebrations, spying on the Rangers’ practice–but this little piece that appeared on ESPN last night is a little worrisome.

It seems No. 8 has a fascination with going fast–REALLY fast–when it comes to sports cars, and that the team has had to warn him several times about doing something stupid. He’s a young kid enjoying his life and money in hockey like anybody else would and I don’t knock him for that. But you worry he’ll get into trouble like Dany Heatly and Dan Snyder a few years ago, and the Angels’ Nick Adenhart just died in a car accident too. So here’s hoping Ovechkin doesn’t do anything too stupid.

Anyway, Ovie will be in action tonight against the Rangers. I like the Caps to win and even up the series. In other NHL action, I like the Bruins to put Montreal out of its misery and the Flames to tie up their series with Chicago.

In basketball betting we have three games going. I bet Orlando ties it up with Philly, while Atlanta and Denver take 2-0 leads over Miami and New Orleans. Should be a fun night.

By the way, Talladega NASCAR odds are up to bat this weekend. I’m not a massive fan but I don’t mind the occasional race, so here’s a blog I read that does a lot of NASCAR odds and stuff like that.

Ok, no screwing around today–let’s get right into basketball betting and hockey betting and tonight’s games:

Detroit at Cleveland: What will LeBron do next? The Chosen One put up a 38-8-7 in Game 1, when the Cavs cruised to an easy win. Honestly, LeBron made Tayshaun Prince look stupid, and he’s suppoesedly one of the league’s better defenders. You’re out of your mind if you bet against the Cavs on NBA playoff lines–this is their year.

Houston at Portland: I thought this was going to be the closest series in the first round, but Houston murdered the Blazers at their own turf last weekend. Four Rockets starters scored in double figures, so Portland could afford to bring a little more D this time around. I think they will, and I think they’ll get a win.

Utah at LA: I can’t imagine this goes more than five games. Kobe dropped 24 points and eight assists on the Jazz in the series opener. I bet he cracks the 30-point mark in this one and leads the Lakers to another blowout win.

Penguins at Flyers: Philly got back into the series, but not for long. You can only hold back Crosby and Malkin for so long, especially when your goalie sucks.

Detroit at Columbus: I doubt I have many backers, but I like Columbus on NHL playoff lines. Why? This is the first home playoff game in Blue Jackets history. Expect drunken shenanigans normally reserved for Ohio State football games.

Devils at Hurricanes: This is probably the closet series in the playoffs but nobody seems to really notice or care. I’m no different. Carolina. I guess.

Canucks at Blues: It’s a shame after the second-half they had, but the Blues are going down. Vancouver looks pretty legit right now, though they need Sundin to stay healthy.

Sharks at Ducks: San Jose has to win, right? They have to… but man oh man, not a fun time to be a Shark right now. They’ll get a big performance out of Nabokov tonight.

Ok, that’s it for now. I’ll try to squeeze in some MLB odds at some point, but keep an eye on the Jays tonight–Doc Halladay is going against the Rangers!

San Jose fans are on suicide watch after falling down 2-0 against the Ducks

What a weekend. Lots of disappointments and crazy upsets. I have to say, UFC completely sucked ass on Saturday night. I don’t even know where to begin, and really, I don’t even want to talk about it. Leaves a bitter taste in Dirty Harry’s mouth. If boxing odds between Pacquio and Hatton bomb, it means we’ll have gone quite a long time without a solid fight of any kind. Brutal.

Basketball betting was a little wacky too. I know KG is out and all, but Ray Allen was an absolute nightmare. Four points? Crazy. It was fun to see Rondo and Rose tear it up, though. They scored 29 and 36 points each, and it’s sweet to see young guys like them succeed because they’re going to be around for a long time. Nice stuff. I do think Boston will get a win tonight, though.

And the Sharks. The Sharks! San Jose has absolutely KILLED hockey betting fans for what, five for six years now? I can’t even believe they’re behind 2-0 against the Ducks now. You really have to feel for this fanbase. I know it’s in California and probably not huge, but those guys definitely have some die hards and they get their hearts broken every year. Who knows, maybe a big comeback is what they need to launch their Stanley Cup run? I doubt it, though… nobody wanted to play Anaheim in the playoffs.

Ok… not sure what’s on tap tomorrow, but I might actually take a gander at NASCAR odds. I’ve seen Tony Stewart getting picked to win this weekend and it’s at Talladega, so that would be interesting to see.

Jesus. I don’t even know what to say about the Sharks, but I don’t know what the hell they’re going to do if they’re a letdown on Stanley Cup odds again. What a train wreck. Anyway, today I figured we’ll move on from hockey and MLB odds and focus on the hardcourt a bit–playoffs start this weekend! Ok, let’s break down some NBA odds, shall we?

Celtics vs Bulls odds: Everyone is in a huff because Kevin Garnett isn’t playing. I dunno. Yes, the Bulls played decent down the stretch and KG is the heart of of Boston, but… I’m not buying it. Paul Pierce is too good, he’s not going to let the C’s fold in the first round, especially not to these guys. Boston might not have enough in the tank to win it all, but Pierce can carry them past the Bulls.

Rockets vs Blazers odds: I think this will be the closest series in the first round. Lots to like here from Houston, but I’m going with Portland. Not only are they at home, but they’ve got Brandon Roy. The guy has turned into an absolute killer. Trailblazers in seven, with Roy nailing a game-winner once or twice along the way.

Hornets vs Nuggets odds: Denver is the favorite in this one, but I smell an “upset”. I guess it’s not a huge upset, considering these teams were seperated by just five games in the regular season. Anyway, for me it all boils down to Chris Paul. Sorry, but I love the guy and have blind faith in him. CP3 put up 22.8 points, 11.0 assists, 5.5 boards and 2.8 steals per game this year. Yeah, you read that right. Hornets win.

Alright, off for the weekend. Looks like we might finally get some solid weather–maybe enough to fire up the BBQ.