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ESPN sells its soul for James storyBasketball Betting Lines07/07/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Few remember when ESPN launched in 1979, the letters were actually an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Yep, the fledgling ESPN actually ran movies, business shows and exercise videos in between SportsCenter. Needless to say it wasn't a great mix and the station slowly evolved into the juggernaut it is now. Today, however, they are closer than ever to that original acronym. The Worldwide Leader is pure entertainment these days, not that there is anything wrong with that. Real world news outlets have followed suit to a degree. On big days FOXNews' Glenn Beck records over three million viewers, second only to Bill O'Reilly despite airing during the afternoon. And, Beck occasionally has more viewers in the all important 25-54 age bracket than O'Reilly, a stunning accomplishment for a 5 p.m. (et) program. More entertainer than political pundit, Beck at least has the courtesy to call his show a "fusion of entertainment and enlightenment." In our current media culture that features the 24-7 news cycle, bloggers and Tweets, there is a fine line between a news gathering organization and an entertainment vehicle. ESPN is painfully close to fully selling out and going strictly entertainment after agreeing to televise LeBron James' dog and pony show on Thursday, where the biggest prize in NBA free agent history will finally make a decision and chose which team he'll play for next. "Sources" told ESPN's Chris Broussard that James would announce his decision live on the cable network during a 9 p.m. (et) special. Flip on the channel right now and you will see something akin to a cable infomercial, hyping the event at every turn. The only thing missing is the late Billy Mays. I understand wanting ratings, the be-all, end-all in the television industry but at what point does ESPN's ombudsman introduce journalistic integrity into the conversation? Those same "sources" in the programming department feeding Broussard won't even let us in on where the special will be emanating from, despite the fact that the network surely has to tell its camera people where to show up and block off satellite time. The only explanation is that ESPN doesn't want any reporters reading the tea leaves correctly and breaking a story that it sold its collective soul for. I almost expect the network to put the teams in the running for James' services, his hometown Cavaliers, the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and New Jersey, on an island and have challenges and immunity on the way to the big prize. Or maybe it can put Donnie Walsh, Pat Riley and company on a stage and have LeBron hand the winner a single rose. Either way, the only winner will be James' fed and placed ego. The loser? How about journalism. RANKING LEBRON'S SUITORS: 1. - Cleveland Cavaliers: Less than 24 hours ago, LeBron was reportedly trying to convince Chris Bosh to join him with the Cavs but the big man must have had a few close calls in The Flats since he agreed to play with "The King" anywhere other than Cleveland. Bosh's decision to relocate to Miami put the Heat and Knicks back in the mix and threatened to destroy the Cavaliers franchise. That said, hopping on national television and stabbing the city that has done so much for you would be public relations suicide. This whole ordeal doesn't exactly speak to James' savvy when it comes to p.r. but you have to believe someone in his inner circle has some common sense. The best bet still points to a short-term deal in Cleveland so James can stroke that massive ego again in a few years. 2. - Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade has successful recruited his friend Bosh to South Beach and now both players are reportedly trying to convince James to form the Holy Trinity in the party capital of the East Coast. The question is can James handle playing Alex Rodriguez to Wade's Derek Jeter on the Heat? 3. - New York Knicks: One report has James advisors Maverick Carter and Randy Mims in New York and the Knicks, who looked dead in the water 48 hours ago, are now back in the hunt. James would team with Amare Stoudemire and possibly Raymond Felton in the Big Apple, turning the Knicks from an also-ran to an instant 55-win team. 4. - New Jersey Nets: Owner Mikhail Prokhorov has reportedly been partying in Turkey while team spokesman/minority owner Jay-Z was in London for a concert on July 4 and is scheduled for another show in Ireland on July 11. You would think if the Nets thought they had a shot at LeBron, the big boys would be back in the country. 5. - Chicago Bulls: LeBron lackey Wes Wesley was pushing the Bulls from the get-go but he's clearly lost power in James' inner circle and the fact that Bosh chose Miami over the Windy City seems to have sealed Chicago's fate. The Bulls will likely now turn their attention to Carlos Boozer or David Lee. 6. - Los Angles Clippers: Unless Vinny Del Negro is LeBron's long lost cousin, the Clippers are the one team you can kick off the island right now.
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Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers. A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers. Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers. The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5). Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries. The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38). To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
Super Bowl XLIII Betting OddsSuper 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 |
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