Kurt Thomas joining Bulls

Basketball Betting Lines

07/23/2010 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls have reportedly come to terms with veteran forward Kurt Thomas on a contract.

The Chicago Tribune was one source reporting the agreement Thursday night.

The 37-year-old Thomas, a first-round draft pick by Miami in 1995, averaged three points and 4.2 rebounds in 70 games for Milwaukee last season. He has played in 966 career games with Miami, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, San Antonio and the Bucks, and has averaged 8.8 points and 7.0 boards.

Vegss Basketball Betting News

<< Red Sox blow lead, but top Mariners in 13 innings
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eric Patterson's two-run double in the 13th inning lifted the Red Sox to a wild 8-6 win over the Seattle Mariners to open a four-game series. Boston's John Lackey came within four outs of a no-hitter, b

<< Kuroda sparkles on mound as Dodgers blank Mets
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hiroki Kuroda threw eight scoreless frames, stonewalling an already befuddled Mets offense, as the Dodgers blanked New York, 2-0, in the first of four games at Chavez Ravine. Kuroda (8-8) scattered fi

<< Donovan's late goal helps Galaxy tie Earthquakes
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Landon Donovan scored in the 90th minute and the Los Angeles Galaxy remained unbeaten at home in Major League Soccer with a 2-2 draw Thursday night against the San Jose Earthquakes at The Home Depot Center. Edso

<< Broncos' Dumervil agrees to extension
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil has agreed to a contract extension, just over a month after he signed his free agent contract tender. Terms of Dumervil's extension weren't disclosed, but source

<< Cain, Giants blank Diamondbacks
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Cain fanned nine batters over eight shutout innings and Buster Posey continued his hot hitting by going 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Giants blanked the Diamondbacks, 3-0, at Chase Field. Cain (8-8

Armed men rob home of Bobcats' Stephen Jackson >>
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Police are investigating a home invasion and armed robbery at the home of Charlotte Bobcats player Stephen Jackson.Multiple media organizations reported Friday that three masked gunmen entered Jackson's home in a gated communit

Iowa St DB Sims investigated in credit card case >>
AMES, Iowa (AP) -Authorities say Iowa State defensive back David Sims is being investigated in connection with a stolen credit card, though no charges have been filed.Ames police commander Mike Brennan says a Des Moines woman reported July 17 that h

Chris Paul's "Big Three" Fantasy May Be Just That >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Paul is looking to follow in the footsteps of his good friend LeBron James and form his own trio of star players in the hopes of winning an NBA championship. The Hornets' talented point guard reportedly has

Roughriders add K/P Johnson >>
Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Saskatchewan Roughriders have added kicker/punter Eddie Johnson to the roster. Johnson appeared in two games for Toronto last season and averaged 46.4 yards on 16 punts. The 29-year-old Idaho

Cardinals go with winless starter Suppan in Chicago >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Suppan takes another crack at his first win of the season this afternoon when the St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Suppan has gone 0-3 with a 4.20 earned

Horse Betting

(This is an update of a sportsbook for the May 4th issue of ESPN The Magazine).

The Kentucky Derby's post-position draw happened on Wednesday. And, as is always the case, shortly afterwards, a buzz raced around Churchill Downs. It was a low rumble at first, nothing that the squares in the mint julep crowd pick up right away. But by the time the sun set over the twin spires, the chatter was impossible to ignore. Everyone -- sharps, trainers, owners -- was talking about one thing: the wise guy horse, the pre-draw long shot us mopes didn't have on our radar until it was too late.

"You think you're hearing the scoop," says handicapper Lane Gold. "Then you get to the window, the odds are short, and you missed it."

Recognizing a wise-guy horse early is as hard as picking a Derby bonnet. That's because handicappers don't like hype (see ya, I Want Revenge). They want Thoroughbreds who look good losing prep races like the Santa Anita Derby. They eye horses who ate up the field after starting wide or made an easy transition from synthetic tracks to dirt. They look for ponies who showed muscle gain race to race and those who ran hard after several weeks' rest.

"A wise guy," says John Avello, a bookmaker at Wynn Las Vegas, "looks for a horse who can improve."

When I first wrote Horse Betting for The Mag, which I turned in a three weeks before Wednesday's draw, I predicted these three horses had wise guy potential:

CHOCOLATE CANDY (15-1 in mid-April, currently 20-1 according to Avello): His second-place finish at Santa Anita, following a seven-week layoff, proved two things: He can run after resting, and -- by losing a high-profile prep race -- he wouldn't be overhyped.

DESERT PARTY (15-1; 15-1): He was upset in the UAE Derby by a horse he had beaten twice. The public remembers his loss, but the wise guys his wins.

PIONEEROF THE NILE (8-1; 4-1): The big favorite at Santa Anita struggled to win, so he initially got less hype than Quality Road and I Want Revenge.

You may have noticed that the odds on Pioneerof the Nile have been cut in half, from 8-1 to 4-1. Which means the wise guys took a shine to him long before the post-position draw. But, to be honest, this is one of those years with four elite horses getting everyone's attention, squares and sharps alike.

"You're not gonna get a lot of chatter about a horse that isn't in that group, which includes Pioneer, I Want Revenge, Dunkirk and Friesan Fire," Avello told me Wednesday. "We don't have a group of horses behind those top four who look like real legit contenders."

Come Derby week, the final two elements in picking a wise guy horse are how he's working out and what gate he's coming out of.

(By the way, picking a Preakness favorite is a whole different bale of hay, partially based on how horses finish in the Derby. You can see my analysis of who has the best shot at Pimlico on Insider Sunday morning.)

Well, early in the week I Want Revenge, Pioneerof the Nile and Friesan Fire were working out better than anyone. Some thought Friesan Fire, currently 6-1, might have run too fast, burning a five-furlong run in :57 4/5. "When you are running that fast you have the sense that it took something out of him," says Gold. "The Derby is longer than any horse has run, and if they need that extra surge you worry they won't have it because they burned it in the workout."

But, Gold points out, Friesan Fire's trainer is Larry Jones, Two years ago his horse Hard Spun did a five-eighths workout in :57 3/5 and then went on to finish second, behind Street Sense, in the Derby. "Every trainer has different methods," says Gold. "And clearly he knows what he's doing."

Now, as for starting position, Gold says to remember this: Churchill Downs traditionally has 14 starting gates. For the Derby, it brings out auxiliary gates and between the original 14th gate and the new 15th gate, there is a little more space than there is between gates 1-14. "That 15 position will give you a precious second or two to sort out what's happening to your inside," says Gold. "Sixteen is also okay because you can follow the horse in front of you."

Dunkirk, one of the race favorites, is coming out of gate 15. In 16 is Baffert's Pioneerof the Nile. I Want Revenge drew 13, where Smarty Jones won from in 2004, and Friesan Fire picked the sixth position. "He doesn't have a lot of speed to the inside of him," says Gold. "So he will get a clear shot to be near the front."

All the jibber-jabber means this: Pioneerof the Nile has leapfrogged from 8-1 to being the second favorite, along with Dunkirk, behind I Want Revenge. Meanwhile, Friesan Fire, with a good trainer, a strong week of training and a decent post position, is still at 6-1. "By Saturday, it's possible he could go from fourth to the favorite," says Gold.

In other words, meet Friesan Fire, your 2009 wise guy horse.

"Now," says Avello, "it's time for action."

To visit this horse betting site go to MySportsbook.com for all your horse racing betting needs.