In the American League East the New York Yankees continue to lead the Boston Red Sox by 2.5 games.  There are still over 50 games to be played.  These two teams will battle it out right down to the end of the season.  Although the Red Sox have not played well against the West they have did very well in their own division.  In the end the Red Sox will take home another pennant.  The Detroit Tigers still lead the American League Central by 2.0 games over the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins.  However, this division is very much up for grabs.  It will come down too who has the depth to last down the stretch.  I believe the Tigers will find a way to hold on and win a pennant.

The Los Angeles Angels lead the American League West by 2.0 games over the Texas Rangers.  Although this division may appear to be up for grabs the Angels will win it hands down.  The Rangers will fall to the wayside.  Of course there are 50 games to play and anything can happen in sports.  There may be a few surprises left before the season is over.  After the dog days of August the view may have changed.

In the National League East the defending World Champion Philedelphia Phillies are leading the Florida Marlins by 7.0 games.  The Phillies, barring any major injuries, will hold on to this pennant and make a run at a second championship.  The National League Central is really up for grabs.  The St Louis Cardinals lead the Chicago Cubs by a 0.5 game margin with the Houston Astros only 2.5 games back.  The Cardinals have been the team to beat in the central division for a long time.  This year that may change.  But then it may not.  The Cardinals will edge this division out once again.

In the National League West the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the Colorado Rockies by 8.0 games.  Hands down the Dodgers will win the West and I believe they will face the Phillies in the National League Championship.  Of course there could be a surprise in the National League as well.  We will be following it closely.  Until we meet again may your betting be profitable and remember to always be a good sport.

I could be wrong, I mean I am a sports writer afterall.  I get paid to cover sports and offer my predictions but like all of my fellow sports writers I am prepared to stand corrected when I am proved wrong.  Brett Farve, the former great QB for the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, called the Minnesota Vikings and called it quits.  He said his almost 40 year old body could not take another pounding in the NFL.  The Vikings had pursued Farve all summer in hopes of filling the one spot the team has lacked for years.  Farve held them at bay after surgery on his throwing arm saying he would have to see if his arm was ready.  He practiced most of the summer with a local high school.

Evidently the Vikings were sure the deal was done.  Purple number 4 jerseys were already on the market throughout Minnesota.  Earlier this month Farve told the Vikings he would let them know before July 31st when training camp was set to begin.  Over the last week he began to give them indication that it was not too be.  He began to indicate that his body was not up for it.  Farve talked about the many NFL sacks his body had already taken.  He called today to tell the Vikings that he just did not feel he could play to an acceptable level even though for the last week the Vikings were trying to convince him that he could do anything.

I thought he would play this year.  Most of the Minnesota Vikings thought he would play this year.  There was hope once again in the land of a thousand lakes that this might be their year.  They had the great defense, the best running back in the league, they were young and hungry, all they needed was a solid QB.  Now their hopes have been crushed.  They still have a great defense, they still have the best running back in the NFL but do they have a QB who can lead them to a title?  Vikings Coach Brad Childress now has the dismal task of turning to his young QB Tarvaris Jackson and convincing him that he has faith in him to lead them there after pursuing Farve all summer.

I have read where other sports writers have called Farve washed up and old news.  Perhaps there is some truth to this because we all get old.  This much I can tell you.  Even at 39, Brett Farve is a better QB than many on rosters this season.  As I said many times, the Vikings did not need the Farve of old.  All they needed was his experience to control the game and not lose it for them.  Although we will never know for sure now, I believe Farve would have helped the Vikings to jump the hurdle this season.  Will Jackson be able to step up and finally be a steady QB?  I don’t know.  Others can have their opinion as well but I state it here and now.  The odds are against the Vikings winning the NFC North this year without Farve.  I pick the Chicago Bears.  Until we meet again may your bets be many and profitable and remember to always be a good sport.

Welcome to the Sportsbook Gazette Weekly Sports Roundup where we satisfy that betting itch with up to date sporting news.  This week we start off with a bang in the Windy City better known as Chicago home of the White Sox in Major League Baseball’s American League Central Division.  The Chicago White Sox moved to within a percentage point of the division leading Detroit Tigers last night when Sox Pitcher Mark Buehrle achieved a feat only demonstrated 15 times prior in Major League Baseball dating back 109 years; he pitched a Perfect Game.  That is right 27 Tampa Bay Rays players walked into the batters box and 27 players ended up walking back into the dugout empty handed.  It was the second No-Hitter of Buehrle’s career.  President Obama who happens to be a huge White Sox fan called to congratulate Buerle after his amazing accomplishment.

The National Football League pre-season will kick off next month.  The anticipation is killing me.  There are quite a few things to talk about in the upcoming NFL season.  Lets start with Tom Brady returning to the New England Patroits after a season ending knee injury last year.  Brady has been working hard preparing for his comeback but the fact of the matter is we really won’t know how sound that knee is until he faces the live pressure of a defensive rush.  Carson Palmer has not looked the same since he suffered a knee injury at the hands of the reigning Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers back in the 2005 playoffs.  Although Brady’s injury is a little less severe only time and live action will satisfy the doubters.  You can bet on one thing, like them or not, if Brady remains healthy New England will be in the thick of things in the NFC East.

Former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick received a 4 game suspension to begin 2009 but has been reinstated conditionally back into the league.  Now we will have to wait and see if there are any takers.  He can participate in the preseason games.  Brett Farve is still holding the Minnesota Vikings in suspense as he gets set to make his decision as to whether or not he will play for them this season.  I think that he will and in addition I believe he will take the Vikings to the playoffs.  The Viking team has been on the edge of excellence for a while.  Farve will complete the missing piece to the puzzle.  All the Vikings need him to do is control the game and he will you can bet on it.

The Major League Baseball season is in full swing with many divisions up for grabs.  The NFL season is right around the corner and you can feel the excitement building.  The odds are ever changing and the betters are lining up for the kill.  Who will continue to play well and win their division pennants and who will start off well in the NFL?  I know there are some sports betters who are anxious to find out.  Until we meet again may betting be better and remember to always be a good sport.

The All Star Game break is over and the New York Yankee’s of the American League East are on a tear.  They are 6-0 out the 2nd half gate and the Yankee’s are looking like the 200 million dollar juggernaut they were supposed to be.  Pitcher A.J. Burnett and the Yankee’s defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 sweeping the birds back to Maryland.  Burnett now has a 9-4 record on the season with a 3.81 earned run average.  Burnett has now won 4 straight decisions.  He was helped by the hot bat of Nick Swisher who has 14 home runs and 48 runs batted in on the season.

The Yankee’s are not 57-37 on the season, which leaves them totally alone in first place in the East for the first time since 2006 when they won the division.  The catcher Jose Posada homered and drove in 2 runs and A. Rod. drove in a run to clinch the series.  Mariano Rivera was the stopper once again as the relief pitcher obtained his 5th save in the last 6 games.  That all adds up to the thrill of victory but on the other side of the field the Baltimore team continues to slump as Baltimore pitcher Jason Berken lost his 8th game in a row.

The Yankee’s have won 19 out of their last 26 games to move 20 games over .500 and they have not completed that feat since 2007.  It does not appear that the Yankee winning streak is in any danger of ending.  They face the Oakland A’s next who are in last place in the American League West.  The Yankee’s are now watching the Boston Red Sox who are presently losing 3-1 against the Texas Rangers.  The Yank’s could pick up another game lead in the A.L. East.

Sometimes you can actually spend millions of dollars and put together a team that wins but as the Yankee’s have learned the hard way in the past it does not guarantee a World Series Championship.  This year they tore down the house that Babe Ruth built.  The Yankee’s have been legendary over the last century.  Perhaps they are close to being in championship form once again.  The odd’s are in their favor but are you willing to bet on it.  Until we meet again may your betting get better and remember to always be a good sport.

Hello sports betting fans!  No matter how much good information you have the odds don’t always stack up.  At the British Open today two great players walked off the field after the 18th hole.  One of the golf pros was in and the other was out.  One became the oldest player to ever lead in a major while the other was a golf legend who failed to make the cut.  The British Open has been played for almost 150 years and it just goes to show that anything can happen.  So who were these two men headed in different directions on Friday.  The oldest player to lead in a major championship was Tom Watson and the legend going home was the number one golfer in the world, that’s right Tiger Woods.  It was only the 6th time in his career that he missed the cut.  Now Watson has a chance to win his 6th British Open Title.  The 59 year old won his first back in 1975; 5 months before Tiger was born.

In the NFL Brett Farve has informed the Minnesota Vikings that he will let them know if he can play by July 30, which is the first day of camp.  He had surgery on his throwing arm in May and has been trying to work his arm back into shape.  He has been practicing with a local high school team 3 days a week all summer and has now included Sunday’s as well.  There is a lot of controversy about Farve’s return after retiring once again.  He came out of retirement to play for the Jets last season.  The 39 year old Farve had a fairly good season through the first half but struggled some in the second.  Many are questioning his stamina.  The one thing they cannot question is his record.  Brett Farve is destined for the hall of fame and even at 39 he still has more than many of the Quarterbacks in the league.  Here is something you can bet on.  If Brett Farve goes to the Vikings; barring a major injury, the Vikings will win the NFC Central Division.  He does not have to be the Farve of old; all he has to do is control the game and hand it off to Adrian Peterson.  The defense will take care of the rest.

In September spike will begin airing UFC’s Ultimate Fighter 10.  This is where young mma fighters give it their all in hopes of winning contracts in the UFC.  This year however there will be an unusual contestant.  Dana White the UFC President has brought in Kimbo Slice of the Elite XC and Youtube fame to compete.  Kimbo lost his last match in the Elite XC when he was knocked out after only 14 seconds.  Kimbo Slice is a hugh heavyweight but his mma technique needs a ton of work.  He had drew enough attention that he could have went to Japan and made good money fighting exhibition fights but his passion is still to learn and compete in the UFC; the major leagues of the MMA.  Kimbo knows that his experience is lacking and he also knows that many of the younger contestants have been doing this for most of their lives.  The only thing that keeps him going is his will to learn, compete and accomplish what he set out to do.  Until we meet again may the betting be better and the odds go in your favor and remember always be a good sport.

President Obama was at the Major League Baseball All Star Game Tuesday night and even he appeared to me in awe of the American Leagues dominance over the National League.  The National League lost 4-3 for the 12th year in a row.  It seems like World Series Champions change, the stars change and even the stadiums change but the victor in the All Star game always stays the same.  President Obama threw out the first pitch.  Republicans complained that he threw like a girl.  I keep saying here to always be a good sport even when you lose but the Republicans still can’t get over it.

Carl Crawford caught what would have been a home run for the National League in the 7th Inning bringing the crowd too its feet.  Then Curtis Granderson tripled to drive in the tie breaking run in the 8th to give the American League the 4-3 lead they would not give up.  The American League has not lost an All Star Game since 1996.  They did tie in the 2002 All Star Game when it was called after the 11th inning 7-7.  Other than that the American league has dominated. The win gives the American League the home field advantage in the World Series.  That is pretty important when you get to that point.

The National League scored all three of their runs in the 2nd inning.  However, after that the next 22 of 24 players could not reach first base.  Even thought the American League will start off at home the National League has still won 3 of the last 6 World Series Titles.  Prince Fielder who won the Home Run Derby the night before managed to get a double.  However it was Carl Crawford who won the Most Valuable Player.  He was the first non pitcher to win it without at least driving in a run or scoring one.  His catch though really allowed the American League to end up victorious again.

The American League players just seem to want it more.  They come in with a chip on their shoulders and dare the National League to knock it off.  The 12 year streak is really impressive when you think about some of the great National League players who have played over those years.  So once again the American League wins the All Star Game but can one of their teams win the World Series.  Only time will tell.  Until we meet again good betting and always remember to be a good sport.

If you were willing to fork over the money on Saturday night for the UFC 100 pay per view event than you witnessed Brock Lesnars complete destruction of Frank Mir.  This was their second match against one another.  Mir handed Lesnar his only loss when he got him to submit with a leg bar.  There was a lot of talk from both fighters prior to the championship bout.  Mir claimed that he did not respect Lesnar and that his punches resembled a little sister pulling your hair.  Saturday night he ate those words.  Lesnar became the new UFC badboy when he held Mir’s head in his large left hamhocks and continually landed huge right hands onto Mir’s head and face.  Mir kept giving his corner the thumbs up until he was knocked senseless.  Will the real Frank Mir please stand up.

The fight was stopped and Brock Lesnar still stood in Frank Mir’s face.  Brock used both hands to show the crowd in Frank Mir’s town of Las Vegas that he was number one.  Unfortunately he was not using the forefingers.  Regardless of whether or not Lesnar is only 4-1 or 40-1 he destroyed Frank Mir.  He avenged his loss and he did what he said he would do.  Rather he is popular or not makes no difference.  He will laugh all the way too the bank and will take his championship belt with him.  Sure the fans love their heros.  They love that good guy, the knight in shining armor or the cowboy in the white hat but every world needs it’s badboy as well.  There has to be someone for the fans to hate.  Someone they love to see get beat.  Brock Lesnar is that guy.

UFC fans will pay top dollar to see Brock Lesnar fall.  This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.  The question is who will make Lesnar fall.  Who can defeat him at this point?  There are those who believe that Fedor Emelianenko the mad Russian has the best opportunity.  He is 30-1 and has beaten two of the UFCs greatest champions fairly easily in Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski.  The problem is Fedor is signed with a rival promotions outfit.  The UFC fans have been waiting eagerly for his arrival but it is still yet to happen.  After the fight saturday night UFC President Dana White said it will happen and that the big fight between Lesnar and Fedor will become a reality eventually.

It is hard to say if Lesnar will remain the champion that long or not.  Chances are he will if he continues to work on his ground game and tightens up his game.  Like Lesnar or not he is the champion and will be around for a while.  He adds excitement to an laready extremely exciting sport.  He brings that badboy image with fire and smoke into the cage with vigor and passion.  He will fight in more pay per view events and everyone will reap the benefits.  The odds are in his favor.  Until we meet again good betting and remember to always be a good sport.

It is hard to believe but the NFL season is right around the corner.  As usual during the off season Coaches were replaced and some big name players were traded to other teams.  Lets briefly look at what may lay ahead in the upcoming season.  In the AFC East watch out for Miami and Buffalo.  In the AFC North Indy and the Titans will fall out of contention and the Texans will make a surprise run.  In the AFC West San Diego should hold on but Kansas City is the team to watch.  In the AFC South the Steelers did a great job of keeping the nucleous of their Super Bowl winning team.  They should win their division but Baltimore will be a thorn in their side again.  In the NFC East eyes are on the Eagles but Dallas may still have something to say.  In the NFC North a lot will depend upon rather Brent Farve ends up with the Vikings.  Chicago should be a threat now that they have a Quarterback in Jay Cutler.  In the NFC South keep your eyes on the upstart Atlanta Falcons with Matt Ryan moving into his second year and having newly acquired Tony Gonzales. The NFC West is up in the air.  Arizona may still be the team to beat there but the Rams and 49ers have second year coaches that are fired up and hungry.  Both could easily make a run in that division.  We will have our precise picks as the season draws nearer.

In the Tennis world there is a lot of anticipation that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal may still have a chance to meet in the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Canada next month.  Nadal did not compete at Wimbledon due to a knee injury.  He should be ready to go for the Rogers Cup on August 8th.  Many tennis fans were foaming at the mouth in hopes of seeing the two superstars meet at Wimbledon but it was not too be and Federer ended up winning his 15th Grand Slam and 6th Wimbledon Championship.

In Golf Tiger Woods will visit Australia for the first time in 11 years when he participates in the Australian Masters in November.  Grandstand seats for this event are already selling out.  Woods did not fair well when he played in the 1996 Australian Open where he finished 12 strokes behind winner Greg Norman or in the 1997 Australian Masters where he finished 8th behind winner Peter Lonard.  However, eleven years have made quite a difference in Tiger Woods.  The Melbourne fans know this will be one of the few chances that they will get to see this Golf legend play.

In the UFC they are preparing for their biggest event in history tomorrow night in Las Vegas at UFC 100.  Brock Lesnar is being picked to defeat Frank Mir in their rematch that highlights the event.  Frank Mir won their initial meeting but Lesnar is a little better than he was then.  Georges St. Perrie is picked to beat his opponent Thiago Alves.  There are some exciting matchups on this card and there could be some upsets.  You can check out our lates odds right here at the Sportsbook Gazette.  Somethings in sports never change there will always be the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.  Until we meet again good betting and always remember to be a good sport.

There is some controversy about the UFC 100 MMA Event that is coming up on July 11th.  The UFC has been promoting this fight as the biggest UFC Event in history.  The UFC has shown amazing growth in the last 16 years.  The popularity of these MMA matches continues to grow feeding the undeniable thirst for raw combat that has long excited something deep down inside us. 

The controversy stems from the fact that the UFC decided to place the Brock Lesnar/Frank Mir fight as the main attraction.  Many UFC fighters have spent years polishing their craft and have spilt many blood and tears to get to this competitive level.  Brock Lesnar, a former pro wrestler, comes into this fight with a 2-1 UFC record.  He has already lost to Frank Mir.  Even so Brock did win the Heavyweight Championship when he defeated Randy Contour.

Regardless of what many believe the fact remains that Brock Lesnar is a huge PPV draw and that will cause many fans to tune in and pay the big bucks to see if he can live up to this honor.  The Betting Online seems to show that Brock is slightly favored to win.  However, this fight is by no means a shoe in. 

There are those who think Frank Mir got lucky in the first fight.  Still others think that Lesnar was given some kind of special treatment by getting to fight for a championship with a 1-1 record and very raw MMA experience.  Although Brock defeated Randy in the twilight of his career he still has much to prove to MMA fans.  You can visit now at http://www.sportsbookgazette.com/live_odds.php to see what is going on.

Many UFC enthusiasts thought that the fight between Georges St. Pierre and Thiago Alves should have been the main event.  St. Pierre has proven himself to be a true UFC champion and Alves is an excellent contender for Georges Welterweight Championship belt.  Although St. Pierre is heavily favored in this one don’t let the odds control your thinking.  Anything will be possible in this one.  In other fights Dan Henderson is favored over Michael Bisping in the middleweight division.  Stephan Bonnar is also heavily favored to beat Mark Coleman in the Light Heavyweight bout.

You can always get the best odds and picks right here at the Sportsbook Gazette.  Once you separate all the hype around UFC 100 there is no doubt some of these fights will be pure war.  However, determining if it rates as the biggest UFC event of all time, I don’t know if I would take those odds.  Until we meet again good betting and remember to always be a good sport.

Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick 16-14 in the longest 5th set final in major history to win his 6th Wimbledon Title and his record breaking 15th Grand Slam.  He is not ready to throw in the towel yet.  He has plenty more championship tennis in him and he wants to continue his already excellent run of success.  Federer has also reclaimed the title of the number one tennis player in the world.  This Wimbledon seemed a little sweeter since he lost in the finals last year to Rafael Nadal.  Nadal did not participate at Wimbledon this year due to sore knees.  There are some who feel that the true final would have been between Nadal and Federer once again.  However, this takes nothing from Federers victory.  He is one of the greatest tennis players in history.  Serena Williams beat her sister Venus once again in the womans Wimbledon Championship.

In other tennis related news French Tennis player Mathieu Montcourt has died at the age of 24.  He was only recently banned from the sport for betting on matches.  All the authorities in Paris will say is that he died in his sleep and there will be an autopsy performed.  Montcourt had received a 5 week ban and was fined $12,000 for betting on matches.  French phenom Rafael Nadal had rose through the ranks in France playing against Montcourt in the junior circuit.

In the Davis Cup the United States still feels good about their upcoming match against Crotia this weekend.  Andy Roddick has bowed out fresh off of his loss to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon finals complaining of a hip injury.  United States Captain John McEnroe said he will be missed but the team is still full of confidence in their ability to win.  Andy Roddick had helped the Americans win the Davis Cup in 2007.

It has been a rough week in sports.  Steve McNair the great Quarterback for the Tennesee Titans for many years was found shot to death in his apartment.  The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.  McNair was a tough cookie and played his heart out during his tenure with the Titans.  He won the respect of his adversaries and team mates a like.  His accomplishments of the gridiron wll be long remembered and his kindess as a human being will cement his place in our memories forever.  Until we meet again good betting and remember to always be a good sport.