Beasley hopes to turn over new leaf in Minnesota
Basketball Betting Lines
07/23/2010 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Telling the truth has never been much of a
problem for me, especially with things that really aren't going to amount to
much when Saint Peter is making the decision on whether I'm fit to enter the
pearly gates.
Back in 1998, I was one of dozens of columnists that thought Ryan Leaf would
be a better pro quarterback than Peyton Manning. Fast-forward 12 years and I'm
one of the few that still admit to that error.
Heck, Leaf had the stronger gun and was actually a better athlete than Peyton
at the time, but those kinds of measurables didn't take into account the 10-
cent head and spotty work ethic that accompanied Leaf's million-dollar arm.
Hindsight painted me as a poor judge of talent and the former Washington State
star as not only one of the biggest disappointments in NFL history but a
felon. On April 14 of this year Leaf pleaded guilty in Amarillo, Tex. to seven
counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of delivery
of a simulated controlled substance. The court sentenced Leaf to 10 years of
probation and fined him $20,000.
One little mistake shouldn't stop anyone from getting back on the horse,
however, and I have done it many times over the years with some good
predictions and some bad.
In 2008, I was back on the NBA beat and thought the Chicago Bulls should have
taken Kansas State star Michael Beasley over Windy City native Derrick Rose.
It was certainly a defensible position. Beasley was one of the most dominant
players in the country during his freshman campaign at K-State, averaging 26.2
and a nation's best 12.4 rebounds. His 866 total points and 408 rebounds
ranked third and second, respectively, among all freshmen in NCAA history, and
the Maryland native also led the nation in double-doubles (28), 40-point games
(three), 30-point, 10-rebound games (13), and 20-point, 10-rebound games (22).
The resume' was there but the thing that put Beasley over the top for me was
his size. At 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, "Beastley" had the prototypical NBA
body.
The Bulls made their decision and plucked Rose, while Miami settled for Beasley
at No. 2. It certainly hasn't been the basketball equivalent of Manning-Leaf
just yet, but you can bet Chicago is quite happy with its selection thus far.
Rose was named Rookie of the Year in 2009. an All-Star in 2010 and has
developed into one of the game's best point guards while Beasley has struggled
mightily with the off-the-floor problems.
In September of 2008, Beasley was involved in an incident at the NBA's Rookie
Transition Program along with fellow freshman Mario Chalmers and Darrell
Arthur. Police responded to the hotel room of Chalmers and Arthur following a
fire alarm and claimed that the room smelled strongly of burning marijuana,
but none was found and no charges were filed. Beasley was eventually fined
$50,000 by the NBA for his involvement in the incident after Heat basketball
chief Pat Riley forced him to confess to league officials that he had slipped
out the door when the police arrived.
Things worsened by the next year when Beasley checked himself into a Houston
rehab facility, just days after he posted pictures of himself on Twitter with
what looked like marijuana in the background. The forward also wrote a number
of vague postings hinting at suicide.
Beasley emerged unscathed and actually improved most of his numbers during his
sophomore season in South Beach but with Riley executing a plan to team Dwyane
Wade with LeBron James and Chris Bosh, he was no longer part of the plan in
South Florida.
The former second overall pick was shipped unceremoniously to the Twin Cities
for a pair of second-round picks in order to clear much needed salary cap
space.
One man's trash can be another's treasure and the rebuilding Wolves think they
might have something in the supremely talented Beasley.
That said, Minnesota president of basketball operations David Kahn has quickly
made it clear that the kid gloves are off, speaking very honestly about
Beasley's perceived problems.
"Michael Beasley smoked too much pot in Miami, but he's a changed man now.
Make that, changed young man," Kahn told a Minneapolis area radio station.
"He's a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told
me that he's not smoking anymore and I told him that I would trust him as long
as that was the case."
It's conceivable the more laid-back, family-friendly Midwestern atmosphere is
just what Beasley needs to turn over a new "Leaf" and finally become the
player he should be.
"He has developed a really good support system around him this past season in
Miami," Kahn said. "He is growing up -- he's not grown up. He's 21. If you had
given me this kind of money and put me in this kind of world with these kinds
of pressures attached to it and some of the demands, I don't know how well I
would have handled it. I think that if Michael was 25 or 26, maybe I would
have felt differently. Some of these kids simply deserve the opportunity to
make mistakes and grow up."
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Mainz, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mainz goalkeeper Heinz Muller tore ligaments
in his right knee Thursday and will be sidelined for an extended period.
Muller was injured in a collision with Benjamin Auer in Thursday's friendly
against A
<< Reutimann signs contract extension with MWR
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Reutimann has signed a multi-year
contract extension with Michael Waltrip Racing to remain as driver of the
No.00 Toyota through the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season.
Reutimann and team owner
<< Orioles activate Roberts from DL
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles have reinstated second
baseman Brian Roberts from the 60-day disabled list.
He had been sidelined since April 10 because of an abdominal strain suffered
while stealing second base in
<< Steelers ink Tomlin to extension
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Steelers extended the
contract of head coach Mike Tomlin through at least 2012, the team announced
on Friday.
In addition, the deal calls for an option year for 2013.
"Mike Tomli
<< Cowboys ink second-round pick LB Lee
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms with
linebacker Sean Lee on a four-year contract.
The deal for the second-round draft choice is reportedly worth $1.7 million
guaranteed.
Dallas moved up four
Lyon signs defender Cris to two-year extension >>
Lyon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lyon signed Brazilian center back Cris to a
two-year contract extension Friday through the 2012-13 season.
Cris, 33, has spent the last six seasons at Lyon and looks set to finish his
career with the Fren
Mika Miyazato leads Evian Masters >>
Evian-les-Bains, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mika Miyazato shot a five-under 67
to take the second-round lead Friday at the Evian Masters.
Miyazato finished 36 holes on the Evian Masters Golf Club with a nine-under
135 and will carry a one-sho
Canucks D Salo out with torn Achilles tendon >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo is
out indefinitely after suffering a torn Achilles tendon.
The Vancouver Sun reported on Friday that Salo was injured in his native
Finland while playing a
Indians activate Choo, disable Laffey >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians have activated
outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from the 15-day disabled list.
He had been sidelined since suffering a right thumb injury in a game against
Oakland on July 2 while att
St. Etienne's Sanogo out for three weeks >>
Saint Etienne, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saint-Etienne forward Boubacar Sanogo
will be sidelined for three weeks with a thigh injury and could miss the start
of the French Ligue 1 season, which starts the first weekend in August.
Sanogo left
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
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