Dallas Sports Fan – Mavs Improving, Stars Slump Into Break, Cowboys And Rangers Prepare For Next Season
January 26, 2012 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
The NHL is holding their All-Star break this weekend, and the Stars are happy to see it as they’ve struggled as of late. But we’ll start in the NBA, where the Mavericks are starting to come around, while Dallas and the Texas Rangers are getting ready for next season.
The Mavericks went 3-1 over the last week, defeating Utah and New Orleans on the road, while they returned home to beat Phoenix, but they ended the week with a big loss to Minnesota at home. A BetOnline.com review of that game would probably throw in the fact that the Mavericks finally received their championship rings before that game, so they may not have been as focused as they would like. It’s a relatively light week for the Mavericks coming up as they host the Jazz, followed by San Antonio on Sunday, and then on Monday they’ll be in Phoenix. But the Mavs are still missing Dirk Nowitzki due to a knee problem.
It was smart of the NHL to avoid a busy week for Super Bowl betting players next week, so their All-Star festivities will take place this weekend and the Stars will be represented by 22-year-old Jamie Benn, who missed the five games because of an appendectomy, but he was activated in time to take part in the annual contest. The Stars need him back after the break as they were 1-4 in the games that he missed, with three of the losses coming by a single goal, and only a 1-0 shutout at home over Anaheim gave the Stars a win heading into the break. They’ll return next Tuesday in Anaheim before heading to San Jose on Thursday.
The Cowboys are looking ahead to next season, and experienced players that use bookie software would tell you that Dallas needs help in the secondary badly. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff and linebacker DeMarcus Ware are representing the Cowboys at the Pro Bowl this weekend in Hawaii, but the front seven was asked to do too much this season. The rumor is that the Cowboys are looking hard at cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who is out to put a troubled college career at Florida and North Alabama behind him. Jenkins is incredibly talented, but was arrested twice at Florida, and a fresh start in the NFL may be what he needs. Will owner Jerry Jones take the risk?
Texas Rangers
The Rangers didn’t land slugger Prince Fielder, who signed with Detroit instead, but they have enough bats in the lineup to make up for him. Now, there are whispers that Roy Oswalt may be interested in coming back to Texas; he spent most of his career in Houston before he was shipped to Philadelphia and is now a free agent. A veteran presence like Oswalt could certainly help boost the Rangers’ odds at betting websites.
Dallas Sports Fan – Mavs Banged Up, Stars Sliding, Rangers Get Their Man
January 19, 2012 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Cowboys fans who are following NFL scores may be trying to erase the memory of their season, especially with the New York Giants heading into the NFC title game. But there are plenty going on in the Dallas area to distract them as the Mavericks are trying to navigate their way through the shortened season with a veteran team, the Stars are falling out of the playoff picture and in a stroke of good news, the Texas Rangers finally landed their big-money signing.
The Mavericks had dropped two in a row ahead of their visit to Utah on Thursday night, and most sportsbook reviews would note that Dallas was probably happy to leave the Staples Center as they fell to the Lakers and Clippers bya combined five points, both coming on late jumpers by a veteran player (Derek Fisher and Chauncey Billups, respectively). That followed home routs over Milwaukee and Sacramento, and the Mavericks will be looking to end this road trip with victories over the Jazz and New Orleans, where they’ll be on Saturday night before returning home for games against Phoenix and Minnesota. You should keep an eye on their team news as Dirk Nowitzki has been trying to play through an ailing knee, and coach Rick Carlisle may have to shut the German down. Imagine New England’s Superbowl odds without Tom Brady; that’s what Dallas’ NBA Finals odds look like without a healthy Nowitzki.
The Stars have lost three straight games as they prepare to host Tampa Bay on Friday, and all three games were by a single goal, at home against Colorado and Detroit (shootout), along with a 1-0 loss at St. Louis. They’ve also lost leading scorer Jamie Benn to an emergency appendectomy and that is a definite blow for the Stars, who are sliding down the pecking order among those that use pay head services. The Stars aren’t known for being an offensive juggernaut in the first place, so to lose their leading scorer until the All-Star break really hurts. After Tampa Bay comes to town, the Stars fly to Minnesota for a game the next day, then they have a home-and-home series with Anaheim on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Texas Rangers
Some Texas fans were shaking their heads when C.J. Wilson left the Rangers to join their rivals in Los Angeles/Anaheim as a free agent, but they are in for an intriguing 2012 as the team signed Japanese hurler Yu Darvish to a six-year deal worth $60 million. The Rangers outbid the likes of Toronto for the right to negotiate with Darvish to the tune of $51 million, but now he has a lot to live up to. Some are comparing him to Detroit ace and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, and that would help Texas’ chances among those that bet on sports next season.
Dallas Sports Fan – ‘Boys Face Huge Visit From Eagles, Rangers Land Negotiation Rights For Darvish
December 22, 2011 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
NFL fans in Dallas will be on pins and needles on Saturday night as the Cowboys welcome Philadelphia to town for a big NFC East showdown, while Texas showed they were a major player in baseball’s free-agent market. On the court, the Mavericks are preparing for their season opener on Christmas Day, while the Stars continue to shine on the ice.
Tony Romo showed why many think he is an elite NFL quarterback with a brilliant performance in a 31-15 win in Tampa Bay, but some sportsbook reviews would say that the Cowboys took their foot off the gas in the second half. Dallas was up 28-0 by halftime, but they can’t afford a drop in intensity, especially with a streaking Philadelphia team visiting on Christmas Eve. The Eagles trail the Cowboys by two games in the East, but they also trounced Dallas 34-7 in Philadelphia in Week 8, so they would win the tiebreaker if the two had the same record at the end of the regular season, and the New York Giants are still in the mix as well.
The Rangers watched their rivals, the Los Angeles Angels, snag former ace C.J. Wilson, along with slugger Albert Pujols, and they probably took a tumble in the odds with price per head companies that help set lines. But Texas swung back as they posted a $51.7 million bid for Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, who some say is stepping into the majors as a top-of-the-rotation starter right now. At 25, Darvish has a huge arsenal of pitches he can go to at any time, and the Rangers now have 30 days to sign him to a contract.
The Mavericks lost both preseason meetings with Oklahoma City, falling 106-92 at home and then 87-83 on the road in this abbreviated preseason, but Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd didn’t play in the first game and then had minimal minutes in the second as the Mavericks have their eye on the prize. Their title defense begins Sunday at home against Miami in a rematch of the Finals, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Mavericks are thought of by betting players and bookies that use price per head software. They should be favored, but the Heat are a huge public team.
The Stars are overshadowed in the city, but they’re chugging along in first place in the Pacific Division after wrapping a five-game road trip with a win over the New York Islanders and a loss in New Jersey, followed by a home victory over Anaheim. Four of the Stars’ next five games are at home starting with Philadelphia on Wednesday, and could have an effect on their sport betting odds down the line.
Dallas Round-Up – It Has Been A Busy Week For Dallas Sports Fans
December 9, 2011 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
A BetOnline review of the week that was in Dallas would cover an extremely busy time that started with a Cowboy collapse in the desert ahead of a huge divisional showdown, while the Stars are barely keeping their head above water in the NHL. The Rangers lost their best starting pitcher to free agency and the world champion Mavericks are in the midst of losing the lynchpin to their defensive success.
Some BetOnline players don’t know what to think about the Cowboys, who were undone by coaching mistakes in a 19-13 overtime loss in Arizona, their third road loss in a row to the Cardinals. The Cowboys’ offense struggled to put points on the board, but head coach Jason Garrett made some strange decisions at the end of the game that probably cost the Cowboys, who have to recovery quickly and take their one-game NFC East game into a Sunday night affair with the New York Giants, who have dropped four in a row, but they’re still considered dangerous by those who use pay per head services.
The Stars edged Ottawa 3-2 at home on Thursday before falling 5-4 to the New York Islanders, also at home, on Saturday. Dallas has been off since then as they prepare to open up a five-game road trip in San Jose on Thursday, before heading Los Angeles on the weekend and then they do a swing through both New York teams next week. The Stars have been riddled by injuries, but they’re still second in the Pacific division as all of their competition are having problems as well.
The Rangers are coming off their second straight World Series odds and some who purchase bookie software figured they’ll have solid odds again in 2012. However, they’ll have their hands full in the American League West as they lost ace C.J. Wilson to their rivals, the Los Angeles Angels, who also lured future Hall of Fame slugger Albert Pujols from St. Louis. The Rangers may have to overpay to bring someone in to replace Wilson and they were in the hunt for Pujols as well, but Texas may feel pressure to make a move.
The Mavericks can sympathize with the Rangers as it never really looked like Wilson would stay when he could receive a better contract on the open market, and Dallas seems resigned to losing center Tyson Chandler, who may have been the Mavericks’ second-most valuable player behind Dirk Nowitzki. Chandler turned the Mavericks into an excellent defensive team and he allowed Nowitzki to focus more on offense, which in turn led the Mavericks to a title. If they lose Chandler and don’t replace him somehow, the Mavericks will fall down the pecking order at online betting sites.
Dallas Sports Fan – Cowboys Streaking, Stars Preparing For Road Trip…And the NBA Is Back!
December 1, 2011 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
It’s no BetOnline scam to see NBA odds in your sportsbook, and they’re getting more action as news filtered down that the NBA lockout is over, which means the Mavericks are ready to defend their title. In other news, the Cowboys are on a roll as they head to the desert, and the Stars are going on a road trip.
The Cowboys have now won four in a row after a 20-19 win on Thanksgiving at home over Miami, thanks to a last-second field goal by Dan Bailey. A sportsbook review of Dallas’ early-season troubles would have told you that Tony Romo makes too many mistakes, but he has made better decisions since the running game has taken the pressure off his back. The Cowboys are now in first place in the NFC East as they head into Arizona to face a team that, for whatever reason, has given Dallas fits in the past, especially on the road as the Cowboys have dropped their last two trips to the desert.
The Stars were one of the teams most likely to move up the ranks in the eyes of price per head bookie companies that set NHL lines after their quick start, but they’ve leveled off thanks to a slew of injuries. They dropped two in a row, a shootout loss at home against Toronto followed by a 3-0 shutout in Phoenix, but Dallas recovered to win 3-1 in Colorado on Monday. On Thursday, they’ll start the week with a home game against Ottawa and on Saturday night, the New York Islanders come to town before the Stars embark on a five-game road trip that starts in San Jose. A solid performance this week at home is needed before the Stars head out on the road, and those who use pay head companies will have their eye on Dallas.
The world champion Mavericks are gearing up to defend their title, one which they feel isn’t getting the respect it deserves after Dallas rolled through the playoffs, finishing with a six-game win over the Miami Heat. Dirk Nowitzki was amazing in the postseason, taking his game to a level many thought he could never do, but the Mavericks may need his scoring even more for this upcoming season as Tyson Chandler doesn’t think he’ll be back with the team due to financial issues. Chandler was the heart of Dallas’ much-improved defense, which was a massive factor in their championship along with Nowitzki’s scoring, and the Mavericks would do well to find a way to keep him around or else, their odds will drop at sports betting sites.
Dallas Cowboys Update: Tony Romo Becoming a Polarizing Figure for Cowboys
October 4, 2011 by Guest Contributor · 1 Comment
When you are the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback, the online betting sports fans pay a lot of attention to you. That is especially true when you are losing. Tony Romo has lost eight of his last 12 NFL starts, he only has one playoff win in his career and his style of play is being singled out by many people as the primary reason why the Cowboys are struggling.
For all of the price per head activity that surrounds Romo, he remains a polarizing figure among Cowboys’ players, fans, management and others in the Dallas sports world. Dallas Mavericks’ star player and NBA finals MVP Dirk Nowtizki has made statements in support of Romo. Dallas Cowboys’ head coach Jason Garrett has indicated that Romo is not to take all of the blame for the team’s failings as of late.
But former Dallas Cowboys’ cornerback, and recent NFL Hall of Fame inductee, Deion Sanders has said that Romo is not an elite quarterback and not the one that will lead Dallas to the Super Bowl. Sanders says that Romo shows the fortitude to be a winner, but lacks the decision-making abilities of a true champion.
The price per head bookmaking services may hear a little less out of Dallas defensive coordinator this week after his comments last week may have worked to inspire the Detroit Lions. Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, along with his brother Rex Ryan (Jets head coach), is never at a loss for confidence. Prior to the Detroit game, Rob Ryan said that his defense practices against receivers that are better than Detroit’s Calvin Johnson. Ryan went so far as to say that Johnson would be a third-string receiver on the Cowboys at best.
By the time the week four game against the Lions was over, the Cowboys’ defense had collapsed and Calvin Johnson had caught two critical touchdowns. Ryan’s insistence that Johnson only needed to be in single coverage for the entire game could be one of the things that cost Dallas the game. We may hear boasts from Ryan in the future, but he may avoid mentioning individual names from now on.
The top NFL pick for the Cowboys two years ago, wide receiver Dez Bryant, is having problems finishing games because he is unable to practice. Bryant has a deep thigh bruise that makes it painful for him to run for extended periods of time. By the time that the fourth quarter comes around, Bryant can barely move. NFL fans in Dallas have been impressed to this point because Bryant has played well in the three games he has been in. But the pain and lack of conditioning is starting to catch up with him.
Head coach Jason Garrett mentioned that the trainers are doing everything they can for Bryant, but the big wide receiver may experience conditioning issues until that deep thigh bruise is gone. Bryant caught two touchdown passes in the week four loss to Detroit, but he has been unable to run the deep routes that he is expected to run since the season opened.
Do the Mavs Have it for a Repeat?
July 25, 2011 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
In the wake of the Dallas Mavericks stunning victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA finals, more than a few kids might have traded in their soccer shoes and football cleats for basketball kicks. Mavs fever is in the air, and even the current NBA lockout can’t seem to cool down the dream of a city and a team to repeat their championship season. Assuming that there will be a season next year, the Dirk Nowitzki-sized question is, “Do the Mavs have what it takes to do it again?” Being that basketballs aren’t made of crystal, perhaps the future of the Mavericks can be found in the team’s recent past.
One of the great things about the NBA is that, given the grueling non-stop 84 game schedule—with 41 games at home and 41 away—on any given night pretty much any team, cellar or stellar, can beat or be beaten by any other team. We saw this scenario repeated last season, over and over again, and 2011 went down in the books as one of the best seasons in NBA history. As the season progressed into the playoffs, patterns emerged and paradigms shifted faster than Dwayne Wade’s pivot foot. In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, which marked the early exit of the #1 seeded San Antonio Spurs at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas put Portland on the postseason trail by taking the series 4-2. Then, in another stunning upset, the Mavericks swept the reigning champion Los Angeles Laker’s three-peat dreams from the floor in four.
Meanwhile the Heat beat the 7th ranked Sixers and 3rd ranked Celtics, each in a decisive 5 game series that showcased the formidable talents of Wade and LeBron and earned Miami some newfound respect as a team that had learned how to finish. And when they finished the favored Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals, featuring a dramatic 5th game that saw Miami come back with an 18-3 run to take the series (4-1), there was little doubt that Miami was destined for NBA greatness. Maybe “King James’s” pompous pre-season prediction that his arrival in Miami marked the dawn of a new basketball dynasty wasn’t so far-fetched after all. With Dallas closing out OKC (4-1) to win the Western Conference finals, the stage was set for what would prove to be one of the most exciting match-ups in NBA history. Trying not to think about that heartbreaking loss to the Heat in the 2006 playoffs, Dirk, Kidd, Terry and all of Dallas hoped that history was not about to repeat itself.
On May 31, the 5 game grind that would be the 2011 championship series began on Miami’s home court. Each game was a gritty back and forth battle, with most going right to the wire—decided by just 3 points or less. Although both teams had their moments, both brilliant and lackluster, a certain underlying pattern or strategy began to be revealed as the series wore on. For Dallas, it was a familiar strategy, the same source of inspiration and motivation that had gotten them to the playoffs in the first place—a strategy best summed up by three simple words, “never give up.” And it worked.
No matter how far down they got, no matter what the numbers on the scoreboard and the clock seemed to be saying, the Mavericks never gave in and they never gave up. And it’s in that strategy that we should look for the answer to the question, “Do the Mavs have what it takes to do it again?” With all the uncertainty of the 2012 NBA season, with the lockout, the labor disputes, and ambiguous rosters, one thing is certain for Maverick fans and NBA fans alike. When the new season begins, whether Dallas has what it takes to make history again or not, we’re in for another great ride.
About the Author: Alex Shelton is a freelance writer for Become.com. Become is a price comparison and product review site that helps consumers find the best product and great deals. From football cleats to Nike soccer shoes, you can find reviews and prices for pretty much anything.
Dallas Cowboys Update: Pressure Mounts for Cowboys as Mavericks are Toast of the Town
July 19, 2011 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Sports betting experts always try to compare different teams within the same city. The Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks for the Stanley Cup, and now the baseball betting world has made the Red Sox a favorite to win the 2011 World Series. As the MLB scores continue to roll in and the Red Sox seem poised to give the city of Boston two championships this year, the Dallas Cowboys are starting to feel the heat.
When Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo signed his six-year $67 million contract in 2007, the expectations were high for him and the team. Despite early setbacks in his career, Romo was expected to deliver the Cowboys a Super Bowl title. Now that Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks have won the NBA Championship, it seems as though the pressure for Romo to deliver a Super Bowl title is mounting.
The Mavericks returned to Dallas as conquering heroes. Nowitzki was the playoff MVP, and Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban was hailed as a genius. But when the victory parade was over and the ticker-tape stopped flying, all eyes quickly turned to the Cowboys. Tony Romo has acknowledged the pressure that the Mavericks’ have placed on the Cowboys, but Romo remains confident that the Dallas Cowboys will be Super Bowl contenders this year.
The lockout looks like it could be over as the owners and players scramble this week to sign the new collective bargaining agreement. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones had the crew at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX start preparing for training camp weeks ago in anticipation of the lockout ending. So the Cowboys should be ready to open camp next week on schedule.
One of the elements of the new CBA will be that free agency for the 2011 season can finally open up. The Cowboys claim that they have few roster needs, but Dallas will be in the hunt for the most prized free agent on the block – Oakland Raiders’ cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. The Cowboys could use help in the defensive backfield, and Asomugha would be a much-needed addition to a secondary that lacks in talent and speed.
The Cowboys may have more upheaval in the secondary as safety Gerald Sensabaugh may test the free agent waters when free agency opens next week. The Cowboys have expressed an interest in re-signing Sensabaugh, but the safety wants to get top dollar and he may have to go to the open market to get it. The Cowboys intend to extend an offer to Sensabaugh as soon as free agency begins.
A casualty of the new CBA could be a training camp ritual that exists at the NFL level and filters all the way down to youth football. The two-a-day workouts early in training camp are being eliminated for a couple of reasons. The additional workout each day is done when players are tired and more apt to get injured. The other reason is the extreme heat that many players endure during a training camp.
Dallas Sports Fan – Mavs Bring Home Title, Rangers Slumping Ahead Of Interleague Play
June 16, 2011 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Dallas’ possible NHL trades aren’t even on the radar right now in the city, as the Mavericks have completely taken the spotlight over due to their massive win in the NBA Finals, and the basketball team has even allowed the Rangers to struggle relatively quietly this week, although Texas will have to snap out of it.
The Mavericks exorcised their demons from the 2006 Finals, defeating Miami in six games and clinching the series on the road in South Beach with a brilliant team performance. Dirk Nowitzki was named the Finals MVP and had another big fourth quarter, but he was awful in the first half of Game 6, and he was carried by the likes of Jason Terry and J.J. Barea. The Mavericks proved that you need more than three good players in order to win it all, and their rotation was deeper and stronger than Miami’s. It’s always good to see guys like Nowitzki, Terry, Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion finally get their rings, and some people who make NFL picks would compare it to John Elway finally receiving a ring in Denver, especially Nowitzki and Kidd, who will probably end up in the Hall of Fame for their storied careers, and this is the icing on the cake. Now, the Mavericks have to stave off complacency if they want to repeat, because the Heat are going to be coming on strong, and they’ll have to deal with a tough West as the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City will surely be up for another challenge.
Those who make baseball betting picks have watched the Rangers drop four straight ahead of Thursday afternoon’s meeting with the Yankees in New York, and Texas will be looking to avoid a three-game sweep after losing the first two games by matching 12-4 scores. Ahead of that series, the Rangers dropped three of four in Minnesota, but they’re still a game ahead of Seattle as they begin interleague play this weekend. The Rangers wrap up their road trip with a three-game set in Atlanta to take on the Braves, and then they finally return home next week to host their National League rivals from Houston, and Texas has to right the ship because not only is Seattle hot on their heels, but the Los Angeles Angels are always lurking in the background. The season is starting to heat up and the Rangers are going to be the only story in town, so they won’t be able to struggle without criticism now that the NBA season is over. Still, the Rangers aren’t going anywhere, and they should be able to turn it around to recover some faith from sports betting players.
Dallas Sports Fan – Mavericks In Battle With Heat, Rangers Still Atop Of AL West
June 9, 2011 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
While Belmont betting players in the Dallas area are likely preparing for the final jewel in the Triple Crown on Saturday at Belmont Park, a lot of people will be focused on the NBA Finals, where Dallas is locked in a tense showdown with Miami. In baseball action on the diamond, Texas is steadily maintaining a small cushion at the top of the American League West.
The Mavericks are tied at two games apiece heading into their crucial Game 5 meeting with the Heat at American Airlines Center in Dallas, and this rematch from the 2006 Finals has been everything that you could hope for, and a little more. Dallas needed a furious comeback to steal Game 2 in Miami, before losing another two-point battle in Game 3 at home. Game 4 will be known as the “Nowitzki Flu Game”, as Dirk Nowitzki had a high fever and a sinus infection, but still managed to score 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter of a three-point victory to knot the series. This matchup has all the intensity and drama of a WWE Raw episode, as there has been some trash talk off and on the court, and now that it is essentially a best of three, expect things to get even hotter. The Mavericks have their last home game of the season on Thursday night, before heading to Miami for Game 6 on Sunday, and if necessary, Game 7 will be on Tuesday, also in Miami.
The Rangers have a 2.5-game lead in the American League West ahead of Thursday’s series opener in Minnesota, and MLB betting players have watched them flex their muscles over the past week as Texas went into Cleveland and swept the Indians, who are starting to come back to earth. Still, in a matchup of division leaders, Texas was dominant, outscoring the Indians 24-6, while shutting them out in the last two games of the series. The Rangers then returned home to lose two of three against Detroit, which showed that they really put a lot of energy into the Cleveland series, but a 7-3 win in the finale was encouraging. As was said before, the Rangers will be in Minnesota for four games beginning on Thursday, before moving on for a three-game series with the Yankees in New York. The Twins are starting to awake from their early-season slumber, so the Rangers shouldn’t take them lightly, and of course, it’s always an occasion when they meet the Yankees, and that series should be the one that gets the most attention in your sports betting book next week.
