Dallas Sports Offseason Update
July 23, 2009 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
It’s almost NFL betting time and you can feel it in the Texas air, can’t you? Training camps are on the verge of kicking into overdrive, and the NHL and NBA camps aren’t far behind. Let’s check in with our Dallas teams.
The biggest storyline around camp these days is the pressure mounting on Tony Romo. With no more Jessica Simpson, he has no more excuses. As great as his numbers can be, he’s 5-10 in December and January and that has to change if the Cowboys want to make the playoffs. Unfortunately for Romo, he still may not have a true No. 1 wideout to throw to this season unless Roy Williams really steps up his play.
However, if the stars align, you just never know – Tony Romo could have a secondary receiving option in Jesse Holley, winner of Michael Irvin’s reality TV show 4th and Long. He’s a huge offshore sportsbook underdog to make the team but he’s big, reasonably fast and has Irvin’s confidence. To quote No. 88 on Holley: “Outside of Roy Williams, I’m not looking at a guy that is head and shoulders above Jesse.”
Not much happened for the Mavs in the last week, but hoops betting fans should keep an eye on second-round pick Ahmad Nivins. He’s impressing in the summer league with his rebounding ability and strength. While his speed and athleticism leave a bit to be desired, he’s thought to have an NBA-ready build already, so he could see more than a few minutes for the Mavs this season.
The quiet, deer-in-the-headlights offseason continues in Dallas and the Stars are tough to forecast for next year. The bad news: it looks more likely every day that longtime defensive workhorse and power-play quarterback Sergei Zubov is leaving for greener pastures. He’s 39 years old but can still help a team’s offense when healthy. The good news: Dallas finally has a backup for Marty Turco in net, as they brought in Alex Auld. Auld is a capable backup who can handle starting duties for stretches too. However, with no major acquisitions yet, you have to wonder if the Stars can ice a team worth the ticket price per head in 2009.
Dallas Sports Offseason Report
July 6, 2009 by Guest Contributor · Leave a Comment
Mavs looking to keep Kidd in Big D
While Daytona odds will be a big play in the Lone Star State this weekend, it’s always a good thing to keep up on the pro teams that are in their offseason, preparing for the 2009-10 campaign.
The Mavericks’ hoops betting odds are heavily dependent on whether they can resign point guard Jason Kidd, who is a free agent and being courted by the New York Knicks. The Mavericks offered Kidd a three-year deal worth $25 million as soon as the free-agent market opened up on July 1st, and the Knicks would have problems matching that as they are trying to stay way under the cap to sign one of the marquee stars in next year’s free-agent class, notably one LeBron James. Kidd, at 36 years old, is still a triple-double threat every time he laces them up, and no one outside of New Orleans’ Chris Paul is better at getting their teammates involved. Kidd is also close with Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, and he’s even a better outside shooter. Gambling software would have a tough time handicapping the possibilities for the veteran floor leader. As for the draft, the Mavericks didn’t do much, selecting Ohio State center B.J. Mullens with the 24th pick, and then turning around to trade him to Oklahoma City for the 25th pick, point guard Rodrigue Beaubois from France. The Mavericks also took power forward Ahmad Nivins from Saint Joseph’s in the second round, and then took Florida guard Nick Calathes from Minnesota for a 2010 second-round pick and cash. Thing is, Calathes is going to play in Greece this year, so the Mavericks essentially got nothing in this draft.
The Stars were one of the quieter teams when the market for free agents opened on July 1st, choosing not to get locked up in outlandish deals. But they did pick up a very solid player with the eighth pick in the draft, taking Scott Glennie from the Brandon Wheat Kings. Glennie was tied with teammate Brayden Schenn for most postseason points this year, and Schenn was taken three spots higher. The right winger will inject some life into a veteran lineup, and while he won’t affect the Stars’ online betting odds too much for the upcoming season, he’s a great start for the future.
It’s been a good week for the Cowboys, no distractions, no fuss. The most noise coming out of their camp was Tony Romo’s pairing with Tiger Woods in the Pro-Am of Woods’ tournament, the AT&T National. Romo would apparently have decent AT&T odds at Congressional Country Club, as he is a 1-handicap, but maybe Tiger could give him some tips on dealing with pressure (low blow, I know, but it’s true). If he did, the Cowboys’ NFL betting odds would go way up.
