Burke helping turn over new Leaf
Hockey Betting Lines
09/06/2010 -
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the past 12 months, the Toronto Maple Leafs have advocated change more than a campaigning politician.
Like a political party during election season, the Leafs are under constant
scrutiny. And when the public loses faith in the abilities of the product,
it's only a matter of time before an axe falls on someone's head.
First came personnel changes - out with the old and in with the new. Matt
Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White, Jamal Mayers, Vesa Toskala, Jason Blake,
Alexei Ponikarovsky, Viktor Stalberg and Lee Stempniak were all victims of the
winds of change.
Replacing these former representatives of the Blue and White are Dion Phaneuf,
J.S. Giguere, Kris Versteeg, Colby Armstrong, Mike Brown, Clarke MacArthur and
Brett Lebda to go along with rookie hopeful Nazem Kadri.
Aside from Brian Burke's affinity for North American players, the polarizing
General Manager made these moves to change the identity of a brand that was no
longer feared, nor respected.
Much like the team he helped create in Anaheim, Burke's mold for success
relies heavily on the pit-bull mentality of his players - a cranky,
aggressive, never-say-die swagger.
Based on the moves he's made to date, there's no doubt the Leafs will be a
much more formidable opponent in 2010-11.
But aside from a revamped roster, Burke's purge on all that was wrong with the
club over the past five seasons underwent a cosmetic makeover as well.
Back in June, the club named Dion Phaneuf the 18th captain in team history and
the first since Mats Sundin relinquished that honor after the 2007-08
campaign.
On the same day, the refurbished Leafs also unveiled new uniforms. This shrewd
move not only symbolized the spawn of a new era, it buried all that remained
from a punchless period where a paper-bag became a familiar accessory among
fans.
To go along with a new roster, new captain and new uniforms, the Leafs also
made a subtle change last week when they introduced a new paint job at center
ice of the Air Canada Centre - a row of Canadian flags stretching the span of
the red line.
Upon revealing the altered design, MLSE chief executive officer Tom Anselmi
said, "It seemed like just another fun little way to express the patriotism of
our team, our organization and our fans."
While it may be a minor nuance, it fits in perfectly with the direction Burke
is steering this fledgling franchise.
The Maple Leafs have long been considered Canada's team, with all due respect
to the Montreal Canadiens, and now Burke is pushing to put theory into
practice.
But amidst all the patriotic posturing and restructured team values, success
is only weighed in wins and losses.
If Leaf Nation is forced to endure another miserable season, the hope that was
used to sell the change that has been made over the past year, could just as
easily turn to pessimism and dismay.
Selling a vision is all well and good, but leaving a successful legacy is what
matters most. For Burke and the Maple Leafs, this upcoming season represents
the beginning of that legacy.
Although Burke is only entering his second full year on the job, if the change
that has inspired excitement amongst fans fails, it will not only be
devastating to the diehards, it will jeopardize a vision that has closely
associated itself with Canadian culture.
<< Rangers scratch Lee from Tuesday start
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers have scratched lefty Cliff
Lee from his scheduled start Tuesday against the Blue Jays because of a
strained muscle in his lower back.
Lee was given an injection to deal with disc
<< Underwhelming Madrid need special touch
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When Jose Mourinho left Inter Milan this
summer for the bright lights of the Bernabeu, he took a calculated risk. After
all, Inter had just come off a season where they won both the domestic league
and cu
<< Santana scratched from Tuesday start
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Mets ace Johan Santana will miss
his next scheduled start Tuesday versus Washington with a strained pectoral
muscle.
Santana was forced to leave his last assignment against the Braves Thurs
<< Cardinals to begin critical road trip with clash vs. Brewers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off a much-needed series win, the playoff-hopeful
St. Louis Cardinals know they still have a lot of work to do.
St. Louis continues that uphill battle this afternoon with the opener of a
three-game series at Miller
<< Division rivals collide as Mariners visit A's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-year lefty Brett Anderson can pitch the Oakland
Athletics a game closer to .500 and keep them an outside contender in the
American League playoff race today, when the team hosts the Seattle Mariners
for the first of th
Report: Ravens sign WR Houshmandzadeh >>
Culver City, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens added depth to the
wide receiver position by reportedly agreeing to a one-year contract with T.J.
Houshmandzadeh on Monday.
The NFL Network, among others, are reporting the signi
McEnroe to step down as U.S. Davis Cup captain >>
White Plains, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Patrick McEnroe announced that he will
resign as United States Davis Cup captain immediately following the
World Group playoff against Colombia next week.
The U.S. and host Colombia will squ
Montana ascends to No. 1 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The move was only one spot, but it was a
big one for the University of Montana football team as the Grizzlies advanced
to No. 1 in The Sportsbook Betting Lines/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 on Monday.
Montana was selected
Rangers promote INF German, designate Cora >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers purchased the contract of
infielder Esteban German from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated infielder
Alex Cora for assignment on Monday.
The 32-year-old German has been with Oklahoma
Kuznetsova exits the Open >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova
was a fourth-round upset victim Monday at the U.S. Open.
Talented Slovak Dominika Cibulkova cut down the 11th-seeded Kuznetsova 7-5,
7-6 (7-4) at the USTA Billie
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Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.
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