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02/03/2007 -
MEXICO CITY (AP) -Even in a country dedicated to futbol, all eyes will be on football for ``Super Domingo.''
Nearly 20 million Mexicans will watch the matchup between the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at home, restaurants, bars and movie theaters.
In fact, soccer has stepped aside for the Super Bowl.
For the first time, no ``futbol'' match is scheduled at the same time as the big game. America, one of Mexico's most popular teams, will play two hours earlier Sunday to avoid a conflict.
Some people in the United States might be surprised by all the attention the Super Bowl gets in Mexico. Others know better.
``The passion for the game is great in Mexico. I don't see a difference in the fans,'' Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez said during a recent visit to the country, where his grandfather was born.
``The game has grown a lot in Mexico, and I'm very happy for it,'' he said.
Francisco Mendez knows it firsthand. He manages the Beer Factory Cuicuilco bar, which has broadcast Monday Night Football since 2004. This weekend, it'll be wild inside his place.
``It's crazy. We always have a packed house for that Sunday,'' Mendez said. ``I'll tell you this, only when Mexico plays in the World Cup do we see this type of atmosphere.''
The Super Bowl is so popular that it will also be shown at 13 movie theaters in Mexico City. The Cinemex movie chain also broadcast Monday night games throughout the regular season.
``All the Monday night games this season drew nearly 14,000 fans. In the movie theater, you see more families than in a bar. The dynamic is different, but very successful,'' said Joaquin Del Rivero, director of NFL Mexico.
There's a passion for seeing the game in person, too.
The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers set an NFL record in 2005 when they drew 103,467 fans for a regular-season game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
According to the league office based in Mexico City, one out of five Mexicans has knowledge of the game. The favorite teams are the Cowboys, Steelers, 49ers, Raiders and Dolphins.
``Mexican television began broadcasting nearly 40 years ago. That's when Pittsburgh and Dallas had their greatest years, and that's why they're now the most popular teams. It's a tradition that has gone from generation to generation,'' Del Rivero said.
And while none of the most popular teams will be playing Sunday, the two teams still have followers in Mexico.
``I'm a Bears fan, always have been, and always will,'' said Enrique Marin, who was 4 years old the last time Chicago played for the NFL crown. ``I barely remember the last time they played in the Super Bowl. My memories are more bad than good, so you can imagine how excited I am.''
Marin is not alone.
``A lot of people remember the great Chicago team from the 80s. Also, (Chicago) is a city where many Mexicans have relatives living, so they feel a connection. If you add that to the fact that they have a Latin player in Roberto Garza, they're probably the team that people will be rooting for next Sunday,'' Del Rivero said.
Just as in the United States, the media frenzy begins weeks before kickoff.
Both major networks, Televisa and TV Azteca, will broadcast the game live and transmit daily setup pieces from Miami. All major newspapers, radio stations and Web sites have had journalists in Miami since Monday. NFL Mexico reported that 40 Mexican media companies received press credentials.
Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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Friday's Major College Basketball Scores >>
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Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook
Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds. The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.
Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.
Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).
Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.
World Series odds
Adam Dunn 15-1
Albert Pujols 5-1
Alex Rodriguez 12-1
Alfonso Soriano 15-1
Andruw Jones 25-1
Barry Bonds 50-1
Carlos Delgado 40-1
David Ortiz 8-1
Jermaine Dye 40-1
Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1
Lance Berkman 40-1
Manny Ramirez 20-1
Richie Sexson 40-1
Ryan Howard 6-1
Travis Hafner 20-1
Vladimir Guerrero 40-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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