Hill's pre-emptive strike: "When you get fired, you don't die."

Basketball Betting Lines

02/03/2007 -

SEATTLE (AP) -Bob Hill's been through this before. Twice.

So he's ready for talk that he may soon get fired as coach of the injury-depleted, last-place Seattle SuperSonics.

About an hour before the start of the Sonics' 107-101 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, Hill gave a soliloquy about the realities of being an NBA coach.

``I look at my position very realistically,'' said Hill, in his ninth season as an NBA coach. ``You know, when you get fired, you don't die. You don't die.''

Hill is living proof. Despite winning 74 percent of his games from 1994-96 in San Antonio, the Spurs fired him. During the 1990-91 season, Hill took over the 9-16 Indiana Pacers and went 32-25. He lasted two more seasons, going 81-83, before the Pacers dismissed him following a first-round exit from the playoffs.

Hill has a 39-60 mark as Seattle's coach.

``Coaches get fired all the time. When you jump into this, you realize that,'' said Hill, whom Seattle promoted from being an assistant Jan. 3, 2006, after the Sonics started 13-17 under Bob Weiss.

``Does that answer all the questions about me being fired?'' Hill said, smiling while spreading his arms wide.

Not really.

The Sonics are 17-30, in last place in the Northwest Division, 13 games out of first. They have lost a franchise record-tying 14 consecutive road games entering next week's trip to Washington and Indiana.

When asked two weeks ago if Hill and general manager Rick Sund will be in the same positions next season, new Sonics owner Clay Bennett was silent for nine seconds before saying, ``We completely support Bob and Rick and we have a hope that this season can still turn around.''

Bennett brought aboard Lenny Wilkens, the NBA's all-time winningest coach, to be a vice chairman of his new ownership group that's trying to secure a new arena in the Seattle area. Wilkens coached the Sonics to their only league title, in 1979, but said Dec. 1 that he won't be coaching again.

``The Knicks were enough,'' said Wilkens, who was New York's interim coach in 2004. ``That was the finishing touch, so to speak.''

Bennett, an Oklahoma City businessman, said he sees glimpses of what this team can be. If only it could stay healthy, that is.

Seattle had lost a combined 109 games to injuries this season entering Friday. Last season at this point, the Sonics had lost 79 games to injuries.

Leading scorer Ray Allen, who was averaging 26.6 points per game, missed nine games in December with a bruised foot.

Second-leading scorer Rashard Lewis, the man through whom Hill likes to run his offense in the fourth quarter of close games, missed his 20th consecutive game Friday with a tendon sheath injury in his right hand.

Hill said Lewis, who has averaged 20.5 points per game in his last three seasons, was cleared Friday to return to practice and may play next weekend.

Since Lewis has been out, Allen has been Seattle's only option late in games. And opponents know it, often sending two and sometimes three defenders at the six-time All-Star.

``Obviously in the fourth quarter, everybody in the gym and watching on TV knows who I'm going to go to,'' Hill said.

Inside force Danny Fortson has also missed 27 games with a sore left knee.

``In the history of sports, coaches have had a hard time winning with that many injuries,'' Hill said.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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<< 2006-07 Chicago Bulls Schedule
Oct. 11 won vs Wizards, 87-86Oct. 15 won vs SuperSonics, 110-105, OTOct. 16 won at Grizzlies, 87-78Oct. 19 won at Spurs, 99-67Oct. 20 lost vs Timberwolves, 85-83Oct. 24 won vs Grizzlies, 87-84Oct. 25 lost at Timberwolves, 109-105, OTOct. 27 won vs R

<< 2006-07 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule
Oct. 11 won at Trail Blazers, 99-89Oct. 12 lost at Lakers, 104-101Oct. 15 lost at Bulls, 110-105, OTOct. 20 lost vs Trail Blazers, 103-95Oct. 21 lost at Clippers, 86-82Oct. 23 won at Suns, 108-102Oct. 25 won vs Kings, 103-88Oct. 26 won vs Warriors,

<< 2006-07 Denver Nuggets Schedule
Oct. 14 lost vs Warriors, 121-115Oct. 18 won vs Pacers, 114-102Oct. 21 lost at Bucks, 119-108Oct. 22 won at Pistons, 124-105Oct. 24 lost vs Jazz, 127-107Oct. 26 won at Lakers, 126-108Oct. 27 won at Clippers, 112-86Nov. 2 lost at Clippers, 96-95Nov.

<< 2006-07 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule
Oct. 11 lost vs SuperSonics, 99-89Oct. 17 lost vs Warriors, 124-120, OTOct. 19 lost at Jazz, 104-90Oct. 20 won at SuperSonics, 103-95Oct. 23 won vs Jazz, 114-110Oct. 24 lost at Warriors, 108-96Oct. 25 lost at Clippers, 97-89Oct. 27 lost at Kings, 84

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St. Louis 1 1 1-3Detroit 1 1 3-5First Period-1, Detroit, Zetterberg 21 (Holmstrom, Markov), :33. 2, St. Louis, Stempniak 16 (McClement), 1:06.Second Period-3, Detroit, Holmstrom 17 (Lidstrom, Zetterberg), 8:29 (pp). 4, St. Louis, Johnson 6 (

CBB scores >>
ETSU 63, Gardner-Webb 61Kennesaw St. 74, Campbell 64MORECopyright © 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

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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup

September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com.  The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. 

Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to  name a  few.  Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR.  They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.

The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer.  Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.

Ryder Cup Odds

Europe
Tie
USA
4-5
10-1
6-5


Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1


Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1

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Online Sportsbook Football Betting

LaDainian Tomlinson Favorite to be 2007 NFL MVP

With the first NFL preseason game less than two weeks away, it is time to start thinking about football once again at MySportsbook.com. Reigning NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson is currently the 5-1 co-favorite to win the award again alongside Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning.

This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone after his all out assault on the record books last season. For those suffering from amnesia or were under a rock last football season, all L.T. did last season was set the NFL record for rushing touchdowns (28), total touchdowns (31) and total points scored (186) to go along with his 1815 rushing yards and 508 receiving yards. At 6-1, Tom Brady is next in line which isn’t surprising considering all of the firepower the Pats added over the off-season. With the addition of Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker; it would be quite difficult for Brady’s numbers not to improve from last years 3529 yards and 24 touchdowns. There appears to be some decent value in Drew Bees at 10-1 considering he probably would have won the award last year if it wasn’t for L.T.’s record breaking season.

There is no reason to think the Saints will come back to earth this season and playing in a weak NFC, they should have as good a shot as any to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. At 15-1, Donovan McNabb could also be worth a look. Remember, many felt he was the MVP of the first half of the season before going down with a season ending injury. Reportedly, he is in great shape and well ahead of schedule to return to form. Also, he could have some added motivation to put up big numbers this season with the Eagles using their first pick in the draft on McNabb’s future successor Kevin Kolb.

Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to check out the complete odds for NFL MVP as well as all of the new football related futures. With the popularity of NFL futures, these betting lines will be sure to change as the money comes in; get the early sports lines now.

MySportsbook is considered one of the finest football sportsbooks according to several surveys performed by independent industry analysts considering such factors as payout accuracy and timeliness, overall quality of website, and bettor satisfaction.

MySportsbook is a large company with strong financial backing. Considered the best sportsbook for betting football online You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again.

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