Tolliver brings a sense of humor to the Twin Cities

Basketball Betting Lines

08/09/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's probably a good idea to have a sense of humor if you are around a basketball team that amassed all of 15 wins and finished 38 games out of first place.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have done their best to remake the roster that "accomplished" that last season, shipping a perceived "bad seed," power forward Al Jefferson, to Salt Lake City, while giving second-year coach Kurt Rambis some exciting new options like Syracuse rookie forward Wesley Johnson, former Bucks point guard Luke Ridnour, and a former No. 2 overall pick in Michael Beasley.

Of course this is the 'Wolves so you can bet the black cloud hanging over the franchise hasn't fully dissipated just yet. Promising sophomore point guard Jonny Flynn underwent surgery in late July to repair a labral tear and remove extra bone from his left hip and is expected to be sidelined from basketball activities for three to four months.

It's safe to say Minnesota still has a ways to go before Kobe and his Laker teammates are shaking in their boots but basketball chief David Kahn made another move late last week by agreeing on a two-year deal with Anthony Tolliver, a forward with all of 65 career games on his NBA resume.

It's not the type of signing that will require a press conference at Target Center but the 6-foot-9 Tolliver has shown some offensive skills with the Golden State Warriors and he should be able to carve out a few minutes in Rambis' frontcourt rotation that will include Johnson, Martell Webster, Kevin Love and Beasley.

Tolliver's biggest contribution to the 'Wolves, however, may be in the locker room.

He announced his decision to leave Oakland for the Twin Cities last Friday in a short YouTube video, spoofing LeBron James' often criticized "The Decision" special on ESPN last month.

In the video entitled "The Decision: Part Deux!!," a woman off camera asks the former D-League star when he made his decision.

"Um, I think I made my decision this morning while using the bathroom," Tolliver said. "It just came to me."

Unknown interviewer: "So, are you going to let us know your decision?"

After writing his decision on a piece of paper, presumably to build up the suspense, Tolliver said: "I will be taking my services to the north, the Minnesota Timberwolves."

A wolf is then heard howling in the background as Tolliver continued:

"Thank you to all my fans who have been following me and following my decision. It's been a great run and hopefully this is just the beginning."

James, of course, famously announced his decision by saying "I will be taking my talents to South Beach."

It's tough for a role player to become a leader in any locker room but humor is often the first step in getting along with people, especially in a close- knit atmosphere like the NBA.

Tolliver will never be a superstar on the court in Minneapolis. Off the court, he's off to a very good start.

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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

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.