Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

Baltimore, MD - It took nearly a month, but the New York Yankees finally finished off an 8-7 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

The game began on June 28 but was suspended due to rain with two outs in the top of the eighth inning and the Yankees leading 8-6.

When the game resumed Rob Bell got Hideki Matsui to ground out to end the eighth. Yankees manager Joe Torre picked Mike Myers (2-0) to start the home half and the crafty left-hander induced Nick Markakis to ground out before walking Chris Gomez.

Not wanting to mess around, Torre called on his closer Mariano Rivera and the right-hander immediately got Aubrey Huff to tap into a 4-6-3 double play to end things.

The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth and Rivera managed to nail things down but was very shaky in the ninth.

Orioles star shortstop Miguel Tejada, who was activated from the disabled list before the game, pinch hit to lead off the ninth. Tejada had been shelved with a non-displaced fracture of the left radius, a move that ended the fifth longest consecutive-game playing streak in major league history at 1,152 games.

His return was unsuccessful, as Rivera fanned the former MVP. The O’s refused to go down easy, however. Corey Patterson gave Baltimore life with a double to the gap in right-center and pinch-hitter Ramon Hernandez followed with a softly-hit RBI single up the middle.

Rivera then induced Jay Payton to hit into what should have been a game-ending twin-killing but Derek Jeter’s throw from second pulled Andy Phillips off the bag at first.

Roberts followed by nearly ending things with Baltimore on top when he jerked a 2-2 pitch deep to right but the ball landed harmlessly foul. The second baseman then slapped a single to left that puts runners on the corners.

Brandon Fahey grounded a ball up the middle and Robinson Cano made a nice back-handed stab and outraced Roberts to force him out at second to end the game.

Andy Phillips homered earlier in the game for the Yankees. Derek Jeter and Melky Cabrera both drove in a pair of runs.

Back in June, the Orioles were trailing 4-2 in the seventh when they chased New York starter Chien-Ming Wang and scored four runs to take the lead before rain first threatened the game.

Markakis led off with a single and Kevin Millar followed with a fly ball into the right-field corner. Bobby Abreu could not come up with the catch and Millar reached third with a triple, scoring Markakis.

After Huff grounded out, Melvin Mora walked and Jay Gibbons’ double to center brought home pinch-runner Freddie Bynum and Mora to give Baltimore a 5-4 lead.

The Orioles added another run as Patterson, running in place of Gibbons, stole third and scored on Jorge Posada’s errant throw.

Rain then delayed the game for 19 minutes and after play resumed, the Yankees responded with four runs of their own in the eighth to regain the lead.

Orioles reliever John Parrish walked Posada and Abreu to start the inning. Cabrera’s double brought the Yankees within a run and Cano’s groundout tied the game at 6-6.

Ray replaced Parrish and with two outs, Jeter roped a single to center that scored two runs to give New York the lead.

The skies then opened up again and the game was eventually suspended after an hour and 25 minute delay.

Game Notes

The Yankees demoted struggling starting pitcher Kei Igawa to Triple-A Scranton and recalled infielder Chris Basak.

Nike Inc. released a statement Friday afternoon that it has pulled all goods bearing Michael Vick’s name from stores that it owns.

Grafiiti Wall Rumor Monger reports that n a statement Friday, the company said it had not terminated the contract, as animal-rights activists had urged the company to do after Vick was accused of federal dogfighting charges.

“Nike has suspended Michael Vick’s contract without pay, and will not sell any more Michael Vick product at Nike owned retail at this time,” the company said.

Vick pleaded not guilty Thursday to participating in a dogfighting ring that allegedly executed underperforming pit bulls by hanging, electrocution or other brutal means.

Nike had previously told retailers it will not release a fifth signature shoe, the Air Zoom Vick V, this summer and that the four shoe products and three shirts that currently bear Vick’s name will remain in stores.

United States members of Neteller will be able to enter their account this Monday July 30th and will be able to request a withdrawal of all remaining funds in their account at that time. Electronic fund payments and mailing options will be available to these clients.

Graffiti Wall reports on PAYDAY that Neteller has said that, “Pursuant to agreements with each of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (”USAO”) and Navigant Consulting, Inc. (”Navigant”), NETELLER will start the distribution of funds on 30 July 2007.”

The US account holders will have until January 26th of 2008 to withdraw funds from their account. This is a guaranteed withdrawal as it is actually considered as terms of their agreement in the case settled against them - to return funds to US customers who have any money that has been withheld from them since the case started.

Neteller has withheld paying customers since mid January following an investigation by US law enforcement.

Evicted Big Brother housemate Charley won’t make next year’s young persons rich list, but if she does punters will stand to make a fortune themselves. That’s because one bookmaker has given Charley with long 100 to 1 odds of being named on the coveted list.

Graffiti Wall Rumor Monger reports a British bookmaker previously offered up Charley with record-breaking 1/500 odds of being the next to get evicted from the Big Brother house. In other words, bet €500 to win a whopping €1. We here at Graffiti Wall suspect there were very few bets placed on this particular “lock”.

Apparently, Charley’s get-rich-scheme centers on writing a book, which she is certain will become a bestseller.

The sportsbooks spokesman, said: “She was over the moon when viewers voted her the most likely to make a million and wasted no time telling everyone about it. But we think her confidence is misplaced.”

“I’m already writing a book about my journey,” she told other housemates recently. “I’m a pretty decent writer actually.”

The 21-year-old has promised details of her “celebrity encounters”.

“I go to clubs which are high celebrity hang outs. I’ve met Puff Daddy, John Legend, every time I go out I meet someone famous,” she boasted. “I don’t usually meet them, they meet me.”

For the first time, the New York Daily News has captured a photo of NBA rogue referee Tim Donaghy’s bookie, James Battista.

Graffiti Wall Rumor Monger reports thatJames Battista, who attended the same Pennsylvania high school as Donaghy in the early 1980s, is in the eye of the illegal gambling storm that has rocked pro basketball, but he was calmly walking his Shih Tzu when the Daily News tracked him down in an affluent Philadelphia suburb.

“No comment,” Battista said gruffly. “Stay off my property.”

Later, Battista softened somewhat and emerged from his brick Colonial with a bowl of cold water for the reporter’s dog, who was along for the stakeout.

“Let’s handle this like gentlemen. Call my lawyer,” he said.

The FBI is investigating allegations that Donaghy bet on NBA games, including those he officiated in, with Battista and another unnamed bookie.

The NBA has aggressively backed a law that would make online sports betting illegal, hence pushing the activity underground and forcing those with gambling addictions to seek localized “back alley” bookies who are less likely to report suspicious activities such as those Donaghy is alleged to have engaged in.

If NBA Commissioner David Stern wants to avoid a repeat, his league should go beyond its current reliance on law enforcement and legal betting regulators in Nevada and forge new and better relationships with illegal bookmakers who are usually the first to get wind of game-fixing scams, gambling experts told Michael McCarthy of USA Today.

“This guy got around the whole thing by gambling illegally,” says sports analyst Danny Sheridan (who supplies betting lines published in USA TODAY). “Stern talks about bringing in the ‘best minds.’ He doesn’t need the best minds. He needs to talk to the illegal bookmakers. They take most of the bets. They hear about fixes first; not law enforcement. They notify (regulators) in Las Vegas.”

The online gambling industry, which operates primarily from Costa Rica, Antigua, England, Malta and the Kahnawake Reserve outside of Montreal, Quebec, have been fighting for regulation. The sector has gained strong support in political circles with the help of former New York Senator, Alfonse D’Amato and Barney Frank, though D’Amato’s efforts have focused solely on legalizing poker.

Donaghy was expected to surrender to authorities by this weekend.

Angoulême, France - Sandy Casar of France captured Stage 18 of the Tour de France on Friday, while Spain’s Alberto Contador remained the overall leader heading into the final weekend of cycling’s most prestigious event.

Graffiti Wall reports that Casar completed the 211-kilometer trek from Cahors to Angoulême in a time of five hours, 13 minutes and 31 seconds, outsprinting a trio of three other riders to the wire.

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Belgium’s Axel Merckx, Frenchman Laurent Lefevre and Dutchman Michael Boogerd were the next three finishers, all one second behind Casar, who notched his first-ever stage victory and became the second Frenchman to win a stage in this year’s Tour. Casar finished second to countrymate Cedric Vasseur last Wednesday in Stage 10.

Contador, meanwhile, finished Friday’s stage in 16th place and saw his overall lead trimmed by three seconds. Australia’s Cadel Evans was 14th on Friday and is now one minute, 50 seconds off the pace. American Levi Leipheimer is still third, 2:49 behind, as he finished in the same group with Contador.

Saturday’s 19th stage will likely determine this year’s Tour de France winner. A 55.5-kilometer time trial is on tap for the Tour’s penultimate day.

“I’m not a time trial specialist, but I’m going to absolutely all I can to try and not lose one minute 50 seconds,” said Contador. “The stage today went perfectly well despite the length; we rode at a rather good pace as opposed to yesterday when it was a lot harder even though the finish was manageable. It’s really important to rest and have a tranquil day before tomorrow’s really important time trial.”

After Saturday’s stage, the 2007 edition of the Tour will close Sunday with a 146-kilometer ride that concludes with the traditional finish along the Champs Elysees in Paris.

This year’s event has again lost some of its luster in the wake of recent doping-related expulsions, including Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen, who led the overall standings before removed from the race by his team on Wednesday night.

Rasmussen’s Rabobank team required the Danish rider to leave the race after discovering he lied of his whereabouts during his training in June. Rasmussen was apparently supposed to be training in Mexico, but the team later found out he was in Italy during a time when he reportedly missed random drug tests.

It was the third notable doping-related dismissal from the Tour in just two days. Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov and his Astana team left the Tour on Tuesday after accusations of doping and the Cofidis team abandoned earlier Wednesday after Italy’s Cristian Moreni apparently tested positive for testosterone following the 11th stage of the Tour last week.

Last year’s Tour also came under scrutiny after American Floyd Landis’ victory was clouded by doping suspicions.

Saratoga Springs, NY - Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense will be making his first start in more than two months on Sunday in the $500,000 Jim

Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Track. The 1 1/8 mile event for three-year-olds is a major prep race for the Travers Stakes on August 25.

Graffiti wall reports that Street Sense will take on five rivals as he returns to the races after resting since a second place finish to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes. The colt has been training under the watchful eyes of trainer Carl Nafzger and his staff.

Owned by James Tafel, Street Sense has four starts this year with two wins and two second place results. Along with his win in the Run for the Roses, Street Sense captured the Tampa Bay Derby and was the runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes.

In the Jim Dandy the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ will again be ridden by Calvin Borel from post three. Street Sense is expected to go off as the prohibitive favorite on Sunday.

Overall, Street Sense has won four of his nine starts for more than $3.1 million. Borel has been the only rider to ever pilot the Eclipse Award winner.

Steve Asmussen, trainer of Preakness champ Curlin, has the lightly raced, but highly regarded Tiz Wonderful entered. He will be making his three-year-old debut in the Jim Dandy after an undefeated 2006 season.

Tiz Wonderful won all three starts last year with wins in the Iroquois and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He has $228,792 in earnings. John Velazquez has the mount and will start from post five.

Breaking from the inside post will be Peter Pan Stakes winner Sightseeing. The colt will be ridden by Edgar Prado for the Ogden Phipps Stable and trainer Shug McGaughey.

Sightseeing is coming off a third place finish in the Dwyer Stakes to Any Given Saturday. He has two wins in 10 career starts for $363,730.

Champion trainer Todd Pletcher has entered Illinois Derby champ Cowtown Cat in the race. The chestnut colt last raced in the Ohio Derby on June 2 when he finished fourth as the 3-5 favorite.

Cowtown Cat will break from post four with Garrett Gomez picking up the mount. The three-year-old has earned $503,463 in nine lifetime starts and four wins.

Completing the field for the Jim Dandy are Flashstorm and C P West.

The Jim Dandy Stakes will be the ninth of 10 races on Sunday with a scheduled post-time of 5:20 p.m. (et).

Meanwhile, after a two day stay at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania, Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches is back at the Belmont Park barn of Todd Pletcher.

The filly underwent a thorough physical examination at New Bolton after she was pulled up during a workout on Sunday. Veterinarian Steve Allday gave her a preliminary exam on Monday and recommended she be sent to New Bolton.

“The results of the exam will be reviewed by Dr. Paul Thorpe, the attending veterinarian for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith,” said Pletcher. “Dr. Thorpe will be flying in from Ireland tomorrow to go over the results with us. If everything checks out well she could still make the Alabama.”

The $600,000 Alabama Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Saratoga is scheduled for August 18.

Indianapolis, IN - Rain cancelled Craftsman Truck Series qualifying for tonight’s Power Stroke Diesel 200 race at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

Graffiti Wall reports the lineup will be set by rule, owners points, which will put points leader Mike Skinner on the pole.

Starting on the front row with Skinner will be Ron Hornaday Jr. who sits 164 points behind Skinner in the standings..

Todd Bodine (-288) and Travis Kvapil (-313) will make up row two.

The race at O’Reilly Raceway Park is the 13th all-time and is one of four tracks that has hosted an event in every season (the others are Martinsville, Milwaukee and Phoenix).

Skinner won the inaugural race in 1995 and again in 1996 and led every lap (350 in all). Skinner became only the fourth driver in NASCAR national series history to lead every lap in consecutive races at the same track.

Skinner is having a pretty good season in 2007 as well. He leads the series in points (2,238), driver rating (125.0), winnings ($479,300), laps led (789), wins (4), poles (7), top-fives (11) and top-10s (13). Skinner leads Ron Hornaday Jr. by 164 points (2,238-2,074). It’s his largest lead of the season, but only the fifth-largest at this point of the season.

The race is still scheduled to drop the green flag at 8 p.m. (et).

Madrid, Spain - Atletico signed winger Simao Sabrosa from Benfica to a four-year contract on Friday.

Graffiti Wall reports that The 27-year-old Soccer Knocker started his career with Barcelona, but did not make a name for himself until joining Benfica in 2001. With Benfica, Simao helped his club win the Portuguese league championship in 2005, and was named Portuguese Player of the Year last season.

“The experience and maturity that Simao has demonstrated over the course of his athletic career is unquestionable, demonstrating himself to be a responsible player who can throw off defenses,” said Atletico President Don Enrique. “Simao stands out for his skill with the ball and his extraordinary pace. His technical contribution is outstanding, which tells us that we have a great talent.”

A Portugal international, Simao has also collected 55 caps.

Simao is not expected to play in the Intertoto Cup tie on Saturday versus Gloria Bistrita, but is excited for the La Liga opener on August 26, at Real Madrid.

“I think that Atletico should always be in the top three and win titles,” said Simao. “I hope to play the same here as I have the past few years.”

Atletico finished last season in seventh place, 16 points behind title winner Real Madrid

Kitzbuhel, Austria - Top-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo was upended by fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco in Friday’s quarterfinal action at the $1.085 million Austrian Open.

Graffiti Wall reports that Monaco dismissed the world No. 7 Robredo in 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 fashion on the red clay at Casino Stadion. Monaco improved to 2-14 in his career against top-10 competition.

Meanwhile, sixth-seeded and defending champion Agustin Calleri avoided an upset by handling 2001 Kitzbuhel titlist Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. Lapentti was the 15th seed this week.

Calleri beat Juan Ignacio Chela in last year’s all-Argentine finale here.

In other round-of-eight play, 10th-seeded Potito Starace saved a match point in order to overcome fellow Italian Andreas Seppi 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) and 11th-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco held off Argentine Sergio Roitman 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-3. Verdasco reached the Kitzbuhel final in 2005, while Seppi was a finalist in Gstaad just two weeks ago.

Saturday’s semifinals will pit Calleri against Starace and Monaco versus Verdasco. Wins by Calleri and Monaco would produce an all-Argentine finale on Sunday.