11/18/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One thing about David Stern's NBA, it's a marketing machine.
Think about it - names like Kobe, LeBron and Shaq are every bit as recognizable around the world as Britney or Madonna.
Pete Newell's name certainly didn't have the same cachet to the general public but inside the game, he was every bit the legend as any of its superstars.
In the coaching ranks, Newell was best known as the college level. where he spent 15 years coaching at the University of San Francisco, Michigan State and Cal-Berkeley, compiling an impressive 234-123 record and leading the Bears to a national championship in 1959,
In fact he was one of only three coaches to have won an NIT, NCAA and Olympic title, joining Bob Knight and Dean Smith.
But Newell, who spent time as the general manager of both the San Diego Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in the '70s and engineered the trade that brought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Los Angeles, really made his mark in the NBA while running his world famous instructional basketball camp.
The annual camp for centers and forwards, housed in Los Angeles, Honolulu and most recently Las Vegas, was known simply as "Big Man Camp."
Its origins were humble. Newell was working with Kermit Washington, the former NBA player best known for punching out Rudy Tomjanovich in one of the league's uglier incidents. Under Newell's tutelage, Washington's footwork and overall game rapidly improved and more and more big men started to work with him.
Newell and his camp grew to such a level he became known as "The Footwork Master" and it became standard procedure for every single big man of any significance to stop in for tutelage.
The camp's alumni is a who's who of NBA's players that reached over 200, including superstars like Bill Walton, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaq himself, who called Newell the "best teacher there is" after working with him.
Needless to say, Newell could have made quite the living on his reputation but from the time he opened the camp in 1976 until his death, he never accepted any money for his services.
"I owe it to the game," Newell once said. "I can never repay what the game has given me."
Newell, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. died at 93 on Monday. He had been in bad health since undergoing surgery in 2005 to remove a malignant lung tumor.
"This is obviously a very sad day for the game of basketball, whether you are associated with the NBA, college or high school ranks," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "Pete was a great coach and a great man who had the ability to relate to players and people on every level."
Basketball will never find another like him.
Nobody contributed more to the game and its history than Pete Newell.
<< Oilers hope to halt slide in road test against Blue Jackets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Oilers will try avoid a fourth consecutive
loss when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for tonight's matchup at
Nationwide Arena.
The Oilers were dealt their third straight loss Monday evening in Detroit, a
<< Habs visit Hurricanes, RBC Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to win back-to-back games
for the first time in over two weeks when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes
for tonight's test at RBC Center.
The Canadiens posted just their second win in six gam
<< Pens, Malkin shoot for seventh straight win in clash with Wild
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Evgeni Malkin and the sizzling Pittsburgh Penguins will aim
for a seventh straight victory when they welcome the Minnesota Wild for
tonight's interconference battle at Mellon Arena.
The Penguins have posted a perfect 6-0 r
<< Blackhawks begin long road trip in Phoenix
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After playing 11 of their last 14 games in the Windy City,
the Chicago Blackhawks begin a six-game road trip tonight with a visit to
Phoenix to take on the Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena.
Chicago hits the road after a 2-1-2 h
Bologna adds former Lazio, Inter player Aparecido >>
Bologna, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Serie A strugglers Bologna has bolstered
its squad with the signing of former Lazio and Inter Milan midfielder Cesar
Aparecido.
The 34-year-old Brazilian is a free agent after leaving Inter at t
Cubs re-sign Dempster to four-year deal >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs have apparently re-signed
right-hander Ryan Dempster. The Newark-Star Ledger and the Chicago Sun-Times
are reporting that the deal is for four years and is worth $52 million.
Dempster r
Wild call up Schaefer to replace Harding >>
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Wild called up goaltender Nolan
Schaefer from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Houston Aeros, on
Tuesday after Wild goalie Josh Harding did not participate in the team's pre-
game sk
Marlies center Deveaux suspended four games >>
Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American Hockey League announced
that Toronto Marlies center Andre Deveaux has been suspended for four games as
a result of his actions in a game vs. Manitoba this past Saturday.
The loss of De
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
MySportsbook.com is one of the most efficient and professional online sportsbook today. While some sportsbooks only excel during the busiest seasons, MySportsbook is an excellent choice for the player who wants year-round quality. From their baseball true dime line to their interactive wagering, MySportsbook makes sure their clients would miss them if they went elsewhere.
Players won’t find any novelties at this sportsbook. The site is clean and simple and most importantly, fast. Customer Service handles matters in an expedient manner and accounting does everything possible to assure players that they have full control of their funds. The online banking center is open 24/7 in which time Neteller payouts are processed.
Management’s background and understanding of sports gambling has helped make them pioneers in the online betting market. MySportsbook was the first betting site to offer sports wagering in the best form. Interactive wagering was first offered in 1997. Players who don’t stop wagering when the game begins consider this sportsbook a true asset.
Players who are looking for outstanding value, extensive wagering options and inexpensive payouts will appreciate what MySportsbook.com offers. Those who are looking for perks and high bonuses would be best suited in a sportsbook geared towards the regular player.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your sports betting needs.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting