01/24/2007 - Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Montreal will host the 2009 All-Star Game and said the league will continue with its unbalanced scheduling system.
"The Canadiens will be celebrating their centennial, and we're delighted to be a part of that event as they engage in what will be a year-long celebration," Bettman said of the decision to bring the midseason game back to Montreal.
The last time Montreal hosted the game was in 1993. Next year's All-Star events will be in Atlanta.
The league's board of governors' vote Tuesday to return to the pre-lockout schedule fell just short. The total was 19-11, but a third-thirds majority was needed to change the format. The current schedule format has teams playing eight divisional games, four contests versus each conference opponent outside the division, and other contests against teams from the opposite conference once each season.
"I think everybody concluded that the best thing we could do right now, particularly with attendance as strong as it is, is maintain the third year of the three-year cycle before even considering doing anything else," Bettman said. "We kind of like it where it is. (It) doesn't mean it's perfect, but I think on balance, that's the conclusion that everybody was most comfortable with."
Another hot topic discussed in Dallas was the tenuous situation involving the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell said if the team tries to leave the city, he will try to get the NHL involved to stop the move.
Penguins chairman Mario Lemieux said the team would explore relocation after the state of Pennsylvania rejected a bid by Isle of Capri Casinos for a slots license. The Isle of Capri had pledged to fully fund a $290 million project, including a new arena for the Penguins, if awarded the license.
In the latest proposal, the Penguins were asked recently to share development rights near Mellon Arena and parking revenues with Pittsburgh casino winner Don Barden.
Lemieux and other Penguins officials visited Kansas City earlier this month and team brass could also visit Houston in the near future.
Bettman was hopeful the Penguins' arena woes would be resolved.
"My hope is that a building on terms that make sense to the franchise will be achievable in Pittsburgh and this will become a non-issue," Bettman said. "But at some point in the not too distant future, in a matter of weeks, we have to start focusing with some certainty on what the schedule is going to look like. Time is of the essence, but I wouldn't want to overly portray an urgency today. It's urgent, but it's not imminently urgent, if you know what I mean. It will be shortly."
<< Phillies sign Alfonseca
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies inked
pitcher Antonio Alfonseca to a one-year contract on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old righty has compiled 121 saves over the course of 10 seasons
with the Florida Marli
<< Reds ink Bellhorn
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday signed
veteran infielder Mark Bellhorn to a minor league contract with an invitation
to spring training.
The 32-year-old Bellhorn spent last season with the Padres an
<< Pirates ink Matos and Green
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Tuesday
that they signed outfielder Luis Matos and infielder Nick Green to minor
league contracts, with an invitation to spring training.
The 28-year old Matos spl
<< Cardinals bring on Grimm
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Cardinals named former Pittsburgh
Steelers assistant head coach Russ Grimm as their new assistant head coach and
offensive line coach on Tuesday.
Grimm spent the previous six seasons as an ass
Illinois tops No. 23 Indiana >>
Champaign, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shaun Pruitt scored 10 points and pulled down
13 rebounds as Illinois toppled 23rd-ranked Indiana, 51-43, at Assembly Hall.
Rich McBride poured in a game-high 15 points and Warren Carter added 14 with
six
Nash sizzles as Suns top Wizards for 14th straight victory >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Nash scored 27 points, hitting 11-
of-13 shots, and dished out 14 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to their 14th
straight win, a 127-105 rout of the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.
Raja
Parise leads East to win in YoungStars game >>
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Jersey forward Zach Parise scored twice and
had four assists, leading the Eastern Conference to a 9-8 victory over the
Western Conference in the YoungStars game.
Boston's Phil Kessel added three goal
Mavs down Magic behind Dirk's 33 >>
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dirk Nowitzki poured in 33 points with 10
rebounds and eight assists, as the red-hot Dallas Mavericks won their eighth
straight contest with a 111-95 thumping of the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena.
Josh
Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
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