10/02/2008 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA released the results of a review of the league's embattled officiating program Thursday in the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal.
Donaghy, a former NBA referee, received a 15-month prison sentence for his role in betting on NBA games.
Lawrence B. Pedowitz, a former chief of the Criminal Division in the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, was appointed by the NBA to review the officiating program and make recommendations.
Following a 14-month investigation, Pedowitz recommended significant changes, but found no evidence of illegal activity by any referees other than Donaghy.
The 116-page report recommended strengthening the NBA's anti-gambling rules, improving the enforcement of these rules and creating a "culture of compliance" among all league and team employees, including through the reorganization of the management of the referee program and the creation of an anonymous hotline for gambling information.
The report also said the league should increase monitoring of games for suspicious activity, and should increase efforts to eliminate the perception of referee bias by making more information available about the referee program and increasing access to the referees by fans and media.
"We are very appreciative of the effort by Mr. Pedowitz and his staff considering the extraordinary nature of the review," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "Mr. Pedowitz, who together with his team conducted approximately 200 interviews, was given the broadest possible mandate and was provided unfettered access to our employees, records, data and video library to ensure the independence and thoroughness of his report.
"We welcome the recommendations from Mr. Pedowitz in areas where we can improve -- all of which will be adopted, and many of which have already been adopted, including the hiring of Army Major General (Ret.) Ronald L. Johnson as the senior vice president, referee operations. These measures are a beginning, not an end. We know that the NBA's success hinges on the integrity of our sport and on competition that allows teams to win based on their own skill and performance. We expect nothing less from our referees than the highest level of accuracy, professionalism and integrity."
Meanwhile, Stern has also asked Pedowitz to review the new program at the end of the upcoming season.
"I have asked Mr. Pedowitz to continue his service by reviewing our program at the end of the season to ensure that it comports with his recommendations and aspires to the highest levels of integrity."
<< Woodbine to host pair of Challenge races
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Breeders' Cup Challenge races take
center-stage for Saturday's Woodbine card. The $2 million Pattison Canadian
International and the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes will both be contested on
Woodbin
<< Peng reaches Tashkent quarters
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Chinese Shuai Peng
led Thursday's charge into the quarterfinals at the $145,000 Tashkent Open.
Peng handled Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus 6-1, 7-5 on the hardcourts at
Tashken
<< Ferrer, Roddick advance in Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top seeds David Ferrer and Andy Roddick were
among Thursday's third-round winners at the $869,000 Japan Open Tennis
Championships.
The reigning Tokyo champion Ferrer rallied to top Japanese
<< Wozniacki advances in Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, the top seed,
blasted Japanese wild card Ayumi Morita, 6-2, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals
of the $175,000 Japan Open Tennis Championships.
Wozniacki, who already has two tit
Percival left off Rays' ALDS roster >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays
have opted to leave closer Troy Percival off their American League Division
Series roster.
Percival has battled a myriad of injuries in the second half of t
Best in the Big Ten >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just a few short weeks ago, the Big Ten
was Ohio State's conference to lose. Fast forward just one month, and it isn't
the Buckeyes that have a stranglehold on the Big Ten, but rather Penn State
that has show
CC goes on short rest again, as Brewers try to pull even with Phils >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - CC Sabathia goes on short rest for the fourth straight
time this evening, when the Milwaukee Brewers try to even up their best-of-
five National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at
Citizens Bank Park.
Dodgers hope to take 2-0 lead in best-of-five NLDS with Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers try to take a commanding two games
to none lead in their best-of-five National League Division Series with the
Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
In Game 1 of this set on Wednesday, James Loney clubbed
Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship
(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.
MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.
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