Dodgers introduce Torre as manager

Baseball Betting Lines

11/05/2007 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Torre was formally introduced as the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday morning, in ceremony at Dodger Stadium.

Torre had been named Dodgers manager on Thursday, and he agreed to a three- year deal to become the 26th manager in franchise history. Torre also announced Monday that Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa, who had been on his staff with the New York Yankees, would join him in Los Angeles.

"We introduce a great man who is a winner and a leader. No doubt, a future Hall of Famer," Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said. "What impresses me most about this gentleman is that he has done it both on and off the field. (general manager) Ned Colletti and I agree, there is no substitute for a strong character to lead our team to the top...Unrelenting, he leads and he wins."

In a speech steeped in nostalgia, set in the Dodger Stadium outfield, Torre talked about his ties to New York teams. He managed the Yankees, grew up rooting for the Giants, and now has the opportunity to manage the Dodgers, formerly of Brooklyn.

"This is one of the handful of organizations that you automatically say 'yes' to," Torre said. "When I think of the Dodgers, I think of efficiency, I think of pride, I think of measuring stick...You always measured yourself by the Dodgers because they did everything right. They had a stature that you really looked up to."

Torre said that he had never experienced winning like he did in his 12 years with the Yankees, when they made the postseason every season and won four World Series Championships.

But he said he was at peace with his decision to leave, and had been on an "emotional roller coaster" since. Torre indicated that after he decided not to go back to the Yankees, his representative presented him with scenarios, including sitting in the booth for the World Series.

"To me, that's like seeing somebody else eat a hot fudge sundae," Torre said.

Then he said he learned of some inquiries about the Dodgers, and the process accelerated from there.

"You say goodbye to one prestigious organization and you say hello to another," Torre said.

The Dodgers were just 82-80 last season under Grady Little and finished fourth in the NL West. Little, who called 2007 the toughest year of his career because of bickering between the team's veteran and young players, resigned earlier this week despite having one more year and a club option year left on his contract. He called the decision to step down a mutual one between himself and the club.

Meanwhile, Torre left the Yankees after balking at a one-year incentive- laden offer to remain as manager after 12 seasons in the Bronx. The club offered him a one-year $5 million deal that could have landed Torre as much as $8 million had the Bombers won the World Series.

But the team has lost in the first round of the playoffs in three consecutive seasons and Torre is just 4-13 in his last 17 postseason games. As a result, the Yankees made the change, officially naming Joe Girardi his successor on Tuesday.

Torre has 2,067 career victories for sole possession of eighth place on baseball's all-time managerial wins list and ranks second on the Yankees all- time victories list. He's also managed the Mets (1977-81), Braves (1982-84) and Cardinals (1990-95) during his career.

Torre becomes just the eighth manager in Los Angeles Dodger history, following Hall of Famers Walter Alston (1954-76) and Tommy Lasorda (1977-96), Bill Russell (1996-98), Glenn Hoffman (1998), Davey Johnson (1999-2000), Jim Tracy (2001-05) and Little (2006-07).

Wwwmenshealth Baseball Betting News

<< Patriots/Bills selected for Sunday night
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NFL has moved the November 18 game between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills to 8:15 p.m. (et) as part of the flexible scheduling system. In addition, the league also announced that Chica

<< Figo out with broken shin from Juve contest
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tests on Monday showed that Inter Milan's Luis Figo suffered a fractured shin in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Juventus. Figo sustained the injury in the second half of the contest after a hard challenge f

<< Different paths to the top for Arsenal, Manchester United
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saturday's 2-2 draw between Arsenal and Manchester United left the clubs tied atop the Premiership standings, and while they have enjoyed similar results this season, the way that the sides have gotten there

<< Big Three have a huge opening weekend
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - They lived up to the hype! Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce had a big opening weekend for the Celtics, who started a new season with two straight wins for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign. There was no dis

<< Texas C Griffin done for season with knee injury
Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Texas center Dallas Griffin will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Longhorns coach Mack Brown revealed the extent of the injury at

Dayton unanimous No. 1 in Sports Network Mid-Major poll >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dayton received all 33 first-place votes to retain the top spot in the Sportsbook Betting Lines FCS Mid-Major Poll announced Monday. The Flyers (9-1) thrashed Butler 61-0 on Saturday, a week after beat

WTA Championships commence Tuesday in Madrid >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The WTA Tour will wrap up its 2007 season this week with the exclusive eight-player, $3 million Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid. The Championships will commence Tuesday with a trio of

Rams RB Jackson set to return >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson is expected to return to the team's lineup on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Jackson has been struggling with back spasms that forced him to leave

Rochester's Hunter named AHL Player of the Week >>
Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American Hockey League announced today that Rochester Americans left wing Dylan Hunter has been named the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending November 5, 2007. Hunter recorded two goals and fi

This Week in Golf - November 8th through November 11th >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - EUROPEAN TOUR - HSBC CHAMPIONS, Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China - The European Tour wastes no time in jumping from the 2007 schedule to the 2008 schedul

NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.