USA routs Croatia in Worlds opener

Basketball Betting Lines

08/28/2010 - Istanbul, Turkey (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eric Gordon sank four three-pointers and scored 16 points, as the United States crushed Croatia, 106-78, in its opening contest of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Kevin Durant added 14 points for the US, which won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, but this year's world championship team is completely different from the Beijing squad as it chases America's first FIBA World Championship since 1994.

Chauncey Billups finished with 12 points and four assists for the United States, which shot 55 percent from the field in the Group B contest.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored a game-high 17 points for Croatia, which reached the quarterfinals in Beijing two summers ago. Marko Popovic had 16 points while Ante Tomic contributed 12, but no other Croatian player finished in double figures.

Also on Saturday, Lebanon defeated Canada, 81-71, in the teams' opening Group D contest. Fadi El Khatib poured in 31 points and hauled in eight rebounds in the victory. He shot 10-of-17 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line.

Rony Fahed provided 17 points for Lebanon, while Matt Freije sank four three- pointers and finished with 12 points.

Joel Anthony led Canada with 17 points to go with six rebounds. Denham Brown added 13 points, while Andy Rautins and Jevohn Shepherd each scored 10.

Canada and the United States are both back in action Sunday, when the Americans face Slovenia and the Canadians take on Lithuania. Slovenia was a winner over Tunisia on Saturday, while Lithuania beat New Zealand.

Foxaports Basketball Betting News

<< Mainz rallies to stun Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mainz came back from three goals down at Volkswagen Arena on Saturday to record a 4-3 win over Wolfsburg, giving the club its second win in as many games to start the season. Wolfsburg lost its open

<< Air Force's aerial plans go beyond football field
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -Like countless other college running backs, Air Force senior Jared Tew worked on his routes over the summer.Only, he wasn't practicing patterns on the football field like others were but speeding high above the Rocky M

<< No perfect way to split a conference
A conference was expanding and splitting into divisions, and nobody knew what would happen to its two most bitter football rivals. Would they stay in the same division or be split apart?No, this isn't a tale about Michigan and Ohio State. It's about

<< Miller continues hot start for Rangers
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kenny Miller continued his fast start to the new Scottish Premier League season on Saturday, scoring the decisive goal 11 minutes from time in a 2-1 Rangers win over St Johnstone at the Ibrox Stadium

<< Devils submit new Kovalchuk contract
Hackensack, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils have reportedly submitted a new contract with Ilya Kovalchuk to the NHL. The Bergen Record reported that NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed Friday that the league is

Wigan shocks Spurs >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hugo Rodallega's goal 10 minutes from time handed Wigan an unlikely 1-0 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday. The result came just a few days after Tottenham sealed a place in the

Chiefs' Sheffield released from hospital >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Cameron Sheffield has been released from the hospital after suffering a neck injury in Friday's preseason game against Philadelphia. Sheffield, who has movement in all hi

Leafs sign MacArthur for one year >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Free-agent forward Clarke MacArthur was signed to a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but TSN of Canada reported the deal is worth $1.1

Wozniacki captures third straight Pilot Pen title >>
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Caroline Wozniacki won her third consecutive Pilot Pen Tennis title Saturday by pulling out a three-set victory over Nadia Petrova. The world No. 2 Wozniacki took the 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Petrova in a li

Bonus introduced for winning Preakness Stakes >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's been a few years since there has been a bonus for sweeping the Triple Crown races. During the time that VISA sponsored the bonus, no three-year-old thoroughbred won the three classics, Kentuck

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard