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**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 01:56 AM

Warriors-Cavs rematch set for X-Mas

August 12, 2015

The Golden State Warriors will see an old friend on opening night and LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA Finals rematch on Christmas, two of the highlight games of their title defense.

The NBA released its schedule Wednesday, a more player-friendly model that addresses Commissioner Adam Silver's directive for additional player rest by slashing the times teams have to play four times in five nights to an average of one per team.

NBA senior vice president of operations Kiki VanDeWeghe called it the best schedule he had seen, adding that the league was ''very, very mindful of player rest and recuperation, and the idea of putting the best product on the floor each and every night.''

The season begins Oct. 27 with three games, including the Warriors hosting New Orleans, the team they eliminated in the first round before the Pelicans hired Alvin Gentry, who was one of Steve Kerr's assistants last season.

Chicago hosts Cleveland earlier on opening night in its first game under Fred Hoiberg, who was hired after the Bulls fired Tom Thibodeau.

Most teams begin Oct. 28, including the new-look San Antonio Spurs making their debut with LaMarcus Aldridge and David West at Oklahoma City, which could welcome Kevin Durant back to regular-season action after his 2014-15 season was cut short by injury.

Later that night, the top two picks in the June draft square off when No. 1 Karl-Anthony Towns and Minnesota visit the Los Angeles Lakers, who could put No. 2 pick D'Angelo Russell into a backcourt with a returning Kobe Bryant.

The Christmas slate again features five games, with the NBA Finals rematch sandwiched in the middle. Also, Miami hosts New Orleans, Chicago visits Oklahoma City, Houston welcomes San Antonio and the Lakers and Clippers continue their Staples Center rivalry.

The New York Knicks, coming off a 17-65 season, are off on Christmas for the first time since 2008.

The extended All-Star break the NBA introduced last season returns, with a week off around the Feb. 14 game in Toronto, and there are other tweaks that should benefit players.

There are just 27 instances of teams playing four times in five nights, and no team faces more than two four-in-five night stretches. Back-to-backs were also trimmed to an all-time low of less than 18 per team.

The schedule also reduces the distance teams have to travel on the second night of back-to-backs with fewer games that cross time zones on the second half, and overall the total miles traveled per team next season will be down 2 percent.

''I can tell you as a player the ones that used to kill you were the either across the country or across a couple of time zones back-to-back. Those have been reduced significantly, by almost 25 percent,'' VanDeWeghe said.

Following a season in which superstars such as Kobe Bryant, Durant and Carmelo Anthony all missed significant time with injuries, extra space was created in the schedule by having additional games on Thursdays - the lightest night of the week, when TNT hosts a doubleheader - as well as Mondays and Saturdays, when ABC will begin televising a game in January.

''The key message for us in making up the schedule was be mindful of player rest and recuperation, and so that's really a big driving force for us,'' VanDeWeghe said.

Anthony clapped when told of the reduction of four-in-five night stretches.

''To not have to play all these four-in-five night games, I think it's good for the players, I think it's good for the league overall. I think it's good for the fans, too,'' the Knicks All-Star said.

A reunion night of sorts was set up on Nov. 11, when Aldridge returns to Portland for the first time since signing with the Spurs, and the Clippers visit Dallas, where DeAndre Jordan had verbally committed to play before deciding to remain in Los Angeles.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day schedule, like Christmas always one of the league's strongest, features the Warriors' first trip to Cleveland since winning the NBA title in Game 6, and the Clippers hosting Houston, the team they blew a 3-1 lead against in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Warriors and Cavaliers have a league-high 25 appearances on national TV.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 01:57 AM

LeBron: Health will determine Olympic plans

August 12, 2015

LAS VEGAS (AP) LeBron James said Wednesday his health and his family will determine whether he tries for a record third basketball Olympic gold medal next summer.

James took part in USA Basketball's minicamp, satisfying chairman Jerry Colangelo's mandate that anyone wanting to be considered for the 2016 roster show up this week in Las Vegas.

James suited up in a No. 27 jersey and worked out, though he won't play in the Americans' intrasquad exhibition Thursday because of a previous commitment back in Ohio.

The Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star could join Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul as the only three-time gold medalists, and he and Anthony would be the first American men to appear in four Olympics. James says he's ''not penciling it in, as of now, for next summer'' and that his decision may not come until after next season.

''All my decisions go through my family. We'll see how my family feels about it,'' James said. ''And then with my health, going another NBA campaign season, as far as my team back home in Cleveland, and I'll go from there.''

He first played for the Americans in the 2004 Olympics, when he and Anthony were part of the disappointing bronze medalists following their rookie seasons. That duo and Paul, all close friends, are the only players in camp this week who competed in both 2008 and 2012, and could decide together whether they will try to make history.

''It'll probably be a joint decision,'' James said. ''Pretty much everything that we do, for the most part, especially with Team USA, we kind of do together. We'll see what happens.''

James also played with the Americans in the 2006 world basketball championship and the 2007 Olympic qualifying tournament. He said he enjoyed being back Wednesday and reconnecting with coaches and teammates.

''LeBron's made an amazing commitment to our country's basketball program, huge positive impact besides just winning,'' U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

But all that basketball, plus his four straight trips to the NBA Finals, have put a heavy workload on the 30-year-old James. The Cavaliers will be favorites to get back to the finals next season, and James may feel he needs rest more than another medal.

For now, he's done what is necessary to give himself the option if he wants it.

''I'm not penciling it in, as of now, for next summer. But this is the start of the process for all of us,'' James said. ''There's 34 guys here. When you're a part of Team USA, you represent your country, this is all a part of the process.

''I've given everything to the NBA. I've given it all to USAB as well. If I'm fortunate enough, if I'm healthy enough and my family is willing to allow me be a part of it, it'd be great. ... We'll see where I'm at after the season.''

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 01:58 AM

Jordan in court for trial on his brand

August 11, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) Former Chicago Bull Michael Jordan was in a federal courtroom Tuesday for the start of a civil trial that will scrutinize the basketball star's market value and look at whether a grocery-store chain diluted that value by running a steak-coupon advertisement that invoked Jordan's name without permission.

The trial in the city where Jordan won six NBA championships stems from a lawsuit he filed against the now-defunct Dominick's Finer Foods for the 2009 ad in Sports Illustrated that congratulated him on his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Text above a $2 coupon and photograph of a steak read, ''Michael Jordan ... You are a cut above.''

Jordan, 52, entered through the front doors of the courthouse Tuesday morning after Judge John Blakey denied his request to use a security tunnel. A relaxed-looking Jordan walked through a metal detector as dozens of reporters and passers-by looked on, pulling an ID from his wallet and showing it to security.

The trial, which is expected to last about a week, began Tuesday with jury selection. A lawyer defending Dominick's asked an initial batch of would-be jurors to raise their hands if any of them considered Jordan ''an idol or personal hero'' and so couldn't fairly assess the evidence. Not one hand was raised.

Jordan has meticulously guarded his image and the suit was an attempt to thwart companies that employ praise to slip references to him in an ad. Jordan is expected to testify later this week about why he so carefully controls his brand.

Questions are also expected arise about Jordan's lucrative endorsement deals with multiple companies, including Nike, as the sides seek to establish the value of his image.

A separate judge previously ruled that Dominick's did, in fact, use Jordan's identity without permission and was liable, so the unresolved issue for jurors is damages. They could decide to award him up to millions of dollars or, if they decide no notable damage was done to his image, nothing at all.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 01:59 AM

Flip says he has 'treatable' lymphoma

August 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota Timberwolves president and coach Flip Saunders said he's being treated for Hodgkins lymphoma, and his doctors consider it ''very treatable and curable.''

Saunders was diagnosed with a cancer of the immune system two months ago and has been undergoing chemotherapy. He plans to remain as the Timberwolves head coach and top executive while being treated.

''I am taking it step by step and day by day to understand how to best manage this process,'' Saunders said Tuesday in a statement.

The 60-year-old Saunders returned to the Timberwolves as team president in 2013. Last year, he replaced the retired Rick Adelman on the Wolves bench and the team finished 16-66.

Even while undergoing treatment, Saunders remained active with the team, overseeing draft workouts, selecting Karl-Anthony Towns at No. 1 overall and trading for Tyus Jones on draft night in June. He signed players including Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica and veteran point guard Andre Miller to supplement a roster teeming with young talent.

He didn't attend the team's trip to the Las Vegas Summer League, but has remained engaged and at the team's new practice facility throughout the summer. Doctors have encouraged him to keep up with his daily business.

''Flip has kept me apprised of his cancer diagnosis and treatment,'' owner Glen Taylor said. ''He has my support as well as my thoughts and prayers for him and his family.''

As team president, head coach and a minority owner, Saunders has carved out a nearly unprecedented amount of power within the organization. His influence can be seen from the construction of the roster, the return of franchise icon Kevin Garnett and the drum line occasionally used during pregame introductions.

The former University of Minnesota standout coached the Timberwolves for 10 years before being fired in 2005, leading the long-suffering franchise to its only real playoff success. Taylor brought him back as team president two years ago to try to get the organization back on track, and he's helped infuse the roster with promising young players including Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad while convincing Garnett to sign a two-year contract.

The moves have energized a fan base that hasn't had a team in the playoffs since 2004, and Saunders made it clear he has no plans of slowing down.

''I am attacking this with the same passion I do everything in my life, knowing this is a serious issue,'' he said. ''I also know that God has prepared me to fight this battle.''

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:02 AM

Billionaire sues TMZ, friend over loss of Clippers team

August 10, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) Billionaire Donald Sterling sued celebrity website TMZ and an ex-girlfriend over the recording of his off-color remarks that cost him ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sterling's lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court accused TMZ and V. Stiviano of violating his privacy and causing damage on a ''scale of unparalleled and unprecedented magnitude.''

The suit is the latest salvo in a legal soap opera that began in April 2014 after the recording caused a firestorm of criticism when the real estate baron was heard whining to Stiviano that she shouldn't associate with black people.

The remarks led the NBA to ban him from the league and ultimately led Sterling's estranged wife to sell the team owned by a family trust to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for a record $2 billion.

Shelly Sterling won court approval for the sale by showing her husband of six decades had dementia and couldn't handle his business affairs.

Donald Sterling is suing his wife, the league and two doctors who examined him, claiming in federal court that they conspired to remove him from the team.

Despite litigation that put the couple at odds, they made nice during Shelly Sterling's recent court case that forced Stiviano to relinquish a $1.8 million home and $800,000 in cash, gifts, a Ferrari and other luxury cars Donald Sterling lavished on the younger woman. A judge ruled the items belonged to Shelly Sterling as community property.

The recordings of Donald Sterling surfaced just weeks after Shelly Sterling sued Stiviano, claiming she was her husband's mistress.

Stiviano has said Sterling consented to recordings she made on phones while they carried on a sexless relationship.

Donald Sterling, however, said in the lawsuit that the ''illicit'' recordings were secretly made and provided to TMZ by Stiviano ''and/or her agents.''

Attorney Mac Nehoray, who represented Stiviano in the previous lawsuit, said Sterling doesn't have a claim to privacy because his insensitive remarks were made in front of Stiviano's sister.

''It's ridiculous if he says he was damaged by it when he made $2 billion,'' Nehoray said. ''I think he's just a litigious person. Unless he has something going on in the public eye, he can't exist.''

The latest suit was lodged two days after Donald Sterling filed for divorce from his wife just weeks shy of their 60th anniversary.

TMZ representatives didn't immediately reply to requests for comment.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:06 AM

MLB MONEYLINE

MLB > (967) LA ANGELS@ (968) KANSAS CITY | 2015-08-13 20:10:00 - 2015-08-13 20:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in All games at home with a money line of -100 to -125
The record is 37 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (+23.15 units)

MLB > (965) NY YANKEES@ (966) CLEVELAND | 2015-08-13 19:10:00 - 2015-08-13 19:10:00
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND using the money line in Home games in games played on a grass field
The record is 23 Wins and 33 Losses for the this season (-21.75 units)

MLB > (963) TEXAS@ (964) MINNESOTA | 2015-08-13 13:10:00 - 2015-08-13 13:10:00
Play ON TEXAS using the money line in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 29 Wins and 23 Losses for the this season (+19.27 units)

MLB > (951) COLORADO@ (952) NY METS | 2015-08-13 12:10:00 - 2015-08-13 12:10:00
Play ON NY METS using the money line in All games in home games
The record is 40 Wins and 18 Losses for the this season (+19.75 units)

MLB > (955) PITTSBURGH@ (956) ST LOUIS | 2015-08-13 19:15:00 - 2015-08-13 19:15:00
Play ON ST LOUIS using the money line in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 20 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+13.55 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:07 AM

MLB RUNLINE

MLB > (967) LA ANGELS@ (968) KANSAS CITY | 2015-08-13 20:10:00 - 2015-08-13 20:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in Home games when playing with a day off
The record is 7 Wins and 0 Losses for the this season (+11.05 units)

MLB > (963) TEXAS@ (964) MINNESOTA | 2015-08-13 13:10:00 - 2015-08-13 13:10:00
Play ON TEXAS using the in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 40 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (+23 units)

MLB > (951) COLORADO@ (952) NY METS | 2015-08-13 12:10:00 - 2015-08-13 12:10:00
Play ON NY METS using the in All games in day games
The record is 61 Wins and 27 Losses for the last two seasons (+35.2 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:09 AM

MLB TOTALS

MLB > (959) WASHINGTON@ (960) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-08-13 22:15:00 - 2015-08-13 22:15:00
Play UNDER SAN FRANCISCO on the total in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 2 Overs and 15 Unders for the this season (+12.75 units)

MLB > (957) CINCINNATI@ (958) LA DODGERS | 2015-08-13 22:10:00 - 2015-08-13 22:10:00
Play OVER LA DODGERS on the total in Home games against right-handed starters
The record is 71 Overs and 36 Unders for the last two seasons (+34.9 units)

MLB > (955) PITTSBURGH@ (956) ST LOUIS | 2015-08-13 19:15:00 - 2015-08-13 19:15:00
Play UNDER ST LOUIS on the total in All games in home games
The record is 16 Overs and 38 Unders for the this season (+18.95 units)

MLB > (967) LA ANGELS@ (968) KANSAS CITY | 2015-08-13 20:10:00 - 2015-08-13 20:10:00
Play OVER LA ANGELS on the total in Road games when playing with a day off
The record is 120 Overs and 65 Unders for the since 1992 (+51.15 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:11 AM

MLB TOP POWERLINES

MLB > (951) COLORADO @ (952) NY METS | 2015-08-13 12:10:00 - 2015-08-13 12:10:00
Line: COLORADO BTB PowerLine: COLORADO-195
Edge On: COLORADO (9)

MLB > (961) OAKLAND @ (962) TORONTO | 2015-08-13 12:35:00 - 2015-08-13 12:35:00
Line: OAKLAND BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND-105
Edge On: OAKLAND (20)

MLB > (953) MILWAUKEE @ (954) CHICAGO CUBS | 2015-08-13 14:20:00 - 2015-08-13 14:20:00
Line: CHICAGO CUBS-225 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS-239
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (14)

MLB > (965) NY YANKEES @ (966) CLEVELAND | 2015-08-13 19:10:00 - 2015-08-13 19:10:00
Line: CLEVELAND-105 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND-106
Edge On: CLEVELAND (1)

MLB > (955) PITTSBURGH @ (956) ST LOUIS | 2015-08-13 19:15:00 - 2015-08-13 19:15:00
Line: ST LOUIS-120 BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS-144
Edge On: ST LOUIS (24)

MLB > (967) LA ANGELS @ (968) KANSAS CITY | 2015-08-13 20:10:00 - 2015-08-13 20:10:00
Line: LA ANGELS BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS114
Edge On: LA ANGELS (19)

MLB > (957) CINCINNATI @ (958) LA DODGERS | 2015-08-13 22:10:00 - 2015-08-13 22:10:00
Line: CINCINNATI BTB PowerLine: CINCINNATI-124
Edge On: CINCINNATI (37)

Users of our matchup reports are familiar with our Power Line ratings, calculated using both teams' ratings and home field advantage. The Top Power Lines tool offers a way to view and compare current Power Lines in one simple report, as well as the Power Line Edge, where the Power Line differs significantly from the current line.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:20 AM

Spieth made PGA favorite

August 9, 2015

The fourth and final major of the golf season, the PGA Championship, takes place from Aug. 13-16 at Whistling Straits on the Straits Course in Kohler, Wisconsin.

The field is expected to include 15 past winners, which includes the 2012 and 2014 champion Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy opened as an 8/1 betting choice (Bet $100 to win $800) to repeat this summer in Wisconsin in late July but injury concerns have pushed his odds up to 10/1.

According to the major offshore outfit, the favorite is Jordan Spieth at 11/2 odds which is also up from his opening numbers (5/1).

Some bettors still believe Tiger Woods has a shot and the oddsmakers currently have him listed at a 30/1 betting choice. After his embarrassing performance at the British Open, Woods opened at 60/1 and many pundits believed those odds were too generous. Apparently some bettors are buying his latest efforts, which include an 18th place finish at the Quicken Loans National in late August.

Zach Johnson, winner of the 2015 British Open, is a 50/1 betting choice to capture the PGA Championship.

Listed below are the latest odds per Sportsbook.ag.

Odds to win 2015 PGA Championship (8/13/15) - per Sportsbook.ag

Jordan Spieth 11/2
Rory McIlroy 10/1
Jason Day 12/1
Dustin Johnson 13/1
Adam Scott 15/1
Justin Rose 15/1
Bubba Watson 20/1
Rickie Fowler 22/1
Henrik Stenson 30/1
Phil Mickelson 30/1
Tiger Woods 30/1
Brooks Koepka 40/1
Louis Oosthuizen 40/1
Sergio Garcia 45/1
Hideki Matsuyama 50/1
Jim Furyk 50/1
Martin Kaymer 50/1
Matt Kuchar 50/1
Shane Lowry 50/1
Zach Johnson 50/1
Brandt Snedeker 55/1
Jimmy Walker 55/1
Patrick Reed 55/1
Billy Horschel 65/1
Charl Schwartzel 65/1
JB Holmes 65/1
Keegan Bradley 65/1
Paul Casey 65/1
Bill Haas 80/1
Lee Westwood 80/1
Branden Grace 85/1
Marc Leishman 85/1
Danny Willett 90/1
Danny Lee 100/1
David Lingmerth 100/1
Graeme McDowell 100/1
Jason Dufner 100/1
Justin Thomas 100/1
Kevin Kisner 100/1
Luke Donald 100/1
Ryan Moore 100/1
Francesco Molinari 115/1
Hunter Mahan 115/1
Ian Poulter 115/1
Steve Stricker 115/1
Victor Dubuisson 115/1
Webb Simpson 115/1
Ryan Palmer 120/1
Charley Hoffman 135/1
Bernd Wiesberger 150/1
Brendon Todd 150/1
Byeong-Hun An 150/1
Camilo Villegas 150/1
Gary Woodland 150/1
Geoff Ogilvy 150/1
Graham DeLaet 150/1
Jamie Donaldson 150/1
Kevin Chappell 150/1
Kevin Na 150/1
Nick Watney 150/1
Robert Streb 150/1
Russell Henley 150/1
Brendon de Jonge 175/1
Ernie Els 175/1
Harris English 175/1
John Senden 175/1
Matt Jones 175/1
Padraig Harrington 175/1
Tommy Fleetwood 175/1
Tony Finau 175/1
Angel Cabrera 200/1
Ben Martin 200/1
Jason Bohn 200/1
Daniel Berger 225/1
Jonas Blixt 225/1
Kevin Streelman 225/1
Marc Warren 225/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 225/1
Russell Knox 225/1
Scott Piercy 225/1
Steven Bowditch 225/1
David Toms 250/1
Boo Weekley 275/1
Cameron Tringale 275/1
James Hahn 275/1
Sang-Moon Bae 275/1
Shawn Stefani 275/1
Stephen Gallacher 275/1
Thomas Bjorn 275/1
Alex Cejka 300/1
YE Yang 300/1
Matt Every 350/1
Vijay Singh 350/1
Colin Montgomerie 500/1
John Daly 500/1
Mikko Ilonen 500/1
Nick Taylor 500/1
Darren Clarke 1000/1

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:20 AM

PGA Championship Preview

August 10, 2015

Let’s face it, the PGA Championship as a major is basically the equivalent of cheese pizza in many people’s eyes. It’s still pizza, but at the end of the day you know there is a more enjoyable version. The British has the history, the US Open is our National Championship, The Masters is…well, the Masters and the poor PGA just always seems to be an afterthought. And honestly, the whole, “Glory’s Last Shot” slogan makes people want to watch that tournament about as much as “Every Kiss Begins With Kay” makes people want to buy a piece of jewelry from Kay Jewelers.

To me though, the irony is that the PGA Championship year in and year out seems to almost always deliver one of the most exciting majors of the year. With the exception of Rory’s run away win at Kiawah in 2012 and Tiger’s mockery of Medinah in 2006, every PGA Championship over the last 20 years has been extremely competitive and entertaining. I still contend the 2000 PGA Championship between Tiger and Bob May ranks in the top 3 best Sunday finishes of any major in the last 30 years.

I do have some serious issues as a whole with the PGA of America though: picking DL III to drive the Titanic back into the iceberg again next year at the Ryder Cup was a genius idea, forgetting how time and sunsets work and thus almost ruining an otherwise great final round of last year’s PGA, and most notably 5 years ago at Whistling Straits when they allowed 4-year-olds to build sand castles in their “bunkers” and then kicked Dustin Johnson in the balls for not realizing he was in said bunker even though no one on the planet did either.

Now the PGA returns this year to Whistling Straits, and frankly I can’t wait. After watching the 2010 final round on replay last week three things really stood out to me (aside from the ridiculous bunker ruling). First, how hard the 18th hole is. I mean that thing is an absolute beast of a golf hole and might be the best/hardest finishing hole they play on the PGA tour. Second, how many chances Rory had on the back nine Sunday and didn’t convert. And finally, I forgot just how good the leaderboard was on Sunday. Rory, Bubba, Day, Mickelson, Kuckar, Kaymer, Zach Johnson and of course Dustin Johnson. (Spieth hadn’t even started his senior year of high school, but probably could have contended) Combine that leaderboard with the fact that 2015 has produced some of the best golf and overall leaderboards in recent years and I expect nothing less than a stellar conclusion to the 2015 majors.

As always, odds below are at the time of posting and are subject to change throughout the week.

As for who won’t win this week:

Rory McIlroy (10/1) – As I said earlier, no one had more chances to win here on Sunday in 2010 than Rory did, and he is a much better and more polished golfer than he was 5 years ago. But he won’t win this week either. The ankle itself isn’t really my concern with Rory this week. The problem I see with Rory is the rust that ankle caused. To me anyway, the more Rory plays, the better he gets. With over a month out of competitive golf I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Rory repeat what he did at Augusta where he barely make the cut on Friday then posts a good round Saturday and an even better round Sunday for another back door top 10. I just think the rust from the layoff will leave him too far back to win this week.

Zach Johnson (50/1) – Believe it or not, ZJ finished T-3 here in 2010, one shot out of the playoff. With that said, the odds of Zach Johnson winning back to back majors has to be closer to 50,000/1 than 50/1. Nothing against Zach, I just don’t see that happening.

Jim Furyk (65/1) – Say what you want about Jim Furyk, the guy is incredibly consistent. He managed to extend his amazing choke streak at the WGC by not closing out his TENTH consecutive 54-hole lead since the 2010 Tour Championship. The amazing part is that in that time span no one else has even had 10 54-hole leads, much less blown them all. In other words, if you are dumb enough to take Furyk this week and he has the lead come Saturday night, just bet 65 times your base bet against him and you will win.

Martin Kaymer (50/1) – He may have good memories from his win here in 2010 but I have good memories from Austin’s 6th street when I was in college. Problem is, neither of us are the same person we once were. Since his win at the US Open last year he has gone 70th, MC, MC, MC and 12th in his last 5 majors and missed four cuts in his last seven starts this year.

Adam Scott (15/1) – He can have Steve Williams on the bag, he can hit every fairway and every green and he still won’t win. As we learned at St. Andrews, the guy simply can’t putt well enough to win a major right now.

Justin Rose (22/1) – See above. With the exception of lightning in a bottle on Saturday at the WGC, this guy might be the only player on tour right now that could lose in a putting contest to Adam Scott. As good as he has hit it the last few months his putter has done him no favors. On this course, or any major for that matter, if you can’t putt, you can’t win.

Shane Lowry (100/1) – At 100/1 he will get a lot of action this week, and probably come down quite a bit as a result, but just remember he was posted at 100/1 even after winning the WGC for a reason.

Henrik Stenson (30/1) – A smooth little 80-75 here in 2010 and coming off a forgettable performance at the British Open I wouldn’t touch this guy with your money this week.

Rickie Fowler (22/1) – The guy makes too many big numbers and I think that will be his downfall this week on a course with some very difficult holes.

Louis Oosthuizen (40/1) – Top 20 at Augusta, T-2 at the US Open and lost in a playoff at the British. In other words the guy doesn’t suck this year when it comes to playing in majors. However just like Fowler last year I think he ends the year with four quality finishes in the majors but no wins.

Phil Mickelson (30/1) – If the 2010 version of Phil couldn’t win here there is zero chance the 2015 version of Phil can win here.

Luke Donald (100/1) – Pretty appropriate considering he barely broke 80 when he played here in 2010. Unless they let Luke play from the red tees he might as well be 100 million to 1 this week. And even then I’m not sure I would take him for $1.

Lee Westwood (100/1) - When Lee Westwood first saw the course he said, “I'd been told there are 10 difficult holes and eight impossible ones. I'm still trying to work out which the 10 difficult holes are." So that pretty much eliminates him. On a related note Sergio Garcia is 45/1. Meaning you can lose the same amount of money for less than half the imaginary payout.

Matt Kuchar (50/1) – The first and second round leader here in 2010 and was barely able to hang on to a top 10 over the weekend. The guy cashes a lot of checks, just not the really big one they hand out at majors.

Tiger Woods (30/1) - If you want to bet on Tiger this week, please call me, I’ll be more than happy to book your bet. No. 262 in world rankings and 30/1? If he even makes the cut this week you should get 30/1.

Boo Weekley (275/1) - It’s the PGA Championship…this never gets old.

John Daly (500/1) – If Steve Elkington could turn back the clock here in 2010 and still have a shot to win on the 72nd hole…why not JD in 2015????

So who wins “Glory’s Last Shot?” Personally, I would say this is a 4-horse race with one man emerging by a nose.

Bubba Watson (22/1) – It pains me beyond belief to have to put him in this category but the fact is the guy is playing really well as of late, lost in a playoff here in 2010 and should contend again here in 2015. I absolutely refuse to bet on him because I would feel like my money was cursed if I won but it wouldn’t shock me if he did. On a related note, watching the replay last week of the 2010 PGA here reminded me that my two favorite players in golf are whoever I have money on and whoever is in contention (a playoff) against Bubba. The real question this year: will Bubba participate in the long drive contest on Wednesday or once again prove to be the biggest D-bag on the PGA Tour? My money is on the latter.

Jason Day (15/1) – Finished T-10 here in 2010 despite a final round 74 and has contended in the last two majors despite battling vertigo. It still makes me nervous betting on a guy that could collapse at any minute but his win in Canada recently was a good sign and is coming off a solid week at the WGC. Day is going to win a major sooner than later and this week very well could be it. If nothing else he will be there come the back nine on Sunday and I look for Day to finish no worse than a top 10 again this week and most likely in the top 5 as well.

Jordan Spieth (11/2, or 5.5/1 for the mathematically impaired) – His grand slam dreams died at St. Andrews on the 72nd hole (or 71st, however you want to look at it) but the guy was one shot out of a playoff. If he wins this week and misses the grand slam by a single shot (no chance he loses that playoff) what an incredible story that would make on it’s own. Winning all three majors on US soil would still be pretty amazing, even Tiger in his heyday never did that. While I don’t think he will win this week, I certainly wouldn’t bet against him. However, it definitely wouldn’t shock me if he won. The guy could cure cancer tomorrow and it wouldn’t surprise me. He will at worst cash in again on a top-5 and top-10 bet this week.

It was also announced that Spieth will play with Justin Thomas against Mickelson and Fowler in a Tuesday practice round. Spieth said he was thinking of setting his US Open trophy on every green to get in Mickelson's head. Whether he does or not is irrelevant now, just the fact that he said it publicly is outstanding. And if there is any way I can get down on Spieth/Thomas for like ten grand, please let me know where I can take that action?

Your winner:

Dustin Johnson (13/1) – I said it in February and despite his US Open and British meltdowns, I am sticking with it. What else can this guy possibly do to lose a major at this point? Seriously, he has to be out of options by now. The guy has succeeded in losing a major in every way possible. I think the DJ we saw for 71.5 holes at the US Open and 36 holes at the British Open shows up for 72 holes this week. People forget because of the stupid bunker ruling that DJ made two really good birdies on the 70th and 71st hole here in 2010 to take a one shot lead going into the final hole. I think this is the ultimate redemption story this week for DJ, avenging his loss here in 2010, his 3-putt at the US Open in June, his complete weekend meltdown at St. Andrews in July and the countless other blown majors he has. In the words of the great Lloyd Christmas, “Just when I think you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!”

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:23 AM

B]Top Bets - Whistling Straits

August 11, 2015

Tournament:PGA Championship
Date: Aug. 13 - Aug. 16
Venue: Whistling Straits
Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin[/B]

Whistling Straits will host the PGA Championship for the third time in the last 12 years as the 1998 resurrection of a former waste dump to a European style links course with tons of sand has become one of the PGA’s favorite spots for big events. The par-72, 7,514-yard course along the banks of Lake Michigan will also be the host of the 2020 Ryder Cup and should have some more fireworks in store this year after sending the players to a playoff in the last two installments of this major being played here (2004, 2010).

The first of those was won by Vijay Singh (-8) as he took down American’s Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard in extra holes, while Martin Kaymer earned the victory in 2010 with a score of 11-under, outlasting Bubba Watson in the three additional holes. Since that 2010 event, world No. 1 Rory McIlroy has won this event twice (2012, 2014) as Keegan Bradley (2011) and Jason Dufner (2013) were victorious in the other two. All but two of the last eight of these tournaments have been won by two strokes or fewer with McIlroy’s 2012 margin of victory of eight strokes being the largest in the tournament since they began with stroke play in 1958.

The field is very deep with all but two of the top-100 players from the OWGR making the visit to Whistling Straits as No. 24 Chris Kirk (Hand) and No. 74 Alexander Noren (Rib) are held back by injury. The Spieth watch will be on once again as the now 22-year-old looks to become just the third player in PGA history with three major victories in one year, the others being Ben Hogan in 1953 and Tiger Woods in 2000, after finishing in a tie for fourth at the Open Championship nearly a month ago. Also gunning for the trophy will be Tiger Woods, who has won this major four times, but has not done so since 2007 and has seen his standing in the OWGR drop to No. 278 while sitting at 186th in the current FedEx Cup standings.

Let’s now breakdown a few players in this week’s field who could overcome the best golfers in the world and bring home the trophy.

Golfers to Bet

Jason Day: (12/1) At this point, it seems like a matter of when rather than if Day will ever win a major championship as the 27-year-old has played at a high level in nearly every tournament he is in, but cannot finish things off when at the majors. In his career, he has three runner-ups in such events and another six top-10s as he has been able to creep into the top-15 at the PGA Championship three times; including a tie for 10th when it was last at this venue. On the year, Day already has two victories (Farmers Insurance Open, RBC Canadian Open) and had a top-nine showing at each of the last two majors as he’s totaled seven top-10s in his 15 events played. His drive (314 yards per) is the third longest on TOUR and when paired with his impressive putting (0.525 strokes gained putting, 14th on TOUR), he has a chance to be victorious in any given week. The day will come for this Australian-born player to etch his name on one of the major trophies, and this week could very well be it.

Brooks Koepka: (40/1) Koepka has the makeup of a major winner and the 25-year-old has already shown flashes of this with a top-10 finish at two of his past six attempts. He also did well last year in this tourney, ranking 15th with a score of nine-under-par after a 66-67 on the weekend. Koepka figured out how to earn his first career win earlier this season at the Waste Management Open and has been on fire of late with performances no worse than 18th in his last five appearances which included two majors and a World Golf Championships event. Just like Day, Koepka combines his unique ability of hitting the ball far (309.5 yards per, 6th on TOUR) with impressive putting ability (0.638 strokes gained putting, 5th on TOUR) in order to have the third-best scoring average (69.649) amongst his peers. The FSU alum jumped into the top-20 of the OWGR with his WGC performance last week and should be poised to continue his rise up the ranking with a nice week at Whistling Straits.

Keegan Bradley: (85/1) While Bradley is in the midst of the worst season in his career, ranking 61st in the FedEx Cup standings after doing no worse than 33rd before that, he is still a former major championship winner and has eight top-25s to his credit in 20 events played this year. He took this tourney back in 2011 and followed that up with a tie for third in 2012, so he knows how to get things done under the big lights of the PGA Championship. Bradley also been playing some solid golf recently, and after failing to make it to the weekend at the Open Championship, placed in a tie for 17th at the Bridgestone Invitational last week when he averaged 335.5 yards per drive. His driver (306.1 yards per, 65.68% fairways hit) will be a strength against the winds at this course and he has the ball-striking ability (1.107 total strokes gained, 16th on TOUR) to be competitive from day one. Bradley may be having a down year by his standards, but he can break out on any given week and dropping a few units on him would be smart.

Danny Lee: (90/1) Lee is one of the hottest players on TOUR right now, and has placed in the top-six at four of his last five tournaments after racking up just three top-10s with 16-of-25 cuts made up until the Traveler’s Championship. The big knock on the 25-year-old could be that he has not performed well in the big events, missing the cut at the PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship before finally performing amongst the best with a tie for sixth last week in the Bridgestone Classic. In the WGC event, Lee was able to putt 0.531 strokes better than the field and that should factor in once again as he is ranked 31st on TOUR in the category (0.390 strokes gained putting). Lee is feeling it lately and should be a factor over the weekend at this beautiful course.

David Lingmerth: (100/1) Joining Lee as a hot golfer heading into this huge event is Lingmerth who actually tied with Lee at the Bridgestone Invitational after shooting six-under over the weekend and carding his fourth top-six performance in his last six outings. One of those performances was a victory at the Memorial Tournament back in June where he staved off Justin Rose in a playoff for his first career PGA TOUR win. Major events such as this one are new to the Swedish player who has attended just three since joining the TOUR in 2013 and has made the cut twice; including a few weeks ago at St. Andrews where he shot five-under over the first three days before a 77 derailed his week on Sunday. Lingmerth is solid across the board while not being amongst the elite in any one area of his game, but that ability should give him opportunities to score in any type of condition and do well on Lake Michigan this week.

Odds to win PGA Championship - per Sportsbook.ag

Jordan Spieth 6/1
Jason Day 12/1
Rory McIlroy 12/1
Dustin Johnson 15/1
Adam Scott 20/1
Bubba Watson 20/1
Justin Rose 20/1
Rickie Fowler 25/1
Henrik Stenson 30/1
Tiger Woods 30/1
Phil Mickelson 35/1
Brooks Koepka 40/1
Louis Oosthuizen 40/1
Sergio Garcia 45/1
Hideki Matsuyama 50/1
Jim Furyk 50/1
Shane Lowry 50/1
Patrick Reed 55/1
Brandt Snedeker 60/1
Jimmy Walker 60/1
Martin Kaymer 60/1
Matt Kuchar 60/1
Zach Johnson 60/1
Paul Casey 65/1
Billy Horschel 85/1
Branden Grace 85/1
Charl Schwartzel 85/1
JB Holmes 85/1
Keegan Bradley 85/1
Luke Donald 85/1
Danny Lee 100/1
Danny Willett 100/1
David Lingmerth 100/1
Graeme McDowell 100/1
Justin Thomas 100/1
Kevin Kisner 100/1
Robert Streb 100/1
Ryan Moore 100/1
Bill Haas 115/1
Ian Poulter 115/1
Jason Dufner 115/1
Lee Westwood 115/1
Marc Leishman 115/1
Webb Simpson 130/1
Francesco Molinari 135/1
Bernd Wiesberger 150/1
Gary Woodland 150/1
Graham DeLaet 150/1
Hunter Mahan 150/1
Kevin Na 150/1
Russell Henley 150/1
Ryan Palmer 150/1
Steve Stricker 150/1
Steven Bowditch 150/1
Victor Dubuisson 150/1
Brendon Todd 165/1
John Senden 165/1
Kevin Chappell 165/1
Tony Finau 165/1
Charley Hoffman 175/1
Harris English 175/1
Matt Jones 175/1
Camilo Villegas 200/1
Ernie Els 200/1
Geoff Ogilvy 200/1
Jamie Donaldson 200/1
Jason Bohn 200/1
Padraig Harrington 200/1
Russell Knox 210/1
Byeong-Hun An 225/1
Kevin Streelman 225/1
Nick Watney 225/1
Scott Piercy 225/1
Tommy Fleetwood 225/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 265/1
Ben Martin 275/1
Boo Weekley 275/1
Daniel Berger 275/1
Marc Warren 275/1
Shawn Stefani 275/1
Alex Cejka 300/1
Brendon de Jonge 300/1
Cameron Tringale 300/1
David Toms 300/1
James Hahn 300/1
Sang-Moon Bae 300/1
Thomas Bjorn 300/1
YE Yang 300/1
Vijay Singh 350/1
Colin Montgomerie 500/1
John Daly 500/1
Matt Every 500/1
Mikko Ilonen 500/1
Nick Taylor 500/1
Stephen Gallacher 550/1
Darren Clarke 1000/1

Odds Subject to Change - Updated 8.11.15

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:25 AM

The battle at the top with McIlroy, Spieth

August 12, 2015

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) Rory McIlroy returns to golf and faces a new set of questions.

About his ankle. About the state of the game. And then there was one question he had trouble answering Wednesday on the eve of the PGA Championship.

Who's the best player in the world?

McIlroy remains No. 1 in the world ranking. He also has watched Jordan Spieth produce one of the most memorable years in golf by winning the Masters and U.S. Open, and coming within one shot of a playoff at St. Andrews for the third leg of the Grand Slam.

They face off Thursday at Whistling Straits, playing in the same group with British Open champion Zach Johnson.

McIlroy says there are no indications his game has slipped during his 53 days off from competition.

------------------------------

Day looks to get in contention -- again

August 12, 2015

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) It was five years ago at this golf course that Jason Day realized he could be a contender in the majors.

He's been in the mix several times since, and with another major on tap at Whistling Straits, nobody would be surprised to see the Aussie go from king of the close call to someone who finally broke through.

''Sometimes, people make it look easier than others,'' said Day, who recorded the first of nine top-10 major finishes at the 2010 PGA Championship. ''Some people get there quicker than others.''

Jordan Spieth got there twice before turning 22. Rory McIlroy has been there four times, and he's only 26.

Day is 27, and has been part of the conversation in most of those tournaments, along with a couple more. He's a three-time runner-up, has finished third once and fourth twice. But he has not won.

This year, the close calls have been especially painful. Most recently, he was a birdie away from joining the playoff at the British Open but instead tied with Spieth for fourth.

A month before that, Day finished ninth at the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay - an amazing finish for a man who collapsed in the second round, struck by a bout of vertigo that he'd been diagnosed with a month earlier.

Nobody would have blamed him for bowing out of a tournament after taking a tumble like that. Even Day conceded he might have quit had it not been a major where he had a good chance. Instead, he gathered himself and played on.

''I learned a lot about how far I could really push myself mentally and physically, even though I felt like I was going to pull out three times'' in the third round, said Day, who has figured out the problem with vertigo and hasn't experienced a relapse. ''I didn't end up winning, but I learned a lot.''

Day followed his showing at the British Open by traveling across the Atlantic and winning the Canadian Open - his second Tour victory this season and fourth overall.

He is currently fifth in the World Golf Rankings, two spots ahead of Rickie Fowler. That would make Day ''The Best Player to Never Win a Major,'' though that title doesn't seem to carry the same heaviness as it did 10, or even five years ago.

At least not according to Day's version of things. He looks back 10 years and remembers when it was Tiger Woods, then everyone else.

Now, it's McIlroy, Spieth and Bubba Watson, then Fowler, Dustin Johnson and a load of others bunched in spots 4-10.

''That just shows how tough the competition has gotten over the years,'' Day said. ''Then on top of it, it's very difficult to try and close on a Sunday at a major championship. But I think the more times I keep putting myself there, sooner or later it's going to happen. I know that.''

Lost in the drama of Johnson's blunder in the bunker back in 2010 was that Day was playing in the third-to-last group, alongside the eventual champion, Martin Kaymer.

Day had a reasonable round going - 1 under through 8 - until he hit a flier over the back of the ninth green and took a double-bogey. He became an afterthought then. But he paid attention to Kaymer, whose patient approach got him into a playoff. It gave Day both a taste of what it was like to contend in a major, and how to go about winning one.

Maybe he'll be next.

''I took that experience and kind of went forward with it,'' Day said. ''It took me a while, but I'm slowly learning how to stay a lot more patient with myself.''

**StarDust Bum** · 08-13-2015, 02:27 AM

Who ya got? McIlroy-Spieth is golf's best rivalry in decade

August 12, 2015

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) All of a sudden, it isn't quite as lonely at the top.

When Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship a year ago, he was already the runaway favorite to dominate golf in the post-Tiger era. He was just 25, with four majors already under his belt, and barely two weeks into a stretch at No. 1 in the world ranking that continues today. You were hard-pressed to pick out even one real contender on the horizon.

Then came the spring and summer of Jordan Spieth.

''He's taking up a lot of the limelight this year, which is deservedly so,'' Mcllroy said Wednesday. ''I mean, it's one of the best years of golf that we have seen in a long, long time.''

McIlroy should know, since he had a front-row seat as Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open, then was sidelined by a bum ankle and forced to watch from the couch as Spieth nearly made it three majors in a row before faltering at the end of the British Open. And if nothing else, it enabled the 22-year-old Texan to cut even deeper into McIlroy's lead. The last time the game had two players at the top with this much distance on the rest of the field was 1999, when David Duval mounted a brief challenge to Woods' throne but lost his way soon after.

Because golfers wear gloves to grip the club -not throw punches - skirmishes between Nos. 1 and 2 tend to be polite affairs. And so McIlroy, back after a 53-day layoff due to a ruptured ligament he suffered in a pickup soccer game with friends, threw nothing at his Texas rival but compliments.

''I think the performances that he put in at the Masters and the U.S. Open and even at St. Andrews when he was so close, you know, they were inspirational performances,'' he said. ''That's something really for him to be proud of.

''Even though I'm not that much older, I think if I was - he was 21 at that point - I probably wouldn't have handled it quite as well as he did.''

But rewind the tape to last May, when McIlroy was coming off a World Golf Championship title and Spieth's impressive win at Augusta marked him as only one potential contender among many. Back then, McIlroy was asked whether all the attention Spieth was getting ''gets your (competitive) juices flowing?''

''Not really,'' he replied. ''Last year, it was Rickie (Fowler), this year it's Jordan, might be someone else ... There's been four or five rivalries over the past year,'' McIlroy added a moment later to laughter. ''It's really doesn't do anything for me.''

Anyone looking to spark a feud between them soon realized they were leaving empty-handed on this day.

Spieth had a chance to unseat McIlroy last week and couldn't seal the deal. He also hasn't made the cut at his two previous PGA Championship appearances, and he's a modest sort to begin with. So the most boastful thing he managed all day was acknowledging that he set a goal of being No. 1 in the world at some point in his career and that he'd prefer it ''to be sooner rather than later and then be able to hold onto it.''

With so little back-and-forth, someone finally asked McIlroy flat-out, ''Regardless of rank, just from your perspective, who is the best player in the world?''

McIlroy stifled a smile. Then he got diplomatic. He said Spieth would deserve the title this year, but extend the time frame back two years and ''it's probably a toss-up.'' Then he got even more diplomatic, saying it depends what part of the game you value most.

''So,'' McIlroy said, ''it's all a matter of opinion at this point.''

Not to be deterred, the questioner asked a follow-up.

''Your opinion?''

''I'll tell you at the end of the week,'' McIlroy said with a wide smile.

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