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08/20/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rudy Fernandez has more than enough ability to play a major role on a top-tier NBA team.
I'm just not sure he wants to.
The disgruntled Trail Blazers swingman has been griping about his playing time for Nate McMillan in the Pacific Northwest after he averaged 8.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists last season, a year after bursting on the NBA scene by setting an NBA rookie record with 159 3-pointers.
Fernandez's agent, Andy Miller, went public on Wednesday informing several media outlets that the Spanish star wants to return to Europe and is willing to sit out for the next two seasons, the time left on his Portland deal.
That's just posturing, of course, but it was enough to get the NBA's attention and the league fined Fernandez $25,000 on Thursday for comments "detrimental" to the league.
Detrimental may be a bit of a stretch, but rules are rules and the NBA strictly prohibits players or their representation from publicly requesting a trade.
And make no mistake, that's what this is about. Fernandez, who is currently playing for the Spanish national team as it prepares for the upcoming world championships, wants out of Rip City and is trying to force the hand of rookie general manager Rich Cho.
Cho, who seems a bit perturbed at Fernandez's constant complaining to a sympathetic international press, has already admitted to looking at several scenarios for moving the Spaniard, but has been mimicking MSNBC's Chris Matthews and playing hardball.
Cho is well aware that this will be regarded as his first real test as Portland's basketball chief, and doesn't want to take less back in order to rid himself of a headache that is extremely popular with his fans thanks to the energy he brings to the floor.
A divorce is still on the docket but Cho may steer Fernandez away from his real preferred destination, New York.
The Knicks have reportedly offered athletic swingman Wilson Chandler for the sharp-shooting Fernandez but Chandler isn't Rudy's equal on the court and was recently arrested in May for marijuana possession during a traffic stop in Queens, something that isn't going to sit well with an organization desperately trying to rid itself of its former 'Jail Blazers' reputation.
Chicago may be the better option. The Bulls have already offered to absorb Fernandez's $1.25 million salary for 2010-11 with cap space in exchange for a future first-round pick. Cho is still holding out for Taj Gibson, a second- year player with a big upside as a defender.
The only certainty in this breakup is that Fernandez is more concerned about being the big fish in a small pond rather than the guppy swimming with the big boys.
<< New York aims to break offensive slump at Toronto
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull New York travels to take on Toronto FC
at BMO Field as the two Major League Soccer clubs meet for the second time in
10 days on Saturday afternoon.
Toronto has been off in league play since the previo
<< MISL adds second expansion team for 2010-11
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Major Indoor Soccer League announced this
week an expansion team based on Omaha, Neb. will join the league for the
2010-11 season.
The soon-to-be-named Omaha team joins the Missouri Comets as new te
<< Lagoutte-Clement wins Ladies Scottish Open
East Lothian, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Virgine Lagoutte-Clement posted a
one-under-par 71 on Friday to come from behind and win the Ladies Scottish
Open.
She won the championship by a stroke at one-over 217 at Archerfield Links.
<< NHL's hybrid icing rule could have legs
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2010 NHL Research, Development and
Orientation Camp took place on August 18-19 at Toronto's MasterCard Centre,
drawing many of hockey's most critical thinkers.
Grouped together at the Toronto Maple Lea
Bills TE Nelson suspended >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Football League has suspended
Buffalo Bills tight end Shawn Nelson four games without pay for violating the
league's substance-abuse policy.
The second-year pro out of Southern Mississippi
San Francisco 49ers 2010 Season Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco 49ers have a new strategy in their
attempt to end a seven-year playoff drought.
The plan?
Try nothing new at all.
San Francisco finished strong under head coach Mike Singletary in 2008 after
he repl
Hibs ready to take on defending champions >>
Edinburgh, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time defending champions Rangers
will visit Easter Road Stadium on Sunday to face Hibernian, with both teams
coming off of successful opening weekend matches.
Rangers held off Kilmarnock, 2-
AL Central: Twins beginning to separate from the pack >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - You'll have to forgive the Minnesota Twins if they're not
quite sure how to handle themselves in the role of frontrunner.
Typically around this time of year, the Twins are the ones fighting for their
playoff lives. They ar
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.
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