SPORTS AND SPORTS BETTING: LIP SERVICE FROM THE YEAR PAST

Before leaving 2008 and plowing into the sports betting action in 2009, we offer a fond look back at the athletes, journalists, executives and just plain folks who gave us so much pleasure with the simple act of opening their mouths:

 

"I understand that sports and gambling do not mix."

 

--Arizona sophomore forward Jamelle Horne, apologizing for saying he had won a dinner bet with one of his San Diego State friends after the Wildcats defeated the Aztecs.

 

If sports and gambling didn't mix I'd be unemployed.

 

 

"There's plenty of proof that (Derek) Jeter can play the field. There's Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Minnillo and Scarlet Johansson, among others."

 

--Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, disputing a finding by a 10-member panel that the New York Yankees shortstop is among the worst fielders in baseball

 

 

"Pesky Side-Effect Dept: Jose Canseco was busted at the Mexican border smuggling a drug that helps re-start testosterone production that gets shut down by steroids. One rumor is Canseco tried to hide the stuff in his bra."

 

--Scott Ostler, the San Francisco Chronicle

 

 

"Meaning you can chalk up another third-down conversion for Elway."

 

--Elliott Harris, of the Chicago Sun-Times, on Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway admitting that his fiancé didn't say yes until he popped the question a third time

 

 

"No wonder Shane Mosley beat the tar out of him."

 

--Seattle Times reader Bill Littlejohn after boxer Ricardo Mayorga confessed that he smokes three packs of cigarettes a day

 

 

"I've seen guilty criminals under interrogation sweat less."

 

--Greg Cote, of The Miami Herald, on tackle turned hoofer Warren Sapp's labored breathing in an interview following a routine on "Dancing with the Stars"

 

 

"Then why are you covering the Nationals?"

 

--Ralph Nader's response when Washington Post editors told him they wouldn't cover his presidential campaign because he had no chance of winning

 

 

"When Montanans get that many people packed into a relatively small area it's usually known as ‘The opening day of hunting season'"

 

--Pat Ryan, of the (Butte) Montana Standard on 25,629 people-—about 2.7 percent of the state's scattered population—-attending the Montana-Montana State football game

 

 

"He's the greatest quarterback who ever lived and the greatest punter. Other than that, he wasn't any good."

 

--Author Dan Jenkins, on the death of Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Sammy Baugh at the age of 94

 

 

"You couldn't even see my underwear. Other women got jealous and complained."

 

--NY Giants fan Sondra Fortunato, dressed in a Santa outfit, a tiara, fishnet stockings, a bathing suit bottom and high-heeled boots, protesting being escorted from the football game by security

 

 

"We're good enough to beat any team in the league and we're good enough to lose to any team in the league."

 

--Vikings Coach Brad Childress, displaying some unconventional logic

 

 

"Off-duty firefighter saves man from chocking. Chicago Cubs said to be very interested."

 

--Headline at Frak.com

 

 

"The news was greeted by great enthusiasm on campus. Unfortunately, the campus was in Southern California."

 

--Reggie Hayes, of the (Fort Wayne, Ind.) News-Sentinel, on the word that Charlie Weis would return as Notre Dame Head Coach next season

 

 

"Though the judge shot down his plea for joint custody of A-Rod."

 

--Dwight Perry, of the Seattle Times, on Guy Ritchie getting $92 million to settle his divorce from Madonna

 

 

"The way my year's going, I'll find out my season ticket for Creighton basketball is right behind this guy."

 

--Brad Dickson, of The Omaha World-Herald, after Eric Hahn, of Omaha, set a world record for Mohawks when his ‘do' reached 27 inches above his scalp

 

 

"Maybe a one in a million shot, I'm sure."

 

--Ed Shircel, after he and his brother Tom rolled perfect games while bowling together.

 

Boy, I'm a lousy gambler; I took "under" 599 1/2.

 

 

"A case of Napa Valley wine and several loaves of sourdough bread against several bags of Florida oranges."

 

--The terms of a bet between San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, won by Newsome, on the Emerald Bowl matchup between the California Golden Bears and the Miami Hurricanes

 

Funny how politicians usually are opposed to sports betting…unless they're the ones doing the wagering.

 

This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com