10/14/2008 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Longtime Toronto Blue Jays executive Paul Beeston has returned to his old title of CEO on an interim basis.
The Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that Beeston, who was the first employee hired by the expansion club in 1976 and climbed the ladder to president and CEO by 1989, will return to the Toronto front office. He left the Blue Jays in 1997 to become COO for Major League Baseball, and left that position in 2002.
"No one, as we'd all agree, could be better qualified for this position," stated Tony Viner, president and CEO, Rogers Media. "Ted Rogers is thrilled with this news and many others, including Paul Godfrey, enthusiastically endorse this choice. I wish this arrangement could be permanent but I'll work with Paul Beeston to find in time a suitable replacement."
Beeston will fill in for Godfrey, the outgoing president and CEO, while the club searches for a full-time replacement.
"I have a great deal of respect for the Rogers organization and when I was asked to step in, I couldn't say no. I look forward to this assignment, even though it's short term," added Paul Beeston.
Hired by the Blue Jays in May 1976, Beeston became vice-president of business operations in 1977, executive vice-president of business in 1984 and president and COO in 1989. He was promoted to chief executive officer in 1991. Beeston returned to Toronto after leaving MLB in 2002, and works with several philanthropic endeavours while keeping an office at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays, who finished in fourth place in the AL East last season with an 86-76 mark, are experiencing a return to the glory days of old of sorts, with Beeston back in the front office months after Cito Gaston returned to the bench for the club. The two were both part of the Blue Jays clubs that won consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.
<< Bremen's Harnik could be out four weeks
Bremen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Werder Bremen could be without Martin Harnik
for a significant period after Austria striker damaged ankle ligaments while on
international duty.
Harnik, 21, only recently returned to full-fitness after mis
<< New England captain Ralston broke leg against K.C.
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New England Revolution captain Steve Ralston
suffered a broken right fibula on Saturday against the Kansas City Wizards and
will likely miss the rest of the season.
Ralston is expected to be sidelined si
<< Celtic's McDonald: I'm not overweight
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic striker Scott McDonald has angrily
denied reports that he has been dropped from the starting line-up in recent
weeks due to weight problems.
The 25-year-old Australia international has star
<< Hamburg's Jansen could miss six weeks
Hamburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamburg will be without fullback Marcell
Jansen for up to six weeks with a thigh strain picked up while on international
duty.
Jansen was injured in training during the build-up to Germany's World
Ballack doubtful for match against Wales >>
Monchengladbach, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - German captain Michael Ballack is
doubtful for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Wales after picking up a
thigh injury in Saturday's 2-1 win over Russia.
Ballack, 32, missed Monday's trai
Yankees part ways with 3B coach, pitching instructor >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees announced Tuesday that they
will not renew the contract of third-base coach Bobby Meacham, and that they
have dismissed pitching instructor Rich Monteleone.
Meacham was one of the two
Cowboys' Jones suspended indefinitely >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones has
been suspended indefinitely by the NFL for an altercation with a personal
security guard at a Dallas hotel last week.
Jones will be suspended at least fou
One more to watch: Dominika Cibulkova >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I think we've spotted another shooting
star on the WTA Tour. And that would be Dominika Cibulkova.
The sturdy 5-foot-3, 120-pounder opened 2008 at No. 52 in the world, but has
shot all the way up to the To
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting