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06/16/2007 - Oakmont, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Angel Cabrera stuck his final approach shot within inches and made birdie, knocking 19 players out of the U.S. Open by himself.
Oakmont took care of the rest.
Cabrera shot a one-over 71 Friday to take the lead in what was shaping up to be one of the most difficult U.S. Opens ever, finishing his second round with a birdie on Oakmont's ninth hole to get to even-par 140 overall.
The low 60 scores and ties make the cut, as well as anyone within 10 shots of the lead. Cabrera's closing birdie meant all the players at 11-over par missed the weekend.
Phil Mickelson, at 11-over exactly, was among them.
"Carnage," he called the round after shooting a 77.
Bubba Watson had a one-over 71 and was alone in second place at one-over 141. Stephen Ames was one of just two players to shoot under par Friday, carding a one-under 69 to join Aaron Baddeley (70), Justin Rose (71) and Niclas Fasth (71) in third place at two-over 142.
If Oakmont showed its teeth Thursday, it was downright scowling Friday.
Paul Casey hit 13 of 14 fairways and shot a four-under 66 in a morning tee time for the best round of the day -- one of the best rounds of his career, the Englishman said.
But it wasn't an accurate forecast of things to come.
By 5:33 p.m. local time, when Cabrera made a five-foot bogey putt at his 12th hole, there were no players left under par. Cabrera bogeyed his 14th hole at 6:10 p.m., then got back to even-par with his closing birdie at 7:13 p.m.
So, for 63 minutes near the end of the round no one was even playing Oakmont to a push.
The scoring average soared to nearly 77.
"I'll venture to guess that 99 percent of the members can't play this golf course very well or finish in severe conditions," said world No. 3 Jim Furyk, who safely made the cut.
"But they're proud of that fact and that's what this place is about."
Tiger Woods wasn't proud of his round, but a four-over 74 was enough to keep him safe from repeating his missed cut at Winged Foot last year. He was at five-over 145 and tied for 13th place.
"You just really had to keep your patience," Woods said. "The way I hit the golf ball, I could have easily shot myself out of the tournament. But I was able to hang in there."
Cabrera was the first-round leader at the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, his only other overnight lead at a major championship.
"This tournament really motivates you," Cabrera, an Argentine, said through a translator in a TV interview after his round. "You play with a lot of intensity out there."
Watson's posted a career-best finish at the Houston Open in April, where he was runner-up. His length helped him Friday in places like the 313-yard 17th, a par four where he almost reached the green with his tee shot.
He chipped within three feet there for his last birdie, but wasn't expecting Oakmont to get any easier Saturday -- especially with the added pressure of playing in the final group.
"It's going to be just as hard as it was today," said Watson, who missed the cut in his only other U.S. Open in 2004.
While no one avoided the "How hard was it?" question Friday, Mickelson had one of the funniest answers -- especially from someone who played the tough four- hole stretch from No. 7 at six-over par.
"It's easier than I've seen it, the greens have slowed up and I don't know what we're doing," Mickelson laughed.
Lefty had made 30 consecutive major cuts since missing the weekend at the 1999 British Open, which ranked as the longest such active streak at the four major championships.
His injured left wrist was still affecting his play, but Mickelson wasn't making any excuses.
"It's fine. It's sore, but it's fine," he said.
Furyk played with Mickelson and had a 75 to keep himself safe from the cut line six-over 146. He had back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, from 18 and 20 feet respectively.
On the rest of the course, the 2003 U.S. Open champion made seven bogeys and nine pars.
"I don't concern myself with whether the USGA is playing fair or not anymore, I just play it and try to figure out how to get it in the hole," Furyk said of the course.
The third member of the Mickelson-Furyk group, Adam Scott, opened with a triple-bogey at No. 1 and shot an 82. Looking to shake criticism of his play in the majors, the young Australian missed the cut by a mile at 18-over par.
The scores from that trio -- the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 golfers in the world -- made Casey's morning 66 look like an anomaly.
And it was.
"That's probably one of the best rounds I've played in my professional career," said Casey, who equaled his best round at a major and was alone in seventh place at three-over 143.
It was 23 shots better than the worst score turned in Friday.
Englishman Sam Walker, who has missed the cut in nine of his last 10 European Tour starts, carded an 89 in a round that included just four pars and no birdies.
Mickelson and Scott weren't the only big names to miss the cut.
That list also included Justin Leonard, Luke Donald, Trevor Immelman, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Davis Love III, Henrik Stenson, Colin Montgomerie and two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen.
"The tournament starts on Saturday," Cabrera said. "Everyone who makes the cut has a chance. You just have to see what happens."
<< Yankees' Damon scratched from lineup
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees designated hitter Johnny Damon
was scratched from the team's lineup Friday against the New York Mets with an
abdominal strain.
Damon was set to leadoff for the Yankees.
Center fielder Melk
<< Bruins axe Lewis
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After just one season behind the bench, the
Boston Bruins fired head coach Dave Lewis on Friday.
The Bruins also relieved associate coach Marc Habscheid of his duties. Both
are expected to be reassigned
<< Rice erases six-run deficit, blasts past Louisville
Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aaron Luna went 2-for-4, homered, drove in three
runs and scored three as the Rice Owls came back from deficits of five and
six runs to top the Louisville Cardinals, 15-10, in the opener of the College
World Series
<< Saints release Lewis, Whitehead
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Saints released wide
receiver Michael Lewis and defensive lineman Willie Whitehead on Friday.
Lewis is the team's all-time leader in kickoff returns (243 for 5,903 yards)
and punt r
Delsing leads by one in Minnesota >>
Byron, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time Nationwide Tour winner Jay Delsing
posted a four-under 68 Friday to move one stroke clear of the field after two
rounds of the Showdown at Somerby.
Delsing, who was one of five first-round lead
107th U.S. Open Second Round News and Notes >>
Oakmont, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Mickelson finished off a 77, then told
everyone what he'd be doing for the next several hours.
"Go watch the carnage on TV," Mickelson said.
Lefty was one of the players swallowed up by Oakmont
Ninth-inning rally helps Braves down Indians >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yunel Escobar hit a two-run double off C.C.
Sabathia in the ninth inning as the Atlanta Braves rallied for a 5-4 victory
over the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a three-game interleague set.
Casey Bl
Blue Jays bash Nationals >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Troy Glaus homered and finished with three RBI
to guide the Toronto Blue Jays past the Washington Nationals, 7-2, in the
opener of a three-game interleague set at Rogers Centre.
Adam Lind added a two-ru
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.
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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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