Datsyuk picked first in All-Star draft
Hockey Betting Lines
01/26/2012 - Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk was the first overall pick Thursday in the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft.
A flipped puck was used to determine who got the first pick and Team Chara won the toss.
Captain Zdeno Chara of Boston -- assisted by Joffrey Lupul of Toronto -- took the three-time Selke Winner Datsyuk.
"I'm very appreciative to be taken first," said Datsyuk. "It was kind of a surprise, actually."
Team Alfredsson, headed by Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson along with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, chose Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson with their first selection.
"I'm really happy that I could join my fellow Swedes on this team," said Karlsson.
The second round saw Team Chara take Boston goaltender Tim Thomas, the reigning Conn Smythe and Vezina winner, while Team Alfredsson took Ottawa forward Jason Spezza.
Forward Evgeni Malkin of Pittsburgh, the current points leader, was taken by Chara in the third round while Alfredsson countered with Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick, who leads the NHL with six shutouts.
Forward Marian Hossa of Chicago and defenseman Kimmo Timmonen of Philadelphia rounded out the top five picks by Chara and forward Claude Giroux from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang were the fourth and fifth picks for Alfredsson's team.
Team Chara's next five picks were forward Corey Perry of Anaheim, goaltender Carey Price from Montreal, Toronto forward Phil Kessel, defenseman Ryan Suter from Nashville and goaltender Jimmy Howard from Detroit.
The next five picks for Team Alfredsson were forward Steven Stamkos of Tampa Bay, St. Louis goaltender Brian Elliott, defenseman Shea Weber from Nashville, Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin and New York Rangers forward Dan Girardi.
For the Nos. 11-15 picks, Chara took Florida defenseman Brian Campbell, Chicago forward Patrick Kane, Toronto defender Dion Phaneuf, Calgary forward Jarome Iginla, who scored his 500th goal earlier in the month, and defenseman Dennis Wideman from Washington.
Alfredsson took Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle, Ottawa forward Milan Michalek, Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin, Pittsburgh forward James Neal and Vancouver defenseman Alexander Edler for his 11-15 picks.
Forwards Marian Gaborik of the Rangers, Jordan Eberle from Edmonton and Tyler Seguin from Boston went to Chara with the next three picks while forwards John Tavares of the Islanders, Scott Hartnell from Philly and Jason Pominville from Buffalo went to Alfredsson.
The last two selections saw Dallas forward Jamie Benn -- who had an appendectomy on January 15 but will appear in his first All-Star game -- go to Team Chara while forward Logan Couture from San Jose was picked by Alfredsson with the last pick of the draft.
"Being the young guy and with these great players, I knew it was a possibility," said Couture.
Also named on Thursday were the rookie teams.
The representatives for Team Chara's freshman class are forwards Gabriel Landeskog of Colorado, Ryan Johansen of Columbus, Cody Hodgson of Vancouver, Colin Greening of Ottawa and Luke Adam from Buffalo, defenseman Raphael Diaz of Montreal.
Team Alfredsson's rookies are forwards Sean Couturier and Matt Read of Philadelphia, Carl Hagelin of the Rangers, Nick Johnson of Minnesota and Craig Smith of Nashville and defenseman Justin Faulk from Carolina.
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A'dia Mathies scored 20 points while Samarie Walker pulled down 15 rebounds as No. 6 Kentucky took down Auburn, 66-48. Maegan Conwright added 10 points for Kentucky (19-2, 8-0 SEC), which forced 30 Auburn t
<< Florida earns comeback win at Ole Miss
Oxford, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Patric Young scored 15 points and added four
rebounds to lead the way for No. 14 Florida as it came from behind to hand Ole
Miss its first home loss of the season, 64-60, at Tad Smith Coliseum.
Kenny Boynto
<< VT upsets No. 8 Maryland
College Park, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Monet Tellier scored a game-high 31
points, as Virginia Tech upset No. 8 Maryland, 75-69, on Thursday.
The Hokies (7-14, 3-5 ACC) had lost five straight games but got 15 points from
Aerial Wilson a
<< Hurricanes shut down Wake Forest
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Riquna Williams and Stefanie Yderstrom
each scored 14 points as the 10th-ranked Miami-Florida Hurricanes extended
their winning streak to seven games with a 64-39 victory over Wake Forest.
Shenise
<< Zeller, UNC hammer NC State
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyler Zeller's double-double of 21 points
and 15 rebounds powered seventh-ranked North Carolina to a 74-55 victory over
the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
Harrison Barnes had 15 points and Reggie Bullo
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The BC Lions have signed veteran wide receiver Arland Bruce to a contract extension. Last August, the Lions acquired Bruce from Hamilton in exchange for a third- round selection in the 2012 CFL
Baylor stays perfect in rout of Oklahoma >>
Norman, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brittney Griner scored 18 points, had seven
blocks and pulled down six rebounds as the top-ranked Baylor Bears remained
perfect with an 89-58 win over Oklahoma.
Odyssey Smith had 14 points, five rebou
Scott helps Virginia take down Boston College >>
Charlottesville, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Before arriving in Charlottesville,
Tony Bennett completely transformed the culture and expectations of the
Washington State basketball program. He's now doing the same in his third
season
Badgers down struggling Hoosiers >>
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wisconsin still has Indiana's number.
The 25th-ranked Badgers showed why they're considered the nation's best
defense by shutting down the No. 16 Hoosiers en route to a 57-50 victory,
their ninth st
Hill leads No. 9 Ohio State over Indiana >>
Bloomington, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tayler Hill scored all 18 of her points in
the second half as No. 9 Ohio State downed Indiana, 73-55.
Samantha Prahalis also had 18 points for Ohio State (20-1, 7-1 Big Ten), which
has won five straight ga
Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back
With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.
"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."
Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .
Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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