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05/10/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2009-10 English Premiership season will be remembered as one that saw history made, for both good and bad reasons.
Chelsea set the standard for offensive potency as they tallied an eye-popping 103 goals in just 38 games, setting a Premiership record.
And then there was Portsmouth, a club that became the first to enter administration and receive a nine-point deduction along with it, dooming the club to the bottom of the table.
It saw Wigan confound us on a regular basis as the club beat both Arsenal and Chelsea, yet also suffered a pair of eight-goal defeats and managed to finish in 16th place.
But the thing that anyone remembers most about a given season is who finished on top of the table when the final ball was kicked, and that team was Chelsea.
The Blues may have scored a ton of goals this season, but they will not be remembered as one of the great teams in Premiership history when all is said and done.
In fact, their 86 points at the end of the season are the fewest by a league champion since Manchester United claimed the 2002-03 title with 83 points.
However, the thing that makes this team special is the fact that they came through a great deal of adversity at different points of the season to finish on top, even if it was just one point ahead of United.
Unlike Jose Mourinho's title teams, which were clearly the best in the league and held the top spot for most of the season, this team had to battle for everything it got.
The title was always in doubt up until the final day, with United and Chelsea taking turns at the top while Arsenal also had a taste midway through the season.
But in the end it was Chelsea who dug down the deepest and put an end to United's three-year run of championships, despite the fact that they had every reason to implode.
It is no secret that John Terry's affair, involving former teammate Wayne Bridge's partner, dominated headlines throughout England during the month of February, and threatened to rip apart not only the national team but also Chelsea.
A media whirlwind was swirling around Stamford Bridge on a constant basis, and it couldn't have been pleasant to come to training every day having to answer questions about something your teammate did off the field.
Terry's picture was splashed all over the cover of British tabloids, and the situation came to a head at the end of February when Chelsea visited Bridge's new team, Manchester City, and was promptly beaten, 4-2.
Terry was in poor form and was stripped of his England captaincy by manager Fabio Capello, and it looked like the wheels were ready to fall off of the Chelsea wagon.
Left-back Ashley Cole also had a highly-publicized separation with his wife, and at this point, manager Carlo Ancelotti had to be feeling more like a babysitter than a soccer coach.
To make matters worse, Chelsea was bounced from the Champions League by Mourinho's Inter Milan a few weeks later, which had to be a slap in the face to Chelsea supporters everywhere.
One of the main reasons why Ancelotti was brought to Stamford Bridge was to deliver the club's first Champions League title, but now he had failed, and his team seemed vulnerable.
However, they responded like champions over the final few months of the season, taking 25 of a possible 30 points in the league while also advancing to the FA Cup final.
There were a few curious results, with a 3-1 loss to Wigan as well as a 1-1 draw with relegated Hull City, illustrating the fact that Chelsea didn't always bring a consistently high level of play to each match.
But when the stakes were highest, against teams like Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, Chelsea showed the mark of a true champion and raised its game.
The Blues beat each team twice during the season by a combined score of 12-1, which further underlined their superiority.
Through all the tough times there was one constant on the Chelsea team, and it was Frank Lampard, who provided even more evidence that he is one of the top midfielders in Premiership history.
Lampard tallied 22 goals and assisted on 14 more from his midfield position, while starting 36 of Chelsea's 38 games. Even when Terry's form dipped, and the club was left shorthanded because of injuries, Lampard was the one constant.
Striker Didier Drogba captured the golden boot as England's top scorer, but he can often be difficult to deal with as he exhibited again on Sunday.
With Chelsea holding a 1-0 lead midway through the first half, Lampard drew a penalty kick that could put the result basically out of reach and clinch the title.
Lampard has been Chelsea's regular penalty kick man all season, but there was Drogba, pleading with Lampard to let him take the kick as it would improve his chances of winning the golden boot.
When Lampard declined and buried the kick himself, Drogba sulked, and then later admitted his mistake.
Terry may be the captain of Chelsea, but it was Lampard who provided the example of how a player should conduct himself, with dignity and class.
And after it was all over, Lampard was able to reflect on the season that was, and all that his team was able to overcome.
"This is the best team you can get in club football," he told Chelsea's official website.
"We've won the league after not winning it for three years, when Manchester United won it, and we've come back.
"It's been one of those seasons and we have worked our socks off to get where we are today.
"It's really special because there have been ups and downs this season. After the Inter Milan tie people expected us to die away and not win the league but we showed a lot of courage and a lot of quality to come through the way we did."
Usually when a title race comes down to the final day of the season it is a nervy, tense affair filled with dramatic twists and turns.
But for once, Chelsea did something the easy way, quickly taking any drama out of the title race by trouncing Wigan, 8-0, and leaving no doubt as to who should be called champions.
<< Lennon wants to stay at Celtic
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Caretaker Celtic manager Neil Lennon
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basis for next season.
The Bhoys won their last eight games of the Scottish Pre
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for Australia at this summer's World Cup.
The 30-year-old still has another two yea
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Genclerbirligi.
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Super Saver and Zenyatta remain atop NTRA Polls >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and
undefeated mare Zenyatta kept their respective first-place positions in the
latest NTRA Thoroughbred Polls.
Owned by WinStar Farm, Super Saver received 17 of 1
Woods' schedule 'up in the air' with neck woes >>
Newtown Square, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods said on Monday that his neck
injury, which forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship after six
holes on Sunday, has put his upcoming schedule in jeopardy.
Woods acknowledged the
Donovan claims MLS Player of the Week award >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan was
voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 7 on Monday.
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Next start for Rachel Alexandra undecided >>
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Less than two weeks after suffering a second
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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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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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