Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Bonds Threat?

Barry Bonds reportedly is receiving death threats, like many players have in our proud history, and it is my opinion that he is not only tainting baseball with his HR chase of Hank Aaron, but he is tainting the history of death threats in sports.

In baseball alone there was Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier, Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth's hallowed mark, Roger Maris when he chased and broke the single season HR record and Cal Ripken Jr. when he broke Gehrig's consecutive games played streak--among hundreds of other such targets. Recently, even Ichiro Suzuki received death threats when he was attempting to break Sisler's 84-year old single season hits record.

That's a joke, but there is no joke about death threats. Bill Buckner. Steve Bartman (and how fitting was that name? Taking an out away from your favorite team, D'oh!). Various umpires. Danny Almonte. The Brewers sausage mascots. Keith Hernandez as an announcer. Pitchers and hitters and managers who either messed up or were good enough to do something great at the hands of some fan's favorite team, the sending of a death threat is a venerable tradition in the world of sports, one that goes back to when old-school settlers hit balls with sticks.

No. Death threats are an ugly but integral part of the game, the passion that whips up in the fan base logically extends to this expression of vitriol--thankfully hardly ever carried out.

I actually began to wonder if death threats were ever made up, to build to the mystique of chasing a record. Perhaps, perhaps not--but one immediately begins to wonder if Bonds made these threats up to win public sympathy. Probably not, because don't forget, Bonds is a dick. He probably has been getting death threats for years, imploring him to stop being a dick. And now? Now that he is chasing Aaron's record in a steroid-pumped haze of allegations?

He's sullying the proud history of death threats in America. Of death threats in the world. In fact, when the dust settles, I move to place an asterisk next to his name every time it's mentioned in regards to death threats, because Bonds is dirtying the waters of anything that he touches and only the hindsight of history will be able to view him with any clarity.

Until then, stop sending threats. He's not worth it. All right? All right.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Some Half Time Plays (Examples)

The other night I made two successful half-time wagers, and I would like to share my rationale with all of you, to maybe help you all out with your Sports Investing. This isn't any hardcore advice, nothing that will blow your mind, just a few examples of successful half-time wagers that occurred last night.

San Antonio jumped out to a 24 point lead to close out the first half, and the line for the second half was -2.5 for Toronto, meaning Toronto just has to make that 24-point lead a 21-point lead. I’m banking on the fact that Toronto is a youthful and proud team. Now, the Spurs weren't going to exactly let them get back into the game, but so far Bosh had been completely shut down. I looked for him to get some game and maybe pull it out toward the end of the fourth when letting up is simply inevitable--sometimes. But if there is a time in a blowout, that's when.

So what happened? Bosh didn't exactly wow anybody, but the Raptors went shot for shot in the third and then closed the gap by 8 points in the fourth, win for me. Now...

Boston was in Houston, and Tracy McGrady was out of the game with the flu. No McGrady, no Yao, this means trouble trouble—one of the lowest scoring first halves I can remember, Houston was up 35-29 at halftime. Part of me wanted to take the under, which was at 92, but it reeked of a trap bet, as I thought the teams would discover how to play against one another in the second half. What did like, however, was the fact that Boston had Pierce and a bunch of young guys who were all thinking, hey, this is our chance, let’s do this. It’s +1 Boston, so as long as the game ended with Houston up by 6, I would be all right. I banked on Pierce leading his team and the Rockets falling apart at the end without their big star...

And what happened? Houston goes up by three more points at the end of the third, but then it all goes down the crapper as the Celtics battle back in the fourth for a 5-point win. Oh, and the under would have paid as well...but I figured that first half was so low, who knew what would happen in the second.

The Lesson is easy to see. Analyzing team character, as well as what is happening, can lead you to making a relatively easy decision. Halftime plays are huge, you can either hedge a losing bet or even, like last night, make a couple smart independent wagers. The only problem is that you have to make a quick decision. Usually I don't make a full bet at halftime, and wager about half of my usual wager, but that's just me. Even though I look at it as a bonus, halftime wagers are really great plays for all sports investors to really make your investment grow.

Research of team play is huge, but a lot of it is just knowing your basketball, trusting your gut, being aware of the numbers, and using common sense. All right everyone, CollegeBoy telling all of you to Stay Sharp and Play Smart...

Monday, February 26, 2007

McGrady down, Rockets grounded?

Now, similar to the situation with the Heat and Dwayne Wade, everyone got a first hand look at how devastating a missing superstar can be.

Yao down, all right. Recently I did a blog post detailing the Rockets emergence without their big man, and most of it is due to Coach Van Gundy and Tracy McGrady. While the team has historically struggled when one of them was down (which changed this season), the team is terrible without both--and tonight, the Rockets were terrible. Question: were they as terrible as the Boston Celtics?

Gamblers across the nation were kicking themselves in the face for not putting their houses and kid's college funds on the Celtics early--even if they just had a feeling. The odds on the money line were hovering around +400, but then that all changed drastically. McGrady was sick with the flu and the rationale was, why exert yourself when you can take a day off? Rest up against the lowly Celtics, your team should be able to handle them, then come back strong against the Toronto Raptors. Those same gamblers then collectively released a huge sigh of relief as the Rocket did just that, playing a ridiculous first half--and by ridiculous, I mean laughably terrible. The score was 35-29, but at least Houston was up by 6. The Rockets shot 1 of 22 from downtown. I mean, this was an ugly, ugly game, a game where Houston found themselves up by double digits--until the fourth quarter, that was.

Then things got really ugly, but now just for the Rockets. Those same gamblers who were cursing themselves off, then praising hallelujahs, were back to cursing themselves again as the Celtics first tied the game then took over on a three from Pierce with scant time remaining. Right before our eyes we saw a team self-destruct, just look completely lost without their general. You have the Suns without Nash, the Heat without Wade, and now the Rockets without McGrady. Not right. Losing to the Celtics, that's just not right.

Too bad the NBA can't turn off injuries like in a video game.

But you have to hand it to the Celtics. Just like the teams in the Eastern Conference who are smelling blood, they smelled blood on the Rockets and they attacked. Good for them and I'm sure they made a few people some decent money. In regards to myself, I made myself a halftime wager which I will go in detail tomorrow, give a little gambling advice on this blog. All right though, CollegeBoy is tired and needing some sleep. Until tomorrow...

Let's put all our injuries on hold, huh? It's much more exciting that way.

Wade down, Heat out?

So turns out the injury to Wade is serious and well, the Heat aren't going anywhere up in the standings soon. Shaq, who has played much better recently, simply cannot put a team on his back and Wade is one of those special players its hard to pickup the slack for--now, there are options besides surgery, but at most he will return with about ten games left in the season. While the Eastern Conference may be weak, and I use the term cautiously as I explained in a previous blog post, it doesn't mean that teams like the Knicks, Nets, Atlanta and especially Charlotte aren't smelling blood. Any of those teams--and especially the Knicks and Charlotte--will do everything they can to make it into the post season.

All you sports investors, just be careful. This doesn't mean that the Heat are pushovers. They lost to Dallas, understandably, but then came back to beat Cleveland and had the lead against the Knicks before losing it in the fourth quarter tonight. I advise a wait-and-see attitude, see how they do in the next few games before you start laying heavy action on or against them. The next two games (at Washington, home VS Detroit) will do a lot to show what this team is made of, because like the Cavaliers have shown with Lebron, one man does not make a team.

But in the Heat's case, one man is the engine that drives the rest forward and now that engine is down; sad to say, the backup Diesel may just be too old...

Friday, February 23, 2007

Sports Investing 102

A couple days ago I posted basic Sports Investing principles and I'm sure some of you out there were like, all right, I follow all of that already: I stay sharp, I play smart, I keep my head, I don't get angry or bet foolishly. I research my picks, listen to all the advice, follow all the trends--but I still don't win! Or...I don't win enough.

Some of you may even be saying that everything in that blog sounded like a load of bullshit. You want guarantees, you want formulas to follow, cold hard numbers that you can swallow to maximize profit.

In other words, you want an easy button.

And the honest to God answer is no, there is no easy button. You can get incredibly lucky, take advantage of certain situations, but for the Average Joe...it's a grind. Simple as that. Day in, day out, hot streaks and cold, up and down, you're goal is to win out in the long term. Unless you already have a lot of money in an account, you won't become rich off this, but it's a great tool to afford a vacation, to buy a Christmas present, or even finance a trip to brick and mortar casinos--or whatever you want to use the extra money for. The only thing is sticking to it, I mean, if you have a stock portfolio, do you watch all the stocks regularly?

No. Of course not.

Which is why handicapping services like Power Position Betting exist. Let's be serious here. Let's be plain and upfront. There are no guarantees, there just aren't. But if you see months of success from a handicapping service, well, what more do you need to know? If your handicapping service answers your questions, attempts to teach you, to not just tell you what to do but guide you in the direction of successfully investing in sports; if your handicapping service explains their picks, reminds you about the basics of sports investing, speaks plainly and simply to you...then, what more do you want?

This is the type of service the Positioning Group provides, and if not us, then someone else. Hey, it's a free market--our goal is to show that is a viable market. Sports Investing is a very real deal, and a lot of people do make a great deal of money on it--a lot of people also lose a great deal of money on it. We're not concerned about them though, we're concerned with making you enough money to allow you to live a bit more comfortably. Please, try our service. Visit our web site, talk to us, email us at info@positioninggroup.com

We're here. We're ready. There aren't guarantees on wagers, but we guarantee to provide you with proper sports investing tips, materials, and strategies...and for our members, we'll certainly send out our picks. We may not always be hot, we may not always be right, but we damn well know what we're doing, and we want you to be confident in us.

And always, remember to play smart and stay sharp.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

So...where the trades at?

Boring...

I can't even comment. Oh well, let's get a move on people, twenty something games left, let's finish the season on a high note and roll into the playoffs.

At least they will be exciting I'm sure.

Sky Rockets in Flight...

So far we have gone over the Utah Jazz, the Cavaliers, Suns, Mavericks and Pistons. Today we're going to take a quick look at the Houston Rockets and breakdown why they have a very legitimate shot at winning this year's championship.

The huge question for this squad so far was, what happens once Yao went down? How does the team respond? Historically they have faltered, though the numbers show McGrady was more of a linchpin of the team's success. Take Yao out, the Rockets go 7-11 for a .389 win %. Take McGrady out and the Rockets go 10-27, .270 win %. Take both out, and then it just gets ugly. So how did the Rockets do this year with Yao out?

Fantastic. As of today, Houston is fifth in the Western conference, only two games back from San Antonio for third place. They can't catch the Mavericks or Suns, but they can definitely make it to a third seed, especially with Yao coming back in a week or two. For all you Sports Investors out there, I would be careful once the duo is reunited, as always everything depends on the lines, but it could very well take the big man a couple games to come back to his former self. And maybe he's can't return to being the force that he was becoming this year--all you fantasy owners out there who groaned when Yao went down, I was with you guys. It hurt. (especially if you have Boozer go down too, grumble grumble)

So what we have to do first is examine why the Rockets are playing so well with their big man on the sideline. The answer, of course, is McGrady. He runs the show down in Houston, the offense runs through him, and when he is hot, Lord have mercy. But all of you out there knew this,
no big news there, but what is big is the play of their role players, staring with Shane Battier. This man is everywhere, an engine going full throttle from beginning to end, he steals, he blocks, he can light up the scoreboard, drowns threes, and is just an overall pest to the opposing star player. Even inadvertently he's an animal, just because he plays so hard. In last night's game VS the Heat, Wade went to get the ball and Battier didn't care, did a spin move elbows flailing, Wade knocked into him, they tangled a bit and Battier tossed the ball to an open guy. Wade? He had to leave the game with an injury to his shoulder. You just don't mess with Battier, man.

Speaking of that Heat game, how hilarious was it that Shaq got a technical for waving his index finger? Which brings us to the next X factor, the reemergence of Dikembe Mutombo. Of course he's not as young as he once was, of course he could never reproduce Yao's offensive production, but the man is pulling down every board that comes his way and being a presence in the paint. A lot of people could drive on Yao, that's still a big part of his game that he has to improve on, but not so with Dikembe. That man plays like he owns a monopoly on D.

Then you have the other bit players, Rafer Alston who can knock down big shots, a consistent downtown threat, able to move the ball and yeah--he can play some D too. Juwan Howard is a man who posts solid number rather quietly, he isn't that much of a force, but he can explode at times, rattle the rim, and is a good body to have on your team. Then you have Bonzi Wells and Luther Head, quiet guys both involved in trade rumors, so if no moves are made (as is what's expected of the Rockets), I expect their numbers to increase...

And by then, of course, the big man is back.

Now, it's also very important to note who the coach is, Jeff Van Gundy. There is reason why the Rockets are one of the few teams who play solid fundamental basketball, who clamp down on defense (they lead the league in fewest points allowed), and seem to be in the right place at the right time. This guy can coach, and with a healthy Yao, there aren't very many weaknesses in this team. If the team plays this well without Yao, they can only improve once he gets back--which, admittedly, is cause for some concern. Once the star is back, other players feel they can coast a bit, feed the rock to the big man and then sit back. I don't think that will happen, Van Gundy won't allow it to happen, and they will get home court advantage, even if it's only for one round. Watch.

This is a playoff caliber team, defense wins championships and this team has it. It's tough, it can without its big star, it can knock down 3's, play D, get down and dirty, have McGrady-Magic happen, etc. Anything is possible, even...dare I say it...

Beating the Mavericks. They had a great series in 2005, going seven games, and if they meet up this year I'm confident the same will happen. Hey, when I make playoff predictions I go off entertainment and those would be pretty sweet games, so let's go Mavericks, let's go Rockets...

Two teams enter, one team leaves.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Trade Deadline Approaching

Detroit is looking for another bit player, maybe someone like Brevin Knight who would be a great fit and could be acquired on the cheap since the Bobcats are now Felton's team. Knight is capable of running the Detroit offense, he can D up with his ability to steal the ball, and he is an unselfish player--exactly the type of guard the Pistons like, and would be a great sub for Billups. Other players mentioned are Chucky Atkins, Morris Peterson, and Mike James...but I would bet on Brevin Knight, though that could be because I like him as a player and he would make the Pistons so much nastier.

All it takes to get Kidd to the Lakers is moving Bynum. And no matter how much I want to see a comic book about Kidd and Bryant tag teaming the L.A. scene...it doesn't make a lot of sense. This kid Bynum, they got a baller here. He's young and still growing, he's got game, he's already tossing up double-doubles and is only going to improve. He's only 19 years old, and under Phil Jackson's tutelage, he's going to blossom to, if not a star, a very worthwhile presence. You bring Kidd out there, yeah, Kidd is a great team player, him and Kobe will be nasty, but how is the rest of the team going to react? Who is Kidd going to pass the ball to? Jordan Farmar, Aaron McKie, Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm and draft picks are not enough to sway the Nets, as well as they shouldn't, Kidd is worth a lot more then that. Kidd is worth Bynum and draft picks...but do the Lakers want to pull that trigger? It could backfire terribly.

We'll see what happens by 3 tomorrow.

How about if Scottie Pippen comes back, laces up his shoes...and starts playing for the L.A. Lakers. But that's not the right place for him I think. He'd fit in more with the Miami Heat, where a lot of players are the same age as him...

Or how about the Pistons? He'd fit in beautifully there, coming off the bench, though I guess the commissioner wouldn't allow something like that to happen. Whatever happens happens, part of me is sad to see him come back, but part of me hopes he can actually contribute. We wish him the best. Jimmy and Pete came into their own when he and the Bulls were running things, they have fond memories of him...I grew up a Knicks fan so I always hated him, but now, well, that's all water under the bridge.

What if he plays for the Knicks?

Ha.

Yeah, not going to happen. Doesn't look like the Knicks are making a deal either. What's up with that? If there was something I could consistently count on happening, it was some sort of dumb ass trade by Isiah. I guess he likes his team, or his hands are tied by the salary cap, or maybe he's living by the best trade to make is no trade mentality. All I know is the Knicks passed their win total from last season and are a couple games back from a playoff spot, but--and this is the big thing--they are also exciting to watch again. I make it a point to watch my team now.

And that's always a good thing.

Other players to watch for movement: Pau Gasol, Garnett, Corey Maggette, Luke Ridnour, and any of the players on the Kings or Clippers, who could be looking to break up and start building again. A good trade obviously pushes a team over the contender hump and makes them a favorite to win the championship, and come this time tomorrow, we'll know who made that jump and who stayed on the sidelines, content to circle the wagons and push into summer...

Monday, February 19, 2007

Sports Investing 101

Stay Sharp, Play Smart.

We always write this, everywhere, over and over.

Stay Sharp, Play Smart.

This is our mantra. If we were Buddhist monks, this is what we here at the Positioning Group would be singing.

Stay Sharp, Play Smart.

But what does that exactly mean? The answer is so simple it becomes difficult; the answer saturates each of these posts, is between every line, a shadow behind every word, staying sharp and playing smart of even staying smart and playing sharp...

1. Keep your head about you, even when all those about you are losing theirs. This paraphrases a famous line from the poem 'If,' but there is no if about this tenet of the Sports Investors philosophy. It is so easy to lose faith, to have a bad streak and pack it up--or even worse, have a bad streak and dig yourself even deeper into despair. No matter how many times we say this, it must be said again and again and again.

Stay the course. Stick to your plan. Listen to the PPB picks. Utilize everything you have learned, everything that you will learn. Keep an open mind, and keep a relaxed mind--once you get too emotionally involved, ruin is close behind. Don't ride a bucking bronco, take things steady, and in other words, keep your head!

2. Don't be an idiot. As CollegeBoy, I inhabit the role of the idiot on the team, and I'm not too happy about it but I keep messing up. Don't do what I do. Listen to Pete and Jim, listen to what they say, listen to their wisdom. There is a reason why they have been in this business for as long as they have, why they are successful at it. I always think I can do it by myself, and I quickly double up and think I have it all figured out, then pop! Down the tubes.

They may not be right 100% of the time, no one is, but they are right a majority of the time, and that is all that matters. Don't be an idiot and listen to them.

3. Listen to your better half. Every person has two selves; one that knows what to do, the other who wants to do certain things. Your super-ego and id, if you will, and you are ego in the middle, always in battle with the other two.

Your angel on one side, your devil on the other. Listen to the angel in you. The devil may be right, putting a thousand dollars on the Celtics to beat the Timberwolves may pay off huge, but your angel says take the points, you take the points.

After all, Sports Investing is not a race. There's no rush. If you feel a rush, then leave. This is not for you, and you will only succeed in crashing and burning. This is a lifelong commitment, riding several ups and downs, but trying your hardest to maintain an even keel.

4. You have a money management system for a reason, so that all of the afore-mentioned cannot conspire to ruin you. Sports Investing is about taking hits and being able to hit back. Sports Gambling attempts to throw an uppercut that will knock your opponent to the moon, while Sports Investing concentrates on wearing the opponent down over time with body shots and smart jabs.

Who do you think has the better chance of winning in the end?

5. Know when to stop. A large part about staying sharp is simply being aware enough to realize that things are spinning out of control. This is when you have to say to yourself, "hey, hold on buddy. I'm losing my head, I'm being an idiot, I'm listening to the devil and saying screw you to my money management system. I need a break..."

So go on a break. This is like tilt in poker, being aware that your style of play with no doubt be compromised by the previous play, a poker player stands up and takes a little break to sort him or herself out. The same holds true for Sports Investors.

6. See the forest through the trees and vice versa. See all the angles, including yourself in relation to the action, which requires a certain philosophic mindset employing everything written in this blog. Increased awareness can only help you discover yourself and perhaps gain insight into Sports Investing as well. Meditate, relax, crack open a beer, do something to get away where you will able to think clearly. This is very important.

You need you time. Otherwise, you get too caught up in what is going around you and "Stay Sharp, Play Smart" becomes another empty phrase without any meaning.

Ultimately, "Stay Sharp, Play Smart" is a way to remind all of you about our philosophy, about the proper way to lead a sports investing lifestyle. Slow and steady, building bankroll over time, not only does it remind you that success doesn't happen overnight, but it reminds you that it all rests on your shoulders. There is only so much we can do.

If you choose to not stay sharp, to not play smart, well, whose fault is that? We can say it, you can say it, but it takes a lot to live it.

So start living it. Everyday is a learning experience, everyday holds the possibility of unlocking a treasure chest or getting stabbed in the heart. The Sports Investor rides these waves, learns to stab open the chests. Don't gamble. Invest. And as always,

Stay Sharp, Play Smart.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Slighted Dwight...

Some All-Star Week-end observations...

Dwight Howard got the shaft for what I thought was a pretty ridiculous dunk, slapping a sticker on top of the backboard. He had originally wanted to dunk on a 12 foot hoop, but the league said no, so he did the next best thing he could think of--a dunk that confused me at first (and probably why the judges did what they did), but one which I came to marvel at for it's creativity and sheer physical presence. 12 feet, 4 inches high, with a sticker of himself (and a message preaching the power of Christ, but it was small enough to not be a bother) smuggled into the competition in his hand. Someone on espn.com said that it would be the sticker dunk that would be the most memorable from the competition, and I have to agree. So Howard may have gotten nothing for now, but he dunked for posterity--and realizing what his faith is, that's pretty fitting to me.

So Kapono practically begs to be allowed into the three point competition, which considering that he is the current 3-pt % leader in the NBA, is more than understandable. I admit, when he came out, I was like...Kapo-who? He's a solid player, obviously shoots 3's, and well, he went on to win the competition easily, two baskets from setting a new record. Great job kid.

Goes well with Wade repeating as the skills champion winner. I'm slightly bothered by the whole skills challenge, it's All-Star Weekend, can't we ratchet it up a bit? I want the hoops, for the passing bit, to be on fire. I want sword-wielding midgets trying to knock the ball out for the slalom-inspired segment. I want a movable backboard, just because it would be ridiculous. Hey, I know it's a skill competition, but it is pretty boring. They need to do something...

Like maybe give the Eastern Conference a 20-point handicap. Cause, um, well I didn't really watch the game. I did catch Gilbert Arenas launching himself off the trampoline to do a sweet dunk, that was pretty cool. Kobe was MVP, from what I saw, he had a good game but...well, I mean, we all knew the West would win, after two straight losses to the East, but wow.

Oh well. As long as they give me flaming hoops and armed midgets next year, I could care less. Well, I don't really care too much to begin with, it is just an All-Star game, a good time to go and watch the stars mess around, do some cool plays, play sloppy, have fun...but still...

I would watch that skills competition. I would DVR it. And watch it again.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Forsberg Nashville Bound

Big news in the NHL world. Peter Forsberg has been traded to the Predators, giving him and Paul Kariya another chance to work off one another--the last time both were injured. This time, who knows. Nashville has the slimmest of slim leads in the Western Conference, has been struggling of late, but if there has ever been a time for them to win, it is now. This trade automatically pushes them toward the top of the West in terms of contenders, which may sound like an odd-thing to say for the team that is in first, but Nashville, for all of their recent success, is still an unproven team yet to play further than the conference quarter-finals.

Until they can make at least to the conference finals, they are not the number one or two teams in the conference, which pre-Forsberg would have been the Red Wings and the Mighty Ducks. After that, the case would have been made for the Sharks, Stars, and the Flames, who because of their goaltending and experience, could have conceivably rated higher than Nashville. But not anymore. Nashville is the clear-cut number 3 team, and in the playoffs, anything can happen.

By adding the stellar, though oft under-rated and misrepresented by stats, playmaking abilities of Forsberg, the Predators have added a whole new spin to their game, as well as adding one more person who has won a Stanley Cup (they only had one--Jason Arnott--so this deal is huge for experience alone.) Hopefully his leadership, in conjunction with Kariya, will give some form and shape to the hunger that these young guys are feeling, and focus their energies come playoffs. After all, this may be the last go around for a player who I felt never has truly lived up to his potential, although he has had a great career, winning two Stanley Cups and well as an MVP award. All players in all sports want to end on top, and this is why Nashville traded away so much youth, for this one shot (to win and to sell tickets), and he will play his heart out so that if he does retire because of his hurt foot, he can do it as a champion.

He is only 32 years old as well, so there is plenty of hockey life in him. He had off-season surgery and while seeming a couple steps slower, he has begun to heat up in the last eleven games for the Flyers. If he can continue his starting-to-wake-up play, then watch out.

This was a trade I liked a lot. The Flyers aren't going to be doing anything, so they might as well sell off one of their top assets, in the last year of his contract, for draft picks and young players who have some potential in them. Sure the Flyers lose their captain, but it'll be all right. The organization will rise again, eventually (the Flyers always do), and so why not give one of the NHL's more exciting players a chance to win another one? A good deal for both, and I wish all the best to Nashville, who are now set to lose to the Devils in an exciting seven-game showdown.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Joe Rogan Attacks like Wade

A lot of fans of Carlos Mencia out there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsq1uTLBHBc

Check that link out or type Mencia Rogan into youtube, and see Joe Rogan attack Mencia like D. Wade attacking the hoop. Seriously, Rogan doesn't give up, and he goes after anyone who he perceives to be doing harm to the world. There was a funny set of links I stumbled upon last year when Rogan was attacking a talkbacker in his forum, sparring back and forth with some college kid who never thought he would get in a sparring match with Joe Rogan. The kid wrote something like "Joe Rogan sucks at life" or something, and Rogan went after him, over and over and over.

Funny stuff. The blogosphere went wild with this, thought I might as well share.

And speaking of D. Wade, I'm sure you all know about his little spat with Marc Cuban, but if you aren't, here is a link to read up on it.

http://slamonline.com/online/2007/02/beef-wade-vs-cuban/

Basically, Dirk started the whole thing by relaying the oft-repeated fact of the Mavericks giving the Heat the championship last season. Wade called him out on it, saying his leadership skills were lacking and that history would be on the side of the Heat, and then Cuban ran to get the back of his boy, pretty much nailing Wade. Hey, I've always been a fan of Cuban, as I have stated several times...

Hey, did you see his blog where he said he would invest in sports instead of stocks, I mean, how can you argue against that logic, even if said in jest. That's what we do...

And yeah. What would happen if Joe Rogan and Marc Cuban got into a sparring match?

Both wouldn't quit. Both would take it over the top. Both would be doing everything they could to sink the other person, but I have to give the edge to Cuban. The X factor, however, is knowing the Mavericks history: would Cuban give the win to Rogan?

I guess we'll never know for sure, until it happens. Come on boys, someone start a controversy. I'm getting a wee-bit bored...

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Congratulations Celtics

We'd like to congratulate the Celtics for giving their fans a sweet Valentine. Unfortunately, it's going to take more than one victory--in fact, most fans are resigned to the having the Celtics lose, just to make sure they get the number 1 pick. Still, it is a nice gesture, and I'm sure they appreciate it.

So congratulations. Enjoy.

Happy Valentine's Day

May all your action--any kind--be hot and steamy.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Injured Suns, Rumored Guns

So how do you beat one of the best teams in the league? Easy, play them when they're injured. The Suns are 4-10 without Nash since he joined the team, 2-3 without him this season. The last two games they lost, Boris Diaw's absence worsened the situation. At best, the Suns have six solid starters, all flourishing under the careful guidance of their 2-time MVP general, Mr. Nash. Without two of their big boys, all hell breaks loose. Banks is all right to come in as a fifth man, a sub, a guy to give Barbosa or Nash a breather, but he cannot be expected to run the Suns. Nor can Barbosa for that matter, he just doesn't exert the same command--and hey, compared to the reigning MVP, that's not meant to be a criticism. The whole team knows it, and this is what feeds the Suns. Without Nash, they don't believe in themselves. It's not so much of Nash being the little engine that could, Nash is THE engine. Take it away, and the Suns fall apart.

Good news for Phoenix fans is that this shoulder injury is really not that serious. Trust me. On top of everything, he gets a couple weeks rest halfway through, he's going to come back energized and lead his team to their rightful number two spot and hopefully a match-up in the conference finals VS the Mavericks.

Now, far more interesting, to me at least, are the various rumors swirling around the leagues. Carlos Zambrano--ah, baseball is in the air again, can't wait cannot wait--says he will bolt if he doesn't get a long-term deal before Opening Day. Can you see him pitching for the Mets? Because I can. Sure the Yankees always come up, but I know Minaya, and as a Mets fan, I am salivating at the chance of landing this arm for the Mets. We need it--our young guns are still too young, and Glavine, well, he's not get any younger that's for sure. If there was some way to get Carlos this year...but there's not. Ten to one he sticks with the Cubs anyway. They cannot afford to let him go, as he is the one anchor they have.

Papelbon adds a curve as he tries to make it as a starter again. Will he succeed? Ridiculous as he was, I just don't see it. But hey, I'm not saying he's going to be terrible, but he will not have the same impact as he had last year. For a solid two months, he was a baseball immortal coming out of the pen, a special time for all baseball fans. It was a time we won't see again from him, though he'll certainly have his share of dominating performances. Remember how Beckett pitched for the Sox last year? I see about the same happening, but who knows...

That's what's great about baseball, you just never know with these guns they have.

How sweet would Jason Kidd be on the Lakers? But just like Nash and the Suns, trade away Kidd and there go the Nets. Microfracture surgery or not, Kidd is an animal, a triple-double threat who gives maximum effort and is a model teammate. What's sweetening the possibility is the fact that this year's draft class is incredibly deep and the Lakers have picks--but do you really want to create the Toronto Raptors in New Jersey? Surrounding Vince Carter with a bunch of no names? Sure the Nets would still have Richard Jefferson, K-dog, and Marcus Williams...you know what, go for it. Nets build for the future, Lakers go out right now. Plus, I want to see what Kidd and Kobe can do together, and not just on the court. Can you imagine what would happen if these guys double-teamed some girl? That has to be the plot of one of the scariest movies ever, and then Chris Kaman shows up...oh God, I have to stop before I get nightmares. But seriously, I would pay to watch that reality show.

Or how about Kidd on the Cavaliers? Someone needs to not only take some of the load off Lebron, but light a fire under his ass--though I still think he's just waiting for the playoffs. Hey, he's young, he knows he's an animal, lull teams into a false sense of security, then pop them one in the mouth. It's what the Colts did, remember the rush defense that couldn't stop Peyton's grandma? Looked pretty good once it really mattered...

Now, Pau Gasol I think is a bigger catch for some teams, because let's face it, the Grizzlies are done. How about the Nets? Can you imagine Gasol, Kidd, and Carter? Automatic contender. Gasol on the Bulls as well, that was the particularly hot rumor though it seems to have cooled off due to the injury to Nocioni. All I know is that Gasol wants out, and he is the final piece to a lot of teams for a late playoffs run...and Garnett? He's not going anywhere.

Gasol is a potential wildcard, a force that must be reckoned with, and honestly, would you rather have Ben Wallace or Pau Gasol if you're the Bulls? Send over Ben, a couple picks, and maybe some young talent and see what happens. Memphis wants to ship him out as well, supposedly West wants to cut payroll, and this is a must-have player. If the Knicks could somehow get him...I'm sure we'd get the eighth playoff spot then. Ha.

We'd be a force. See us take out the Lakers? Eddy Curry, what what. Always helps when Kobe doesn't have the last shot, I'd give it to Odom as many times as he wanted it. Odom got skills, but he ain't no Kobe. Still, I suppose the Lakers got to keep other teams honest.

Well, enough for today. I'm going to do a random rundown on various NBA/NHL/NCAA action soon, including an unranked Duke hoops team for the first time since 1996. And of course I'll be keeping my eyes open on any trade rumors...

Mighty interesting times right about now, folks. Mighty interesting.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Random Bridges

Here is a bridge to a previous post. Do you remember the terrorist scare in Boston from not too long ago? Turned out to be a hoax involving the cartoon network and Aqua Teen Hunger Force? I did a short post about it, laughed with my friends about it, and then found this hilarious video based on the incident: funny stuff.


Here is another link, hope for us all in the sports investing world. It shows a sky diver surviving a fall from 12,000 feet. I hope you all never have to go through a freefall like that with your account, but even if you do for some weird reason, maybe not listening to Pete and Jimmy and Power Position Betting--or maybe getting way too drunk one night--but whatever the cause, remember, you're still alive. There's always tomorrow. And there is plenty of time to rise again.

Humans can be so amazing...

Like the Flyers. Thank you. Destroyed the Red Wings 6-1 today, playing much better hockey. Did I say it? I said it multiple times, in both newsletters. Thank you, thank you. I may not get all my predictions correct, but I do get some--evidence that CollegeBoy here is growing up.

Might as well link my my fiction book, The Grass is Green here again. It's certainly a flawed novel, a lot of the ideas are still raw, but I like it and would like people to read it, see what they think. Though I'm sure the Sports Investing (from a beginner's viewpoint) book will prove to be much more interesting to all of you out there, a project of mine that is continuing nicely.

As for Power Position Betting, I hope you all enjoyed last month's The Reckoning, and we're off to another good start for this month. We're making money for our members, and that is all that matters. No fancy tricks, no fancy illusions, no fancy scam--look at our results, look at our testimonials, look at our services. We're dedicated professionals interested in two things: 1. sports and 2. money.

Baseball season, which happens to be our bread and butter, is coming up soon. Can you smell it? Can you feel it? I can. Two months away or so, but until then, we're going to play smart and stay sharp in all things NHL, NBA, and NCAA...

And so should you.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Celtics...oh Celtics...

Losers of 18 straight, done in by a former teammate, Ricky Davis, with .2 seconds left...

Heart-breaking.

And...to build a bridge to the last post, I decided to take the gambling route and placed a wager on the money line to win big. Well, I lost. And the bet I made, the net for the Celtics wager, was a push because Lebron decided to hit both of his free throws and Odom chucked up an air ball in garbage time. Great job guys. As for me? The difference is an account with 700 bucks in it VS 900. In the end, that's the difference between sports gamblers and sports investors. Could I have had 1100 in there? Sure, very possible--I can blame the Celtics and their three turnovers in the last ninety seconds all I want, but fault rests on my shoulders alone. What would I do to take that 900 right about now, right?

Which would you prefer?

Well, it's back to the drawing board. My experience on the gambling side failed miserably, just a tough day for 'moi'...I didn't learn my lesson, yet, but it does sting. You see, there would be nothing wrong with that wager for someone with more money in their account, but I am in the "building bank roll" stage, and well...

I'm an idiot. And the Celtics? Terrible...

Just terrible.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Sports Investing VS Sports Gambling II

It is time for another go on the Sports Investing VS. Sports Gambling debate. This time, we'll deal with the segment in the structure of a FAQ guide.

1. So what exactly is the difference between Sports Gambling and Sports Investing?

Excellent question. It is easy to distinguish the two by using the archetypal examples: the sports gambler as a wild and crazy loon; the sports investor as the calm, cool, and collected individual, not showing much emotion. We write this because it is easier to tell the difference between these two types of people, but the truth falls somewhere in the various shades of gray that surround us...as most truths do.

Sports Investing relies more on historical trends and streaks, utilizing systems developed on cold analysis of numbers. In a way, you can say Sports Investing comes from the head, which means that Sports Gambling comes from the heart. Sports Gambling relies on the gut, on making moves that the head doesn't really believe in (going against the numbers), or maybe placing faith in a rather silly source.

Both, however, dip into the other's realm. Sports Investing routinely calls for gut plays, especially when bank roll is established and riskier plays can be taken--that is when Sports Investing becomes a lot like gambling. For example, on a good night, a handicapper can place 3 or 4 relatively safe wagers and then throw a haymaker to push the account skyward. The safer plays balance out the home run ball, which if it hits, excellent. If not, then whatever.

Sports Gambling, however, generally tries to hit a lot more balls out of the park, which leads to a lot of frustrated swing and misses. Meanwhile, the Sports Investor is spraying singles all over the field, building a lead and maintaining it for the long haul. In the end, this metaphor does the best service between Sports Gambling and Sports Investing.

2. Just tell me the difference in plain English!

All right, all right. Sports Investing places great focus on money management and research. They believe in the long haul. Sports Gambling likes to let it ride, to win big as quick as possible. This generally ends in ruin.

3. What's an example of what you mean?

Well, all right. Tomorrow night the Boston Celtics are playing against the Timberwolves in Minnesota. Boston has lost 17 in a row. Pierce is back. Minnesota has been struggling as of late. Boston plays better on the road than at home. Boston will probably have a spread of around 10 points, as well as being a huge money favorite, +350 or +400 maybe. Maybe not, because a team can't lose forever, can they? So, here is what someone in sports investing would say.

"Well, Pierce coming back will be a huge lift for the Celtics. They are going to play as hard as they can to win this one. They just were embarrassed by the Nets. They play one game on the road and then come back home. They want to enter on some kind of positive note. Recent history suggests a close game. Minnesota's recent play has been less than stellar, having lost to the second worst team, that being Memphis. Interesting."

Then, depending on other factors, other research, the Sports Investor will, according to his money management system, either take the points or go for the home run, but with support from other researched picks, i.e. Cavaliers at home, Dallas over the 76ers, whatever--you never want to jump for the moon without a net. Now, here is what the Sports Gambler thinks.

"Well, Pierce coming back will be a huge lift for the Celtics. They are going to play as hard as they can to win this one. They just were embarrassed by the Nets. They play one game on the road and then come back home. They want to enter on some kind of positive note. Recent history suggests a close game. Minnesota's recent play has been less than stellar, having lost to the second worst team, that being Memphis. Let's go Boston!"

They can use the same reasoning, the same research, but they drop as much as they can on the money line and hope to win big--could they? Very certainly. They also may drop a huge sum on the points as well, but the idea here is that Sports Investing is a system. A net of support designed to steadily increase money, while Sports Gambling makes a run, guns blazing...

3. So Sports Investing is 100% guaranteed to make money?

The sad truth is that the answer is no. I mean, you never know what can happen, it's like any preposition that involves varying degrees of risk. Are there systems guaranteed to make you money 100% of the time? Certainly, but not everyone has the necessary means to utilize the particular systems I am talking about. We here at the Power Position Betting guarantee to make you double your membership fee or you get that month's money back--and that's about the only guarantee you can get. Can we guarantee that the sun will rise tomorrow? No, but we wouldn't advise wagering against it.

Our record speaks for itself. We may not shine as bright as the sun necessarily, but we do shine, and we definitely rise.

4. How much money have you made CollegeBoy?

Now, now, didn't your mother tell you that it's impolite to ask about other people's monetary affairs? Well, if you insist. You must remember that I am a bit thick-headed and do not go along with Power Position Betting's picks all the time. For example, recently they were 4-1 on the night. Me? I was 1-1. Way to pick the winners, right?

What I'm trying to do is, well, to do things my way. I take the lessons I'm learning--slowly I'm learning Pete and Jim, you gotta give me that, slow and steady in all things--and I apply it to my own style of wagering. Is it working? As of last count, of an account beginning with 500 dollars a week and a half ago, I am +300. Should I be higher? Yes. But I'm trying to do things my way, again, like I said. It's all for a book I'm writing that will hopefully help all of you on your way to becoming smarter handicappers.

5. Book? What's it about?

How quick we get off track here. The book will be about dealing with certain frustrations that are due to appear in all beginners. Veterans of sports betting will laugh at me, but since I'm a beginner, I think this book will become an important tool. I go over wagering on favorite teams, systems, how to deal with "failing to pull a trigger," issues of tilt, regret, places to research, methods of research--basically, I'm filling it all up with as much value as possible, and then giving a running diary of six weeks of my wagering/reactions/methods.

As long as I don't bust out, that is, everything should be good value. Although busting out will certainly be a lesson in and of itself. Always look on the bright side, right?

6. Any last words CollegeBoy about sports investing VS sports gambling?

As usual...stay sharp, and play smart.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Advertisement and Thanks

I would like to take this opportunity to advertise for the people who are making this blog possible, the Positioning Group LLC. Thanks to Pete and Jim once again for giving me this arena for me to spout my garbage, my witty little banter, the stories I take to heart. You guys are also teaching me a great deal about sports wagering, and I hope it's coming across to all the members. It's a rough process, we still have some kinks I know, but once the machine starts rolling, look out world. Baseball season is coming and we're all excited, I can't wait to put some of the systems into play. It's gonna be a good year, I know it.

So that's the Positioning Group LLC, power position betting, run by two veteran handicappers who know what they are doing, who want nothing else but to make money for everybody they know.

Also, I might as well use this forum to push my novel. It's hard for a beginning writer to find a place, and if it wasn't my love of sports, I'd probably be wasting away somewhere, some homeless guy in rags, whispering, "hey, hey you. Buy my book."

Instead, I'm a graduate student whispering on his sports blog for you all to buy my semi-serious book. I self-published it, so there may be a few errors (it's a huge book, and I'm only one man), but it's good times, guaranteed.

Here is the link, http://www.lulu.com/content/255706

It's a great book, I highly recommend it, but fair warning, it does have it's pretensions. It's not a sports book, however. It's more than that, a book about the world and life as I see it now, and I try to be funny and serious and everything I possibly can be. Perhaps I bit off more than I could chew, but hey, I tried my best. With shipping, it'll run you about 15-16 dollars, and it would mean a lot to me--and, might I add, 15-16 dollars for over 400 pages of CollegeBoy quality. I'm making .58 cents off each book I sell, so trust me, this isn't some sort of con, I just want people to become aware of a possible literary talent.

Hey, it's worth a shot, right? Thanks to everyone at the Positioning Group, and thanks to all of our members. I hope my writing is semi-interesting enough, I hope you keep on returning, and as long as you play smart and stay sharp...

I'll keep writing. Thanks everyone.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Pumping Pistons...

All right, so who is emerging as the beast of the East? Several familiar faces, one aged all-star who still has game, and a coach who wants to win it all...

The Detroit Pistons.

Winners of 5 straight now, they dismantled Cleveland before the Super Bowl and the nation got to see that this squad is still a beast. Ball movement, fundamentals, shot selection, rebounding, effort, hunger level, chip on the shoulder, team work for great defense and more than passable offense, on and on, the Pistons have it all.

They are capable of the same play at home and away from home--in fact, they are the only team in the East that has a winning road record. That would be borderline incredible except for the fact that it seems like 90% of the East is at or below .500 (in actuality, flip the nine, and that's the percent of losing teams in the East. On the other hand, it's the same percentage of winning teams in the West--surprised? We always hear about how terrible the East is, it's just that the top 6 teams out West are better than the top 6 in the East...that's all)

Now they've added Chris Webber and assimilated him into the Pistons way of doing things, to great effect. Consider the double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds) he dropped against the Lakers, the ease he created for the rest of the team. Rasheed had similar stats, Hamilton scored 16, Prince 20, and Billups led with nine assists and four steals--barely any points, but only because he didn't have to score, it was an easy victory. And if Webber doesn't step up? Any of their other starters can. Then, McDyess can come off the bench, add presence and D, and right there you have a quality 6-man squad. Of all Eastern Conference teams, there is no doubt they have the most experience, no doubt they have heart, and no doubt that they are going to make a long run in the playoffs...

But that is where the major concern comes in. Can this team, essentially a six man roster, make it to the end? Do they have the legs? They are not as old as the Heat last year, which should be a good sign, but they do not have a Wade on their squad. And what about injuries? For now, they are all right, but what happens if someone goes down? When Nazr Mohammed gets healthy, he'll provide another big body for Detroit, but Lindsay Hunter is not capable of carrying this team. Still, losing a key player is a huge deal for any team and the Pistons are capable of overcoming any hole, maybe more so than any other team. They've done it in the past, no reason they should not start doing it now. Who knows, maybe Carlos Delfino could suddenly start playing and lead for an injured Hamilton, or what have you.

The fact of the matter is that the Pistons are a team everyone is afraid of, and rightly so. Losing Ben Wallace was not the end of them, they've moved on, and are leading the conference, first to hit thirty and looking like first overall. They started slow, raised the haters, and on the ever popular wings of the old battle cry, 'no one believed in us!' they are flying high again.

As a machine, these pistons are oiled and ready to go the distance. The next team I profile will be the team I believe comes out of the East, beating the Pistons in a classic seven game series... a team that will provide plenty of fodder for the newspapers...the Chicago Bulls...

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Super Bowl Blues...

Did anyone see the NFL, Goodbye commercial toward the end of the Super Bowl? Fantastic shot of Brett Favre to close it out, fit perfectly with the mood of the segment, the music, great stuff--and truth be told, I do feel a little like those fans right about now. Football is done, it's over, it was a great season and at some point soon I hope to do a recap with some video clips... But it's over, another great season down for the books. What do we do? Shift focus to a different sport? Or...how about we start gearing up for next season, sure. Is there any potential controversy to tide us over until the draft?

Peyton Manning's press conference is currently being deconstructed, concerning when he asked reporters not to give him a free pass for winning the Super Bowl, meaning to remain as critical as ever. So obviously this shows just how much of a perfectionist Manning is, how much he needs to prove people wrong, to have that desire push him along--or, wait, is that a backhanded slight against Brett Favre? Apparently this is what a lot of people are saying, come on, be serious. Like Peyton Manning has nothing better to do with his post-Super Bowl conference except launch a verbal spear at Favre. Right. Listen, Manning doesn't study game film and criticisms of his performances to show up Brett Favre, he wants to be the best he can be, and if sports writers begin to gloss over his mistakes, well, Manning doesn't want that. He wants people to slam him, to slap him in the face, just so he can go out on the field and prove all his critics wrong. It helps him keep a chip on his shoulder. This is so far removed from Brett Favre it's not even funny--this is all about Peyton Manning, and no one else. This is Peyton saying, hey, I'm not through just yet. I'll be back. And if you guys say otherwise, well then, I'll just have to prove you wrong again.

Or we have Tony Dungy demystifying the historical importance of two black coaches squaring off in America's Sport Spectacle Championship, by saying the true import rests on the fact that there are two Christians squaring off against one another. Look, I know Tony Dungy stands by his faith, everyone who knows anything about football knows that, but there is a time and a place to say these types of things. What happened to simply saying, "This feels incredible," or even "Thank God for this..." How can the race issue be trumped with Christianity? As if there are nothing but heathens in America...

Or wait, are there?

Well, in the end, I have no problem with what Tony Dungy said. True I would prefer all the politics of the scene laid out once the dust settles and sobriety returns, but hey--he just became Super Bowl champ, let him say what he wants, its not as if anyone is listening at that point anyway, which to me cheapens it a bit. But hey, that's just my opinion. There is no doubting the historical significance of the fact, and the NFL has made tremendous gains in aspects of equality on the management level. Though it has to be cause of concern when the amount of black coaches in the NFL (7) matches the number in college...

I'm reminded of what James Baldwin said, after the granting of civil rights in the 1960's. He said, to paraphrase, that blacks and other minorities should wait 100 years before there was true cause to celebrate equality...and well, we are halfway there.

Watch that commercial again, now. Isn't it perfect?

And we never do say good-bye, do we? Post-Super Bowl, the machine gears up for the draft, then training camps, then pre-season, and away we go...

Revel in the afterglow, though, get back on those exercise bikes, read online blogs, watch replay and NFL live, realize the positive impact of sports in bring various backgrounds and people together, head off to work and to sleep knowing that there's no real good-bye, not in the sporting world...

Just see you later.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Super Bowl

Let the game...

Begin. Everyone, remember to drive safe. Seriously. Drinking and driving is not right on so many levels, it's just not worth the risk. Have fun, but make sure to be responsible--this is advice for life, and especially for sports wagering.

Slow and steady may be boring, but it's the best way to roll.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Football Colonization has begun...

Super Bowl week-end has easily become one of the great holidays of our era--all the hoopla, all the food, all the drinking, all the laughs, all the people calling out sick tomorrow...

I'm visiting friends this year, and on top of beer and other drinks, we have a veritable feast of deep fried selections: jalapeño poppers, fries (normal and seasoned curly fries), mozzarella sticks, snickers bars, ice cream, chicken wings (have oven baked as well), onion rings, chicken tenders, and I'm sure a couple surprises. Deep fried flam? Deep fried oysters? Frog legs? Who knows, Super Bowl weekend brings out the spontaneity in everyone's palette. All this in addition to cheese steaks, hamburgers, chips and salsa, chili, pigs in a blanket, and a tray of veggies for good measure. And even worse, I'm sure I'm forgetting something big, and it's not a three or six foot hoagie, which is not happening this year. What is happening, however, is another go around at a quite interesting social, and decidedly American, phenomenon.

You have commercials, and parties, and events at the local bar. It's one of those days most Americans do not want to be alone for, including people who have no idea what a forward lateral is or who any of the players are, gathering as the rest of the world watches us--much like we watch them during the World Cup. And, ultimately, it's this, the rest of the world watching, this is going to be the major development for all of pro sports, with the NFL and NBA in the vanguard of imperial sports colonization.

You already see the effects, the global search to find NBA superstars. The NBA is easily the most wide-spread American sport--hell, we can't even get gold in the Olympics anymore. NBA scouts are traveling to the most backwater places, not to find diamonds, oil, or other precious resources for big business, but to find athletes of unnatural ability, or size, or anything. Having a superstar like Yao Ming sure does a lot to sell the NBA, and all its products, to all the billion+ people living in China...quite the market indeed.

And now the NFL wants in. NFL Europe is a joke, more or less, unsupported by the NFL. The talent and the games are not only lackluster, but lacklusterly attended. Meanwhile, soccer (futbol) is marching along in its rightful place as the top sport of the world--a sport largely sneered at in America. Even here at the Positioning Group, we never wager on soccer matches outside of the World Cup (though we are beginning to look that way, huge source of earning potential, facts are facts). We just don't know it well enough. It's strange . It's not our sport, so screw the rest of the world, who needs it--except we need it, or, not need, but want it.

So returning to the NFL Europe, put on any of the newer versions of Madden NFL and look at the ratings for these teams: terrible, terrible, terrible. Sure there are exceptions to the rule, players who can make the switch to the American stage, but they are far from the norm. This will be changing soon, however. More and more players who are "just not good enough" for the NFL, will find their way easily to Europe, and as more and more "just not good enough" players begin to play in earnest, the sport will gain popularity--especially since the NFL is making a conscientious effort to expand. Already pre-season games have been played in Japan, regular season games in Mexico, and now next year brings the first regular season game to be played in Europe--in London. How fitting that the NFL is reaching to the city most famous for it's colonial empire and expansion...

Now, it is not to say that the NFL Europe is ignored, that is not true, and there are die-hard fans of these teams--especially in Germany. Germany will be a huge market for the NFL. However, die-hard fans are not a viable option, the NFL requires mainstream attention, and by bringing the natural focus extended to the league by the media to Europe, they are planting seeds that will sprout--one day resulting in an international league. Any doubt in this developing should quickly be abolished. Look at owners, at any owner, and what drives them? Money. The American market is saturated, new ground must be explored.

This is what drove the great powers to seek resources in Asia, Africa, and the Americas back when England, France, Portugal, Spain and Russia were the super powers of the globe. Enormous amounts of capital were exported to non-European territories, all to bring even more money to the hands of the few owners. These same principles are relevant in the NFL's quest to take over the world. Expect to see European football player salaries to rise, expect the stadiums to become more modern, expect to see increasing coverage of European football--not just on ESPN--but especially on the NFL network. The owners control the media, control the league, the players, and now they want to control the world.

Roger Goodell, this will be your legacy: success, or failure.

Is this a bad thing? I don't know. I love football, and I can't think of a better Super Bowl than having the New York Jets play against the Parisian Puff-Puffs, or the Cleveland Browns VS the Bangkok Bangers. In 20 years, when all the world joins America to see who the World Champion of the International Football League will be, just know that the NFL has successfully colonized the world, and made it its oyster.

And that Power Position Betting will be giving you all the rundown on the games.