Gene Upshaw dead at 63
Football Betting Lines
08/21/2008 -
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gene Upshaw, longtime head of the NFL players
union and Pro Football Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 63.
The first NFL Hall of Famer who played exclusively offensive guard, Upshaw was
battling pancreatic cancer. According to a posting on the NFLPA's web site,
Upshaw only learned that he had cancer on Sunday.
The former Oakland and Los Angeles Raider had served as executive director of
the NFL Players Association since 1983, but came under fire in recent years by
both current and former players for his perceived shortcomings in the
position.
Upshaw played his college ball at Texas A&I -- now Texas A&M-Kingsville --
where he logged time as a center, tackle, and end. The Raiders drafted him
first overall in the first combined NFL-AFL draft in 1967, and the 6-foot-5,
255-pounder held down left guard for the next 15 years for the club. Along
with fellow Hall of Famers Art Shell at tackle and Jim Otto at center, Upshaw
was part of one of the most dominant offensive lines in league history.
The Robstown, Texas native played in 207 consecutive games, a streak that
finally ended when he missed one game in 1981, his last season in the NFL.
Upshaw played in 217 regular season games, as well as 10 AFL/AFC title games
and three Super Bowls, winning two.
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection and 11-time All Pro, Upshaw was inducted into
the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, his first year of eligibility.
"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of
Gene Upshaw," said New York Jets owner Robert Wood Johnson. "He was a giant
in the NFL since entering the league in 1967, first as a Hall of Fame
offensive lineman, then as an active member of the collective bargaining
process in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and finally as the executive
director of the NFLPA.
"Gene continually served in the best interests of the game of football. He
played a colossal role in the success the NFL enjoys today, even more than
many people realize."
Upshaw traded in the relative anonymity of offensive guard for the pivotal
role as head of the players union after his retirement. He was an active
member of the NFLPA during his playing days, and took over as executive
director of the union in June 1983.
His tenure included tough times -- most notably the players strike in 1987 --
but Upshaw also took part in the negotiations of Collective Bargaining
Agreements in 1977, 1982, and 1993. The last CBA, which was extended in 1998,
2002, and 2006, was noteworthy for the addition of free agency, which the
players accepted along with a salary cap, in the process ensuring a greater
percentage of league revenues went to player salaries.
"Gene Upshaw did everything with great dignity, pride, and conviction. He was
the rare individual who earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame both
for his accomplishments on the field and for his leadership of the players off
the field," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
"He fought hard for the players and always kept his focus on what was best for
the game. His leadership played a crucial role in taking the NFL and its
players to new heights.
"Gene's tremendous love of the game also showed in his wide-ranging support of
football at all levels. It is a sad day for the NFL, but Gene's positive
impact and legacy will live on for decades to come. All of us in the NFL
reach out with our sympathy to Terri and the Upshaw family."
The longtime union head has had his fair share of critics over the years,
however. Many former AFL and NFL players -- most who made a fraction of what
players are paid today -- have complained of poor disability benefits in
recent years.
Current players have also criticized Upshaw's management. An effort to oust
Upshaw as union head came to light in April, and the negotiation of another
deal looms for the union, which must now find a new executive director.
NFL owners, citing higher labor costs, among other complaints, voted in May to
opt out of the current agreement in 2011.
Upshaw is survived by his wife, Terri, and sons, Justin, Daniel and Eugene Jr.
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American Idol Betting Season 6 Strategies
It's that time of year folks. Betting on American Idol Season 6. And we have plenty of American Idol Season 6 strategies appearing below. With the Top 24 finalists revealed, online gambling sites will be offering betting odds on each of them, including MySportsbook.com.
No other “event” has been growing as fast as wagering on American Idol. It has turned into a huge betting event with reasonably high limits and all sorts of profit-making potential for sharp bettors. Last year, MySportsbook.com experienced unprecedented traffic as a result of the American Idol betting craze.
Every week there will be odds to win American Idol, various elimination props and contestant versus contestant match-ups at the MySportsbook.com website.
Whether a fan of America’s top-rated show or watching only because of a wife or girlfriend, here are some of basic strategies to use when betting American Idol.
Odds to Win
There are a few things to consider when looking for the right win bet. First off, remember that this bet is for the long haul. Many people make the mistake of picking the performer who sang the best the previous week. This strategy leads to an underlay situation – betting a price, which is less than what it should be.
All Idol contestants struggle at some point in the competition, so you should always look for value. In last year’s competition alone, two performers who had some of the best performances early in the series were subsequently bet down to low prices - Lisa Tucker and Ace Young. After just a few weeks, Tucker had already been eliminated, while Young quickly became a huge long shot to win America’s largest talent search.
A better strategy is to look for performers who don’t necessarily get the praise from the judges, but show flashes of the talent necessary to go the distance.
Another important thing to remember when betting any contestant to win is the demographic breakdown of the voters, the viewing public and potential future CD purchasers. Unlike sporting events, American Idol is not decided on the field of play – it’s decided by the American public under the guiding influence of the shows producers.
Understand that the great state of Alabama has a mighty edge when it comes to American Idol.
Therefore, to be successful betting on American Idol, put any personal opinions or prejudices aside and think like the majority of the voting public. Remember that the typical voter is young, female and quite often, Southern.
If a contestant cannot appeal to this demographic, no matter how much talent he or she possesses, they’ll struggle for votes. Looks, demeanor and charisma are extremely important. And it’s no coincidence that every Idol winner so far has hailed from a Southern state.
Elimination Props
Every week MySportsbook.com anticipates offering a prop on who’ll be eliminated from the show each Wednesday night. A suggestion to handicap this is to gauge an overall feel for who’s the least popular contestant left in the competition. Generally the least popular performers have recently appeared in the bottom three and will have been the target of repeated criticism from the judges.
Last year, resources included dialidol.com and votefortheworst.com. Dialidol.com measures the volume of each contestant’s voting line. While by no means a perfect science, it does give a good indication of who is generating votes and who isn’t. Meanwhile, votefortheworst.com is a site that attempts to build support for the worst competitor to keep them in the competition for ‘entertainment’ value. The site has a proven track record of keeping performers around who most feel should have been voted off a long time ago.
Contestant vs. Contestant Match-ups
The best strategy for doing well on match-ups is to assess how close either of the contestants is to being eliminated. If neither is expected to be voted off of the show in the coming weeks, the value is almost always on the underdog. If both are expecting an imminent exit in the near future, the favorite in the match-up might offer value.
Watch for American Idol betting odds on each of the contestants shortly and good luck with these American Idol betting Season 6 strategies.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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