Isiah Thomas rescinds contract with Knicks

Basketball Betting Lines

08/11/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Less than a week after being named a consultant for the New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas announced he has rescinded the contract due to a violation of certain NBA bylaws.

Thomas was named a Knicks consultant last Friday and was expected to maintain his position as head coach at Florida International University while serving in a supportive role that was to include player recruitment and assisting current team president Donnie Walsh in various capacities.

"Although I'm disappointed that Isiah will not be working with the Knicks as a consultant, I continue to believe in his basketball knowledge, including his ability to judge talent," said Knicks chairman James Dolan. "He's a good friends of mine and of the organization, and I will continue to solicit his views."

Those duties have apparently violated the conflict of interest rules between collegiate and professional basketball.

"After speaking with commissioner [David] Stern and Knicks executives, it has become apparent that my new agreement violates certain NBA bylaws," Thomas said in a statement on Wednesday. "Because of this, I have decided to rescind my contract with the team."

Thomas oversaw the Knicks' operations from 2003-08, a span that did not include a postseason appearance.

"One of the biggest regrets of my life is that the Knicks didn't perform up to the standards the fans had every right to expect while I was in charge," Thomas continued. "I take full responsibility for that. I was very much looking forward to this unique opportunity to help the organization do what I do best: find basketball talent. I wish the team nothing but success in the future."

A Hall of Fame player with the Pistons from 1981-94, Thomas was a 12-time All Star and two-time NBA champion during his illustrious career. In addition to coaching the Knicks from 2006-08, he also coached the Pacers from 2000-03 and has an all-time record of 187-223 in five seasons.

During his tenure in the Knicks' front office, the team never won more than 39 games and won fewer than 25 twice. Thomas' tenure with the Knicks was also marred by the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders.

Shortly after his time with New York ended, he was rushed to the hospital for reportedly overdosing on sleeping pills. He has since been hired as the head coach at FIU, where he went 7-25 in his first season in 2009-10.

"Although I'm disappointed that Isiah will not be working with the Knicks as a consultant, I continue to believe in his basketball knowledge, including his ability to judge talent," Dolan said. "He's a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team. We wish him continued success at FIU. I also believe Donnie Walsh has done a terrific job since joining the Knicks and my tremendous respect for him has only grown since he's joined the organization. I'm confident that the work that Donnie, Coach Mike D'Antoni and their staffs have done this summer has the team poised for long-term success."

Wgrouplotto Basketball Betting News

<< Tommy John surgery puts Sheets' career in jeopardy
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oakland Athletics pitcher Ben Sheets underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this week, putting his once promising career in danger. Sheets went under the knife to repair his flexor tendon, pronator tendon

<< Seahawks' Curry a test case in new concussion era
RENTON, Wash. (AP) -Aaron Curry listened all offseason to talk taking place from Congress to kids' leagues that raised the nation's awareness of football head injuries.Then on the first day of training camp he walked past the concussion poster teams

<< Solicitor: Roethlisberger officer probe inactive
PITTSBURGH (AP) - An internal investigation of a Pennsylvania police officer who was with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger when the player was accused of sexual assault in Georgia is inactive, and that won't change unless new infor

<< Raptors acquire Julian Wright from Hornets
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors have acquired forward Julian Wright from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for guard Marco Belinelli. The 13th overall selection by the Hornets in the 2007 draft, Wright pla

<< Lerner explains O'Neill's exit
Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has issued a statement saying that manager Martin O'Neill left the club as he no longer 'shared a common view' on the club's future. O'Neill walked away from Vil

Giants get Fontenot from Cubs; put Renteria on DL >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants put shortstop Edgar Renteria on the 15-day disabled list due to a left bicep strain, and then made a trade with the Cubs to shore up their infield. The Giants acquired Mi

Titans DE Hayes has knee sprain >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tennessee Titans defensive end William Hayes will miss up to four weeks with a knee sprain suffered in practice on Tuesday. "It might be a couple weeks, but when you consider that when you have that kind

Medalists Lee, Rohanna and Sweeney advance at Women's Amateur >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stroke play medalists Rachel Rohanna, Erynne Lee and Jaclyn Sweeney all won their first-round encounters in match play Wednesday at the U.S. Women's Amateur. Rohanna earned a 1-up victory over Isabel

Pavin: Gray's report inaccurate on Woods' Ryder Cup pick >>
Kohler, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - USA Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin denied reporter Jim Gray's assertion that he stated Tiger Woods will definitely be selected with a captain's pick should the world No. 1 golfer not make the team on poin

Phillies' Gload leaves game >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies utilityman Ross Gload left Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a leg injury. In the sixth, Gload led off with a double, but started hobbling before reac

Betting Football

NFL Football Betting Online

Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?

I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.

There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.

Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.

For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.

A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.

The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.

Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.

So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.

Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.

“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.

Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.

“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.

It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.

Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.

The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.

“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.

“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”

Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.

The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.

“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”

Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?

“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.