D.C. will do anything against K.C. for first win
Soccer Betting Lines
05/04/2010 - Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins joked that "maybe we need to sacrifice some goats or chickens" to help end a season- opening, five-game losing streak.
United is in the midst of the worst-ever start in franchise history and is two losses from tying the Kansas City Wizards, who visit RFK Stadium on Wednesday, for the worst start in MLS history.
"I don't know what it is," Perkins said, according to MLSsoccer.com. "But you know, we've got to stay positive, we've got to keep our heads up.
"It's going to come."
So far this season, it certainly hasn't.
United opened the year with a 4-0 loss at Kansas City, and it hasn't been much better since.
D.C. has been shutout in four of its five games (both goals came in a 3-2 loss to the expansion Philadelphia Union), and has allowed an MLS high 13 goals.
United lost to Red Bull New York 2-0 on Saturday, and midfielder Clyde Simms thought it was good for the team to get back on the field Wednesday.
"I'm kind of a glad we have a game Wednesday. It's always good to have a game as quick as possible after a loss," Simms said.
United is the only team in MLS without a point and new manager Curt Onalfo has to be feeling some pressure as the team enters its fourth home match.
D.C. has not scored at home in three games, all 2-0 defeats to the New England Revolution, Chicago Fire and New York.
Luciano Emilio made his season debut Saturday in the second half - United just re-signed the former MVP last Wednesday - and D.C. needs him to show the form that contributed 41 goals over the last three seasons.
Kansas City followed its year-opening win with a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids, but has not scored since. The Wizards lost 3-0 to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, extending their scoring drought to 312 minutes.
"The negative thing would be if you're not creating chances," Kansas City boss Peter Vermes said, according to MLSsoccer.com. "I think anybody would say that we are creating chances."
K.C. was hampered by a first-half red card to Davy Arnaud against Houston, but Josh Wolff's slow start has also contributed to the team's three-game skid.
During the drought, Kei Kamara missed a tap-in goal on a spectacular play when he slipped and fell and knocked the ball across the line with his hand, as the club settled for a 0-0 draw against the unbeaten Los Angeles Galaxy.
"Some days everything you hit goes in," Arnaud said. "And some days you miss one that's on the line.
"It's soccer. That's the way it is."
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trainer John Sadler said on Tuesday that Robby Albarado will be the rider for Hurricane Ike if the three-year-old starts in the Preakness Stakes. Albarado picks up the mount from Calvin Borel, who is
<< Tigers' Jackson named top AL rookie for April
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson has
been selected as the American League's top rookie for the month of April.
Jackson, acquired from the Yankees in the deal that sent Curtis Granderson to
New York
<< Royals move 3B Gordon to outfield
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals have moved once
highly-touted third baseman Alex Gordon to left field. He is scheduled to play
his first game there Tuesday for Triple-A Omaha after he was sent to the minor
leagues
<< Garcia-Lopez, Cuevas reach second round in Portugal
Estoril, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Spaniard Guillermo
Garcia-Lopez and eighth-seeded Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay were among Tuesday's
first-round winners at the clay-court Estoril Open, a French Open tune-up.
Garcia-
<< Baghdatis wins in rainy Munich
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis
was among Tuesday's first-round winners in rainy Munich.
The former Australian Open runner-up Baghdatis needed to come from behind in
order to beat German quali
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The dazzling performance that JaMarcus Russell put up in LSU's Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame on Jan. 3, 2007, had to rank among the greatest moments of the quarterback's football life. In many ways, it wa
Braves' Heyward named NL Rookie of the Month >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward has
been selected as the National League's top rookie for the first month of the
season.
The 20-year-old led all rookies with six home runs and 19 runs batted
AC Milan plans to keep Pato >>
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani does
not foresee any of the club's star names being sold this summer, including
Chelsea target Alexandre Pato.
The 21-year-old Brazilian was reportedly interest
Scharner confirms he's leaving Wigan >>
Wigan, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wigan Austria international Paul Scharner
has confirmed that he will leave the Latics at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old utility man played in Monday's 2-2 draw against Hull City with
"THANX" dyed
Johnson, Greisen & Varner earn weekly honors >>
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alabama wide receiver CJ JOHNSON, Milwaukee
quarterback CHRIS GREISEN and Iowa defensive back TANNER VARNER have been named
the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Player and Riddell Defensive Player
of the Week
MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.
Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.
According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).
Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.
''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.
''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''
Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.
”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.
For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.